Rural Pastors Talk

By TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, & Josh MacClarenReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Rural Pastors Talk episodes

January 28, 2022Guns in the Hands of an Angry Church?
In this episode we discuss...
Guns and Gun Owners in the Rural Church
Use Guns and Shooting Sports as a MINISTRY TOOL:
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
If you are a Christian who really enjoys shooting and firearms, don’t hide your rifles and hoard your ammunition, use what God has given you to step through doors that he opens for ministry and Gospel sharing.
Use guns according to the Law of the Land:
Romans 13:1-2
Scripture makes it clear that governing authorities are given their authority by a sovereign God. That doesn’t mean they are morally correct all the time or that you like what they have to say, BUT scripture does tell us we need to be in subjection to them. There’s a fine line there that we need to navigate.
Guns and Shooting Sports might be an American Right, but they can become a Christian Idol.
Exodus 20: 1- 2
1 Corinthians 10:23
Colossians 3:3-4
Should we have guns in church?
If you do there should be a trained team.
They must be ready to practice observation and confrontation.
They must not be a distraction.
Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:
How's your shaving game? Joes has begun to shave with a straight razor!
Our Quote of the Day:
There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man. - Patrick Rothfuss
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
40 min
January 21, 2022We're Back!
In this episode we discuss...
What have we been up to?
We've been very busy!
Wellsboro Bible Church has a new building.
TJ got COVID.
Joe has been in a busy season of specific soul care for members of GFF!
Joe is having a baby!
Why did we come back?
The rural church matters and we long to see brothers serving to the glory of God!
What can you expect in Season 2?
Even in our time off we’ve recorded some episodes…interviewed some guests… and met a few times to discuss how we can best serve you, the listener!
We're excited to see what the LORD has in store!
Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:
Need a little tool for your counseling tool belt? Check out What Do You Do When You Become Depressed? by Jay Adams
Our Quote of the Day:
No quote for today.
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
33 min
November 11, 2021 So It's Like That, Huh?!
An important update on Rural Pastor's Talk Season 2!
7 min
May 27, 2021Should Rural Pastors Waste Time on Music? with Keith Getty
In this episode we interview...
Keith Getty about singing in the rural church.
We ask:
So, do you really believe an already overwhelmed rural pastor should squeeze one more thing into his schedule by focusing some of his time on singing?
What role does singing play in helping Christians walk through times of difficulty?
What did you take away from the experience of family hymn sings during COVID that might help some of us grow in the way we teach our families to sing?
For more info go to:
https://www.gettymusic.com/
https://gettymusicworshipconference.com/
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
35 min
March 12, 2021Bonus Episode: Peace!
In this episode we discuss...
our 5 points on what to do while we wait for season 2:
Invest in individuals in your congregation,
Preach the Word.
Find rest.
Care for your family.
Pray, pray, pray!
Sing, sing, sing!
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
15 min
March 05, 2021Is the Rural Church Dying?
In this episode we discuss...
our 5 points on if the rural church is dying:
Rural churches are closing.
We have watched churches in our county close doors. We have spoken with a number of pastors thinking of quitting. There are probably as many pastor-less churches as there are with pastors, and there are lots of dwindling congregations made up of a few families.
Some really beautiful, quintessential buildings sitting empty.
Towns are hurting: closed grocery stores, banks, etc.
Even post offices departing.
Rural resources are slim.
No nearby conferences.
No targeted conferences.
Few books.
Few guys you can just go get coffee with.
No seminary close by.
No biblical counseling center.
Rural ministry is reviled.
Precious resources should be maximized (example from Simeon Trust)
People not dreaming of it.
People dreaming of leaving it!
Movements not happening here.
Christ is there.
Proverbs 15:3
Jeremiah 23:24
Psalm 139:7-10
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
Psalm 103:19
Ephesians 3:10
Christ's people are there.
Genesis 1:26–28
Acts 20:28
Romans 12:15
Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 2:41
John 4:23
Matthew 16:18
Titus 1:5
There is a perception of decline and death in the rural church, but the reality is that it is an overlooked gem! It is precious to Christ and should be precious to all His people!
Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:
Need some profession business cards or letter head? Check out Hoban Press OR Hoban Press Cards!
Our Quote of the Day:
"If we lose our passion for rural America, then we will have abandoned a critical part of the gospel call." Glenn Daman, The Forgotten Church
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
1 hr 2 min
February 26, 2021Keeping Things in Context
In this episode we discuss...
that as we preach, we must make certain that we know the context of the passage we are preaching and not take it out of context.
