Diligent Pastors

"The world has changed. The cost to follow Jesus is going up. Are you prepared to pay?" Though written in the 1st Century, the letter to the Hebrews recorded in the New Testament has much to say to us in the 21st Century about persevering in the cause of Christ. Tom Sims is a graduate of the World of Life Bible Institute and has served various churches as youth pastor and teacher. He is the author of the newly published Unpuzzling Hebrews: A New Translation and Commentary. He has been married to his wife Janine since 2008, and the Lord has blessed them with two daughters. Recommended Resource Sermon Audio: Share your sermons online with Sermon Audio. Join a library of 2.3 million sermons from theologically conservative churches and other ministries from around the world. Embed your audio on your site, submit your sermons to podcast directories like iTunes, and list your church on the Local Church Finder. Resources Mentioned unpuzzlinghebrews.comDeuteronomy and Exhortation in Hebrews: A Study in Narrative Re-PresentationCenter for Judaic-Christian Studiestwo volume commentary on HebrewsHebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers TodayDivine Discourse in the Epistle to the Hebrews: The Recontextualization of Spoken Quotations of Scripture,The Birth of the Trinity: Jesus, God, and Spirit in the New Testament and Early Christian Interpretations of the Old Testament,Resisting Empire: Rethinking the Purpose of the Letter to “the Hebrews.”Inventing Hebrews: Design and Purpose in Ancient RhetoricDon't Waste Your Life

Bible-teaching churches need Bible teachers. Hear how Steve Brandon equips men to read, explain, and apply the Bible in their homes and in their churches. About Our Guest Steve Brandon is the founding pastor of Rock Valley Bible Church in Loves Park, Illinois. He earned his master of divinity from The Master's Seminary and his doctor of ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to his wife Yvonne since 1992, and the Lord has blessed them with five children and one granddaughter. Featured Resource The Master’s Seminary: Get equipped for pastoral and academic service beginning with a Master of Divinity through to a Doctor of Philosophy. On-site and distance-learning programs can provide you the flexibility you need to become the best you can be in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Resources Mentioned Steve's blogJackson Hole Bible CollegeGrace Church of DuPageKishwaukee Bible ChurchWord PartnersThe Charles Simeon TrustThe Institute for Expository PreachingThe Trellis and the Vine

Many young men feel a call to pastoral ministry. Hear how the Lord brought Chris Turner from that initial call, through seminary, to his first church. About Our Guest Chris Turner serves as pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Williamstown, Kentucky. He graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2020, earning a masters of divinity in Christian ministry. He has been married to his wife Brianna since October 2020, and the Lord has blessed them with one son. Featured Resource Accordance Bible Software: Study the Bible in the original languages and more on your laptop, smartphone, and mobile device. What You Will Learn

Pastors produce a wealth of material in the course of sermon preparation and delivery. Scott LaPierre tells us how to publish this into books. About Our Guest Scott LaPierre is senior pastor for Woodland Christian Church in Woodland, Washington. He is an author and conference speaker, and serves as a regional facilitator for Church and Family Life. He has been married to his wife Katie since 2006, and the Lord has blessed them with nine children. Sign up for Scott’s newsletter and receive a free copy of his book, Seven Biblical Insights for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Marriages. Featured Resource How must the church and the family work together to accomplish God’s work in this world? Church and Family Life proclaims the sufficiency of Scripture to direct churches and families in the true worship of God. What You Will Learn his brother's deathWoodland Christian ChurchHow to Follow Scott LaPierre Personal website: scottlapierre.org Facebook: ScottLapierreMinistries Twitter: @PastorWCC Instagram: @PastorWCC LinkedIn: PastorWCC YouTube: ScottLaPierre

Dr. Owen Strachan as a Christian intellectual has committed his life to bring theology into collision with culture. About Our Guest Dr. Owen Strachan is a prolific author and speaker, hosts The City of God podcast, and also directs The Residency PhD program of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He’s been married to his wife Bethany since 2006, and the Lord has blessed them with three children. What You Will Learn How to Follow Dr. Strachan Center for Public TheologyThought LifeThe City of God

Christians often believe a half-gospel that leaves them hopeless. But the whole gospel gives us hope and power to live as God intends. About Our Guest Eric Wallace serves as founder and president of the Institute for Uniting Church and Home through which he has ministered to thousands of church leaders and families through conferences and seminars as well as private conversation. He has been married to his wife Leslee since 1995 and the Lord has blessed them with eight children. Featured Resource Sermon Audio: Share your sermons online with Sermon Audio. Join a library of over 1.7 million sermons from theologically conservative churches and other ministries from around the world. Embed your audio on your site, submit your sermons to podcast directories like Apple Podcasts, and list your church on the Local Church Finder. What You Will Learn Additional Resources The Institute for Uniting Church and HomeReal Hope for Your Home: How Finding Joy Changes Us and Our RelationshipsYour Identity in Christ from A–Z

Many blessings accompany a long ministry with the same people. James Frank shepherded a flock for 40 years and challenges those who aspire to pastoral ministry. About Our Guest James Frank serves as pastor emeritus for Galilee Baptist Church in Saranac, Michigan, a church he had pastored for over 40 years. He graduated from Bob Jones University and Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He has been married to his wife Beth since 1960 and the Lord has blessed them with two children, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Featured Resource Association of Certified Biblical Counselors: Increase your skill in bringing God’s Word to people in need of help and hope. What You Will Learn Listen to the interview with Andy Mooren, who succeeded Jim as pastor for Galilee Baptist Church.

