Navigating Political Divisions with the Gospel with Dr. Derwin Gray
What does it look like to lead a church that's anchored in Jesus when everything around you feels like it's being blown by political winds?
Dr. Derwin Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church, joins us for an honest conversation about staying focused on the kingdom of God in a divided culture. Derwin challenges us to stop using a 250-year-old country as our biblical filter and instead anchor our churches in first-century gospel truth. The result? A church family that’s unified and a living example of Hope to those around them.
Derwin shares the real secret behind their multi-ethnic church community and why he refuses to let the spirit of the age put him in a box. He talks about his book "Lit Up With Love" and why evangelism isn't about perfecting a sales pitch—it's about living so authentically in God's love that others are naturally drawn to what they see. If you're navigating leadership in these divisive times, this conversation will remind you that people are hungry for the Jesus of Scripture, not a left or right version.
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Highlights:
0:00 - Introduction and Background of Dr. Derwin Gray
3:40 - Navigating Political Divisions and Focusing on the Kingdom
7:33 - The Hunger for Hope and the Role of the Church
10:08 - The Heart Behind 'Lit Up with Love'
13:10 - Stories of Transformation and Baptism
15:59 - Communicating the Kingdom Without Political Bias
20:36 - Encouragement for Discouraged Pastors
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In this free resource from Dr. Eric Michael Bryant, you’ll discover why innovation isn’t optional - it’s biblical. Learn how God’s own nature reveals a bias for creativity, renewal, and transformation - and how you can lead your church to thrive in our post-Christian world.
Inside, you’ll find:
Practical lessons on how innovation sustains healthy ministry
Insights from churches on the frontlines
A biblical foundation for change rooted in God’s character
Encouragement for weary leaders navigating uncertainty
Join a growing movement of pastors embracing Spirit-led innovation to reach new people (not yet being reached) and making disciples who are making disciples.
Download your free copy today and lead with confidence, courage, and creativity in a time that needs it most.
Featured Offer
In this free resource from Dr. Eric Michael Bryant, you’ll discover why innovation isn’t optional - it’s biblical. Learn how God’s own nature reveals a bias for creativity, renewal, and transformation - and how you can lead your church to thrive in our post-Christian world.
Inside, you’ll find:
Practical lessons on how innovation sustains healthy ministry
Insights from churches on the frontlines
A biblical foundation for change rooted in God’s character
Encouragement for weary leaders navigating uncertainty
Join a growing movement of pastors embracing Spirit-led innovation to reach new people (not yet being reached) and making disciples who are making disciples.
Download your free copy today and lead with confidence, courage, and creativity in a time that needs it most.
About Innovative Church Leaders Podcast
We exist to help church leaders experience and bring renewal. We help you bring Spirit-led innovation, reach new people, and make disciples who make disciples.
About Dr. Eric Bryant
Eric has been with Gateway Church in Austin since 2011. Currently he serves as the Campus Pastor for Gateway South Austin with Senior Pastor Carlos Ortiz, Jr.. Gateway’s founding pastor is John Burke and is known for their mottos: “no perfect people allowed” and “come as you are.”
From 1998-2010, Eric served as part of the leadership team with Erwin McManus at Mosaic in Los Angeles, a church known for its creativity and diversity. The four years prior to that he helped plant a church in Seattle, WA.
Eric is the author of Not Like Me: Loving, Serving, and Influencing Our Divided World and Fruitful: Becoming Who God Created You To Be. He was a contributing author with Rick Yamamoto for Uprising Experience: A Personal Guide for a Revolution of the Soul by Erwin McManus.
Eric has taught courses at Bethel Seminary and coaches pastors. He is also the founder of Innovative Church Leaders which helps pastors experience and bring renewal.
Eric lives with his wife, Deborah, in South Austin, TX near their young adult children – son Caleb, daughter Trevi, and son-in-law Adrien.
Contact Innovative Church Leaders Podcast with Dr. Eric Bryant
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