Matthew Weaver discusses his faith journey and insights on Christian living.

Key Takeaways

– Matthew transitioned from full-time pastoral ministry to teaching at a Christian school, finding renewed purpose and family balance
– He emphasizes the importance of authentic relationships and being present with family in transferring faith to the next generation
– Matthew advises struggling believers to evaluate unconfessed sin, be honest with God, and press into Him during difficult seasons
– He stresses the critical nature of prioritizing one’s walk with Jesus above all else for sustainable spiritual growth and ministry

Topics

Matthew’s Background and Current Role

– Born and raised in Georgia, now living in Louisiana for over a decade
– Graduated seminary in 2016, married Emily in 2017
– Served as associate pastor for 8 years at a church in New Orleans
– Recently transitioned to teaching Bible classes at a Christian school (1,100 students)
– Has a 3-year-old son named Camden

Faith Journey and Transition to Ministry

– Accepted Christ at age 6, influenced by a sermon on the cross
– Deepened faith commitment in late high school and college years
– Pursued vocational ministry after college, serving in various roles
– Experienced burnout during COVID, political tensions, and personal challenges
– Sabbatical led to sensing God’s direction toward educational ministry

Spiritual Disciplines and Growth

– Emphasizes eliminating distractions (e.g. removing social media from phone)
– Adapts Bible reading habits to current life stage (e.g. devotionals, audio content)
– Recommends fasting as a practice to increase dependence on God
– Stresses the importance of authentic relationships for accountability and growth

Sharing Faith and Mentoring

– Advocates building genuine relationships as the foundation for evangelism
– Encourages being sensitive to Holy Spirit promptings in daily interactions
– Emphasizes the need for both actions and words in sharing the gospel
– Highlights the value of having multiple mentors for different life stages

Transferring Faith to the Next Generation

– Stresses being present and fully engaged with children
– Involves children in ministry activities to model service and faith
– Plants seeds of faith through prayer, worship music, and age-appropriate teaching
– Encourages partnering with trusted adults who can mentor and influence kids