Good Limits vs. Bad Limits: How Wise Leaders Know the Difference
After 30 years of wrestling with the tension between vision and limitation, I’ve come to see that how we handle limits can make—or break—our leadership. In this episode, I explore the subtle but powerful difference between good and bad limits. Bad limits are driven by fear, faulty thinking, and self-protection. But good limits? They’re gifts from God—meant to ground us, guide us, and grow us. You’ll hear how ignoring God’s limits nearly cost me everything: my marriage, my leadership, my soul. But when we stop trying to be God and instead embrace the limits He gives us, we begin to see Him in ways we never could have imagined. I’ll share practical ways you can discern the difference and walk in the freedom of wise, Spirit-led boundaries. This episode is both personal and pastoral—meant to help you lead from a deeper place. Listen now—and rediscover the God who meets you right in the middle of your limits.
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30:45
The Power of Leading From Your Marriage or Singleness as a Sign and Wonder: Pt.2
👉 Download the FREE Emotionally Healthy Leader Discussion Guide at emotionallyhealthy.org/leader —--------------------------------------------------- In today’s episode, we dive deep into one of the most misunderstood and undervalued aspects of Christian leadership—leading out of your singleness. Whether you’re 25 or 75, single by calling or circumstance, you are not a problem to be fixed or a “not-yet-married” Christian waiting in the wings. You are a sign and wonder—a prophetic witness to the kingdom of God. Drawing from Scripture, early church history, personal stories, and modern discipleship tools, I’ll challenge the prevailing theology that sidelines singleness and offer a fresh, liberating vision rooted in Jesus’ own life. You'll learn why emotionally healthy singleness is not only a gift to the church, but essential for her transformation. If you’ve ever felt unseen or unsure how to lead from your current season of life, this episode will expand your vision, affirm your worth, and equip you to live—and lead—out of your God-given identity. Plus, get access to a free study guide at emotionallyhealthy.org/leader to help you and your team take the next steps.
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32:20
The Power of Leading From Your Marriage or Singleness as a Sign and Wonder: Pt.1
👉 Download the FREE Emotionally Healthy Leader Discussion Guide at emotionallyhealthy.org/leader —--------------------------------------------------- Most Christian leaders are taught to prioritize ministry first—leaving marriage, singleness, and sexuality in the shadows. But what if the loudest gospel we preach isn't from our pulpits, but from how we live out our deepest relationships? In this powerful episode, Pete Scazzero uncovers a profound, often overlooked truth: your marriage (or singleness) is not a private matter—it’s a sign and wonder, a living revelation of God’s love to the world. Drawing from decades of ministry, his own marriage journey with Geri, and Scripture’s radical vision for union, Pete challenges leaders to flip the script. This isn’t about managing your relationships. It’s about transforming your leadership from the inside out. If you're married, make your spouse your first ambition. If you're single, live out your calling with the same intentionality. The church will never be whole until we lead out of healthy, loving, God-centered relationships. Listen now—and join the revolution.
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31:51
Why True Leaders Confront the Elephants in the Room (Part 2)
📝 How Emotionally Healthy Are You? Take this Free Assessment to find out. https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/mature —--------------------------------------------------- There’s no other way to lead with integrity—none—than by confronting the elephants in the room. In Part 2 of this series, I unpack the spiritual and emotional cost of avoiding the hard conversations that must happen in every church, team, and family system. I begin with a powerful parable—“The Bridge”—a vivid picture of what happens when we carry burdens that don’t belong to us. Many leaders are doing just that—overfunctioning, sidetracked, and drained—because we’ve accepted ropes we were never meant to hold. We’ll explore why ignoring dysfunctional behaviors is not compassion, it’s compromise—and how, over time, it kills mission, culture, and credibility. You’ll learn why every unresolved conflict or unhealthy pattern is not just a leadership issue, but a discipleship issue. This episode is an invitation to courage. To maturity. And to the deep peace that only comes on the other side of truth and integrity. Your leadership matters. Let’s do the hard, holy work together.
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31:31
Why True Leaders Confront the Elephants in the Room (Part 1)
📝 Free Church Culture Assessment: How is your church doing in these 6 core areas? https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/churchhealth —--------------------------------------------------- Leadership is hard. And confronting the elephants in the room—the inappropriate behaviors, unhealthy patterns, and unresolved tensions we all want to ignore—is even harder. In today’s episode, I’ll share why true leaders must resist the temptation to avoid these challenges, and why doing so is essential for real discipleship and healthy leadership development. You’ll hear stories from my own failures, lessons from decades of ministry, and biblical wisdom that calls us to courageous, loving leadership. We’ll talk about why confronting elephants is messy, time-consuming, and uncomfortable—but why it’s also the only way to build a spiritually vibrant, emotionally healthy community. You’ll walk away with hope, a greater sense of purpose, and practical first steps you can take right now. If you want your church culture to reflect Jesus instead of toxic patterns, this episode is for you. Don’t miss Part 2, where we’ll go even deeper into why this work is critical for your joy, peace, and lasting fruit.
Many pastors and church leaders today feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated that their churches don’t seem to be making mature disciples. The Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast explores the paradigms and practices leaders need to transform their church culture and multiply deeply changed disciples.
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