The Everyday Pastor

In this engaging discussion, Jamie Dunlop, Associate Pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church and author, emphasizes the spiritual significance of church administration. He shares how good management safeguards unity and supports preaching, stressing that administration is a gift meant to honor God. The conversation covers the role of deacons and executive pastors, outlines essential church structures, and highlights how effective administration allows pastors to focus on ministry. Jamie also offers practical tips for small churches to better manage administrative overload.

Every pastor wants a culture of care, but not every pastor feels equipped to counsel—much less to equip others to counsel one another. In this episode, Deepak Reju—a Delaware pastor who served for nearly 20 years as the counseling pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church—joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss counseling versus discipling, how to build a culture of lay counseling, advice for getting tooled up, tips for pastors who feel out of their depth, thoughts on medication and referrals, and more.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Cure of Souls by David PowilsonGood and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness by David PowlisonHow People Change by Paul David TrippHow to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David BrooksInstruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David TrippThe Art of Disagreeing: How to Keep Calm and Stay Friends in Hard Conversations by Gavin OrtlundThe Pastor and Counseling: The Basics of Shepherding Members in Need, by Jeremy Pierre and Deepak RejuJournal of Biblical CounselingNew Growth Press Minibook Counseling Resource PackCounseling Talk PodcastChristian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) Course  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Practicing church discipline is a vital biblical responsibility that’s often ignored in our modern age. In this episode, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss what church discipline is (and isn’t), why healthy congregations practice it, and why it’s actually a form of love. Drawing from experience, they also offer advice for fostering a culture in your church where discipline will seem faithful, not foreign.Resources Mentioned:Is It Loving to Practice Church Discipline? By Jonathan LeemanWhat Should We Do about Members Who Won’t Attend? By Alex DukeUnderstanding Church Discipline by Jonathan LeemanChurch Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus by Jonathan Leeman Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt McCullough, a Nashville pastor and author of 'Remember Death' and 'Remember Heaven', dives into the profound yet often overlooked theme of mortality in ministry. He discusses how awareness of death can enrich faith and life purpose, urging congregants to embrace their mortality as a route to deeper spirituality. McCullough also shares strategies for cultivating a heavenly perspective amidst contemporary distractions and addresses common misconceptions about the afterlife, reminding listeners of the hope found in trusting God's promises.

Every church has the privilege of thinking about how to best serve the children and youth entrusted to its care. In this episode, Jared Kennedy joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss various ministry models and best practices, as well as wisdom for equipping parents, selecting curriculum, vetting volunteers, caring for children with special needs, and more. Resources Mentioned:Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families, by Sandra PeoplesDid the Resurrection Really Happen?, by Timothy Paul JonesGospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practical Guide, by Cameron Cole and Jon NielsonSame Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability, by Stephanie O. HubachThe Gospel Way Catechism: 50 Truths That Take On the World, by Trevin Wax and Thomas WestWhere Is God in a World with So Much Evil?, by Collin HansenSee Jesus Ministries (Paul Miller)Simply the Gospel: Resource Library Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Real friendship is an irreplaceable gift from God. Without it we will struggle—and shrivel—as humans made for one another. Pastors know this, and yet ministry can be exceedingly lonely. In this episode, Garrett Kell joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss how a busy pastor can foster (and maintain) meaningful, life-giving friendships amid the complicated dynamics of ministry.Recommended Resources:Augustine of Hippo: A Biography, by Peter BrownMade for Friendship: The Relationship That Halves Our Sorrows and Doubles Our Joys, by Drew HunterThe Four Loves, by C.S. LewisTim Keller on the Christian Life, by Matt SmethurstWise Counsel, by John Newton Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wes Huff, Central Canada Director for Apologetics Canada and Ph.D. candidate in New Testament, teams up with Collin Hansen, host of Gospel Bound. They delve into the vital role of apologetics in pastoral ministry, sharing strategies for pastors to communicate faith effectively. Huff highlights the need for understanding the cultural context behind faith inquiries and addresses the connection between mercy and truth in sharing the gospel. They also tackle classic objections to Christianity, emphasizing the importance of being well-prepared to engage with seekers.

How do you prioritize health? How do you stay sharp? Can you be friends with church members? How do you care for your wife? When’s a time you were wrong? How do you choose what to preach? And many, many more questions pastors may be asking.In this special episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan answer listener-submitted questions, recorded live at TGC’s 2025 National Conference. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Walk to a wedding, but run to a funeral.” So advised an older pastor to a young Ligon Duncan.In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss the powerful opportunity that funerals present to hold out gospel hope, as well as common pitfalls and practical advice for navigating dynamics surrounding the death of a loved one.Recommended Resources:Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope  by Matt McCulloughRemember Heaven: Meditations on the World to Come for Life in the Meantime  by Matt McCullough Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Joni Eareckson Tada, founder of Joni and Friends, shares her profound insights from decades of living with quadriplegia. She discusses how her experiences have reshaped her theology of suffering, emphasizing the importance of focusing on Jesus rather than just the pain. Joni offers practical advice for pastors, urging them to comfort those in suffering with compassion and to engage their churches in meaningful acts of service. She also highlights the role of hymns in her life, using music as a source of strength and hope.