Finishing Well with Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts

14 snips

Jun 3, 2025

Guest

Ray Ortlund

Guest

Crawford Loritts

In this engaging conversation, Crawford Loritts and Ray Ortlund share their wisdom on navigating a lifelong commitment to ministry. Loritts, an esteemed speaker and author, discusses the struggles of maintaining humility and accountability. Ortlund, a respected pastor and author, emphasizes the sacred nature of pastoral work. They explore crucial topics like the rhythms that sustain faith, the call to vulnerability, and the importance of building strong marriages. Together, they inspire listeners to confront challenges with grace and stay faithful in their calling.

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ADVICE

Daily Rhythms Sustain Souls

Develop consistent daily rhythms like morning Bible reading and time alone with God to sustain spiritual health.
Embrace community as an identity, not just a strategy, to fight pride and maintain perspective.

INSIGHT

Ministry as Calling, Not Career

Pastoral ministry is a divine calling, not a career or job, carrying a deep sense of destiny.
Churches should call pastors rather than hire them to honor the sacred nature of ministry.

ADVICE

Guard Character Early in Ministry

The most dangerous season for ministry is ages 20 to 40 when identity and character are formed.
Embrace brokenness, humility, repentance, and seek older mentors to build character over platform success.

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This episode is special to me. I sit down with two of my heroes in the faith—Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts. These men have been anchors for me in moments of doubt and discouragement, and I wanted to ask them the questions that most pastors eventually ask themselves: How do you stay faithful for the long haul? How do you finish well when so many don't? We talk about the rhythms that sustained them over decades, the call of ministry that’s far more than a career, and what it looks like to fight pride and pursue humility every single day. We also dive deep into marriage, legacy, and the sacredness of being a pastor. If you're in the trenches—especially in your 20s to 40s—this one's for you. I want to finish well, and I know you do too.

In This Episode

[02:00] Rhythms That Sustain the Soul
[05:00] The Call of God vs. a Career in Ministry
[08:00] Shepherding, Not Hiring: A Vision for Pastoral Ministry
[13:00] The Crisis of Calling in a Careerist Culture
[16:00] The Tragedy of Falling Away
[20:00] Discerning the Dangers in Different Seasons
[25:00] Kill the Lion: Confronting Sin Early
[30:00] The Deception of Success
[33:00] The Call to Vulnerability and Brotherhood
[36:00] Marriage, Legacy, and Intimacy
[40:00] Cultivating Lifelong Love with Your Spouse
[45:00] Final Encouragement: Stay Low, Stay Faithful

Resources

Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar
Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp

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