In Episode 6 of The Imperfect Pastor, we dive into one of the most vital—and challenging—questions in ministry: How do we equip disciples? We open with some humor about the two extremes pastors often fall into—trying to control everything (“I love being responsible for everything at all times!”) versus doing nothing and hoping someone else steps up. Both lead to burnout or stagnation. So, what’s the better way?

We explore a more apostolic model of ministry—one rooted in how the apostles supported and built up leaders in the early church. Looking at Ephesians 4, we unpack Paul’s vision for the church as a body equipped through diverse spiritual gifts. Every pastor, like every believer, is uniquely gifted. When we lean into our gifts and operate within our God-given parameters, ministry becomes collaborative instead of pastor-dependent.

A major theme of the episode is helping others discover and live out their calling. We discuss the importance of knowing your people well enough to say, “I see in you…”—calling out their gifts, passions, and potential. True equipping means empowering and entrusting responsibility, not fearing delegation or failure.

We take a closer look at how Jesus modeled this with His disciples: teaching through example, sending them out two by two, and supporting them along the way. Nate and Chad talk about practical ways pastors can move from being “players” to “coaches,” developing leaders who can train others, ensuring long-term stability rather than short-term fixes.

Practical steps include:

• Start with prayer

• Identify and invest in key leaders

• Take people with you as you do ministry—so they can learn by experience

• Embrace “strategic disappointment” (letting others try and sometimes fail) for the sake of growth

The goal? A church that thrives without being pastor-dependent—one where disciples are equipped, empowered, and actively multiplying the ministry of Jesus.

In Episode 5 of The Imperfect Pastor, we build on last week’s conversation about revitalizing our calling by diving into one of the core responsibilities of pastoral ministry: making disciples. Before we can develop leaders who help lead the church in its mission, we must first grapple with the question, “What is our true priority as pastors?”

With some humor along the way, we explore the idea that pastors must be disciples first, before they can effectively disciple others. Drawing from Matthew 4:19 and Luke 6:40, we unpack what it really means to follow Jesus—letting Him transform us before we try to “fish for men.” Using Jim Putman’s “Head, Heart, Hands” framework, we highlight Christlikeness—not just being “right”—as the standard for true discipleship, where spiritual fruit and spiritual gifts go hand-in-hand.

We contrast church membership and attendance with authentic discipleship, addressing how cultural Christianity, tradition, and consumerism can undermine a disciple-making culture. As Nate humorously notes, “In some churches, Satan would qualify as a member” because the standard has been reduced to mere belief.

This episode also gets practical. We discuss how churches can create pathways for discipleship by modeling it, investing in teachable people, and providing opportunities for growth through worship, service, and spiritual engagement. We tackle the challenge of fitting discipleship into an already crowded pastoral schedule, emphasizing the importance of discipling and supporting leaders who, in turn, disciple others. Chad shares his own approach to discipling his leaders, showing that it’s possible to shift a church’s culture toward true disciple-making without burning out.

In this episode of The Imperfect Pastor, we get real about those mornings when you’re just not feeling it—when the weight of ministry makes church meetings feel like a chore and passion starts to fade. How do we move beyond maintenance mode and rediscover the joy of our calling?

We start by reframing our mindset: ministry isn’t a burden—it’s an incredible honor. But to sustain that passion, we have to go back to our why. Why were we called? Why are we in this church, in this season? Looking at Luke 4, we examine how Jesus launched His ministry with clarity and purpose, revealing His identity through Isaiah 61.

A key takeaway: ministry thrives on authenticity. Too often, we try to be someone we’re not, modeling ourselves after mentors or ministry idols instead of embracing who God uniquely created us to be. We explore the tension between adapting to cultural contexts and staying true to our God-given identity, resisting the pull of people’s opinions—whether criticism or praise.

This episode also offers practical steps for realigning with our calling, including:

• Separating calling from identity
• Creating margin for reflection and assessment
• Courageously taking inventory of strengths and weaknesses
• Establishing clear parameters for ministry and communicating them with leadership

Next time, we’ll explore the importance of getting help in ministry and building a sustainable support system.