Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Drawing from his experience in a town of 2,000 people in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where he has developed numerous community outreach strategies, Pastor Jason LaFlamme shares practical ideas for small-town pastors to connect with their communities.

Scripture Texts

1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Corinthians 3:6; Ecclesiastes 3:1

Main Points or Ideas

• Community Presence Matters - Pastors should be well thought of by outsiders and actively involved in community life. This includes attending local events, supporting school activities, and being visible at community functions. Most successful outreach efforts are "seed planting" ministries that take time to see results
• Effective Ministry Ideas - LaFlamme shares numerous examples including water bottle giveaways during parades, wild game dinners with clear evangelistic purpose, bereavement ministry (doing about 10 funerals per year for non-church members), and benefit dinners for community needs
• Lessons Learned - Some ministries work better than others, and pastors should be willing to try new approaches for three-year periods to give them adequate testing. Safety and wisdom must be considered, and the primary goal should be gospel advancement rather than just community goodwill
• Building Relationships - Through consistent community involvement, especially in times of crisis (funerals, emergencies), pastors can build trust and credibility that opens doors for gospel conversations and church connections

Conclusion

Small-town pastors have unique opportunities to serve their communities and build relationships that can lead to gospel conversations when approached with wisdom, consistency, and genuine care for people.

Dr. Paul Hartog examines how early Christians responded to the common practices of abortion, infanticide, and infant exposure in the Roman world, showing the consistent and pronounced opposition of the early church to these practices.

Sources

Various early Christian documents including the Didache and writings of Church Fathers

Main Points or Ideas

• Abortion Was Common in Ancient Rome - The Roman world practiced abortion through chemical, physical, and surgical methods for various reasons including concealing sexual activity, economic concerns, continuation of prostitution income, and family size control
• Early Christian Response - Christians consistently viewed the unborn as objects of God's care and classified abortion as murder. Documents like the Didache, writings of Tertullian, and other Church Fathers uniformly condemned these practices
• Contrast with Pagan Culture - While some pagan philosophers also opposed abortion, Christians distinguished themselves by caring for exposed infants, providing alternatives, and treating all human life as sacred regardless of physical condition or circumstances
• Church Discipline and Legal Changes - Early church councils called for discipline of those who committed abortion, and as Christian influence grew, Roman law eventually changed to protect exposed infants and make infanticide illegal

Conclusion

The early Christian opposition to abortion was uniform and based on their understanding of human life as sacred from conception, demonstrating how Christian ethics transformed Roman culture regarding the value of human life.

Gracia Burnham reflects on Jesus' promise that "in this world you will have tribulation," sharing insights from her captivity experience and the reality that following Christ often involves suffering that we would never choose.

Scripture Text

John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; Hebrews 13:3

Main Points or Ideas

• Suffering Is Guaranteed for Christians - Jesus promised tribulation in this world, and currently over 200 million Christians face persecution globally while 400 million live under severe religious restrictions. Americans have been relatively protected from open hostility
• Our Response to Persecution - Christians must give themselves totally to God, be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission, support Christian martyrs and their families, and pray consistently for those suffering for their faith around the world
• The Cost of Discipleship - Following Jesus means taking up our cross, and we cannot have Jesus without the cross. True discipleship requires sacrifice, and we must be willing to serve and suffer for the sake of the gospel
• God's Faithfulness in Suffering - Even when we don't feel strong or see God's presence clearly, His Word remains true. He keeps us strong to the end and is faithful to those He has called, providing grace equal to the weight of our cross

Conclusion

While suffering for Christ is the guarantee no one wants, it is part of genuine discipleship, and God provides grace and strength for whatever cross He assigns to us as we faithfully serve Him.

As a pastor for many years, Dr. Dean Taylor explores how hobbies can contribute to pastoral health and longevity, drawing from historical examples of clergy who were pioneers in beekeeping and examining both the benefits and cautions regarding hobbies in ministry.

