Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott, Jeremy Stefano

"The mind must be renewed if the soul is to be transformed." – Steve Macchia

In a world saturated with distraction, misinformation, and anxiety, what we think about—and how we think—deeply shapes the condition of our soul. In Episode 03 of Season 40, Steve Macchia, Jeremy Stefano and Matt Scott unpack how examining truth, prayerful reflection, and intentional thought lead to transformation. From the renewal of the mind in Romans 12 to the call in Philippians 4 to dwell on what is true, honorable, and pure, this conversation offers a grounded and hopeful vision for cultivating a healthy inner life.

If you've ever felt mentally scattered, spiritually dry, or overwhelmed by competing voices, this episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and allow God to renew your mind...and restore your soul.

We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott and Dr. Brenda Woods

"We cannot separate the body and the soul—our bodies impact our spiritual health." – Steve Macchia

How does your physical body shape the health of your soul? In this episode, Dr. Brenda Woods joins Steve Macchia and Matt Scott as they explore the deep connection between our physical and spiritual well-being. Together, they challenge the false divide between body and soul, inviting listeners into a more holistic vision of health. With practical wisdom and gentle encouragement, they highlight the power of small, intentional choices in caring for our bodies as an essential part of tending to the soul.

We've provided a 3 page Soul Care Audit that will offer you a handful of questions to consider how well you're caring for your soul. You can download the PDF here and spend some time prayerfully reflecting on your current rhythms and practices.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

"The soul is the only part of us that is eternal—so why do we neglect it the most?" - Steve Macchia

"How is it with your soul?" This timeless question opens the door to a deeper awareness of our life with God. In this first episode of the new season, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott explore the meaning, depth, and importance of the soul—described as the very essence of who we are and the center of our relationship with God.

As they reflect on Scripture and lived experience, they invite listeners to consider the health of their own soul and the ways it shapes every part of life. With honesty and hope, this conversation marks the beginning of a journey toward greater attentiveness, intentionality, and care for the most vital—and often neglected—part of our being.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Featuring: Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, Matt Scott

"Each parable of Jesus is an invitation—not just to understand, but to be transformed." - Steve Macchia

What if the parables of Jesus are not simply stories to understand—but invitations to be transformed?

In this concluding episode of Season 39: Praying the Parables of Jesus, Steve Macchia, along with Suz Skinner and Matt Scott, reflects on the final collection of parables and the deeper themes they reveal—faithfulness, righteousness, humility, and persistent prayer. Together, they explore the surprising wisdom of the shrewd manager, the courageous persistence of the widow, and the quiet humility of the tax collector—each inviting us to examine the posture of our own hearts before God.

As this journey comes to a close, the invitation remains open: to move beyond insight and information into transformation. May this sacred journey deepen your intimacy with Jesus—and awaken in you a faith that is persistent, a heart that is humble, and a life that is truly transformed.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Featuring: Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, Matt Scott

"Tell me your story…and I'll companion you in your lack of trust." - Steve Macchia

What might change if you encountered the parables of Jesus as an invitation into a life of deeper trust? Episode 39.6 reflects on a powerful gathering of parables centered on the theme of trust—trusting in God's provision, His love, His rescue, and His heart toward us. From the cost of discipleship to the tenderness of the Good Shepherd, this conversation confronts our tendency to hold tightly to, control outcomes, and resist surrender. What emerges is a compelling invitation: to let go, to trust more deeply, and to rest in the faithful, initiating presence of a God who is always pursuing, always loving, and always at work.

To join the 40 day Lenten Prayer Experience, sign up today at www.leadershiptransformations.org/lent2026.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Featuring: Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, Matt Scott

"Ask. Seek. Knock… there's initiative attached to every one of those words." - Steve Macchia

In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Macchia, Suze Skinner, and Matt Scott continue their journey through Praying the Parables of Jesus, reflecting on a group of parables centered around one simple word: serve. Through prayerful conversation, they explore how the stories of Jesus invite us to serve with persistence, humility, watchfulness, and faithfulness. Slowing down with the parables through practices like Lectio Divina and Visio Divina reveals layer upon layer of meaning—reminding us that these seemingly simple stories continue to form and transform us again and again. This conversation invites listeners to wrestle honestly with God, trusting that the parables are meant to wake us up, deepen our trust, and shape us into servants of God's kingdom.

Join us on the Lenten Prayer Journey! Learn more here.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Featuring: Steve Macchia, Suz Skinner, Matt Scott

"God's invitation is always the same: come close, draw near, follow Me." - Steve Macchia

What does it mean to truly receive God's invitation?

In this episode of The Discerning Leader Podcast, Steve Machia, Sue Skinner, and Matt Scott explore a powerful grouping of parables from the book Praying the Parables of Jesus—each echoing a single, compelling word: come. Through reflections on the wedding banquet (Matthew 22), the ten virgins, and the vineyard stories, the conversation turns toward the condition of our hearts. Why do we hesitate at the King's invitation? Why do we find distractions, excuses, divided loyalties? And what might it look like to live with oil in our lamps—alert, expectant, and ready?

To sign up for the Lenten Prayer Experience, visit www.leadershiptransformations.org/lent2026

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.