Show Notes
In an address given at Hope Church in Richmond, Virginia to church leaders, Tommy emphasizes a unique approach to leadership that centers on rest as the foundation. Contrary to the typical notion that rest follows productivity, the script highlights the biblical perspective of rest preceding work, using examples such as the Sabbath and various scripture passages. The speaker outlines five elements in this 'rhythm of leadership': rest, clarity, character, connection, and returning to rest. They stress the importance of leading from a place of rest to achieve clarity, maintain strong character, and foster meaningful connections. The ultimate goal is to transform leadership and church culture by giving people permission to live from rest.
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More from Space for Life
Charis Napier, Worship Lead Pastor at Hope Church, joins Tommy to talk about what worship is and why it's so much more than the singing before the sermon. They cover how to worship when you can't carry a tune or don't feel like it, what it means to sing words you're still growing into, and the many ways people worship beyond Sunday morning. Charis also shares how worship carried her through loss, and how it can be a place of healing in the hardest seasons of life.
Brett McCracken has written about faith and culture for 20 years. His new book, The Wisdom of Sleep, starts with a simple question: why would God design people to be unconscious for a third of their lives, especially now, when a phone makes it easy to stay on? He and Tommy talk about sleep as a gift you receive, what scrolling does instead of rest, and how a bad night shows up in the people around you. What You'll Hear in This Episode Why a few minutes of scrolling feels like rest and leaves you more tired. Why God resting on the seventh day still matters when work can follow you home. How the garden, the wilderness, and heaven are all about rest, and where sleep fits. Why the single best thing you can do for your health is something you lie down and receive. What dreaming does with the conversations and inputs of the day you just lived. When sleeplessness is a disorder you should get help for, and when it is a choice. Why sleep looks like death on purpose, and why waking up points at resurrection. How a bad night changes how you show up for your family and your work. (0:00) How he started writing (9:52) Parenting made sleep urgent (12:45) Technology gives you a reason not to rest (18:16) Why God made us sleep (24:14) Rest was the point, then we lost it (31:36) The best thing for your health is received (38:25) What your brain does while you dream (47:28) When poor sleep is a choice (53:50) Sleep looks like death on purpose (1:01:06) How your sleep lands on other people (1:06:52) The last 30 minutes, and the gaps in the day The Wisdom of Sleep is available in print and as an audiobook Brett narrated. More of his writing is at The Gospel Coalition, and his other books are at brettmccracken.com.
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