Scripture Text

1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Timothy 6:17

Main Points or Ideas

• Biblical Foundation for Hobbies - While not commanded, Scripture supports the idea that we can glorify God through various activities including legitimate pleasures. God richly provides us with all things to enjoy, and we can study and delight in His works through hobbies
• Benefits of Hobbies for Pastors - Hobbies provide temporary relief from weighty issues, involve physical activity that combats stress, give tangible completion in a world of endless ministry tasks, connect us with people in casual settings, and can provide time for communion with God in creation
• Necessary Cautions - Hobbies can become too time-consuming, be used as unhealthy escape from responsibilities, hinder marriage relationships if not balanced properly, or potentially become idols that compete with our devotion to God
• Practical Guidelines - Pastors should ask whether their hobbies feed their souls with God-exalting experiences, refresh them for ministry, draw others into their lives for gospel influence, and contribute to rather than detract from their service to God

Conclusion

Hobbies can make a valuable contribution to a pastor's personal health and effectiveness when kept in proper balance with the priorities and responsibilities of life and ministry.

Gracia Burnham shares personal experiences from her 376-day captivity with her husband Martin by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines. Through show-and-tell with clothes worn in the jungle, she relates their harrowing experience and the lessons God taught her during this trial.

Scripture Texts

Various passages

Main Points or Ideas

• Show and Tell with Jungle Clothing - Gracia displays and explains the various garments she wore during captivity, including a mile-long (batik skirt), shirts, head covering, and how each item served multiple purposes as blanket, changing room, bathroom privacy, stretcher, and suitcase.
• Muslim School - Learning about Islam through living with the Abu Sayyaf for a year, including their 99 names for Allah, their beliefs about salvation through works versus grace, and the contrast between their God who doesn't love them and the Christian God who is love.
• God's Faithfulness in Captivity - How God answered prayers throughout their ordeal, from healing Gracia's feet to providing hamburgers in the jungle, teaching them that God has a plan even in suffering.
• The Rest of the Story - Years later, learning that former Abu Sayyaf captors in prison have been reading gospel materials, with five coming to know Christ as Savior, showing how God uses even suffering to plant seeds for future harvest.

Conclusion

Gracia encourages continued seed-planting in gospel ministry, trusting that God will use our faithful service even when we don't see immediate fruit, and reminds us not to be afraid of Muslims but to reach out to them with the love of Christ.

Dr. Dean Taylor addresses the critical need for friendship and support in ministry, drawing from military concepts of "battle buddies" and the reality that pastors often face isolation and burnout when they try to soldier on alone.

Scripture Texts

Acts 16:1-10; Acts 21:1-18; Acts 22:22; Acts 23:10; Acts 24:23; Acts 27:1-44; Colossians 4:14; Philemon 23-24; 2 Timothy 4:10-11, 16-17

Main Points or Ideas

• Sometimes This Kind of Friendship Begins Casually, But It Grows Through Involvement in the Gospel Cause - The relationship between Luke and Paul first comes into view in Acts 16 when Luke joins Paul's missionary work, moving from casual acquaintance to deep gospel partnership.
• This Kind of Friendship is More About God's Will Than Good Times - Through various trials including arrests, shipwrecks, and imprisonment, Luke remained committed to Paul not for comfort but for the advancement of the gospel.
• This Kind of Friendship Endures Rough Waters - Luke stayed with Paul through multiple imprisonments, dangerous sea voyages, and years of hardship, demonstrating the costly nature of true ministry friendship.
• Even Good Friends Won't Always Be There, But This Kind of Friendship Never Replaces the Sustaining Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ - While Luke was Paul's most faithful companion, ultimately it was the Lord who stood with Paul and strengthened him.

Conclusion

Taylor encourages pastors to cultivate friendships that help them endure in ministry, recognizing that such relationships require intentional pursuit and investment over time, and that together ministry partners can accomplish what they could never do separately.

Dr. Marty Herron addresses the common ministry experience of becoming discouraged and impatient during difficult seasons, using personal illustrations and the biblical account of Israel in Numbers 21 to show how God's people can overcome the enemy of impatience.

Scripture Text

1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Numbers 21:4-9

Main Points or Ideas

1. The Entrance of Discouragement - Discouragement often comes after victories when we're tired and focused on adverse circumstances, as seen in Numbers 21:4 where "the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."
2. The Evidence of Impatience - When impatient, we begin accusing others (especially authority figures), allow negative thinking to dominate, and become absent-minded about God's past blessings, as Israel did when they complained against God and Moses.
3. The Elimination Through God's Solution - Like the bronze serpent that provided healing when the people looked upon it, we must look to Christ who was "lifted up" for our salvation and strength, admitting our sin and looking to Jesus for help.

