Are you seeking the stage—or seeking Jesus?

Filmed on the main stage and ML podcast booth at Exposure Youth Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, Dr. Kirk Brothers delivers a straight-shooting reminder for ministers and speakers: don’t measure your worth by audience size. Big crowds don’t equal big faithfulness—and chasing the spotlight can quietly poison your heart.

Then he gets intensely practical: if you’re invited to speak at another congregation (summer series, special day, gospel meeting, workshop, youth rally), this episode walks you through the ethics and logistics that separate a helpful guest preacher from a frustrating one—especially when it comes to staying on the assigned topic, preparing responsibly, and respecting the local church that supports you.

If you preach, teach, lead devotionals, or speak at brotherhood events… this is a needed gut-check.

Listen / watch, then ask yourself:

Am I chasing opportunities… or honoring God in the opportunities I already have?

Chapters:

00:00 Exposure Youth Camp stage + episode setup

00:28 Podcast intro

01:02 Speaking invites & big events (lectureships, rallies, workshops)

01:50 The warning: stop chasing big crowds

02:24 What to chase instead: daily faithfulness

02:49 The “don’t ask to speak” rule (heart check)

03:56 Your worth isn’t audience size—Christ defines it

04:19 Big stage ≠ good preacher / small room ≠ bad preacher

05:05 How to evaluate ministry the right way

06:17 When invited to speak elsewhere: the #1 rule

06:41 Speak the assigned topic and text (don’t freeload the theme)

09:22 Know the setting: mic, room, screens, PowerPoint, ratios

10:21 Why he uses slides (and how to send them ahead)

11:09 Backups, videos, and avoiding unnecessary offense

12:04 Confidence monitor + don’t turn your back to the audience

13:54 Slide control, remotes, and battery reality

15:56 Service flow details churches forget to tell you

16:36 Don’t take advantage of your local work

17:46 Final reminder: ministry matters because the Master matters

18:11 Outro

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Ministry isn’t hard because you’re failing—ministry is hard because it’s ministry.

In this episode of Ministry Matters That Matter, Dr. Kirk Brothers (President of Heritage Christian University) sits down with Travis Harmon and Barry Binion to talk candidly about the realities of ministry—especially bivocational life, family pressure, expectations, and the constant tension of wanting to do more than time allows.

Then Dale Jenkins unexpectedly joins the conversation at Exposure Youth Camp, and the whole episode levels up into a straight-up survival guide for ministers:

why “easy ministry” doesn’t exist

how relationships with elders shape everything

why mentorship is non-negotiable

how continuing education sharpens preaching

and Dale’s knockout insight: the “8th O” — Optimism — and why churches without it don’t grow.

If you’re exhausted, stretched thin, or quietly considering quitting… don’t. You’re not alone, and this one will steady you.

Ministry matters—because your Master matters.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro + theme song / welcome

0:00:51 Guests introduced: Travis Harmon & Barry Binion

0:02:10 Travis’ story + entering bivocational ministry

0:06:13 The strain of bivocational work (pulled everywhere)

0:08:48 Dale Jenkins joins the conversation

0:10:27 “There’s no such thing as easy ministry”

0:11:37 Church plant vs. established church (turning the “big ship”)

0:14:37 Barry Binion’s story + mentorship lessons

0:18:05 Full-time ministry pressure: family expectations & instability

0:19:28 Tips for bivocational ministry (intentional relationships)

0:22:12 Interim ministry strategy: peace, unity, flexibility

0:25:00 Dale’s take: love people + keep church/school connected

0:30:42 Mentorship + conferences + continued learning

0:34:32 Dale’s “8th O”: Optimism and why it decides church health

0:36:43 Travis’ best resource: read Scripture for what you don’t know

0:39:30 AI as a study assistant (helpful—handle with wisdom)

0:45:35 Final encouragement: “Don’t quit” + closing

Keywords:

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Hashtags:

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We would love for you to sign up for classes to further your Bachelors or Masters degrees. Another option is to audit classes to improve your bible knowledge!

