The Leader Lounge
The Leader Lounge Podcast helps youth leaders and parents bring the stories of Jesus to life so they can communicate the Gospel with kids in a way that is clear, compelling, and true. Co-hosts Emily and Chris Storms are Young Life and WyldLife leaders who love Scripture and enjoy helping others grow in biblical literacy, curiosity, and confidence as they share Jesus with teenagers. Each week, in about 20 minutes, they read a Gospel story, talk through honest questions and observations, and model how to retell that story in everyday language your kids can actually understand and remember. Whether you are a high school or college-age ministry leader or a parent who wants more natural Gospel conversations at home, you will walk away from every episode with a clearer picture of Jesus and practical ideas for your next Club talk, Bible study, or bedtime conversation. New episodes release every Tuesday morning, offering a light, fun, and inspirational space to deepen your love for Scripture and become a better communicator of the Gospel.
Episodes
Up on the mountain, the Law and the Prophets meet the One they pointed to, and the Father says, "Listen to Him."
Seaver Bransfield joins Chris and Emily again to read the Transfiguration in Mark, Matthew, and Luke. They also look at how John, who was on the mountain, writes, "We have seen His glory." The group notices how the human writers struggle to describe what they saw, like Mark's "whiter than anyone on earth c...
Before Jesus did any public ministry, the Father called Him "beloved."
Chris and Emily welcome Seaver Bransfield ("like beaver with an S"), Young Life staff at the University of Central Florida, to talk through the baptism of Jesus. This is one of the few stories in all four Gospels, so the three of them read it in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and compare what each writer noticed. They talk about why a sinle...
Tables flew, coins scattered, and Jesus called it zeal for his Father's house.
What does it look like when perfect love turns into righteous anger? Chris and Emily Storms welcome back their friend Molly Rust to compare all four Gospel accounts of Jesus cleansing the temple, found in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 2. They dig into why Jesus was so furious at the money changers, what it means to be righteously ...
She'd been hidden for twelve years. Jesus called her out — and called her daughter.
What does it look like when Jesus meets someone who's spent twelve years trying to stay invisible? Chris and Emily welcome their friend and fellow WyldLife leader Molly Rust to dig into the story of the bleeding woman and Jairus's daughter from Luke 8:40-56. They talk about why this unnamed woman's twelve-year struggle mirrors t...
A Roman soldier never even met Jesus in person — but Jesus said he'd never seen faith like his.
What if the greatest faith in the entire Gospels doesn't come from a disciple, but from a Roman soldier who never even meets Jesus face to face? Chris and Emily Storms are joined again by their friend, David to dig into the story of Jesus and the centurion's servant from Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10. They work thro...
Peter stepped out of the boat into a storm — because Jesus said, "Come."
What does it take to step out of a boat and onto open water? Chris and Emily Storms welcome their friend David Jensen to compare all three Gospel accounts of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14, Mark 6, and John 6. They dig into why only Matthew records Peter's famous walk on the waves, debate the difference between being afraid of ...
Nicodemus came at night with a question. Jesus answered with the most famous verse in the Bible.
Why does the most famous verse in the Bible follow one of the most confusing conversations in the Gospels? Chris and Emily Storms dig into John 3:1-21, the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night and Jesus' answer that you must be "born again." They unpack why a respected Pharisee who knew the Law backward and forward...
One sister served. One sister sat. Jesus said only one thing was necessary.
Can serving Jesus actually get in the way of knowing Jesus? Chris and Emily return from a summer break to dig into Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha and Mary welcoming Jesus into their home. They unpack why Martha's busyness wasn't the real problem — her anxiety was — and why Jesus never criticizes her serving...
I was skipping down the hallway dressed like a hamster. I'm 53 years old — and I love getting to do this 'cause it keeps me young.
Camp season is here. In this special episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily kick off a three-part series for leaders getting ready to take kids to camp. This first installment is the big-picture conversation; your walk with Jesus, thinking like a leader instead of a cam...
Anything that draws attention to you and your table, we probably just shouldn't do.
Camp doesn't start when you get there — it starts the second you walk into the parking lot to get on the bus. In Part 2 of The Leader Lounge's three-part camp series, Chris and Emily Storms get specific, walking through camp trip location by location: the bus ride, welcome, leader lounge, and dining hall. They share prac...
I'll eat every sardine in camp before I would get on the swing.
The final installment of The Leader Lounge's three-part camp series brings it home. Chris and Emily walk through the rest of camp — the club room, the cabins, cabin time, all-camp events, rides, and free time — with the same practical, leader-tested thoughts. Chris talks pranks, lights-out, and respecting the cabin next door. Emily shares the...
The people chose to stay in the desolate place with Jesus rather than somewhere else without him.
What happens when an exhausted, grieving Jesus is interrupted by a crowd of thousands? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily read the feeding of the 5,000 across all four Gospels (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, John 6) — the only miracle besides the resurrection that shows up in every Gospel. T...
Jesus bends down, writes in the dirt, and gives a shamed woman her dignity back — then does the same for her accusers.
What do you do with a story that doesn't even appear in the earliest manuscripts? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Young Life leaders Chris and Emily Storms walk through the woman caught in adultery (John 7:53–8:11) — starting with why your Bible has that little note above it, ...
The outsider becomes the host to more outsiders — what Matthew's calling teaches us about reaching kids far from Jesus.
What happens when Jesus walks up to the most hated guy in town and says, "Follow me"? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily Storms return to their original format — reading the calling of Matthew across all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 9, Mark 2, Luke 5) and gett...
Two lost sons, one running father, and a party you might be missing.
What if the parable of the Prodigal Son isn't really about one lost son — but two? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily Storms dig into Luke 15:11-32 and unpack the story Jesus told the Pharisees about a reckless younger brother, a self-righteous older brother, and a father who ran to them both. They walk through the "came to ...
The hated tax collector thought he was hunting Jesus down. Turns out Jesus was the one doing the seeking.
Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing through Jericho — but when Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name, everything changed. In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Young Life leaders Chris and Emily Storms walk through Luke 19:1-10 and one of the most surprising...
In this episode we talk about Jesus standing on the beach when the disciples had fished all night. Similar to the story of Jesus first time calling Peter, Jesus fills their nets with fish! Then, he cooks them some breakfast and has a conversation with Peter, restoring him and telling him to follow him again!
Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organi...
In this episode we talk about the two disciples on the road to a town called Emmaus and the encounter they had with the resurrected Jesus. The walk with him while he unpacks the whole Old Testament and explains how everything that happened to him was to fulfill the law and the prophets. But, the whole time they were walking they didn't realize it was Jesus. It wasn't until he broke bread with them that their eyes we...
In this episode, we explore the story of the Resurrection of Jesus from John's account.
RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED
- The Resurrection Story - 4 Guys Telling The Story
- "The Face of God" Michael & The Shroud of Turin | Dr. Jeremiah Johnston - Michael Knowles YouTube Channel
Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may n...
In this episode, we complete a 3-part discussion about Jesus and the cross. All 4 Gospels give details about Jesus betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion. For this one, we focus all the details laid out in John's account.
RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED
Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endors...
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