The PursueGOD Training Podcast PursueGOD

In today's episode, we look at the transformative impact of shepherding relationships, emphasizing that true growth often occurs outside the pulpit. We discuss the vital role of preachers in equipping believers for discipleship, fostering unity and maturity in the body of Christ.
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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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Real transformation happens in the shepherding context (families, small groups, and one-on-one mentoring relationships), not in the preaching context. Matthew 9:35-37Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT) 35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”The preacher’s job is to equip regular Christians to do the work of the ministry. A great sermon empowers conversations throughout the week. Ephesians 4:11-12Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT) 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ultimately, PG sermons are designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more people to go “full circle”. Matthew 28:19-20Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”We build resources with one distinctive in mind: to equip the preacher to support the discipleship infrastructure of the church. If conversations aren’t happening after the sermon, we’ve missed the point.

Today we’re starting a 3-week series called Preacher Training – with a focus on preaching sermons based on the pursueGOD discipleship resources.
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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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In this episode we introduce five questions for self-reflection to determine if you’re qualified to preach in a local church. 
Before we get to those questions, let’s talk for a minute about the PG resources.
PG uses podcasts on a variety of topics to offer biblical answers to everyday questions. Then we organize these podcasts into series so you can use them to make disciples at church, home, or in the world. Local churches can freely preach sermons based on our series and then point small groups, families, and mentors to the series page for sermon-based curriculum. You’re welcome to adapt your sermon as needed.Ultimately, PG curriculum is designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more Christians to be disciple-makers. We’ll explain this philosophy of ministry in detail in lesson 2 of this series.
Five Questions before you preach:
Are you connected to Jesus? Preaching in the early church was a function of spending time with Jesus, not of seminary training. Acts 4:1313 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.Are you honoring God in everyday life? Preachers are qualified by solid character and sound doctrine. Titus 1:5-95 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife,* and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 A church leader* is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,* violent, or dishonest with money.8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.Do you care about people? Godly preachers are not motivated by ego or financial gain, but rather by a desire to help people pursue God. 1 Timothy 6:3-43 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.Are you personally making disciples? You can’t lead someone to a place you’ve never been. Matthew...

Excerpt
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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the practices of a great board member. They emphasize the importance of being prepared for board meetings and understanding the purpose of the meetings. They also talk about the spiritual side of board membership and the need to hear the Spirit in decision-making. They discuss the process of voting and seeking consensus, as well as the responsibility of breaking the ice when there is a holdout on the board. They also highlight the importance of participating constructively and cultivating emotional maturity as a board member. Finally, they discuss the importance of teamwork and defining success in team terms.
Takeaways
Being prepared for board meetings is crucial and shows that you take your role as a board member seriously.Board meetings have a spiritual side and it is important to hear the Spirit and seek God's leading in decision-making.Participating constructively in board meetings involves speaking respectfully, listening patiently, and asking tough questions without being demeaning or aggressive.Board members should continue to grow in their skills and wisdom as board members, as well as in their relationship with Jesus.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.
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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the traits of a great board and common pitfalls to avoid. They emphasize the importance of board members being spiritually attuned, relationally healthy, fully invested in the mission, focused on strategy rather than operations, and self-policing. They also highlight the need for good record-keeping, attention to finances, and avoiding relationship dysfunction and personal preferences over the mission. To do this, the pastors introduce three practical tools: a board member covenant, an annual board calendar, and a prime responsibility chart.
Takeaways
Board members should be spiritually attuned, relationally healthy, fully invested in the mission, focused on strategy, and self-policing.Good record-keeping is essential for legal requirements, credibility, and resolving disputes.Board members should pay attention to finances, have checks and balances, and build financial reserves.Relationship dysfunction and personal preferences can hinder the effectiveness of a board.Practical tools like a board member covenant, annual board calendar, and prime responsibility chart can help improve board functioning.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.
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The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the relationship between the governing board and the senior pastor. This conversation explores the role of a governing board in a church and the importance of supportive yet accountable board members. It discusses the nature of board approval, decision-making, budget approval, performance evaluation, and the removal of the senior pastor. The conversation emphasizes the need for clear processes and guidelines to ensure effective governance and accountability within the church.
Takeaways
Avoid an adversarial or submissive attitude towards the senior pastor.Support the senior pastor by providing encouragement, resources, and wise counsel.Hold the senior pastor accountable and ask tough questions to improve decision-making.Buy into the church's mission and be supportive of the pastor's vision, but avoid becoming yes-men. Board members should provide support and accountability to the senior pastor, ensuring that decisions align with the church's vision and goals.The relationship between the board and the senior pastor should be both supportive and accountable, with a balance between working for and working with the board.

This is a general series that many churches will find helpful. It should be a great conversation starter for established boards, and it might even help your church rethink your leadership structure.
--
The PursueGOD Training podcast helps pastors, small group leaders, and everyday Christians to make disciples through healthy biblical churches.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/training.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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In this episode, Bryan and Ross discuss the key responsibilities of a board member in a church. They cover three different hats that board members wear: the governance hat, the volunteer hat, and the participant hat. They emphasize the importance of understanding foundational principles, engaging in strategy rather than operations, and being a positive force in the church. They also discuss the boundaries of a board member, including no individual authority, no personal agendas, confidentiality, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
Takeaways
Board members play different roles and wear different hats, including the governance hat, the volunteer hat, and the participant hat.Understanding foundational principles and documents is crucial for board members to fulfill their responsibilities.Board members should focus on strategy and the big picture, rather than getting involved in operational details.Board members should be a positive force in the church, nurturing relationships, growing in faith, and praying for the church and its leaders.