Trench Talk

How should a pastor take seriously the sobering task of shepherding the soul of every member of his congregation? What does exercising spiritual oversight of souls look like in the weekly rhythm of pastoral ministry? How does a minister prepare to face the day when he will give account for his stewardship of the souls entrusted to him? What are the categories of individual soul-care with which the minister should concern himself? How might a pastor create an environment in his church conducive to soul-care? What questions might the pastor ask his members in order to care well for their souls? Listen as Brian and Jim explore these questions and more in this podcast.

Biblically, how should pastors and deacons relate to and work with one another? What areas of overlap exist between these offices? How do pastors and deacons communicate with one another and how often should they meet together? How do pastors and deacons respect biblically appointed boundaries in their respective offices? Should deacons have concern for the physical needs of the pastor and his family? Do deacons need the pastors/elders’ approval of every decision they make?Listen as Brian and Jim address these issues and more in this episode.

What are deacons and how are they supposed to function in the life of the church? What biblical characteristics should deacons evidence in their lives? What are the role-distinctions between the elders and deacons? How should deacons interact with the leadership of the church? How should deacons serve the leadership of the church? How might a pastor correct dysfunction in the diaconate?Listen as Brian and Jim address these issues and more in this episode.

How does a pastor maintain a warm heart for the Word of God while ministering that Word week in and week out? What might help a pastor avoid becoming overly-familiar with the Word? How may a pastor guard against the Word becoming mere background noise in his ministry? Are pastors in danger of becoming overly-fond of the sound of their own voice in preaching? How does a pastor keep his affections properly stirred for the Word of God? Listen as Brian and Jim address these issues and more in this episode of Trench Talk.

What are the priorities of a pastor in the early years of ministry? How does a beginning pastor lay a God-honoring foundation for his ministry? What is the one thing such a pastor must do first and above all else? What commitments does the pastor make in relation to the flock? What should a pastor do in a situation where a church is significantly disconnected from its biblical priorities? How quickly can a pastor reasonably expect to make significant changes in the structure of a church? What kind of preaching is effective in the early years of ministry? On what categories should a pastor focus to avoid becoming a statistical casualty in pastoral ministry? Listen as Brian and Jim address these questions and more in this episode.

Do we have evidence in Scripture that men of God suffered through seasons of depression, and even anxiety? Do grief and sorrow have a valid, spiritual place in the life of pastors? What happens when pastors try to suppress pain and depressive impulses in their lives? Is it wrong for pastors to grieve before their people? What spiritual and physical practices might help during times of depression and anxiety? Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these and other questions in this episode.

What does it mean for a pastor to “take heed” to his physical wellbeing? Is there any spiritual value in stewarding our physical bodies well? How might a pastor balance and practice well the three disciplines of eating, exercise, and sleep? Listen as Brian and Jim address these and other questions from a biblical perspective.

How does a pastor press on and not grow weary in well-doing when there is little visible fruit resulting from his ministry? Is it possible to pastor well in a church that does not experience significant growth? In such circumstances, how does a pastor maintain hope, joy, and a vigorous ministry? What standards should a pastor of a small church use to evaluate the effectiveness of his ministry? Listen as Brian and Jim address these issues and more in this episode.

Moral failures by pastors–whether they be financial failures, sexual failures, abuse of authority, or some other form of gross immorality–seem increasingly common. Is any pastor immune to moral failure? How is it possible for a pastor to live a double life? How might a pastor guard himself against moral failure? What areas of pastoral life warrant special care? How might a pastor strike a reasonable balance between due caution and complete paralysis? How do we respond to those pastors who do fall into moral failure? Listen as Brian and Jim address these issues and more in this episode.

An oft-overlooked reality in pastoral ministry is that the pastor is a churchman first, and then a pastor. Pastors need those who can minister and speak God’s word into their lives and hold them accountable. In a word, pastors need pastors. Pastors need to be, first and always, disciples; the extraordinary call of a pastor never negates the ordinary call of a man to be a faithful follower of Lord Jesus. How might a pastor ensure that he partakes of the ordinary means of grace in the course of his ministry?Listen as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio address these issues and more.