The Art of Pastoring

On this episode of The Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson take listener questions about the pastoring life, including:How does a pastor know when it’s time to move on?

How do you shepherd people away from the political fringes?

How can pastors establish boundaries around family time?Tune in for a heartfelt, practical discussion that responds directly to the needs and curiosities of pastors.Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and Mixed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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Social media provides pastors with an opportunity to speak to those inside and outside their congregations far more often than a Sunday morning sermon. Depending on the climate of Twitter or Facebook, that increase in available airtime can feel like a blessing or a curse. What is a pastor’s calling in the face of a blinking cursor and updated feed?

In this episode of The Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson return from their hiatus to share their thoughts on social media engagement. They talk about the problems with statements like “he’s not really like that in real life” and the fact that our true selves are made plain through our speech—even online. And they consider what it looks like to interact with congregants about their social media posts in ways that keep love and truth at the heart of every conversation.Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and Mixed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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Being a pastor can make it hard to maintain close friendships. It’s difficult to be both a friend and minister, especially in seasons when reproof or connection may be necessary. But community and friendships are vital for those in leadership. So what’s the answer? 

In this episode of The Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson discuss the ways that pastors can invite others into their lives and build meaningful relationships. They talk about the unavoidable reality that things can—and likely will—get awkward or even harmful when pastors attempt to build friendships within their congregations. They consider how accountability, mentorship, and relationships outside of their local congregations can help pastors experience true friendship.

Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and Mixed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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Struggling to answer someone’s theological question about grief or pain.

Walking into an elder meeting only to discover that half of the group isn’t on board with your plan.

Realizing halfway through preaching that you really don’t know what you’re talking about.

Are you shuddering yet? Scenarios like these can send chills down a pastor’s spine, and they often point to deeper fears: Am I really the right pastor for this church? Am I equipped for ministry?

On this episode of The Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson share some of the fears they’ve faced. They talk about the ways that especially nerve-wracking experiences can stick with us, affecting our future responses. And they speak to the power of defining pastoral roles, responsibilities, and faithfulness around love and freedom rather than fear and insecurity.

Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and Mixed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casell

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As pastors preach the whole of Scripture, specific portions often become personal favorites. These treasured verses may speak to the life of the pastor, provide encouragement, or offer refreshment to tired ministers.

On this episode of The Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson share some of the passages that they have clung to as pastors. They discuss passages that bring both conviction and comfort. They remind one another of the deep truths that remain consistent all throughout the story that the Bible tells about ministry: there will be suffering, it is temporary, and one day the Good Shepherd will say, “Well done.” Tune in for a rich and recalibrating episode anchored by the promises of God.

Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and Mixed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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Reading and studying often feel productive, efficient, and purposeful. But prayer? Though we may feel guilty for thinking it—not so much.

On this episode of The Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson, whose new book Gospel-Driven Ministry is now available, talk about the barriers pastors often face when it comes to regular, meaningful times of prayer. They share their personal struggles and talk about the centrality of prayer in historical revivals and the international church. This episode both convicts and comforts, reminding us that while prayer can feel abstract, it is ultimately an invitation to connect with the One who first loved us.

Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and Mixed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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Nobody wants to talk about grief. At least, not until it invades our lives and we feel like not talking about it might crush us.

On this special episode of The Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson welcome Christianity Today Editor-in-Chief Daniel Harrell. Daniel, who pastored for over 30 years, lost his wife, Dawn, to cancer in 2019. He speaks openly and honestly about the difficulty of suffering and mourning as a pastor. Ronnie, Jared, and Daniel discuss the ways congregations struggle to respond to a pastor’s pain and how pastors can develop relationships that will support them when tragedy strikes. This episode underscores how brokenness and beauty often keep the same company.

If you’d like to hear more about Daniel’s story and what God has revealed to him about suffering, check out the new Christianity Today podcast Surprised by Grief, which Harrell co-hosts with young widow and author Clarissa Moll.

Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and Mixed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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It’s easy to reduce personality types to tropes: extroverts are always ready to entertain and introverts hate socializing, for example. But the truth of personalities, and how they reveal themselves in each individual, is much more textured than that.

On this episode of the Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson share how their personalities shape their pastoring. As one introvert and one extrovert, Jared and Ronnie discuss what energizes them, what drains them, and what may surprise you about their differences. While they talk about arranging their schedules in ways that consider their preferences and personality types, they speak to the importance of understanding ourselves and each other as unique individuals created by God.

Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and Mixed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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The idea that pastors are paid to pray, study, and even think can feel a little out of touch with our hyper-productive culture. The tyranny of the urgent can leave pastors wondering what it really means to serve their congregations, and if hours of meditating on Scripture should make the cut.

On this episode of the Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson talk about what it may look like to value deep Bible study and time in prayer as pastors in a high-efficiency world. They talk about intentionally shaping their weeks and mindsets to prioritize their true callings as pastors and addressing the expectations of others. And they encourage pastors to remember that God is the one whose approval matters above all. 

Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited and MIxed by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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When the phone may ring at any moment, a congregant’s heartbroken voice on the other end, pastors and their families can find themselves living on high alert. Perhaps without even realizing it at first, some ministry marriages end up struggling for space to breathe, rest, and focus.

On this episode of the Art of Pastoring, Ronnie Martin and Jared Wilson talk about the joys and challenges cultivating a flourishing marriage while in pastoral ministry. They talk about boundaries, seeking wisdom, and the weight of expectations on ministry spouses. Tune in for a word of encouragement and hope.

Produced by Mike Cosper

Edited by Aaron Leslie

Theme Song "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Jeremy Casella

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