The Pastor in the Middle - podcast cover

The Pastor in the Middle

Fred Shackelford, Matt Crawfordwww.trinitybaptistchurch.org
The Pastor in the Middle is a podcast for pastors seeking to think through ministry issues with grace and nuance. Fred Shackelford and Matt Crawford both pastor in the Memphis area, Fred at Ellendale Baptist Church and Matt at Trinity Baptist Church. They often feel like they are in the middle, stuck between extreme positions on both sides. Can we find a balanced approach? That’s the goal of “Pastor in the Middle,” our new podcast.
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Episodes

PITM Episode 99 [Repost from Ep. 35]: Homiletical Method, with Dr. Reginald Taylor

[Repost due to summer schedules. One update: Reginald Taylor is now DOCTOR Taylor, having completed the PhD work we discussed in this episode.] PART TWO: Fred and Matt interview Pastor Reginald Taylor of The Rock Church in Memphis. Reginald is writing a PhD dissertation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on the doctrinal preaching of Adrian Rogers. In this second of a two-part series, Reginald discusses homiletical method.

Jun 30, 202531 min

PITM Episode 97: Churches Partnering Together, with Dr. Danny Sinquefield

Fred and Matt interview Dr. Danny Sinquefield on the value and blessing of churches partnering together. Danny is the pastor emeritus of Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett, TN, after having pastored there for over 27 years. He now serves as the Harvest Field Team Leader for Region 1 of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, helping to encourage pastors and coordinate cooperative ministry all over West Tennessee.

Mar 27, 202533 min

PITM Episode 95: Pastoral Humility

Fred and Matt discuss the importance of humility in the life and heart of the pastor. They work through some of the root causes of the problem, a biblical perspective on it, and some practical help for defeating this insidious temptation.

Jan 28, 202548 min

PITM Episode 93: Preaching Christ from the Old Testament, with Dr. Jon Akin

Fred and Matt interview Dr. Jon Akin, Vice President for Church Relations & Campus Ministries at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Jon has a PhD in Old Testament and has written several books on preaching in a Christ-centered way. Links to his books (some discussed in the episode) are below: 1. "Preaching Christ from Proverbs": https://www.amazon.com/Preaching-Christ-Proverbs-Jonathan-Akin/dp/0692360158?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.98chky2lBln-P9gZ_r2T25SSu_N7...

Nov 26, 202455 min

PITM Episode 92: Interview with Raleigh Sadler, founder of Let My People Go

At a Mid-South Baptist Association pastors meeting in Memphis, Fred and Matt recently had the opportunity to interview Raleigh Sadler, founder and director of Let My People Go ( lmpg.org ). LMPG helps churches engage in the fight against human trafficking. Please check out their website! The free e-book that Raleigh references during the episode can be found here: https://www.lmpg.org/handbook Here's the Amazon link to Raleigh's first book, "Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking": https://www...

Oct 22, 202451 min

PITM Episode 91: Sabbaticals

Fred and Matt return from their podcast hiatus to (fittingly!) talk about - sabbaticals! Fred just took a sabbatical after 10 years of serving at Ellendale Baptist Church. Podcast episodes will now come on a monthly basis, but each individual episode should be longer. Thanks for listening!

Sep 24, 20241 hr 20 min

PITM Episode 90 [Repost from Ep. 34]: Hermeneutical Method, with Reginald Taylor

[REPOST FROM EPISODE 34.] Fred and Matt interview Pastor Reginald Taylor of The Rock Church in Memphis. Reginald is writing a PhD dissertation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on the doctrinal preaching of Adrian Rogers. In this first of a two-part series, Reginald discusses hermeneutical method. Here is the link for Dr. Tom Schreiner's book mentioned in this episode: https://www.amazon.com/Interpreting-Pauline-Epistles-Thomas-Schreiner/dp/080103812X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=interpreting+th...

Jul 09, 202434 min

PITM Episode 87: Short-term Mission Trips

Fred and Matt discuss short-term mission trips, which have been important and influential in their spiritual growth and their ministries. They talk through blessings, goals, and pitfalls to avoid in these types of mission endeavors.

