Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast

5 Surprising Lessons Pastors Should Learn from Normal Guys - Equipping Men in Ten EP 954

7 snips

Jan 13, 2026

Discover surprising insights about pastors versus laymen in ministry. Jim Ramos highlights how everyday men often demonstrate greater faith and resilience than paid clergy. He emphasizes the importance of deep roots in community life and the need for pastors to engage beyond their holy huddles. Learn why developing a personal prayer life is essential, and how serving in everyday roles can inspire genuine devotion. This perspective challenges traditional views on spiritual leadership and showcases the strength of lasting commitments.

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INSIGHT

Laymen Often Outlive Professional Devotion

Jim Ramos observed laymen often display deeper devotion than paid pastors in his ministry experience.
He resolved to model his life after laymen rather than professional Christians.

ANECDOTE

Listener Disrupts Possible Abuse

A YouTube listener described disrupting an apparent abuse and protecting a teenage girl.
Jim Ramos highlighted the story to illustrate a man's call to protect children and act courageously.

ADVICE

Leave The Holy Huddle And Engage

Get out of your safe 'holy huddle' and engage the community where resistance exists.
Serve as salt and light by rubbing shoulders with non-Christians at work and in local activities.

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Are paid pastors actually more spiritually mature than the men in the pews? Why do so many leaders burn out while everyday laymen quietly endure? What if the men who don't get paid for ministry are often the ones doing it best?

In this Equipping Men in 10 episode, Jim Ramos looks back to his late 20s and early 30s in ministry and exposes a pattern he couldn't ignore. This episode isn't about tearing down pastors—it's about learning from the faith, grit, and longevity of everyday men who quietly walk with God year after year. You'll get a freash perspective on why longevity matters more than position in the Kingdom of God and the danger of vocational ministry replacing genuine devotion.

Jim's newest book, Guardrails: Ten Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage will be releasing in April 2026. Sign up to be notified when it's available at https://meninthearena.org/guardrails.

This episode is sponsored by Compassion International. Our goal is for the Men in the Arena tribe to sponsor 1,000 boys over the coming year! Help us reach that goal and make a difference in a child's life today. When you sponsor a child using our link, you'll receive a free copy of Jim's book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God!

We are also sponsored by MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab, a Christian-owned fitness app. This app, combined with diet, has helped Jim get in the best shape of his life! Get 6 weeks free with the code ARENA30 at MTNTOUGH.com.

Every man needs a locker room. Apply to join an exclusive brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room once a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life's difficult questions. Locker Room members also get access to monthly exclusive leadership trainings, historically only available to the staff team at Men in the Arena. Membership is by application only. Go here to apply: https://patreon.com/themeninthearena

Get Jim Ramos' USA TODAY Bestselling book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God (https://tinyurl.com/dialedinbook)