140. Discern. Decide. Shepherd. Clear priorities are better than motivation
Most parish leaders are sincere, hardworking, and prayerful — yet still feel scattered and reactive. In this episode, Jon and Thai unpack why renewed energy isn’t the solution. Clear priorities are.
Drawing from Matthew 9:36, they explore how compassion without direction leaves people disoriented — like sheep without a shepherd. Leadership clarity isn’t a buzzword; it’s an act of charity.
This episode walks through a simple but demanding framework:
Discern what God is doing in your heart.
Decide what actually matters most right now.
Shepherd your people clearly and consistently toward it.
They also break down practical meeting rhythms that reduce chaos, increase accountability, and move teams from data-dumping to decision-making.
If your parish feels busy but unfocused, this conversation offers a concrete path forward.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Motivation doesn’t fix misalignment. Clear priorities do.
If everything feels urgent, you haven’t discerned what matters most.
Vision must move from prayer into real decisions and behavior changes.
Meetings should produce decisions, ownership, and follow-through.
You don’t need permission to lead — you need conviction rooted in prayer.
NOTABLE QUOTES
“When leaders don’t name their priorities, the parish is going to wander.”
“If everything’s important, nothing is going to get done well.”
“You don’t need permission to lead — but you do need conviction rooted in prayer.”
