Trench Talk

Practical Shepherding
  • 4.8 (189)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Practical Shepherding is a Gospel-driven resource center for pastors and church leaders to equip them in the practical matters of pastoral ministry. In this podcast, pastor Brian Croft sits down with other pastors to discuss the gritty details of pastoral ministry. Our goal is to examine the life and work of a pastor and give helpful guidance for our brothers laboring with us. This is a podcast by pastors for pastors. We are in the trenches of ministry with you, and we want to equip you to continue in this task.

  1. 2d ago

    Ep. 339: Short Counsel for a Long Ministry with Austin Walker Pt. 2

    Contact us. We’d love to serve you Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Apply for a stay at The Shepherd’s House Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (00:00) Introduction and recap of Part 1 (01:47) Developing preaching as a lifelong practice (05:49) Practical ways to improve preaching (10:53) Cultivating a life of prayer (15:46) Making reading a priority in ministry (19:58) Learning from Christian classics and earlier centuries (21:41) Reading broadly, including history and biographies (24:30) The value of lasting pastoral friendships (27:24) Being proactive in cultivating friendships (29:22) Final word and prayer for Austin and Mai

  2. Oct 13

    Ep. 338: Short Counsel for a Long Ministry with Austin Walker Pt. 1

    Contact us. We’d love to serve you Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Apply for a stay at The Shepherd’s House Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (03:58) Austin Walker’s Life and Ministry After Retirement(06:12) The Upcoming Book: Short Counsels for a Long Ministry(09:09) Why Pastors Need Examples of Faithful Perseverance(11:45) Counsel 1: Pay Close Attention to Your Personal Life(16:48) Reading Scripture for Your Own Spiritual Nourishment(20:24) The Lasting Influence of Personal Counsel and Example(22:26) Counsel 2: Care for Your Wife and Family(25:57) Pastoral Credibility and the Consequences of Adultery(27:31) Family Struggles, Repentance, and Being a “Real Deal” Example(31:00) Asking for Forgiveness and Protecting Family Life(33:49) Final Word and Prayer for Pastors

  3. Sep 22

    Ep. 337: Caring for members with unbelieving spouses

    Contact us. We’d love to serve you Request a stay at a Shepherd’s House Location Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (02:01) Biblical foundations: Ephesians 5/Colossians 3 ideal, 1 Peter 3, Matthew 10's "sword" (04:46) 1 Corinthians 7 and the evangelistic hope of winning a spouse (05:37) Caveat: 1 Peter 3 must never justify staying in an abusive marriage (07:04) First step: identify whether the spouse is supportive, indifferent, or hostile (09:44) Handling hostile spouses: non-negotiables vs. "not poking the bear" (11:24) Prioritizing commitments and working around church scheduling (13:45) Creative service when giving is restricted (meals instead of tithing) (14:53) Pastor initiating contact with the husband; Jim's own teenage conversion story (17:16) Disarming through shared interests, hired work, and low-pressure men's gatherings (20:25) Guidance for believing husbands: godliness and sacrificial love, not demanding authority (23:02) The pastor's real goal: help the believer live faithfully, not "win" the spouse (24:56) Closing word and p

  4. Sep 15

    Ep. 336: Moving a church from topical to expository preaching

    Contact us. We’d love to serve you Request a stay at a Shepherd’s House Location Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (01:30) The Listener Question: Topical to Expository (03:01) The Anchor Text: 2 Timothy 3-4 (05:08) The Case for Expository Preaching (07:56) Broad Exposure to the Whole Bible (09:02) Teaching People How to Read Their Bibles (10:19) Brian's Own Church: 70 Years of Topical Preaching (12:20) Start Short, Familiar, and Compelling (14:18) Larger Chunks, Shorter Series (16:49) "Why Are You Giving Us a Bible Study?" (18:28) The Band of Brothers Illustration (19:48) Sermon Length as the Hidden Variable (21:10) Simplicity, Spurgeon, and Ryle (22:43) Patience — A Multi-Year Horizon (25:19) Preacher and Congregation Growing Together (26:39) They're Being Patient With You, Too (27:30) Sprinkling Topical Sermons Back In (28:34) Don't Preach a Commentary — Point to Christ (30:02) Working on the Craft of Communication (31:37) Final word and Prayer

