Episodi
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Every pastor has the joy (at least usually it’s a joy) of officiating Christian weddings, which can be a beautiful picture of the gospel. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst offer practical advice for stewarding these opportunities and making the most of a wedding weekend.
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Two years ago today, Tim Keller went to be with the Lord. Using Matt’s new book—Tim Keller on the Christian Life, published by Crossway—as a discussion guide, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst reflect on underappreciated teachings from Tim’s body of work.
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Episodi mancanti?
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Ministering to the women in our churches and equipping them to disciple one another is a privilege. But how can pastors do this well?
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst welcome Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor to the podcast. They draw from extensive experience to discuss practical tips for cultivating a healthy women’s ministry in your local church.
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Show us a church with distracted elders, and we’ll show you a church without effective deacons. For better or worse, deacons are difference-makers in congregational life. But when it comes to this topic, too many churches are operating from custom and tradition—with Bibles closed.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan revisit the Bible’s job description for deacons, highlighting what these servants are (and are not) meant to do. Don’t underestimate this glorious office.
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Last week, we considered what elders are, biblically speaking, and which traits should characterize a candidate for the office.
In this follow-up episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan get even more “nuts and boltsy,” discussing tips for working with fellow elders, leading elders’ meetings, establishing healthy cultural dynamics, and more.
Recommended resources:
“Want to Be an Elder? Start Eldering Now.” by Bobby JamiesonChurch Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus (Building Healthy Churches) by Jeramie Rinne -
There are few greater gifts for a pastor than getting to serve with a godly band of brothers. But not every church has multiple elders—and not every elder team functions in a healthy way.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss what elders are, why every church should seek to have them, and what a pastor should be looking for in potential elders.
Recommended resources:
Christ’s Call to Discipleship by James BoiceThe Elder and His Work by David Dickson“Want to Be an Elder? Start Eldering Now.” by Bobby JamiesonThe Path to Being a Pastor by Bobby Jamieson“On Transitioning to Elders - Part 2” -
It’s the most important book in the universe, but it can also be intimidating. Many of our members may be discouraged to admit that their resolutions have sputtered out—again. As pastors, how can we prepare and motivate our members to dive into God’s Word for themselves?
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share practical tips for promoting a culture of biblical literacy in the local church.
Recommended resources:
Matt Smethurst at Southern SeminaryBible Talk by 9MarksFor a full list of recommended resources on this episode, visit our website.
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Pastors are called to walk alongside suffering saints, but what about when the pastor is the sufferer?
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, pastor Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to share about a season of family hardship—and what it looked like to receive care from his church community. He testifies to the beauty of Christ’s body and the faith-fortifying role of pain, encouraging shepherds to remember that they, too, are among Christ’s sheep.
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Every pastor affirms the importance of prayer and likely excels at it publicly, but consistency in private prayer is hard. And it isn't easy to foster a congregation-wide culture of prayer.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical tips for improving your prayer life—and the praying habits of your whole congregation. After all, a church that will be found faithful is a church that will be found praying.
Recommended resources:
A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry5 Things to Pray for Your Kids by Melissa Kruger5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse: Prayers That Change and Strengthen Your Marriage by Michael and Melissa KrugerI'm Praying for You: 40 Days of Praying the Bible for Someone Who Is Suffering by Nancy GuthriePrayers on the Psalms by David Calhoun (ed.)Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by Don Carson -
Leadership is an art, and many pastors get it wrong—sometimes with devastating results.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Paul Tripp joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss how a pastor can lead well for the flourishing of the whole church. The conversation touches on the importance of fostering a healthy leadership community, the gift of limits, responding to criticism and praise, the difference-making role of gospel grace, and more.
Recommended resources:
Dangerous Calling by Paul David TrippLead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paul David TrippInstruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp -
Theology is vital for life. We know this as pastors, but do our members? Are we helping them to grow in thinking theologically?
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical ways to promote deeper love for God’s truth. After all, how our people view him will make all the difference in their lives.
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When Paul lists elder qualifications, he mentions Satan twice (1 Tim. 3:6–7). Why? The devil loves to stalk and destroy shepherds. And one of his main strategies is tempting us toward little compromises—which never remain little—in the realm of sexual purity.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss lessons he’s learned the hard way, how to foster transparency among leadership, practical tools for pursuing purity, and more.
Recommended resource: Pure in Heart: Sexual Sin and the Promises of God by Garrett Kell
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Assurance of salvation is a deeply precious gift, but many Christians struggle to experience it. Pastors have the unique privilege—and challenge—of being “soul doctors” in our people’s lives.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how to apply the gospel to nominal Christians (who shouldn’t have assurance), struggling Christians (who should), and all Christ’s sheep who are meant to revel in marvelous news: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
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Do your members prioritize the Lord’s Day? Are they maximizing their time at church? In a hyper-busy age, we can serve our people by preparing them to come on Sundays ready to grow, ready to serve, and ready to launch.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst offer practical tips for helping your congregation get the most out of corporate worship.
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Men and women aren't interchangeable, and God’s gendered design is a beautiful thing. How can pastors encourage and equip the godly women that the Lord entrusts to their care? It has been said, after all, that there’s no such thing as a healthy church in which the men flourish but the women don't.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how pastors can better support the women in their churches, highlighting the vital role women play in the overall health of the congregation.
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Doctrines are more like an interconnected web than an itemized list. So how do we determine which matters are debatable in a church—and which are not? Not all beliefs are equally important, after all.
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan encourage pastors to think carefully about the respective “weight” Scripture assigns various doctrines—and the implications for unity grounded in truth and love.
Recommended resources:
Westminster Confession of FaithThe New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith 1833Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage by Gavin Ortlund -
Have you ever wondered why two churches can be so similar in their doctrinal beliefs but so different in their practices? How can we make sure our methodology is rooted in theology, not mere pragmatism?
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan are joined by Michael Lawrence to discuss the underrated importance of ministry philosophy in our churches.
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If pastors are the supply line, members are the front line. How can pastors equip their sheep to take responsibility for one another’s spiritual well-being? How can pastors foster a culture of relational initiative and deliberate discipleship?
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share practical ideas on how to shepherd your congregations to have a discipleship mindset.
“I Was Discipled by … the Church” by Brian BowmanThe Compelling Community: Where God’s Power Makes a Church Attractive by Mark Dever and Jamie DunlopSpiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures by David Martyn Lloyd-JonesPraying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson -
Pastoral ministry is far more than preaching. Pastors are fundamentally shepherds, which means we’re called to care for particular sheep. How do we do that well?
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan consider specific ways pastors can care for their congregation.
Recommended resources:
Jordan Stone, Love to Christ: Robert Murray M’Cheyne and the Pursuit of HolinessJordan Stone, A Communion of Love: The Christ-Centered Spirituality of Robert Murray M’CheyneJordan Stone, A Holy Minister: The Life and Spiritual Legacy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne -
“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching,” Paul exhorts the young pastor Timothy (1 Tim. 4:16). For many of us, it’s dangerously easy to guard our doctrine but not our lives. How can a busy pastor tend to his soul?
In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practices for maintaining intimacy with Christ amid the demands of ministry.
Recommended resources:
Josiah Bull (ed.), Letters of John NewtonJonathan Aitken, John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing GraceTony Reinke, Newton on the Christian Life: To Live Is ChristSinclair Ferguson, The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still MattersDavid Gibson, The Lord of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, and Host - Mostra di più
