There’s a trap many churches fall into — often with the best intentions — that quietly limits growth, burns out leaders, and keeps ministries from becoming what God designed them to be.

In this episode of the Breaking 1000 Podcast, Mark, Scott, and Hunter explore why the tension between Spiritual and Strategic leadership is often misunderstood — and how treating them as opposites creates unnecessary ceilings in the life of the church.
The conversation reframes growth as a both/and, not an either/or, and walks through:
why many churches plateau despite prayer, passion, and faithfulness
how Scripture consistently models strategy as a spiritual responsibility
the difference between godly strategy and self-driven ambition
why pastors burn out when structure and discipleship are missing
how intentional leadership actually protects spiritual health
If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, stuck at a ceiling, or unsure how to lead faithfully and wisely — this episode brings clarity without compromise.

Timestamps:
00:00 – The tension pastors feel: spiritual vs. strategic
02:00 – Why treating this as “either/or” creates a growth trap
04:00 – The real reason most churches plateau (it’s not prayer)
06:30 – What happens when a pastor tries to do everything
08:30 – Moses, Jethro, and the biblical case for delegation
10:45 – “The church isn’t a business”… but business still exists
13:00 – When strategy replaces God (Tower of Babel warning)
15:15 – Why burnout is rising among faithful pastors
17:30 – Jerusalem vs. Antioch: two very different models
20:45 – The real formula: spiritual intention + strategic action

If you have a question or topic you’d like us to tee up on a future episode, email us at hey@readysetgrowchurch.com