Pastors and church leaders are preparing for a lot of uncertainty with the next year. You should expect 2021 to become the new baseline for your church. Almost all of your metrics will reset. The first step in preparing for 2021 is to accept re

Do Bible Reading Plans Actually Work? (Ep. 206)

Nov 6th, 2020 40m 40s

The number one indicator of spiritual maturity is daily Bible reading. On this episode, we discuss how to get your congregation reading their Bibles and share our favorite Bible reading plans. Steve Bezner of Houston Northwest Church joins us.

Feeling Appreciated As A Pastor (Ep. 205)

Oct 30th, 2020 32m 7s

As pastor appreciation month closes out, Sam and Josh share some honest feelings about how we show appreciation to each other. Churches should honor the entire staff, not just lead pastors. And unfortunately, not enough pastors and staff are as

The Benefit Of Mid-Week Services (Ep. 204)

Oct 23rd, 2020 25m 47s

Mid-week services are making a comeback as churches reopen. In fact, some churches are experiencing faster growth on Wednesday nights than on Sunday mornings. In the past churches could count on people attending three timeslots a week: Sunday m

The Church Recovery Process Out Of COVID (Ep. 203)

Oct 16th, 2020 32m 56s

Pastors are burning out at a record pace, but there is a way towards recovery. Karl Vaters joins Sam and Josh on this week's episode. The post-COVID recovery will take years, not months, in many small churches. Karl Vaters shares some key ways

When Churches Search For New Pastors (Ep. 202)

Oct 9th, 2020 35m 31s

In the coming months, a larger-than-usual shuffling will take place. Many pastors will transition to new ministry positions as others transition out. William Vanderbloemen joins Josh and Sam to discuss how you can prepare for your next ministry

The Pastor's Phone (Ep. 201)

Oct 2nd, 2020 34m 35s

There are real dangers with constant notifications on your phone. Pastors must manage how and when to connect with people. Social media can be especially toxic. Mark Satterfield, Senior Pastor of the Glade Church, joins us on the show. How do w

The Future of Worship Venues After COVID-19 (Ep. 200)

Sep 25th, 2020 36m 6s

Preaching and worship venues are getting smaller. The average size of a new worship space or new sanctuary is down significantly. Churches with large spaces are asking the question about downsizing. What does this mean for the future of the chu

The Future Of Preaching After COVID-19 (Ep. 199)

Sep 18th, 2020 36m 8s

Preaching has changed with COVID-19, but it's anything but dead. More pastors are in front of a camera than ever before. The preaching audience is broad digitally but also smaller in size in live venues. Clay Smith joins us on the show. He is t

Congregational Singing & Leading As A Worshiper (Ep. 198)

Sep 11th, 2020 35m 21s

The church will worship only to the level of the lead pastor. If a lead pastor is not a worshiper, then the church will struggle to worship. First Baptist Concord Pastor, John Mark Harrison, joins us on the show. The relationship between worshi

Keeping A Long-Term Perspective In A Broken Church (Ep. 197)

Sep 4th, 2020 35m 17s

Many pastors inherit broken churches. The prospect of shepherding there for the long-haul can be mentally draining. In this episode, Sam and Josh interview Clint Pressley, Senior Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. Prepari

Managing Your Schedule When You Don't Have An Assistant (Ep. 196)

Aug 28th, 2020 33m 54s

We're all busy. Pastors especially have full calendars, but not every pastor has an assistant. How can you manage your schedule when you don't have an assistant? Josh and Sam share some everyday tools they use. As a pastor, you should be access

Measuring Up Your Church Right Now (Ep. 195)

Aug 21st, 2020 33m 20s

How do you measure church health in a pandemic? What do the numbers even mean right now? With church attendance at 25% to 50% for most churches, it's more difficult to get a feel for the room. Ronnie Parrott joins Sam and Josh on this episode t

When Pastors and Deacons Do Ministry Together (Ep. 194)

Aug 14th, 2020 32m 53s

When pastors and deacons work together, the ministry of the church thrives. When they are at odds, ministry struggles. Deacons are called to be unifiers in the church. Pastors should treat deacons positively and with respect. When hostility exi

Pastors & Their Personality Types (Ep. 193)

Aug 7th, 2020 33m 45s

On this episode, we discuss our personality types and how they influence our leadership. We discuss different tests like the Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, and the DiSC. Your personality will play into how you lead, and portions of your personality w

Should A Pastor Have Friends In The Church? (Ep. 192)

Jul 28th, 2020 31m 49s

As a pastor, you are part of the body of Christ. Within the body, friendship is important, even for pastors. Pastors should have friends in the church and model friendship for the church. Friendship takes time, and the expectation of instant fr

Fall Failure to Relaunch (Ep. 191)

Jul 21st, 2020 31m 41s

Micah and Josh hosted a discussion about the factors to consider when relaunching in the fall. Heavy consideration is given to not only the decisions being enforced by the school districts and public officials but also the mentality and politic

Getting Too Deep Into Social Media (Ep. 190)

Jul 14th, 2020 30m 6s

How deep is too deep for pastoral involvement in social media? In this episode, we discuss how pastors can lead through social media. Twitter and other places can be a cesspool, so dive in with caution. Do not use your children as a platform bu

I Am So Tired (Ep. 189)

Jul 7th, 2020 25m 45s

Every pastor experiences a season of weariness and being tired. On this episode, we discuss how pastors can lead while tired. When you're tired as a church leader, it is important to know what to share with your spouse. When you're tired as a p

What's So Funny? (Ep. 188)

Jun 23rd, 2020 34m 24s

Humor is an underrated leadership tool. Pastors can diffuse tension with winsomeness and wit. Preaching should include humor but be careful with how you use jokes in the pulpit. Practical jokes are one way to build camaraderie with church staff

Transitioning from Preaching to Pastoring (Ep. 186)

Jun 9th, 2020 33m 34s

Preaching is not the same as shepherding. The transition from preaching to pastoring involves building credibility through relationships. Pastors should be accessible to their congregation.Create a "GIP" list to start building relationships. Th

The Pastor Before You (Ep. 185)

Jun 2nd, 2020 33m 23s

We feel there is an ever looming shuffle of lead pastoral positions. With that in mind many of our listeners will find themselves interacting with the "former pastor". It is an inevitable reality of leading an already established church. In thi

How to Read a Church (Ep. 184)

May 26th, 2020 33m 36s

The question new candidates and new pastors need to ask is "who is this church?" The guys spend this episode talking through the details and issues you need to think through when considering the particulars of your church. You need to learn mor

What We Have Lost (Ep. 183)

May 19th, 2020 32m 24s

Micah and Sam share some thoughts about what has been lost during this time of quarantine. You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. Th

Thinking Through Coming Back (Ep. 182)

May 12th, 2020 33m 2s

Josh, Micah and Sam discuss the factors we should consider as we lead our churches back to in person meetings. You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of exp