Who Is Spiritually Leading Your Family?

What would change if you gave your marriage and children the same intentionality you bring to your career?

In this episode of Leveraging Success, Jeff Gerhardt welcomes Marcus Sun for a conversation about building a family life rooted in faith, presence, and purpose. Reflecting on 16 years of marriage to his wife, Kelly, Marcus shares how quarterly getaways, thoughtful conversations, and journaling help them strengthen their relationship and prepare for the changing needs of their three children.

Together, Jeff and Marcus explore what it means to become the Chief Spiritual Officer of your home. From brief prayers and dinner-table traditions to an eight-session study for fathers, they offer practical ways to nurture faith throughout everyday life. They also discuss parenting in the age of AI, staying involved in children’s technology use, and the lasting influence of how parents live, respond, and lead.

In This Episode:

[00:00] Building a Marriage with Intention
[02:55] Quarterly Marriage Retreats and Purposeful Conversations
[08:11] Giving Faith and Family Your Best Energy
[10:25] Journaling, Reflection, and Who You’re Becoming
[16:07] Small Spiritual Habits for Busy Families
[19:46] Being Present and Modeling Faith for Your Children
[21:36] The Chief Spiritual Officer Field Guide
[26:52] Taking Responsibility for Your Children’s Spiritual Formation
[28:30] Mentoring Beyond Your Household
[31:26] The CSO Pilot and Getting Involved
[33:28] Parenting in the Age of AI
[37:59] Staying Involved in Your Children’s Technology Use
[40:39] A Prayer for Parents and the Next Generation

Notable Quotes

“Formation is a process, not a one-time thing.” — Marcus Sun

“We learn about how life is going based on our reflection about our experiences.” — Marcus Sun

“So I think the formation process can and should evolve through the life stages of the kids and through the stage of the family.” — Marcus Sun

“When I carve out time that’s non-work-related, often it’s an act of faith.” — Jeff Gerhardt

“I was always on stage, especially as the dad.” — Jeff Gerhardt

“And so when the time’s gone, it’s set in stone, it’s history, so who are you becoming?” — Jeff Gerhardt

Our Guest

Marcus Sun is the co-owner of Ren Athletics, a brand specializing in volleyball and athletic gear. Married to his wife, Kelly, for 16 years and a father of three, Marcus is passionate about intentional marriage, spiritual growth, and building a lasting family legacy.

He created the Chief Spiritual Officer Field Guide, an eight-session study designed to help fathers explore Scripture and clarify their spiritual responsibilities at home. Through practical family rhythms, meaningful conversations, and community, Marcus brings a thoughtful perspective on integrating professional success with faith, marriage, and parenting.

TMPX Foundations Training

On November 7 and 8, Priority Living will host the first TMPX Foundations Training at the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel in Orange County, California.

Rob Dayton will lead the training, Jeff Gerhardt will host, and Bob Shank will participate as a special guest. Graduates who complete the training will be licensed to facilitate TMPX Life Launch in their own communities and will receive a path toward becoming certified coaches.

Learn more and apply: