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
Apr 6, 2021 • 30min
Guilt Amidst Pastoral Rest
Show Notes:Resources Contact Us(2:41) Biblical Foundation of Actual Guilt and False Guilt(7:20) The Idol of work and the fear of Laziness(9:13) The Place of Guilt in not Resting(11:18) Self-awareness in acknowledging guilt and not resting(17:15) Mental and practical considerations to confronting guilt and pursuing rest(21:55) Confronting a misinformed conscience and misplaced guilt(23:42) Being misled about rest and work by other examples(24:30) Practical pursuits to develop systems for restArticles on Sabbaticals and RestThe Pastor’s Soul by Brian Croft and Jim Savastio
Mar 30, 2021 • 26min
Celebrating Healthy Sheep
Show Notes:Resources Contact Us(1:35) Biblical background for Sheep who are a blessing(5:44) Balancing blessings and burdens in Pastoral Ministry(9:45) Sheep are individuals and you should enjoy that(11:25) Characteristics of sheep who are a blessing(16:20) Identifying beloved sheep(18:45) Practical ways to celebrate these members(23:38) Don’t avoid the discouraging ones
Mar 23, 2021 • 36min
Pastors Pursuing Writing and Advanced Degrees
Show Notes:Contact usVisit the “Donut” page(3:22) Scripture’s Silence in the specifics, but speaks to wisdom, training, and gifting (7:48) Jim and Brian’s formal theological training(12:25) Assessing the call and gifting to [more] writing or training(16:16) The motivation to [more] writing or formal training(23:30) Discerning the differences in degrees and how they will help(27:00) The importance of faithful ministry
Mar 9, 2021 • 29min
Measuring True Spiritual Fruitfulness in your Ministry
Show Notes:Find helpful resources on this and moreSupport the ministry through a tax-deductible donation(2:11) Biblical Foundation of spiritual fruit(7:10) COVID, the least important time to evaluate based on numerical growth(9:08) Spiritual Growth and how to see it (14:45) Measurables: peace, empathy, fear of God, fighting sin, etc. (18:25) How is the Lord at work in your church, Jim?(22:40) Ways Brian has seen the Lord work in the Church. (25:25) Pastor, be encouraged.
Mar 2, 2021 • 28min
Business Models and the Sufficiency of Scripture
Show Notes:Visit Practicalshepherding.com(1:40) Biblical Foundation of Ministry(6:29) Exercising oversight in the church(8:05) Sufficiency of Scripture(9:45) Reporting and Priority of Finances (13:32) Orderly administration within local churches(16:15) Presenting well through a creative website, a clean building, and welcoming greeters(19:48) Pursue excellence, but trust the word of God to build the church(22:55) Advocating for biblical leadershipOversee God’s People
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
