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 October 27, 2026 

Welcome to our weekly roundup of articles, podcasts, videos, and links curated by pastors, for pastors—to equip and encourage you in your ministry. You don’t have to shepherd alone. Let’s go.

WORD OF THE WEEK

Wes Huff’s Apologetic Advice for You

Written by Matt Smethurst, pastor of River City Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia

Why does God allow suffering? How can Jesus be the only way? Can we really believe in hell? Doesn’t science debunk faith? Aren’t Christians bigots?

In a special joint episode of The Everyday Pastor and Gospelbound, apologist Wes Huff joins Ligon Duncan, Collin Hansen, and me to answer these questions—and many more. He also discusses the role of apologetics in ministry, sharing how pastors can excel at giving a compelling reason for the hope within us and train our people to do the same.

Drawing from both academic expertise and personal experience, Wes—a director of Apologetics Canada—offers a variety of practical tips for pastors, church leaders, and church members. He also highlights today’s effective apologists, recommends books, and answers a lightning round of objections to the Christian faith.

We pray this conversation with Wes invigorates your faith as much as it did ours. Would you consider sharing it with a pastor friend?

—Matt

BONUS: Advice for Apologetics (with Wes Huff)

Resource Roundup

Expositional Preaching Cohort

You love God’s Word, but if you’re honest, there are weeks you feel stuck writing another sermon. You need fresh vision. This fall, join Mark Vroegop, David Platt, and seasoned preachers from the TGC Council who will inspire you to pursue excellence in preaching.

Pitfalls and Parodies of Gospel-Centered Ministry (2 Tim. 2:14–3:9)

In this keynote from TGC’s 2009 National Conference, K. Edward Copeland shows how 2 Timothy 3:1–9 addresses the dangers of self-centeredness, superficial godliness, and a diluted gospel in the last days.

Pastors, How Do We Guard Against Assuming the Worst?

Seth Troutt looks at Jesus’s posture toward the woman at the well in John 4 and draws out principles for guarding against bias and false assumptions.

Around the Web

Here are links to other great resources worth your time:

Barnabas Piper presents a practical framework (Gospel + Safety + Time) that pastors can use to cultivate transparency in their congregations so we move beyond surface-level interactions to authentic Christian community where real transformation happens.
John Piper warns that distorted theology doesn’t just create confusion but actively destroys lives, while sound doctrine matures believers, protects them from deception, and provides life-giving hope in suffering.
Sandra Peoples provides pastors with essential insights for creating an inclusive disability ministry, showing how such ministry strengthens entire congregations by embracing God’s design for every person made in his image.

Find more resources for pastors at tgc.org/pastors.