The Everyday Pastor

Garrett Kell, pastor of Delray Baptist Church in Virginia, shares his family's journey through profound hardship, including a medical emergency involving their daughter and a mother's cancer diagnosis. He highlights the transformative power of community support during trials, emphasizing vulnerability and open communication. Kell discusses the dual nature of God as sovereign yet deeply compassionate, reminding listeners that even pastors face struggles and should open themselves to receiving care. His heartfelt insights encourage trust in God's goodness amid suffering.

Every pastor affirms the importance of prayer and likely excels at it publicly, but consistency in private prayer is hard. And it isn't easy to foster a congregation-wide culture of prayer.In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical tips for improving your prayer life—and the praying habits of your whole congregation. After all, a church that will be found faithful is a church that will be found praying.Recommended resources:A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry5 Things to Pray for Your Kids by Melissa Kruger5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse: Prayers That Change and Strengthen Your Marriage by Michael and Melissa KrugerI'm Praying for You: 40 Days of Praying the Bible for Someone Who Is Suffering by Nancy GuthriePrayers on the Psalms by David Calhoun (ed.)Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by Don  Carson

Leadership is an art, and many pastors get it wrong—sometimes with devastating results.In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Paul Tripp joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss how a pastor can lead well for the flourishing of the whole church. The conversation touches on the importance of fostering a healthy leadership community, the gift of limits, responding to criticism and praise, the difference-making role of gospel grace, and more.Recommended resources:Dangerous Calling by Paul David TrippLead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paul David TrippInstruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp

Theology is vital for life. We know this as pastors, but do our members? Are we helping them to grow in thinking theologically?In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical ways to promote deeper love for God’s truth. After all, how our people view him will make all the difference in their lives.

When Paul lists elder qualifications, he mentions Satan twice (1 Tim. 3:6–7). Why? The devil loves to stalk and destroy shepherds. And one of his main strategies is tempting us toward little compromises—which never remain little—in the realm of sexual purity.In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss lessons he’s learned the hard way, how to foster transparency among leadership, practical tools for pursuing purity, and more.Recommended resource: Pure in Heart: Sexual Sin and the Promises of God by Garrett Kell

Assurance of salvation is a deeply precious gift, but many Christians struggle to experience it. Pastors have the unique privilege—and challenge—of being “soul doctors” in our people’s lives.In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how to apply the gospel to nominal Christians (who shouldn’t have assurance), struggling Christians (who should), and all Christ’s sheep who are meant to revel in marvelous news: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).

Explore the significance of regular church attendance and its biblical foundations. Discover how members can better prepare their hearts for worship through communal Bible readings and curated playlists. Learn about fostering meaningful conversations after church to deepen engagement with faith. Delve into the vital role of church community in personal and communal spiritual growth, emphasizing the ongoing support that fuels faith journeys beyond Sundays.

Men and women aren't interchangeable, and God’s gendered design is a beautiful thing. How can pastors encourage and equip the godly women that the Lord entrusts to their care? It has been said, after all, that there’s no such thing as a healthy church in which the men flourish but the women don't.In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how pastors can better support the women in their churches, highlighting the vital role women play in the overall health of the congregation.

Discover the fascinating concept of theological triage, a method to prioritize doctrines within the church. Learn how some beliefs carry more weight than others and the importance of unity despite differing views. Delve into the balance between doctrinal minimalism and sectarianism, and how love can coexist with truth. The role of pastors in navigating these complexities is vital for fostering spiritual growth and maturity among congregations. Historical creeds serve as crucial tools in maintaining clarity on essential beliefs.

Have you ever wondered why two churches can be so similar in their doctrinal beliefs but so different in their practices? How can we make sure our methodology is rooted in theology, not mere pragmatism?In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan are joined by Michael Lawrence to discuss the underrated importance of ministry philosophy in our churches.