This Poor Pastor's Podcast

There are few subjects I am more passionate about when it comes to pastors than this one. The frustration and defeat that so many pastors experience when their church could, but don't pay them anything like a fair wage.  Guilt, scriptural abuse, social bullying, and the fact that most pastors love their people and don't want to fight with them or seem self-serving, all compound to make the si...

Who doesn't love all the drama surrounding the up to a dozen special Sundays a pastor is expected to endorse.  From Mother's Day to Homecoming, from Christmas to Easter, the fun never stops.  In this Friday episode, I want to talk about the fun and frustration of these special days, and also focus on the importance of the resurrection of Christ to our faith.   Want to support the wo...

Did the Holy Spirit show up at your church service yesterday?  How would you know?  Are you tired of the constant pressure to gin up excitement and external emotional evidence to prove that you are a "real" church?  Are you worried that if you have a church in a building that is not a house, that you are not a 1st-century church?  Every day, and in every way, people try to put...

In this episode, I want to follow up on last week's discussion by offering some ideas to help navigate the minefield of change.  I hope it is helpful!  Change is never easy, but it is necessary.  Knowing what to expect can make the prospect of success a little higher.   If you enjoy this content and would like to help me continue and improve, please continue a one time financia...

Change is really, really hard.  It is so hard in fact, many of us never attempt it.  Then we create walls and boundaries to ensure that no one else attempts it either.   But change is not always bad.  Sometimes, it is actually harmful not to change.  In this two-part series, I am going to talk about change, and what the Bible says about it, along with some ways we can acco...

This is one of those topics I would rather never talk about.  It is just not fun.  However, the damage done to the cause of Christ, when pastors and spiritual leaders fall into sin is huge. I really want to avoid that in my ministry, and I am sure you do as well.  So...we have to talk about it. If you enjoy and appreciate the work that I am doing, the content I am providing and woul...

Ministry burnout is a real thing, and one of the causes is pastors who are trying to do too many things themselves.  The pressure to maintain the accepted ministry model is huge, and many times this burden falls to the pastor.  In this episode, I want to give you an out.  You don't have to do everything. What's more...you can't do everything and do it well. The good news is, you don...

It has been my experience, that in the average church, the importance of the preaching and teaching of the Bible has been diminishing for a while.  You might be surprised that I think it is even happening in fundamental churches as well.  It isn't everywhere, and it isn't everyone, but the problem exists.  In this episode, I am going to talk about some of the reasons I think this is...

It is not easy growing up in a pastor's home.  It isn't easy being a pastor with kids.  Many of us struggle with fear and worry that our kids won't turn out "right."  I know that fear. After many years of doing it at this point, I want to share some encouragement with you.  I hope it helps.  I'd love to hear your thoughts! Do you enjoy this podcast?  Would you like to...

Groups are important.  We are all part of at least one group. That group is the human race.  Group dynamics are powerful, and can be good or bad.  recognizing the benefits and dangers of being part of a group is important to me.  I hope you find this information helpful! Contact me at thispoorpastor@gmail.com Some people have asked me about how they can help. If you would like...

Last weekend I took a Sabbatical.  It was only the second one in 15 years of pastoral ministry. I need to do it more.  I am going to.  I want to encourage you to do the same. 

Okay, I had a lot of great feedback from my episode on why I don't usually recommend Bible college to my young people.  I did, however, get some concerned questions regarding some of the things I said.  So I thought I would record a follow-up to my original episode.  I hope it provokes thought, and introspection...and maybe a little bit of heartburn. Do you like the work I am doing...

Hi, My name is Mark, and I am a quitter.  Well...I mean that I have quit things in the past.  I will probably quit things in the future.  Sometimes I think Pastors should quit.  Yep...I said it.  In this episode, I want to talk to you about when, and why I think it might be time to consider quitting.  You might not agree with me...but I want to have the conversation a...

Do you practice your skills as a Pastor?  Should you even be doing that?  What about the Holy Spirit? What role does He play?  Does practicing make you a performer instead of a Pastor?  Doesn't preaching three times a week give you all the practice you need?  All these questions and more, on this week's episode. If you enjoy this podcast, and want to support the work I am...

So often I have let myself in for frustration, chasing an ideal. Somehow...I always come up short.  That is the thing about ideals.  We always come short.  The dream of pastoring an ideal church is no different.  It isn't going to happen...and you know what?  That's okay.  In this episode, I want to talk about ideals, the ideal church, and how to find joy in pastoring...

In this episode, we talk about some additional considerations regarding evangelism, sometimes known as soul winning. I wanted to give you some ideas of things I avoid, and some things I try to do.  I desire to see people come to Christ.  I believe in persuading people regarding the gospel.  What I am trying to get away from, is the shady, high pressure, used car salesman techniques...

I came out of an "aggressive, soul-winning" environment. At the age of 15, I was introduced to weekly door knocking. I learned the sales techniques necessary to convince people to pray the sinner's prayer after a simple 5-15 minute presentation.  We learned the tactics to get around a "no" and get to a "yes".   I did it for 20 years.  Then I got burned out.  There had to b...

"Where do you recommend your church kids go to Bible college?"   That is the question I was recently asked by another Pastor.  My answer?  "I don't recommend my kids go to Bible college." Bible college is not for everyone.  Some Bible colleges shouldn't be for anyone!  In this episode, I will tell you why I think so. Feel free to reach out and let me know your thoughts on...

I have a confession.  I am a critic.  I also hate criticism.  That makes things confusing!  Seriously though, criticism is one of the hardest things to deal with in Pastoral ministry.  The entire Bible is replete with stories of critics.  It is something we will always deal with this side of eternity.  I don't have any real solutions, just some helpful words, and...

( NOTE ) Yesterday I took this episode down, with the intent to edit it and re-upload it.  I decided to let it stand as is.    Here is why.  I spoke with my friend whose post I read in this article.  I believe that his post doesn't accurately reflect his stand, as most posts don't, but since he has left his post up, I will leave this one.  Not out of animosity, b...

Lately, I have been obsessed with the subject of time.  Then I came across a verse from Paul that made me think there was a really good reason to be.  That is what I want to talk to you about as we end 2020 and head into a new year!

In these changing times, it is sometimes difficult to understand how certain passages are even relevant.  When everyone is thinking about current events, how can we possibly get their attention to the Scriptures.  It is a challenge, and the times are definitely changing. But unchanging truth, fits us for changing times.  That is what we talk about in this episode. 

What is our attitude when we are faced with information that challenges our beliefs or understanding?  Should you just "trust the preacher"?  Do we have the kind of environment that fosters the investigation of spiritual as well as societal truth?  That is the subject of today's podcast episode.  Thanks for listening!

Every pastor knows the frustration of trying to feed people who are full.  I want to talk to you about that in today's episode.  Happy Monday!

Pastors are called to be soul watchers, and soul watching is hard work. These days, it seems even harder.  In this episode, I just kind of give voice to some of my frustrations.  If you get frustrated when it seems all you hear from other pastors is rah, rah, knock 'em down kind of rhetoric.  This isn't that.   I believe in what I do, but that doesn't mean it's easy, or I don't...