The church needs qualified men to teach the Word of God. Seminaries and local churches should work together to prepare these godly shepherds. About Our Guest Dr. Richard Mayhue has labored at The Master’s Seminary in various capacities since 1989 and currently serves as research professor of theology emeritus. He has served in pastoral ministry in several churches and has authored, contributed to, or edited over 30 books including The MacArthur Study Bible. He has been married to his wife B since 1966 and the Lord has blessed them with two married children, two grandsons, and a great-granddaughter. This is the second of two episodes with Dr. Mayhue. Listen to the first episode. Featured Resource Accordance Bible Software: Study the Bible in the original languages and more on your laptop, smartphone, and mobile device. What You Will Learn Mentioned in the Episode Dr. Mayhue’s personal website: richardmayhue.net Email Dr. Mayhue The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, California Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California Books and Journals Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth The Master’s Seminary Journal

The ministry of Dr. Richard Mayhue includes the church pulpit, the seminary lectern, and the writer’s desk. Hear how the Lord directed Dr. Mayhue through various venues to serve the church worldwide. About Our Guest Dr. Richard Mayhue has labored at The Master’s Seminary in various capacities since 1989 and currently serves as research professor of theology emeritus. He has served in pastoral ministry in several churches and has authored, contributed to, or edited over 30 books including The MacArthur Study Bible. He has been married to his wife B since 1966 and the Lord has blessed them with two married children, two grandsons, and a great-granddaughter. Featured Resource The Master’s Seminary: Get equipped for pastoral and academic service beginning with a Master of Divinity through to a Doctor of Philosophy. On-site and distance-learning programs can provide you the flexibility you need to become the best you can be in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. What You Will Learn Longer version Mentioned in the Episode Dr. Mayhue’s personal website: richardmayhue.net Email Dr. Mayhue The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, California Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California Shepherds’ Conference Books and Journals Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically Preaching: How to Preach Biblically The MacArthur Study Bible Think Biblically Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth

Serving the Lord takes many forms as we steward the resources He has entrusted to us. Hear how the Lord directed Andy Mooren into several venues of ministry. About Our Guest Andy Mooren is a graduate of Northwest Baptist Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. He currently serves as pastor for Galilee Baptist Church in Saranac, Michigan, where he has served since 2005. He has been married to his wife Kathi since 1987, and the Lord has blessed them with three daughters, one son-in-law, and a grandson to be born summer 2020. Featured Resource Sermon Audio: Share your sermons online with Sermon Audio. Join a library of 1.8 million sermons from theologically conservative churches and other ministries from around the world. Embed your audio on your site, submit your sermons to podcast directories like iTunes, and list your church on the Local Church Finder. Mentioned in the Episode Walsh Baptist Church, Walsh, Colorado

Seminary education ought to inspire students to know God better, to study the Bible, to seek God's will, and submit to the Lordship of Jesus in every area. About Our Guest John Mark McDonnel is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and currently serves as director of the biblical studies program at Kiev Theological Seminary in Ukraine where he has served since 1998. He has been married to his wife Donna since 1989, and the Lord has blessed them with four children and a son-in-law. Featured Resource Accordance Bible Software: Study the Bible in the original languages and more on your laptop, smartphone, and mobile device. Other Resources Mentioned Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks. Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible. Mark and his family have partnered with WorldVenture since 1996. Mark blogs occasionally at mcdonnel.wordpress.com.

Pastoral ministry is meant to be work shared among faithful men. Learn how Rob Zietlow serves alongside several other elders to shepherd the church. About Our Guest Rob Zietlow serves as senior associate pastor for Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a graduate of The Master’s University and The Master’s Seminary. Rob has been married to his wife Sharon since 1994, and the Lord has blessed them with three children and one son-in-law. Featured Resource Association of Certified Biblical Counselors: Increase your skill in bringing God’s Word to people in need of help and hope.

