Priority Pastor X: Recent Episodes
Daren Wride
A message on the causes and consequences of adultery, as described by Solomon in the early chapters of Proverbs. This talk also suggests some preventative commitments to prevent adultery, as well as a reminder of the more-than-sufficient grace of God.
There are many ways to try to make ends meet in a bi-vocational lifestyle.
Is trading crypto or stocks a viable option?
If you are careful about what you eat at lunch but still find yourself dragging in the afternoon, this might be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Here is an important addition to any annual planning or goal setting you find yourself doing.
Here are some key passages to read when you feel like you are in or about to enter the heat of the battle.
These five practices will move you and those you train into more focused and effective disciple making.
More than one third of pastors have seriously considering leaving ministry in the past year. Why? And what should you do if you are one of them?
It might not be an actual app…What is one thing you can “delete” that will get rid of a significant problem?
I made two decisions this morning that will save me an average of 4 hours per week- or more than 5 work weeks in a year!
Here is a simple addition I’ve made to my morning routine that helps me get “in the zone” more quickly when I start working.
Here is a simple idea that has helped me, and could probably help you, with sleep, energy and productivity.
The book Profit First by Mike Michalowicz has been revolutionizing the way small business owners manage their finances. In this episode, Daren speaks with bookkeeper Graham Utz about church financial management and how Profit First can be applied to the way churches manage their finances.
John Stott once said “Sermonettes make Christianettes.” Well, what is a sermonette? Is it a matter of length or something else? Here are some thoughts on sermon length. Spoiler: Most sermons should be shorter.
The quest for church vision can be a never-never ending, fruitless exercise. What's the alternative?
This is an excerpt from an interview with Kenda Reimer, a spiritual director in British Columbia, Canada. This segment focuses on spiritual direction and Christian leadership.
For the full interview, go to https://disciplemaking.buzzsprout.com/
For more about Kenda go to http://explorewatersedge.ca or https://www.soulformation.org
Pastors are on the move. But some of them are moving right out of ministry. How about you? Here are some important considerations for a move to another ministry role or a move out of vocational ministry altogether.
Building on the last episodes Re-Entry Resolutions, here are three suggestions for areas to prioritize going forward.
This is a unique opportunity to make significant changes in our lives and ministries. What are the outcomes you want? And what are the habits that will get you there?
Evangelism is the bottleneck in disciple making and the absence of personal evangelism is the bottleneck in evangelism in general. Here is a simple strategy to begin engaging in personal evangelism.
Did you know that being in a position of power can create things in your heart and mind that can damage your leadership? Here’s what’s happening and how you can protect yourself.
Here is the link mentioned in the episode:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/07/power-causes-brain-damage/528711/
How many of these ways are you being paid? What you to do if you are underpaid in these areas.
The primary activity of churches, pastors, indeed all followers of Jesus Christ is to be making disciples. The book DNA of a Christ Follower unpacks the “what.” Here is how we are beginning to answer the “how.”
Yep, made it to 300 episodes! Here is a review of where this podcast has come from, where it is going, and one big lesson for you to apply in your life and ministry.
When we think our role as pastors and Christian leaders is to build the church, we might be distracted from the real calling of making disciples.
Do you feel like a success in your ministry? How do you define and measure success? Consider these seven metrics.
He was adamant: “It’s broken, we know it’s broken!” Do you agree that the way we generally do church is broken? How do we ask these kinds of questions and address the challenges without being…jerks?
Are you speaking in a way that people can understand? There are some simple principles and tools that can help.
Have you taken the time to figure out the kind of person you are especially called to reach as a disciple who makes disciples?
The question is “What is the greatest current hindrance, bottleneck or hurdle to your church moving ahead?” You probably won’t like the answer.
Yeah, I’m tired of those words too! It’s time to quit expected stability and retool for rapid constant change.
Sometimes life and ministry is about working a plan, but sometimes it’s about recognizing and responding to interruptions.
