Follow Jesus. Cultivate People.

About Follow Jesus. Cultivate People.

Follow Jesus. Cultivate People. is a leadership podcast for pastors, church leaders, and ministry teams who want to grow in biblical leadership, discipleship, and church health. In quick, powerful 15–30 minute episodes, we break down practical theology for real ministry—covering topics like sermon preparation, leadership development, spiritual formation, church growth, navigating suffering, and building healthy teams. Whether you’re leading a church, planting a ministry, or developing leaders, this podcast will help you stay rooted in Jesus, think theologically, and lead with clarity and conviction. 👉 Subscribe for weekly encouragement and equipping for ministry leadership. Follow Jesus. Cultivate People. Lead well.

Publisher

Billy Almaguer

Category

education · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Jun 2026

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   S4E9 — MEASURE: The Ministry Dashboard

   S4E9 — MEASURE: The Ministry Dashboard October 13, 2026 | Follow Jesus. Cultivate People. Podcast Panel: Billy, Daniel, Manolo, and Adrian Episode Overview How do you know if your church is healthy—not just growing, busy, or full of activity, but truly healthy? In this episode, Billy and the panel explore the importance of measuring ministry through the lens of biblical stewardship. From understanding the spiritual condition of the church to evaluating leaders, ministry effectiveness, and resources, discover how paying attention helps pastors lead with greater wisdom and faithfulness. Measurement isn't about reducing people to numbers or turning ministry into a business. It's about recognizing what God has entrusted to us, identifying areas of health and concern, and making wise decisions that move the mission forward. In This Episode Why We Measure: Understanding measurement as an essential part of faithful shepherding. Know the State of Your Flock: Paying attention to the spiritual and practical health of the people God has entrusted to you. Building a Ministry Dashboard: Identifying meaningful indicators for people, leaders, ministry effectiveness, and resources. When Numbers Lie: Avoiding performance-driven ministry and learning to use numbers as information rather than validation. Counting the Cost: Understanding how evaluation, planning, and adjustment demonstrate wise stewardship. Responding to What We See: Turning ministry insights into practical decisions that strengthen the church and advance its mission. Key Scriptures Acts 20:28 — Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock. Proverbs 27:23 — Be diligent to know the state of your flocks. Luke 14:28 — Count the cost. 1 Corinthians 4:2 — Stewards are required to be faithful. Key Takeaway You cannot faithfully steward what you refuse to pay attention to. Numbers are information, not identity. The goal isn't simply to measure ministry but to faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us. Reflection Questions What has God entrusted to you that needs greater attention? What does spiritual health look like in your church or ministry, and how would you know if you're growing healthier? What belongs on your ministry dashboard? Are you measuring what matters most, or primarily what is easiest to count? What do you need to start reviewing regularly to become a more faithful steward? What's Next? In the next episode, we'll move from MEASURE to MULTIPLY and explore how leaders can reproduce what God is doing, develop others, and multiply ministry impact. FOCUS → MEASURE → MULTIPLY → REVIEW Follow Jesus. Cultivate People. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Measuring Ministry Health 03:07 Understanding Church Health Indicators 09:30 The Role of Pastors in Shepherding 13:08 Balancing Metrics and Personal Connection 21:05 Creating a Ministry Dashboard 25:36 Cultivating Spiritual Gifts in Leadership 28:00 Reflecting on Early Ministry Experiences 33:59 Trusting God vs. Ignoring Reality 40:03 Overlooked Issues Leading to Crisis 44:22 Practical Steps for Ministry Health

2. 

