Pete Stearns on Becoming a Lead Pastor, Preaching without Notes and Redefining Sin as a Pathway to Freedom

In this episode of Deeper Still, Suanne Camfield interviews Pete Stearns, the lead pastor of St. Mark's Community Church in Burlington, NC. Pete opens the episode by sharing an unexpected way his church got involved with relief efforts for Hurricane Helene, what he's discovered about the joys and challenges of becoming a lead pastor and how he's learned to preach without notes.

Suanne & Pete spend the second half of the conversation exploring the concept of sin, reframing its focus from behavior management to understanding it as a sickness form which there is only one cure. Pete emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit, defining the process of sanctification, as the Spirit transforms our hearts and cultivates our character, as well as the need for consistency and community as we find our way.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction and Context Setting

02:37 Hurricane Relief Efforts and Community Response

09:00 Transitioning to a New Community and Family Life

13:31 Surprises of Lead Pastorship

18:03 Preaching Without Notes: The Process

22:57 The Theology of Sin: A New Perspective

28:18 Redefining Sin and Its Implications

33:23 The Journey to Freedom from Sin

38:16 Understanding the Role of the Holy Spirit

43:57 Sanctification: A Process of Growth

49:20 The Importance of Bearing Fruit in Community