Young or new pastors seem to face an inordinate amount of attack. Here’s why and here’s what do to about it.
Here is a simple idea to carry with you into the year that will help keep everything else aligned.
A report on my 38 days of “nightmare mode” and some thoughts about moving forward into the New Year.
Here is a technique I learned from an “interesting” marketer and Youtube personality for focusing in and getting some important things done.
Have you ever stopped to think how many truths and applications the people you serve are exposed to through our ministry? How do we keep this volume of t-units from overwhelming them and helping them develop the habit of NOT applying the Word?
We sometimes think that if our job it tough, then we're not where we're supposed to be. What if leadership is supposed to be challenging?
Sometimes the hits we take in leadership cause us to pull back from the gifts and callings we have received.
I’m currently subscribed to thirty-three podcasts. Here are a few that are worth a look if you are in ministry leadership- and they are not all ministry related.
How can you fulfill your primary calling- making disciples- if you aren’t clear on what a disciple is? Here’s a way to help get it clear in your heart and mind.
It’s been fun, and a little stressful perhaps, learning new tools and tactics for ministry in an online world. It’s time to get back to business and refocus on our core purpose: Making Disciples.
What do you do when you face big changes in your life? Here is a practice my wife and I have found essential.
Dentists are seeing more cracked teeth these days due to higher stress. How are you handling the added stress of the season?
Due to some significant shifts in eating patterns in this calendar year, the change in routine due to Covid has been a health boost in our home.
As with a financial windfall, don’t squander a sudden surplus of time. Here are some ideas on how to strategically use extra time in your schedule.
Want to get hired as a lead pastor? Make sure this trait is genuinely displayed in your life.
My wife and I will not get an extended time off this summer. Here’s why it’s going to be okay.
Here are some lessons and tips from the front lines of producing sermons for virtual church.
What are you doing to make sure you are functioning well when the world around you, or your workplace, is in turmoil? Here are four simple things that will help keep you stable and sustainable.
All kinds of “pivots” being recommended and discussed in these days. Here’s one that I think we’re missing.
This episode is an excerpt from a larger interview I did with Stuart McKnight of TheologyNow.ca. I’d asked him a question about some content he’d produced titled “A Theology of Covid.” His comments relate to any crisis situation and will give you food for thought as to how you process and interpret tragedies of any kind. You can see the entire interview on my blog at darenwride.com and you can learn more about Stuart and TheologyNow.ca at, you guess it, theologynow.ca
When you face a crisis or challenge, there is a tool or skillset you will naturally draw upon in order to deal with that crisis. But is it the tool that is needed?
Some, simple, easy to establish habits that will make you more effective while working from home.
When the dust settles how many pastors will no longer be employed as pastors for a substantial period of time?
This isn’t a post about productivity or generic work-from-home tips. It’s specifically for pastors who suddenly find themselves working 100% from home.
Crisis leadership includes self-leadership, self-care. Here are some simply self-care practices to use in crisis, and maybe at other times too.
As more and more churches are compelled to go online, we need to think through what is different about an online vs live experience.
A bit of my experience in preaching multiple services over the weekend and some things I've learned along the way.
The way we do church has changed in the past week, and will continue to change. How will you adapt your ministry?
Important information about being intentional with the discipleship pathway in your church.
What can we learn and takeaway from listening to people who are in a variety of ages and stages of ministry?
Personal accountability is important, especially as a leader. Here is how I keep myself accountable and keep myself on track.
Where are you trying to grow and develop right now? Be sure maintain the posture of a beginner and revisit the basics!
A question from a friend that got me thinking about the big picture of all I do.
Get the Weekly Planning Template Here.
Here’s a little “digestive reset” we do from time to time that often snaps me out of a season of not feeling very well.
As a preacher or Bible teacher, do you lean toward clear and simple, deep and novel, or manage to marry the two?
