Trench Talk

In light of the Sutherland Springs Texas church shooting, the question of safety and security at churches is front and center in the minds of conscientious pastors. What theological issues should inform our views on safety and security? Is it “spiritual” to think in terms of possessing a right to safety and security? How did Jesus address these issues with his disciples? Is there a biblical doctrine of self-preservation? Do concerns for safety at times limit our effectiveness in advancing the gospel? Practically, what measures should a pastor and church take to ensure the safety of the congregation? Listen as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio address these and many other related questions.

In our cultural milieu where accusations of sexual harassment headline each day’s news, pastors must exercise wisdom and discernment in relating to female church members. How may pastors shepherd female members well in such a context? Do women in our congregation feel neglected in relation to pastoral care? What does Scripture have to say about how pastors should relate to women in their congregation? What role does the pastor’s wife play in determining how a pastor relates to his female congregants? How might a pastor relate to women in his church in a manner that is both properly guarded and biblically relational?Listen as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio address these issues and more in this podcast.

Many pastors identify faithful prayer for their flock as an area of failure in their ministries. How does a pastor pray faithfully and consistently for every member of his congregation? How might a pastor create a systematic prayer-guide? What should we pray when praying for the flock? How does Scripture inform the way we should pray for our members? How might we engage the entire congregation to faithfully pray for fellow members? Listen as Brian and Jim answer these questions and more in this podcast.

Pastors’ wives bear a unique burden. To what extent should the pastor share the burdens of pastoral ministry with his spouse? What is the distinction between the pastor protecting his wife and the pastor shutting his wife out in relation to the burdens pressing upon him? Might there be dangers involved in exposing the pastor’s wife to certain problems with which the pastor wrestles? How might the pastor understand when to share with his wife and when to protect her? Listen as Brian and Jim address the critical issue of how much a pastor should tell his wife.

Discussion of the pastor’s salary is often an uncomfortable conversation for both the pastor and the church. How might both parties enter into frank, humble, God-honoring dialogue on this issue? What does Scripture say concerning the pastor’s salary? What should the attitude of the church be regarding the pastor’s compensation? What should the pastor’s attitude be? How might a church approach evaluating the worth of a pastor’s ministry? Should education and experience be factors in determining pastoral compensation? Should the pastor allow someone in the church to serve as his advocate in matters of pastoral compensation? Listen as Brian and Jim address these questions from a biblical, pastoral, and ecclesiastic perspective.

The number of churches requiring a bi-vocational pastor is trending upward, and bi-vo ministry is a demanding task. While many—if not most—bi-vo pastors would prefer full-time ministry, how might those called to such a duty find contentment in their calling? Given the stringent demands of shepherding one’s family, shepherding the flock of God, and part-or full-time employment, how can the bi-vo pastor find the proper balance in expending his time and energy? How might the bi-vo pastor lead his congregation to understand and be sensitive to the demands upon his time? Listen as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio address these and other pertinent issues pertaining to the honorable task of bi-vocational pastoral ministry.

In this episode, Brian Croft and Jim Savastio further explore the need for pastoral rest as they discuss the theological basis of recreation, the benefits of recreation for avoiding pastoral burn-out, symptoms of a pastor’s need for recreation, the practicalities of avoiding counter-productive recreation, and the blessings of family-oriented recreation.

Listen as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss the often neglected issue of pastoral rest. From the vacation to the day off to the pastoral sabbatical, Brian and Jim explore the biblical necessity of rest and offer practical insights for avoiding pastoral burn-out.

Every parent and pastor’s desire is to see children converted from sin and rebellion to forgiveness and obedience to the gospel. At the same time, few topics are so theologically charged as the conversion, baptism, and membership of children. The stakes are no lower for the relational impact these issues have on a pastor’s ministry. Pastors would do well to think carefully and practically before facing the variety of issues that attend the relationship of children to the church.So listen (twice!) as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio share their insights from decades of pastoral experience and Biblical thought.

This episode features a conversation between a full-time, senior pastor and a part-time, associate pastor. Listen as Brian Croft and Josh Scherrer discuss:How does a team of pastors work together? How can staff pastors work together with lay pastors? What are the advantages of having lay pastors? What are the challenges that lay pastors face? What should you look for in a lay pastor? How do you appoint lay pastors?