Best Ligon Duncan Podcasts (2025)

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The Pastor and Counseling (with Deepak Reju) 52:42

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40m ago52:42

52:42

Every pastor wants a culture of care, but not every pastor feels equipped to counsel—much less to equip others to counsel one another. In this episode, Deepak Reju—a Delaware pastor who served for nearly 20 years as the counseling pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church—joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss counseling versus discipling, ho…

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Prepare People for Church Discipline 32:51

14d ago32:51

32:51

Practicing church discipline is a vital biblical responsibility that’s often ignored in our modern age. In this episode, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss what church discipline is (and isn’t), why healthy congregations practice it, and why it’s actually a form of love. Drawing from experience, they also offer advice for fostering a culture i…

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Preparing Members for Death and Heaven 43:51

28d ago43:51

43:51

Ministry is about a lot of things, but central to the task is preparing people to die and face their Creator. This is deeply challenging, though, in a death-denying age. In this episode, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst welcome Matt McCullough—a pastor in Nashville and the author of two excellent books, ‘Remember Death’ and ‘Remember Heaven’—to disc…

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Ministry to Children and Youth (with Jared Kennedy) 50:14

1M ago50:14

50:14

Every church has the privilege of thinking about how to best serve the children and youth entrusted to its care. In this episode, Jared Kennedy joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss various ministry models and best practices, as well as wisdom for equipping parents, selecting curriculum, vetting volunteers, caring for children with speci…

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The Pastor and Friendships 39:47

2M ago39:47

39:47

Real friendship is an irreplaceable gift from God. Without it we will struggle—and shrivel—as humans made for one another. Pastors know this, and yet ministry can be exceedingly lonely. In this episode, Garrett Kell joins Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst to discuss how a busy pastor can foster (and maintain) meaningful, life-giving friendships amid …

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BONUS: Advice for Apologetics (with Wes Huff) 1:27:10

3M ago1:27:10

1:27:10

In a special crossover episode of The Everyday Pastor and Gospelbound, Wesley Huff joins Lig, Matt, and Collin to discuss the role of apologetics in pastoral ministry. How can pastors excel in giving a compelling reason for the hope within us—and train others to do the same? Drawing from both academic expertise and personal experience, Huff offers …

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Live: Listener Questions! 55:17

4M ago55:17

55:17

How do you prioritize health? How do you stay sharp? Can you be friends with church members? How do you care for your wife? When’s a time you were wrong? How do you choose what to preach? And many, many more questions pastors may be asking. In this special episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan answer listener-submitted que…

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Funerals 26:05

4M ago26:05

26:05

“Walk to a wedding, but run to a funeral.” So advised an older pastor to a young Ligon Duncan. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst discuss the powerful opportunity that funerals present to hold out gospel hope, as well as common pitfalls and practical advice for navigating dynamics surrounding the death of a love…

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How to Care for Sufferers (with Joni Eareckson Tada) 1:03:11

4M ago1:03:11

1:03:11

Joni Eareckson Tada knows a thing or two about suffering. Ever since a diving accident left her paralyzed nearly 60 years ago, she has given eloquent testimony to the sovereign goodness of our Savior. In this powerful episode of The Everyday Pastor, Joni joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to share lessons she’s learned about enduring hardship, a…

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Weddings 23:33

4M ago23:33

23:33

Every pastor has the joy (at least usually it’s a joy) of officiating Christian weddings, which can be a beautiful picture of the gospel. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst offer practical advice for stewarding these opportunities and making the most of a wedding weekend. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company…

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Ministry Lessons from Tim Keller 52:15

4M ago52:15

52:15

Two years ago today, Tim Keller went to be with the Lord. Using Matt’s new book—Tim Keller on the Christian Life, published by Crossway—as a discussion guide, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst reflect on underappreciated teachings from Tim’s body of work. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collecti…

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The Valley of Vision - Jonathan Cruse 34:06

4M ago34:06

34:06

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. —Psalm 123:2 For the next three weeks on All of Life for God, Pastor Jonathan Cruse returns with three more sermons on the Psalms of Ascents. This week, Pastor Cruse ca…

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Women’s Ministry in the Church 43:51

5M ago43:51

43:51

Ministering to the women in our churches and equipping them to disciple one another is a privilege. But how can pastors do this well? In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst welcome Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor to the podcast. They draw from extensive experience to discuss practical tips for cultivating a healt…

