Ep. 329: Preaching to the tender conscience

Contact us. We’d love to serve youRequest a stay at a Shepherd’s House LocationGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveWrite a review on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyPurchase tickets for the Advancing the Church Equip Conference taking place September 10-11, 2026 in New Albany, IN. Find our newest book release, Pastor, what are you wearing? Learning the Unspoken, Powerful Message of Attire by Kyle McClellan here. (03:32) Setting up the Topic: Good Shepherd, bruised reed, and advocate (John 10; Matt 12; 1 John 2)(06:21) 2 Timothy 4:2 – strong exhortation joined with great patience and teaching(07:52) Why harsh, “hammer” preaching is celebrated (reaction to church-growth / soft preaching)(12:37) Croft’s overreaction to weak preaching and a friend’s “you need to chill” correction(16:15) Faithful and effective: fear of man, law-only vs. comfort-only ministry(20:10) How to preach to tender consciences: wounding and then binding up(22:56) Knowing your flock: medicine vs. poison and dangers of one-tone preaching(24:55) Keeping sermons hopeful; translating private care of sensitive souls into public preaching(28:23) Law–gospel tension and the exhausting pursuit of doing “enough”(32:00) Grace, obedience, assurance, and pride in the tender conscience(33:05) Final exhortations: patience, prayer, and accepting we cannot fix people