October 13, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of Echoes Through Eternity, Dr. Jeffery D. Skinner addresses the challenges of discouragement faced by church planters and pastors. He emphasizes the importance of understanding spiritual seasons, the necessity of preparation, and the value of faithfulness in ministry. Through biblical examples and personal anecdotes, he encourages listeners to remain steadfast in their calling, even during difficult times, and to trust in God's promises for the future.
Luxurious bamboo sheets, pajamas, & more
Cozy Earth redefines luxury sleep with its best-sellingBamboo Sheet Set, made from 100% premium viscose from bamboo, and its ultra-comfortable Pajamas. Known for cooling and moisture-wicking properties, Cozy Earth'sbamboo bedding is perfect for hot sleepers seeking a restful night's sleep. The oversizedfit and incredibly soft drape of these sheets only improve with each wash, making them astandout in luxury bedding. Their pajama set brings a touch of elegance to relaxation,combining style and supreme comfort for nights in.Cozy Earth's products are a favorite among celebrities. Kris Jenner praises their bamboosheets as her nightly essential, raving about their softness and cooling comfort. For sevenconsecutive years, Oprah has included Cozy Earth on her Favorite Things list, and thebrand has been featured on Good Morning America, InStyle, and Better Homes & Gardens.Customers echo this love with thousands of 5-star reviews, describing the sheets as"buttery soft" and the pajamas as the ultimate cozy treat. With free shipping on ordersover $50, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty, Cozy Earth will bring lastingluxury and comfort into your home!
Listeners Get a 41% off Any product.
https://cozyearth.com/products/bamboo-sheet-set?variant=42626556395700
Takeaways
Every planter hits this wall of discouragement.
Discouragement is a weakness, showing investment in something eternal.
Church planting is seasonal work, with cycles of preparation and waiting.
The season of discouragement is a spiritual winter, not death.
Kingdom work is done in generations, not just months or years.
Failure is a classroom of grace, not the end.
Practical steps include returning to your call and seeking connection.
Rest is loyalty, allowing God to run His church without you.
Discouragement is part of discipleship, leading to hope.
God is faithful, and the harvest will come in time.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/echoes-through-eternity-with-dr-jeffery-skinner--5523198/support.
Echoes Through Eternity Guiding church planters and pastors to plant seeds of prayer, holiness, and courage that outlast a lifetime. contact drjefferydskinner@protonmail.com
Luxurious bamboo sheets, pajamas, & more
Cozy Earth redefines luxury sleep with its best-sellingBamboo Sheet Set, made from 100% premium viscose from bamboo, and its ultra-comfortable Pajamas. Known for cooling and moisture-wicking properties, Cozy Earth'sbamboo bedding is perfect for hot sleepers seeking a restful night's sleep. The oversizedfit and incredibly soft drape of these sheets only improve with each wash, making them astandout in luxury bedding. Their pajama set brings a touch of elegance to relaxation,combining style and supreme comfort for nights in.Cozy Earth's products are a favorite among celebrities. Kris Jenner praises their bamboosheets as her nightly essential, raving about their softness and cooling comfort. For sevenconsecutive years, Oprah has included Cozy Earth on her Favorite Things list, and thebrand has been featured on Good Morning America, InStyle, and Better Homes & Gardens.Customers echo this love with thousands of 5-star reviews, describing the sheets as"buttery soft" and the pajamas as the ultimate cozy treat. With free shipping on ordersover $50, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty, Cozy Earth will bring lastingluxury and comfort into your home!
Listeners Get a 41% off Any product.
https://cozyearth.com/products/bamboo-sheet-set?variant=42626556395700
Takeaways
Every planter hits this wall of discouragement.
Discouragement is a weakness, showing investment in something eternal.
Church planting is seasonal work, with cycles of preparation and waiting.
The season of discouragement is a spiritual winter, not death.
Kingdom work is done in generations, not just months or years.
