The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast) - James Offers Guidance to Young Leaders

Episode Date: October 17, 2025

The Bible provides timeless wisdom and guidance for young leaders. Jeff Cavins draws from the Letter of James to reveal what true Christian leadership looks like— leadership rooted in wisdom, humility, justice, and prayer. Email us with comments or questions at [e-mail]. Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get Jeff’s shownotes delivered straight to your email! Or visit https://media.ascensionpress.com/?s=&page=2&category%5B0%5D=Ascension%20Podcasts&category%5B1%5D=The%20Jeff%20Cavins%20Show for full shownotes!

This podcast is brought to you by Ascension. To discover even more free Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources, to help you live your faith every day, visit ascensionpress.com. Welcome to the Jeff Kaven Show, where we talk about the Bible, discipleship, and evangelization, putting it all together in living as activated disciples. This is show 452. James offers guidance to young leaders. Welcome to the show this week. I'm Jeff Kavins. Thank you for joining me. If it's your first time, welcome. And to all my friends who joined me every single week, so good to be back with you again. Right off the bat, I've got to tell you, we're going to talk about leadership today. And I have been noticing more and more over the last few years different apostolets, aka ministries for people who are not Catholic, And there's so many young people beginning initiatives, and that is really, really good. But one of the things that we have to think about is we start apostolets, we start these various

ministries, one thing we have to think about is where are you going to get your wisdom from? Where are you going to get your direction from? I'm not talking about just content, but I'm talking about the actual art of leading. And the reason I think this is so important today is because young people spend an inordinate amount of time looking at their screen. Now that tells me something. That tells me that when it comes to the skill of being a leader, they run the risk of listening to the crowd. And so it's very, very important, I think, for us to be very careful as young leaders that the consensus on social media isn't necessarily the right idea. But that is the source where people are getting

many of their ideas. I introduce you, young leader, to the Bible, to the Bible. And we're going to talk about that today. In fact, I'm going to take one book of the Bible, and I'm going to focus on that, and that's going to be James. We're going to take a look at James, because James has so much wisdom, so much guidance. And so just kind of pretend that you're sitting in a small group with St. James, and he's going to talk to you as a young leader about some real insights that'll be helpful for you if you're going to be a leader who's going to be fruitful in the kingdom of God. Now, I started off myself years ago as a young leader. In fact, I've been leading since I was almost 18 years old. I started leading and started teaching scripture when I was about 21 years old,

and I always seemed to find myself in a leadership position. Maybe you are the the same as a young leader. And you'd say, Jeff, I'm just like that. I don't know why it is. I didn't necessarily choose it, but I found myself in a leadership position. But the truth is, I was never mentored. I was never really trained by someone to be the leader that I find myself in. Maybe something here today will be helpful for you. By the way, if you do want the show notes today, and I've got a lot of them, all you have to do, they're free. All you got to do is text my name, Jeff Kavens, one word, Jeff Kavins, and text it to the number 3377. And we'll get you on board. You'll be getting today's show, and you'll be getting

next week. And the week after, you'll be getting them in perpetuity as long as we're here. And this is show, what is this, 452. It's been years and years that we've been spending this time together. And I do enjoy it. And I enjoy it very, very much. And thank you for your wonderful, kind remarks. I get those every week and I appreciate them very, very much. All right, leadership, young leaders. Now, there's different types of leadership that people find themselves in, in life in general. Because a lot of people, they'll say, well, I'm not really a leader. But when you look at their life carefully, you find out, yeah, you are. You are a leader of one group or one, you know, one influence or another. Some people are a leader in that they have friends

in their life that brand their friends look to them they look to them for guidance or they look for them you know to them for ideas or for insight whatever it might be that's a leader just a few people sure but still a leader right you're a leader now we have leaders in the home we have mothers we have fathers we have leaders at work it might be all the way from the CEO of a corporation down to a committee leader somewhere you know we're in the corporation in churches we have leadership. We have a father who is leading the local parish. He's under leadership in the diocese with the bishop, and that bishop's under the leadership of the pope. But in the local parish, you may be a youth leader. You may be a director of religious education. You might be a leader of