We need to remember who the original audience was and the author's intent in writing.
We not only need to preach correctly from Scripture, but we need to model the correct way of using and reading Scripture.
Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:
No review this week!
Our Quote of the Day:
No quote this week!
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
39 min
February 19, 2021What Gets You Out of Bed?
In this episode we discuss...
our 5 points on what to look forward to when you can't get out of bed:
Your next dedicated time in the Word and prayer seeking God.
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 63:1-8
The Next Sunday’s Worship with your flock and preaching the Word.
Colossians 3:16
Attaining an attainable goal
Read a book, finish a project, lose some weight to the glory of God!
Colossians 3:17
Leading your wife & family into holiness
Ephesians 5:25-6:4
Colossians 3:17-21
The New Heavens and the New Earth & the day when you will see the faithful ones of your flock found righteous in Christ, receiving their crown of glory, feasting at the wedding supper of the Lamb, and witnessing the final defeat of evil.
Isaiah 25:6-12
Revelation 21:1-6
Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:
Need a new tool to help with sermon study? Check out biblearc.com!
Our Quote of the Day:
“This world is but a wilderness through which we must pass. It is not our place of rest. Heaven is our home, the King of kings is our husband and glory is our eternal inheritance” - James Smith
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
41 min
February 12, 2021Eat Your Bible with Nate Pickowicz
In this episode we...
have an interview with Nate Pickowicz, author, speaker, theologian, movie star, and most of all: pastor!
Questions we ask:
What’s the name of the town you pastor in… and how many people live there… and how many paid pastors are on staff at your church?
What is your great passion for your church?
How did your most recent book get its name?
Who did you picture in your mind as you were writing it?
What event spurred you to write it?
Understanding that we would really like people to purchase your book to get all the details… could you give us the bird’s eye view of a 7-Year Bible reading plan?
What would you say to someone who struggles with reading -- who has no real affinity for any book or written word (no family background of any sort of bookishness) -- how would you encourage/exhort them to EAT THEIR BIBLES?
Share with us the passion a pastor has to preach the Word of God to the people the Lord has brought him.
Find Nate at:
https://www.hbc-nh.org/about-us/
How To Eat Your Bible
The American Puritans
Why We're Protestant
Reviving New England: The Key to Revitalizing Post-Christian America
Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:
Need a Christian camp or amazing video resource? Joe reviews His Thousand Hills, and American Gospel: Christ Alone.
Our Quote of the Day:
"It doesn’t matter what I am doing. When one of my children asks, 'Dad, I have a question about God…' Everything stops. Always." - Nate Pickowicz, Twitter
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
58 min
February 05, 2021Young Pastor, Old Church
In this episode we discuss...
our 5 points on how a young pastor can serve well in a church with many older saints:
Young Pastor, you may be young. They may be old. But you are all eternal.
There can be lots of differences between a 25 year old pastor and a 75 year old senior saint. But there is at least one similarity…every single one -- young or old -- is an eternal being who will someday stand before a Holy God. The same rules apply
1 Timothy 6:11-12
Young Pastor, be an EXAMPLE of Spiritual Maturity and SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
As Pastors -- young or old -- we want to be the example of Spiritual Maturity & Spiritual growth. We are the Shepherds after all.
1 Timothy 4:12-16
Young Pastor, Meet the Qualifications: Scripture will expose your blindspots and where you need refined.
It is VERY, VERY good to review the qualifications for eldership and identify where you need to put your energy toward maturity and victory over sin.
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Young Pastor, don’t forget your MAIN GOAL: rightly handling the Word of Truth.
Paul called Timothy to REALLY hard tasks!
Your goal isn’t to make changes for change’s sake so that these old people look like what you are used to in seminary… your goal is see them mature in Christ.
Teach the flock what the Word says:
Let the Word of God shine the light on sin
Let the Word of God CONVICT people where they are sinning
Let the Word of God do the TEACHING to correct them
Let the Word of God TRAIN them.
Young Pastor, you’ve got a big job, Grace be with you.
1 Timothy 6:20-21
Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:
Need a phone and phone case? Josh reviews his WisePhone, and Etsy Case. Joe also reviews his new battery phone case!
Our Quote of the Day:
“Apostates and great backsliders do not reach their worst at one bound. The descent to hell is sometimes a precipice, but far oftener a smooth and gentle slope” - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
CONTACT
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk
Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
Itunes
Spotify
Stitcher
55 min