Switch Leader Podcast

Switch Leaders, we're kicking off Gospel Shaped Relationships and stepping into the book of Acts. Josh and Kaitlyn unpack Acts 1:8 and why Jesus chose the word "witness," not expert, debater, or scholar, for the people He sends. When Jesus changes your life, you can't keep it to yourself, whether that's the day He saved you or the way He's still changing you today. Kaitlyn challenges us to go first: if Wednesday night is the only place we talk about what God is doing in our lives, it's time to take our story further, starting with a simple "I was, but God, and now" testimony.

SwitchFest is this week's big bring-in night, and Josh and Kaitlyn unpack the message students will hear. We'll be teaching on doubt, built around John 20 and Thomas's encounter with the resurrected Jesus. This episode reminds us that doubt isn't disqualifying but can actually be a doorway to deeper faith, along with practical ideas on how to sit with a student's hard questions without rushing to "fix" them. It's a strong reminder that your job in small group isn't to erase every doubt — it's to be a safe, present guide as students bring their questions to God, process them with people they trust, and choose to keep following Jesus.

Fresh off The Bash where 420 students said yes to Jesus, Josh and Kaitlyn dig into why how we follow up matters just as much as the bring-in moment itself — walking through Switch's bring in, build up, train, send out strategy and landing on the core truth of Ephesians 2: we're not saved by good works, but when we're saved, it's time to get to work. Leaders will walk away with a clear, practical framework for coaching students toward one gospel conversation a day, plus language for helping students name the insecurities that keep them silent about their faith. It's a great reminder that this challenge starts with us — if we want students practicing gospel conversations, we have to be having them too.

This week's Switch experience is The Bash — a party with a purpose, and this year that purpose is preparing Switch Leaders for one of the most important conversations you can have with a student. Josh and Kaitlyn walk through Stay Here's ACT training (Ask, Convince, Take Action), modeled after Jesus's own approach to the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5. You'll learn how to ask the hard question with compassion instead of shame, how to convince a student that their life is worth living, and how to walk alongside them toward real help and healing. This episode is a summary — not a substitute — for the full ACT training linked below, which every leader should complete before Bash night.

ACT Training

Switch Leaders close out "The God Revealed in Jesus" with the Gospel of John, tackling a question every student wrestles with: how do you know someone is who they say they are? Josh and Kaitlyn walk through John 11's account of Lazarus's resurrection, showing how Jesus's words and actions consistently matched — proving He is exactly who He claimed to be. Leaders will get three powerful small group questions to carry students toward real, honest reflection: what pain are you hiding from Jesus, what limitations have you placed on His power, and who have you written off as too far gone? Plus, a challenge to stay locked in and lead well through a jam-packed, high-momentum month ahead.

This week, Switch Leaders dig into the Gospel of Luke and its bold claim: Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise God has made. Josh and Caitlin unpack Luke's introduction and Jesus' own introduction of Himself in Luke 4, where He reads a Messianic prophecy and declares, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" — then challenge leaders to set aside their own expectations of who Jesus should be so students can encounter who He really is. Leaders will walk away with a three-step framework for helping students investigate Jesus with confidence, plus a fresh challenge to keep setting the tone and holding the line in small group.

In this episode, Josh Baldwin and Kaitlyn Caffrey continue "The God Revealed in Jesus" with the Gospel of Mark, unpacking how Jesus is the Son of God and rightful King who is both all-powerful and perfectly loving. They explore why we can't have the kingdom without the King, and challenge leaders to help students wrestle with what it really means to deny themselves and follow Him. A practical conversation on submission, obedience, and pointing students toward the significant invitation Jesus extends to each of us.

In this episode, Josh Baldwin and Kaitlyn Caffrey kick off The God Revealed in Jesus by exploring the Gospel of Matthew and the good news that Jesus is the promised Messiah who brings the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. They unpack common misconceptions about following Jesus and challenge leaders to help students see that faith isn’t just about eternity—it’s about experiencing the life and mission of Jesus right now. A practical conversation about setting the tone for a new semester and inviting students to follow Jesus more fully.

Welcome to a brand-new semester of Switch! Hosts Josh Baldwin and Kaitlyn Caffrey kick things off with an overview week, transitioning students from the Old Testament into the New Testament and previewing what to expect this semester. Kaitlyn also breaks down the message guide's Sins and Wins, Scripture, and Application sections to help spark real conversation with students. A great episode for new and returning Switch Leaders alike as they gear up for a semester of pursuing clarity, genuine faith, and knowing God through Jesus.

As the Exile series wraps up, hosts Josh Baldwin and Kaitlyn Caffrey land on a simple, life-changing challenge: read your Bible more days than you don't. Through the words of the prophet Zechariah, they unpack God's faithfulness, the danger of drifting, and how a little summer self-reflection can keep students from repeating the mistakes of the past. Packed with practical accountability ideas and a reminder for leaders to rest and refill, this episode equips Switch leaders to finish the year strong and head into summer ready to sprint again.