Are you placing your daily confidence in temporary approval and accolades, or are you grounded in the unending love of God?
This week on Off Script, Scott Nickell is joined by guest pastors Carl Kuhl and Jonathan Moynihan for a raw, insightful conversation about identity, pastoral leadership, and the internal battles we all face. Diving into Ephesians 3:14–21, the guys unpack what it means to suffer from "identity deficit disorder" — jumping from one temporary platform of validation to another. They share candid personal stories about the high cost of craving approval, the painful yet transformative seasons in the wilderness, and why true spiritual health requires learning to "waste time" in quiet intimacy with our Heavenly Father.
What we discuss
- The shared leadership "coaching tree" and ministry history connecting Carl, Jonathan, and Southland
- How Jonathan’s journalism background shapes his objective, text-focused approach to preaching
- The vital distinction between podcasters detached from local congregations and local church pastors
- Unpacking Ephesians 3:14–21 as the emotional climax and theological foundation of the series
- Defining "identity deficit disorder" and how good things can easily become ultimate things
- Max Lucado’s parable of stars and dots in "You Are Special": examining the deep human craving for external approval
- Vulnerable admissions of which "stars" feel too good and which "dots" sting the most
- How seasons of deep pain and wilderness experiences forge a genuine hunger for God's presence