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10 Indictments against the Modern Church (Part 4) - Paul Washer 37:47

5M ago37:47

37:47

"Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”—Revelation 2:16 This week, on All of Life for God, Paul Washer levies his final three indictments against the modern church: that we have abandoned the call for holiness, ignored the authority of the Scriptures in our homes, and listened to unqualif…

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Why You Need Good Deacons 39:12

5M ago39:12

39:12

Show us a church with distracted elders, and we’ll show you a church without effective deacons. For better or worse, deacons are difference-makers in congregational life. But when it comes to this topic, too many churches are operating from custom and tradition—with Bibles closed. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Dun…

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10 Indictments against the Modern Church (Part 3) - Paul Washer 34:49

5M ago34:49

34:49

“You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”—1 Peter 1:18-19 Has today’s church forgotten these verses? This week, on All of Life for God, Paul Washer contends that the mod…

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Working with Fellow Elders (Part 2) 30:07

5M ago30:07

30:07

Last week, we considered what elders are, biblically speaking, and which traits should characterize a candidate for the office. In this follow-up episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan get even more “nuts and boltsy,” discussing tips for working with fellow elders, leading elders’ meetings, establishing healthy cultural dyn…

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10 Indictments against the Modern Church (Part 2) - Paul Washer 20:33

5M ago20:33

20:33

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.”—1 Corinthians 1:23 This week, on All of Life for God, Paul Washer launches two more indictments against the modern church: that we have forgotten the cross of Christ and the doctrine of regeneration. Remember the love you had at first as Paul Washer c…

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Working with Fellow Elders (Part 1) 35:19

5M ago35:19

35:19

There are few greater gifts for a pastor than getting to serve with a godly band of brothers. But not every church has multiple elders—and not every elder team functions in a healthy way. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss what elders are, why every church should seek to have them, and what a pastor shou…

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10 Indictments against the Modern Church (Part 1) - Paul Washer 22:39

5M ago22:39

22:39

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”—Revelation 2:5 For the next few weeks on All of Life for God, we will hear from preacher and evangelist Paul Washer on our desperate need to reform if we want to see revival. …

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A Biblical Tour of Egypt: Pharaohs, Free Will, and Hebrew Midwifes—Dr. Joel Beeke, Dr. Sherif Fahim, and David Woollin (Bonus Episode 5) 52:07

5M ago52:07

52:07

In the final part of our biblical tour of Egypt on All of Life for God, we survey some of the mysteries and lessons from the book of Exodus, answering big questions about God’s sovereignty, the life of Moses, Egypt’s pagan religious life, and more. These episodes are provided by Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. …

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A Biblical Tour of Egypt: Jesus Christ, Our Great High Priest—Dr. Sherif Fahim (Bonus Episode 4) 50:24

5M ago50:24

50:24

In the fourth part of our biblical tour of Egypt on All of Life for God, Dr. Sherif Fahim shows us how Jesus delivers us from the spiritual Egypt of sin through His superior work as the Great High Priest. These episodes are provided by Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and…

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A Biblical Tour of Egypt: The Pyramids, The Bible, and God’s Eternal Glory—Dr. Joel Beeke and Sherif Fahim (Bonus Episode 3) 55:43

5M ago55:43

55:43

The Pyramids. The Great Sphinx. The Nile River. These are the famous landmarks that come to mind when most people think of Ancient Egypt. But for Israel, references to Egypt reminded them of two locations: the Red Sea and Mount Sinai. Continue your biblical journey through Egypt as Dr. Beeke shows us how God’s revelation of His law reveals His char…

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A Biblical Tour of Egypt: The Power of God in a Pagan Land—Dr. Jerry Bilkes (Bonus Episode 2) 47:18

5M ago47:18

47:18

On this special episode of All of Life for God, Dr. Jerry Bilkes continues our biblical tour of Egypt by giving us a survey of the stories of Egypt scattered throughout God’s Word. These episodes are provided by Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon:…

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A Biblical Tour of Egypt: The Pyramids, The Bible, and God’s Eternal Glory—Drs. Joel Beeke and Sherif Fahim (Bonus Episode 1) 18:00

5M ago18:00

18:00

In this series of special episodes of All of Life for God, Drs. Joel Beeke, Gerald Bilkes, and Sherif Fahim, along with pastor David Woollin, offer you a tour of a fascinating civilization from the times of the Bible—Egypt! Listen to these lectures to take a thrilling look into the land where Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and more sojourned in ancient ti…

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Teach People How to Read Their Bibles 36:50

6M ago36:50

36:50

It’s the most important book in the universe, but it can also be intimidating. Many of our members may be discouraged to admit that their resolutions have sputtered out—again. As pastors, how can we prepare and motivate our members to dive into God’s Word for themselves? In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share …

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The Preeminent Christ - An Interview with Paul Washer 38:38

6M ago38:38

38:38

This week, on All of Life for God, we interview Paul Washer on his powerful book, The Preeminent Christ. Listen to this fascinating discussion on the importance of knowing and experiencing the glory of our Lord and Savior. Pick up Paul Washer’s latest work with Reformation Heritage Books, The Preeminent Christ, here. Check out Our Great Redeemer, G…

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When the Pastor's Family Suffers (with Garrett Kell) 33:09

6M ago33:09

33:09

Pastors are called to walk alongside suffering saints, but what about when the pastor is the sufferer? In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, pastor Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to share about a season of family hardship—and what it looked like to receive care from his church community. He testifies to the beauty of Christ’s …

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Interview with Dr. Ian Hamilton 1:21:13

6M ago1:21:13

1:21:13

Has today's church forgotten the "godness" of God? This week, on All of Life for God, Dr. Ian Hamilton suggests that reading spiritual giants from bygone eras can help us recapture our vision of a glorious God. Read more from Ian Hamilton here. Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here…

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The Praying Pastor 37:35

6M ago37:35

37:35

Every pastor affirms the importance of prayer and likely excels at it publicly, but consistency in private prayer is hard. And it isn't easy to foster a congregation-wide culture of prayer. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical tips for improving your prayer life—and the praying habits of your who…

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Standing in Awe - David M. Cook 47:47

6M ago47:47

47:47

This week, on All of Life for God, Pastor David Cook calls us to worship God by trembling at His words of warning and promise. Listen to this challenging message on a classic passage to learn how you can enjoy God’s favor in your worship. Pick up David Cook’s new devotional, Standing in Awe, here. Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoyi…

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How Pastors Should Lead (with Paul Tripp) 58:41

6M ago58:41

58:41

Leadership is an art, and many pastors get it wrong—sometimes with devastating results. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Paul Tripp joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan to discuss how a pastor can lead well for the flourishing of the whole church. The conversation touches on the importance of fostering a healthy leadership community, the gi…

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Having not Seen, You Love - Jerry Bilkes 55:29

6M ago55:29

55:29

The mark of a true believer is not just seeing Christ but loving Him. This week, on All of Life for God, Dr. Gerald Bilkes encourages suffering Christians by calling us to rejoice in the grace we experience in Christ in a sermon on 1 Peter 1. Do you want to deepen your personal knowledge of Christ? Discover what it means to have true spiritual sigh…

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Toward a Theologically Minded Church 28:04

7M ago28:04

28:04

Theology is vital for life. We know this as pastors, but do our members? Are we helping them to grow in thinking theologically? In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss practical ways to promote deeper love for God’s truth. After all, how our people view him will make all the difference in their lives. Hosted …

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2024 PRTS Conference Q&A Session (Jonas, Myers, Beeke, Barrett, Phillips) 56:35

7M ago56:35

56:35

How should single Christians think about courtship and dating? How can parents shepherd rebellious teenagers? Should parents encourage their children to pray? This week, on All of Life for God, the speakers from the 2024 Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Conference answer these questions and more. Check out our Cultivating Biblical Godliness bo…

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The Pastor and Purity 39:25

7M ago39:25

39:25

When Paul lists elder qualifications, he mentions Satan twice (1 Tim. 3:6–7). Why? The devil loves to stalk and destroy shepherds. And one of his main strategies is tempting us toward little compromises—which never remain little—in the realm of sexual purity. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Garrett Kell joins Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan…

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Spending Eternity with Christ and the Living Church Family - Jonathan Master 1:02:46

7M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

This week, on All of Life for God, Dr. Jonathan Master calls us to hope in the promise of the Church as our eternal family in his second session from the 2024 Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Conference. Rejoice in our glorious future as God’s people with this powerful sermon on Revelation 14. Check out Dr. Joel Beeke’s commentary here. Check …

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Teach Gospel Assurance 38:56

7M ago38:56

38:56

Assurance of salvation is a deeply precious gift, but many Christians struggle to experience it. Pastors have the unique privilege—and challenge—of being “soul doctors” in our people’s lives. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss how to apply the gospel to nominal Christians (who shouldn’t have assurance), …

