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The Productive Pastor

Chad Brooks

What does it mean to live life well in ministry?

Join us as we talk about how living intentionally in the called life can affect our productivity, vision of ministry strategy, and a host of other conversations for people serving others through Jesus.

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20 episodes
Avg 18 min
English

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April 17 · 15 min
3 Questions to DIscern Mission in the Local Church : PP132
In this episode, I get super practical about mission in normal-sized churches. We walk through three big questions: Is anyone hungry? 🍽️ Is anyone lonely? 🧍‍♂️ Is anyone not safe? 🛟 I talk about why "mission" can't just be a side project for a few passionate people, and why words like outreach don't really help us get clear on what we're called to do. Instead, I unpack mission, mercy, and justice in everyday language and connect them to what's happening right around your church building—your Jerusalem. You'll hear real-world examples of hunger, loneliness, and safety issues in local schools, apartments, and senior communities, plus how a church can pick one thing and do it really well. If you're tired of random programs and want your church to have a clear, meaningful impact in your neighborhood, this episode is a great place to start. Get the scorecard here -> https://bit.ly/MissionPriority Watch the video -> https://bit.ly/4d6izip Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Nov 12, 2025 · 21 min
My 2025 Analog System : PP131
Join me as I unveil my game-changing 2025 analog workflow that promises to revolutionize productivity in ministry. In this episode, I dive deep into the evolution of my own productivity systems, sharing the highs, lows, and ultimate shift from digital chaos to analog clarity. If you're a pastor yearning for a productivity plan tailored to the unique demands of ministry, my proven strategies and customizable templates might just be your answer. Listen in to discover how you can transform your own chaos into creative control, and why your perfect planner is within reach. Waitlist for the 2025 Productivity Pack | https://bit.ly/2025plannerpack Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Aug 19, 2025 · 8 min
Fight Procrastination (by understanding task blockades) : PP130
Ever feel stuck with endless tasks, like sermons to write or crises to manage? I get it—and I've got some stories and tips to help you break through those barriers. I like to think of them as "task blockades" and once you understand it, you can get through them more easily. Watch on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRWbLycBW0 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Aug 2, 2025 · 19 min
Deliverability and Visibility : PP129
How much do you think about communication and social media in your church? I'm not in a local church anymore, but I think about it often. Both in my own ministry AND in the pastors I talk with each day. I've been rolling around a different personal social media strategy for the last month. I want to share it with you, but also help you understand why this is a pattern I think churches should consider. Shownotes: https://bit.ly/prodpastor129 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
May 23, 2025 · 39 min
Is My Church Healthy? (My New Book) | PP128
I wrote a book! I'm not doing a massive release or campaign for it to come out, but I am letting folks know about it. I've begun using NotebookLM, an AI tool of Google's for a variety of things lately. One of the things I love about it is how it can produce an AI hosted audio podcast based on documents imported. Out of curiosity this week, I uploaded the manuscript into NotebookLM and was seriously impressed. I decided to share that with you. My book is specifically aimed at normal-size church leaders/pastors and that squarely lands inside of the Productive Pastor family. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Mar 3, 2025 · 18 min
The relationship between ministry productivity and church health: PP127
We are back. In episode 127, I give you an update about the podcast for 2025, share some new things, and explore a bigger idea I've been working on in my head these last few months. It comes with a core conviction. "Healthy pastors create healthy churches, and healthy churches create healthy pastors." Let's jump into the conversation about how our own approach to productivity actually does have a bearing on seeing and understanding church health. Shownotes: https://bit.ly/prodpastor127 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Dec 27, 2024 · 25 min
My Biggest Productivity Lessons of 2024 : PP126
It's almost the end of the year! I've been reflecting on the lessons I have learned about ministry productivity in my own context this last week. Let me share the biggest ones with you. Get Prepare Focused Sermons: https://bit.ly/preparefocusedsermons Shownotes : https://bit.ly/prodpastor126 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTubez
Dec 19, 2024 · 19 min
Using Trello for Event Planning | PP125
How do you feel about managing events at your church? They low-key used to be my least favorite thing. So years back, my staff got together and tackled the problems we had, created some systems, and used Trello to manage events. Let me share with you how we did it all. Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor125 Download the Event Sheet | https://bit.ly/PPeventsheet Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTubez
Dec 6, 2024 · 14 min
Using Trello for Project Management : PP124
