Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston

Leadership comes with blessing, growth, and impact, but it also comes with hurt, betrayal, disappointment, and relational fallout. In this deeply personal episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston explores what it means to lead with a right spirit when people wound, misrepresent, or turn against you. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5:19, he shares practical and spiritual insights on how leaders can stop "keeping score" and learn to move forward in freedom. Through honest stories from ministry and life, Pastor Brian unpacks 10 practical ways to stop counting trespasses, including: Choosing will over emotion Renewing your mind Pursuing peace instead of revenge Getting counsel and help Praying for those who hurt you Choosing the high ground and moving on This episode is a candid conversation about forgiveness, emotional health, leadership wounds, and protecting your spirit for the future God still has for you. If you've ever struggled with offense, betrayal, or disappointment in leadership, this message will challenge you to let go, heal, and lead free. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Leadership comes with incredible highs, but also real lows that few people talk about. In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston unpacks the discouragement, pressure, loneliness, and unmet expectations that often come with leading over time. Drawing from Psalm 142 and personal experience, he speaks to the moments when leaders feel overwhelmed, overlooked, and even like no one truly cares for their soul. Pastor Brian also highlights the danger of leadership at its lowest point and how those moments can shape or derail a leader's future. But there's a turning point. Through David's story, he shares three anchors for every leader: praise, people, and perspective, keys to staying grounded and moving forward even in the toughest seasons. If you've ever felt like quitting or questioned your calling, this episode will remind you how to keep going. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, church health, and building with long-term vision. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In Part 2 of this important leadership conversation, Pastor Brian Houston goes deeper into the question every church founder and senior pastor must wrestle with: Who is really in charge? Speaking directly to church planters, pioneers, and long-term lead pastors, Pastor Brian unpacks the warning signs of a church shifting from being board-governed to board-controlled. From curbing pastoral authority and rewriting history, to redefining a founder as merely an "employee," this episode explores how control can quietly creep into church governance, and the devastating impact it can have. Pastor Brian lays out practical, forward-looking counsel for structuring accountability the right way: • Why the senior pastor should chair the board • Why staff members and conflicted relationships should not determine a pastor's future • The importance of external, seasoned apostolic oversight • How to protect the long-term vision through constitutional clarity • And the limited, biblical grounds upon which a senior leader should ever be removed This is a candid and at times confronting episode about honor, authority, accountability, and generational stewardship. If you are building something meant to outlast you, this conversation will challenge you to think carefully about how your church is governed and who ultimately holds the power. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In this episode of Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston, Pastor Brian unpacks seven seemingly simple decisions that can shape not only your future, but the future of generations to come. Drawing from decades of leadership, ministry, and life experience, Pastor Brian challenges the idea that decisions are ever "small" when the consequences are great. Through the framework of Who, Where, What, When, With, Why, and Wish, Pastor Brian explores how choices around relationships, location, calling, timing, community, motivation, and desire can either strengthen or undermine long-term impact. From marriage and friendships to career paths and spiritual priorities, this episode is a powerful reminder that leadership is lived out in everyday decisions. If you want to lead with intention, align your life with God's calling, and make choices that outlast you, this conversation will both inspire and challenge you to think generationally about the decisions you make today. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/ If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Pastor David Blunt sits down with Pastor Brian Houston to unpack calling, resilience, marketplace ministry, forgiveness, and team building. Discover why you shouldn't just live saved. Live called. Learn how heart beats talent when building teams, why your work is worship in the marketplace, and how leaders can walk out forgiveness without carrying a wounded spirit. Brian also shares governance lessons he'd apply if he were starting again in 1983 What you'll learn: • How a God-given calling fuels grit, endurance, and leadership resilience • Heart over talent: the character traits to prioritize when building teams • Marketplace ministry: turning your work into worship and Kingdom impact • Practical steps to forgive and avoid a wounded spirit as a leader • Governance wisdom: healthy boards, accountability, and longevity 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