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Parenting as a Prophet, Priest, and King in Your Home - Richard Phillips 1:10:20

7M ago1:10:20

1:10:20

This week, on All of Life for God, we continue our study of Growing Your Own Family and the Church Family God's Way with Dr. Richard Phillips’ session on the man as Prophet, Priest, and King in his home from the 2024 Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Conference. Discover the ways that men must look to Christ as their example as a husband and a …

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Prepare Your People For Sunday 32:07

7M ago32:07

32:07

Do your members prioritize the Lord’s Day? Are they maximizing their time at church? In a hyper-busy age, we can serve our people by preparing them to come on Sundays ready to grow, ready to serve, and ready to launch. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Ligon Duncan and Matt Smethurst offer practical tips for helping your congregation get the …

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The Puritans on Marriage and Child-rearing - Dr. Joel Beeke 1:18:32

7M ago1:18:32

1:18:32

For the next month on All of Life for God, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary will present sessions from its 2024 annual conference on Growing Your Own Family and the Church Family God's Way. Listen this week as Dr. Joel Beeke draws on the wisdom of William Gouge to encourage us to pursue the high calling of marriage and parenting in the fear of…

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Supporting Women in the Church 32:07

7M ago32:07

32:07

Men and women aren't interchangeable, and God’s gendered design is a beautiful thing. How can pastors encourage and equip the godly women that the Lord entrusts to their care? It has been said, after all, that there’s no such thing as a healthy church in which the men flourish but the women don't. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethu…

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Let Us Go into the House of the Lord! - Jonathan Landry Cruse 34:08

7M ago34:08

34:08

"I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”—Psalm 122:1 Do you joyfully embrace worship on the Lord’s Day? This week, on All of Life for God, Jonathan Landry Cruse demonstrates how worshipping together draws the church nearer to the heavenly Jerusalem in his sermon from Psalm 122. Consider the delight and destination o…

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The Value of Theological Triage 34:02

8M ago34:02

34:02

Doctrines are more like an interconnected web than an itemized list. So how do we determine which matters are debatable in a church—and which are not? Not all beliefs are equally important, after all. In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan encourage pastors to think carefully about the respective “weight” Scripture …

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God Our Keeper - Jonathan Landry Cruse 29:15

8M ago29:15

29:15

“The purposes of God; the divine attributes; the immutable promises; the covenant, ordered in all things and sure; the providence, predestination, and proved faithfulness of the Lord—these are the hills to which we must lift our eyes, for from these our help must come.”—Charles Spurgeon This week, on All of Life for God, Pastor Jonathan Cruse remin…

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Don’t Underestimate Ministry Philosophy 40:33

8M ago40:33

40:33

Have you ever wondered why two churches can be so similar in their doctrinal beliefs but so different in their practices? How can we make sure our methodology is rooted in theology, not mere pragmatism? In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan are joined by Michael Lawrence to discuss the underrated importance of mini…

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Dwelling in a Land of Violence - Jonathan Landry Cruse 31:52

8M ago31:52

31:52

"Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?”—Psalm 24:3 As pilgrims and sojourners on the earth, we often feel the strain of walking toward a city we cannot see. Where can Christians find encouragement in this heavenward journey? For the next few weeks on All of Life for God, Pastor Jonathan Cruse will call us to …

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Build a Culture of Discipleship 39:43

8M ago39:43

39:43

If pastors are the supply line, members are the front line. How can pastors equip their sheep to take responsibility for one another’s spiritual well-being? How can pastors foster a culture of relational initiative and deliberate discipleship? In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share practical ideas on how to sh…

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Spurgeon: A Life by Alex DiPrima 43:13

8M ago43:13

43:13

“As actions speak louder than words, so an ill life will effectually drown the voice of the most eloquent ministry… Our truest building must be performed with our hands; our characters must be more persuasive than our speech.”—Charles Spurgeon Pastor Alex DiPrima’s new biography, Spurgeon: A Life, offers fresh insight into the Prince of Preachers b…

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The Art of Pastoral Care 29:36

8M ago29:36

29:36

Pastoral ministry is far more than preaching. Pastors are fundamentally shepherds, which means we’re called to care for particular sheep. How do we do that well? In this episode of The Everyday Pastor, Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan consider specific ways pastors can care for their congregation. Recommended resources: Jordan Stone, Love to Christ:…