Practical Shepherding: Trench Talk

When the Pastoral “Blahs” do not Lift

Brian — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:58:23 +0000

Why is Pastoral Ministry more draining than any other vocation? How do we fight through the fatigue that follows the Sunday gathering? Are there ways to identify a lack of sharpness of mind versus backsliding? Is the enemy scheming in these “blahs”? Am I neglecting caring for my own soul? How do I utilize my down time for rest?

Other Resources

More resources on the preaching hangover

More resources on the pastors soul

Meaningful in-home visits with members

Brian — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 11:45:18 +0000

Is it important to visit members in their homes? How frequently should I meet with them? Do in-home visits benefit my preaching ministry in any tangible way? What depth, if any, do these visits bring to my ministry? What principles do we see set forth in the scriptures? What does Puritan Pastor Richard Baxter have to say about this? How do I move from surface level to pastoral conversation? These questions are covered by Brian and Jim in this episode of Trench Talk.

RESOURCES

More resources on visitation

More resources on oversight of souls

Thinking Through Weddings

Randall Cofield — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 12:00:31 +0000

How does the pastor approach the cultural expectations of weddings from a biblical perspective? Should a pastor be active or passive concerning a couple’s expectations for their wedding? In what cases should a wedding be regarded as a service of worship? What cultural elements are acceptable/unacceptable in a Christian wedding? Should a pastor conduct the wedding of two unbelievers? How long should a wedding sermon be? What music/songs are appropriate for a wedding ceremony? Should a pastor require couples whom he marries to undergo pre-marital counseling? Must a pastor agree to perform any marriage ceremony without exception? Should a church include guidelines in their constitution to regulate how marriages are conducted? Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these issues and more in this episode.

RESOURCES:

The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds

How does a pastor determine whether he can conduct a wedding?

How does a pastor approach pre-marital counseling?

How does a pastor determine if he could/should conduct a certain wedding?

What is a good template for pre-marital counseling?

What are the boundary lines to determine whether a pastor can/should conduct a wedding?

How does a pastor shepherd a young couple he married 6 months ago?

Pastoral Advice to Our Younger Selves

Randall Cofield — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 12:00:38 +0000

As pastors mature in ministry, how is it profitable to reflect on what advice they might give to their younger selves? What Scriptural warrant might a pastor have for such reflection? Does being in pastoral ministry increase one’s personal sanctification? How important is a pastor’s personal growth in sanctification? Should a pastor sweat the small stuff? How might a pastors understanding of believers being new creatures in Christ change over time? Why do seasoned pastors gradually learn to talk less and listen more? What is the hardest work of pastoral ministry? How does a pastor’s view of his family change over time? What might be the best advice a seasoned pastor could share with a younger pastor? Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these issues and more.

RESOURCES:

The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds

The Pastor’s Family: Shepherding Your Family through the Challenges of Pastoral Ministry

What advice would I give to young, aspiring pastors?

The Pastor’s First Year

The Pastor’s Soul: The Call and Care of an Undershepherd

What are some books a pastor can read to care for his own soul?

Silence and Solitude

Randall Cofield — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 12:00:53 +0000

Are you a people-person type pastor who derives energy from connecting with and interacting with people? Why does silence make some pastors uneasy? Is the practice of silence and solitude a necessary discipline for pastors? How to noise and business affect the activity of our souls? How might a pastor practice the discipline of silence and solitude? Is there a one-size-fits-all approach to silence and solitude, or might there be various means of practicing these disciplines? What issues might a pastor wrestle with during times of silence and solitude? What might seasons of silence and solitude reveal about a pastor’s soul? Listen as Brian Croft and Al Pino discuss these issues and more on this episode.

RESOURCES:

The Pastor’s Soul: The Call and Care of an Undershepherd

Pastors in Silence: A Lost Spiritual Discipline

Why did I take July off to care for my own soul?

Pastoring and Church Planting with Al Pino

Randall Cofield — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 12:00:36 +0000

Special guest Al Pino, Cuban-American pastor and church planter from South Florida, joins Brian in this episode. What is the church, and for what does the church exist? How does a pastor with a heart for missions plant a church in a diverse place like bustling, hustling Miami? What must a pastor/church-planter understand about himself? What role does pastoral gifting play in the work of church planting? Why do planting pastors have relatively short tenures in the churches they plant? What advice might an older church planter give to his younger self? Listen as Brian and Al discuss these issues and more in this episode.

RESOURCES:

Church Planting vs. Church Revitalization

Being a Pastor: A Conversation with Andrew Fuller – Now Available

Did I Kill My Sending Church?

The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds

The Pastor’s Soul: The Call and Care of an Undershepherd

Introducing Your Church to Church Discipline

Randall Cofield — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 11:00:18 +0000

Every pastor must think through the difficult topic of church discipline. What does Scripture say about the responsibility of the church to confront sin in its membership? Why is church discipline important in the life of the church? Who are the beneficiaries when church discipline is done well? How might a pastor introduce church discipline to a church that has never practiced church discipline? How might a pastor approach this issue slowly and deliberately so as to avoid shocking the church? Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these issue and more on this episode.

RESOURCES:

The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds

The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love: Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline

Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus

Handbook of Church Discipline: A Right and Privilege of Every Church Member

Why should local churches practice church discipline?

Understanding Church Discipline

How Does a Pastor Grow as a Preacher?

Randall Cofield — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 11:00:21 +0000

Does a pastor ever “arrive” in his preaching ministry? Should a pastor always progress in his competency to preach? What are some practical ways a preacher can grow in preaching competency? How might a pastor evaluate his own preaching? How might a pastor develop self-awareness in relation to his preaching? How might a pastor evaluate his preaching in relation to other preachers? Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these issues and more on this episode.

RESOURCES:

Facing Snarls and Scowls: Preaching through Hostility, Apathy and Adversity in Church Revitalization

Simplicity in Preaching–A Guide to Powerfully Communicating God’s Word

How can a pastor enhance his public preaching ministry on Sunday during the week?

Preaching with Flexibility

Why should a pastor listen to the criticisms of older members about his preaching?

How does a pastor fight through the “Preaching Hangover.”

Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today

Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon

Preaching & Preachers

What is Church Membership?

Randall Cofield — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 11:00:30 +0000

Why is membership important in the life of the church? What does Scripture say concerning church membership? How is membership in the local church defined? What commitments are requisite to church membership? What processes should a person be required to undergo before becoming a church member? How should a church address bloated membership rolls? Listen as Brian and Jim address these issues and more in this episode.

RESOURCES:

The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds

Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus

The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love: Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline

Oversee God’s People

Pray for the Flock

Discipling the Flock: A Call to Faithful Shepherding

Receiving Members From Another Church

Conversion, Baptism, and Membership of Children

Practicalities to Help the Needy

Randall Cofield — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 11:00:25 +0000

What are some of the practicalities of benevolence ministry? Meeting physical needs is an issue every pastor will deal with in his ministry. How do we handle these issues in a manner that is biblical and honors Christ? How do we budget and steward our resources well and effectively? How do we help people without inflicting further damage to their situation?

Listen as Brian Croft, Jim Savastio and special guest Denny Dillman discuss these issues and more in this episode.

RESOURCES:

Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself

Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It

The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds

Visit the Sick: Ministering God’s Grace in Times of Illness

Facing Snarls and Scowls: Preaching through Hostility, Apathy and Adversity in Church Revitalization