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 a pastor be involved in serving on ministries outside of his local church? How ought he prioritize his time to both the external ministry and his local church? What advice would you offer to someone when committing to ministry outside of the local church?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and much more on this episode of Trench talk.
Read MoreHow important is lament for pastoral ministry? What are categories of lament a pastor faces? How can pastors engage in the work of lament?
Brian and Jim discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreWhat does life and ministry look like when you serve in one church for 20-years? What joys and sorrows come through a long ministry in the same church? How do you raise up fellow pastors while avoiding cynicism? How should pastors be encouraged to labor faithfully in their own context?
Brian and Jim discuss these things and more with pastor Robert Briggs on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow important is friendship among elders? What role does affection and trust play in eldering? Is there a scenario when a biblically qualified man is not a good fit relationally among elders? Is it important for elders to have a genuine affection for the families of other elders?
Brian and Jim discuss these and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreWhen do you know if you should hire another pastor? What qualifications do you prioritize? Should they possess complimentary skills or be similar?
Brian and Jim discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreWhat are some symptoms of a backslidden pastor? How can he prevent himself from backsliding and pursue Christ? If a pastor is backsliding how can he pursue recovery?
Brian and Jim discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trenchtalk.
Read MoreWhat is pastoral grit and how can a pastor prepare for the long haul of ministry? Is grit just being strong and shut off emotionally from your flock? How can a pastor develop grit in ministry?
Brian and Jim discuss these topics and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreShould a pastor lead his church to join a denomination or network? What questions should he be asking when deciding between independence or affiliation? What are the blessings of independence? What are the blessings of affiliation?
Brian and Jim discuss these topics and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow can a pastor be aware of his proximity to burnout? What symptoms should he be aware of that might point to burnout? What steps can he take to prevent burnout?
Brian and Jim discuss these questions and more in this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow should a pastor approach shepherding an older church member? How aware of his own age should a pastor be when shepherding older saints? How can a pastor help older members find their place of ministry in the church?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow do different temperaments impact a pastor's ministry? Does temperament change during the course of ministry? How can a pastor be aware of strengths and weaknesses to better shepherd?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreIs a pastor responsible to have an opinion on every topic in politics and society? How can a pastor be wise about when, how, and what he speaks on?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow does the fishbowl of ministry affect pastors? What pressures face pastors as they seek to be faithful in ministry? How can pastors remember their ministering in the sight of God, not merely serving and shepherding the flock?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreWhen does a pastor actually become the pastor? What public and private aspects should a pastor consider when assessing if he’s built adequate trust and collateral? When he has built adequate trust, what things should he do that perhaps he has strategically delayed?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow should pastors shepherd immature sheep? How can you balance loving them where they are while pushing them toward maturity? How does a pastor handle the inner frustration brought on by shepherding an immature congregation?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreWhen should a man consider stepping back into pastoral ministry? What considerations and questions should he ask himself and his family? How might he guard from operating in the same way this time around? What if ministry is just too difficult?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow important is hospitality for a pastor? If it is important is it a biblical qualification? What aspects should a pastor consider when seeking to be hospitable? Does hospitality mean you have to be extravagant?
Brian and Jim discuss these questions and more on this episode of Trench Talk.
Read MoreHow do you assess your members resistance to your shepherding? What criteria should a pastor do his own assessment in his shepherding of the sheep? At what point can you determine if your members are wounded sheep or goats? What if an individual, family, or couple no longer receive your ministry the way they once did?
Jim and Brian discuss these and much more on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreShould a pastor with young children be expected to pastor in the same ways? How can he prioritize his family while making adjustments to study? How can a congregation support a pastor with young children? What ways can a pastor utilize the flexibility of ministry to serve his wife?
Jim and Brian discuss these questions and many more on this episode of Trenchtalk
Read MoreIs balance in ministry attainable? How can bi-vocational pastors seek balance? In what ways should a pastor balance his soul, ministry, and family?
Jim and Brian discuss these topics and much more on this episode of Trenchtalk.
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