   8 Sept 2026

   S4E8: The Priority Filter

   🎙️ Season 4, Episode 8 FOCUS: The Priority Filter — Know Your Assignment Pastors don't usually struggle because there aren't enough things to do. We struggle because there are too many things to do—and many of them are good things. In this episode, we begin a four-part conversation around four practical tools every pastor and ministry leader can use to lead with greater clarity and intentionality: FOCUS → MEASURE → MULTIPLY → REVIEW We start with FOCUS: The Priority Filter — Know Your Assignment. Joined by a panel of church planters, we talk honestly about the challenge of knowing what God has called us to do, protecting that assignment, and learning when to say yes, no, delegate, or discontinue. 📖 Biblical Foundation Acts 6:2–4 The apostles recognized that they could not personally carry every legitimate need within the growing church. Their response wasn't to ignore the need—it was to clarify their assignment and empower others to serve. Everything important does not belong on every leader's plate. We also explore: Nehemiah 6:3 — Staying focused on the work God has given you. Ephesians 5:15–16 — Walking wisely and making the most of our time. Mark 1:35–38 — Jesus remaining focused on His mission despite competing demands. 💬 In This Conversation Knowing Your Assignment How do we recognize what God has actually called us to carry? And how does our assignment change as the church and ministry grow? The Distraction of Good Things Most pastors aren't distracted by bad things. We're often distracted by good things. We talk about the ministry opportunities, expectations, needs, events, and responsibilities that can slowly pull us away from our primary assignment. Saying No & Delegating How do we say no without becoming inaccessible or uncaring? What should we delegate? What should we discontinue? And what actually needs to remain on our plate? Staying on the Wall Nehemiah said: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” — Nehemiah 6:3 What does it look like for a pastor to stay focused when everyone has an opinion about what we should be doing? 🧰 The Priority Filter Before saying YES, ask: 1. Is this part of my assignment? 2. Is this the right season? 3. Am I the right person to do this? 4. What will I have to say NO to if I say YES? These four questions can help us move from simply being busy in ministry to being faithful to our assignment. 🎯 Your Challenge Take a look at your calendar—not just this week, but the last 30 days. Ask yourself: Where did my time go? What received my attention? What actually belongs to my assignment? What needs to be delegated? What needs to be discontinued? You don't have to do everything. You don't have to chase every opportunity. You don't have to meet every expectation. Know your assignment. Protect your assignment. Empower others to carry theirs. That's faithful leadership. Next Episode MEASURE — The Ministry Dashboard Once we know what God has called us to do, how do we know whether the ministry we're stewarding is actually healthy? Follow Jesus. Cultivate People.

3. 

   19 Aug 2026

   S4E7: The Theology of the Church – Why Community Matters

   Season 4, Episode 7: The Theology of the Church – Why Community Matters Bottom Line: The Church is not optional—it is God’s designed context for formation, healing, and mission. Overview: Many people want Jesus without the Church. Church hurt, disappointment, consumerism, and individualism have led many believers to treat faith as a private experience. But the Church was never a human invention or an optional addition to the Christian life. Jesus established His Church, and discipleship was never meant to be lived in isolation. In this session, we explore what the Church actually is, why community matters, and how God uses His people to form, heal, and send us. Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 12 — The Church as the Body of Christ Ephesians 2:19–22 — The Church as the household and dwelling place of God Hebrews 10:24–25 — Encouraging one another in community What You’ll Learn: Why the Church is essential to the Christian life What the Bible means when it describes the Church as a body, family, and temple Why spiritual isolation is dangerous How community shapes spiritual formation How to navigate church hurt without abandoning God’s design Leadership Takeaways: The Church is not an event we attend—it is a people we belong to Discipleship was never designed to be individualistic Isolation removes important sources of encouragement and accountability Healthy community is essential for spiritual formation The brokenness of people does not cancel the design of God Leadership Insight: You cannot fully follow a Head while rejecting His Body. Why It Matters: Many people believe in Jesus while remaining disconnected from His Church Isolation can slow spiritual growth and leave wounds unaddressed Consumer Christianity treats the Church as something to evaluate rather than a people to join God uses community to shape, heal, and send His people Discussion Questions: Why do you think so many people want Jesus but not the Church? Is church optional or essential to the Christian life? Why does isolation often feel easier even though it can be spiritually dangerous? How has Christian community shaped your faith? How should we respond to people who have been genuinely hurt by the Church? Application Questions: What is one step you can take toward deeper connection in the Church? Where might isolation be affecting your spiritual growth? How can you move from simply attending church to truly belonging? Who is one person you can intentionally encourage or walk alongside this week? Closing Thought: You don’t just follow Jesus individually—you follow Him as part of a people He is forming. The Church is not optional. It is one of God’s primary means of shaping us, healing us, and sending us into the world.

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Guest appearances

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