To find out more or to apply, go to www.hcu.edu

#ThriveInMinistry

Jesus As Our Coach

In this episode of Ministry Matters That Matter, join Kirk Brothers as he dives into what truly moves people to follow: the servant-leadership of Christ. He unpacks how Jesus’ life—from a carpenter in Nazareth to the King who washed feet—teaches us humility, purpose, and influence in a distracted world.

You’ll discover:

• Why greatness isn’t about being seen—but serving.

• The danger of pride and how to redirect it into mission.

• Practical habits leaders (in the church and beyond) can adopt today.

• A fresh look at Philippians 2 and how to live out “thinking like Jesus”.

Whether you’re a minister, a business leader, or simply someone seeking to lead with integrity and influence—this one’s for you.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and click the bell so you won’t miss our weekly episodes on faith, leadership, truth & grace.

Chapter Marks: (See timestamps below)

Keywords: servant leadership, Jesus leadership, humility, Christian leadership, Kirk Brothers, faith and leadership

Hashtags: #ServantLeadership #ChristianLeadership #JesusModel #KirkBrothers #MinistryMatters

📍 Chapters (Timestamps)

00:00 – Welcome & miracle in Acts 3

01:05 – Frog + ducks fable → Pride falls

03:09 – Jesus’ “commonness”: leader among people

04:53 – Pride’s danger in ministry

07:11 – Jesus stops for children & the unlikely

08:43 – The heart behind the foot-washing (John 13)

15:23 – Philippians 2: humility in action

16:56 – Level 5 leaders + leadership framework

19:23 – Peter’s transformation: argument to humility

20:51 – Closing challenge: live like our King

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At 10,000 feet in Breckenridge, Colorado, a group of Heritage Christian University alumni gathered for the annual HCU Alumni Retreat to reflect on one question that defines ministry:

👉 “What is the most important trait of a godly leader in the local church?”

In this episode of Ministry Matters That Matter with Dr. Kirk Brothers, ministers and preachers from across the country share raw, real wisdom about humility, selflessness, listening, friendship, and loyalty to Christ — the core traits that sustain ministry in a modern, distracted world.

🎙️ You’ll learn:

Why humility is the foundation of leadership.

How to lead without ego.

Why listening builds stronger congregations.

The importance of mentorship, friendship, and faith in leadership.

Resources that can help every minister grow in wisdom and impact.

📖 Featuring:

Zquan Kemp • Chris Miller • Adam Richardson • Travis Harmon • Jordan Willis • Aaron Johnson • Matthew Morine • Steve Cummings • Joshua Papus • Chris Moran • Cody Harrington

🎓 Filmed at: The Heritage Christian University Alumni Retreat – Breckenridge, Colorado

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction | Breckenridge, Colorado Alumni Retreat

01:04 – Zquan Kemp | Selflessness in Leadership & Logos Bible Software

01:40 – Chris Miller | Servant Leadership & Man of God Book

02:14 – Adam Richardson | Listening Well & Weekly Peer Groups

03:11 – Travis Harmon | Reading Trends & Staying Connected to Peers

04:21 – Jordan Willis | Humility & The Non-Anxious Leader Podcast

04:44 – Aaron Johnson | Becoming Like Jesus & The Divine Conspiracy

05:05 – Matthew Morine | Friendship & How the Best Did It

05:29 – Steve Cummings | Humility, Mentors, and Giving God Glory

06:08 – Joshua Papus | Loyalty to Christ & The New Breed

07:01 – Chris Moran | Leading by Example & Learning from Critics

07:32 – Cody Harrington | Relational Leadership & School Partnerships

08:54 – Dr. Kirk Brothers | “Ministry Matters Because the Master Matters”

09:30 – Closing Theme | Ministry Matters That Matter

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What does it really mean to lead like Jesus? In this episode of Ministry Matters That Matter, Dr. Kirk Brothers breaks down three timeless leadership qualities of Christ that every believer can learn from — Competence, Clear Thinking, and Courage.

Whether you’re leading a church, a classroom, a family, or a ministry, this message will challenge you to lead with wisdom, purpose, and faith — just like the Lord.

📖 Learn how Jesus spent 30 years preparing for 3 years of ministry, how He made courageous decisions under pressure, and how His calm confidence came from complete trust in God.

