Summit Podcasts: BACK40, Sermon Audio, and Leadership Night

Mel provides a history of Marvel Comics, surveying the leadership qualities of its founder — Martin Goodman. Expect to learn why it’s important to understand your own reasons for leading a project. Do you need to be passionate about your job in order to be passionate about your reason for doing it? Mel explains the wisdom of paying attention to trends as well as the inestimable value of networking. How much of Mel’s professional li...

In the first message of our series called One Another, Pastor Mel explains the biblical meaning of love. Using 1 Corinthians 13, among other scriptures, Mel shows how love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, boastful, proud or rude. It does not demand its own way and it's not irritable. Love keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice at injustice but rejoices whenever the truth stands. Perhaps most importantly,...

Mel and Michael discuss why being a senior leader requires a certain kind of person. Encouraging everyone to aspire to senior leadership may not be the right message. Is there a better story we could be telling our children in terms of how to have a high-impact life? Next they parse out the differences between being persecuted for righteousness sake and just being criticized because you're wrong. How would Summit need to reform...

Mel, Michael, Joel, and Gilbert give their best explanations of the Holy Trinity. They talk about why the Trinity is so mysterious for our finite minds to apprehend. How is the Trinity different from polytheism? Is it possible to avoid the modalist heresy when discussing the Trinity from a human perspective? Next they surmise whether space aliens are real. Would it wreck your faith if we were visited by aliens tomorrow? What is the...

Mel, Michael, Joel and Brandon discuss the importance of building rapport with someone as part of sharing the gospel. Why is a gospel presentation so ineffective if you don't first care about the person you're sharing with? Are there some people who you shouldn't share your faith with? Next they discuss the dangers of carelessness. In scripture we see several characters deal with outsized consequences to their arrogant ...

Pastor Mel presents the importance of having hard conversations and stewarding conflict well. Expect to learn why conflict management is the greatest weakness for most leaders. Is it even possible to be a good leader if you’re unwilling to have hard conversations? Mel talks about the dynamics of a hard conversation, including how a leader should conduct himself and when is the appropriate time to initiate the conflict. What should ...

Preaching through Luke 5, Pastor Collin explains the biblical metaphor of being fishers of men. While some of Christ's disciples were actual fishermen by trade, Jesus told them to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men. Collin reminds us why we should not allow our fear of our sin to inhibit us from obeying Jesus. We've been invited to join Christ in the Great Commission to preach the gospel and save souls. Collin...

Mel and Michael discuss the value of deal-making as a primary leadership strategy. Is learning to negotiate the easiest way to learn leadership? Does proper deal-making help turn you into a better person? Next they discuss the difference between preaching the fear of Hell as opposed to preaching the reality of Heaven. Isn't the Christian life the best possible life on offer? Should our gospel-preaching be fundamentally positive...

Pastor Christina preaches through selected scriptures and explains what it means to live a life that is set apart for God. Paul writes to the Romans, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Christina makes the case that a consecrated life begins in our hearts, and those who live consecr...

In the sixth and final week of our series called The Lord's Prayer, Pastor Kim examines the final verse of the prayer which reads: and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Kim makes the case that God tests us to strengthen us, the enemy tempts us to destroy us, but God delivers us. A test is meant to prove or improve your character. A temptation is meant to entice you to sin and destroy your faith. Kim explain...

Mel, Joel, and Michael open the conversation with a detailed evaluation of Sabbath. What is the Sabbath? Why was it instituted? What are some common misunderstandings about the Sabbath? What sort of activities are permissible on the Sabbath and what activities should we avoid? Next they talk about the pros and cons of doing professional ministry alongside family members. Did Jesus encourage nepotism? What steps can you take to ensu...

In the fifth message of our series called The Lord's Prayer, Pastor Mel details what it means to forgive and be forgiven. Preaching through the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, Mel explains how the father extended unwarranted grace and forgiveness to him. The prodigal was prepared to confess his abuses and his worthlessness when his father stopped him and readily took him back into the family with celebration. The father s...

Mel, Collin and Michael open the conversation by discussing the ongoing riots in Los Angeles. How should a Christian make sense of what's happening? Next they talk about children and youth ministry. Why does Summit Church take these ministries so seriously? As adults in professional ministry, how do Mel and Collin view their own childhood experiences in these ministries? The conversation turns to an exploration of what it's...

Pastor Mel tells the harrowing story of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. Shackleton was one of few elite explorers who traversed much of Antarctica in his efforts to reach the South Pole. These were dangerous expeditions where death or serious injury were quite common. Expect to learn about the qualities which made Shackleton one of history’s noteworthy leaders. Mel talks about Shackleton’s efforts to maintain optimism and hop...

In the fourth message of our series called The Lord's Prayer, Pastor Mel discusses a twofold expression found in verse 11: Give us this day our daily bread. God knows we need bread for today and we also need bread for tomorrow. Mel explains the tradition of unleavened bread representing freedom from slavery, humility, and purity. He goes on to point out how God wants us to trust Him for provision each day. There is prudence in ...

Mel and Michael discuss which kind of lost people Christ has compassion for and which kind of Christians extend that compassion. How do we prevent the abuse of compassion? Next they talk about the wisdom withholding spiritual leadership from those who aren't ready for it. How can you tell when a person is spiritually mature? Are some people just not meant to be leaders? The conversation turns to the differences between formally...

In the third message of our series called The Lord's Prayer, Pastor Mel focuses on the petition: your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This part of the prayer is made up of two requests, the first being that God's kingdom should advance on earth. Mel explains what it means for Jesus to be King of Kings and why this indicates God's sovereignty over Satan, despite Satan being called the ruler ...

Mel and Michael discuss the possibility of dishonest actors parasitizing the conservative movement in pursuit of power. Mel gives advice for how pastors and Christians should react to sociopolitical perturbations. Next they talk about the steps for changing the culture of a church. If you're unhappy with your church, should you leave or should you stay and try to change things? What is it like for Pastor Mel to have conversatio...

In this episode Pastor Mel examines the case of the Wrexham Football Club. This is a soccer team who were perennial losers until Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the organization. The transformation of the Wrexham Football Club presents a case study in good leadership — specifically how to change the culture of an organization. Expect to learn about the power of believing in the vision as well as the need to communicate it. ...