The Pastor and Friendships

Many pastors enter ministry to preach and shepherd, not manage spreadsheets—but good administration is deeply spiritual work. Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan talk with Jamie Dunlop (Capitol Hill Baptist Church) about how faithful administration protects unity, supports preaching, and strengthens trust in the church. They discuss deacons, elders, executive pastors, and practical ways to build systems that serve people, not just processes. RESOURCES MENTIONED:The Compelling CommunityLove the Ones Who Drive You Crazy Budgeting for a Healthy Church Deacons by Matt Smethurst The Pastor and Counseling Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every pastor wants a culture of care, but not every pastor feels equipped to counsel—much less to equip others to counsel one another. In this episode, Deepak Reju—a Delaware pastor who served for nearly 20 years as the counseling pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church—joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss counseling versus discipling, how to build a culture of lay counseling, advice for getting tooled up, tips for pastors who feel out of their depth, thoughts on medication and referrals, and more.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Cure of Souls by David PowilsonGood and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness by David PowlisonHow People Change by Paul David TrippHow to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David BrooksInstruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David TrippThe Art of Disagreeing: How to Keep Calm and Stay Friends in Hard Conversations by Gavin OrtlundThe Pastor and Counseling: The Basics of Shepherding Members in Need, by Jeremy Pierre and Deepak RejuJournal of Biblical CounselingNew Growth Press Minibook Counseling Resource PackCounseling Talk PodcastChristian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) Course  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Practicing church discipline is a vital biblical responsibility that’s often ignored in our modern age. In this episode, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss what church discipline is (and isn’t), why healthy congregations practice it, and why it’s actually a form of love. Drawing from experience, they also offer advice for fostering a culture in your church where discipline will seem faithful, not foreign.Resources Mentioned:Is It Loving to Practice Church Discipline? By Jonathan LeemanWhat Should We Do about Members Who Won’t Attend? By Alex DukeUnderstanding Church Discipline by Jonathan LeemanChurch Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus by Jonathan Leeman Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ministry is about a lot of things, but central to the task is preparing people to die and face their Creator. This is deeply challenging, though, in a death-denying age. In this episode, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst welcome Matt McCullough—a pastor in Nashville and the author of two excellent books, ‘Remember Death’ and ‘Remember Heaven’—to discuss how to shepherd God’s people to embrace their mortality, anticipate their heavenly inheritance, and make the most of their lives.Resources Mentioned:Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope by Matt McCulloughDoes God Love Everyone? (Church Questions) by Matt McCulloughRemember Heaven: Meditations on the World to Come for Life in the Meantime by Matt McCulloughThe Saints' Everlasting Rest: Updated and Abridgedby Richard Baxter, abridged by Tim Cooper Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every church has the privilege of thinking about how to best serve the children and youth entrusted to its care. In this episode, Jared Kennedy joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss various ministry models and best practices, as well as wisdom for equipping parents, selecting curriculum, vetting volunteers, caring for children with special needs, and more. Resources Mentioned:Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families, by Sandra PeoplesDid the Resurrection Really Happen?, by Timothy Paul JonesGospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practical Guide, by Cameron Cole and Jon NielsonSame Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability, by Stephanie O. HubachThe Gospel Way Catechism: 50 Truths That Take On the World, by Trevin Wax and Thomas WestWhere Is God in a World with So Much Evil?, by Collin HansenSee Jesus Ministries (Paul Miller)Simply the Gospel: Resource Library Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Real friendship is an irreplaceable gift from God. Without it we will struggle—and shrivel—as humans made for one another. Pastors know this, and yet ministry can be exceedingly lonely. In this episode, Garrett Kell joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss how a busy pastor can foster (and maintain) meaningful, life-giving friendships amid the complicated dynamics of ministry.Recommended Resources:Augustine of Hippo: A Biography, by Peter BrownMade for Friendship: The Relationship That Halves Our Sorrows and Doubles Our Joys, by Drew HunterThe Four Loves, by C.S. LewisTim Keller on the Christian Life, by Matt SmethurstWise Counsel, by John Newton Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a special crossover episode of The Everyday Pastor and Gospelbound, Wesley Huff joins Lig, Matt, and Collin to discuss the role of apologetics in pastoral ministry. How can pastors excel in giving a compelling reason for the hope within us—and train others to do the same? Drawing from both academic expertise and personal experience, Huff offers various cautions and tips for everyday pastors and believers. He shares examples of good apologists today, recommends books, and answers a lightning round of classic objections to the Christian faith. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do you prioritize health? How do you stay sharp? Can you be friends with church members? How do you care for your wife? When’s a time you were wrong? How do you choose what to preach? And many, many more questions pastors may be asking.In this special episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan answer listener-submitted questions, recorded live at TGC’s 2025 National Conference. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Walk to a wedding, but run to a funeral.” So advised an older pastor to a young Ligon Duncan.In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss the powerful opportunity that funerals present to hold out gospel hope, as well as common pitfalls and practical advice for navigating dynamics surrounding the death of a loved one.Recommended Resources:Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope  by Matt McCulloughRemember Heaven: Meditations on the World to Come for Life in the Meantime  by Matt McCullough Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Joni Eareckson Tada knows a thing or two about suffering. Ever since a diving accident left her paralyzed nearly 60 years ago, she has given eloquent testimony to the sovereign goodness of our Savior.In this powerful episode of The Everyday Pastor, Joni joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to share lessons she’s learned about enduring hardship, and practical advice for pastors who wish to care for sufferers well.Resources mentioned:Joni and FriendsSongs of Suffering: 25 Hymns and Devotions for Weary Souls by Joni Eareckson TadaThe Practice of the Presence of Jesus: Daily Meditations on the Nearness of Our Savior Joni: An Unforgettable StoryJoni and Ken: An Untold Love StoryDiamonds in the Dust: 366 Sparkling DevotionsWhen God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.