Churchmen Podcast

The discussion dives into the insidious nature of pride within ministry. Pastors are often celebrated for their ambitions, yet this very pride can disqualify them from their roles. The hosts explore how cultural redefinitions disguise arrogance and the detrimental impact on congregations. They address the dangers of promoting untested leaders and emphasize the need for humility, character, and self-awareness. Genuine reactions to praise are highlighted as essential for growth, ultimately urging listeners to combat their 'darling sins' through reflection and Scripture.

Pastor Jerry Ragg, a seasoned theological leader, shares his deep insights on fostering strong relationships among ministry leaders. He explains the importance of trust and how it can prevent conflict, drawing parallels from Paul's relational style. Jerry highlights symptoms of relational weakness and emphasizes the need for accountability through shared doctrinal studies. He advocates for balance between love and truth while reminding leaders to practice humility and forgiveness. Ultimately, he provides practical strategies to strengthen team dynamics and overcome isolation.

Join Pastor Jerry and Daron as they chat with Dr. George Zemeck, a pastor and seminary professor dedicated to training future church leaders. George shares his journey from conversion to valuing expository preaching in the local church. He emphasizes the need for pastors to blend academic knowledge with practical experience. Warning against pride, he stresses the importance of humility and community critique. The conversation culminates in a heartfelt charge to young pastors: love the sheep and commit to their care through Scripture and genuine service.

Pastor Jerry Wragg and Daron Roberts look at developing leaders. Specifically what to look for, what to watch out for, and how to best encourage a hesitator.

As shepherds, it can seem like every one of our decisions, admonitions, words of encouragement, methods, sermons, leadership decisions, personality, home life, and just about everything else is constantly under ungracious scrutiny by others. Criticism is a daily encounter from nearly every angle and quite commonly from people who are unqualified to make such judgments. It's made that much harder when the loudest critiques come from within your own leadership team. It's made worse when men cannot agree, sometimes resulting in relationships damaged by sinful responses. This episode is aimed right at the heart of conflict at the leadership level. The scripture is our guide to the way God has asked us to humbly accept criticism, and shepherd our hearts together with others when they disagree with us.

Pastors Jerry and Daron attempt to assemble a Q.A. of NT Apostles to help us reveal a critical gap in the nuanced and volatile topic of social justice reform. The podcast is now available on Stitcher, iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts and of course, our website.

Ministry is messy. The sheep bite! The grassy valleys you envisioned can be scarce, and shepherding often isn't living up to the expectations. You had unquenchable vigor in the barracks, but then the war rages on and you seem to be losing ground. How can you keep focussed when even your own heart is busy manufacturing all manner of distractions, bent on betraying you and the ministry? Meanwhile, that other pastor across town (the one who doesn't study as hard as you do) is achieving results with just "a few small tweaks to his program". You have unmet desires (with some good motives attached), unrealized expectations, and your trajectory appears tethered by the inadequacies in your resources, your model, your circumstances, other people, and finally yourself... all of it leading to one place - the Slough of Despond. But what does God think about all that? Is your ministry philosophy really off-target? Is your methodology underbaked? Are your circumstances really to blame? Or did you simply forget who the church really belongs to? Pastors Jerry Wragg and Daron Roberts have a conversation on the heels of the Churchmen Conference. After 3 years of hearing men discuss what endangers their flocks from within, it has become clear that the issue of discouragement at the leadership level must be addressed. Pastor Jerry and Pastor Daron deep-dive this topic, and let a figurative panel discussion of New Testament Apostles deliver answers to our hearts on this critical topic straight from the Word of God.