About Answers for Pastors Answers in Genesis held its annual Answers for Pastors conference October 8–10, 2019. The sessions took place in the new Answers Center at the Ark Encounter. The conference theme was “One Race, One Blood—Biblical and Scientific Answers.” Ten keynote sessions featured answers from a variety of speakers, including staff members of Answers in Genesis and friends of the ministry. Ken Ham, founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis, wrote in the conference materials, “Evolution is an inherently racist philosophy. Some of the statements Darwin wrote in his book The Descent of Man make that very clear! It offers no good answer to the question of ‘race.’ Over time, most evolutionists have finally come to the realization that genetically and biologically, there’s only one race—something the Bible teaches.” Next year’s conference is titled, “The Bible and Sexuality: Practical Answers for Today’s World.” Learn more at AnswersForPastors.org. Featured Resource SermonAudio.com: Post your sermon audio on the largest online library of sermons from conservative churches and other ministries. Your sermons will appear in the popular SermonAudio directory and you have many other methods of distributing your sermons across the world. Musicians Feautured at the Conference Singer and songwriter Michael O’Brien led several sessions of musical worship each day of the conference. Learn more about Michael’s work at MichaelO.org. Preeminent modern hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty provided a mini concert as part of the conference as well as a full evening concert with their band. Learn more at GettyMusic.com. Keynote Sessions Ken Ham: “Genesis, Foundations, and Races—Part 1” (Watch on YouTube) Bodie Hodge: “Where Did the People Groups Come From?” (Watch on YouTube) Joe Owen: “The Gospel to All Nations: ‘Re-hitching’ Missions to Genesis” (Watch on YouTube) Terry Mortenson: “Ape-Men, Adam, and the Gospel” Georgia Purdom: “Are Humans and Chimps Related?” Voddie Baucham: “Alienated by the Fall” (Watch on YouTube) Voddie Baucham: “Reconciled in Christ” Charles Ware: “Grace, Not Race, Relations” (

About Our Guest Phil Johnson serves as executive director of Grace to You, the media ministry which features John MacArthur’s teaching. He is an elder for Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, California, and helps shepherd the GraceLife fellowship group. He and his wife Darlene have been married since 1978, and they have three married sons and seven grandchildren. Featured Resource SermonAudio.com: Post your sermon audio on the largest online library of sermons from conservative churches and other ministries. Your sermons will appear in the popular SermonAudio directory and you have many other methods of distributing your sermons across the world. Ways to Connect with Phil Romans45.org@Phil_Johnson_The GraceLife PulpitPyroManiacs Additional Presentations of Phil’s Salvation Testimony A Fool for Christ’s SakeA Word of Personal TestimonyHow I Became a ChristianSaved by Biblical Truth Other Notes Phil graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theology from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. The first message Phil heard from John MacArthur was turned into a booklet, Found: God’s Will. Phil donated his Spurgeon Archive to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for their further development. Listen to Phil’s six-part sermon series on some of the major heresies from history that still afflict the church today. Phil’s Preaching Events in March 2020 March 4–6, at the annual Shepherds’ Conference, sponsored by Grace Church in Los Angeles, California. March 27–28, at the annual Answers for Women conference, sponsored by Answers in Genesis. March 29, to Liberty Bible Church in Williamstown, Kentucky.

This episode continues the conversation with my father-in-law, Ron McDonnel. Listen to part one. About Our Guest Ron McDonnel has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 45 years, primarily serving Katy Bible Church near Houston, Texas. He has been married to his wife Margaret for 28 years and together they have 5 married children, 22 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. He is also my father-in-law and for six years I had the privilege of working alongside him in ministry. Featured Resource Samaritan Ministries: Samaritan Ministries is a community of Christians helping other Christians pay for their health-care expenses while also praying for one another. Recover your liberty in choosing and paying for your health care. Other Resources Ron’s weekly Bible study can be heard on KHCB. Tune in at 1:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (Central Time). The KHCB Mobile App is available for multiple devices. Interns from Katy Bible Church Now Serving Abroad: Leading Unbelievers to Faith and Leadership with Michael LuehrmannStrengthening the Church in South Africa with Tim CantrellTraining in Biblical Counseling: Association of Certified Biblical CounselorsFaith Church

The fear of the Lord ought to motivate us to live and serve deliberately. Learn how one man has devoted his life to proclaiming the glory of God. About Our Guest Ron McDonnel has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 45 years, primarily serving Katy Bible Church near Houston, Texas. He has been married to his wife Margaret for 28 years and together they have 5 married children, 22 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. He is also my father-in-law and for six years I had the privilege of working alongside him in ministry. Featured Resource Accordance Bible Software: Study the Bible in the original languages and more on your laptop, smartphone, and mobile device. Other Resources KHCBKHCB Mobile App

Relationships in the church have a tremendous effect. “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” About Our Guest Andy Mikels has served for over five years as pastor for Immanuel Baptist Church in Danville, Kentucky. He is a graduate of Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, as well as The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been married to his wife Karen since 1995 and the Lord has blessed them with four children. Featured Resource Samaritan Ministries: Samaritan Ministries is a community of Christians helping other Christians pay for their health-care expenses while also praying for one another. Recover your liberty in choosing and paying for your health care. Other Resources The CharismaticsCharismatic ChaosStrange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit WorshipThe Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes EverythingThe Death of Death in the Death of ChristAssociated of Certified Biblical Counselors

“What was true of God before the fire is just as true now after the fire.” How does God refresh and nourish His people in the face of adversity?

Learn how to lead a church through changes, even drafting a new constitution. See how strong expository preaching lays the necessary foundation.

What You Will Learn About Our Guest Michael Boutot has served in pastoral ministry for over 35 years, including roles as associate pastor, interim pastor, youth pastor, church planter, and senior pastor. He current serves as pastor for First Millville Baptist Church near Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been married to his wife Carol for 38 years in June and the Lord has blessed them with twelve children and 14 grandchildren.