With some fear and trembling I am sharing a couple habits I hope to establish in the year ahead.
The only way to grow is to break your routine, to interrupt your pattern. Here are some ideas how.
Three simple habits that showed up in my life in the past year that have made a significant difference.
We all have blind spots in our leadership and our ministries. Do you know what yours are?
Speaking, music and leading. Few people can do all three equally well. And perhaps no one should try.
When you go through the pain of cleaning up, you’re more motivated to keep from re-polluting yourself.
Do people get what they see with you? Are you an integrated leader or is there something nasty under the surface?
It’s easy to articulate what you are against. How clear are you about what you are for?
What are the key issues in deciding to stay or go, in starting and ending a ministry well? I get asked about this a lot. Here are the key points.
Do you ever find yourself coasting in ministry, not engaging fully in the calling at hand? There are two valid options for you (and me) to consider.
Some considerations for evaluating an offer of employment to serve as a pastor in a church.
A simple upgrade I took too long to make which instantly made me more productive. (Hint: HD to SSD)
I’ve been impressed with the time saved by using Prime, as well as the way it helps fill in some of the gaps of living in a small community.
What do you do when you are on a church staff and the lead pastor is clearly out of line, abusive, unethical or just plain nuts?
What do you do when you find yourself in a broken staffing situation, and you’re supposed to be the boss?
A quick list of some tools that church boards might find useful in doing their work. For more info on any of them, feel free to contact me.
These are the things we bump into again and again in transitional ministry. Don’t let these things happen in your church!
Out of all the energy you have, there is a segment that can be used for creative work, and when it’s gone it’s gone. Here are a few things I’m learning about rationing my creative energy.
Some ideas of how to use email list segmentation and personalization in a church or ministry setting.
A quick overview of a budget process for churches that isn’t simply based on the squeaky wheel.
The way a pastor leaves a church can enhance the ministry they’ve had and give a boost to the ministry of the next pastor…or detract from both.
As logical and biblical as it is to do evangelism, until there is an accompanying passion we don’t tend to do it.
How to you use your ministry time wisely when there are no pressing tasks? Here are three ideas.
It’s been a hazard in ministry from the time of the early church. But there is a remedy.
It's not easy to make the shift from holidays back into the work and ministry routine. Here are a few steps I'm taking to get my head back where it needs to be.
Too many churches and pastors live in crisis mode when it comes to finances. Here are some principles to break out of that pattern.
This could change the way you look at social media and entertainment. (Plus give you a very cool parenting idea.)
There are things leaders do that can destroy trust or fortify it. Do you know what those things are in your context?
It’s important that pastors and ministry leaders model and teach that we need to be shooting for eternity, not just retirement.
Some ideas are just too stimulating to put in a file- so I put them on the wall. Here are a few of those nuggets.
A few thoughts from Ephesians 2, describing where we all were- or still are- and where Jesus wants to take us.
The system used by an online coach I’m working with presents some interesting possibilities for pastoral care, discipleship and church communication.
Note: In the audio I fail to mention the software used for this. It is Xenforo2: https://xenforo.com/
I am not an affiliate for this. I share it simply because I think it's brilliant.
Memo to my younger pastor self, and anyone else who’s listening: You’re not as essential to the church as you think you are. (But you are to your family and your health.)
No matter how your day is going, here are some benefits highlighted in Ephesians 1 that are true of you if you are a follower of Jesus Christ.
Changing the package doesn’t change the reality that true community and effective disciple-making is challenging.
We regularly need to take inventory, identify unsustainable trends in our lives and ministries, and take some options off the table with a bold “No!”
When someone gives what they know are their final words to people close to their heart, those words are usually worth noting. Here are a leader’s final words to the leaders of a church he planted.
An excerpt from the Recipe for an Epic Day training, which is part of the Pastor Productivity Pack in Priority Pastor.
