Crucifying Ego to Receive God’s Praise with Chrishan Jeyaratnam

Have you ever caught yourself craving applause more than God’s praise? In a culture that thrives on followers, likes, and platforms, it’s dangerously easy to let our egos take the lead.

But what if leadership was never meant to be about who sees you, but about how you radically serve others? What if true authority isn’t marked by the applause you receive from people, but by the joy you receive from God? That’s the message that Jesus taught when he said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to lay down his life as a ransom for many.”

In this episode of The Disrupters podcast, host Nicole Martin sits down with Chrishan Jeyaratnam, lead pastor at Hillsong East Coast. From growing up between cultures in Australia to leading one of the largest and most recognizable church communities in the world, Chrishan’s story is full of challenges, grace, and humble leadership. With profound vulnerability, he opens up about what it takes to tame the ego and stay grounded in God's love while standing on even the largest stages.

Chrishan shares his personal story—from navigating identity as a child of Sri Lankan immigrants in Australia to leading a global church in the heart of New York City. Along the way, he confesses the hidden weight many leaders quietly carry: the pressure to perform and the applause that feeds the ego. He reflects on how easy it is to confuse public affirmation with spiritual authority, and how even good intentions can become entangled with pride. But instead of shame, he offers a freeing truth: you don’t have to destroy your ego, you have to anchor it. Through contemplative silence, emotional intimacy with others, and a deep understanding of God’s unwavering delight, he urges leaders to stop leading for love and start leading from love. Because God’s message to his people isn’t just “Be strong”—it’s “Be still and know that I am God.”

We invite you to join us in crucifying our egos together. Engage in God’s joy, feel his pleasure in your calling, and start leading from a place of wholeness and humility. Listen to the episode now!

This episode highlights the following themes:

✅ The essential, daily discipline of crucifying ego in leadership
✅ Narcissism, pride, and how societies reward self-centeredness
✅ Leading for God’s praise instead of worldly affirmation

Links from the episode:

✅ Learn more about Chrishan Jeyaratnam (hillsong.com/contributors/contributor/chrishan-jeyaratnam/)
✅ Learn more about Nicole Martin(www.ivpress.com/nicole-massie-martin)
✅ Read Nicole Martin’s Book: Nailing It (www.ivpress.com/nailing-it)
✅ Read the transcript here (drive.google.com/file/d/1wWwoTla1z0PyJWKzM1UJuUAhW1siHXz4/view)

Credits:

✅Special offer: Visit ivpress.com (www.ivpress.com) and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.
✅Producers: Jack Reece and Travis Albritton
✅Executive Producer: Helen Lee
✅Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts (honestpodcasts.com/)
✅Social Media Manager: Allie Noble
✅Production Assistant: Christine Pelliccio Melo
✅Podcast Art: Kate Lillard
✅Theme Song: "Something Else" by Nu Alkemi$t

=== Time Stamps ===

00:00 - Introduction
02:41 - About Chrishan Jeyaratnam: Discovering Identity and Self
09:45 - The Allure and Pressure of Pastoral Leadership
11:55 - Taming Your Ego
18:18 - Why Many Christian Leaders Struggle with Ego
22:25 - Narcissism in Today's Society
25:30 - Message to God's Chosen Leaders
31:25 - The Power of Contemplative Practice
37:55 - Leading with Empathy
41:45 - Embrace God's Delight

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.