As we kick off 2023, we want to share how we set our focus for the year ahead. We all want to start our year off right, but how many of us know that a little distraction or deviation can quickly derail everything? That’s why we want to prepare you with focus. The power of focus will eliminate confusion and help you meet your goals. As the saying goes, “You become what you behold." Join us as we launch the first episode of the New Year with a conversation about focus, and through sharing some of ...
Jan 10, 2023•21 min•Ep. 214
Before we rush into the new year, we thought it would be valuable to spend this episode of the Conversations Podcast reflecting back on some of the key takeaways from 2022. In this episode, we’re diving into some of the key lessons we learned personally over this last year, as well as offering some thoughts on what happened in the world. A lot happened in 2022, and we’re talking about it here! What are some lessons you learned over this last year? Take the time to do some personal reflection of ...
Dec 27, 2022•25 min•Ep. 213
Ignorance is bliss, right? Wrong. When it comes to marriage, what we don't know often causes us untold amounts of frustration and heartache. Today on Conversations, we want to talk about four things we wish we would have known decades ago. Our goal in sharing these lessons is that we can deposit these life-altering, marriage-changing truths into your life so that you can learn from our mistakes. From watching your words, to investing in the right people, our sincere hope is that this episode wil...
Dec 13, 2022•23 min•Ep. 212
Are you losing hope and feeling like you have nothing to look forward to in your family or marriage? Over the last forty years, we've grown and changed in many ways, but one of the best things we've done has been learning to find more joy in each other and in our family. Joy can be hard to find—especially when you are struggling to keep the right perspective in challenging seasons. On this episode of the Conversations podcast, we want to give you some essential keys to squeezing a bit more joy o...
Nov 29, 2022•28 min•Ep. 211
We are BACK! Today, after a short hiatus, we're picking up where we left off with the Conversations podcast! We recently celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary—which is no small feat considering how difficult things were early on for us. We know many of you guys are going through similar struggles to what we went through, so we wanted to share some big take-aways that we've learned over the past four decades. Whether it's dealing with comparison, moving from your spouse's critic to their champi...
Nov 15, 2022•26 min•Ep. 210
We have something exciting in store for this season of Conversations with John & Lisa. We'll be back in two weeks with new, fresh podcast content! But to celebrate passing 200 episodes, we’d like to bring you the “Best of Conversations” to share some of our most popular episodes you may have missed! In today’s throwback episode, John and Lisa offer personal stories as well as insights from James 5:16-18 to encourage us to pray with passion and a persistent attitude. This is just part one of ...
Nov 01, 2022•15 min•Ep. 209
We have something exciting in store for this season of Conversations with John & Lisa. We'll be back shortly with new, fresh podcast content! But to celebrate passing 200 episodes, we’d like to bring you the “Best of Conversations” to share some of our most popular episodes you may have missed! As parents, we all want our kids to grow up with a solid grasp on faith and an understanding of who they are created to be in Christ. But how do we truly impart this revelation from one generation to ...
Oct 18, 2022•53 min•Ep. 208
We have something exciting in store for this season of Conversations with John & Lisa. We'll be back shortly with new, fresh podcast content! But to celebrate passing 200 episodes, we’d like to bring you the “Best of Conversations” to share some of our most popular episodes you may have missed! Today's episode, recorded in 2019, is one of our most popular and shared episodes. Anger is a deep emotion that not many handle well—especially in marriage or in the raising of kids. But today, we wan...
Oct 04, 2022•23 min•Ep. 207
We are living in a world full of distractions. With all of the noise of our fast-paced, hurried lifestyles, it's critical we learn to slow down, still our hearts, and hear from God. Today on Conversations, we dive into a most needed conversation—practicing solitude. Do you have a rhythm of being alone with God? Or do you find yourself gravitating toward disconnection and escapism? There are many differences between merely isolating yourself and intentionally practicing solitude. Our hope for thi...
Jul 05, 2022•22 min•Ep. 206
What drives your obedience to God? Is it receiving a blessing? Does it come from feeling obligated? Or does it come from a deep love for Him? When it comes to obedience, your motivation matters. A lot. So how do you find the right motivation so you can walk in sustained, long-term obedience to God? How do you obey even when the road is marked with difficulty and sacrifice? Today, we discuss the right motivation for long-term obedience—and the blessings that come from it. May this episode help yo...