A final excerpt from the Personal Evangelism Crash Course webinar, sharing some simple but critically important principles for personal evangelism.
An excerpt from the Personal Evangelism Crash Course webinar on how non-evangelists can be effective witnesses.
An excerpt from the Personal Evangelism Crash Course highlighting the purpose of evangelism. Also a note about the fact that while not all are gifted as evangelists, all are called to be witnesses.
Advice to a friend who has been shortlisted for a lead pastor role and is getting a second interview.
Here is the process we use in a transitional ministry to develop a useful church history document for leveraging change.
Two radically different responses to one of my books highlights the need for understanding different the stages of people we are seeking to reach withe Gospel.
My biggest marketing lesson of the year which I have shared with many of my author and musician friends.
Travel is inherently unproductive. But this week's roadtrip was an exception. Here's what I learned.
Forgotten items on a combined camping-conference trip reminds me why I really need to use checklists!
Did you know that until you claim the automatic Google listing for your church that anyone can post whatever link they want as your website?
Maybe some of our stress is caused by thinking we can control or fix issues that aren’t ours to control or fix.
I’m finding myself in an odd state of disorientation from not having any burning crisis staring me in the face. And this brings its own challenges.
Miller’s StoryBrand book got my wheels turning in so many ways. Here’s and overview- take a listen and then get this book!
A week full of good days requires a good day off. Here are some things help make a good day off.
Here are some questions we use in transitional ministry to help understand the current state of the church.
Some transitional ministry practices and ideas that you can apply in a regular, longer term pastoral role.
Some adjustments I’m making to ensure that I’m walking my talk and crafting a focused, sustainable life and ministry.
Part 5 of the interview with Seth Shelley, with some direct words for young pastors, and his thoughts on who would most benefit from Priority Pastor.
Part 4 of the Seth Shelley interview, with some insights into the relational side of leadership.
Part 3 of the Seth Shelley interview, where he shares how he has adapted the principles of Priority Pastor to his unique role and personality.
Part 2 of an interview with Seth Shelley. Getting up early, irritation with “Footprints”, team ministry, and more.
A simple trick we use to make it easier to do what’s important. And it’s not just about canoeing.
There’s something about getting some natural light as early in the day as possible that sets you up for a good day…and a good sleep that night!
Sometimes we need to quit pouring more leadership theory into our heads and actually get out there and do the work of leadership.
An honest history of your church can give people a common story and be a launch pad for the next season of ministry.
A heads up about some of the things that will be shared in the new Priority Pastor webinar.
A devotional I heard decades ago still challenges me in the way I respond when things go sideways.
If you have a good friend in a church where you pastor, you need to get some things clear in your head- and maybe theirs too!
Why I only reluctantly use the phrase “discipleship” and instead prefer “disciple-making”.
One of the eight essential traits of a follower of Jesus. Why it’s essential, and why it’s always possible.
Nothing changes if there is not urgency, no recognition of the need to change. But you also need to instil hope so there is energy to make the change.
A quick note I recorded while playing hooky from work in order to go for what turned out to be an excellent time outside.
A summary of the latest message in the DNA of a Christ Follower Series: What does it mean to be evangelistic?
It can strike in the middle of the day, the middle of a ministry or the middle of life.
Grappling with how to make churches and The Church more effective and efficient in making disciples.
The toxic idea of “forgiving yourself” needs to be exposed as the anti-Gospel lie that it is.
It often gets written off as a necessary evil, but good governance is a spiritual issue.
How a marketing activity has shaped my thinking about ministry… and pretty much everything
If we focus on building community with the idea that we will eventually move into mission, it will likely never happen.
There’s a big difference between being called a leader or holding a leadership position, and actually leading.
What develops you and grows you more: Starting a business, or being in ministry leadership?
If we can vacuum the absolute meaning out of a word like “truth” where’s the foundation?
Most of my books are in storage. One of the few dozen I keep with me in my transitional assignments is this one.
