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.

Should pastors receive extended sabbaticals every year&mdash;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&mdash;and how can congregations support their pastors before burnout makes a sabbatical necessary?
Also in this Fun Friday episode:
<ul data-start="644" data-end="1138">
<li data-section-id="z1t3nc" data-start="644" data-end="706">The Babylon Bee&rsquo;s hilarious guide to the church worship team</li>
<li data-section-id="17kgwn6" data-start="707" data-end="779">Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart boldly places his identity in Jesus</li>
<li data-section-id="1o4oi8l" data-start="780" data-end="869">Jack Osbourne calls himself &ldquo;Christ curious&rdquo; while discussing faith with Bryce Crawford</li>
<li data-section-id="198yp64" data-start="870" data-end="947">Why we must approach God on His terms instead of creating a god who fits us</li>
<li data-section-id="1oi2w5p" data-start="948" data-end="1023">New details about Mel Gibson&rsquo;s ambitious The Resurrection of the Christ</li>
<li data-section-id="ngw08b" data-start="1024" data-end="1055">A classic Dad Joke of the Day</li>
<li data-section-id="1hq2s6" data-start="1056" data-end="1138">Memorizing Micah 6:8: doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God</li>
</ul>
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&mdash;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&rsquo;s free resource, Five Tips for Bible Study, and find more episodes at <a href="https://stevemarstonshow.com" data-start="1733" data-end="1785">SteveMarstonShow.com</a>.

He’s a regular guy with a cool job—and a deep love for Jesus. The Steve Marston Show is a daily, faith-and-fun conversation designed to help you take the next step in your walk with Christ. Think of it as a “200-level” discipleship course: deeper than the basics, but still practical, relatable, and real.

Each episode blends biblical truth, cultural commentary, and honest talk about marriage, parenting, identity, and what it looks like to put God first in a busy, distracted world. Along the way, Steve sits down with guests God is working through, highlights stories of transformation, explores what’s happening in the news through a Christian lens, and—yes—delivers a steady dose of dad jokes.

Serious about faith. Serious about fun. And serious about helping you live like Jesus where it matters most.

He&rsquo;s a regular guy with a cool job&mdash;and a deep love for Jesus. The Steve Marston Show is a daily, faith-and-fun conversation designed to help you take the next step in your walk with Christ. Think of it as a &ldquo;200-level&rdquo; discipleship course: deeper than the basics, but still practical, relatable, and real.
Each episode blends biblical truth, cultural commentary, and honest talk about marriage, parenting, identity, and what it looks like to put God first in a busy, distracted world. Along the way, Steve sits down with guests God is working through, highlights stories of transformation, explores what&rsquo;s happening in the news through a Christian lens, and&mdash;yes&mdash;delivers a steady dose of dad jokes.
Serious about faith. Serious about fun. And serious about helping you live like Jesus where it matters most.

The Steve Marston Show

A Daily Journey In Living More Like Jesus!

Christian talk that combines biblical truth, real-life conversations, compelling interviews, faith, culture, and a little fun. Join Steve as he explores what the Bible says and how followers of Jesus can put their faith into practice every day. New episodes of The Steve Marston Show feature Christian leaders, pastors, authors, ministry voices, and everyday people sharing stories of faith and transformation

A Daily Journey In Living More Like Jesus!
Christian talk that combines biblical truth, real-life conversations, compelling interviews, faith, culture, and a little fun. Join Steve as he explores what the Bible says and how followers of Jesus can put their faith into practice every day. New episodes of The Steve Marston Show feature Christian leaders, pastors, authors, ministry voices, and everyday people sharing stories of faith and transformation