Jun 21, 2022•23 min•Ep. 205
We all participate in team structures. Whether in families, organizations, or community groups, learning to function within a team dynamic is crucial for winning in life, at work, and at home. In today’s Conversations episode, we bring some of the best teachers on leadership—our dear friends and co-MessengerX instructors Lyle Wells and Meredith King! This podcast is a sneak peek at a lesson from their new course Overcoming 5 Team Challenges . You’ll discover practical tools to help you navigate ...
Jun 07, 2022•19 min•Ep. 204
Is there ever a time when it's OK to “cancel” someone? The question itself can seem intense, but cancel culture presents us with some serious dilemmas that we must tackle as a church. How can we create an atmosphere that walks in both grace and truth with the ultimate goal of restoration while culture is setting a precedent of shunning and excommunicating those who make mistakes or hold certain opposing viewpoints? In this episode of Conversations with John and Lisa, we return to part two on nav...
May 24, 2022•24 min•Ep. 203
Far too many view God as an overbearing and critical father, sitting with His arms crossed in disapproval of us. If this is how you see God, it will hold you back in significant ways. You won’t want to be close to Him. You’ll struggle to spend time with Him. You’ll struggle to see yourself and others clearly. You’ll struggle to live with the confidence that comes from knowing you are a beloved child. None of this is in God’s true heart for you! Your Father doesn’t just have love for you, He is L...
May 10, 2022•20 min•Ep. 202
Have you ever been a victim of hateful speech or spiteful intolerance and not known how to respond? Or have you ever kept silent for fear of an angry mob of keyboard warriors? It’s stunning to see how many people think canceling someone is the answer. We are living in a time when people fearlessly air their opinions online and receive the backlash of public silencing and shaming. Sometimes, this even extends into face-to-face conversations. Cancel culture is an epidemic where people are losing t...
Apr 26, 2022•26 min•Ep. 201
Holy week is upon us, and fittingly, a meditation on the cross and the role it plays in our lives as followers of Jesus. Many understand the cross as a historical event—but how do we bring the realities of what Jesus accomplished at Calvary into our present-day lives? Two thousand years later, Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection are still where our faith derives its power! Today’s podcast will teach you all about the unstoppable power of the cross and how we can wield it to overcome the enem...
Apr 12, 2022•26 min•Ep. 200
When it comes to spiritual disciplines, most of us prioritize a select few—reading the Scriptures, praying, and being a part of a community. One practice that often gets overlooked is fasting. In this Conversations episode, we demystify fasting—breaking down popular misconceptions and taking a deep dive into common questions surrounding it. When you learn what fasting is all about, and how to engage with God through it, you will connect with Him like never before and position yourself for greate...
Mar 29, 2022•22 min•Ep. 199
Every parent wants to raise kids who fulfill their god-given potential in life. A big part of that is teaching them how to become good stewards of one of God's most amazing gifts—their bodies. In this brand new episode of Conversations with John and Lisa, you'll get the chance to hear from world-renowned nutrition experts Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin, who will be sharing how to create a culture of health in your house. This special episode is pulled from the new Healthy Kids course which is tau...
Mar 15, 2022•25 min•Ep. 198
Do you have high joy levels? We see clearly in Scripture that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, but how do we walk in joy when our circumstances are less than ideal? The truth is, when your attitude is based on the eternal things of God, you will be able to walk in joy no matter your circumstances. This is what we’re diving into this week on Conversations with John and Lisa. Listen in and learn how to operate with joy even when it doesn’t make sense. We hope this episode empowers you to walk in joy ...
Mar 01, 2022•29 min•Ep. 197
On the last episode of Conversations with John and Lisa we started a conversation on church, life, & leadership with our friend Pastor Craig Groeschel. So many of you have reached out and told us how part one of this conversation has impacted you. We’re so excited to bring you part two of the conversation this week! In this episode, you’ll hear thoughts on raising godly children, building a marriage that thrives, and how to keep your family culture strong. We’re so excited to dive into part ...
Feb 15, 2022•21 min•Ep. 196
It’s no secret that the last couple years have been a challenge. Through the turbulence of a pandemic, so many people have been left asking themselves, “How do I lead myself, my family, my church, my business, my life well?” Today on Conversations, we are joined by our friend, Pastor Craig Groeschel for part one of a conversation on church, life, and leadership. As a pastor, leadership expert, podcast host, and father of six, Craig shares powerful insights on the current church climate and how t...