🎧 Watch this message to discover:

• Why competence matters in ministry

• How to build convictional intelligence like Jesus

• How to stay calm and courageous when leadership gets tough

💡 Subscribe for more episodes of Ministry Matters That Matter — where faith, leadership, truth, and grace come together.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Why Jesus is the ultimate model for leadership01:42 – The Competence of Christ: Preparing to lead05:04 – Jesus the Teacher: Learning the craft and knowing Scripture07:36 – Clear Thinking: Developing convictional intelligence15:03 – Decision-Making and Wisdom: Lessons from the adulterous woman17:41 – Courage to Stand Alone: Leadership under pressure19:32 – Calming the Storm: Faith in the boat22:35 – The Leader’s Ring: Courage through conflict23:30 – Lessons from the Bees: Constant growth and learning25:00 – Conclusion: Leading like the Lord in today’s world

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#ChristianLeadership #LeadLikeJesus #KirkBrothers #MinistryMatters #BiblicalLeadership #FaithAndLeadership #JesusLeader #HeritageChristianUniversity #ChristianMinistry #LeadershipTraining

What made Jesus such a powerful leader that people would leave everything—and even die—for Him? In this episode of Ministry Matters That Matter, Dr. Kirk Brothers explores two defining traits of Jesus’ leadership: His unshakable connection to God through prayer and His compassionate service to people.Through personal stories, Scripture, and practical examples, Dr. Brothers shows how leaders today can follow Jesus’ example—leading not through power or position, but through humility, prayer, and deep care for others. From the prayer garden in Cleveland, TN, to the lepers and outcasts Jesus embraced, this lesson challenges us to reimagine what true leadership looks like.📌 Perfect for ministers, elders, church leaders, and anyone striving to grow in spiritual leadership.👉 Subscribe for more episodes of Ministry Matters That Matter where faith, leadership, truth, and grace intersect.⏱️ Chapters (Timestamps)00:00 – Jesus as Lord and Leader01:01 – Walking the Cleveland Greenway & Prayer Garden03:00 – A New Philosophy of Leadership05:19 – Leadership Trait #1: Jesus Connected to God07:54 – The Prayer Life of Jesus in Luke09:48 – The Power of Praying for Others14:01 – Leadership Trait #2: Jesus Connected to People17:19 – Compassion That Moves to Action19:34 – Accountability in Servant Leadership20:24 – Jesus’ Care for the Marginalized23:41 – No One Is Junk: Valuing All People24:39 – Jesus Connects People to God🔑 KeywordsJesus leadership, servant leadership, Christian leadership, Kirk Brothers, Ministry Matters That Matter, prayer life of Jesus, compassion of Jesus, spiritual leadership, leading like Jesus, church leadership lessons, ministry leadership training, how to be a servant leader, Jesus connected to God, Christian leaders📌 Hashtags#JesusLeadership #ServantLeadership #MinistryMattersThatMatter #KirkBrothers #ChristianLeadership #SpiritualLeadership #PrayerLife #Compassion #FaithAndLeadership

What makes people drop their nets, leave their careers, and follow Jesus — even to the point of laying down their lives? In this episode of Ministry Matters that Matter, Dr. Kirk Brothers explores what true spiritual leadership looks like through the lens of Jesus.

Drawing from Acts 9 and the story of Tabitha, Dr. Kirk reflects on why Peter sent mourners out of the room, how Jesus modeled leadership differently from worldly rulers, and what it means to equip and unleash others for God’s glory. With insights from both scripture and years of leadership study, this lesson challenges us to define leadership not by power or position, but by servanthood, purpose, and staying centered on God’s mission.

Whether you’re an elder, minister, teacher, or simply a Christian seeking to influence others, this episode will inspire you to lead like Jesus led.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Following Jesus requires everything

01:09 – Acts 9 and the loss of Tabitha (Dorcas)

03:42 – Leadership studies and parallels with Scripture

05:18 – Why Jesus inspires ultimate commitment

08:23 – Redefining leadership as servanthood

11:25 – Equipping and unleashing others for God’s glory

13:51 – Kirk’s definition of spiritual leadership

21:33 – Staying centered: avoiding mission drift

28:50 – Why Peter sent them out of the room

31:42 – Closing challenge: Lead like Jesus

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