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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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27:36
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27:36
Effective Church Administration (with Jamie Dunlop)
Many pastors enter ministry to preach and shepherd, not manage spreadsheets—but good administration is deeply spiritual work. Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan talk with Jamie Dunlop (Capitol Hill Baptist Church) about how faithful administration protects unity, supports preaching, and strengthens trust in the church. They discuss deacons, elders, executive pastors, and practical ways to build systems that serve people, not just processes. RESOURCES MENTIONED:The Compelling CommunityLove the Ones Who Drive You Crazy Budgeting for a Healthy Church Deacons by Matt Smethurst The Pastor and Counseling Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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36:11
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36:11
The Pastor and Counseling (with Deepak Reju)
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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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52:42
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52:42
Prepare People for Church Discipline
Practicing church discipline is a vital biblical responsibility that’s often ignored in our modern age. In this episode, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss what church discipline is (and isn’t), why healthy congregations practice it, and why it’s actually a form of love. Drawing from experience, they also offer advice for fostering a culture in your church where discipline will seem faithful, not foreign.Resources Mentioned:Is It Loving to Practice Church Discipline? By Jonathan LeemanWhat Should We Do about Members Who Won’t Attend? By Alex DukeUnderstanding Church Discipline by Jonathan LeemanChurch Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus by Jonathan Leeman Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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32:51
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32:51
Preparing Members for Death and Heaven
Ministry is about a lot of things, but central to the task is preparing people to die and face their Creator. This is deeply challenging, though, in a death-denying age. In this episode, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst welcome Matt McCullough—a pastor in Nashville and the author of two excellent books, ‘Remember Death’ and ‘Remember Heaven’—to discuss how to shepherd God’s people to embrace their mortality, anticipate their heavenly inheritance, and make the most of their lives.Resources Mentioned:Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope by Matt McCulloughDoes God Love Everyone? (Church Questions) by Matt McCulloughRemember Heaven: Meditations on the World to Come for Life in the Meantime by Matt McCulloughThe Saints' Everlasting Rest: Updated and Abridgedby Richard Baxter, abridged by Tim Cooper Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Everyday Pastor is a new podcast from TGC on the nuts and bolts of ministry. Hosted by Ligon Duncan, with nearly 20 years of pastoral experience, and Matt Smethurst, who planted a church three years ago, it seeks to model how ministers of different generations, levels of experience, and even denominations can apply God’s never-changing Word in a fast-changing world. Tune in for wisdom, encouragement, and practical insights to help you navigate the trenches of ministry with fortitude and joy.
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