The Pastor as Gardener: Cultivating Ministry with Hope | Matt Erickson

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host John Terrill welcomes pastor and author Matt Erickson for a rich, thoughtful exploration of pastoral ministry through the lens of agrarian imagery. Drawing from his new book The Pastor as Gardener, Matt Erickson shares how the rhythms of soil, seasons, and cultivation offer a renewed vision for ministry in a time when many pastors feel depleted, disoriented, or discouraged.Together, they discuss:Why gardening is such a powerful and biblical metaphor for ministryThe pressures pastors face today — cultural polarization, unmet expectations, leadership models, and soul-level exhaustionThe liberating shift from control to cultivationScriptural roots of agrarian leadership (1 Cor. 3:6; Genesis 2; the resurrected Jesus as gardener)How place, soil, and local context shape faithful ministryTechnology, AI, and the crisis of control — and how agrarian spirituality grounds us againSeasons of leadership, the “wall,” and finding hope in times of limitationA hopeful vision for the future church — diverse, listening, burden-bearing, and rooted in resurrection hopeThis conversation offers encouragement for pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone longing for a more grounded, faithful, and hopeful way forward in Christian leadership. 📖 The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry (Eerdmans, 2026) = https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884145/the-pastor-as-gardener/ Send us Fan MailCONNECT WITH USSubscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave ConourEdited by Dave Conour