In this sermon, Pastor Derwin Gray emphasizes the importance of recognizing the church as a community of believers rather than just a physical structure or institution. He highlights the mission of the church to reach lost people, asserting that evangelism should be prioritized over societal issues like healthcare and justice. Using the narrative of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, he underscores the need to break down barriers of race and gender and affirm the dignity of all individua...
Jun 12, 2025•28 min•Ep. 18
In this episode of the Transforming the Church Podcast, Pastor Derwin Gray shares insights on maintaining health as a ministry leader. This is the third part of the series "What I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Became a Pastor." Pastor Derwin discusses the importance of taking sabbaticals, establishing a weekly Sabbath, having mentors, peers, and mentees, and staying physically fit. These practices are essential for sustaining a healthy ministry and personal life, allowing leaders to serve eff...
May 08, 2025•17 min•Ep. 17
In this episode of the Transforming the Church Podcast, Pastor Derwin Gray delves into the essential skills needed for effective pastoral leadership, focusing on engaging in difficult conversations. Drawing from personal experiences and biblical principles, Pastor Derwin offers practical advice for ministry leaders and followers of Jesus who are committed to discipleship and mentoring. This episode is part of a series titled "What I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Became a Pastor," providing in...
Apr 10, 2025•17 min•Ep. 16
In this episode of the Transforming the Church Podcast, Pastor Derwin begins a three-part series exploring the insights and lessons he wishes he had known before stepping into pastoral leadership. This episode focuses on effective pastoral leadership, emphasizing the importance of serving beyond preaching, the necessity of excellent systems and processes, and the inevitability of resistance to change. Join us as we delve into the heart of ministry, discovering how to lead with love, humility, an...
Mar 13, 2025•17 min•Ep. 15
In this episode of the Transforming the Church podcast, Pastor Derwin L. Gray welcomes the esteemed New Testament scholar, Reverend Dr. N.T. Wright. Together, they explore the depths of Jesus' mercy, the challenges and glories of ministry, and the importance of prayer and scripture in spiritual growth. Dr. Wright shares personal anecdotes, including his interactions with the late Queen of England, and offers insights into the global state of the church. This conversation is rich with wisdom, enc...
Feb 13, 2025•28 min•Ep. 14
Hey there! On this episode of Transforming the Church, Dr. Derwin Gray and featuring guest Kyla Gillespie explore the profound themes of identity, grace, and transformation. The discussion begins with a reminder that time should be invested wisely, particularly in spiritual growth. Both pastors emphasize their hopes for listeners to deepen their love for Jesus, embrace His love, and share that love with the world. The focus then shifts to Kyla's powerful personal journey, beginning with her chil...
Jan 30, 2025•45 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, Pastor Derwin Gray sits down with Dr. Crawford Loritts, a seasoned pastor and leader in the Christian community, to discuss the essentials of maintaining a flourishing ministry and marriage. Dr. Loritts shares insights from his 50 years of ministry experience, emphasizing the importance of a personal relationship with God, the dangers of pride and entitlement, and the need for gratitude and rest. The conversation also touches on the current cultural climate and the role of the c...
Nov 14, 2024•28 min•Ep. 12
One of the best ways to help your congregation be discipled is by bringing intentionality to your sermons by crafting them into a series. But where do you even start? This week, Dr. Derwin Gray is going to give you the inside scoop on his creative process for developing a sermon series. By sharing his insights and experiences, you will be encouraged to adopt a proactive mindset as a church leader and preacher. Dr. Gray emphasizes the significance of preparation and prayer in delivering engaging ...
Oct 10, 2024•15 min•Ep. 11
In this podcast episode, Dr. Derwin L. Gray provides actionable advice for preachers and church leaders on crafting impactful sermons. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared by Jesus before preparing a sermon, stressing intimacy with God and reliance on the Holy Spirit's power. Additionally, he discusses the head, heart, hands approach, advocating for simplicity in preaching and the significance of reaching both believers and non-believers with the Gospel. Dr. Gray's practical guidance i...
Sep 12, 2024•16 min
Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of pastoral ministry? Have you been told to just tough it out and push through the difficulties? The pressure of ministry can be draining, leaving you feeling inadequate, betrayed, and questioning your calling. It's time to break free from ineffective advice and cultivate the grit you need for lasting ministry impact. In this episode, you'll be encouraged by Pastor Derwin Gray to cultivate pastoral ministry grit in these ways: Develop unwavering resilience i...
