Watermark's Church Leadership Podcast

In our last Church Leadership Podcast, Watermark teaching pastors Timothy Ateek and John Elmore walked us through the ways they prepare messages. This week, we’re behind the curtain again to see how they continue to improve their actual sermon delivery. Understanding your audience, getting useful feedback, finding your own unique style—it's all here.  Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

In this episode of the Church Leader's Podcast, John McGee sits down with Watermark's teaching pastors Timothy "TA" Ateek and John Elmore to discuss their methods of planning when it comes to sermon preparation. Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

Before he led at Watermark’s Young Adult Ministry or preached at Harris Creek in Waco, Jonathan “JP” Pokluda was money-driven and success-obsessed. In this week’s Church Leadership Podcast, JP shares how he found himself in vocational ministry with no ladder to climb and had to rethink his whole approach to life.   Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

Last week, John McGee and Caitlin Van Wagoner shared some qualities that make people stand out on a team. Now they’re back with more habits of exceptional employees—like following through, challenging the status quo, and soliciting feedback—and how you can develop them. (You can find Part 1 here.)What Leaders Look For - Download  Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

Certain people stand out as exemplary teammates, and it can be hard to put your finger on why. In this week's Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Caitlin Van Wagoner examine the qualities that make these people so exceptional, how to use them to distinguish yourself on a team, and how leaders can cultivate them in an organization. Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

In many ways, the way you bring an employee or volunteer on board sets the tone for their experience going forward. It goes beyond just setting them up with a key card or a lanyard with a name tag; it’s a chance to introduce them to the culture they’re joining and communicate how valuable they are to the team. Special guests Josiah Jones and Lanie Eberhard joined this week’s Church Leadership Podcast to share their best practices for starting things on the right foot.   Onboarding Documents from Watermark's HR Department:Onboarding Document - Hosts and GuestsOnboarding Document - Events and MinistriesOnboarding Document - Contacting Facilites, IT and ProductionOnboarding Document - Writing Your Website BioRecommended Podcast Episodes for New Team Members:1. Views from the Porch “How to Work at Work”2. Views from the Porch “Becoming Unoffendable”3. Views from the Porch “Leading Up Part 1”4. Views from the Porch “Leading Up Part 2”5. Church Leaders Podcast “Giving and Receiving Feedback”6. Church Leaders Podcast “Responding to Criticism”7. Church Leaders Podcast “What Older Leaders Want You to Know”8. Church Leaders Podcast “A Leaders First 90 Days” Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

Responding to failure gets a lot of attention– but what about success? What’s the right response of a Christ-follower when things go well? What’s the difference between confidence and arrogance? In this week’s podcast, John McGee shares the six things you should always do after a win.  Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

The last few episodes of the Church Leadership Podcast talked about physical health and growth, but internal health is just as important. Leadership can be lonely, and the constant pressure to produce and perform can push “inside health” to the bottom of the priority list. If you strip away all the external results of your efforts and instead examine just your heart, how are you actually doing?   Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

Most of us hope to continue growing and developing throughout our lives. However, without taking conscious steps, it's easy to become complacent in our daily routines and habitual ways of thinking. In this week's podcast, John McGee shares ten actionable strategies to foster your own growth and self-improvement.  Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.

Most of us acknowledge our bodies as temples to be stewarded for God’s glory, but it’s easier said than put into practice. In today’s episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Luke Friesen and Bobby Rodriguez explain some of the spiritual implications of physical health and some measurable steps you can take toward being a healthier leader.  Church Leaders Conference is Watermark Resources’ annual event designed to refresh, equip, and inspire church leaders. Whether you’re a senior pastor, small group leader, tech director, or serve in operations, CLC offers two full days of practical training, biblical encouragement, and behind-the-scenes access to real ministry in action. Through main stage sessions, over 50 breakout options, and live ministry showcases, attendees gain tools and insights to strengthen their leadership and better serve their local churches. Join us on April 27-28 or April 29-30, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Learn more and register at CLC26.com.