Shepherds Without Sheep Part 1 with Mike Glenn and Tim Harlow

Michael Easley inContext

Summary:

In this conversation, Michael Easley, Mike Glenn, and Tim Harlow wrestle with decades of ministry experience and what they might do differently. With decades spent in the pulpit, they confront the foundational truths that were hardest to instill in their congregations: the mandate to make disciples, the assurance of God's love, and the freeing power of grace.

They share hard-won insights on how ministry often drifted toward programs, metrics, and church growth models—missing the deeper call of Jesus to invest in a few and send them out. There’s sober confession about wasted time, misaligned priorities, and the pressure to build visible “success” instead of invisible transformation. They offer practical wisdom from years of mentoring, leading small groups, and trying—sometimes unsuccessfully—to shift the culture of the church back to discipleship and spiritual formation.

This episode is a reminder that ministry is not about building an empire but shepherding souls—and that the fruit of faithfulness is often seen in quiet places and over time.

Takeaways:

• Ministry regrets remind us that even our failures can be used by God to shape others and sanctify us.
• Discipleship isn't about perfection—it's about walking faithfully with others toward Christ.
• Pastors carry scars not just from battles lost, but from lessons learned under God’s mercy.
• God’s grace often meets us most powerfully in the places we wish we could redo.
• Longevity in ministry reveals this simple truth: obedience matters more than outcomes.
• What we once called failure, God often redefines as formation.

Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel.

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