The PursueGOD Training Podcast

A mentoring handoff is the strategic transfer of a person needing care from a pastor to an equipped lay mentor. Grounded in Ephesians 4:11–12, pastors leverage their relational equity to normalize peer discipleship, prepare mentors with background context, and guide the initial meetings until the mentor confidently takes the lead. -- The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- Notes

If you sat down with nothing but a Bible, would you ever actually come up with your current belief system? In this episode, Bryan reacts to a classic sermon clip from Francis Chan detailing his front-door encounter with LDS missionaries. But stick around for the twist at the end—because Francis doesn't just challenge LDS theology; he turns the mirror directly on modern evangelical church culture. -- The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- What happens when one of the most famous modern preachers gets a knock on his door from LDS missionaries? In this episode of Unveiling Mormonism, Pastor Bryan reacts to a powerful sermon clip from Francis Chan. We dive into Chan's incredibly gracious, question-based approach to Mormon theology, compare "traditional" LDS doctrines (like eternal progression and the pre-existence) with modern LDS branding, and tackle a massive challenge that every evangelical Christian needs to hear. Key Takeaways The Power of Asking Questions: Why Francis Chan’s gentle, curious approach to LDS missionaries is far more effective than getting "fired up" or preachy. The "Two Mormonisms": The difference between the front-page, Jesus-centric marketing of modern Mormonism and the actual, traditional doctrines of eternal progression and grandfather gods. A High View of Scripture: Why starting and ending with the Bible changes the entire conversation—and why we must encourage our LDS friends to read it without any external "filters." The Twist Challenge for Christians: If you only read the Bible from cover to cover, would you actually come up with the consumer-driven, mega-church programs we see today?

Welcome back to the podcast! Join us this week for a special episode, highlighting the updates to our website in 2026! -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now --

In this episode, Bryan wraps up 2025 and gives us a clear snapshot of what God has been doing through PursueGOD—and what’s coming next in 2026. -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- Check out our YouVersion reading plans Want to donate? Click here

Hey leaders, welcome to the PursueGOD Training Podcast. Today we’re going to give you a complete roadmap for leading the SALT program—from the big picture 9-month journey to the nightly flow that makes every meeting meaningful, fun, and spiritually powerful. -- The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- If you’re leading SALT, this is your playbook. Segment 1: The Big Picture Vision SALT is a 9-month student leadership program that helps high school students: Grow in their faith, Serve consistently, and Lead by example in their local church. It comes straight from Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth.” SALT students learn to be distinct, purposeful, and impactful in a world that needs Jesus. The program centers on three core habits: Read daily through the Bible plan. Serve weekly on a ministry team. Meet monthly for teaching, discussion, and accountability. Your job as a leader? Guide students through these habits, cheer them on, and make it relational, consistent, and fun. Segment 2: The 9-Month Structure Here’s the program flow: Boot Camp (Weeks 1–6): These first weeks set the tone. Students meet each other, start the Bible reading plan, find a serving role, and learn the rhythm of SALT. Monthly Meetings (Months 2–8): After Boot Camp, you meet once a month for a leadership lesson, Bible and serving check-in, group discussion, and prayer. Graduation (Month 9): The final meeting celebrates growth, shares stories, and launches students to keep living out their faith. Every meeting follows a similar rhythm—but the first few weeks focus on relationships and introductions, while later months focus more on leadership growth and consistency. Segment 3: Preparing Before Each Meeting Here’s what leaders should do before every SALT meeting: Watch the lesson video/podcast and review the Talking Points and discussion questions. Listen to this leader podcast so you feel confident about the plan. Set the atmosphere: Whether you meet at someone’s home or the church, make it welcoming. Play music, have snacks ready, maybe even start a game while students arrive. Plan the fun: Bring icebreakers or simple games like Uno or Play Nine to make it easy for students to connect. The goal is for students to show up feeling like this is their space—a place they want to be. Segment 4: The Nightly Flow Okay, let’s get practical. Here’s a simple outline for each SALT night: Food and Fun: Start with snacks or a meal, plus a game or icebreaker. This sets a relational tone. Watch the Video: Keep it short and focused—it sets up your discussion. Read the Talking Points: Invite students to take turns reading aloud. Ask One Question at a Time: Read the question, let the group respond, and keep it conversational. Check In on Bible Reading & Serving: Encourage consistency and celebrate wins. End with Prayer Requests: Have each student share one thing to pray about and invite students to pray for each other. This simple rhythm works whether you’re in Boot Camp or month seven. Segment 5: Leading with Purpose SALT isn’t about perfection—it’s about walking with students as they learn to own their faith. As a leader, remember: Relationships first: Know your students personally. Model consistency: Be faithful in reading, serving, and showing up. Keep it fun and welcoming: Kids come back when they feel connected and cared for. Pray with them and for them: This shapes hearts more than anything else. By the end of the 9 months, students should feel closer to Jesus, more confident serving, and ready to lead others. Wrap-Up So that’s the full SALT playbook: a 9-month journey built on daily Bible reading, weekly serving, and monthly meetings—each night filled with fun, discussion, and prayer. If you want all the lessons, videos, and guides, go to pursueGOD.org/SALT. Thanks for leading the next generation—we can’t wait to see what God does through you and your students this year.