The words of Jesus in John 6.67 are a challenge to all Christian leaders: Are you so confident in your mission and calling that you will be unfazed when some of your followers bail?
Here’s a simple thing we’ve done to spend a little more money but free up a lot more time.
Self-awareness is a key trait of healthy and effective leaders. Are you aware of the primary event or events that have made you who you are?
Here are two tools I use that you may want to use in your ministry communication system.
The second trait in the DNA of a Christ Follower is being a lover of people. What does that look like, practically?
A few nuggets from my webinar on Efficient Sermon Prep, to help you link your message to your audience.
Some nuggets from a recent article by Karl Vaters on non-numerical ways of assessing church health.
Here is a simple way to be salt and light, love people and maybe change some attitudes about followers of Jesus.
Here are three more words, three more ideas, that will make all your communication more effective.
Whether it’s sales and marketing, or preaching and ministry and recruiting, these three words will strengthen your communication.
If you want to catch fish, this is THE ultimate secret. But it’s not just about fishing.
A recent cougar attack on a jogger got me thinking about systems and patterns and what to do when we see a pattern.
It’s not even 2 pm and this has already been a very good day. So I’m trying to figure out why, and how to make it happen again tomorrow.
Here is a way to check if your email address has been tied to a data breach- and how you can keep such breaches from being serious.
I just listened to two podcasts from two different rich people who had the same observation about making more money.
It’s hard to get things done on the road so I’m looking forward to some non-travel time!
How can a church with very few documented processes function as efficiently as the one I’m working with right now?
Need to change something in your church, ministry or organization? Here are some important change principles from Kotter’s classic book.
Understanding what phase of a project or ministry you prefer gives you an idea of where you ought to focus.
Nuggets from a marketing course I took last year which have direct relevant to ministry.
My routine was trashed for the last three weeks. Here’s what happened and how I’m getting back on track.
Here are some helpful questions to consider when figuring out what you hope to accomplish in the year ahead.
What are your hopes, dreams, plans and expectations for the next season of your life and ministry?
What's more important than a therapists skills, a physicians drugs and any other factor when it comes to health and healing?
This activity often gets squeezed out of our lives and churches. But it is a key to maintaining our perspective as followers of Jesus.
Tricks that unethical, insecure and manipulative leaders use to insulate themselves from criticism.
It's easy to waste time and money on books, courses, seminars. How do you capture the investment?
Approaching ministry as if we are planning a trip, with a process rather than event mindset, can save us from overwhelm.
Who are you, what are you called to do,...and who's backing you? Being confident and secure in those things can reduce overwhelm.
Just completed my first Priority Pastor webinar. Went well, learned a few things, already planning the next.
How do you establish boundaries with people who dominate your time, while still loving them?
Just started running my first Instagram ads today. Curious to see how it will stack up alongside Facebook and Google Adwords.
Some considerations for curtailing social media from The Busy Pastor Cheatsheet at PriorityPastor.com
How do you handle requests from people who want to come to your church and do some kind of ministry?
There's a big difference between an education or a degree, and actually being equipped for ministry.
Some reflections on the relationship between pastoral ministry and business, arising from my "crossover day" retreat.
Tomorrow is the day, which if I survive, will make me older than my father was when he passed away.
A quick overview of how a short Toastmasters talk morphed into a sermon, a paid speech, a book and an online course.
What are you doing to protect yourself from sexual immorality, or the accusation of sexual impropriety?
You can't solve a technical problem with prayer. You can't simply teach your way out of a leadership challenge.
If you have a sermon series that really clicked, give some serious thought to turning it into a book.
What was the moment of your greatest hope and passion in ministry? How's it going today?
I thought I was going to a secular motivation and sales training event. But the Gospel showed up.
It's important to understand what it is, under the surface, that is driving you. Do you understand why you do what you?
The very first episode of Priority Pastor X. Daren Wride shares the why and the what of PPX.