How to Make Your Church the Best Church in the World In this inspiring and deeply practical episode, Pastor Brian Houston shares timeless principles on what truly makes a church flourish—not from the top down, but from the inside out. Drawing on over 40 years of pastoral experience, Pastor Brian explores how every believer can actively contribute to creating a church that feels like the best church in the world. From cultivating a unified spirit and building a healthy church "soul," to being easy to lead, committed to vision, and fostering a fun, faith-filled atmosphere—this episode is packed with insight for pastors, leaders, and passionate church members alike. You'll learn: Why your spirit, attitude, and faith play a critical role in your church's health How to contribute to a dynamic, faith-charged atmosphere The power of a volunteer spirit and outward-focused culture What it means to find your place in a contagious vision Why building authentic community matters more than ever Whether you're in church leadership or simply love your local church, Pastor Brian's message will challenge, equip, and encourage you to bring your best—and in doing so, help your church become all that God has called it to be. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In this follow-up to a powerful conversation on preaching and teaching culture, Pastor Brian Houston dives into Part 2 of the 30 foundational principles that shaped the communication culture at Hillsong Church. This episode is packed with practical wisdom for preachers, teachers, and communicators—from the importance of delivering messages with confidence and humility to understanding the balance between transparency and faith, preparing messages with purpose, and knowing how to preach to both a room and a global audience. Pastor Brian unpacks the final 15 points that governed the preaching team during his leadership at Hillsong, offering real, raw insight into what makes a message effective, transformative, and Christ-centered. Whether you're a senior pastor, emerging communicator, or simply passionate about church leadership and spiritual growth, this episode is rich with value. Key Takeaways Include: Why delivery is just as vital as content The role of humour, notes, and time sensitivity in preaching How to speak with authority—and when to stay in your lane Why every message should point to Jesus and end with a call to salvation The power of reflection, note-taking, and leaving Sunday behind on Monday Tune in for a deeply practical and spiritually grounding session that will inspire you to grow in your calling, sharpen your message, and serve your audience with authenticity and excellence. Interested in coaching or mentoring with Pastor Brian? Visit www.brianandbobbie.com to learn more. Leadership and Other Stuff with Brian Houston — equipping leaders and communicators with wisdom, faith, and practical tools for real-life impact. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In this thought-provoking episode of Leadership & Other Stuff, Pastor Brian Houston unpacks what might be one of the most countercultural ideas in leadership today: the power of being beautifully boring. Drawing inspiration from Solomon's unexpected prayer for wisdom over wealth, fame, or power, Brian challenges leaders to reconsider what truly brings lasting influence and divine blessing. With characteristic warmth and humor—plus a few surprising stories (including a run-in with a former Prime Minister)—Brian explores the leadership qualities that may not grab headlines but build legacy: faithfulness, patience, obedience, holiness, servanthood, humility, sacrifice, and consistency. These "unsexy" virtues, as Pastor Brian calls them, might not be flashy, but they are foundational. In a world chasing charisma and excitement, maybe it's the quiet, steady path that holds the greatest reward. Whether you're leading in ministry, business, or life—this episode is a refreshing reminder that God's blessing often follows those who simply keep showing up, choosing wisdom over wow. Take a breath. Slow down. Choose beautifully boring. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In Part 2 of this dynamic 3-part interview, Pastor Brian Houston continues his in-depth conversation with Pastor Jonathan Shuttlesworth offering rare insights into the mindset, moments, and ministry decisions that shaped one of the most influential church movements of our time. This episode goes far beyond surface-level leadership talk. Pastor Brian opens up about the internal shifts that changed how he saw God—and how that revelation transformed the way he led people. Moving from a performance-based, fear-driven view of God to one rooted in grace, favor, and vision marked a turning point not just in his preaching, but in the very culture of Hillsong Church. Together, Pastors Brian and Jonathan discuss the difference between simply attracting a crowd and building a healthy, sustainable church community. Brian shares why some leaders rise with momentum but fade without maturity—and how Pastor Brian cultivated a sense of mission that kept key leaders grounded, loyal, and thriving long-term. The conversation touches on the challenges of growth, the dangers of ego, and the subtle line between leading a ministry and letting it lead you. The episode is rich with practical wisdom on vision, legacy, and what it means to lead with both power and humility in a rapidly changing world. Whether you're in ministry, business, or simply passionate about building something that matters, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger, lead better, and believe deeper. If you missed Part 1, be sure to go back and listen—then stay tuned for the powerful conclusion in Part 3 next Wednesday! Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In this powerful follow-up to last week's episode, Pastor Brian continues his honest reflection on what it means to fall—and what comes after. Using the Humpty Dumpty metaphor, he opens up about his own very public leadership failure, the personal and spiritual cost, and the journey toward healing. He shares candidly about the pain of isolation, the impact on his family, and the challenge of forgiveness when anger and injustice feel overwhelming. Pastor Brian also explores the difference between looking to people to put you back together—and turning to the King who truly can. This episode is a heartfelt encouragement to leaders, pastors, and anyone navigating regret, loss, or unexpected transition. It's about humility, honesty, and hope—and the road back from brokenness. The King's horses and the King's men couldn't put Humpty together again—but the King can. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

In this deeply personal and practical episode, Pastor Brian Houston reflects on the inevitable pressures that come with leadership—and life itself. Drawing on Scripture, lived experience, and candid stories from his own journey, Pastor Brian unpacks what it means to be a stressed leader—and how to avoid becoming a distressed one. From embracing pressure to understanding your limits, identifying stress signals, and building in rest, rhythms, and laughter, Pastor Brian offers ten powerful principles to help leaders not only survive, but lead well through tension and challenge. Whether you're a high-capacity leader feeling the RPMs rise or simply navigating the day-to-day pressures of life, this episode will encourage, ground, and guide you toward healthy, Spirit-led leadership. Key Takeaways: The difference between stress and distress How to identify your personal stress signals Why rest, laughter, and spiritual rhythms are non-negotiable The power of delegation, community, and emotional awareness How to walk through life's valleys without being taken out by them "There's no such thing as an unstressed leader—but there is such a thing as a wise one." Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

Welcome to the relaunch of my leadership podcast, now called "Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston." In this relaunch episode, I discuss the impact of insecurity on leadership potential and practical ways to overcome these obstacles. In this episode, we cover: The story of King Saul and how his insecurity sabotaged his leadership. The traits of an insecure leader and how they can hinder success. Real-life examples and insights on celebrating others' successes, trusting and releasing people, and taking the high ground. The importance of forgiveness, embracing innovation, and avoiding the pitfalls of comparison. Building a world where others can thrive and experiencing relational fallout. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this episode offers valuable lessons and encouragement to help you lead with confidence and security. Subscribe to Leadership & Other Stuff with Brian Houston on YouTube. If you would like Pastor Brian to speak at your church or conduct a Leadership Roundtable, you can send an email with your inquiry at bbhouston@jesusfollowers.tv Support Our Ministry JesusFollowersTV: If you feel led to partner with us, your generosity will help us continue our work. Visit our Website. Connect with Us: https://www.brianandbobbie.com/contact

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