Gospel
Episode 29: Pastors and the Gospel (with Greg Gilbert)
In this week’s episode of Pastor Matters, Brandon is joined by Greg Gilbert (Senior Pastor of Third Avenue Baptist Church) to discuss pastors and the gospel.
Pastoral Ministry
Nathaniel Williams
Pastor, Preach to the People in the Room
A few weeks ago I listened to one of the first sermons I preached. I’m not sure what inspired me to make this decision. But unless you’re a glutton for punishment, I do not recommend you to do the same.
Cross-Cultural Ministry
Episode 28: Pastors and Cultural Diversity (with Matthew Kim)
In this episode, Ronjour sits down with Dr. Matthew Kim to discuss cultural diversity.How should we define terms like culture and ethnicity? How can pastors promote diversity in a local church with no diversity? How can pastors shepherd through conflicts and clashes within their churches? Join us this week as we tackle these questions and many more!
Liturgy
Pleading with God and Equipping the Saints Through a Pastoral Prayer
I grew up in what might be considered a typical Baptist church. While many in the Baptist church might consider liturgy something that “high church” types undertake, even free church models–like Baptist churches–have a liturgy despite the insistence that we will not be put in a box.
Andy Davis
Episode 27: Pastors and Spiritual Formation (with Andy Davis)
In this week’s episode, Ronjour and Brandon are joined by Dr. Andy Davis (Senior Pastor of FBC Durham). Join us this week as we talk with Andy about spiritual formation and the individuals who have impacted him throughout his ministry.
Funerals
Episode 26: Pastors and Funerals
In this episode of Pastor Matters, Ronjour and Brandon discuss presiding over and preaching at funerals.
Consistency
Consistency Over Time
Few things in life frustrate me more than the “check engine” light in my car. Within a month of buying a car, it appears. The orange light taunts me because I know I will have to spend money to get the light to go away. Thankfully, I have a great auto shop in town. They treat me well, charge a fair amount, and fix whatever is broken. Most importantly, they get the light to turn off, allowing me a period of peace before it returns to torment me.
Church
Fighting the Porn Pandemic as a Pastor | Part 2: A Corporate-Minded Strategy
As we pulled out of the church parking lot, my daughter asked me: “Why do you do that?” I had switched out of the street-level view of our GPS and took a glimpse of the bigger picture of our route to her soccer game. I like the 10,000-foot vantage point in order to better understand what I’m doing.
counseling
Fighting the Porn Pandemic as a Pastor | Part 1: Trench-Level Warfare
Donny comes to you, sharing that he’s been entrenched in porn since fifth grade. He’s battled his sexual sin for 20 years. He hates it and is desperate for help. He’s broken and yet confused. He’s in a pit and can’t see his way out. He needs you to drop him a rope and lead him out of the darkness.
counseling
Episode 24: Pastors and Pornography (with Deepak Reju)
In this episode of Pastor Matters, Brandon sits down with Deepak Reju (Associate Pastor at Capitol Hills Baptist Church) to discuss how pastors can help members who struggle with the issue of pornography.
counseling
John Newton and the Importance of Just Being There
The story of John Newton (1725-1807) — the dissolute slave trader turned evangelical pastor — is one of the most captivating stories of grace in Christian history. In Newton’s final days, he said, “Although my memory is nearly gone, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” This sentiment not only serves as a fit summary of Newton’s life but also conveys the overall theme of his pastoral ministry.
counseling
How Preaching the Psalms Counsels the Hurting
A pastor slowly makes his way across the stage to where his pulpit stands. As he lays his Bible and notes on the pulpit, he looks out over his congregation and thinks to himself, “My people are hurting; how is my sermon going to help them?”
Book Reviews
Book Review: The Pastor and Counseling, by Jeremy Pierre and Deepak Reju
When you dreamed of pastoral ministry, you probably had visions of standing behind a pulpit, boldly proclaiming the Word of God to eager listeners. To be sure, ministry does involve public proclamation. But when those dreams become a reality, every pastor quickly learns that ministry involves much more than these glamorous visions.
abuse
Shepherding in the Aftermath of Abuse: 6 Ways to Help Victims
Abuse is not a new phenomenon. In fact, there is a myriad of examples in Scripture of instances of both trauma and abuse; murder, rape, war, genocide, slavery, and others fill many pages of the Bible. The reason this is so is because of the depth and pervasiveness of sin: one brother murders another because of jealousy, a man rapes his half-sister out of lust, and three men are thrown into a furnace because of a desire for ultimate power.
Church Membership
Counseling Church Members During Crisis
In pastoral ministry, it often feels like our days are filled with crisis after crisis. Indeed, part of shepherding the flock of God is caring for the hurting and the broken as they face the crises of their lives. While entering into the crisis is part of the role of a pastor, crises often dominate the attention and time of those involved.
Andy Farmer
Can People Change?
I was recently asked to consider the question, “Can people change?” Short answer—absolutely. People can change their political views, their music tastes, their favorite color, their plans for the future, or their view of the past. They can change for good—throwing off unhealthy habits and learning to navigate challenging relationships.
counseling
Episode 22: Pastors and Counseling
In this episode of Pastor Matters, Ronjour and Brandon introduce and discuss the topic for January–pastors and counseling. How should we define the responsibility of pastoral counseling? What resources are available for those who do not feel equipped to counsel church members?
New Year's Day
Pastor, Focus On Your Weaknesses
It is estimated that close to three-fourths of American adults will set a goal and try to accomplish it in 2021.[1] That means millions of Americans will start the new year trying something new or seeking to improve some area in their life.
Hopeless
Episode 21: Pastors and Pastoring the Hopeless
In this episode of Pastor Matters, Ronjour and Brandon discuss how to comfort and lead those who are suffering and feeling a sense of hopelessness.How do pastors preach hope each week from the pulpit? How do pastors shepherd the hopeless when they themselves are experiencing seasons of hopelessness and suffering?
Alex DiPrima
A Tribute to an Ordinary Lay-Pastor
Last year I read D.A. Carson’s excellent little tribute to his father titled, Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor. I am writing this article in the spirit of that book. Thus I have given it the title, A Tribute to an Ordinary Lay-Pastor. Bob Prentice (1957-2020) is a name few will recognize, yet I am confident that on the Last Day he will be honored by and above many.
Never miss an episode, article, or study.
Sign up for the Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership newsletter now!