The Church Resource

How should pastors and church leaders pray for their congregations—especially when there isn't a specific request? In this episode of The Church Resource, we dive into the practical and biblical side of praying for the people under our care. We discuss the difference between praying for specific needs and praying generally for a congregation, and why both matter. Looking at examples from Scripture...

Are church events really worth it? In this episode of The Church Resource, we have an honest conversation about the role of events in church life. From lock-ins and concerts to conferences and community nights, many churches have built their ministries around events—but are they actually helping people grow, or just burning out volunteers? We talk about the balance between event-driven ministry an...

How to Prepare for Resurrection Sunday | Practical + Spiritual Prep In this episode of The Church Resource, Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass talk about how churches can prepare for Resurrection Sunday — without overcomplicating it. Is there really a difference between practical and spiritual preparation? How much is too much production? Should you preach a special Easter sermon? And why must t...

In this episode of The Church Resource, we tackle the growing interest in the early Church Fathers — the Christian leaders writing in the first few centuries after the apostles. How should we read figures like Augustine of Hippo? Is studying early church history necessary, helpful, or potentially misleading? We discuss why Scripture must remain primary, how doctrine developed over time, common pit...

What do you do when you're serving faithfully… and it feels like nothing is happening? In this episode of The Church Resource Podcast, Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass talk honestly about fruitless seasons in ministry — the discouragement, the comparison, and the pressure to measure success by numbers. Lucas shares a personal story of walking through 13 months with no baptisms, followed by an...

What should pastors and church leaders be reading—and does fiction belong on the list? In this episode of The Church Resource, Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Respass talk reading habits, leadership growth, and how both fiction and non-fiction shape preaching and pastoral ministry. From annual must-reads and focused fields of study to award-winning novels and cultural commentary, they explore how storytell...

In this episode of The Church Resource, Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass have a practical, honest conversation about fasting in the life of the church—why we do it, how to plan it wisely, and how to avoid missing the point. As many churches consider beginning-of-the-year fasts, they explore key leadership questions: When should a church fast? How long should it last? How restrictive should it...

What does it really mean for a church to know and serve its community? In this episode of The Church Resource Podcast, Lucas Pinckard—proudly identifying as the "world's okayest pastor"—sits down with Dr. Chris Respass to unpack one of the most practical and often overlooked principles of effective ministry: executing the community. Building on ideas introduced by Mark Clifton, Lucas and Chris exp...

As the Christmas season winds down and a new year approaches, pastors and church leaders everywhere feel the familiar pressure to answer a big question: What's the vision for next year? In this episode of The Church Resource Podcast, hosts Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass have an honest, thoughtful, and occasionally humorous conversation about vision casting, goal setting, and why the church m...

Welcome back to The Church Resource! In this episode, Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass dive deep into one of the most joyful—and sometimes most complicated—parts of church life: Christmas music, hymns, and how we disciple our families and congregations through the songs we sing. The conversation starts lightheartedly with Christmas jackets and motorcycle weather before moving into a fun but me...

Welcome back to The Church Resource! In today's episode, Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass jump into a fun but meaningful conversation about holiday traditions, Advent rhythms, volunteer burnout, and how churches can navigate the busiest season of the year with wisdom and joy. As Christmas approaches, Lucas and Chris take a lighthearted detour—starting with a joking debate on the "real" birthda...

Welcome back to The Church Resource, the podcast where we help pastors, church leaders, and everyday believers discover the best tools, ideas, and insights for faithful ministry in today's world. Hosted by Pastor Lucas Pinckard (the self-proclaimed "World's Okayest Pastor") and joined by the ever-insightful Dr. Chris Respass, this week's episode digs deep into one of the most practical and importa...

Welcome back to The Church Resource, the podcast where Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass dive deep into the best tools, materials, and conversations for pastors, church leaders, and everyday believers who want to grow in faith and serve their communities with excellence. This conversation is both hilarious and deeply practical. From turning 40 and learning patience through parenting, to explori...

Welcome back to The Church Resource, the show where we talk about the best tools, books, and insights for pastors, leaders, and everyday believers who want to serve well and live faithfully. Hosted by Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass, this week's episode tackles one of the most requested—and most misunderstood—topics in ministry: work-life balance. Lucas opens the conversation with the big que...

Welcome back to The Church Resource — your go-to show for discovering the best resources for pastors, church leaders, teachers, and everyday believers who want to grow deeper in their understanding of Scripture. Hosted by Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass, this episode dives into a unique and powerful study tool that's been transforming how people read the Bible: The Holman Bible Atlas. So why...

Welcome to The Church Resource — the show where we talk about the best tools, tips, and conversations for churches, leaders, and everyday believers! Hosted by Lucas Pinckard and joined by Dr. Chris Respass, this episode dives deep into one of the most important — yet often overlooked — topics in the church today: how to study the Bible. In this episode, Lucas and Dr. Chris start off lighthearted —...

Welcome back to The Church Resource, your go-to place for insightful discussions about the best resources for churches, leaders, and laypeople. In today's episode, Lucas Pinckard sits down with Dr. Chris Respass to talk about a topic that's both encouraging and a bit tricky — Pastor's Appreciation Month. How do pastors really feel about being appreciated? Should we celebrate Pastor's Appreciation...

Welcome to The Church Resource – where we equip pastors, church leaders, and laypeople with tools to better understand, teach, and live out the Word of God. In this episode, Lucas Pinckard is joined by Dr. Chris Respass to tackle a critical (and often debated) topic in ministry and biblical education: Is it necessary to know and study the original biblical languages—Hebrew and Greek—to faithfully...

Welcome back to The Church Resource, where we talk all things helpful for churches, leaders, and laypeople alike. In this episode, Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass dive deep into a real and recurring issue in ministry: how to handle a disgruntled church member. Conflict in church leadership isn't new — but understanding why a member is upset and how to respond with grace and wisdom is critical...

Welcome back to The Church Resource! In this episode, hosts Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass dig into one of the most common questions they get: What are the best online tools and resources for Bible study, preaching, and discipleship? Whether you're a church leader, seminary student, or simply a curious believer, knowing where to send people for solid biblical insight matters. Lucas and Chris...

In this deeply honest and theologically grounded episode of The Church Resource, hosts Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass tackle one of the most difficult questions facing pastors, church leaders, and believers today: How should the church respond to major cultural events—especially tragic or polarizing ones like the assassination of Charlie Kirk? With humility and wisdom drawn from decades of p...

Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass talk about the rapture prophets. If you have any recommendations for Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass email us at TheChurchResource@gmail.com  

Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass talk about Sabbatical and each of their own personal experiences taking one. If you have any recommendations for Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass email us at  TheChurchResource@gmail.com  

Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass discuss how they, as pastors, keep up with their own fitness and how your motivations can misguide you. If you have any recommendations for Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass email us at TheChurchResource@gmail.com  

Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass talk about the difference in biblical knowledge and biblical literacy. If you have any recommendations for Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass email us at TheChurchResource@gmail.com