Your church growth depends on something most pastors never budget for: their own continuing education.

Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan's recent conversation on The Gospel Coalition's Everyday Pastor podcast reveals a troubling reality: pastors routinely coast on seminary knowledge, but ministers who've stopped growing can't effectively lead churches toward growth. Duncan, chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary, puts it bluntly: "Pastoral ministry will grind you up." Without intentional learning rhythms, that grinding leads to cynicism and burnout that stalls church growth.

The conversation identifies why continued learning matters beyond personal enrichment. Duncan notes that studying Scripture and theology provides "blessed relief" from ministry pressures while simultaneously preparing pastors to serve their congregations better. Smethurst adds that reading quality writers—not just theologians—helps pastors stay fresh in sermon preparation and illustration development, directly impacting weekend teaching effectiveness.

Both formal and informal pathways exist. Informal options include daily reading disciplines, listening to sermons from other preachers, attending conferences, studying quality resources, and diving deep into study Bible notes. Formal options range from week-long intensive courses to full ThM or DMin programs.

Here's what this means for your church: A learning pastor becomes a more effective pastor. When you invest in your own growth, you're investing in your congregation's spiritual health and your church's growth trajectory. Here are three steps to implement this week:

Seven Conversations Every Pastor Should Have Before January | ChurchLeaders

These last few months in the year provide a natural checkpoint for meaningful conversations that strengthen ministry health. ChurchLeaders recommends seven essential year-end dialogues: unhurried time with God examining your heart's posture, honest family conversations about ministry's impact on home life, leadership team reviews focused on spiritual vitality rather than metrics, soul-maintenance sessions with trusted mentors, check-ins with key volunteers to prevent burnout, feedback gatherings with congregation members, and prayerful planning with God for the year ahead.

Consider: Most pastors enter the new year exhausted rather than renewed. Which of these seven conversations are you avoiding? Schedule the hardest one first.

Three People Every Pastor Needs | Outreach Magazine

After 19 years in ministry, pastor Adam Weber identifies three roles that kept him from quitting: a pastor who shepherds you without expecting anything in return, a coach who champions your potential and provides growth strategies, and a mentor who offers wisdom across multiple life areas. But none of these relationships happen accidentally; they require specific, focused meetings around specific questions.

Action step: Don't ask someone to “be your mentor.” Instead, invite one person to coffee this week with 3-4 prepared questions. If it goes well, implement their advice, and then follow up a month later. Repeat until the relationship naturally develops. 

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