What does God actually ask of a pastor?

Most of us hear a sermon once or twice a week, but we rarely stop to consider the burden carried long before anyone steps behind the pulpit. Faithful shepherds aren't simply preparing messages—they're praying for people, studying God's Word, grieving with those who grieve, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and watching over souls they know ultimately belong to Christ.

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we explore what Scripture teaches about the calling of a shepherd, the compassion of Christ, the burden carried by Jeremiah and Paul, and why God calls pastors to faithfully feed His flock. We'll also look at the church's responsibility toward those who labor in the Word and how a simple word of encouragement can strengthen someone carrying an unseen weight.

Whether you're a pastor, a church leader, or simply someone who loves your local church, I hope this conversation helps you better understand the heart of biblical shepherding and encourages you to pray for those God has called to care for His people.

Scripture References

1 Peter 5:2–4
Hebrews 13:17
Matthew 9:36–38
Jeremiah 20:9
Romans 9:1–3
2 Corinthians 11:28
2 Timothy 4:2–4
Romans 12:15
1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
1 Timothy 5:17
John 21:15–17

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If this episode encouraged you, would you consider sharing it with someone? You never know who may need the reminder to pray for and encourage the shepherds faithfully caring for God's flock.

We often think about stewarding our money, our time, our talents, and our spiritual gifts.

But have you ever considered that God has also entrusted people to your care?

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we explore what it means to faithfully steward the relationships God has placed in our lives. In a culture that often treats relationships as opportunities for networking, influence, and personal gain, Scripture points us toward a very different way of living.

Together we'll look at how Jesus consistently noticed the people everyone else overlooked, why the Kingdom of God values people differently than the world does, and how we may be missing some of God's greatest blessings simply because they didn't look valuable by worldly standards.

Perhaps the people you've been praying for are already sitting around your dinner table, beside you at church, or quietly walking through life with you every day.

• Proverbs 16:9
• Acts 17:26–27
• Philippians 2:3–4
• Romans 12:10
• Mark 10:46–52
• Luke 14:12–14
• James 2:1–4
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• 1 Peter 4:8–10

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https://kathrinshaffer.com

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Technology has changed the way we access biblical teaching.

Today we can listen to sermons on YouTube, watch church livestreams, follow Bible studies online, and stay connected through podcasts from almost anywhere in the world. These tools have become incredible gifts for sharing the Gospel and encouraging believers.

But they also raise an important question.

Can church actually happen through a screen?

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we're not asking whether God can use technology—we know He can. Instead, we're opening Scripture together to explore what God designed the local church to be.

We'll look at the early church in Acts, Paul's teaching about the body of Christ, the "one another" commands throughout the New Testament, and why gathering together has always been central to the Christian life. We'll also discuss when online ministry becomes a tremendous blessing, when it can quietly become a substitute, and why the local church is about far more than simply consuming biblical content.

This isn't a conversation about condemning livestreams or podcasts.

It's a conversation about remembering God's design for His Church.

• 1 Corinthians 12:12–27
• Romans 12:4–5
• Acts 2:42–47
• Hebrews 10:24–25
• Ephesians 4:11–16
• Philippians 1:12–18
• Galatians 6:2
• James 5:16
• Romans 12:10
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Luke 9:23
• Matthew 16:24
• Philippians 2:3–4
• Matthew 16:18
• 1 Peter 4:8–10
• Galatians 5:13
• Ephesians 2:19–22

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https://kathrinshaffer.com

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📚 Books & Bible Studies
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Find my podcast, books, newsletter, social media, and more through my Linktree.

Have we unintentionally become selective about which parts of God's character we're willing to talk about?

We often celebrate God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness—and we should. But what about His holiness? His justice? His righteousness? His call to repentance?

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we explore the difference between the God we like and the God who has revealed Himself in Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible presents one unchanging God whose holiness and love, justice and mercy, righteousness and grace exist together in perfect harmony.

We'll examine why the Old Testament is filled with mercy, why Jesus didn't lower God's standard, and why the cross only makes sense when we understand the full character of God.

• John 14:9
• Genesis 3:21
• Genesis 6:8
• Psalm 51:1–2
• Jonah 4:2
• Matthew 5:21–22
• Matthew 5:27–28
• Matthew 5:44
• Luke 9:23
• Malachi 3:6
• Hebrews 13:8
• 2 Timothy 3:16–17

🌐 Website
https://kathrinshaffer.com

🔗 Linktree
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📚 Books & Bible Studies
Available on my website and Amazon.

📬 Join my FREE weekly newsletter
Walking It Out with Kathrin

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If today's episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps more people discover biblical conversations that point people back to Christ.

Until next time... keep walking faithfully, keep seeking truth, and remember... God doesn't call perfect people. He calls willing ones.

Everyone can identify problems.

Whether it's in our homes, workplaces, communities, or churches, it's often easy to see what isn't working. But after we've identified the problem, what comes next?

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we explore the difference between biblical concern and habitual complaining, why gossip so often begins with unresolved frustration, and how Scripture calls believers to pursue restoration instead of simply recruiting agreement.

Looking at passages from Philippians, Matthew, Acts, James, Ephesians, and Hebrews, we ask an honest question:

Are my words helping build Christ's church... or quietly tearing it down?

This isn't a conversation about pretending churches are perfect. It's about learning how to respond to imperfect situations in a way that reflects the heart of Christ.

• Why complaining often feels productive—but rarely produces change

• How unresolved frustration can become gossip

• What Jesus teaches in Matthew 18 about addressing conflict

• How the early church handled legitimate complaints

• Three questions to ask before speaking

• Building unity instead of division

• Becoming part of the solution God desires

• Philippians 2:14–15

• Matthew 18:15–17

• James 1:19–20

• Acts 6:1–4

• James 1:5

• Ephesians 4:29–32

• Hebrews 10:24–25

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If you're looking for more than podcast episodes, I also send a weekly email called Walking It Out with Kathrin, where I share biblical encouragement, reflections, and practical ways to keep walking with Christ throughout the week.

