In this episode of The Church Resource, Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass have a practical, honest conversation about fasting in the life of the church—why we do it, how to plan it wisely, and how to avoid missing the point.

As many churches consider beginning-of-the-year fasts, they explore key leadership questions: When should a church fast? How long should it last? How restrictive should it be? Drawing from real ministry experience, they discuss why some churches fast midyear while others fast in January, and how factors like congregational background, health, fellowship, and major events shape those decisions.

The conversation introduces tiered fasting approaches—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—and explains how offering levels can help people participate meaningfully without turning fasting into a competition. Lucas and Chris also address common pitfalls, including turning a fast into a diet, obsessing over recipes or weight loss, and replacing one distraction with another.

At the heart of the discussion is a reminder that fasting is about self-denial and prayer, not personal achievement. They unpack how fasting reveals temptation, pride, and vanity, and how it can deepen prayer by making it more Scripture-driven, more personal, and more focused on others.

If you have any recommendations for Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass email us at TheChurchResource@gmail.com

What does it really mean for a church to know and serve its community? In this episode of The Church Resource Podcast, Lucas Pinckard—proudly identifying as the "world's okayest pastor"—sits down with Dr. Chris Respass to unpack one of the most practical and often overlooked principles of effective ministry: executing the community. Building on ideas introduced by Mark Clifton, Lucas and Chris explore how easy it is for pastors and church leaders to become immersed in church culture while unintentionally losing touch with the people right outside their doors. Church growth books, conferences, and email newsletters often assume a metropolitan, walkable, high-density context—but most churches don't fit that mold. When leaders fail to account for their unique setting, even well-intentioned strategies can miss the mark. Executing the community means paying close attention to where God has placed your church. It's understanding demographics like age, ethnicity, income, education, and family structure, but it also goes deeper—recognizing housing trends, school locations, emerging needs, and even who isn't represented in the community. Chris explains how ministry effectiveness increases when churches stop forcing models that don't fit and start responding to what's actually happening around them. Throughout the episode, the hosts share real-life examples of how executing the community shapes ministry decisions. From deciding whether a church should be an "oasis" for insiders or an "outpost" for the kingdom, to choosing not to duplicate services already provided by schools or local organizations, the conversation emphasizes stewardship, humility, and collaboration. Rather than reinventing the wheel, healthy churches partner with community groups already doing good work and ask a simple but powerful question: How can we help? The discussion also highlights how understanding the community impacts everything from outreach to preaching. Chris shares how adapting sermon illustrations, references, and communication styles helped bridge generational gaps within the congregation. Small touches—cultural references, shared experiences, or even a familiar TV theme song—can go a long way in helping people feel seen, understood, and connected to one another. Lucas and Chris also address the pastoral responsibility of shepherding individuals and families by staying informed about real challenges in the community. Whether it's substance abuse, mental health struggles, parenting concerns, or aging-related issues, churches can create safe spaces for conversations, education, and care. Often, meeting practical needs opens doors for deeper trust, discipleship, and gospel conversations. At the heart of the episode is a call to intentional presence. Executing the community isn't about chasing trends or responding to every headline—it's about prayerfully paying attention, using church resources wisely, and showing up consistently. When churches do this well, they not only serve their neighbors more effectively, they become places people trust and invite others into. If you're a pastor, ministry leader, or church volunteer wondering how to make your church more connected to its surroundings, this episode offers practical wisdom, honest reflection, and a compelling reminder: the mission field is often right across the street. If you have any recommendations for Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass email us at TheChurchResource@gmail.com

As the Christmas season winds down and a new year approaches, pastors and church leaders everywhere feel the familiar pressure to answer a big question: What's the vision for next year? In this episode of The Church Resource Podcast, hosts Lucas Pinckard and Dr. Chris Respass have an honest, thoughtful, and occasionally humorous conversation about vision casting, goal setting, and why the church may not need another "new thing" after all. Lucas and Chris begin by acknowledging a reality many leaders quietly live with—most churches aren't planning years in advance. While large publishing organizations may have multi-year calendars mapped out, many pastors are navigating vision closer to the turn of the year, often guided by budget timelines and real-life ministry demands. And that's not a failure—it's normal. From there, the conversation shifts to the tension churches feel between novelty and faithfulness. Why do people expect a new theme, a fresh slogan, or a "word of the year" every January? And what happens when that excitement fades as quickly as it arrives? Drawing from Scripture, pastoral experience, and insights on church growth, Chris explains that churches don't plateau because they lack creativity, but because they drift away from two foundational commitments: faithful preaching of the gospel and clear, consistent vision. Rather than advocating for flashy programs or personality-driven momentum, the hosts emphasize resetting the church's vision—reminding people who they are, why they exist, and what God has already called them to do. Preach the gospel. Love one another. Do good works. Make disciples. These practices may not feel exciting, but they are powerful when done with discipline and intentionality. The episode also explores the role of goals in ministry. Using baptism as an example, Chris explains that setting goals isn't about manipulating outcomes or putting limits on the Holy Spirit. Instead, goals help leaders work backward to identify faithful actions—prayer, relationship-building, and gospel conversations—that create space for God to work. The metric isn't the mission; it's a tool for clarity. Lucas and Chris also discuss the dangers of consumerism in church culture, especially in metropolitan areas where people have endless options. When churches compete to appear innovative, they risk neglecting the slow, relational work that actually leads to lasting growth. As they note, spiritual formation is a marathon, not a sprint—and progress often becomes visible only over time. The episode closes with practical wisdom for young pastors preparing to preach vision-focused sermons at the beginning of the year. Chris offers straightforward counsel: pray, immerse yourself in Scripture, take inventory of past challenges and missed opportunities, communicate clearly and simply, and don't feel pressured to reinvent the vision every January. Sometimes God's plan extends well beyond a single year. If you're a pastor, church leader, or ministry volunteer feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to innovate, this episode offers a refreshing reminder: faithfulness, clarity, and discipline still matter—and they still work. Have a topic you want us to cover? Email us at TheChurchResource@gmail.com