the liturgy, right, in your parish, a liturgical director. There's all kinds of leadership positions. but how you lead is the important thing that we want to talk about here today. Now, in addition to different types of leadership, I have also noticed another phenomenon that I experience myself. It's what I would call growing into a leader. It's this transformation where you go from clearly being a follower and a learner and a student to suddenly you find yourself a leader. Now this happened to me. I went from 18 years of age where I was completely a follower. I was a participant. I followed. I read. I listened. I walked behind people. I did whatever I could, you know, and I always thought of myself as a quote unquote follower. Maybe you think of

yourself as a follower as well. As I started to grow up and people were giving me more and more responsibility, whether it was to teach a Bible study or to lead a small group discussion or to speak at a men's meeting, whatever it was, I woke up one day. And I looked in the mirror and said, you're not the follower anymore. You're not that young one anymore. People are looking to you, Jeff, the way you used to look for leaders. And you know what? I didn't like maybe you don't either maybe you know what i'm talking about i didn't like it at first it was like wait a minute i don't want to grow up i don't want to be that leader i want to be a follower i want to be told what to do i want to i want people to make decisions for me i want other people to tell me

what i'm thinking you know and what's right and what's wrong what's good doctrine what's bad doctrine what's a good procedure what's bad procedure i wanted to be led well i think that's something that all of us experience who are leaders today is that we do want to be led and there's always going to be people that can lead you and teach you and there's always going to be people who know more than you for sure right i know there's tons of people who know more about the bible than i do but yet i'm a leader and people are looking to me when it comes to scriptures as well as they're looking to scott hon or dr edwards three or uh dr tim gray or dr marchalino de ambrosio or Dr. Andrew Swofford or Dr. Mary Healy. There's a lot of leaders out there. Yet I want to be led

myself. And that's why I find good mentors. And I find great saints to be a part of my posse. And my library is, it's stocked appropriately with good leaders that I can learn from. It's all part of being a good leader. So maybe you've gone through that transition. You know, it's practical teachings in James that will help you in being a leader, where he emphasizes a number of things. I'm going to take them through you right now. So as I go through, just let's see, how many do I have for you today? I got one, two, three, four, five. I got five things that James brings out in that small book, that small book of wisdom in the New Testament, pearls for wise living. I have a Bible study in the Great Adventure series on James, and we talk about wisdom in so many areas of life.

But I digress. We're talking about leadership here today. So let's start with the first one. What does James say to a young leader? What does he offer? What guidance does he offer to you, a young leader today? And this is for anybody you know, but I'm really directing it towards young leadership, young leadership. So number one, wisdom, wisdom for leadership.

James is big on this. Listen, if you want to be a leader in the kingdom of God, whether it's youth, kids, adults, seniors, whatever it might be, James encourages seeking wisdom from God, from God. Now, I think that that's really an important point because I said, as I said earlier, if you're not careful, the consensus on social media will lead you because you don't go to the Word of God, you don't go to the church teachings,

you don't dig into the catechism, then what are you going to do? You're going to play in the same mirror that you've been playing in, and that's the glass, that's the phone, that's the computer, that's the iPad. And while you're there,

you're going to look for some things, you know, about leadership, and maybe you're going to find your ideas from, you know, pop culture leaders or political leaders. But James says, listen, if you want wisdom, go to God who gives generously. He contrasts worldly wisdom marked by envy and selfish ambition

with godly wisdom. And of course, that's marked by being pure and peaceable, gentle, and full of good fruit. So leaders are implicitly urged to lead with this divine wisdom. That's the way you want to lead, is you want wisdom from God. And that fosters peace and righteousness, rather than what? Division. How many leaders do you know of that their style and their content leads to division among the people? You see, oftentimes the answer, when it comes to wisdom and leading, is not found on the Broadway, but the narrow way. And so if you're going to play on the highway, on the Internet, and you're going to drive down Broadway,

