In this episode, the guys tackle two real-life ministry situations pastors face all the time:

1) What do you do with the church member who constantly needs your attention—daily messages, constant crises, and an emotional drain that starts affecting your ministry and your family?

2) What do you say to the person preaching their very first sermon who feels unqualified, nervous, and unsure where to start?

We talk boundaries, access, expectations, pastoral care vs. professional counseling, and how to prep your first message with clarity and faithfulness.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro + frozen Chicago river banter

0:50 Today’s two questions

1:07 Q1 — “That one member” who constantly needs your attention

1:55 Diagnose the situation: real need vs. unhealthy access

6:14 Standing meetings + boundaries that actually work

8:03 Tender vs. tough (and what to expect when you set limits)

11:04 Systems that protect you (and why access changes everything)

14:38 Pastoral care limits + when to refer out

15:31 Watch your own heart: codependency and the “needed” trap

19:37 Ad — Practically Pastoring Conference

21:22 Ad — Church Merch

23:00 Q2 — “I’m preaching for the first time… where do I start?”

24:07 Prep basics: start with a text, one big idea, rehearse out loud

30:30 Simple sermon frameworks that help you stay clear

34:05 Encouragement story + God using imperfect messengers

39:05 First-sermon mistakes (and practical tips you’ll thank us for)

41:31 The main goal: you’ve “been with Jesus”

42:53 Closing + conference reminder

43:34 Outro

Resources mentioned:

- Boundaries (Henry Cloud & John Townsend)

Practically Pastoring Conference:

https://practicallypastoring.com/conference

Links from the show:

🌐 Listen anywhere: ⁠⁠https://practicallypastoring.com/⁠⁠

Join our Facebook Group: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicallypastoring⁠⁠

Follow us in Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/practicallypastoring⁠⁠

Church Merch - https://www.promotionsguy.com/churchmerch

Hosts:

🧔🏽‍♂️ Frank Gil - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/pastorfrankgil/⁠⁠

👨🏼 Jeff Simpson - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffcsimpson/⁠⁠

👱🏼‍♂️ Delmar Peet - ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/delmarpeet/⁠⁠

👨🏼‍💼 Andrew Larsen - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrewjlarsen/⁠⁠

🏋🏼 Timothy Miller - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/timothyamiller/⁠⁠

Listen or Watch on

🎧 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0xJqPmXn1MqaznnV8MHFKx?si=4a942df64e48410e

🍎 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/practical-ly-pastoring/id1522043414

📺 YouTube - https://youtu.be/uwjN2WvbSGc

💻 PracticallyPastoring.com

YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@practicallypastoring

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