Trench Talk

What does faithfulness in pastoral ministry look like? How does a pastor practice gentleness and patience in pastoral ministry and yet remain courageous to boldly guard the truth and protect the flock? How does a pastor discern when it is time to do battle and when it is time to simply be patient and loving? Listen as Brian Croft and Jim Savastio discuss the unusual tensions present in faithful pa...

Jim Savastio unexpectedly experienced the onset of Bell’s Palsy in late November and has been unable to fill his pulpit for two months. Listen as Jim reflects on God’s good providences and what he is learning during this time of being laid aside.

In this episode, special guest Conrad Mbewe, pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia discusses the training of pastors and comments on the state of the global church.

In this episode, special guest Conrad Mbewe, pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia discusses his conversion, calling, formative influences, and ministry with Brian and Jim.

How should a pastor take seriously the sobering task of shepherding the soul of every member of his congregation? What does exercising spiritual oversight of souls look like in the weekly rhythm of pastoral ministry? How does a minister prepare to face the day when he will give account for his stewardship of the souls entrusted to him? What are the categories of individual soul-care with which the...

Biblically, how should pastors and deacons relate to and work with one another? What areas of overlap exist between these offices? How do pastors and deacons communicate with one another and how often should they meet together? How do pastors and deacons respect biblically appointed boundaries in their respective offices? Should deacons have concern for the physical needs of the pastor and his fam...

What are deacons and how are they supposed to function in the life of the church? What biblical characteristics should deacons evidence in their lives? What are the role-distinctions between the elders and deacons? How should deacons interact with the leadership of the church? How should deacons serve the leadership of the church? How might a pastor correct dysfunction in the diaconate? Listen as...

How does a pastor maintain a warm heart for the Word of God while ministering that Word week in and week out? What might help a pastor avoid becoming overly-familiar with the Word? How may a pastor guard against the Word becoming mere background noise in his ministry? Are pastors in danger of becoming overly-fond of the sound of their own voice in preaching? How does a pastor keep his affections p...

What are the priorities of a pastor in the early years of ministry? How does a beginning pastor lay a God-honoring foundation for his ministry? What is the one thing such a pastor must do first and above all else? What commitments does the pastor make in relation to the flock? What should a pastor do in a situation where a church is significantly disconnected from its biblical priorities? How quic...

Do we have evidence in Scripture that men of God suffered through seasons of depression, and even anxiety? Do grief and sorrow have a valid, spiritual place in the life of pastors? What happens when pastors try to suppress pain and depressive impulses in their lives? Is it wrong for pastors to grieve before their people? What spiritual and physical practices might help during times of depression a...

What does it mean for a pastor to “take heed” to his physical wellbeing? Is there any spiritual value in stewarding our physical bodies well? How might a pastor balance and practice well the three disciplines of eating, exercise, and sleep? Listen as Brian and Jim address these and other questions from a biblical perspective.

How does a pastor press on and not grow weary in well-doing when there is little visible fruit resulting from his ministry? Is it possible to pastor well in a church that does not experience significant growth? In such circumstances, how does a pastor maintain hope, joy, and a vigorous ministry? What standards should a pastor of a small church use to evaluate the effectiveness of his ministry? Lis...

Moral failures by pastors–whether they be financial failures, sexual failures, abuse of authority, or some other form of gross immorality–seem increasingly common. Is any pastor immune to moral failure? How is it possible for a pastor to live a double life? How might a pastor guard himself against moral failure? What areas of pastoral life warrant special care? How might a pastor strike a reasonab...

An oft-overlooked reality in pastoral ministry is that the pastor is a churchman first, and then a pastor. Pastors need those who can minister and speak God’s word into their lives and hold them accountable. In a word, pastors need pastors. Pastors need to be, first and always, disciples; the extraordinary call of a pastor never negates the ordinary call of a man to be a faithful follower of Lord...

As a pastor, do you sometimes feel overwhelmed and ill-equipped to help some of your people? Given the brokenness, struggles, and sins of people living in a fallen world, how does a pastor who finds himself in over his head help the broken? How might you go about seeking help for others when you must search outside of yourself? How involved should a pastor be if he refers a member to counseling fr...

What issues should influence the rhythm of our preaching? Holidays? Church calendar? Cultural traditions? Significant world events? Significant events in the life of the congregation? When should a pastor deviate from his planned preaching schedule? Listen as Brian and Jim address these issues and more in this podcast.

Biblically speaking, what should a church plant or church revitalization look like? What deficits might emerge in a church plant and a church revitalization respectively? How might pastors navigate such deficits? How might pastors prioritize and persevere in church plants and church revitalizations? What distinct advantages exist in church planting and church revitalization respectively? What kind...

How might a pastor shepherd well one who is leaving the church? What biblical truths should influence how we handle a member leaving our church? What church documents might dictate how we deal with a member leaving our church? How does a pastor and church address sin issues when they are an influencing element in a member leaving the church? How might a pastor and church handle feelings of rejecti...

What are the circumstances under which it is right to resign your church? Should hostility and adversaries prompt us to resign our churches? Is an attempt by the church to “fire” you as pastor sufficient reason to leave a church? How do internal pressures influence the decision stay or go? Should outside counsel play a role in the decision to stay or go? If so, how? Should a pastor tell his church...

Child sexual abuse in evangelical churches is shockingly more common than many think. Sexual predators often view the church as a “safe” environment for finding, grooming, and abusing their victims. What steps might a pastor and church take to establish a culture of prevention and recognition of sexual abuse? What responsibilities do pastors have in the investigation of accusations of sexual abuse...

Child sexual abuse in evangelical churches is shockingly more common than many think. Sexual predators often view the church as a “safe” environment for finding, grooming, and abusing their victims. What steps might a pastor and church take to establish a culture of prevention and recognition of sexual abuse? What responsibilities do pastors have in the investigation of accusations of sexual abuse...

What is unique about the pastor’s schedule? What scriptural mandates influence how we steward our time? What priorities influence the way a pastor schedules his time? How do unforeseen circumstances influence a pastor’s schedule? How might a pastor schedule his time to reflect his limitations? Listen as Brian and Jim discuss the complexities of the pastor’s schedule.

Church finances are too often the source of scandal. How does Scripture address the pastor’s responsibilities in relation to stewarding the finances of the church? What priorities should dictate financial expenditures? What safeguards should the pastor insist upon to guard against the abuse of finances? What level of financial disclosure is appropriate when handling church finances? Listen as Bria...

In receiving members from another church, to what biblical principles should the receiving pastor and church adhere? Given that many leave their former church upset or hurt, does the receiving pastor and church have a responsibility to help them resolve such issues? What courtesies does a receiving church owe the former pastor and church? Listen as Brian and Jim address these and other critical is...

In light of the Sutherland Springs Texas church shooting, the question of safety and security at churches is front and center in the minds of conscientious pastors. What theological issues should inform our views on safety and security? Is it “spiritual” to think in terms of possessing a right to safety and security? How did Jesus address these issues with his disciples? Is there a biblical doctri...