Trench Talk
Practical Shepherding
Practical Shepherding is a Gospel-driven resource center for pastors and church leaders to equip them in the practical matters of pastoral ministry. In this podcast, pastor Brian Croft sits down with other pastors to discuss the gritty details of pastoral ministry. Our goal is to examine the life and work of a pastor and give helpful guidance for our brothers laboring with us. This is a podcast by pastors for pastors. We are in the trenches of ministry with you, and we want to equip you to continue in this task.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 16, 2021 • 31min
Safeguards around ministry success
Show Notes:Help Financially Support the MinistryContact Us(03:22) The greater the influence the greater potential for harm(04:35) Biblical foundation for keeping watch over yourself and ministry(10:27) Creating safeguards in ministry (15:35) The importance of pastoral friendship(20:25) Red flags for ministry: lack of pastoral friendship, desiring to build the “brand” or church on yourself, ability in leading a secret life
Feb 9, 2021 • 22min
Finding your Preaching Voice
Show Notes:00:40 Practically Trained(01:00) Contact Us(01:53) Importance of the Preacher(04:27) Importance of Individualism(10:00) The value in resembling faithful men(11:55) The good desires(14:50) Beware of the similarities in style(19:10) God does extraordinary things through ordinary men and ordinary means
Feb 2, 2021 • 25min
Battling Pastoral Anger and Guilt
Show Notes:Give us a review on iTunes or SpotifyExplore Content on practicalshepherding.com and contact us if we can serve you in any way(2:00) The biblical foundation of expectations versus reality(5:55) Anger and Guilt as a good thing(8:00) A third and better way: Lament. (13:15) When you don’t lament you grow in bitterness, anger, and guilt(18:08) Difference between condemnation and conviction(19:00) Deal with your guilt congregationallyPlease reach out to us.
Jan 26, 2021 • 25min
Shepherds Feeling Disconnected from their Flock
Show Notes:Give us a review on iTunes or SpotifyExplore Content on practicalshepherding.com and contact us if we can serve you in any way(1:45) Shepherds after my own heart(8:49) The regular connection with your members(16:15) Creative ways to regularly connect with your members(21:27) Be encouraged by your own human limitations
Jan 19, 2021 • 25min
Overwhelmed by Hurting Sheep
Show Notes:Give us a review on iTunes or SpotifyContact us and let us know how we can serve you(2:37) Biblical Foundation and Theological Considerations(6:40) Weeping with those who weep, and enduring (10:45) What I should be doing, and what I am(13:18) Overwhelmed because we are limited(14:10) Confessions from withdrawing in pastoral ministry (17:41) Becoming obsessed with the care of shepherding(18:53) Casting your cares on Christ and finding someone to help bear these burdens(21:08) Growing comfortable with sorrow and lament
Jan 12, 2021 • 25min
Pastoral Expectations, Realistic, but Hopeful
Show Notes:Give us a review on iTunes or SpotifyVisit practicalshepherding.com(1:55) Introductory Theological and Historical considerations(5:50) Don’t lower your expectations of the Word of God(7:30) The example of Jesus(11:20) Fighting for patience, contentment, and biblical expectations(15:40) Ministry hardships are to be expected(17:20) Remember that church members will sin(21:00) Some of these things will be learned only after 15-years of ministry(22:19) Final Thoughts
Jan 5, 2021 • 34min
Creating an Intentional Preaching Atmosphere
Show Notes:Give us a review on iTunes or SpotifyContact us(3:10) An atmosphere of Transcendence or Immanence(5:55) A caution against a theatrical environment(8:40) Intentionally, not reactionary, setting the atmosphere(13:15) Accomplishing a purpose in corporate worship through the environment (17:38) A pulpit and dress that hides the preacher and directs the church Godward(22:55) Many benefits to the casual atmosphere of churches(24:00) A generation seeking rich history and a high church experience(25:30) Pastors with a weighty message of eternal realities(27:45) Authority vs. Authoritative(29:20) Final Words
Dec 29, 2020 • 24min
When to Re-enter Ministry
Show Notes:Support the Ministry with an end of the year giftGive us a review on iTunes or Spotify(2:30) Understand that you are human(3:55) Addressing anger, bitterness, and hurt surrounding a firing(5:50) The adversaries and the way they affect you as a human being(7:10) A time for healing before re-entering(9:05) Months not weeks, and months not years(13:40) A general rule of 6-24 months (18:20) What to do when you are in a tough decision at your churchContact us
Dec 22, 2020 • 26min
Doctrinal Agreement When Looking to Pastor a Church
Show Notes:Support the Ministry with an end of the year giftGive us a review on iTunes or Spotify(3:07) The importance of a Church’s confession of faith(7:00) First-tier doctrines and theological triage(8:07) Doctrinal Distinctions within Statements of Faith(12:50) How much agreement should there be to pastor a local church?(18:30) Making it clear where you stand and how it differs from the church (21:00) Your goal in Pastoral Ministry(23:20) Final words
Dec 15, 2020 • 27min
Preaching Pressures Around Christmas
Show Notes:Support the Ministry with an end of the year giftGive us a review on iTunes or Spotify(2:08) The biblical foundation for pressures in preaching(5:01) In season and out of season(8:45) Exposing the text, not imposing on the text, the context of the season?(10:15) The healthy pressure in preaching (13:12) Identifying the underlying and self-imposed pressure(17:15) The unholy pressure of performance(20:40) How to preach the same sermons through a different angle of the diamondBrian Croft and Jim Savastio answer these, and many more on this episode of Trench Talk.
