In this episode we...

• have an interview with Derek Van Ruler and Scott Boyer, Pastors and founders of 4thLevel Discipleship:
• Questions we ask:
  • What do you mean when you use the word disciple?
  • Do you believe there are 4 levels of discipleship?  
  • You’re both pastors.  What did you observe in your churches and in other churches you’ve worked with that led you to say “we need something more” when it comes to discipleship?
  • There are so many books on discipleship and plans for making disciples…why 4th Level?
  • What do you say to the pastor whose listening and thinking “Oh great, another program for discipleship…” I’ve read all the books, I’ve experimented with all the systems, but at the end of the day I just can’t get people motivated?
  • What are some of the barriers to discipleship you’ve seen in small town churches like the ones we serve?
  • How can I know I’ve “arrived” as a real disciple of Christ? A certificate?
  • In your experience, are most of the pastors you talked to still being discipled?

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Don't want to be electrocuted? Joe reviews his handy electric "hot" wire detector.

Our Quote of the Day:

• “Discipleship is not an offer that man makes to Christ.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

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

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In this episode we discuss...

• our 5 points on being vulnerable with your church:
  1. You are both shepherd and sheep.  
     • You are not outside the body you serve. You are not above the body you serve. You are not superior. You are not the head!!! You are PART of the body you serve even though you are called to serve as a shepherd.  
     • 1 Corinthians 12:12–27
  2. You have weaknesses!
     • Weakness is NOT bad.  It is actually good.
     • 2 Corinthians 12:9
  3. You’re going to get hurt, but Christ is the healer!
     • Colossians 2:24-25
     • Psalm 147:3
     • 2 Corinthians 9:8
     • 1 Peter 5:10
     • Philippians 4:19
  4. Build especially deep relationships with your elders.
     • Acts 20:28
     • Hebrews 13:17
  5. You shouldn’t be the hero of your sermons.
     • Help the congregation see that you too are continuing to grow in Christ!
     • 1 Timothy 1:15
     • Philippians 3
     • 2 Corinthians 11:30

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Need a backpack? TJ re-reviews his Knack Bag.

Our Quote of the Day:

• "The most courageous pastors are the ones who don’t perform, but rest in their identity in Christ and live in the freedom of being themselves before their people." -  Brian Croft, The Pastor's Soul: The Call and Care of an Undershepherd

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

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In this episode we...

• have an interview with Matt Merker, Director of Creative Resources and Training for Getty Music.
• Questions we ask:
  • You have said you have a Holy obsession with congregational singing. Why do you think the rural pastors listening should care so much about how their congregations sing?
  • What is the biggest mistake you think most churches make when they plan their services?
  • Are there any guiding theological goals a pastor should have as he leads his team to prepare for the Lord’s Day gathering?
  • How would you encourage a  brother in a place like that to get started in making changes that would lead to more meaningful and robust services?
  • What is the role of congregational singing in the life of a believer?
  • How can we overcome those stylistic preferences and expectations to produce lively corporate singing that is good for the whole church?
• Find Matt at: https://www.mattmerkermusic.com/.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Matt reviews his upcoming book, Corporate Worship.

Our Quote of the Day:

• "A worshiping community is made up of individuals whose lives are centered around the Savior they worship together each week. A worshiping community expects to encounter God's presence not only on Sunday morning but every day. A worshiping community recognizes that passionate times of singing God's praise flow from and lead to passionate lives lived for the glory of Jesus Christ." - Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters

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

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In this episode we discuss...

• our 5 points on how your church fits into the kingdom:
  1. Don’t be afraid to be an elder.
     • God has established an office for the leadership of the Church.
       • Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1
     • As under-shepherds, Christ EXPECTS us to lead in the manner He has ordained.  We are to teach and practice godly leadership in the church through eldership. 
  2. Don’t be afraid to accept things as they are on the way to where they should be.
     • Examples of things that can frustrate:
       • We have deacons, but I think we should have elders...
       • We’re singing a bunch of songs with weak or poor theology...
       • Our constitution really needs to be revised...
       • We’re supporting 50 missionaries at $50/month…
  3. Don’t be afraid to speak the truth in love.
     • Sometimes you have to say hard things from the pulpit, in a counseling session, in a public meeting, etc.
     • Proverbs 27:5-6
  4. Don’t be afraid of Alexander the Coppersmith
     • There are those who you don’t want to upset because their presence and influence can be destructive.  Do not fear saying what God’s Word says no matter how they will react. The Lord will work it out!
  5. Don’t be afraid of hard work or failure.
     • Often failure is the workroom God uses in our lives to reform us to be what we need to be in order to be more successful tools in his hands.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• How're you planning to read the Bible this year? Consider the M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan.

Our Quote of the Day:

• "There is much to learn about leadership from the life of Jesus-but the vision of leadership that we find in His Word is not likely to earn Him top billing on the leadership shelf in your local bookstore. The road to His kingdom did not, after all, land Him in an exquisite palace or an oak-paneled boardroom. It took Him to a cross-a throne of splintered wood, where His only robes were the flayed ribbons of His own flesh and where the scepter extending from His hand was not a polished staff but a bloodstained spike, Everyone who trusts in Him has been called to join Him in this suffering and to be united with Him in this death. For leaders in particular, the cross means that there is no depth of dereliction or sorrow to which we can be called where our King has not already been. 'The way of the Christian leaders is not the way of upward mobility in which our world has invested so much,' Henri J.M. Nouwen has reminded us, 'but the way of downward mobility ending on the cross.' That is the path of the one who leads as a follower of the God who goes before us." -   The God Who Goes Before You: Pastoral Leadership as Christ-Centered Followership

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

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In this episode we discuss...