Failure is a classroom of grace, not the end.
Practical steps include returning to your call and seeking connection.
Rest is loyalty, allowing God to run His church without you.
Discouragement is part of discipleship, leading to hope.
God is faithful, and the harvest will come in time.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/echoes-through-eternity-with-dr-jeffery-skinner--5523198/support.
Echoes Through Eternity Guiding church planters and pastors to plant seeds of prayer, holiness, and courage that outlast a lifetime. contact drjefferydskinner@protonmail.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Marcus Aurelius said, what we do in life echoes through eternity.
What is your life echoing through eternity? Welcome to Echoes
through Eternity with doctor Jeffrey Skinner. Our mission is to inspire,
engage and encourage leaders from across the globe to plant
missional churches and be servant leaders. So join us and
(00:22):
hear the stories of servant leaders reverberating lives as God
echoes them through eternity. Brought to you by Missional Church
Planting and Leadership Development and Dynamic Church Planning International.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Welcome in a through eternity where faith, leadership and the
call of God intersect. I am doctor Jeffrey D. Skinner.
Today's episode is where every pastor or church planter who's
ever found themselves in a long, silent season what I
call the season of discouragement. Maybe your launched team shrank,
(00:59):
the giver. You're preaching faithfully but wondering if anyone's listening.
If that's where you are, this episode is for you
the reality of discouragement. Every planter hits this wall. Studies
show nearly half of all church plants closed within five years.
(01:19):
Most don't close because of heresy or moral failure, or
even because they didn't have a good strategy. They closed
because the planter burns out or gives up. Discouragement is
a weakness, is evidence that you've invested your soul into
something eternal. Paul says in Galatians six', nine let us
(01:42):
not become weary and doing, good for at the proper,
time we will reap the harvest if we do not give.
Up that's not. Poetry is a warning you will grow.
Weary the question is whether you'll keep sewing when the
soil looks Bren church planting is seasonal. Work in The wesleyan,
(02:05):
tradition we talk about grace as a. Process prevenient grace
prepares the. Soil justifying grace plants to, seed and sanctifying
grace grows the. Fruit those same rhythm shape. Ministry spring brings,
Excitement summer brings, Work autumn brings, fruit and winter winter brings.
(02:28):
Waiting the season of discouragement is a spiritual. Winter it's not,
death it's. Dormancy god is still working beneath the, surface
from preparation to. Discouragement this past WEEK i spoke At Music,
City West church And. Azreen they're in a season of.
Preparation there have been. Faithful they're, waiting they're, trusting and
(02:50):
they're listening from The LORD i preached From. Joshua. Three
the people Of israel are standing on the banks of
The Jordan, river preparing to enter the promised. Land but
this is a new. Generation the parents who saw The
Red sea part are. Gone they wandered into wilderness for
what scripture calls forty, years meaning a long. Time now
(03:11):
their children stood at flood stage at The Jordan. River
they can see the, promise but they can't cross. It
joshua tells them to consecrate their, lives prepare their. Hearts he,
says Because Tomorrow's lord will do wonders among. You and
that's a word for us as church. Planters that's a
word for you as a church. Planter the previous generation
(03:36):
maybe missed the promise because they didn't, prepare or maybe
you're a brain new generation in a brain new area
That god has called to plow the. Soil and oftentimes
you may be you may be that first generation that
prepares the way for the next. Generation kingdom work is
(03:58):
not done in months or, days or or even. Years
it's done in. Generations and here's the. Reality the previous
generation didn't learn from their, failure But joshua's. People joshua
(04:18):
calls the people to learn the lessons their parents. Missed
when they, learned when they learned to, Trust when the
priests stepped into the, river when their feet touched the,
edge that's when the miracle came in turn. Planting the
season of discouragement is often a season of. Preparation it's
Where god lies your will with. His it's where you
(04:39):
cast vision, again not for, possession but for inhabiting the
promises already. Given discouragement usually comes from unmat. Expectations we're,
visionaries we're. Optimistic we can see what could. Be but
when attendance, drops volunteers, disappear or your sermon, false that
(05:00):
optimism best. Reality that's when the enemy whispers you failed the.
