Bible Leadership Podcast

You were never meant to lead alone—God builds healthy teams through chemistry, character, and the courage to surround yourself with the right people. In this episode of the Bible Leadership Podcast, Mark and Erica unpack what “chemistry” on a team really is and why it matters so much for an effective team. They talk about attraction (actually liking the people you serve with), responsiveness (people who take initiative), and complementary gifts that make the whole team stronger. Along the way, they pull in examples from Scripture—David and Jonathan, Paul and Barnabas, Moses and Aaron, Samson, Rehoboam, and more—to show what happens when leaders choose their people well… and when they don’t. You’ll also hear real stories from Mark and Erica’s 20+ years of serving together, including mistakes, hard seasons, and the gift of teammates who tell you the truth.

You can’t lead like Jesus at a breakneck pace—so chunk your time, guard your calendar, and build Sabbath rhythms that protect your family and your soul. In this episode, Mark and Erica get super practical about how to slow your life down without dropping your calling. They unpack “chunking” your day into focused blocks, protecting a daily family chunk, and refusing to let every open slot on your calendar be fair game. They also talk about disappointing people well, renegotiating deadlines, and how Sabbath rhythms, mini-getaways, and solitude keep you from burning out. If you’ve ever felt like ministry, leadership, or life is going way faster than your soul can handle, this one’s for you. https://bibleleadership.com/quick-links/

Lasting ministry isn’t built by going faster—it’s built by abiding deeper.    Mark and Erica get practical about the dangers of leading at a breakneck pace—hero-complex, thin defenses against sin, and drifting into “man’s wisdom” over God’s. They unpack how prayer, Scripture, and Sabbath keep leaders grounded, how to disciple a team into healthy rhythms, and why slowing down actually increases trust in God. Expect honest stories, biblical guardrails, and simple, repeatable practices for a rest-first leadership culture.   

God doesn’t ask you to do everything you could do—He invites you to slow down, listen, and do the right things with Him. https://courses.bibleleadership.com/blp-link-in-bio Mark shares a vulnerable story from the COVID season when running at a breakneck pace led to a physical and spiritual crash—and how an emergency sabbatical became a rescue. He unpacks a simple practice he calls “chunking” to create focused blocks for what matters most (quiet time, message prep, leadership, family, rest) and explains why going slower actually leads to wiser, Spirit-led leadership. Erica tees up reflective questions about stress signals in our bodies, compassion fatigue, and treating God like a friend—not just a coworker.

What if your church pain is the very tool God is using to heal you? In this episode, Mark and Erica show how humility turns offense into breakthrough—Naaman-style. Mark and Erica explore how pride can make us “miss the miracle,” using Naaman’s story (2 Kings 5) as a lens for modern church hurt. They unpack how offense, unrealistic expectations, and unprocessed wounds trap leaders and disciples alike—and how humility, honest friendships, and prayer break the cycle. From modeling the “lower seat” (Luke 14) to resisting online outrage, the episode offers practical ways to lead people through offense toward healing. You’ll hear actionable counsel on team culture, spiritual warfare against offense, and staying rooted in heaven-minded hope.  

Could this hurt be your refining? God often uses the pain we experience in the church to shape us into more humble, compassionate, and Christlike leaders. In this honest conversation, Pastor Mark Carter and co-host Erica Adkins dive into one of the most sensitive topics in church life—church hurt. Whether you’ve been wounded by leaders, overlooked, or misunderstood, this episode reframes your pain as part of God’s refining process. They unpack Hebrews 12, exploring how endurance through hardship develops Christlike character and how leaders can walk through hurt without running from God’s discipline.

