In this episode we discuss...

• our 5 points on losing focus in the rural church part II:
  1. Politics can distract the Church
     • Titus 3:1-8
     • Instead of MAGA, Christians should be K.O.G.I.B - The Kingdom of God is Better
     • Instead of The Resistance, Christians should be The Persistence - Living a Christlike Life no matter who the president is
  2. Hyper-Patriotism and/or Nationalism can distract the Church
     • God CREATED the nations (Acts 17:24-26)
     • God RULES the nations (Psalm 66:7)
     • God RAISED UP HIS OWN kingdom (Rev 5:9-10)
     • God’s KINGDOM will continue to grow (Matthew 13:31-32)
  3. The Culture War can distract the Church
     • The culture war is actually a spiritual war.
     • Don’t be surprised at the depravity of man! Don’t make your only goal to win the culture war, make your goal to make disciples.
     • Jeremiah 17:9
     • Romans 1:21-24
     • Isaiah 5:20-21
     • 2 Timothy 4:1-5
  4. The Church can get distracted by our response to COVID-19
     • 2 Timothy 1:3-7 - Walk in the STRENGTH/POWER of Biblical Conviction, the LOVE of Christ and the SELF-CONTROL given by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God planted into a regenerate heart… and PRAYER helps too!
  5. Rather than have the “perfect church” in our own eyes, our goal is to have a church that responds perfectly to these things, and shepherd them through it
     • Be encouraged! Christ has and is working to make His church perfect, so stop comparing your church to other churches.
     • Ephesians 5:25-27
     • 2 Timothy 1:15
     • 1 Corinthians 3:3-4
• Next week we’ll focus on the INTERNAL FOCUS rural congregations can develop and how to overcome it.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Got some free time and want to listen to some books? Joe reviews Audible Plus.

Our Quote of the Day:

• "The day is coming when he will ride on his white horse and go forth conquering and to conquer; but today, it is the red horse; for his church still suffers; still is she stained with the blood of persecution." Charles Spurgeon

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)

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Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

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