The Five Gifts Podcast

The Five Gifts Podcast exists for Christian Leaders and Christ-followers to rediscover Christ's presence and activity in their lives and their churches.

RSS iTunes

Our Hosts:

Charles Russell has served in Pastoral Ministry for 26 years. He is also a certified John Maxwell speaker, coach, and trainer for staff, leadership teams, and volunteers. He has a Masters in Organizational Leadership. Find out more at charlesrusselltraining.com.

Bruce Ritter Bruce Ritter has been a lead Pastor for 28 years and a Spiritual Life and Leadership Coach since 2005. He is also a consultant with Church Life Resources. He has a Masters in Pastoral Ministry and a Doctorate in Evangelism and Discipleship. Check out more at his website Coaching Cardia.

Links

The Leader Before the Leadership: 7 Core Commitments for Servant-Leaders

2026-07-13

Before Christ equips His Church through the fivefold ministry, He forms the hearts of those He calls.

Before Christ equips His Church through the fivefold ministry, He forms the hearts of those He calls. In this episode, Charles and Bruce explore6 seven core commitments that shape healthy fivefold leaders. Using Paul's instruction to Timothy to "watch your life and doctrine closely" (1 Timothy 4:16), this conversation reveals why intimacy with Christ, integrity, authenticity, personal responsibility, adaptability, lifelong learning, and joyful dependence on God are essential for sustainable ministry. Whether you are serving in vocational ministry, leading a local church, or discerning your place within the fivefold gifts of Christ, this episode provides biblical wisdom and practical encouragement for developing character that supports your calling. Because the greatest ministry you'll ever lead is the stewardship of your own soul. Here are the seven questions rewritten as open-ended, provocative coaching questions: If ministry vanished from your life tomorrow, what would actually be left of your relationship with Jesus? What are you still hiding from the people who are closest to you—and what is that secrecy costing you? Whose approval are you still chasing, and what would it feel like to stop performing for them? When something goes wrong, where does the blame usually land—and how often does your pulpit become a place to unload anger you haven't actually dealt with? Are you leading from faith toward the future, or are you leading from fear, propped up by nostalgia for what used to be? When was the last time an idea, a book, or a question genuinely stretched you—and what does the answer say about where you are intellectually? Do you still love what you're doing, or have you quietly made yourself responsible for weight that was never yours to carry?

Download
Filetype: M4A - Size: 43 MB - Duration: 49:24m (118 kbps 48000 Hz)