Feeling stuck in your calling? The wilderness is where God purifies our ambition, teaches us wisdom, and reminds us that people—not performance—are the real legacy. In this episode of the Bible Leadership Podcast, Pastor Mark Carter and co-host Erica Adkins unpack how God uses seasons of wilderness to shape a leader’s heart. From learning wisdom to pruning unhealthy relationships, this episode explores the tension between ambition and people, waiting and working, ministry and identity. Through real-life stories and biblical insight, Mark shares how leaders can stay faithful, humble, and people-centered when God presses “pause” on their plans. Sign up for our email so you never miss a podcast or other helpful content: https://courses.bibleleadership.com/blp-link-in-bio

The wilderness is the workshop of the soul—where God reshapes your heart for what’s next. In Part 2 of our Wilderness series, Dr. Mark Carter and Erica Adkins dive deeper into how to lead yourself and others through those confusing, in-between seasons when God’s promise hasn’t yet become reality. From church transitions and burnout to personal loss and leadership wounds, they explore what it means to stay faithful, grounded, and hopeful when everything feels disoriented. This conversation helps leaders recognize what’s “normal” in the wilderness—and how to find God’s hand when you can’t see the way forward.  

The wilderness isn’t punishment—it’s preparation for the promise. In this episode, Mark Carter and co-host Erica Adkins dive into what it means to walk through the “wilderness” seasons of life and leadership. These are the in-between spaces—after a promise is given, but before it’s fulfilled. Drawing from Scripture and personal stories, they explore why God leads us through wildernesses and how leaders can develop spiritual resilience during these confusing and refining times.

In this episode of the Fierce Leadership Podcast, Pastor Mark Carter shares what he considers to be some of the toughest stuff in ministry in an interview with Pastor Arman Sheffey on the Fury and Friends podcast. Support the show

In this next course from the Leadership Foundations series, Pastor Mark Carter explains the major purposes of prayer and shares four ideas that will help you know Jesus deeply through prayer.Support the show

In this episode of the Fierce Leadership Podcast, Pastor Mark Carter explains why there is no cruise control in ministry or serving. He also reminds us to keep God at the center of it all.Support the show

Is your confidence in yourself, or in God? Do you value the counsel of others? Are you aware of your blind spots? In this episode from the "Best of" series, Pastor Mark Carter and special guest Pastor Gary Ricci discuss how to remain humble as a leader, keeping the focus where it belongs: Jesus.Support the show

Marriage is meant to unite two people as one, but unexpected trials and difficult seasons can create distance between couples. In this episode from the "Best Of" series, Mark and Mackenzie Carter reflect on 20 years of marriage and share three helpful commitments for building a strong, healthy marriage with God at the center.Support the show

Have you ever felt passed up for promotion? Bible leaders are reliable – they are marked by an internal and external constancy that is both seen and felt.In this first episode from the "Best Of" series, Pastors Mark and Brandon contrast David and Saul and give 6 practical suggestions for how get our hearts right as we wait for God to reveal His way for us.Support the show

If we're going to lead anything of any significance there's going to be a plot to take us out through compromise, so we must take our leadership call seriously. Support the show

There's a danger in despising the war because it isn't the pasture. But God made us to fight for that which He has already given us. And you get to the pasture BY WAY of the war. Support the show

As leaders, our disposition matters to God. In this quick leadership droplet, Pastor Carter talks about setting a tone of grace,  especially in ministry and ministry related environments, and adjusting our attitude to be in line with how God wants to be represented to his people. Support the show

Pastor Carter continues discussing how to share your God story with gentle clarity as part of the Leadership Foundations series. Salvation Illustration » Related Posts »Leadership Foundations 1: PotentialLeadership Foundations 2: Strong RootsLeadership Foundations 3.1: How to Share Your God Story (part 1)Leadership Foundations 3.2: How to Share Your God Story (part 2)Support the show

Pastor Carter continues the Leadership Foundations series and talks more about how to share God story with others through deliberate intentionality. Get the Show Notes » Circles of Influence » Related Posts »Leadership Foundations 1: PotentialLeadership Foundations 2: Strong RootsLeadership Foundations 3.1: How to Share Your God Story (part 1)Leadership Foundations 3.3: How to Share Your God Story (part 3)Support the show