CNLP 793 | Carl Lentz On Preaching While Having Sex Outside Marriage, How the Pressure of Church Growth Got To Him, And Warning Signs for Other Church Leaders

About this episode

Carl Lentz discusses the collapse of his ministry, the pressures of church growth, and the warning signs for other leaders.

Former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz opens up about the factors that led to the collapse of his ministry. He discusses the core issues that led to his breach of trust, what it was like to preach while he was having an affair, the relentless pressure of rapid growth, what rehab taught him about addressing core issues, his regrets, and warning signs for church leaders facing the pressure. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork ❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life. Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes ART OF LEADERSHIP LIVE 3 days of deep growth, trusted guidance, and fresh vision for what's next. Join me in Nashvile, TN September 21-23, 2026. Learn more: https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-live/ Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

People in this episode

Host: Carey Nieuwhof

Guest: Carl Lentz

Topics covered

• church leadership
• personal failure
• affairs
• ministry collapse
• pressure of growth
• rehabilitation
• warning signs

Keywords

• Carl Lentz
• Hillsong
• affair
• church growth
• leadership
• rehab
• trust breach
• warning signs

Sponsors

The Art of Leadership Network

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hillsong NYC

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