This Poor Pastor's Podcast

Just listen...Thanks!

In this episode, I am just going to talk about some things we say, that I wish we wouldn't.  There are no doubt more than three things, but we have to start somewhere!

You know the story of the prodigal son.  In this episode, I would like to promote an interpretation or understanding of it that may be different than you have considered before.  

Are you aware of how prevalent our assumptions are in our beliefs?  Have you ever realized how many times we make determinations, based on assumptions?  This is true in many areas, including our Bible reading and teaching.  In this episode, I want to give you an example to think about.  

In this episode, I am going to share a sermon I preached on Sunday morning, August 29th, 2021.  I don't usually share sermons here, but this is perhaps the most important one that I have ever preached.  I hope you will take the time to listen.  

Guys...seriously...we've got to do better.  Please just listen.

These are troubling days.  Of that, there is no doubt.  What is troubling is the way that believers are treating one another, especially when we don't agree with someone.  In this episode, I am just giving you my heart and pleading for Christians to treat other Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Just listen...

I realize that this episode may be challenging to some, and heretical to others.  I do not mean to cause discomfort.  However, I do want to challenge a prevailing concept among many of my fellow fundamental pastors regarding our attitude toward Scripture.  I am afraid we are making statements about the Bible, that the Bible does not make about itself.  One of those is that the...

Have you ever heard a pastor or evangelist use that verse to threaten people who disagree with them or criticize them?  I have.  I used to believe it about myself as well.  Then, I actually read the Bible...not just a single verse.  There is a precious promise here, but it isn't what certain pastors and evangelists think. I'd like to offer you another, and I hope more Biblical way, of understandin...

Is there a difference between the Bible being for you and to you?  You bet there is!  Does it matter?  I think so!  You'll have to listen to decide that for yourself.   Want to support the work I am doing here?  Become a monthly supporter on Patreon at Patreon.com/thispoorpastor

God is a God of great kindness.  See Joel chapter 2.  He has shown that kindness to us in so many ways.  He has also called us to be kind to one another.  The Bible clearly says, "be ye kind one to another..."  Kindness is a choice.  Are we making the right choice in our lives each day?   Want to support the podcast and the work that I am doing? Check out my Patr...

I come from a strong King James Bible background.  It is the Bible I have read, memorized, studied, and listened to for 41 years.  I love it.  I also love Psalm 12, and the wonderful promises God makes in that short 8 verse chapter.  Sadly, many in my circles use Psalm 12, and specifically verses 6-7 as a proof text for the KJB being the only perfect and preserved word of God f...

Do you know how often we run scripts in our daily conversations and interactions?  It's a lot!  Most of the time we do it without even recognizing it.  That is the point of scripts.  We can run them without thinking, while our brains are engaged elsewhere.  To some extent, this is normal and even necessary, but it can hinder us from engaging in authentic conversations with...

Do you know what an Idealized Cognitive Model is?  Do you think you have one?  Does it affect how we do church, or how we view other churches?  I think the answer is yes. I want to talk to you about this topic today, and hopefully, challenge you to think about how you view the church and the world around you. Want to support the work that I am doing on this podcast?  I would ap...

Have you stopped learning?  Did you graduate from seminary or Bible college and feel like now you were the teacher and your congregation is the student body?  In this episode, I want to talk to you about some of my recent ruminations on life and learning as a result of my first child graduating from high school.  Want to support this podcast and the work that I am doing?  I'd a...

Some days I really hate preaching.  Especially when the message isn't uplifting.  Nothing is more difficult to teach and preach about than the potential of persecution.  Sometimes people don't want to hear it.  However, I have been under such a burden to prepare our congregation for the potential of persecution.  I want to talk about that in today's episode. Want to suppor...

Have you ever had to do community service?  Would you consider doing some?  Do you have to choose between evangelism and community involvement?  Do you think that evangelism is community involvement?  In this 50th episode, I want to talk to you about some ways you can consider getting involved.  There are many more than the ones I have talked about.  I'd love to hear...

It is predicatable.  Let someone in the ministry talk about someone who has made an impact on their life, and you will hear the charge, "Hero worship!"  Is it wrong to follow other men?  Is it even possible or advisable to seek to follow only Christ?  And what is a hero anyway?  Are we all heroes?  Should I discourage someone from following me for fear they will worsh...

If you love missions and missionaries as I do, you may be hesitant to address the minefield that exists in navigating those relationships.  I want to give a voice to some of the issues I have faced in my churches over the last 16 years, and maybe encourage you.  Hopefully, it will help you navigate, or even avoid some of the problems I have had.  I would love to hear your feedback o...

I want to continue the discussion about missions, and missionaries.  Missionaries are some of my favorite people, and the things they go through in dealing with churches are exhausting!  Most will never complain.  In today's episode I want to talk a little about this, and how we as congregations can do a better job of both financially supporting our missionaries, as well as encourag...

In the next couple of episodes, I want to talk about missions.  Not the necessity of it, but how we go about it.  In this episode, I am going to talk about some of the ways I have heard, and some of the ways I have experienced raising money to support the work of missions around the world.  I would love to hear from you if you have any other good ideas!   Do you enjoy this podc...

Hurting people are all around us.  The body of Christ is tasked, in part, with helping those who are hurting.  Sadly, often the church has been the perpetrator, rather than the first responder.  That needs to change.  In this episode, I want to talk about some ways that we should look at helping people who are hurting.  Hopefully, it gets the conversation started! Do you e...

When you look at the title and change the underlying part of speech, everything changes.  English is funny that way.  In this episode I want to challenge us...pastors in particular.  This episode focuses on not behaving in a way that would hurt and embarrass our people when they bring friends, co-workers, neighbors, or family to church.  The next episode will focus on how to he...

In this episode, I just want to have a little fun, and talk about 5 types of irritating church members that most pastors have to deal with.  You might as well laugh about it because they exist in every church!  It makes you pull your hair out at times, but it is still a privilege to pastor the people of God.   As I mention in this episode, if you would like to support this podcast (...