FBI Raids, Gospel Renewal and Church Planting with Esteban Valenzuela

FBI Raids, Gospel Renewal and Church Planting with Esteban Valenzuela

Author: Mike Neglia June 17, 2025 Duration: 41:48

What does it look like when gospel renewal is forged through suffering and planted in the heart of a global city? In this conversation, Esteban Valenzuela, pastor of Raíces Madrid Evangelical Christian Church, shares his remarkable story of personal transformation, perseverance through false accusation, and the sovereign call of God that led him and his family to Madrid, Spain.

Mike Neglia and Esteban talk about the power of gospel renewal — not just as a theological concept, but as a lived reality. Esteban reminds us that the gospel is the cornerstone of Scripture and the Christian life, and warns against shallow repetition of gospel language without depth or clarity. They also discuss the challenges of church planting, how God works through weak sermons and weak preachers, and why having a clear message truly matters.


Join Mike Neglia and Brian Kelly at the upcoming CGN Ministry Conference June 22-25, 2025 

This conference is designed for church leaders and their ministry teams to connect, collaborate, and grow together. Dive deep into John 13–17, The Upper Room Discourse, with our main session speakers, and attend workshops led by experienced leaders in key areas such as Lead and Senior Pastors, Executive and Associate Pastors, Women in Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Worship, Small Groups and Care Leaders, Tech Teams, Administration, and Lay Leaders. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry worker, or volunteer, this event is for your whole team. Join us for an inspiring time of learning, fellowship, and renewed vision for the work God has called us to!



Register for our next in person training event 

August 22-23, 2025 

St Petersburg, Florida 

Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg

 https://expositorscollective.org/gatherings/



The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/


Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective


Donate to support the work of Expositors Collective, in person training events and a free weekly podcast: https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving/to/expositors-collective


Mike Neglia hosts Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation, a space dedicated to the craft of clearly opening the Scriptures. Rather than offering abstract theory, this podcast grounds itself in the tangible realities faced by pastors and teachers every week. You'll hear genuine conversations that feel like pulling up a chair in a mentor's study, where experienced practitioners discuss the challenges and joys of preparing messages that faithfully explain the biblical text. Episodes often take the form of interviews or practical workshops, delving into the nuances of effective communication for diverse settings like church pulpits, youth groups, or women's ministries. The collective wisdom shared here is about more than just structure; it's about the spiritual discipline of listening to a passage before speaking on it, ensuring the sermon's heart beats in rhythm with the Bible's intent. Tuning into this podcast provides a form of ongoing coaching, a resource for anyone who wants their teaching to be both deeply rooted and readily understood. It’s for those who believe that the careful work of exposition is a profound act of service, and who are looking for a companion on that journey.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation
Podcast Episodes
Bad Preaching Harms People with Danijel Zaharjanksi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:35
In this open and candid episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Danijiel Zaharjanski shares his remarkable journey of being called by God to remain and serve in his homeland of Serbia, despite his initial plans to…
Don't Be That Guy! (A Gospel Centered Approach to the Book of Jonah) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:55
The Bible holds its greatest meaning and richness when interpreted through the lens of Jesus-shaped goggles, revealing its Main Character and guiding us toward explicitly Christian sermons. It is through this transformat…
Why Your Sermons Should Be Shorter - Alastair Roberts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:12
Dr. Alastair Roberts (PhD, Durham University) joins Mike Neglia to discuss the value of incorporating diverse forms of Christian teaching beyond traditional sermons. Alastair, a Teaching Fellow at The Theopolis Institute…
Uganda Report and Expositors Collective Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:08
Uganda training event update - Mike speaks about some of the highlights of the Kampala trip and speaks about the future of Expositors Collective. To donate to Expositors Collective follow this link: https://cgn.churchcen…
Teaching People the Bible - John Whittaker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
John Whittaker speaks about the need to hone our homiletical skills so that we can connect with our congregations as complicated individuals, rather than a block of abstract "listeners." Homiletics is the study of how to…
From Age To Age: Mentoring the Next Generation of Bible Teachers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:15
In this insightful episode we bring you a dynamic panel discussion on the vital role of mentorship in ministry, featuring seasoned leaders Danny Ramos, Brenda Leavenworth, Bryan Stupar, and Alan Stoddard. With decades of…
Cultivating Integrity with Bryan Stupar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:50
Recorded live at our August 2023 training event in Temecula, California, this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast features Bryan Stupar, who explores the crucial role of a preacher's character. Drawing from his…