Karl Vaters (Author of "Small Church Essentials") is a current voice, speaking wisely to pastors of small (aka "normal") churches. Since a very, very large percentage of churches fall into this category, it stands to reason that the pastors of such churches are normal pastors. It's not at all unusual to be a normal pastor of a normal sized church. The challenge is to be the best kind of church that Jesus can make the church to be. And the best kind of pastor. Karl Vaters has helped the cause of the kingdom of God greatly with his three books: The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches and the Small Thinking that Divides Us, Small Church Essentials: Field-Tested Principles for Leading a Healthy Congregation of Under 250, and 100 Days to a Healthier Church: A Step-By-Step Guide for Pastors and Leadership Teams. Show host Bill Holdridge interviews Karl, with a helpful focus for pastors re: how to navigate the current Covid-19 crisis and beyond.

Dr. Bruce Hebel is the founder of Forgiving Forward, a powerful gospel-centric ministry which is helping believers all over the world learn how to forgive, and to experience the freedom of forgiveness through the power of the gospel. In this episode Bruce will address some of the common misconceptions about Biblical forgiveness.

Does anybody even practice what we call church discipline anymore? And if a church does practice church discipline, why do they do it? How do they do it? What is its purpose? Show host and Poimen Ministries Director Bill Holdridge draws from the scriptures, coupled with his experience in pastoral ministry, to make suggestions to pastors about the whys and how's of church disciple. For instance, Bill calls us these principles in mind: Church discipline is closely related to Christian discipleship. If the church discipline process requires separation from the body, the goal of the excommunication is restoration. Church discipline is actually an application of Divine chastening. To be a Great Commission church, the church must exercise church discipline with its many forms and applications. To be a holy church, the church must practice church disciple. To develop mature believers, the church must trust Jesus to assist Him as He perfects His people. One tool He uses is church discipline. This podcast is aimed at helping pastors and churches do this better, with grace and truth applied at the same time. BULLET POINT #1- Church discipline is closely related to Christian discipleship. Discipline and discipleship are part of the same idea. Discipleship could also be called preventative church discipline. When congregants are discipled, they are not candidates for church discipline. A person who is in the Word, in prayer, in fellowship, who exercises his/her spiritual gifts for others’ sake, who is involved in the Great Commission, who is accountable, etc. has made himself immune to the need for corrective church discipline. BULLET POINT #2- Church discipline is actually an application of Divine chastening. (Hebrews 12:6-8) BULLET POINT #3- Matthew 18:15-18 has to do with interpersonal conflicts. Against you is not found in Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus do not contain these words, but the Majority text does. (https://credohouse.org/blog/textual-problem-study-matthew-1815) BULLET POINT #4- The number of people who are made aware of the discipline is determined by the number of people who know the ones being disciplined. BULLET POINT #5- If the church discipline process requires separation from the body, the goal of the excommunication is restoration. Restoration to God, first. Then to other believers, second. (Galatians 6:1) BULLET POINT #6- Authority to exercise church disciple comes directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20) BULLET POINT #7- Conditions must be clear for the disciplined person’s return into full fellowship. BULLET POINT #8- The church governing documents (Bylaws) and board minutes must be consistent with the Bible’s teaching on church discipline, and internally consistent with BOD minutes or elder’s meeting minutes. BULLET POINT #9- Effective church discipline requires a deep team of leaders that are all-in, and who understand how church discipline should be practiced, Biblically.

Pastors are often isolated and feel alone. It's difficult to find others that can relate to the unique challenges of the ministry. Not too surprisingly, pastors report that they often suffer from discouragement, and even depression.

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available. In this episode of SFTP, show host Bill Holdridge speaks with Poimen Ministries servants Phil and Susie Evans, as they tell their story of faith, victories, successes and changes. This is great encouragement for any pastor, young or old, as Phil and Susie recollect upon 45 years of pastoral ministry. From the early beginnings of church planting to their "golden years", where God is blessing in beautiful and powerful ways. Their story will captivate, comfort and hopefully embolden you to expect great things from God in your own ministry.

It’s always fun (and edifying) to talk with Bryan Newberry. Challenge and inspiration are common each time. For those who do not know Bryan, he is the founding pastor of Calvary Chapel San Diego, CA (1985) … and stepped aside from that role in 2018, handing the senior pastorate over to Phil Metzger. 32 years as their senior pastor. Bryan is part of the team of Poimen Ministries’ pastors, and also has his own non-profit organization called “Words of Encouragement.’ In addition to serving with Poimen Ministries and Words of Encouragement, Bryan is now the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Los Alamitos, CA. Bullet Points for Discussion: 1. How has the transition of CC San Diego gone? The new pastor (Phil Metzger) and you are friends, but very different re: ministry styles. What can pastors learn from the situation there? 2. What has been your approach in taking over for John Greenroyd of CC Los Alamitos in July of 2020? How is it going? 3. Before you stepped aside in San Diego, you experienced a major trial that was written about in the Calvary Chapel Magazine. Subtitle: “Two Christian Leaders Share Their Harrowing Experiences with Prescription Addiction.” Bryan, you were one of those leaders. What did you go through, and what did you learn? 4. How would you describe your passion in life/ministry? 5. I know you love to be available to mentor younger men. Who have been your mentors (major influences) in life/ministry? In what ways did they influence you?

Jim and Janice Larson serve the Lord in Tanzania, East Africa. Their ministry there is an amazing model of developing sustainable leaders and ministry. The lessons learned are transferable to any culture. Learn from Pastor Jim as he discusses vision and how it affects actual ministry. Hear about bold, forward thinking radical discipleship as it pertains to raising up leaders. You will be encouraged and challenged.

Every church needs to do some healthy, Holy Spirit directed personal inventory. Pastors and leaders need to ask themselves the questions, “Why are we here in this community?” And, “What should we be, and what should we do to make us essential in our community (and beyond)?” On that subject, today we have with us Pastor Jeff Birmingham of River Rocks Church in Cummins, Georgia. There’s a statement on River Rocks Church’s website which reads, “We believe that our community doesn’t need another church service…” Jeff will tell us what is meant by this statement on the church’s website, and about what the Lord has been doing recently in his life and ministry to make much of that happen. But encouragement and renewed energy in the ministry did not come easy ... there were very painful moments, moments which led Jeff to reach out. The counsel of the Holy Spirit brought freedom and renewed vision in Jeff's life, and it has changed everything. Everything! Discover some of what Jeff learned (the truth sets us free), and the journey that he's on. It will be a blessing and exciting for any pastor or church leader.

Spoiler Alert: this is much more than a dialogue on church polity. It has to do more with the way a pastor leads, the way he works with his fellow leaders. This stuff is GOLDEN! When Pastor David Guzik was pastoring in Simi Valley, CA, he delivered a message on the subject of church government. In that message, he acknowledged the three major forms of church government and then argued for the validity of a pastor led form of church government. The message was entitled "Church Government: Jesus Style and Moses Style." It's available in audio format here: https://enduringword.com/media/church-government-jesus-style-and-moses-style/. In this podcast, David discusses with show host Bill Holdridge the subject of pastoral leadership some of the challenges and necessities of leading well.