If this conversation encouraged you, don't forget to subscribe so we can continue growing together as we follow Jesus—one conversation at a time.

Have we become so familiar with sin that we've stopped noticing it?

In Jeremiah 6, God wasn't simply addressing the sins of His people—He was revealing something even more concerning. Their hearts had become so desensitized that they were no longer ashamed. Jeremiah says they "couldn't even blush."

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we explore how constant exposure can slowly reshape our sensitivity, how a conscience becomes numb over time, and why maintaining a tender heart before God is one of the greatest blessings a believer can have.

This isn't a conversation about condemning the world. It's an invitation to examine our own hearts and ask whether we're still listening when God speaks.

• What Jeremiah meant by "they could not blush"
• How exposure changes our sensitivity
• Spiritual adaptation and conformity
• The danger of a hardened heart
• Why conviction is evidence of spiritual life
• David's response to correction
• Keeping a tender heart before God

📖 Scriptures
• Jeremiah 6:13–15
• Romans 12:2
• Proverbs 28:13
• John 16:8
• Psalm 51:10
• Ezekiel 36:26

🌐 Website & FREE Devotional
https://kathrinshaffer.com

📚 Following Jesus (Without Feeling Lost)
Get 15% off the digital Bible study workbook through my website for a limited time.

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If you're looking for more than podcast episodes, I also send a weekly email called Walking It Out with Kathrin, where I share biblical reflections, encouragement, and what God has been teaching me throughout the week.

If this conversation encouraged you, consider subscribing so we can continue growing together as we follow Jesus one conversation at a time.

When does a legitimate concern become gossip?

As Christians, we often say things like, "I'm just concerned," or "Can you pray about something?" But sometimes concern can quietly become gossip, and gossip can even hide behind the words "prayer request."

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we open God's Word to explore the difference between seeking wise counsel and spreading information, when it's appropriate to speak up, when we should stay silent, and how our motives reveal the posture of our hearts.

This isn't about condemnation—it's about learning to love others well, pursue restoration, and guard our words with biblical wisdom.

• When concern becomes gossip
• What the Bible says about gossip
• Legitimate concern vs. spreading information
• Seeking counsel or building a jury
• Why Matthew 18 still matters
• Can prayer requests become gossip?
• Questions to ask before speaking
• Speaking truth with grace and wisdom

📖 Scriptures
• Proverbs 11:13
• Proverbs 17:9
• Proverbs 31:8–9
• Matthew 18:15
• James 3:5–6
• Proverbs 26:20
• Proverbs 15:22
• Galatians 6:1
• Ephesians 4:15
• 1 John 1:9
• Ephesians 4:29

🌐 Website & FREE Devotional
https://kathrinshaffer.com

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If this conversation encouraged or challenged you, I'd love for you to subscribe and join me each week as we open God's Word and have honest conversations about following Jesus.

Can someone really sell their soul to the devil, or is that just a phrase we've accepted without asking what the Bible actually says?

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we leave behind Hollywood myths and popular culture to examine what Scripture teaches about God as our Creator, Satan's desire for worship, spiritual deception, and why knowing God's Word is our greatest protection.

This conversation isn't meant to magnify darkness—it points us back to the hope, truth, and redemption found in Jesus Christ.

• Can someone really sell their soul?
• Who does your life belong to?
• Why does Satan seek worship?
• Why does God warn us about the occult?
• How deception works
• Why Christians must know Scripture
• The hope of redemption through Jesus Christ

📖 Scriptures
• Psalm 100:3
• Matthew 4:8–10
• Deuteronomy 18:10–12
• John 8:44
• Colossians 1:13–14
• Joshua 24:15
• Romans 12:1

🌐 Website & FREE Devotional
https://kathrinshaffer.com

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If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe and join me each week as we open God's Word together and have honest conversations about following Jesus.

Have you ever noticed how quickly we move on to the next prayer, the next goal, or the next project?

In this episode, I share a lesson God taught me while assembling the very first Birthday Project kits for our local food bank. As I prayed over each kit, I realized something: sometimes the blessing isn't reaching the finish line—it's slowing down long enough to recognize God's faithfulness throughout the journey.

We'll talk about gratitude, God's provision, and why learning to sit with His blessings may be one of the greatest acts of worship we can offer.

• Why we rush past God's blessings
• Learning to recognize God's faithfulness in everyday moments
• How gratitude changes our perspective
• Why the journey can be just as meaningful as the destination
• Worshiping God through ordinary acts of obedience

📖 Scriptures
• Psalm 46:10
• James 1:17
• Psalm 103:1–5
• Luke 10:41–42
• Colossians 3:17
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

🌐 Website & FREE Devotional
https://kathrinshaffer.com

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If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe and join me each week as we walk through God's Word together.

Have you ever been called the black sheep?

For some people, that label comes because of past mistakes. But for others, it's simply because they refused to accept unhealthy patterns, questioned the dysfunction around them, or chose a different path.

In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we explore what it really means to be the "black sheep," why labels are never our identity, and how Jesus never defines us by the names other people give us. Instead, the Good Shepherd calls His sheep by name and invites them into His flock through redemption and grace.

If you've ever felt like you didn't belong, I hope this conversation reminds you that your identity isn't found in other people's opinions—it's found in Christ.

Scripture Referenced:

• John 10:3
• Luke 15:4-6
• Isaiah 1:18
• 2 Corinthians 5:17

📖 Website & FREE 5-Day Devotional
https://kathrinshaffer.com

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