way, well, you're not going to find the wisdom that you really need. You need to go to God's word and you need to ask for wisdom. Now listen to what James says here. And this is James 1, 5, and then I took James 3, 13 through 18. Let me read this to you. Soak it in. If you're jogging right now, if you're in the car, soak this in as a young leader that if you had a chance to sit before St. James and say, give me some advice as a young leader. this is what he would say. If you, my friend, who are listening to Jeff's podcast, are looking for guidance and wisdom here. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him, who is wise and understanding among you. By his good

life, let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But my young leader friend, but the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, and good fruits without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace and by those who make peace. That is what James would tell you.

You need wisdom? Ask God. Go to God. Go to the Word of God. Go to the Catechism. Go to the lives of the saints. Seek wisdom. The first thing, if you want wisdom, is ask for it.

Get it. And again, please try to avoid the broad way on the internet. You got a Bible. Start digging. Pray. Pray scripture. Ask God. Listen to his voice. Very, very important. Number two, if James is going to give you a little primer on leadership as a young, young leader today, he's going to talk to you about humility and accountability. Boy is this needed among young leaders today. James stresses humility. In quoting Proverbs 334, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Leaders must submit to God, resist pride, and lead with humility, recognizing their accountability to God. Without question, the best leaders in the world, The best leaders in the church are humble people.

Why? Because they can learn. They know who they are in relationship to God, and they know who they are in relationship to the body of Christ. Nothing stinks like a proud leader. It's awful. It doesn't belong in the kingdom of God. Humility.

Put others first. Talk about yourself less. Talk about God more. Humility and accountability. Now listen to what he says here. This is from, I'll put it in the show notes, James 4, 6 through 10. But He, that's God, gives more grace. Now what's grace?

Grace is the life of the Trinity. But he gives more grace. Therefore, it says God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. You see, pride is the opposite of humility. Pride is as this inordinate focus on yourself and your own wisdom and your own goals and your own, you know, PR and everything. else. He goes on and says, submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he'll flee from you. Draw near to God and he'll draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning

and your joy to dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. See, that's the key to leadership, is that not only do you need God's wisdom, you need an interior attitude and disposition of humility. A pride-filled leader, a self-centered leader, is not a good leader. They are leading themselves, and you do not need to follow a pride-filled leader. And don't be a leader filled with pride. You know that's what brought the enemy down, right? It'll bring good leaders down too. Let's take a break when we come back. Oh, the next one, you're going to like it. Well, maybe. The next three you're going to like. Oh, it's going to be good. You're listening to the Jeff Kaven show. Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz, and I'm excited to announce

that I'll be hosting season four of the Catholic Classics podcast from Ascension Press. This year, we'll read through the imitation of Christ by Thomas Acampus and unpack the timeless wisdom and profound spiritual lessons laid out in this book. You guys, the imitation of Christ is the second most widely read Catholic devotional ever written only behind the Bible. And so many saints have read this book, so many people have been inspired to imitate the life and teachings of Jesus through this podcast. You will learn what it means to imitate Christ and how we can do that in a world that seems to only want to pull us away from him. Starting October 22nd in the Ascension app, we'll read a section of the book every single day and then unpack what it means

and how it applies to our lives today. If you'd like to join me, you can download the reading plan for this series by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Catholic Classics. I'll see you in October 22nd in the Ascension app, and God bless. Welcome back. We're talking today about James offering guidance to young leaders. We've already covered the truth that young leaders need wisdom, and you've got to avoid the broad way for your wisdom.

