The Shepherd's Crook

I hope this was helpful! Please leave a comment or shoot me a message if you have any questions. Thanks for continuing to listen! The Shepherd’s Crook Intensive is only 1 month away! Check it out and register today! Register  

Ryan Huguley is the pastor of Ridgeline Church in Salt Lake City Ut. He is also the author of the book 8 Hours or Less. Ryan has a really great new podcast you should check out called From the Field The Sponsor for the shows this month is Media Gratiae You should also check out their podcast called Behold Your God. Make sure and sign up for the three film Media Gratiae Giveaway HERE.

Thanks again for coming back. Pastors have to be more than simply male. They have to be men willing to bleed! Remember to check out Media Gratiae and the Giveaway for this month!  

Scott Thomas has been used by the Lord to do many different things over the years. This interview was a lot of fun and is sure to be helpful to you. Scott’s Books Gospel Coach Website Gospel Coach Church Immanuel Nashville Media Gratiae is the sponsor for the month of April! Make sure and look at their site/resources and check out their Behold Your God Podcast

Thanks so much for listening! We have a new sponsor this month, Media Gratiae. We are doing a giveaway with them and you can sign up today! Media Gratiae Link for Giveaway Media Gratiae Giveaway Behold Your God Podcast Article Guilt and Shame Confusion    

Michael Kelley works for Lifeway in Nashville Tn. He has written several books that can be found on his Amazon Author Page

Thanks for listening. The Sponsor for this month is Crossway. Go check out their Heirloom Bibles at crossway.org Also, don’t forget to sign up for the giveaway Here And finally, sign up for the Shepherd’s Crook Intensive Here  

Preaching faithfully is not easy and it should be taken very seriously. In this episode, I share about a couple of pitfalls of both expositional preaching and topical preaching. To avoid missing the whole because of the parts of the Bible, you must have a good understanding of Biblical and systematic theology. Read, read, read, and re-read your Bible!  

Doug Wilson is a prolific writer. His books can be found at Canon Press. Doug’s blog Blog and Mablog can be found Here Follow him on twitter @douglaswils If you have never read any of Doug Wilson’s books, I recommend starting with Future Men. Our sponsor for this month is Crossway. Check out their Heirloom line of Bibles today! Link

HB2495 Article Pro-Life Rally Speak for the Unborn End Abortion Now 5 Ways to Respond Fierce Commitment to the Gospel. Confront the Sin of State Leaders. Pray. Protest. Pay Taxes

Pastor, don’t get burned out! We are lifelong learners.

Bob Lepine is one of the Voices of Family Life Today and is a pastor at Redeemer Community Church in Little Rock Arkansas. Bob has also written a movie that was released last year Like Arrows As always, thanks for continuing to come back! I really appreciate you all and I am prayerful that these episodes are God-honoring and helpful to you! Remember, if you need any crises-care or counsel on pastoral ministry please reach out to me! I would love for us to set up a time to talk!

This episode completes the 10-part series “The Importance of a Decade.” I hope it was helpful! This month’s episodes are sponsored by Crossway, publisher of the English Standard Version of the Bible and a high-end line of Heirloom Bibles that are designed to reflect the beauty of God’s Word. Each Heirloom Bible is skillfully created using the highest quality materials and expert craftsmanship—with carefully chosen premium goatskin covers, durable edge-lined smyth-sewn binding, beautiful art gilding, and premiere Bible paper chosen for optimal quality, readability, and durability. Learn more at Crossway.org. Giveaway Crossway Giveaway

Thanks so much for coming back! The Real Problems In The SBC The Shepherd’s Crook Intensive  

Thank you so much for listening. Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and a review on iTunes and share with your friends. If you need care or help navigating pastoral ministry, contact me and lets set up a session. 5 Criteria For Leaving A Church If the church does not believe in the authority of the Word. If your family is hurting and being mistreated. If you don’t have at least some good support. If you are hating your position. If you wouldn’t be there if it was not for your job.

