Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Episode 76: Your Church and Spiritual Gifts

Episode 75: Doing Ministry in Your Own Strength

Guided by a blog from Dr. Chuck Lawless. Read his blog here

 

So how are your mental reserves?

How are your emotional reserves?

How are your relationship reserves

Are you doing ministry all on your own power?

• You have a bad attitude about serving. 

 

• You pray primarily only when you must. 

 

• You tend to think you can accomplish anything. 

 

• You don’t really live a life of dependence. 

 

• Your strongest days of walking with God are in the past.

 

• You’re losing the private sin battle. 

 

• You admire people who seem to be truly walking with God, but you don’t change. 

 

• Your family knows a different you than the public you. 

 

• You just know your reality. 

Episode 74: Steps to Stopping Depression

Episode 74: Steps to Stopping Depression

 

Recognize the signs

 

• Mood: anxiety, apathy, general discontent, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, mood swings, or sadness
• Behavioral: agitation, excessive crying, irritability, restlessness, or social isolation
• Sleep: early awakening, excess sleepiness, insomnia, or restless sleep
• Whole body: excessive hunger, fatigue, or loss of appetite
• Cognitive: lack of concentration, slowness in activity, or thoughts of suicide
• Weight: weight gain or weight loss
• Also common: poor appetite or repeatedly going over thoughts

 

Be proactive - decide to do something

 

Call a lifeline - call on another minister you trust

 

Be a lifeline - recognize that other ministers are dealing with this 

 

Remember your staff and volunteers are having the same struggles

 

Remember your spouse -

• plan a special date for them
• write them a card or letter to let them know how much you appreciate them

 

Episode 73:Big Decisions We are glad We made

Episode 72: Replay of Pastoring a Family Run Church

Episode71:Replay of our Interview with Paul McGinnis

We are on a break working on new content. We selected this interview with Paul McGinnis of VOMO, a volunteer management solution for your church.

 

Be sure to check them out.

Episode 70: Your Calling Keeps You There

Episode 70: Your Calling Keeps You There

 

 

We had a great time discussing our stories with you. Here's some important takeaways.

 

Your calling keeps you there...

1. When things are going wrong.
2. When people are questioning your decisions.
3. Only to leave if God’s calls elsewhere - its a pull not a push.

Episode 69: Sticky Statements that Have Carried Us

Episode 69: Sticky Statements that have Carried Us

 

Inspired by some quotes listed by Dr. Chuck Lawless

 

http://chucklawless.com/2020/06/simple-leadership-statements-that-have-challenged-me-through-the-years-part-1/

 

 

From Alan:

A good sermon begins with a good text.

 

A dull pencil is better than a sharp mind.

 

The best way to pastor is by keeping the baptismal waters stirring.

 

What happens when it works?

 

You only have to please an audience of One.

 

Trent 

A lack of planning on your part does not make a crisis on my part

 

Remember your audience

 

Its all good and its getting better!

Episode 68: Personal Challenges to Enduring in Ministry

Episode 68: Personal Challenges to Enduring in Ministry

 

• Loneliness

 

• Personal sin

 

• Marital/Family problems

 

• Spiritual drift

 

• Emotional toll of ministry

 

• Dwelling on the down moments

 

• Financial mismanagement or not making enough

 

• Health issues

Episode 67: How to Spot a Contentious Church and How to Help It

Episode 67: How to Spot a Contentious Church and How to Help It

 

Most people don’t see the depth of how contentious a church can become because they themselves are not contentious.

 

Some root causes

1. Short pastor tenures with the same long term lay leadership.
2. A history of contention.

• Ask lots of questions about history before you go to that church.

A stubborn attraction to the past. Structures and attitudes that promote disharmony. An unchallenged church bully. - shadow pastor Business meetings that become a free for all.

 

What to do?

1. Don’t be surprised: the enemy loves discord.
2. If without a pastor consider an intentional interim or transitional pastor.
3. Address it directly and work with through the pain.
4. Encourage prayer for one another.
5. Pray for Godly leaders to emerge
6. Consider structures that make it harder to have contention.
7. Move challenging business meeting items to teams or boards for consideration.
8. Consider if you can survive it.

• We are called to say "yes" to God even if it means staying and fighting
• Someone needs to be "the guy" who will change things so its better for the next guy
• Have a good group of mentor pastors to be able to visit with.
• Be constantly communicating with your spouse and kids - ask them how they are feeling