  5. Sep 8

    Ep. 335: Pastors thinking through retirement

    Contact us. We’d love to serve you Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Find out more information about the Advancing the Church Conference. Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (01:15) Framing the topic: pastors, money, and the question of retirement (02:30) Biblical tension: trust God vs. plan wisely for the future (04:30) Providing for wives and widows; inheritance and 1 Timothy 5:8 (06:45) Calling, longevity in ministry, and the “20–25% who make it to retirement age” (08:30) Brian and Jim’s ages and seasons; Dr. Robert Smith Jr. on “I’m not retiring, I’m reassigned” (10:20) Longer lifespans, medical costs, and needing expert financial help (12:05) Life insurance amounts, caring for a likely-longer-lived wife, and Social Security decisions (14:10) Power of starting small: investing early (e.g., $100/month from age 30) (15:40) Split in the road: U.S. context vs. international context for pastors (16:50) Global realities: pastors in parsonages with no home, savings, or safety net (Philippines example) (18:00) Denominational support, pensions drying up, and intergenerational housing as a “retirement plan” (19:00) U.S. pastors: Social Security, basic salary packages, and lack of formal retirement accounts (20:45) Owning a home vs. long-term parsonage living; basic retirement practices for U.S. pastors (22:30) Medical costs, health-sharing programs, and the burden of healthcare in later life (24:10) Core exhortation: don’t punt on planning—life insurance, small retirement contributions, home ownership (26:00) International pastors: when retirement options are minimal, planning with children and family (27:00) Developing a life skill / bivocational trade to support long-term provision (28:00) Encouragement for bivocational pastors and challenges for older men without alternate skills (29:15) “Retirement” vs. “reassignment” in ministry callings (30:45) Jim’s distinction: calling to full-time pastoral work vs. continued service in other roles (32:10) Case study: seminary president planning to step down at 75, then feeling able to keep serving (33:30) Practical implications: stepping aside from paid role while freeing salary for younger men (34:30) Importance of planned transition before you “feel done” (Alistair Begg example; Brian’s own 60+ plan) (35:55) Final exhortations: have a plan; others are affected by your decisions (36:28) Closing prayer for wisdom in retirement and provision planning

  6. Sep 1

    Ep. 334: Discerning the care of weaker sheep

    Join us September 10-11 for the Advancing the Church Equip Conference! Contact us. We’d love to serve you Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify(02:09) Setting up the conversation—1 Thessalonians 5:14 and Categories in the Church(04:00) Metaphor: Buckets with Holes vs. Buckets with Solid Bottoms(07:19) Identifying the Weak, Faint‑Hearted, and Idle(09:01) Dangers of Ignoring or Being Consumed by Weak Sheep(11:16) When Investment Bears Fruit vs. Feels Wasted(14:21) Admonish, Encourage, Help – Three Pastoral Approaches(18:27) Setting Boundaries and Bringing Others into Care(21:50) Non‑Compliance, Coddling, and Loving Admonishment(25:08) Life‑Giving vs. Life‑Draining Meetings for Pastors(29:00) Distinguishing Truly Weak from Resistant and Bitter(31:24) Final Exhortations, Two Quotes from Mentors, and Closing Prayer

  7. Aug 25

    Ep. 333: Advancing the Church Conference (Equip 2026)

    Purchase tickets to Equip 2026 using discount code: MSD50 to get 50% off! (01:45) Coalition Ministries Introduced (Mile One, 20 Schemes, Church in Hard Places, Practical Shepherding)(04:00) Mile One Mission & Newfoundland Context(06:30) 20 Schemes: Church Planting & Revitalization in Scotland’s Schemes(08:30) Church in Hard Places: Global Training for Indigenous Leaders(11:00) Why a Coalition? Shared Theology, Hard Places, and Cooperation(13:10) What Makes This Conference Different (Equipping Focus & Non‑Celebrity Speakers)(15:00) Main Sessions in Titus: Building Robust Leadership Pipelines(17:00) Working Together Across Contexts: “Landing the Plane in Different Airfields”(19:00) Exhibitors & Partners: Curated Ministries, Not Vendor Hall(21:30) Equipping Tracks Overview: Church Planting, Revitalization, Missions(24:00) Biblical Counseling Track: Addiction, Abuse, and Local Church Care(26:00) Additional Tracks: Women, Men, and Expository Preaching(28:00) Pricing, Group Rates, and Discount Code: MSD50(30:00) Friendship, Cooperation, and the Need for Pastoral Companionship(32:00) Invitation to Attend & Closing Prayer for the Conference

  8. Aug 11

    Ep. 332: Caring for pastors wives and pastors kids with Bethel Webb

    Contact us. We’d love to serve you Request a stay at a Shepherd’s House Location Give financially to support the work of helping pastors thrive Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Find out more about the Advancing the Church Equip Conference taking place September 10-11, 2026 in New Albany, IN. (01:45) Introducing Bethel Webb & Practical Shepherding Women(03:15) Bethel’s Background in the Philippines & Ministry Family(06:15) Call to Counseling & Move to Southern Seminary(08:15) Connecting with Kara Croft & Joining Practical Shepherding(10:25) Two Types of Pastors’ Wives(11:50) The Deep Struggle of Isolation for Pastors’ Wives(15:00) Finding a Place in the Church & Expectations(17:30) Cultural Differences in Expectations of Pastors’ Wives(19:15) Global Patterns & Unique Church Contexts(20:55) Three Pillars of the Women’s Ministry: Care, Content, Cohorts(23:00) Counseling, Writing, and Upcoming Book Studies(24:45) Global Cohorts & Safe Spaces for Pastors’ Wives(26:45) Mentoring Pastors’ Wives & Need for Seasoned Leaders(29:00) Challenges Facing Pastors’ Kids & Deconstruction(31:15) Giving PKs Freedom, Voice, and Honest Conversation(32:43) Final word and Prayer

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4.8
out of 5
189 Ratings

About

Practical Shepherding is a Gospel-driven resource center for pastors and church leaders to equip them in the practical matters of pastoral ministry. In this podcast, pastor Brian Croft sits down with other pastors to discuss the gritty details of pastoral ministry. Our goal is to examine the life and work of a pastor and give helpful guidance for our brothers laboring with us. This is a podcast by pastors for pastors. We are in the trenches of ministry with you, and we want to equip you to continue in this task.

Information

  • Creator
    Practical Shepherding
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020 Practical Shepherding, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Trench Talk

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