Conclusion

Herron encourages ministers to stay in the "rough waters" of God's will rather than swimming to what seems like the calm, stagnant waters where spiritual enemies wait, trusting that God uses pressure and trials to develop character and perseverance in our lives.

Pastor Josh Crockett addresses the need for Christians, especially those in ministry, to be spiritually alert in light of Christ's imminent return, warning against the spiritual fog of worldliness and calling believers to put on the armor of light.

Scripture Text

Romans 13:11-14

Main Points or Ideas

• Awake Out of Spiritual Sleep - Because salvation is nearer now than when we first believed, Christians must wake from spiritual lethargy and worldly fog. Many believers, even pastors, can become spiritually drowsy through being immersed in worldly content and losing their spiritual alertness.
• Put Off the Desires of Darkness - Paul lists six works of darkness to cast off: orgies and drunkenness (substance abuse), sexual immorality and sensuality, and quarreling and jealousy (church sins). The solution is to make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.
• Put On the Armor of Light - Rather than trying to follow a checklist of spiritual disciplines, believers must put on the Lord Jesus Christ. The armor of light refers to our union with Christ - He is our salvation, truth, righteousness, faith, and the living Word.

Conclusion

Pastor Crockett emphasizes that we cannot put on sin and Christ at the same time, calling believers to live consistently with their heavenly citizenship by yielding to Christ's lordship moment by moment, walking in His light and love rather than pursuing the temporary pleasures of darkness.

Faith Taylor talks to women about the inevitable reality of conflict and criticism in ministry, helping them understand how to respond in a way that glorifies God and maintains unity in the body of Christ.

Scripture Text

Philippians 4:1-3; Philippians 1:27-28; Philippians 2:1-4

Main Points or Ideas

• Expect Conflict - Even godly women like Euodia and Syntyche, who labored in the gospel, experienced conflict. Since conflict involves believers with different gifts, personalities, and perspectives, all bringing sin natures to ministry, we should expect disagreements and prepare to extend grace.
• Deal with Conflict - Paul publicly addressed the conflict and called for mediation, showing we shouldn't be "peace fakers" who pretend everything is fine. We need to pursue reconciliation while being careful not to fight our husband's battles for them.
• Be Unified by the Gospel and for the Gospel - Because all believers share the same Holy Spirit, encouragement in Christ, comfort from love, and God's mercy, we have internal forces holding us together. We're to stand firm in one spirit with one mind, striving for the faith of the gospel.
• Display Gospel Attitudes - Instead of selfish ambition and conceit, believers should show humility, counting others more significant than themselves, looking out for others' interests, and following Christ's example of humble service.

Conclusion

Taylor calls women to prepare their hearts before going to church, asking God to help them remember they're all on the same team for the gospel, ready to extend grace and pursue unity even when faced with criticism or conflict.

Dr. Marty Herron presents a practical discipleship tool based on 1 Timothy 6, providing seven specific targets to help new believers become men and women of God rather than leaving discipleship to vague generalities.

Scripture Text

1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Main Points or Ideas

• Seven Discipleship Targets - 1) Dependence on God (unreserved lifetime commitment), 2) Devotion to Others (unselfish, sacrificial love), 3) Discipline (sustained daily effort controlled by God's Spirit), 4) Dependability (doing what you ought to do well), 5) Discernment (ability to see people and circumstances as they really are), 6) Discretion (ability to avoid wrong words, actions, attitudes), 7) Discipleship (transferring convictions to others).
• The Target is to Be a Man/Woman of God - Based on 1 Timothy 6:11 where Paul calls Timothy a "man of God" and gives five imperatives (flee, follow, fight, lay hold, keep), the goal is helping believers understand their identity and calling in Christ.
• Practical Implementation - The program involves eight weekly sessions where participants memorize definitions and verses, evaluate themselves on a 1-3 scale, and work through specific areas of spiritual growth with accountability and prayer.

Conclusion

Herron emphasizes that this tool provides direction for discipleship, helping pastors know where they're taking new believers and giving them specific targets to aim for rather than just telling people to "read your Bible and pray every day and you'll grow."