The Everyday Pastor

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how pastors can shepherd difficult or draining church members with wisdom, patience, healthy boundaries, and the humility to remember that every shepherd is first a sheep.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan offer hope for discouraged pastors, showing how realistic expectations, faithful friendships, long-term perspective, and confidence in God’s sovereignty can sustain ministers when visible fruit is slow and ministry feels heavy.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how thoughtful preaching calendars help pastors faithfully feed their people, preach the whole counsel of God, and plan ahead without quenching the Spirit.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss the joys, challenges, and realities of church planting.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan tackle one of the most important questions in pastoral ministry: How do you preach Christ from all of Scripture?

H.B. Charles, Jr. shares why faithful preaching still changes lives—and how pastors can endure the weekly grind of ministry with confidence in the power of God’s Word.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan make the case for recovering confessions of faith and church covenants as practical pastoral tools for discipleship, unity, and church health.

Glen Scrivener joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to help pastors navigate evangelism in a world where people no longer share basic Christian assumptions.

If pastors don’t define the gospel clearly, they risk losing it entirely. This conversation offers a simple, biblical framework to help you preach and share the gospel with clarity and confidence.

Matt Smethurst, Ligon Duncan, and Garrett Kell tackle a false dichotomy: faithful preaching should do both. They explore how pastors can preach in a way that honors God, builds up the church, and clearly calls unbelievers to repentance and faith.

Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss how a “big God” theology—especially the doctrines of grace and God’s sovereignty—brings deep pastoral comfort, fuels humility, strengthens assurance, and stabilizes believers in suffering.

Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst offer pastoral wisdom for navigating controversy—urging leaders to contend for truth without becoming quarrelsome, to prioritize edification over denunciation, and to pursue unity with humility in both public and local church conflicts.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan help pastors think biblically and pastorally about Satan’s schemes, the Spirit’s indwelling power, and how to resist discouragement while persevering in faithful ministry.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share how pastors can encourage their congregations to engage deeply with God’s Word, meditate on how he has revealed himself, and approach Scripture with obedience and joy.

Jamie Dunlop joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to show how gospel-driven generosity and transparent budgeting build trust, form disciples, and free both pastors and churches from money’s grip.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how pastors can keep growing—through daily study, conferences, and even formal education—so they stay spiritually sharp, theologically grounded, and better equipped to serve their people.

Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss how pastors can prepare their people to face suffering with faith, showing that true victory in the Christian life is not avoiding pain—but trusting God through it.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan talk with Jamie Dunlop about how faithful, biblically grounded church administration protects unity, supports preaching, and strengthens trust within the body of Christ.

Deepak Reju joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss how pastors can build a culture of care within their church, and find practical help to counsel when they feel unequipped.

Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst explore the often-overlooked biblical practice of church discipline, explaining its loving purpose, importance for healthy congregations, and how to cultivate a church culture where it is understood and embraced.

Matt McCullough joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss how to shepherd God’s people to embrace their mortality, anticipate their heavenly inheritance, and make the most of their lives.

Jared Kennedy joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss how churches can serve children and youth through strong ministry models and to provide wisdom for equipping families and volunteers.

Garrett Kell joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss how pastors can cultivate deep, sustaining friendships despite the demands of ministry.

Wesley Huff joins The Everyday Pastor and Gospelbound to discuss how pastors can effectively practice and teach apologetics, offering insights, examples, book recommendations, and quick responses to common objections.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan answer listener-submitted questions, recorded live at TGC’s 2025 National Conference.

Ligon Duncan and Matt discuss how funerals offer unique opportunities to share gospel hope, along with practical guidance and common pitfalls pastors face when walking with grieving families.

Joni Eareckson Tada 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.

Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst offer practical advice for stewarding Christian weddings, which can be a beautiful picture of the gospel.

On the two-year anniversary of Tim Keller’s passing, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss overlooked insights from Keller’s work, using Matt’s new book, 'Tim Keller on the Christian Life' as a guide.

Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst talk with Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor about how pastors can effectively support and cultivate healthy women’s ministry in the local church.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan revisit the Bible’s job description for deacons, highlighting what these servants are (and are not) meant to do.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss tips for working with fellow elders, leading elders’ meetings, establishing healthy cultural dynamics, and more.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss what elders are, why every church should seek to have them, and what a pastor should be looking for in potential elders.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share practical tips for promoting a culture of biblical literacy in the local church.

Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss his season of family hardship and how his church community cared for him.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical tips for improving your prayer life—and the praying habits of your whole congregation.

Pastor and author Paul Tripp joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss how a pastor can lead well for the flourishing of the whole church.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical ways to promote deeper love for God’s truth.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss practical tools for pursuing purity.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how to apply the gospel to nominal Christians, struggling Christians, and all Christ’s sheep.

Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst offer practical tips for helping your congregation get the most out of corporate worship.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how pastors can better support the women in their churches, highlighting the vital role women play in the overall health of the congregation.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan encourage pastors to think carefully about the respective “weight” Scripture assigns various doctrines—and the implications for unity grounded in truth and love.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan are joined by Michael Lawrence to discuss the underrated importance of ministry philosophy in our churches.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share practical ways pastors can equip their congregations to embrace relational discipleship and spiritual care for one another.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan consider specific ways pastors can care for their congregation.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practices for maintaining intimacy with Christ amid the demands of ministry.

In this special edition episode from our Gospelbound podcast, Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger discuss the top theology stories of 2024, why they’re feeling hopeful for 2025, and share an important update about TGC’s cofounder, Don Carson.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst, Ligon Duncan, and Sinclair Ferguson discuss the wonder of the incarnation and shepherding well during the Christmas season.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan explore why church polity matters and its overlooked biblical importance.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt and Ligon offer practical tips to help pastors reflect on and improve their sermon delivery.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss the rigors and joys of sermon prep.

In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Bryan Chapell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss how to ensure every sermon is truly Christ-centered.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss the importance of a deliberate order of service, or liturgy, for Sunday worship.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how they prepare for Sunday worship in light of their pastoral role.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan offer practical insights on how pastors can guard against both "loud" and "quiet" forms of pride while cultivating humility in the service of Jesus Christ.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan encourage pastors in any season of life to find fresh joy in the work of ministry.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan invite pastors and ministry leaders to tune in for wisdom, encouragement, and practical insights to navigate the trenches of ministry with fortitude and joy.