This is the official page for the Practical Shepherding Podcast entitled, “Trench Talk” where we tackle the issues pastors face and provide practical advice and wisdom for them. Practical Shepherding exists to “help pastors thrive in the trenches of pastoral ministry.” On this podcast, Brian Croft and Jim Savastio are asked the questions that you as pastors and aspiring pastors want them to address. If you would like a particular question addressed, please leave it in the comments section of this page.
Find us on iTunes here.
Should pastors and churches adjust their summer schedules? What expectations should pastors have of their members for attending during the Summer? Is it realistic to expect members to be present every Sunday in the Summer? How can pastors continue to remind their members of the priority gathered worship should have in their christian lives?
Jim and Brian discuss all these topics and more on the newest episode of Trenchtalk.
Read MoreDo different circumstances of a member leaving provide different impact to a pastor and church? In what ways can pastors be honest with members as they leave? What encouragement can pastors have when members leave?
Jim and Brian discuss these topics and more on this episode of Trenchtalk a podcast ministry of Practical Shepherding.
Read MoreFunerals are an important aspect of a pastor's ministry. How should a pastor think through the different funerals that he will conduct in ministry? What logistics might he need to prioritize? Should a pastor receive compensation for conducting a funeral?
Jim and Brian discuss these and much more on this episode of Trenchtalk.
Read MoreWhat is the distinction between a staff elder and a lay elder? What is the benefit of having lay elders? How can staff pastors/elders protect and encourage lay elders? What ought a church do since they cannot financial support a lay elder?
Jim and Brian continue their discussion with Charlie on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreWhat is the distinction between a staff elder and a lay elder? What is the benefit of having lay elders? How can staff pastors/elders protect and encourage lay elders? What ought a church do since they cannot financial support a lay elder?
Jim and Brian discuss these and more on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreHow can a pastor move to plurality before pastor qualified men are identified? What texts might he preach to help his congregation see the biblical nature of pastors? What ought he do when the congregation is unsure about moving forward? What do you do when you and the congregation have identified another pastor qualified man?
Jim and Brian discuss these and more in this episode of Trenchtalk, the podcast of Practical Shepherding.
Read MoreBrian and Jim describe the particular aspects of ministry grind, unpacking the meaningful yet difficult balance of sermon prep and shepherding the flock. Listen as they discuss questions like: what did your sermon prep look like through out your ministry? What were some aspects of ministry that took alot out of you? and much more!
Listen as Brian and Jim tackle this topic on the newest episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreCan a pastor be trapped in ministry? What assessment should be done before a pastor pursues another ministry? Won’t all churches bring particular hardships and/or difficulty?
Jim and Brian tackle all these questions and more on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreWhat makes ministry so uniquely hard? How might a pastor try to minimize the difficulty? Is it God’s design to have ministers endure hardship? What practical advice would Brian and Jim give in this area?
Listen as Brian and Jim address these questions and much more on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreHow can pastors develop a short memory when it comes to delivering a bad sermon? What does preparation have to do with preaching bad sermons? What do you do when you thought you preached a bad sermon, but a member of your church said it was incredible?
Brian and Jim discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trenchtalk.
Read MoreHow can a pastor fight to be present with his family after facing ministry challenges? What practical steps can a pastor take to “leaving work at work”?
Brian and Jim discuss these questions and many more on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreHow do you care well for unhealthy church members while not neglecting those who are healthy? What are practical steps in doing this well? How can pastors guard against discouragement in this area? Is the goal in Shepherding effectiveness or faithfulness?
Brian and Jim discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trenchtalk.
Read MoreMondays are sometimes unexplainably difficult, why is that? What does the work done on Sunday have to do with the exhaustion that shows up on Monday? How can pastors fight these feelings and persevere through through difficult Mondays?
Brian and Jim discuss these and much more on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreWhat aspects of pastoral ministry and church life were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic? How might a pastor re-train himself and his congregation to reclaim important aspects that were lost?
Brian and Jim discuss these and more on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreWhen a man/young man comes and tells you he aspires to the office of pastor what do you do next? How does a pastor identify and train men for pastoral ministry? What qualities and characteristics should you look for when assessing their call and fitness for pastoral ministry?
Jim and Brian discuss all these questions and more on this episode of TrenchTalk
Read MoreWhat is the difference between a vacation and a sabbatical? How can a pastor try to unplug during his sabbatical? How important is rest during a pastoral sabbatical? Is the place you take a sabbatical important?
Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these questions and much more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow can pastors cultivate patience in their ministries? Are we as fallen humans naturally patient? What does the Bible have to say about patience as it pertains to pastoral ministry? Is impatience in ministry always or ever compromise?
Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these questions and much more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreShould pastors expect affliction and difficulty in ministry? What ought they do when the temptation to quit presses in? How can they test if it is temptation or a genuine need to leave ministry or the church?
Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these questions and much more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreShould pastors consider the children in their congregation when preaching? Does the bible give commands to instruct children? What are intentional ways to simplify your sermons for children?
Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these questions and much more on this episode of Trench Talk.Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these questions and much more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreShould it be a priority for a church to be multi-generational? What if the church isn’t, how might they pursue this? How can pastors get a good gauge on this aspect of church health?
Listen as Brian and Jim discuss these questions and much more on this episode of Trench Talk.
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