Show us a church with distracted elders, and we’ll show you a church without effective deacons. For better or worse, deacons are difference-makers in congregational life. But when it comes to this topic, too many churches are operating from custom and tradition—with Bibles closed.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan revisit the Bible’s job description for deacons, highlighting what these servants are (and are not) meant to do. Don’t underestimate this glorious office.

Last week, we considered what elders are, biblically speaking, and which traits should characterize a candidate for the office.

In this follow-up episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan get even more “nuts and boltsy,” discussing tips for working with fellow elders, leading elders’ meetings, establishing healthy cultural dynamics, and more.

Recommended resources:

• “Want to Be an Elder? Start Eldering Now.” by Bobby Jamieson
• Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus (Building Healthy Churches) by Jeramie Rinne

There are few greater gifts for a pastor than getting to serve with a godly band of brothers. But not every church has multiple elders—and not every elder team functions in a healthy way.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss what elders are, why every church should seek to have them, and what a pastor should be looking for in potential elders.

Recommended resources: 

• Christ’s Call to Discipleship by James Boice
• The Elder and His Work by David Dickson
• “Want to Be an Elder? Start Eldering Now.” by Bobby Jamieson
• The Path to Being a Pastor by Bobby Jamieson
• “On Transitioning to Elders - Part 2”

It’s the most important book in the universe, but it can also be intimidating. Many of our members may be discouraged to admit that their resolutions have sputtered out—again. As pastors, how can we prepare and motivate our members to dive into God’s Word for themselves?

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share practical tips for promoting a culture of biblical literacy in the local church.

Recommended resources: 

• Matt Smethurst at Southern Seminary
• Bible Talk by 9Marks

For a full list of recommended resources on this episode, visit our website.

Pastors are called to walk alongside suffering saints, but what about when the pastor is the sufferer?

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, pastor Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to share about a season of family hardship—and what it looked like to receive care from his church community. He testifies to the beauty of Christ’s body and the faith-fortifying role of pain, encouraging shepherds to remember that they, too, are among Christ’s sheep.

Every pastor affirms the importance of prayer and likely excels at it publicly, but consistency in private prayer is hard. And it isn't easy to foster a congregation-wide culture of prayer.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical tips for improving your prayer life—and the praying habits of your whole congregation. After all, a church that will be found faithful is a church that will be found praying.

Recommended resources:

• A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry
• 5 Things to Pray for Your Kids by Melissa Kruger
• 5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse: Prayers That Change and Strengthen Your Marriage by Michael and Melissa Kruger
• I'm Praying for You: 40 Days of Praying the Bible for Someone Who Is Suffering by Nancy Guthrie
• Prayers on the Psalms by David Calhoun (ed.)
• Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by Don  Carson

Leadership is an art, and many pastors get it wrong—sometimes with devastating results.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Paul Tripp joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss how a pastor can lead well for the flourishing of the whole church. The conversation touches on the importance of fostering a healthy leadership community, the gift of limits, responding to criticism and praise, the difference-making role of gospel grace, and more.

Recommended resources:

• Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp
• Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paul David Tripp
• Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp

Theology is vital for life. We know this as pastors, but do our members? Are we helping them to grow in thinking theologically?

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical ways to promote deeper love for God’s truth. After all, how our people view him will make all the difference in their lives.

When Paul lists elder qualifications, he mentions Satan twice (1 Tim. 3:6–7). Why? The devil loves to stalk and destroy shepherds. And one of his main strategies is tempting us toward little compromises—which never remain little—in the realm of sexual purity.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss lessons he’s learned the hard way, how to foster transparency among leadership, practical tools for pursuing purity, and more.

Recommended resource: Pure in Heart: Sexual Sin and the Promises of God by Garrett Kell

Assurance of salvation is a deeply precious gift, but many Christians struggle to experience it. Pastors have the unique privilege—and challenge—of being “soul doctors” in our people’s lives.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how to apply the gospel to nominal Christians (who shouldn’t have assurance), struggling Christians (who should), and all Christ’s sheep who are meant to revel in marvelous news: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).