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 21, 2020 • 24min
Cultivating a Culture of Authentic Community in Your Church
How do you drive your church toward true and authentic community in your church? What does that mean and how do you show that to your church? Do you have to have small groups to cultivate this community? Are large events anithetical to authentic community?
Apr 14, 2020 • 0sec
Pastoral Productivity
What does it mean to be productive as a pastor? How do we define productivity? Does productivity follow to closely to the business world? How is productivity for a pastor different than for a business leader?Brian Croft and Jim Savastio answer these, and many more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Apr 7, 2020 • 26min
Shepherding the flock in crisis
No one knows and loves the sheep of their flock like the shepherd; the pastor. As a pastor how do you shepherd your flock through crisis? Does crisis call a pastor to alter his sermon series? How can pastors fulfill their calling in new and creative ways given the circumstances? How can we care for our flocks when we cannot be with them?
Brian Croft and Jim Savastio answer these, and many more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Mar 31, 2020 • 19min
Ministering the Word in a Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused churches to think about things they had not done previously. How should churches (and Pastors) navigate these times? What changes and what stays the same? The call to minister the Word in season and out of season stays the same. How can this be done well outside of the preaching of the Word? Brian Croft and Jim Savastio answer these, and many more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Mar 24, 2020 • 23min
Pastoral Vulnerability
How do we show vulnerabilty while being careful? What is the balance? What Biblical texts should we refer to for information? Is this propensity to put on a strong persona ultimately driven by fear? How do you fight to be vulnerable with your congregation?Brian Croft and Jim Savastio answer these, and many more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Mar 17, 2020 • 24min
Pastors with Thick Skin and Tender Hearts
How can pastors exhibit a tender heart while still having thick skin? How do you keep loving the flock when you fear them breaking your heart? Where are you most prone to error, tender-heartedness or thick skin? Should you deny close friendships due to the risk of being hurt? How do we wisely pursue tenderness and thick skin simultaneously?Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss these questions in this episode of Trench Talk.
Mar 10, 2020 • 27min
How to Choose What Books of the Bible to Preach
What should cause us to choose the books of the Bible that we preach through? Should you look at the specific flock God has given you when selecting books to preach? What would be some books you would start with as you begin your preaching ministry? Should we use some forms of caution when selecting the books we preach through? Brian Croft and Jim Savastio answer on this episode of Trench Talk.
Mar 3, 2020 • 25min
Facing Pastoral Loneliness
Where does pastoral lonliness show up most vividly? Is the lonliness pastors experience unique in some ways? What biblical grounding do we have to define this and chart a course to pursue Christ and shepherd the flock in the midst of lonliness? How should pastors seek a support system while in a difficult situation?
Feb 25, 2020 • 27min
What is Pastoral Ordination?
Resources mentioned in this episode.Prepare them To Shepherd by Brian CroftBiblical Eldership by Alexander StrauchNine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
Feb 18, 2020 • 24min
Leading our people to be readers of good books
How can pastors encourage members (particularly the men) in their church to read good books? Is “I just don’t read” a good enough excuse? Should a pastor be careful with the books he recommends his members read? What other tips would you give to assist your members in taking in good books?Brian Croft and Jim Savastio answer these questions and more on this week’s edition of Trenchtalk.
