AuthorChristy Haussler

211: The Faith Code with Terry Brisbane

Hey, Roar Nation! Jon Fuller here for today’s episode as we cover three of my favorite subjects: faith, business, and entrepreneurship. I’m joined by Terry Brisbane, the lead pastor at Cornerstone Church in San Francisco. Terry started at Cornerstone as a youth minister and later took over as lead pastor for his grandfather, the church’s founding pastor. As a native San Franciscoan, Terry understands why the city presents unique challenges when it comes to reaching people for Christ and proclaiming the message of Jesus. He has co-authored The Faith Code with Rusty Rueff. The book is for people with a biblical hunger to learn more about Jesus and His teachings, specifically applying them to business and entrepreneurship. 

Jon and Terry begin by discussing how Luke 22:32-33 are pivotal life scripture verses for Terry’s ministry and his efforts to strengthen his brethren in Christ. Terry describes how he was raised in church being greatly influenced by his grandfather’s pastoral ministry, but didn’t meet Jesus personally and find his “center court” until his high school years. That moment became the impetus for his life of ministry and serving with his grandfather in the church. Terry explains the importance of yielding to authority, using authority with humility, and submitting to God’s authority as we walk in alignment with His will for our lives. 

In an overview of The Faith Code, Terry shares how the book was birthed from a burden to connect faith and work with biblical principles. The book explains how our identity is formed by the different cultures we encounter, with Jesus as the ultimate model in how He formed his leadership team of disciples and apostles. The “faith code” begins in our lives with the foundation we stand upon, and we must be sure that it is not dictated by the culture around us but by our identity in Christ. Terry wraps up with his best advice to his younger self and his admonition to listeners to stay in love with Jesus. 

 

Resources:

Connect with Terry Brisbane and Cornerstone Church: Website, YouTube Channel, and The Faith Code

Explore our podcast episodes and find resources at areyoureal.org.

208: Embracing Spiritual Freedom with Dr. Gary Lawrence

When we embrace spiritual freedom, God can bring wholeness and completeness into our lives, and this makes all the difference in our marriages. Today’s guest has vast experience and wisdom about what it takes to heal and rebuild a marriage between two broken people. Join us to learn more!

Dr. Gary Lawrence is the founder and director of New Life Dynamic Christian Counseling Center, and he hosted a radio show for 20 years. With Life Mastery Counseling, he has personally coached thousands of people, and he’s the Amazon bestselling author of Rejection Junkies: The Hidden Addiction Everyone Suffers. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment is his marriage of over 55 years to his wife, Sylvia. 

From being raised in a home with alcoholism, abuse, and no acknowledgment of God’s existence, Gary was saved at age 20 and called to preach just a few weeks later. His path led to Bible college, an initial pastorate in northern Minnesota, and more ministry work in Canada before he started a Christian counseling center. He began helping marriages and families while figuring out how to save his own marriage from the trauma of past abuse and a “root of bitterness.” Learning how to embrace spiritual freedom, completeness, and true forgiveness helped Gary develop his “emotional surgery” counseling techniques that have helped thousands of couples rebuild their marriages through the work of the Holy Spirit. Gary explains how every man can have a solid and thriving marriage by learning to prioritize his wife’s needs above his own. Jon and Gary wrap up the conversation with Gary’s best advice to his younger self and Jon’s prayer over Dr. Gary’s life, health, family, and ministry. 

Resources:

Get Dr. Gary Lawrence’s book, Rejection Junkies.

Explore our podcast episodes and find resources at areyoureal.org.

207: Soul Care and Biblical Counseling with Rush Witt

Welcome, Roar Nation! We are covering meaty topics in today’s conversation, most notably how Jesus manifests His love for us in the care of our souls and why the Church often falls short in the counseling arena. Jon is joined by Rush Witt, the lead pastor of Paramount Church in Bexley, Ohio, which he planted 11 years ago. He and his wife are homeschooling parents of five kids, ranging from 8-19 years old. Rush has written several books, and he regularly partners with New Growth Press in the publishing industry. 

