The Walk: A Devotional Podcast from Worship Leader Magazine

Some pain doesn’t just go away.It follows you. It waits. It whispers.
And if you’re not careful—it starts to feel like it owns you.
In this episode of The Walk: Faith in the Real World, Kevin Young of the band Disciple shares an unfiltered conversation about sin, freedom, and the battle every believer faces behind the scenes.
After more than 30 years in Christian music, Kevin opens up about the reality that following Jesus doesn’t mean you stop struggling—it means you learn how to fight differently.
From the story behind “Dear X (You Don’t Own Me)” to the hard lessons of confession, accountability, and healing, this episode is a reminder that the things chasing you don’t get the final word.
Guest Bio
Kevin Young is the lead vocalist of the Christian rock band Disciple, a group that has spent over 30 years blending hard rock with a bold message of faith. With 13 studio albums, multiple Dove Awards, and songs featured across major platforms like ESPN, WWE, and CBS, Disciple has impacted listeners around the world. Kevin is passionate about evangelism, authenticity, and helping people find freedom through Jesus.
Episode Highlights
Why sin doesn’t just disappear—it chases youThe powerful metaphor behind “Dear X (You Don’t Own Me)”
The danger of “small” compromisesHow sin starts subtle—but spreads like cancer if left unchecked
Why confession leads to healingThe difference between hiding struggles and bringing them into the light
How music breaks through where words can’tWhy God uses music to reach places nothing else can
What it really means to follow JesusNot perfection—but learning, failing, and being formed over time
Pull Quote
“SIN DOESN’T JUST LEAVE—IT WAITS. BUT THROUGH JESUS, IT DOESN’T OWN YOU ANYMORE.”
Helpful Links
Disciple Band: https://disciplerocks.com
Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: the all-in-one software to help your church schedule volunteers, plan services, and stay organized. Try it free today at https://www.planningcenter.com/?utm_source=wlm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=thewalk
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Most Christians would say they know Jesus.
But what if we’ve misunderstood who He really is?
In this episode of The Walk: Faith in the Real World, Mark E. Moore—teaching pastor at Christ’s Church of the Valley and bestselling author of Core 52—challenges one of the most foundational assumptions in modern faith: not whether we believe in Jesus, but whether we actually understand Him.
From his years as a New Testament professor to leading at one of the largest churches in the country, Mark brings clarity to a question that reshapes everything:
Have we reduced Jesus to something smaller than who He really is?
This conversation explores the tension between seeing Jesus as Savior versus recognizing Him as Messiah and King—and why that distinction changes how we live, lead, and follow Him today.
Guest Bio
Mark E. Moore is the teaching pastor at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria, Arizona—one of the fastest-growing churches in the United States. He previously spent over 20 years as a New Testament professor at Ozark Christian College and is the bestselling author of Core 52. Mark is passionate about making Scripture accessible, clear, and transformative for everyday life. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Phoenix.
Episode Highlights
Are we missing the real Jesus?How modern Christianity can unintentionally reshape Jesus into our own image
Savior vs. King: why it mattersWhat happens when we embrace Jesus as Savior but ignore His authority as Messiah
Why “personal faith” might be incompleteRecovering the power of a shared, lived-out faith in community
The danger of a customized JesusHow culture influences the way we interpret Scripture and identity
What it actually means to follow Jesus todayMoving from comfort to surrender—and from belief to embodied faith
Pull Quote
“IF YOU SEE JESUS ONLY AS SAVIOR, YOU’LL WAIT FOR HEAVEN SOMEDAY—INSTEAD OF LIVING ETERNAL LIFE RIGHT NOW.”
Helpful Links
Mark E. Moore Books: https://www.markmoore.org/
Christ’s Church of the Valley: https://ccv.church
Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: the all-in-one software to help your church schedule volunteers, plan services, and stay organized. Try it today at https://www.planningcenter.com/?utm_source=wlm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=thewalk
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The cross is central to everything we believe.So why does it sometimes feel… familiar?
In this episode of The Walk: Faith in the Real World, Cade Thompson opens up about a tension many Christians quietly carry—what happens when the message of the cross stops feeling powerful and starts feeling routine.
Growing up in church and now touring as a Christian artist, Cade shares how easy it is to lose the wonder of what Jesus has done—and how to find it again.
From a life-changing moment at summer camp to a simple conversation in an airport that sparked his song “That’s What the Cross Is For,” this episode is a reminder that the gospel was never meant to become background noise—it was meant to transform everything.