Jordan and I have learned so much from Brian and Lexy. They live in Ogden Ut. with their three kids Ari, Ira, and Daphne. We really love them and think you will too! Brian is the lead pastor of Refuge Church in Ogden Ut. Refuge Church is a fellow Sojourn Network Book Recommendations from Brian and Lexy. The Pastor’s Wife by Gloria Furman True Companion by Nancy Wilson True Companion Books by Elisabeth Elliot Author Page Books by Edith Shafer Author Page For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Books by Doug Wilson Author Page John Piper Author Page Femina Blog “Table Liturgies” You Are What You Love by James K.A. Smith Quote: “Culture is religion externalized” Van Til Continuing Classical Education as an Adult Andrew Kern Worldview Guides by Canon Press Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis

Thanks so much for listening! Check out and register for the Shepherd’s Crook Intensive Here  

Pastor Toby Sumpter serves as Associate Pastor at Christ Church in Moscow Id. Pastor Toby’s Podcast CrossPolitic Book Recommendations Blood-Bought World by Toby Sumpter Check out other titles at Canon Press Shepherd’s Crook Intensive Info/Registration TSC Intensive Podcast Episode

Thanks for listening! If you have found this podcast helpful, go to iTunes and leave a rating & review! That is one simple way you can help me get this in the ears of as many people as possible. Thanks for the help! Please consider coming to the Shepherd’s Crook Intensive. Check it out on the site and register today!  

Book Recommendations George Seaton Christ’s Doctrine of the Atonement The Apostles Doctrine of the Atonement  

Book 9 Marks of a Healthy Church Church planters who are fat on missiology and starved on ecclesiology are on the path to burn out. It’s just a matter of time.  

Check out the work of Matthew Robinson and Media Gratiae Here Also, you can watch the film on Martyn Lloyd-Jones “Logic on Fire” on Amazon Prime Instant Video. Book Recommendations “Joy Unspeakable” By Martyn Lloyd-Jones “Gospel Wakefulness” by Jared C. Wilson

In this bonus episode, I get to interview my wife Jordan. This was a lot of fun and think you will enjoy it!

Thank you so much for continuing to listen. If you have not done this yet, please head ever to iTunes and rate/review the show. Also, consider checking out the Shepherd’s Crook Intensive. Go to the top of the site and register today!  

Big shout out to my son Ransom Sparks for being the first guest on The Shepherd’s Crook Podcast;) Luke 9:26 “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” I am thankful for how God has used Doug Wilson and Dr. Paul C. Maxwell in my life. In this episode, I tell you why. This is the start of a bonus episode series about the authors/books that have shaped my life and pastoral ministry the most. You can go to The Shepherd’s Crook Bookshelf Here to see this list. Episode Correction: I had been on Ritalin for between 27-30 years, not 20. Follow Doug Wilson’s Blog & Mablog and on twitter @douglaswils Follow Dr. Paul C. Maxwell on twitter @paulcmaxwell    

This is part three in a ten-part series on “The Importance of a Decade”. Marriage Find a woman who 1. Loves Jesus 2. Looks good 3. Likes you. 4. Knows what it means to be a woman. Work The workaholic pastor gets praise from everyone except his family and Jesus.

Thanks for listening. Here is the link to the “Pastors Talk” Podcast episode with Mark Dever, Jonathan Leeman, and Matt Chandler. Go give it a listen. Planting from revival is better than planting as a strategy for revival.

This episode is part-2 of a ten-part series on “The Importance of A Decade.” We all need mentors and sages. Sometimes, we are blessed to have older men approach us, but most often we have to find them and invite ourselves into their lives. In my second year of ministry, I found out I was clueless about life and ministry. God brought help. Thanks for listening!

This episode in on year 1 of a ten-part series on “The Importance of a Decade” Thanks again for listening. I continue to need your help. If this resource has been helpful to you, please share it with friends and leave a review/rating on iTunes. I am wanting to help as many people as possible and need your help to do that. Here is the link to an article I wrote about the crazy first year of ministry.    

Merry Christmas! I hope this Christmas season is going well for you! This episode introduces a ten-part series I am going to be doing on lessons from a decade.

Thanks for listening. I hope you laughed! Here is the link to the video of the first story I told. Unusual Sermon Intro

Pastor, you need regular reminders of the hardships of pastoral work and the finished work of Jesus. With this episode, I simply want to encourage you! Thanks so much for continuing to come back and listen. Share this podcast with your friends and leave a rating/review on iTunes. Article “Pastor, Be Encouraged” Here Reminder: Check out The Shepherd’s Crook Intensive Here  

Thanks again for listening! I hope this episode is helpful and Christ-honoring. Here is the link to the podcast I mentioned with Ryan Huguley and Leonard Sweet IN THE ROOM podcast episode 54. Here is the tweet I mention in the show: We need more boomers who recognize their generational sins. What’s happening in the SBC right now is a macro version of what has been happening at every FBC for the last 20 years. Boomers, comfortable with a certain church culture wanting to keep power. #broadstrokes #SBC18 Also, at the beginning of this episode, I mentioned Dr. Paul C. Maxwell. He is the man behind Selfwire and the podcast The Selfwire Phenomenon. You will want to check his stuff out it is challenging, lucid, and helpfully nuanced. Article Links: Pastors are getting older, delaying retirement Boomers and Millennials at Church: Who’s In Charge Next week I will be back with an episode on 3 encouragements for pastors from 2 Cor. 10.  