Truth every church planter, fails every pastor, fails every human
being fells. Behind every story of success is someone who
learned from. Failure failure is at the. End it's the
classroom of. Grace The israelites parents fail because they never.
(05:25):
Learned they circle the same mountains of fear and complaint
until the next generation had to start. Over joshua's generation
broke that. Cycle your calling will require the same. Thing
if you don't, prepare if you don't Let god teach
you through, discouragement you'll keep repeating the same wilderness. Patterns
(05:48):
but if you Let him purify you in a, waiting
you'll be ready to Cross jordan when he parts the.
Water practical step for in during the. Season return to your.
Call write down the Moment god called. You revisit it.
Often his calling hasn't. Changed stay in the means of, grace,
(06:09):
pray read, fast and. Worship these aren't, obligations their. Lifelines seek.
Connection find a mentor a, coach or a friend who
listens without. Judgment wesley says no such thing as solitary.
Religion celebrate small. Winds record every baptism and story of.
(06:32):
Transformation tell these, stories just As joshua told the stories
Of god's faithfulness to the new. Generation tell these. Stories
during the worship, service gratitude reframed your vision. Rest rest isn't,
laziness it's. Loyalty sabbath, Says god can run his church
(06:54):
without me or one day be. Honest tell your people the.
Truth they don't need, perfection they need. Presents Remember eternity's.
Timeline the seeds you plant today might not bloom for,
decades but eternity measures. Differently you know a personal story.
Here what evening early in my, ministry attendance was, down
(07:17):
finances were. TIGHT i was locking the doors after another
small service WHEN i sat on the front pew and, Whispered,
god don't know how much LONGER i can do? This
and in that SILENCE i sensed him, say you're not.
Called succeed your call to stay. Faithful that night didn't change,
(07:38):
numbers but it changed. Me winter didn't end BECAUSE i worked.
Harder it ended BECAUSE i learned to rest In his.
Faithfulness The bible doesn't hide. Discouragement moses way to. Quit
jeremiah cursed today he was. Born paul said he despaired
(07:58):
of life. Itself Yet god met each one with new
Strength isaiah forty thirty. One one of my favorite, Verses
those who waited upon The lord children knew their. Strength
they shall mount up with wings like. Eagles The hebrew
word for weight is, cavah means to bind. Together waiting isn't.
(08:20):
Passive it's binding your life To. God's when you, wait
you're being woven into his. Strength wesleyan theology of endurance
isn't about. Stoogism it's about, grace, prevenient, justifying sanctifying, grace
all working to make you holy in. Hardship discouragement is
(08:43):
that a, detour it's. Discipleship romans five says suffering produces, perseverance, perseverance,
character and character. Hope hope is fruit that only grows
after a long. Winter if you're, adequit Don't you're not
(09:04):
weak for feeling. Weary you're. Human Even jesus withdrew to lonely,
places even he wept in. Gissemine don't make decisions from.
Exhaustion wait until The lord. Spats when you stand before,
him he won't say well, done successful. Servant he'll say well,
(09:26):
done good and faithful. Servant. Friend this is not the
end of your. Story if you're in, winter the soil looks,
dead they're roots. Growing the branches look, Bare but life
is moving beneath the. Bark the harvest will. Come god
is faithful in the. Waiting my prayer for you today
(09:52):
is that every pastor listening to, this every planter listening
who feels, tired, unsafe or, forgotten that you will be
reminded That god is. Near my prayer is That god
will renew your strength like the. Eagles he will teach
you to rest In his promises and trust that the
(10:16):
seed you've planted will bear fruit in. TIME i pray
that you are shaped in this season of waiting until
you cross into your. Promise, well you've been listening to
that goes through. Eternity you remember seasons, changed But god's
will does not stay. Faithful the harvest is. Coming and
(10:37):
always remember this, question what Is god echoing through your life?