Aug 08, 2024•17 min•Ep. 9
Christine Caine is known worldwide for her work with A21 and Propel Women. But today, Pastor Derwin gets a chance to dive into conversation with Christine and hear more about her journey from brokenness to healing. Christine's story will transform your view of ministry. You'll discover the surprising truth about ministry and personal healing that Christine shares in this raw and authentic conversation. Embrace genuine healing and authenticity in ministry leadership as you dive into this compelli...
Jul 11, 2024•24 min
In this episode of Transforming the Church, Dr. Derwin Gray dives deep into the crucial topic of healing past pain and trauma in ministry. Drawing from his own experiences and personal insights, Dr. Gray shares the importance of acknowledging and addressing unresolved issues to lead with emotional and spiritual health. He introduces the 'HEAL' acronym, emphasizing the significance of being honest about past pain, expecting turbulence in the healing process, accepting and mourning past events, an...
Jun 13, 2024•19 min
In this episode, Pastor Derwin L. Gray shares a transformative message on the essence of sharing faith and the true nature of evangelism. Through personal stories and biblical insights, Pastor Gray unfolds the concept that our reluctance to share the Gospel stems not from a lack of evangelistic commitment but from a deeper issue—a worship problem. He challenges us as church leaders to re-examine our worship, urging that a genuine encounter with Jesus's holiness and grace naturally compels us to ...
May 09, 2024•19 min
In this episode of Transforming the Church Podcast, Dr. Derwin L. Gray and friend Dave Schnitter, the lead pastor of Mosaik Berlin, delve into the dangers of the Prosperity Gospel, ministry in Germany, and a message to American Christians. Schnitter's background growing up in a Christian family in Germany, the founding of Mosaik Berlin, and the church's response to ethnic diversity in a post-Christian culture offer valuable insights for pastors and church leaders navigating similar challenges. H...
Apr 25, 2024•30 min•Ep. 5
Dr. Derwin L. Gray unpacks the power of effective vision casting for life transformation within the church. Drawing from the words of Jesus, he shares personal stories of forgiveness and reconciliation, highlighting the need for unity in a world plagued by division and racism. By outlining practical steps for casting vision and emphasizing the call to love God and others, Dr. Derwin L. Gray inspires us as church leaders to join in the mission of spreading God's grace and love. This episode serve...
Apr 11, 2024•18 min•Ep. 4
In this episode of The Transforming the Church Podcast, we have one driving question: Should we even exist if our community doesn’t change? Join Dr. Derwin L. Gray as he shares his stories on cultivating communities that bless those around them through the driving question. He boils it down to 4 Key Characteristics of churches that positively impact their cities. Tune in and learn more about it with us! Do you desire to see your church make a lasting impact on the community? I will be sharing th...
Mar 14, 2024•20 min•Ep. 3
Hey there! In this episode of Transforming the Church, Dr. Derwin L. Gray shares some powerful insights on evangelism. He draws from his personal experience of encountering a man he refers to as the "naked preacher" and the profound impact this had on his faith journey. Through this encounter, Dr. Derwin L. Gray learned valuable lessons about the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in evangelism. He emphasizes the need to break down barriers and reach people from all backgrounds with the mes...
Feb 08, 2024•20 min•Ep. 2
In this episode of The Transforming the Church Podcast, we're diving deep into the core of Christianity: love. Join Dr. Derwin L. Gray as he unpacks the profound impact of truth, inspired by Dr. Norman Geisler, that can utterly transform local churches into breeding grounds for everyday missionaries. From living authentically like Jesus to nurturing a solid theological foundation, we'll explore how these truths can revolutionize not just individual lives, but entire communities. Tune in and be i...
Jan 11, 2024•21 min•Ep. 1
Join Dr. Derwin L. Gray as we ignite a revolution of passionate Jesus followers, embracing the mission to transform the church and reconcile the world with the Gospel. Through this podcast, you will learn how to: Transform your church and mission for impact. Love Jesus and people to transform lives. Witness the Gospel's impact on society. Experience personal and collective transformation. Embrace Jesus' mission for lasting change. Experience the powerful impact Actively taking part in Jesus' mis...
Jan 03, 2024•1 min