Oh, that's so. I cannot. I'm going to do a whole show on that someday because I have some statistics that will blow your mind on how much time young leaders in the Catholic Church are spending on the Internet. But the wisdom of God is found in Scripture and humility and accountability. So important. Very important to be accountable that you're not on your own. You always are accountable. The third one that James talks about is in James 3. He talks about it quite a lot. James 3, 1 through 12. actually. And it is this. If you want to be a good leader, a young Catholic leader or a leader of any age, speech and influence are important. Speech and influence are important. When I talk about speech being important, I am not talking about style. I'm not talking about style, my brother. You know, I'm not talking about force. I'm not talking about style. I'm not talking about rhythm. No. When I talk about speech, I'm talking about what you say and the tone, the interior tone of what you say. And speaking truth in love.

James warns that teachers, most likely leaders in the church, will actually face a stricter judgment because why? This is important, my young friend. This is so important. leaders incur a stricter judgment? Here's what he says. Because their words carry weight. That's why your speech is so important. That's why your speech is so important. Your words carry weight. You will be judged differently. Not differently in terms of ethically and morally. You'll be judged differently in terms of it's going to be a stricter judgment because of the fact that you or a leader. He emphasizes controlling the tongue as it can steer what? Communities. As a leader,

your tongue steers communities like a rudder steers a ship. Leaders must use speech to build up and not destroy. Listen to a couple things he says here. This is really good. Soke it in again. Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. for we all make many mistakes and if anyone makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man able to bridle the whole body also if we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us we guide their whole bodies look at the ships also though they are so great and are driven by strong winds they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So the tongue, my young leader friend, so the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members staining the whole body. setting on fire the cycle of nature and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird of reptile and sea creature can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. A restless evil full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the likeness of God.

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing, brethren, this ought not to be. And it ought not to be in your young ministry. Control your tongue. Give your tongue to God. May your tongue be the pen of a ready writer. May your tongue be the pen of a righteous writer, a fair writer, a gentle writer, a merciful writer, a loving writer. Oh, like I'm telling you what, you want to be a good leader? my young friend you need to make this a priority not just this podcast

I'm talking about make this a priority for the rest of your life control your tongue how many of us as leaders I'll say it and I know all my friends would say it as well who are leaders nationwide

and that is there's a list the things I would take back there is and I don't know of anybody who would say there's nothing that they wouldn't take back. We've all made mistakes. Learn, move forward. Give your speech to Christ. May he control. May he control not only what you say, but how you speak. Now, the fourth one is a really good one here. If you want to be a young leader today, then you need to take seriously the responsibility to act justly, to act justly.

That's right. James calls out those in authority. He calls them wealthy oppressors. He calls out those in authority who exploit others, urging leaders to demonstrate faith through just actions. Just actions, not just actions, but just actions. He condemns those who hoard wealth or mistreat workers, implying leaders should model fairness and compassion. Fairness and compassion. Act justly. What is justice? Justice is when those people you are leading get what they deserve. Would they get what's coming to them? And I'm saying that in a positive way, not in a bad way. Like so many people would say, oh, he got what's coming to him. But we give to people what is theirs. It's just. It's like a married couple. The husband, it is just for him to have this wife and for her to have this. husband. So this is really important to be a leader. You must act justly. Act justly. That is something that everybody should really strive for not only in their own life, but in their leadership. You know, reminds me, as I was just thinking this, just now literally, you might have heard the click and the clack of my mechanical keyboard there.

me of Micah. Micah chapter 6 and verse 8. I'm putting it in the show notes for you right here. As I speak, I'm entering it into the notes. But it's one of my favorite verses. I'd say it's probably one of my top three to five, Galatians 220 being top. Listen to what it says in Micah 6.8. He has showed you, oh, young leader, I put that in there. What is good and what does the Lord require of you, oh, young leader, but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God. And that's in the notes for you now. So yeah, I'm putting it right in there right now. Now James goes on, you know, he goes on here in chapter five with this idea of responsibility in acting to act justly. He says, come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are

coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasures for the last days. Behold the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields which you kept back by fraud, cry out and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in luxury. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned. You have killed the righteous man. He does not resist you. So I'm going to put all this in there. I'm going to put James chapter 2 versus 14 through 17 and then James 5, 1 through 6 in the show notes for you. Then finally, the fifth one that I want to

share with you, oh, my, my young leader friend is this one. If you want to be a leader in the church, you need to do two things here. James puts two things together. Be patient and prayer. Patient and prayer. Wow. You know, as I'm going over those, all of these five points with you, I've got to be honest with you, it's like one of those death experiences they talk about how when you die

your whole life kind of rolls before you. And as I talked to you about these things, my mind goes back to 40, 45 years of leadership. And I can think of times where I want, you know, or, oh, I wish I had another chance at that. Or I think I was all right there. I get reminded. I'm reminded.

