Should pastors receive extended sabbaticals every year—or can too much time away unintentionally separate a shepherd from the people he was called to serve?

In Episode 479 of The Steve Marston Show, Steve offers a thoughtful challenge to modern church culture. Pastors carry enormous spiritual and emotional burdens, and churches should protect them from burnout. But when does healthy rest become prolonged absence—and how can congregations support their pastors before burnout makes a sabbatical necessary?

Also in this Fun Friday episode:

• The Babylon Bee’s hilarious guide to the church worship team
• Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart boldly places his identity in Jesus
• Jack Osbourne calls himself “Christ curious” while discussing faith with Bryce Crawford
• Why we must approach God on His terms instead of creating a god who fits us
• New details about Mel Gibson’s ambitious The Resurrection of the Christ
• A classic Dad Joke of the Day
• Memorizing Micah 6:8: doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God

Your next step: Pay attention to your pastor. Look for signs of exhaustion or burnout, and consider how you can help carry some of the burden.

The Steve Marston Show is a daily Christian radio show and podcast helping you live more like Jesus through biblical teaching, Christian discipleship, faith and culture conversations, encouragement—and a little fun along the way.

Listen weekdays on 99.5 The Word in Little Rock, AM 630 The Word in San Antonio, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Download Steve’s free resource, Five Tips for Bible Study, and find more episodes at SteveMarstonShow.com.