The Everyday Pastor

A conversation about how a high view of God’s sovereignty shapes assurance, prayer, evangelism, and pastoral care. They trace sovereignty through Scripture stories and church history. Practical scenes range from hospital rooms to anxiety, showing how a big-God theology steadies people, cultivates humility, and fuels renewed courage for ministry.

They discuss how to lead wisely when conflict is inevitable, weighing when to engage theological disputes and when to avoid nonstop polemics. They explore different kinds of controversy, strategic responses modeled on Jesus, and the harm of personal grumbling. They emphasize measured, multidirectional leadership, the importance of forgiveness, and protecting local church unity.

Spiritual warfare is real in ministry—but often misunderstood. Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan help pastors think biblically and pastorally about Satan’s schemes, the Spirit’s indwelling power, and how to resist discouragement while persevering in faithful ministry.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas BrooksThe Christian in Complete Armour by William GurnallThe Treasury of David by Charles SpurgeonThe Pilgrim's Progress by John BunyanThe Work of the Holy Spirit by Abraham KuyperNew Life in the Wasteland by Douglas F. KellyThe Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis If you're ready to go deeper, Southern Seminary's PhD program is where that begins. Visit sbts.edu/phd to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What is true of Christ becomes true of us. Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan are joined by Sam Allberry to discuss his book One with My Lord: The Life-Changing Reality of Being in Christ and explore how pastors can recover the often overlooked doctrine of union with Christ and share it with their congregations.RESOURCES MENTIONED:One With My Lord by Sam AllberryBy Faith, Not by Sight by Richard Gaffin If you're ready to go deeper, Southern Seminary's PhD program is where that begins. Visit sbts.edu/phd to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One of a pastor’s primary responsibilities is not only to teach Scripture, but also to help his people learn how to read the Bible for themselves. Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share how pastors can encourage their congregations to engage deeply with God’s Word, meditate on how he has revealed himself, and approach Scripture with obedience and joy.Resources Mentioned:A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation by Matthew C. BinghamA Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life by J. I. PackerBefore You Open Your Bible: Nine Heart Postures For Approaching God's Word by Matt SmethurstThe Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made by Mark DeverThe Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept by Mark DeverRyken's Bible Handbook by Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken, and James WilhoitSurvey of the Bible by William Hendriksen If you're ready to go deeper, Southern Seminary's PhD program is where that begins. Visit sbts.edu/phd to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jamie Dunlop, associate pastor and author who advises churches on stewardship, explains why church budgets are spiritual documents. He discusses teaching gospel-centered giving, building trust with transparent finances, using the budget as a prayer guide, and realistic forecasting and compensation practices. Short, practical conversations about modeling generosity and leading with clarity.

Pastors are expected to keep learning—just like doctors, teachers, and counselors. In this episode, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan unpack formal and informal ways to stay sharp: carving out daily reading, using journals and courses, attending conferences, leaning on study Bibles, pursuing study leave or targeted coursework (ThM/DMin), and even teaching as adjuncts. They also warn against using degrees as an escape from ministry and offer practical counsel for staying current on cultural issues while remaining focused on your flock.Resources Mentioned:TGC’s Themelios journalTGC courses & pastors’ hubThe Carson Center at TGCStudy Bibles If you're ready to go deeper, Southern Seminary's PhD program is where that begins. Visit sbts.edu/phd to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Suffering is not a glitch in the Christian life—it’s part of it. In this conversation, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan talk about how pastors can prepare their people to face pain with faith and endurance. They discuss what it means to view hardship through God’s providence, why the “victorious Christian life” often looks like just hanging on, and how preaching, hymns, and patient shepherding can help believers trust God when He seems silent.Resources Mentioned:When Pain Is Real and God Seems Silent by Ligon DuncanJoni Eareckson TadaMark Talbot, When the Stars DisappearJohn Piper, Don’t Waste Your LifePsalm 88; Psalm 40; 2 Corinthians 4; Romans 8; Genesis 50:20Hymns: How Firm a Foundation, Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul, Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near If you're ready to go deeper, Southern Seminary's PhD program is where that begins. Visit sbts.edu/phd to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this engaging discussion, Jamie Dunlop, Associate Pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church and author, emphasizes the spiritual significance of church administration. He shares how good management safeguards unity and supports preaching, stressing that administration is a gift meant to honor God. The conversation covers the role of deacons and executive pastors, outlines essential church structures, and highlights how effective administration allows pastors to focus on ministry. Jamie also offers practical tips for small churches to better manage administrative overload.

Every pastor wants a culture of care, but not every pastor feels equipped to counsel—much less to equip others to counsel one another. In this episode, Deepak Reju—a Delaware pastor who served for nearly 20 years as the counseling pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church—joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss counseling versus discipling, how to build a culture of lay counseling, advice for getting tooled up, tips for pastors who feel out of their depth, thoughts on medication and referrals, and more.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Cure of Souls by David PowilsonGood and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness by David PowlisonHow People Change by Paul David TrippHow to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David BrooksInstruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David TrippThe Art of Disagreeing: How to Keep Calm and Stay Friends in Hard Conversations by Gavin OrtlundThe Pastor and Counseling: The Basics of Shepherding Members in Need, by Jeremy Pierre and Deepak RejuJournal of Biblical CounselingNew Growth Press Minibook Counseling Resource PackCounseling Talk PodcastChristian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) Course  If you're ready to go deeper, Southern Seminary's PhD program is where that begins. Visit sbts.edu/phd to learn more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.