Billy Raies - Fatherhood, the Fear of Man, and Living the Text

Pastor Billy Raies has been in the same pulpit in Midland, Texas for thirty-three years. He still gets up at four in the morning on Sundays — not because he's disciplined, but because he knows how much he needs God to show up. In this Father's Day conversation with his son Josh, Billy talks about the weekly rhythm of pastoral ministry, how to engage Scripture vocationally without it becoming an assignment, the swan song moment that reoriented his vision for legacy, and what happens when you ask a waiter how you can pray for them. Honest, pastoral, and grounded in the gospel from start to finish.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction — Father's Day on Location in Florida

02:07 What a Pastor's Sunday Morning Actually Looks Like

06:54 The Other Six Days — Weekly Rhythm of a Small-Church Pastor

11:53 Wearing Many Hats — The Reality of Small Church Ministry

15:13 Delegation, Identity Drift, and Raising Up Elders

19:45 The Swan Song — Building a Legacy You Won't See

24:10 How to Read Scripture Vocationally Without It Becoming an Assignment

29:00 Pastoring People vs. Programming Them

31:44 Gospel Fatherhood — Balancing Ministry and Family

35:36 Sacred Zeal and Not Being Slothful in the Gospel

37:29 Keeping Scripture on Your Lips All Week

42:18 Living the Gospel 24/7 — Not Just on Sundays

43:44 Asking Waiters How You Can Pray for Them

48:15 God Was Already in That Conversation

50:55 Confidence in Evangelism — God's MO Is to Shine Light

53:28 Romans 8:32 as the Evangelism and Discipleship Hinge

57:23 Closing — Honor Where It's Due

Resources

• Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper — https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Not-Professionals-John-Piper/dp/1433552784
• Sacred Zeal by Jeff Purswell — https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Zeal-Jeff-Perswell/dp/1781919274
• What Is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert — https://www.amazon.com/What-Gospel-Greg-Gilbert/dp/1433515002

Guest Links
Sovereign Grace Church Midland — https://www.sovereigngracemidland.com