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