Rush gives us a glimpse into his background and how he came to know Christ at a Christian basketball camp in 1995, soon feeling God’s clear call into ministry. From his personal experience, Rush explains how God is most glorified when our hearts seek ultimate happiness in Him and how we experience “soul care” as we grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus. 

Jon and Rush discuss the void in the Church regarding biblical counseling, loosely defined as “a ministry which brings Christ and His answers into the areas of our lives where we struggle to understand.” Rush outlines his passion for Christian counseling and why he partnered with New Growth Press and Lifeway to help produce the Life Counsel Bible. This unique Bible helps meet the counseling needs and bridges the gap in the Christian community in dealing with the hardest issues. With any struggle we seek to overcome, we can’t look for the “quick fix” but have to trust the process of falling in love with Jesus to bring our healing and transformation. Jon closes the conversation by asking Rush about a time when he felt most desperate for God to show up, his strengths and weaknesses, and what he would say to his younger self. Rush’s parting advice is for us to stop “thinking small” in light of the infinite God who lives in us, to give ourselves grace, and to invite God into our stories and journeys. 

Resources:

Connect with Rush Witt: Website and Life Counsel Bible

Explore our podcast episodes and find resources at areyoureal.org.

205: Kingdom Business with Tyler Frick

I’m thrilled to have my friend Tyler Frick on the podcast today. Although we’ve known each other for a short time, he’s like a brother to me, as we share common interests in ministry and business. Tyler, the founder of the Kings Company since July 2018, focuses on raising Kingdom-minded leaders globally. They train in spiritual aspects like prophetic and deliverance ministry, having impacted over 15,000 clients and students in five years.

Tyler emphasizes that Kingdom-minded leaders prioritize Jesus over fame and often face religious and political challenges. Despite this, they remain committed to their mission. He also addresses the effectiveness of online ministry, sharing his success in reaching thousands through digital platforms, which he compares to the limited geographic reach of Jesus and his disciples. Tyler’s team, some with him for over five years, have seen tangible results, with students now leading churches and engaging in missionary work. Despite skepticism about online ministry, Tyler stands by its impact, evidenced by the lives changed and communities formed.

Reflecting on his journey, Tyler shares how he overcame personal challenges to establish his ministry. He aims to inspire others with his story, showing that anyone can rise from humble beginnings to make a significant impact in the world for Christ.

Resources:

https://thekingscompany.mn.co/

 

204: Narcissism In The Church

Today’s show is about narcissism in the church. It’s something we are seeing more and more, and we need to identify what narcissism is and what it looks like when it operates in the church. Join us as Kasey and Cher dive into this topic!

We define narcissism as “a personality disorder consisting of a pervasive pattern of grandiosity in fantasy or behavior, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.” As we discuss three types of narcissism, we need to understand that it is a real disorder that needs to be healed in order to have a healthy church environment. Kasey and Cher describe how narcissism is the exact opposite of the personality of Jesus, but it aligns perfectly with what we know about Satan. That in itself should assure us that narcissism has no place in the lives of God’s people. 

It’s important to realize that narcissism in the church may look different than it does out in the world. Kasey and Cher explain how narcissism shows up in behaviors of manipulation and control, being above everyone else, and having a constant need for admiration. In every way, it goes against the humility we are called to exhibit. We must remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual darkness and demonic powers. As we stand against the elements of narcissism in our families and our parenting, we should teach our kids about humility, accountability, and empathy to help guard their hearts against narcissism. 

How do we handle narcissism when we see it in the church? We should cover it in prayer and follow the biblical mandate set forth in Matthew 23 to confront it with the goal of resolution and restoration to unity in the body of Christ. Kasey and Cher close out this episode with a prayer for wisdom to help us stand against the spirit of narcissism and the kingdom of darkness. Today’s verse is Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” 

Resources:

Connect with Cher Butler and IWNKS Ministries:  Website and Facebook

Explore our podcast episodes and find resources at areyoureal.org.

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