The Productive Pastor

In this episode, I get super practical about mission in  normal-sized churches . We walk through three big questions: Is anyone hungry?  🍽️ Is anyone lonely?  🧍‍♂️ Is anyone not safe?  🛟 I talk about why "mission" can't just be a side project for a few passionate people, and why words like  outreach  don't really help us get clear on what we're called to do. Instead, I unpack  mission, mercy, an...

Join me as I unveil my game-changing 2025 analog workflow that promises to revolutionize productivity in ministry. In this episode, I dive deep into the evolution of my own productivity systems, sharing the highs, lows, and ultimate shift from digital chaos to analog clarity. If you're a pastor yearning for a productivity plan tailored to the unique demands of ministry, my proven strategies and cu...

Ever feel stuck with endless tasks, like sermons to write or crises to manage? I get it—and I've got some stories and tips to help you break through those barriers. I like to think of them as "task blockades" and once you understand it, you can get through them more easily.  Watch on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRWbLycBW0 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Su...

How much do you think about communication and social media in your church? I'm not in a local church anymore, but I think about it often. Both in my own ministry AND in the pastors I talk with each day. I've been rolling around a different personal social media strategy for the last month. I want to share it with you, but also help you understand why this is a pattern I think churches should consi...

I wrote a book!  I'm not doing a massive release or campaign for it to come out, but I am letting folks know about it. I've begun using NotebookLM, an AI tool of Google's for a variety of things lately. One of the things I love about it is how it can produce an AI hosted audio podcast based on documents imported. Out of curiosity this week, I uploaded the manuscript into NotebookLM and was serious...

We are back.  In episode 127, I give you an update about the podcast for 2025, share some new things, and explore a bigger idea I've been working on in my head these last few months.  It comes with a core conviction.  "Healthy pastors create healthy churches, and healthy churches create healthy pastors." Let's jump into the conversation about how our own approach to productivity actually does have...

It's almost the end of the year! I've been reflecting on the lessons I have learned about ministry productivity in my own context this last week. Let me share the biggest ones with you.  Get Prepare Focused Sermons: https://bit.ly/preparefocusedsermons  Shownotes : https://bit.ly/prodpastor126 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   h...

How do you feel about managing events at your church? They low-key used to be my least favorite thing. So years back, my staff got together and tackled the problems we had, created some systems, and used Trello to manage events. Let me share with you how we did it all. Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor125 Download the Event Sheet | https://bit.ly/PPeventsheet Healthy Ministry Through Strategic...

How do I like to manage projects once they are designed? On answer.  Trello. Let's talk about it and I walk you through it all. Make sure to check out the YouTube video of the episode to see the details.    Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List |  https://bit.ly/PPemailLis...

What do I use daily for ministry work? I've got a handful of tools I can't imagine not using over the years. Let me share them with you and where you can pick one up if you want to try them out. Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor123 YouTube video | https://bit.ly/4ilkXBW Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/Produc...

So what is a big project in ministry? I've been asked this question several times lately in different backchannels. So I wanted to answer it, and share my favorite way to design AND manage big projects. We step into a framework which starts at the end.    Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Producti...

We talk a bunch about the workweek here at Productive Pastor, but how often do we talk about the weekend? In this throwback episode to over 10 years ago, I'm replaying one of the first episodes of the first version of the show and walking through tips to make the most of your time off. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://b...

Project management is one of those skills most of us have to learn. We aren't naturally great at it. In Cal Newport's latest book,  Slow Productivity,  he shares an approach to project management I've found helpful personally. It translates over to ministry really well.  So let's look at the push/pull methodology of project management. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Sub...

What role does the sermon have in congregational vision and strategy? Let's consider this an entry episode into a much larger conversation.  Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor119 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List |  https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Sp...

Finding the perfect productivity system first means admitting the perfect system doesn't exist. But an appropriate one, unique to you, does exist. I find systems tend to run in cycles, and at the end of one, hopefully we have found a new tool that actually provides deep value.  Over the last few months, I have been relying more on analog tools because I have to be adaptive in a new ministry contex...

What happens when ministry is changing and you need to learn new skills? Seminary and Bible College might teach the Christian leader to do many things, but rarely do we think about what it means to learn new skills and level up in our vocational abilities.  I always love this conversation (and am a bit low-key fascinated with it right now). So let's jump into a quick framework AND let me share wit...

Is Brain Fog a thing for you? I deal with it and it can be a bit frustrating. So let's tackle the subject and walk through some solutions to minimizing it.  Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify |   https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube |   https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksY...

Do you ever go to a conference, come back, and feel like you didn't learn anything? Or maybe you hit the office running and end up overwhelming other leaders and staff because you starting changing a bunch of things.  Yep - I've done both.  In this episode, I want to share how focusing on current challenges and questions, combined with intentional networking can make conferences a valuable experie...

In Episode 114 of Productive Pastor, I dive into core communication strategies crucial for effective ministry. Discover how to prioritize communication, manage time efficiently, and improve church health through clear, timely interactions.  Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor114 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly...

Does your calendar seem to control you? In this episode, let's tame that wild calendar, get it under control, and learn how to use it as an essential piece of your ministry productivity.  Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify |   https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube |   https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube Healthy mi...

Do you ever stumble onto a new productivity practice and it seems to change everything? I did so earlier this year with my Daily Log practice. In this episode, I outline the practice AND give a free worksheet away for you to use. Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify |   https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube |   https:...

Have you ever felt your brain is carrying too much around? Let's talk about how powerful a dumping ground can be for you. Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify |   https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube |   https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube Productive Pastor Email List |   https://bit.ly/PPemailList The 5/15 |   htt...

Color codes are one of my favorite things and a big part of my own productivity. Here is how I use them for working on AND preaching messages.  Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify |   https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube |   https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube Productive Pastor Email List |   https://bit.ly/PPemai...

Have you ever realized just a few degrees of change can flip everything? In this episode, let's talk about three basic productivity practices which allow ANYONE to get out of problem mode and into a healthier ministry through strategic productivity.    Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify |   https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf C...

Are you transitioning in ministry any time soon? The last time I had a BIG one I spent a couple of weeks working through how I am going to approach the transition. This episode is all about a few tools I have used coaching other pastors the last year through similar situations.    Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes |   https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify |...