The Struggling Pastor Podcast

Episode 11 - Rethinking the Church (After COVID)

In this episode, Thien has a conversation with Pastor Samuel Kim about "rethinking the Church after COVID."

Thien and Sam discuss the following topics:

the latest Barna statistics on church attendance among practicing Christians

the need to "rethink" how we do church

what to hold onto in the church

and the areas we need to rethink

Things we need to "rethink":

Physical Space: How we use our church buildings

Church Community: Who and how we connect with in relationship

Technology: How do we use tools like Zoom and streaming

Social Justice & Community Engagement: How do we love our neighbors

The Worship Service: What is worship? In-person, online, hybrid?

The Role of the Pastor: Who and how to lead and pastor

Episode 10 - The Role of the Senior Pastor is Broken.

This podcast is a little bit of a rant. I love pastors and my heart breaks for my fellow pastors who are struggling.

If you're a pastor who is struggling and discouraged, maybe it's not your fault.

Maybe the whole model of the modern-day Senior Pastor is unhealthy and broken. In this podcast, I give my thoughts on why the Senior Pastor model is unbiblical, unhealthy, and ineffective.

The Power of Responsibility

The Church is very messy right now. How are we going to make things better?

It’s not enough to be dissatisfied with the current state of the Church. Someone has to take personal responsibility or nothing is going to change.

In this solo episode, Thien shares four vital areas where we have to take personal responsibility for.

FOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

I will take personal responsibility for…

1) Training myself in godliness.

2) Caring for my brothers and sisters.

3) Finding my unique assignment from God.

4) Learning how to make disciples.

In this podcast episode I answer the question: “Should a faithful Christian be dissatisfied with the Church?”

Here’s a few things that I cover in this episode:

why the real problem is that we are not dissatisfied enough

the difference between “productive dissatisfaction” and “destructive dissatisfaction”

the three ways to ensure that your dissatisfaction is productive

This may be a controversial topic for some. I would love to hear your thoughts. Reach out to me if you have any questions.

This is an interview with Dr. Chuck DeGroat about his newest book, "When Narcissism Comes to Church."

We talk about the signs of narcissism, how it hurts the church, and the process of healing.

Podcast Episode 06

Thien interviews Pastor Mark Lee of Vantage Point Church, a fast-growing church in Los Angeles, about having a panic attack, contracting COVID-19, and the need for healthy rhythms and friendships.

In this episode of the Struggling Pastors Podcast, Thien gives us some encouraging thoughts and insights about renewal and restoring our love and passion for God.

2 Corinthians 11:27-28

> 27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Revelations 2:1-7 ESV

> 1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

LESSONS & INSIGHTS:

## 1. Pastor, Jesus is talking to you, not the congregation.

## 2. Pastor, Jesus sees all the good that you are doing...

## 3. Pastor, Jesus cares more about your heart than your ministry.

### Q - How do we restore our passion for God?

## 1. REMEMBER from where you have fallen.

## 2. REPENT - commit to making changes

## 3. REDO - v.5 - "do the works you did at first"

And remember...

> "And us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9 NIV)

Until next time, God bless.

First, pastor, I want to tell you

In this episode of the Struggling Pastors Podcast, Thien discusses the causes and signs of burnout and gives advice on how to heal from it.

On this episode of the Struggling Pastor Podcast, I talk with Pastor Mike Larsen about the difficulty of leading a church during COVID. We talk about suffering, depression, suicide, and caring for people who are suffering. Mike talks about having a panic attack while preaching and writing a book on suffering.