Today nahing nothing
Marcus Aurelius said, what we do in life echoes through eternity.
What is your life echoing through eternity? Welcome to Echoes
through Eternity with doctor Jeffrey Skinner. Our mission is to inspire,
engage and encourage leaders from across the globe to plant
missional churches and be servant leaders. So join us and
(00:22):
hear the stories of servant leaders reverberating lives as God
echoes them through eternity. Brought to you by Missional Church
Planting and Leadership Development and Dynamic Church Planning International.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Welcome in a through eternity where faith, leadership and the
call of God intersect. I am doctor Jeffrey D. Skinner.
Today's episode is where every pastor or church planter who's
ever found themselves in a long, silent season what I
call the season of discouragement. Maybe your launched team shrank,
(00:59):
the giver. You're preaching faithfully but wondering if anyone's listening.
If that's where you are, this episode is for you
the reality of discouragement. Every planter hits this wall. Studies
show nearly half of all church plants closed within five years.
(01:19):
Most don't close because of heresy or moral failure, or
even because they didn't have a good strategy. They closed
because the planter burns out or gives up. Discouragement is
a weakness, is evidence that you've invested your soul into
something eternal. Paul says in Galatians six', nine let us
(01:42):
not become weary and doing, good for at the proper,
time we will reap the harvest if we do not give.
Up that's not. Poetry is a warning you will grow.
Weary the question is whether you'll keep sewing when the
soil looks Bren church planting is seasonal. Work in The wesleyan,
(02:05):
tradition we talk about grace as a. Process prevenient grace
prepares the. Soil justifying grace plants to, seed and sanctifying
grace grows the. Fruit those same rhythm shape. Ministry spring brings,
Excitement summer brings, Work autumn brings, fruit and winter winter brings.
(02:28):
Waiting the season of discouragement is a spiritual. Winter it's not,
death it's. Dormancy god is still working beneath the, surface
from preparation to. Discouragement this past WEEK i spoke At Music,
City West church And. Azreen they're in a season of.
Preparation there have been. Faithful they're, waiting they're, trusting and
(02:50):
they're listening from The LORD i preached From. Joshua. Three
the people Of israel are standing on the banks of
The Jordan, river preparing to enter the promised. Land but
this is a new. Generation the parents who saw The
Red sea part are. Gone they wandered into wilderness for
what scripture calls forty, years meaning a long. Time now
(03:11):
their children stood at flood stage at The Jordan. River
they can see the, promise but they can't cross. It
joshua tells them to consecrate their, lives prepare their. Hearts he,
says Because Tomorrow's lord will do wonders among. You and
that's a word for us as church. Planters that's a
word for you as a church. Planter the previous generation
(03:36):
maybe missed the promise because they didn't, prepare or maybe
you're a brain new generation in a brain new area
That god has called to plow the. Soil and oftentimes
you may be you may be that first generation that
prepares the way for the next. Generation kingdom work is
(03:58):
not done in months or, days or or even. Years
it's done in. Generations and here's the. Reality the previous
generation didn't learn from their, failure But joshua's. People joshua
(04:18):
calls the people to learn the lessons their parents. Missed
when they, learned when they learned to, Trust when the
priests stepped into the, river when their feet touched the,
edge that's when the miracle came in turn. Planting the
season of discouragement is often a season of. Preparation it's
Where god lies your will with. His it's where you
(04:39):
cast vision, again not for, possession but for inhabiting the
promises already. Given discouragement usually comes from unmat. Expectations we're,
visionaries we're. Optimistic we can see what could. Be but
when attendance, drops volunteers, disappear or your sermon, false that
(05:00):
optimism best. Reality that's when the enemy whispers you failed the.