I'm either reminding myself or the Holy Spirit's reminding me of those times when I didn't do that. I didn't do what I'm preaching here. And I wish I could do it over. So learn from me and don't make those mistakes. So patience and prayer. James instructs leaders to pray faithfully. That's a big thing, especially in times of suffering or sin within the community.

Now, this suggests a pastoral role for leaders, guiding through prayer and an example. Now, while James addresses all believers, these principles particularly challenge leaders to embody integrity, wisdom, and humility. And the epistle doesn't explicitly define leaders, but likely refers to elders, teachers, or influential figures in the early church.

Now, listen to what he said regarding patience and prayer, okay? Again, sit back for that. Let one of the masters, James, speak to you. He says, in James 5, starting in verse 13, is anyone among you suffering, let him pray? Is any cheerful? Let him sing songs. Is any among you sick?

Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves, and he prayed fervently

that it might not rain. And for three years and six months, it did not rain on the earth. And then he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain. And the earth. And the earth, wrought forth its fruit. So prayer is really, really important. And I would, I would really encourage you as a young leader, don't lose your prayer life. If you're going to let go of things, that is not one thing you want to let go of. When you let go of your prayer life, it will be noticed by the people around you. Trust me, that's 45 years of wisdom. If your prayer life wanes, your family will know it right away others will know it

you know a week or two down the road and it is the doorway who's spiraling life as a leader don't don't let go a prayer that's your lifeline

that's your relationship that's where the orders come from says you know the scriptures tell us that Jesus was constantly going away by himself to be with the father and the catechism tells us that even that that what he did and what he said on a daily basis was the evidence of what he was talking about. It was an outward expression of what he was talking about silently with the Father.

If you're not with Jesus in prayer, you're not going to have much to say out there. Oh, unless, of course, you get all your stuff from the Internet. Yeah, I forgot about that. Kidding. If you don't pray, if you don't read the Bible, then social leaders and even cheat, church leaders will all start sounding the same because they're listening to each other. That should come to an end. Listen to God.

Be a man of prayer. Be a woman of prayer. Be a man and woman of reading scripture. Being deep into the thought life of the church and the saints. The leadership that the world needs these days is not social gurus. It's not. The leadership that the world needs today is godly leadership. disciples of the Lord who are going out and introducing a new way of living to people.

So that's what I wanted to share with you today. You were on my mind this week. I almost did a show on another topic. We'll get to that probably in the future. But as I was thinking of this more and more, you were on my mind. And so I thought, well, maybe this is timely. Maybe this is timely. now before we pray to close this out i want to draw your attention to a show i did a long time ago show

203 and it was called a message to young catholic entrepreneurs where i went through a lot of areas and about uh you know some of the mistakes that i made in the past and that one that's that goes right with what i've just been saying today except today i spoke about james On that show, show 203, a message to young Catholic entrepreneurs, that was more like a big brother giving advice. So I'd encourage you to listen to that as well. Should we pray? Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus,

we humble ourselves before you. And we know, Lord, that you are the leader. You are the source of grace. You are the author of life. We humble ourselves before you and ask you to help us to be leaders that would make you proud that would accurately convey the gospel message and with our lives accurately demonstrate it help us lord to be leaders in in your kingdom we submit our will to you we submit our ideas to you we submit our future to you and we submit all of our time all of our energy all of our resources to

you use us in how you see fit in your name we pray amen name of the father son and the holy spirit God bless you, and we'll see you next week.