Young pastors, if we don’t learn from bad older pastors we will become them. In this episode, I explain why I think there has been a surge of church planting over the last 30 years and what young pastors can do now that will help them finish better than their predecessors. Here is an article from the Baptist Press from last year identifying the very problem I mention in this episode. And Another article about Boomers Delaying Retirement. Listen in the player or find it on iTunes And don’t forget to leave a review and rating on iTunes. If this podcast has helped you out then please help it grow by spreading the word!  

We know we are supposed to visit the sick and officiate funeral and graveside services. But how do we do it? I have some tips. The Book I mention in this episode is Kent Hughes book “The Pastors Book”. And I was wrong, it’s not that pricy! Pick it up! HERE You can listen to this episode here on this player or on iTunes and almost every other podcast platform.

Thanks for listening! The book I mention in this episode is “The Meaning of Marriage” by Tim Keller. here You can listen to this episode right here on this new player or jump over to iTunes HERE Reminder. I need your help. If you like this content share it and tell pastors/aspiring pastors about it. Then go and leave a review and rating on iTunes.

  Thanks so much for checking out the podcast. This episode is the last full-length episode in the Pastoral Priorities series. If you find this one helpful, go back and listen to the whole series. Pastors, let me remind you of what else The Shepherd’s Crook offers. We do phone/video sessions providing confidential care and counsel. If you need help give us an email or call! Sessions are a pay what you can basis so the coast is affordable.  

This is the first Bonus Podcast Episode. More will be rolling out soon! Give this one a listen here on the TSC site, iTunes, or any other podcast platform. This is not a conference. This is an “Intensive.” Visit the Intensive Page for more details.

Pastor, do you know your people? Book Recommendation Richard Baxter The Reformed Pastor Also, be on the lookout for updates and announcements about The Shepherd’s Crook. We have some exciting things in the works that should be helpful to you! The Pastor’s “4 Churches” Family Elders Those you are discipling. Church members.

Thanks so much for listening. I hate to beat a dead horse, but I will. If this has been helpful please head over to iTunes and leave a rating a review. Also, consider sharing this podcast with others. Thank you! Here are the books I recommend in this episode. The Gospel-Centered Life by Bob Thune Just for Starters by Mattias Media

Pastor, you have to get some friends! Don’t preach relational depth and then opt out of deep friendships within the church. Healthy Plurality = Durable Church by Dave Harvey Real accountability requires real friendship. No real friendship? No real accountability.  

  Thanks so much for listening to the podcast. If this has been helpful to you please consider giving the podcast a review and sharing it with a friend! Recommended Books Tim Keller “Prayer” Paul Miller “The Praying Life” Martyn Lloyd-Jones “Preaching and Preachers” David Helm “Expository Preaching”

We are working through a series answering the question “What does a pastor do?” Today I talk about pastoral priority 2 “Manage your household.” Let me know what you think. I would love your feedback!

Episode 12 is live! This podcast is the first of 7 part series on pastoral priorities. In the last 5 episodes, I answered the question “Who is a pastor?” In this series, I answer the question “What does a pastor do?” I hope you find these helpful! In this episode, I mention Eugene Peterson again. This time I read from his book The Contemplative Pastor. Jump on Amazon and buy it! Also, Paul C. Maxwell and his podcast The Selfwire Phenomenon were given a shout out along with the podcast Doctrine and Devotion. Check those podcasts out if you haven’t already. Here is the link to the new episode Pastoral Priority 1: The Pastor and His God

In this episode, we explore the 5th call of the pastor, which is the work itself.

The latest episode of The Shepherd’s Crook Podcast is posted. In this episode, I address the “lonely pastorate” and talk about the pastor as friend. Please give this a listen and consider leaving a review and sharing the episode.

The Newest Podcast is live! Episode 8: The Ancient Call of Husbandry

I have made the decision to publish weekly, as opposed to bi-weekly, podcast episodes. This episode focuses in on life as a Christian man. Before a pastor is a pastor he is a Christian.