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Carey Nieuwhof

Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.

Why curiosity beats passion.  What legendary investors understand about growth that leaders often miss.

How to find your dream job (best I've ever heard on this)

Hi Reader, A lot of leaders spend years chasing the wrong thing: their passion. Lots of people have ideas about how to find your "passion" and find work that doesn't feel like work, but this is the best framework I've ever heard. You may want to even share this with your kids. In this episode, I sit down with legendary investor Bill Gurley, an early backer of companies like Uber, OpenTable, Zillow, and more. Bill, who has invested and advised so many companies, shares why chasing passion can...
Arthur Brooks' Best Advice For Preachers, How To Reclaim 20 Hours of Sermon Writing Time + The Meaning of Your Life

You're more productive but still anxious. What's up with that?

Hi Reader, Arthur Brooks is one of those guests who makes you stop and think long after the conversation ends. In this episode, Arthur and I dive into something every leader feels, but few know how to name: why so many people are more productive, more connected, and more efficient than ever—and yet feel anxious, distracted, and strangely empty. We talk about AI, attention spans, the meaning crisis, and why the future belongs to leaders who can help people become more human, not less. Plus, I...

The cracks reveal your character

Hi Reader, Another Easter in the rear view mirror. First, thank you for leading through it. Second, how are you doing today? Really? A little true confession from me. I'd like to think I'm going to be known for my big moments (like a record weekend service!) and my best moments. But the truth is, we're often known for our worst moments, especially by those closest to us. At least they feel them the most. Often, after a big weekend, I'd crash, and the people around me would bear the brunt of...
On The Rise: A Word of Encouragement for Pastors This Easter + Church Attendance Data Errors and Web 1.0

On The Rise: A Word of Encouragement for Pastors This Easter + Church Attendance Data Errors and Web 1.0

Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, a note of encouragement for pastors as you enter Easter weekend. Plus, correcting faulty church attendance data, career guidance, and something to satisfy your nostalgia for the old internet. Take Heart This Easter A note of encouragement for pastors this weekend. I know it's Easter weekend, and I hope it's a meaningful spiritual encounter for...
A 100% Digital Church: What Mark Lutz Learned That Physical Churches Are Missing

Is digital church actually church?

Hi Reader, Today on the podcast, I sit down with Mark Lutz, founder of Lux Digital Church, and our conversation challenged a lot of assumptions I’ve held about ministry, church, and where people are actually looking for connection. Mark is reaching people that many traditional churches rarely see 👉gamers, digital natives, and people who may never walk into a church building but are open to real community, real discipleship, and real ministry online. And before you dismiss that, consider this:...

The challenge with Easter

Hi Reader, So, like many of us, you're getting ready to celebrate the greatest moment in human history: Easter. And I need to confess something. I get worked up every year around the messaging for Easter. And Christmas. And Good Friday. Now, let me be really clear right up front. I don’t dislike what these days are about. I love the Gospel. I love the story of Jesus. I believe the resurrection changed everything. But as a pastor? These were always the hardest services to plan for the entire...
On The Rise: This Study Says People are Lying About Church Attendance + 3 Tells of Great leaders

On The Rise: How Many People REALLY Go To Church Sunday + 3 Tells of Great Leaders, and Not Disappointing Your Family

Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, a study that uses cell phone data to track where people really spend Sunday mornings, three tells of great leaders (they’re not what you think), making things fun again, and reflecting on the people you really don’t want to disappoint. How Many People REALLY Go to Church Every Week??? Way less than you think So, you know when you read that 20ish...

The belief that might be holding your church back.

Hi Reader, Ever notice how leaders often know exactly what to do… but still don’t do it? You’ve read the books.You’ve attended the conference.You’ve heard the strategy. But somehow the change never sticks. In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with bestselling author and Stanford lecturer Nir Eyal to talk about something deeper than strategy: belief. Nir argues that most leaders don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because of self-limiting beliefs they don’t even...

Your sermon doesn't have to end on Sunday

Hi Reader, You spend days—sometimes weeks— preparing your sermon. Praying. Writing. Editing. ... then it gets 35 minutes of airtime on Sunday morning. And 78 views on YouTube. That's it. Not because it wasn't true. Not because you didn't deliver it well. But because, for so many churches, it's treated like an event. The sermon is rarely the problem. The shelf life is. Your sermon wasn't meant to end on Sunday... If you've preached before, I'm sure you feel the tension. That's why I'm excited...
Carl Lentz On Preaching While Having Sex Outside Marriage, How the Pressure of Church Growth Got To Him, And Warning Signs for Other Church Leaders

Carl Lentz on failure, leadership, and what comes next

Hi Reader, Today’s episode is unlike any I’ve done before. I sat down with Carl Lentz for a long, honest conversation about leadership, failure, platform, pressure, and what happens when it all unravels. We didn’t rush it. We didn’t avoid the hard parts. We went there. Leadership comes with influence. It also comes with responsibility. And when integrity fractures, the consequences are real, for you, for your church, for your soul. But this episode isn’t about scandal. It’s about...

Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.