Episodios

  • Spiritual Gifts: Becoming a Prophetic People

    Spiritual Gifts: Becoming a Prophetic People
    Jan 19 2026
    In Season 3, Episode 3 of The Five Gifts Podcast, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell examine what it truly means to begin to minister the gifts of the Spirit. Moving beyond personality-driven spirituality and spiritual excess, this episode presents a biblically grounded framework for prophetic ministry that is incarnational, communal, and mission-oriented. Listeners will gain clarity on how prophecy functions in the New Testament, why discernment and evaluation are essential, and how every believer is invited to participate as part of God’s prophetic people. This conversation equips leaders and congregations to cultivate healthy, Spirit-led environments that build up the body of Christ and engage a broken world.
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    38 m
  • Living the Gifts: From Sunday to Everyday

    Living the Gifts: From Sunday to Everyday
    Jan 12 2026
    In this episode, hosts Charles Russell and Bruce Ritter tackle one of the biggest gaps in modern Christianity: the disconnect between Sunday worship and Monday reality. Most believers think spiritual gifts are primarily for church services, but what if that perspective misses 95% of your life? This episode unpacks seven transformative principles from Romans 12 that turn spiritual gifts from occasional church incidents into a supernatural lifestyle. Charles and Bruce explore how to overcome the twin obstacles of pride and low self-esteem, why diversity in the Body is God's design (not a problem to fix), and how personal inadequacy actually positions you for greater effectiveness. You'll discover practical steps for beginning to minister prophetic gifts, including the principles of incarnation, process, preparation, interdependence, and clear communication. Whether you're a seasoned minister or just curious about what God might do through you, this episode will challenge you to see your everyday life—at work, in your neighborhood, with your family—as sacred ground where the Spirit can move powerfully. Episode Length: 50 minutes Featured Topics: Spiritual gifts, Romans 12, prophetic ministry, gift development, Holy Spirit empowerment, church culture, spiritual formation Resources: Visit charlesrusselltraining.com, charlesrussellministries.com, or coachingcardia.com for training, resources, and spiritual life coaching.
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    46 m
  • Spiritual Gifts: Beyond the Spectacular

    Spiritual Gifts: Beyond the Spectacular
    Jan 5 2026
    What if spiritual gifts were never meant to be isolated moments of power—but expressions of a living, Spirit-formed community? In this Season 3 premiere, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell establish a foundational framework for understanding spiritual gifts within the life of the church. Moving beyond fascination with the spectacular, they explore the incarnational nature of gifts, the Trinity’s model of unity in diversity, the necessity of interdependence within the body of Christ, and the central role of sincere love in all ministry. This episode sets the tone for the entire season, calling leaders and believers alike to pursue spiritual vitality shaped by Christ’s character, grounded in Scripture, and oriented toward mission in light of Christ’s return.
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    31 m
  • The Energy to Connect: Fivefold Leadership, Emotional Health & the New Year

    The Energy to Connect: Fivefold Leadership, Emotional Health & the New Year
    Dec 29 2025
    As the season finale of The Five Gifts Podcast, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell reflect on a core leadership reality: connection always requires energy. With the New Year approaching, they invite leaders to examine where their emotional, relational, and spiritual energy has been spent—and where God may be calling them to reinvest it. This episode weaves fivefold leadership insight, emotional health, and biblical wisdom into a reflective conversation designed to help leaders finish one season well and enter the next with intentionality, presence, and renewed influence.
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    43 m
  • The Christmas Story: The Recovery of God’s Family

    The Christmas Story: The Recovery of God’s Family
    Dec 23 2025
    What if Christmas isn’t just about forgiveness—but inheritance? In this Christmas episode of The Five Gifts Podcast, Bruce and Charles explore how Galatians 4:1–7 reveals Christmas as God’s decisive move to reclaim His family from spiritual bondage. Drawing from the Divine Council worldview, they show how Jesus enters a fractured cosmic order as the faithful Son, and how the Spirit of adoption restores believers to true sonship. Through a dynamic Q&A format, this episode connects deep theology with practical application—reshaping how we think about evangelism, discipleship, and prayer. Christmas, they argue, is not sentimental—it’s strategic. Perfect for leaders, pastors, and believers seeking a richer, more biblical understanding of the season.
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    38 m
  • The Missional Church: From Mentoring to Multiplication

    The Missional Church: From Mentoring to Multiplication
    Dec 15 2025
    In this episode of The Five Gifts Podcast, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell examine Paul’s model of mission, discipleship, and leadership reproduction. Through the lens of Paul’s missionary journeys and epistles, they explore how churches multiply through demonstration, imitation, and reproduction—when leaders carry both the tenderness of a mother and the leadership of a father. This conversation offers a biblical, relational framework for leaders who want to build healthy, reproducing churches rooted in evangelism, formation, and shared ministry.
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    33 m
  • Leading from Your True Self: The Emotions of a Leader

    Leading from Your True Self: The Emotions of a Leader
    Dec 8 2025
    This episode explores one of the most neglected areas of Christian leadership: the emotional life of the leader. Bruce and Charles examine how God created us to feel, why emotions are essential for spiritual growth, and how suppressing them leads to burnout, false identity, and spiritual stagnation. Drawing from Scripture, the life of Jesus, and insights from emotionally healthy spirituality, they walk through: • The theology of emotions • How the false self forms • The identity temptations in Jesus’ wilderness experience • The concept of differentiation and why leaders need it • Four practices that help leaders live from their true self in Christ Listeners will walk away with clarity, hope, and practical tools for integrating emotional maturity with spiritual leadership. Key Scriptures: • Genesis 1 • Matthew 3–4 • Luke 4 • John 17 Resources Mentioned: • Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Scazzero) • The Cry of the Soul (Allender & Longman) Reflective Question: Where is God inviting you to move from your false self into your true self? Coaching & Next Steps: If you'd like support in your leadership journey, Bruce and Charles offer leadership training, spiritual life coaching, and organizational consulting: • coachingcardia.com • charlesrusselltraining.com • charlesrussellministries.com
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    38 m
  • A Discipleship Dilemma: Breaking Barriers to Spiritual Reproduction

    A Discipleship Dilemma: Breaking Barriers to Spiritual Reproduction
    Dec 1 2025
    Is your church perfectly designed to produce the results it’s producing—even if it’s not producing disciples? In this powerful episode, Bruce Ritter and Charles Russell unpack the 10 major barriers that keep churches from making disciples. Discover why many churches unintentionally form consumers instead of disciples, and what pastors and leaders can do to shift the culture toward spiritual formation, relational discipleship, and genuine transformation. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, coach, or someone passionate about raising up mature followers of Jesus, this episode will bring clarity, conviction, and a roadmap for change. You’ll Learn: • The 10 barriers that block disciple making in churches • Why discipleship fails when it’s optional • How low expectations shape weak spiritual cultures • Why pastors must shift from performers to equippers • Why discipleship can’t be a program—it must be a culture • How churches can break free from “quick results thinking” • How to lead slow, relational, transformational disciple-making
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    43 m