Guest Bio
Cade Thompson is a Christian artist and songwriter based in Franklin, Tennessee. Originally from South Dakota, Cade has over 121 million lifetime streams and has toured with artists like Chris Tomlin, TobyMac, Newsboys, and Michael W. Smith. He is signed to Red Street Records and leads worship weekly at his local church, writing songs that reflect his passion for Jesus and the power of the gospel.
Episode Highlights
Why the message of the cross can lose its meaningAnd how to rediscover the wonder of what Jesus has done
The story behind “That’s What the Cross Is For”How a simple airport conversation became a defining song
How to stay spiritually fresh in worship and everyday lifeWhy your private time with God matters more than the platform
Fighting comparison as a Christian creativeChoosing kingdom perspective over personal success
What Gen Z is really looking for in worshipA shift toward authenticity, simplicity, and real encounters with God
Pull Quote
“WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WITH GOD IN PRIVATE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO TURN IT ON IN PUBLIC—IT JUST OVERFLOWS.”
Helpful Links
Instagram: https://instagram.com/cadethompson
Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: the all-in-one software to help your church schedule volunteers, plan services, and stay organized. Try it today at https://www.planningcenter.com/?utm_source=wlm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=thewalk
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode gets honest about something many worship leaders feel—but rarely say out loud.
Dan Rivera has led on big stages, written songs heard around the world, and helped shape worship culture in the Church. But in this conversation, he pulls things back to what actually sustains a life in ministry: humility, real relationships, and a faith that doesn’t depend on the platform.
Because the truth is—what people see on stage is only a window… not the whole life.
Guest Bio
Dan Rivera lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, where he serves as Worship Pastor at Church of the King. A songwriter, leader, and pastor, Dan is passionate about building healthy worship cultures that reach people and reflect the heart of the local church. He and his wife have been married for over 12 years and have three kids.
Episode Highlights
“Worship leading is a window—not the whole house”Why what people see on stage doesn’t define your spiritual health
The hidden loneliness many worship leaders faceAnd how real relationships—not platforms—keep you grounded
Why your closest friends shouldn’t all be worship leadersBreaking out of the “echo chamber” of ministry culture
The most important trait for anyone on a worship team(Hint: it’s not talent)
How to lead with faith in an uncertain worldA simple but powerful framework: Is God real? Then His promises are too.
Pull Quote
“Worship leading is a window into your life—it’s not the whole picture.”
Helpful Links
Church of the King: https://churchoftheking.com
Listen to For The One album (search “Church of the King Worship”)
Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: the all-in-one software to help your church schedule volunteers, plan services, and stay organized. Try it free today at https://www.planningcenter.com/?utm_source=wlm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=thewalk
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is about the quiet tension every worship leader feels—but doesn’t always say out loud.
Clayton Brooks has spent over 20 years in worship ministry, and in this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on what it really looks like to lead when no one’s responding, when insecurity creeps in, and when the line between worship and performance starts to blur.
From leading in highly produced environments to moments where everything stripped away, Clayton shares why the greatest danger in worship isn’t getting it wrong—it’s slowly shifting who you’re doing it for.
Guest Bio
Clayton Brooks lives in Stokesdale, North Carolina, where he serves as Worship Pastor at Calvary Church of Greensboro. He’s a songwriter, producer, and pastor with over two decades of experience in worship ministry. Clayton is passionate about helping the Church—especially worship leaders—live what they sing. He’s married to Aunie, and they have three sons: Connor, Cayden, and Asher.
Episode Highlights
“Who are you leading for?”The subtle shift from leading people to God… to leading for people’s approval
Why crowd response can quietly shape your leadershipAnd how to stay grounded when the room feels disengaged
The tension between production and presenceAre we creating moments—or making space for God to move?
What worship really is (and what it’s not)A needed reset for leaders navigating modern church culture
The power of simple, unfiltered worshipWhy some of the most impactful moments happen when everything else falls away
Pull Quote
“Don’t let the room determine your leadership—lead from what God is doing in you.”
Helpful Links
Instagram: https://instagram.com/claytonbrooks
Calvary Church Greensboro: https://calvarychurch.com
Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: the all-in-one software to help your church schedule volunteers, plan services, and stay organized. Try it free today at https://www.planningcenter.com/?utm_source=wlm&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=thewalk
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.