On The Trail

How do you grow your capacity to feel emotions without having them define or control you?

In this episode, we look at the second element of a R.A.R.E. Leader, the ability to "act like yourself." We discuss three categories of leader: predators, possums, and protectors. The mature version of you will always be a protector. How do you develop the skills to be the more mature version of yourself? How do you grow the habits of acting li...

One of the defining qualities of a mature leader is the ability to remain relational even in the face of problems or conflict. This does not mean ignoring problems but handling issues in a relational way and treating people like people, not problems.

In this episode we're discussing relational strategies (C.A.K.E.), fear mapping and problem solving, and recognizing that sometimes we can't save every relationship, but how can we rema...

How can we be intentional about noticing and imitating people with maturity skills we need to strengthen? How do we "practice the presence of God"? What's the difference between an Identity Group and an Accountability Group?

This episode looks at Chapter Six "Where You Start: Imitation, Identity, Intimacy" and builds the framework we'll use for the rest of the series to put what we're learning into practice. We're talking about mir...

When you know who you are, you get results.

In leadership, many think almost exclusively in terms of getting results. Results do matter, and there's no getting around that in leadership. But chapter five of Rare Leadership argues that our top priority should be our culture and then from there we pursue results. Who are we as a group, as a company? How is it like us to act? People who focus only on results and not on culture often en...

Fear controls us when we avoid emotions we can't handle.

What makes communities toxic, and how do we foster healthier, more resilient communities?

In this episode, we continue to unpack how the "Slow Track" and "Fast Track" in the brain influence leadership and relational dynamics and how this all affects toxicity in a group. And if the Slow Track is by nature Slower than the Fast Track, what hope do we have of changing it? As we unp...

Good news! You can build your emotional competence.

God designed our brains to run on the fuel of joy, and we have the ability to grow our capacity for joy as long as we live.

In this episode, we're in Chapter Three: The Elevator in Your Brain where we look at Jesus Christ as a wonderful example of emotional competence and then unpack the four levels of the Joy Elevator. When these functions are working properly, everything else abou...

Immaturity is rampant in our culture, is it not? But it doesn't have to stay this way.

In this episode, we discuss the difference between mature and immature leadership, the importance of IDENTITY + BELONGING = TRANSFORMATION, and how to build cultures that produce results through joy rather than fear.

Celebrating Ten Years of Rare Leadership!

Since its release in 2016, this book has equipped leaders, organizations, households, and...

New book study series!

The goal of this series is to equip you to live and lead with more emotional intelligence and resilience on your walk with God.

The book Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner & Jim Wilder combines theology, brain science, and decades of counseling and consulting experience to equip you to cultivate maturity in yourself and others, develop strong group identity, keep relationships bigger than problems, and more...

Can Christians command holy angels?

Do parents have authority over the enemy in the lives of their adult children?

Where are the boundaries on authority & jurisdiction when praying for someone else?

This week is a Q&A episode. Thank you for submitting your questions and testimonies!

More questions will be answered at the Battle Ready Conference happening August 29, 2026. (link in description) So we’re going to start that...

Experience often guides our perspective of spiritual realities. But what is it's role in understanding spiritual warfare?

This week we wrap up the What Every Believer Should Know About Spiritual Warfare series. We're reading out of Appendix 2, looking at the sufficiency of Scripture, biblical examples of appeals to experience, the importance of worldview and interpretation, navigating various theological perspectives and more.

The go...

What does every Christian need to understand about the occult?

The word "occult" means "hidden" or "secret." Occult practices seek secret knowledge and power from sources other than God.

This week we dig into Chapter Six of What Every Believer Should Know About Spiritual Warfare by Marcus Warner. We look at what the occult is, three key reasons people seek it (power, knowledge, attachment), the danger of blending beliefs that don't b...

What are demons, and how do they use deception to keep us in bondage?

This week we dig into Chapter Five of What Every Believer Should Know About Spiritual Warfare by Marcus Warner.

We look at three levels of spiritual warfare, the nature of demons, and three categories of deception strategies: random thoughts, tapes, and voices.

The goal of this series is to equip you with a spiritual warfare first aid kit, so you can function with...

~Hello friends, this episode went through the trenches to get to you. We are so sorry for the technical issues in this episode's video.~

Ready for some practical hope with spiritual warfare?

This week we dig into Chapter Four of What Every Believer Should Know About Spiritual Warfare by Marcus Warner.

We're walking step by step through the CCC-C process of removing enemy permission: 1) Confess, 2) Cancel, 3) Command, 4) Commit. We're ...

Is authority a spiritual gift? What can it look like to use a Christian's authority in Christ?

This week we dig into Chapter Three of What Every Believer Should Know About Spiritual Warfare by Marcus Warner.

We're looking at the difference between power and authority, a biblical understanding of our victory in our Christ, and practical applications like binding, loosing, and evicting demons.

The goal of this series is to equip you wi...

What does the devil have permission to do in a Christian's life?

This week we dig into Chapter 2 of What Every Believer Should Know About Spiritual Warfare by Marcus Warner. What's happening in God's throne room, and how does it affect the realities of spiritual warfare?

We introduce the principles of permission and authority in a legal approach to spiritual warfare and unpack 5 categories that can give permission to demonic activi...

Happy Four Years of Podcasting!! See the links below for an epic giveaway.

We were born into the middle of a great, cosmic conflict that affects every area of life. As Christians, we really only have three options. We can live in fear, in ignorance, or we can learn to fight.

Where in the Bible does it say, "Ignore the devil, and he will leave you alone"? Nowhere! It warns us repeatedly, "Be alert! Be prepared! Put on your armor! Resi...

Could the monster in the closet be real? How can we help children who see scary things?

How does our worldview inform what we believe is possible?

Today we’re continuing our prequel discussion of spiritual warfare before launching our next book study.

Last episode we addressed the reality of so many Christians who think spiritual warfare is not something to concern everyday believers. And it’s understandable. For many peop...

Is spiritual warfare an elective for advanced Christians?

Maybe you hear "spiritual warfare" and think "paranormal activity." Maybe you've been a Christian for a long time and haven’t had to deal with spiritual warfare. How important is it really?

Many Christians feel like they see no evidence of spiritual warfare around them. They might undersand that cosmic realities exist and intercessory prayer can work, but otherwise, Chri...

"Christianity is not a religion. It's a relationship." What does this adage actually mean?

John 15 gives a picture of this when Jesus describes our relationship to Him as branches attached to a vine. Relationships are attachments. Christianity is about forming an attachment with Jesus Christ, then spending the rest of our lives walking deeper with Him. And if we want to be relationally engaged with God, it makes sense that we'd want...