Mariners Church Weekend Messages

Episode: October 26 – Vision: Being Shaped by Burden and Belief

Speaker: Senior Pastor Eric Geiger
Date: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

Senior Pastor Eric Geiger launches a new teaching series, “How to Lead,” focused on lessons from the Book of Nehemiah. This episode explores the foundational role of vision in leadership—emphasizing that true vision is shaped by the intertwining of personal burden and deep belief, not just by clever strategy or slogans. Using biblical narrative, leadership wisdom, and personal stories, Eric empowers listeners to see themselves as everyday leaders called to make meaningful impact in every area of life.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Broader Definition of Leadership

[01:00–06:30]

• Leadership is not about titles or positions; it's about influence.
• “If you think you're a leader and you turn around and no one is following you, you only have been taking a walk, you're not actually a leader.” — Eric Geiger quoting John Maxwell (05:30)
• All believers are sent by Christ to serve and influence others wherever they’re placed: at home, work, school, or in the community.
• The essential question: Not “Am I a leader?”—but “Am I a fruitful leader?”

2. Nehemiah as an Example for Marketplace Leaders

[06:30–10:30]

• Nehemiah was a marketplace leader, not clergy—a relatable model for most listeners.
• Of 66 Bible books, Nehemiah uniquely centers on leadership from the marketplace.
• “God cares about all spheres of life... where you work, your industry, your influence, your neighborhood.” (09:50)

3. The Fruit of Vision in Leadership

[10:30–16:00]

• Vision is what distinguishes leaders from followers.
• Many organizations lack true vision—especially among new leaders (reference: CEO Excellence).
  • “If you're going to build anything, you need vision for what you're going to build.” (12:00)
• Vision for Nehemiah (and for us) is often short-term and task-specific, not just grand life purpose.

4. Debunking Myths about Vision

[16:00–19:00]

• The “vision retreat” or “slogan on a whiteboard” approach is a myth; visions rarely come through strategy sessions alone.
• Real vision is messy and shaped by real-life burdens, not just catchy mantras.

5. Vision Begins with Burden

[19:00–27:00]

• Nehemiah’s vision is born from heartbreak after learning Jerusalem’s walls are broken.
  • “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of the heavens.” (21:00, Nehemiah 1:4)
• Real vision doesn’t start with excitement—it starts with being deeply troubled by a problem (burden).
• “If you skip over burden to get to vision, you'll arrive at vision without conviction.” (22:30)
• Vision “you own” comes from burden; “rented vision” (from others) doesn’t inspire lasting action.

Memorable Illustration:

• Rental cars: “I have not treated a [rental] car as well as I treat the cars that I own. If there’s a speed bump in a rental car, the speed bump is a suggestion. The check engine light, it doesn’t bother me…” (23:30)
  • Point: We care for vision born from personal burden because we “own” it.

6. Personal Examples of Vision from Burden

[27:00–31:00]

• Caring for Miami (a nonprofit): Vision arose from the crushing burden for poverty and lack of healthcare in Miami.
• The Gospel Project (kids’ curriculum): Originated from the burden that kids were taught moralism over the story of Jesus.
• Mariners’ Young Adults ministry: Started with burden for young people, not with strategy for a Thursday night service.

7. God Assigns Burdens—Pay Attention

[31:00–33:30]

• Wherever you’re “placed,” God is behind it. Influence is purposeful.
• God gives unique burdens: for youth, as a coach, in management, for workplace excellence, or for your own family.
• “The most important meeting that I lead every week is when our family sits down to dinner... for you to influence your family to care for your family.” (32:40)

8. Vision Needs Both Burden and Belief

[33:30–38:30]

• Nehemiah follows his burden with deep belief—seen in his persistent prayer.
  • Nehemiah’s prayer follows the PRAY pattern: Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield.
  • “All leaders have a bias towards ‘I got to get something done.’ But notice Nehemiah’s first action is to pray.” (37:30)
• Vision is “the intermingling of burden and belief.” One without the other leads to:
  • Burden without belief = hopeless leadership
  • Belief without burden = purposeless leadership
  • Visionary leadership = both together

9. Christians Are Especially Equipped to Lead with Vision

[38:30–41:00]

• Our faith trains us to hold both burden (acknowledging brokenness) and belief (trusting God for renewal).
• “Christians should be the absolute best at holding both burden and belief at the same time, because our faith teaches that we hold burden and belief at the same time.” (41:00)
• Vision for a Christian is not about shaping something outside ourselves, but about being shaped by God’s vision—just as Nehemiah was.

10. Practical Reflection & Application

[41:00–44:00]
Two key questions:

• What burdens you that you believe can change?
• Where is God calling you to both “see the wall broken” and “believe He can rebuild it”?

“Maybe in the marketplace… you’re around the same leadership table and you hear, why do we keep having to go external to hire talent? …maybe that burden is God going to use you to put in a leadership development system…” (43:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Leadership and Influence:
  “Leadership is not about position or title; leadership is about influencing someone else... If leadership is influence, this means all of us who are Christians... are leaders.” (05:30)

• On Vision and Burden:
  “Vision must begin with burden. If you get to vision without burden, you don’t really own the vision. You’re renting someone else’s vision, some other leader’s vision, or some other company’s website slogan.” (22:00)

• On Being Shaped by Vision:
  “The wrong question to ask yourself is, ‘What vision should I shape?’ The better question is, ‘What vision is shaping me?’ Nehemiah didn’t shape a vision—a vision shaped Nehemiah.” (40:50)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [01:00–06:30] – Defining leadership as influence and relevance for every believer
• [10:30–16:00] – The critical role of vision in leadership
• [19:00–27:00] – Vision beginning with burden, using Nehemiah’s story
• [27:00–31:00] – Personal stories: vision sprouting from deep burden
• [33:30–38:30] – Vision as the union of burden and belief; Nehemiah’s prayer
• [38:30–41:00] – Why Christians can excel at visionary leadership
• [41:00–44:00] – Application: reflecting on your own burdens and beliefs in vision

Conclusion & Final Blessing

Eric encourages listeners to:

• Pay attention to burdens God places on your heart;
• Let those burdens, combined with faith, shape your vision;
• Remember that God has placed you exactly where you can make the most impact.

Closing Blessing:
“I pray you’d bless your sons and daughters this week, that you would remind them that you were gentle and approachable and that you love them, cause your face to shine on them. I pray they will experience your mercy and your joy this new week. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (44:00)

For Personal Reflection

• What problem or pain in your context keeps you up at night?
• What do you believe can change if you trust God and take initiative, as Nehemiah did?
• Are you letting a vision shape you—or just striving to look visionary?

“Vision is the intermingling of burden and belief. You must be shaped by both burden and belief... And this is what makes vision very rare, because it’s really challenging to hold burden and belief at the same time.” — Eric Geiger (39:20)