In this episode of Student of Life, I’m processing something I believe the Lord has been pressing on my heart: returning to our first love. It’s easy to become agenda-driven with Jesus—always needing something, always rushing, always turning faith into tasks. Using Mary and Martha (Luke 10) and Jesus’ warning to the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2), we talk about what it looks like to slow down—not to be lazy, but to do the deepest work: being present with Jesus. I love the local church and I’m grateful for vision and ministry, but I also want to hold the tension of not letting “doing for God” replace being with God.

Student of Life Guide:

Key Idea
Returning to our first love isn’t about doing less—it’s about loving Jesus more deeply, without an agenda.

Reflection Questions

1. When do I spend time with Jesus just to be with Him?

2. Where has ministry or responsibility crowded out attentiveness?

3. What would slowing down with Jesus look like this week?

Practice

• Set aside 10–15 minutes this week with no requests.

• No agenda.

• Just Scripture, silence, and presence.

Anchor Thought

“Presence with Jesus isn’t a detour from the work—it’s the foundation of it.”

In this episode of Student of Life, we unpack why heroic leadership leads to burnout and chaos — and how clarity, systems thinking, and simple rhythms can transform how teams work and thrive.

Student of Life Guide — “Beyond Heroic Leadership”

Heroic leadership feels sacrificial, but it’s actually a symptom of an unhealthy system. Sustainable teams are built through clarity, shared responsibility, and simple rhythms that enable flow and reduce chaos.

3 Big Insights

• If everything depends on a few people, the system is broken.

• Clarity is a gift — it frees people to contribute without burnout.

• Healthy leadership slows things down, simplifies work, and amplifies early signals.

Reflection Questions

1. Where am I carrying more than I should because the system isn’t clear?

2. What’s one area my team depends on me too much?

3. How can I simplify or visualize our workflow this week?

Next Step (Application)
Pick one workflow, meeting, or ministry process. Visualize it. Clarify it. Improve it.
Small clarity today prevents heroic rescue tomorrow.

Anchor Thought:
“Heroic leadership saves the day. Healthy leadership builds a system so the day doesn’t need saving.”

We love the moment of the shout—the energy, the emotion, the breakthrough. But what happens after? In this episode of Student of Life, we talk about the life that follows the moment how self-discipline, wisdom, and the whole counsel of the gospel move us from inspiration to transformation.

📘 Student of Life Guide: “Life After the Shout”

Key Idea
Spiritual maturity begins where the emotion ends. The same Spirit that moves us in worship also molds us in discipline. Life after the shout is where faith becomes obedience and inspiration becomes transformation.

3 Big Insights

• Faith that shouts but doesn’t obey isn’t mature faith.

• The whole gospel includes both grace to save and guidance to grow.

• Reflecting on God's goodness fuels emotion but His Spirit also forms endurance.

Reflection Questions

1. What do I do after the moment of inspiration, how do I follow it with obedience?

2. Am I pursuing emotional highs more than spiritual health?

3. What one habit or discipline would help me live out what I’ve shouted about?

Application (Next Step)

• Choose one area where you often get inspired but fail to follow through. Create one small plan to act on it this week (e.g., budget after “breakthrough,” forgiveness after conviction, etc.).

Anchor Thought
“Don’t just shout about the promise live out the process.”