Feb 01, 2022•39 min•Ep. 195
Recently, we polled our social media audiences to ask what kinds of questions people had about family and parenting. We were blown away by the sheer volume of questions that came in. We sat down to start answering the questions on the podcast and knew it needed to be more than one episode long. This week on the podcast, we’re diving back into these questions! We’re answering questions like: “How can I best handle my anger when I get mad at my young kids?” “How do you teach your kids to be gratef...
Jan 18, 2022•31 min•Ep. 194
Nearly everywhere we go we hear so many of the same questions: “How do you parent strong-willed kids?” “How and when do you talk to your kids about dating, sex, drugs, and all the other hard stuff?” “Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you were a young parent?” Today, we’re answering all these and more on the Conversations with John and Lisa podcast. We hope this episode equips you to win at home in 2022! P.S. On January 25-26 we are hosting an online event called Ways to Win at Ho...
Jan 04, 2022•32 min•Ep. 193
With traditions, family fun, and celebrations of the birth of Jesus, Christmas is many people’s favorite time of year. But what do you do when your Christmas isn’t so merry? Maybe you’re experiencing heartbreak this holiday season. For those who have lost loved ones or are spending the holidays apart from family and friends, this season can be tough. How do you handle the holidays when it feels like your heart is breaking? How do you care for those in your life walking through a hard time during...
Dec 21, 2021•24 min•Ep. 192
Are you prepared to finish strong? It could be your year, it could be your season, it could be your life — no matter what you are finishing, you want to finish the best you possibly can. The Apostle Paul said it best when he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” (2 Timothy 4:7). As followers of Christ, we all want to finish well — but how? That’s what we’re unpacking on this week’s episode of Conversations. Tune in and get equipped to finish this ...
Dec 07, 2021•26 min•Ep. 191
On a week when it’s so easy to become distracted by family, food, and fun, don’t forget what this week really is — an invitation to enter God’s presence with gratitude. Gratitude changes everything. You may be facing some unique challenges this holiday season. Maybe you find yourself needing a recalibration in the presence of God. Gratitude is the key that unlocks the floodgates of God’s presence in our lives. It takes our eyes off the challenges of our circumstances, and it places our focus on ...
Nov 23, 2021•22 min•Ep. 190
So many of us have prayed this prayer: “God, break my heart for what breaks yours.” As children of God, we want His heart. We want to be passionate about the things God is passionate about. But here’s a question — are we truly consumed with a passion for reaching the lost? Time and time again throughout Scripture, we see that God makes the lost His number one priority. If the lost are God’s priority, it’s crucial that they are our priority. So how does one cultivate a passion for the lost? That’...
Nov 09, 2021•23 min•Ep. 189
All of us want to do amazing things for God, but many people want the promotion before they’ve gone through the preparation process. Without making it through this process successfully, it is impossible to have character strong enough to sustain your calling. So how does God actually develop character within you? We’re unpacking this question on this week’s episode of the Conversations podcast. While seasons of character development aren’t always fun, they are directly connected to your future. ...
Oct 26, 2021•21 min•Ep. 188
Nearly everywhere we go, people ask us how we have managed to make our marriage work through four decades, raising children, the stress of ministry and travel, and the inevitable obstacles that have come our way. While the going hasn’t always been easy, it’s been so worth it as we’ve learned to love each other in each season. In honor of celebrating our 39th wedding anniversary last week, we sat down to share five lessons from our 39 years of marriage on the podcast. Some of these lessons we lea...
Oct 12, 2021•24 min•Ep. 187
As parents, we all want our kids to grow up with a solid grasp on faith and an understanding of who they are created to be in Christ. But how do we truly impart this revelation from one generation to the next? Today on the Conversations podcast, we’re unpacking this question with our oldest and youngest sons, Addison and Arden. In this episode, we’re sitting down to discuss how one generation can truly instill faith and identity into the next. We’re sharing stories from our own experiences, and ...
Sep 28, 2021•51 min•Ep. 186
As Christians, we are called to live counter to the culture of our day. In our speech, in our homes, in our leadership, in any room we walk into, we are called to live against the grain. But how? Servanthood. Yes, you read that right. If Jesus walked this earth knowing He was God’s Son and the Savior of the world, and still chose to serve others, we can be assured that this principle should apply to our lives today, as well. Today on the podcast, we’re breaking down what it really looks like to ...
Sep 14, 2021•20 min•Ep. 185