How do I like to manage projects once they are designed? On answer. Trello. Let's talk about it and I walk you through it all. Make sure to check out the YouTube video of the episode to see the details. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTubez
Nov 28, 2024 · 13 min
My 5 Favorite Items for Ministry Productivity : PP123
What do I use daily for ministry work? I've got a handful of tools I can't imagine not using over the years. Let me share them with you and where you can pick one up if you want to try them out. Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor123 YouTube video | https://bit.ly/4ilkXBW Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTubez
Nov 22, 2024 · 22 min
Big Project Design : PP122
So what is a big project in ministry? I've been asked this question several times lately in different backchannels. So I wanted to answer it, and share my favorite way to design AND manage big projects. We step into a framework which starts at the end. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Nov 14, 2024 · 13 min
How to Have a Great Weekend (throwback episode) : PP121
We talk a bunch about the workweek here at Productive Pastor, but how often do we talk about the weekend? In this throwback episode to over 10 years ago, I'm replaying one of the first episodes of the first version of the show and walking through tips to make the most of your time off. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Nov 8, 2024 · 20 min
Cal Newport's Push/Pull Approach to Project Management : PP120
Project management is one of those skills most of us have to learn. We aren't naturally great at it. In Cal Newport's latest book, Slow Productivity, he shares an approach to project management I've found helpful personally. It translates over to ministry really well. So let's look at the push/pull methodology of project management. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Oct 31, 2024 · 19 min
Preaching Strategy and Vision : PP119
What role does the sermon have in congregational vision and strategy? Let's consider this an entry episode into a much larger conversation. Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor119 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Oct 25, 2024 · 15 min
Shifting Back to Analog Productivity : PP 118
Finding the perfect productivity system first means admitting the perfect system doesn't exist. But an appropriate one, unique to you, does exist. I find systems tend to run in cycles, and at the end of one, hopefully we have found a new tool that actually provides deep value. Over the last few months, I have been relying more on analog tools because I have to be adaptive in a new ministry context. Let me share more about deciding what tools are actually helpful and how I am integrating analog tools back into my workflow. Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor118 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Oct 17, 2024 · 16 min
Learning New Vocational Capacities (and how I'm doing it) | PP117
What happens when ministry is changing and you need to learn new skills? Seminary and Bible College might teach the Christian leader to do many things, but rarely do we think about what it means to learn new skills and level up in our vocational abilities. I always love this conversation (and am a bit low-key fascinated with it right now). So let's jump into a quick framework AND let me share with you how/why I'm doing this. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor Email List | https://bit.ly/PPemailList Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Oct 10, 2024 · 16 min
How To Deal with Brain Fog : PP116
Is Brain Fog a thing for you? I deal with it and it can be a bit frustrating. So let's tackle the subject and walk through some solutions to minimizing it. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Aug 15, 2024 · 15 min
How to Not Waste a Conference : PP115
Do you ever go to a conference, come back, and feel like you didn't learn anything? Or maybe you hit the office running and end up overwhelming other leaders and staff because you starting changing a bunch of things. Yep - I've done both. In this episode, I want to share how focusing on current challenges and questions, combined with intentional networking can make conferences a valuable experience for strategic ministry. Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Aug 1, 2024 · 15 min
Core Communication Beliefs : PP114
In Episode 114 of Productive Pastor, I dive into core communication strategies crucial for effective ministry. Discover how to prioritize communication, manage time efficiently, and improve church health through clear, timely interactions. Shownotes | https://bit.ly/prodpastor114 Healthy Ministry Through Strategic Productivity Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube
Jul 26, 2024 · 14 min
Getting the Calendar Controlled : PP113
Does your calendar seem to control you? In this episode, let's tame that wild calendar, get it under control, and learn how to use it as an essential piece of your ministry productivity. Listen and Subscribe to Productive Pastor on iTunes | https://bit.ly/ProductivePastor Productive Pastor on Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3oIT5gf Chad on YouTube | https://bit.ly/RevChadBrooksYouTube Healthy ministry, strategic productivity, calendar management, pastoral care, time management, communication, efficient ministry, effective ministry, tool tips, scheduling tools, Notion, Calendly, digital calendar, recurring events, setting priorities, building margin, Chad Brooks.

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