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About

In this powerful episode of the Resilient Pastor podcast, host Glenn Packiam sits down with Sean Palmer—teaching pastor, speaker, executive coach, and Enneagram expert—to explore the deep connection between preaching and the pastor’s soul. They discuss why preaching remains central to pastoral vocation yet incredibly demanding, the importance of vulnerability, and how a preacher’s inner life inevitably shapes their sermons.

Palmer introduces his groundbreaking framework from the upcoming book Speaking by the Numbers, showing how the Enneagram serves as a transformative tool for self-awareness. By understanding core motivations, intelligence centers (thinking, feeling, doing), and stances, pastors can preach with greater authenticity, balance, and spiritual health. This conversation offers practical wisdom for preachers seeking to align their public ministry with their private formation.

Key Takeaways

• Preaching remains central to pastoral calling because faith comes by hearing and it allows for long-form proclamation in a sound-bite culture.
• The demanding nature of preaching stems from the constant pressure to deliver, combined with the deep vulnerability required to speak authentically for God.
• A pastor’s soul and sermon are inseparably linked—unhealthy patterns in the preacher’s life inevitably surface in the pulpit.
• Preaching autobiography is a healthy practice: sharing your story so listeners can discover their own story in it, without making yourself the hero.
• The Enneagram is not about behavior or labels but about uncovering motivations and dominant intelligence centers to foster genuine growth.
• Understanding your Enneagram stance (assertive, dependent, or withdrawing) helps pastors recognize instinctive patterns and develop healthier rhythms.
• Young preachers should trust their own voice, focus on their specific congregation, and resist imitating viral online personalities.

Highlights

• “There are two kinds of preachers: those who have something to say and those who have to say something. All of us have to say something.”
• “We tell stories so that other people can see their story in our story.” — Sean Palmer (quoting Oprah’s insight)
• “The preacher who overshares isn’t trying to help their hearer find their story through theirs. They’re just telling their story.”
• “You’re not a number. The Enneagram is a map that explains how you’ve strategized your way through the world.”
• “Trust yourself. Trust your story. Don’t try to become the person you heard at the big conference. Find your own voice.”
• “Your church is your church. The people in the pews don’t know who Andy Stanley or Tim Keller is—they know you.”

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