Truth every church planter, fails every pastor, fails every human
being fells. Behind every story of success is someone who
learned from. Failure failure is at the. End it's the
classroom of. Grace The israelites parents fail because they never.
(05:25):
Learned they circle the same mountains of fear and complaint
until the next generation had to start. Over joshua's generation
broke that. Cycle your calling will require the same. Thing
if you don't, prepare if you don't Let god teach
you through, discouragement you'll keep repeating the same wilderness. Patterns
(05:48):
but if you Let him purify you in a, waiting
you'll be ready to Cross jordan when he parts the.
Water practical step for in during the. Season return to your.
Call write down the Moment god called. You revisit it.
Often his calling hasn't. Changed stay in the means of, grace,
(06:09):
pray read, fast and. Worship these aren't, obligations their. Lifelines seek.
Connection find a mentor a, coach or a friend who
listens without. Judgment wesley says no such thing as solitary.
Religion celebrate small. Winds record every baptism and story of.
(06:32):
Transformation tell these, stories just As joshua told the stories
Of god's faithfulness to the new. Generation tell these. Stories
during the worship, service gratitude reframed your vision. Rest rest isn't,
laziness it's. Loyalty sabbath, Says god can run his church
(06:54):
without me or one day be. Honest tell your people the.
Truth they don't need, perfection they need. Presents Remember eternity's.
Timeline the seeds you plant today might not bloom for,
decades but eternity measures. Differently you know a personal story.
Here what evening early in my, ministry attendance was, down
(07:17):
finances were. TIGHT i was locking the doors after another
small service WHEN i sat on the front pew and, Whispered,
god don't know how much LONGER i can do? This
and in that SILENCE i sensed him, say you're not.
Called succeed your call to stay. Faithful that night didn't change,
(07:38):
numbers but it changed. Me winter didn't end BECAUSE i worked.
Harder it ended BECAUSE i learned to rest In his.
Faithfulness The bible doesn't hide. Discouragement moses way to. Quit
jeremiah cursed today he was. Born paul said he despaired
(07:58):
of life. Itself Yet god met each one with new
Strength isaiah forty thirty. One one of my favorite, Verses
those who waited upon The lord children knew their. Strength
they shall mount up with wings like. Eagles The hebrew
word for weight is, cavah means to bind. Together waiting isn't.
(08:20):
Passive it's binding your life To. God's when you, wait
you're being woven into his. Strength wesleyan theology of endurance
isn't about. Stoogism it's about, grace, prevenient, justifying sanctifying, grace
all working to make you holy in. Hardship discouragement is
(08:43):
that a, detour it's. Discipleship romans five says suffering produces, perseverance, perseverance,
character and character. Hope hope is fruit that only grows
after a long. Winter if you're, adequit Don't you're not
(09:04):
weak for feeling. Weary you're. Human Even jesus withdrew to lonely,
places even he wept in. Gissemine don't make decisions from.
Exhaustion wait until The lord. Spats when you stand before,
him he won't say well, done successful. Servant he'll say well,
(09:26):
done good and faithful. Servant. Friend this is not the
end of your. Story if you're in, winter the soil looks,
dead they're roots. Growing the branches look, Bare but life
is moving beneath the. Bark the harvest will. Come god
is faithful in the. Waiting my prayer for you today
(09:52):
is that every pastor listening to, this every planter listening
who feels, tired, unsafe or, forgotten that you will be
reminded That god is. Near my prayer is That god
will renew your strength like the. Eagles he will teach
you to rest In his promises and trust that the
(10:16):
seed you've planted will bear fruit in. TIME i pray
that you are shaped in this season of waiting until
you cross into your. Promise, well you've been listening to
that goes through. Eternity you remember seasons, changed But god's
will does not stay. Faithful the harvest is. Coming and
(10:37):
always remember this, question what Is god echoing through your life?
Today nahing nothing
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.