Jun 18, 202435 min

PITM Episode 85: Faith in the Public Square, with Steve Reynolds

Fred and Matt have one more discussion with Steve Reynolds, President Emeritus of Baptist Memorial Healthcare in the Mid-South. Baptist Healthcare is an explicitly Christian organization with many non-Christian employees, customers, and organizational partners. On this episode, Steve shares wisdom from his experience of living out his faith in this environment.

Jun 04, 202432 min

PITM Episode 84: Christian Leadership, with Steve Reynolds (Part 2)

Fred and Matt continue their discussion with Steve Reynolds, President Emeritus and Senior Consultant for Baptist Memorial Healthcare in the Mid-South (23 hospitals in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi). Steve was President and CEO of Baptist Memorial Healthcare for 20 years. This is Part 2 of a two-part discussion on Christian leadership. Thanks for listening!

May 28, 202445 min

PITM Episode 83: Christian Leadership, with Steve Reynolds (Part 1)

Fred and Matt sit down with Steve Reynolds, President Emeritus and Senior Consultant for Baptist Memorial Healthcare in the Mid-South (23 hospitals in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi). Steve was President and CEO of Baptist Memorial Healthcare for 20 years. This is Part 1 of a two-part discussion on Christian leadership. Thanks for listening!

May 21, 202442 min

PITM Episode 82: Preaching from the Epistles

Fred and Matt continue their series on preaching through different biblical genres. This week they discuss preaching through the Epistles of the New Testament.

May 14, 202434 min

PITM Episode 81: Creative Preaching - With Dr. Brian Carmichael

Fred and Matt discuss creative preaching with Dr. Brian Carmichael, pastor of Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis. Dr. Carmichael also serves as the Black Church Specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention and as a Dean at Union University's MCUTS campus in Memphis. Dr. Carmichael wrote a PhD dissertation on creative preaching, and he shares his insights in this episode. Thanks for listening!

May 07, 202439 min

PITM Episode 80: Following a Legend, Part 2 - With Dr. Brian Carmichael

For a second episode, Fred and Matt are joined by their friend, Dr. Brian Carmichael, pastor of Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis. Dr. Carmichael also serves as the Black Church Specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention and as a Dean at Union University's MCUTS campus in Memphis. At Holy Temple, Dr. Carmichael followed his own father, who had been the founding pastor. This is part 2 of his story. Thanks for listening!

Apr 30, 202424 min

PITM Episode 79: Following a Legend, Part 1 - With Dr. Brian Carmichael

Fred and Matt are joined by their friend, Dr. Brian Carmichael, pastor of Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis. Dr. Carmichael also serves as the Black Church Specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention and as a Dean at Union University's MCUTS campus in Memphis. At Holy Temple, Dr. Carmichael followed his own father, who had been the founding pastor. He tells his story over this and next week's episode. Thanks for listening!

Apr 23, 202425 min

PITM Episode 78: Preaching from New Testament History (Acts)

Fred and Matt are continuing their series on preaching through different genres of Scripture. This week's episode is on preaching through the book of Acts, the New Testament historical book that shows the work of the Holy Spirit in birthing the Church.

Apr 16, 202433 min

PITM Episode 75: Handling Relational Conflict

Fred and Matt discuss navigating relational conflict as a pastor - both when you are trying to help others reconcile, and when you need reconciliation with someone.

Mar 26, 202440 min

PITM Episode 73: Easter Season

Fred and Matt discuss what they lead their churches to do during the Easter season, leading up to and including Easter Sunday.

Mar 12, 202427 min

PITM Episode 72: Preaching from the Gospels

Fred and Matt continue their series on preaching from different genres of Scripture, now moving into the New Testament. This episode covers preaching from the four Gospels.

Mar 05, 202433 min

PITM Episode 71: Hot Takes

Should pastors comment on every controversy of the day? Fred and Matt offer their own hot take on hot takes.

Feb 27, 202434 min

PITM Episode 70: Music and Worship

"Worship wars" is a contradiction in terms! Song selection and styles of worship should lead to mutual submission within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Fred and Matt discuss leading a congregation in worship through music.

Feb 20, 202437 min
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