• our 5 points on how your church fits into the kingdom:
  1. Your place matters to Christ!
     • Matthew 16:18b
     • Acts 17:24-27
  2. Your people are unique, so know and love them.
     • Psalm 139
     • Exegete your congregation!
     • 2 Kinds of Differences:
       • Contextual
       • Gifting and Personality
  3. Your people are there for the lost people around them.
     • 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8
  4. It’s going to be hard, so embrace it.  
     • Colossians 1:28-29
  5. The book you’re reading might not be all that helpful.
     • Much of what we read by way of application does not always  apply well in a rural context.
     • Don’t get discouraged by it!
     • Think rural, and do things in rural ways.  

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Need a knife sharpener for those blunted blades? Josh and Joe review Work Sharp's Guided Knife Sharpening System & Upgrade Kit.

Our Quote of the Day:

• "If I did not praise and bless Christ my Lord, I should deserve to have my tongue torn out by its roots from my mouth. If I did not bless and magnify his name, I should deserve that every stone I tread on in the streets should rise up to curse my ingratitude, for I am a drowned debtor to the mercy of God—over head and ears—to infinite love and boundless compassion I am a debtor." Charles Spurgeon

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

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

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In this episode we discuss...

• pastoring rural parents with our guest author, speaker, and pastor Dr. Tedd Tripp!
  • We'll answer these questions:
    • What do we need to know about the kids in our church before we can equip the parents in our churches to shepherd them well?
    • What is the biggest mistake you see Christian parents making that they might not even be aware of?
    • If a young pastor came to you and said, “Dr. Tripp, I’ve noticed that the children in our church are undisciplined.  They can’t sit still.  They don’t listen to their parents.  They don’t respect their teachers.”  And I don’t know what to do.”  How would you counsel that pastor?
    • One of the main arguments you make in the book is that our focus should be on changing hearts rather than behavior.  Are you suggesting that we should not try to change the behavior of our children?
    • Why would you encourage us to spank our children when a nice time out could get the job done and keep us in the good graces of society?  
    • How can we encourage the parents in our churches to see their children as a blessing?
    • Is it wrong for us to discourage the parents in our churches from having their children so involved in these activities?

Links for our Top Two's:

• Shepherding the Heart Videos
• Paul David Tripp's New Morning Mercies
  • Devotions with your spouse!
• Zebra 301 7MM Gel Tip - Zebra 402 5MM Gel Tip
• Secura Pigma 50034

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

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

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In this episode we discuss...

• our 5 points on fighting negativity in the heart:
  1. Remember: You have bad stuff in your heart!
     • Matthew 15:18-19
  2. What you CHOOSE to think about is a matter of worship.
     • Romans 12:1-2
     • 2 ways to think about 2020:
       • Disaster OR 
       • Kindness of God 
     • This is an opportunity for the Church to grow in faith.
  3. What you CHOOSE to allow to grip your heart will have a major impact on how you live.
     • Proverbs 4:23
     • Luke 6:45
  4. If you’re entertaining negative thoughts you are in sin.
     • Philippians 4:8
     • Examples of bad things we could think about…
       • Nobody helped me shovel the church driveway.
       • Boy, it’s lonely out here.
       • I want 2020 to just end.
  5. God will help you, and you NEED it!
     • Psalm 51:10
     • Hebrews 4:12

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Need some ideas about pretty much anything? TJ reviews Pinterest for all your creative needs!

Our Quote of the Day:

• "In some ways, depression is a slow, painful death of desire, the heart-sickness that comes from repeatedly having hope deferred (Prov. 13:12). Hope that sustains the heart when pursuing a treasured desire has faded (or disappeared) in the depressed. What, then, do you treasure? What do you think would bring you happiness? Who or what are you worshiping? What would give your life meaning? Whose life do you covet? The joyous truth is that perhaps this painful depression is the Lord’s way of revealing false gods to you… Bathing our soul in the Gospel message will powerfully transform the locus of our treasure. Rather than cherishing success or self-approval, we can learn to cherish the Lord because He’s lavished such love upon the undeserving (1 John 4:7-10). All-satisfying treasure is found in this Gospel message.
  
  The depressed don’t simply need to feel better. They need a Redeemer who says, “Take heart, my son, my daughter; what you really need has been supplied. Life no longer need be about your goodness, success, righteousness, or failure. I’ve given you something infinitely more valuable than good feelings: your sins are forgiven.”
  
  This is the freeing truth you can learn through your depression: You weren’t created to love and worship anything more than you love and worship God; and when you do, you’ll feel bad. God has made you to feel pain when you’ve got other treasures that you’ve placed above Him. He wants you to treasure Him." 
  • - From Elyse Fitzpatrick's "Will Medicine Stop the Pain?"

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

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

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In this episode we discuss...

• our 5 points on losing focus in the rural church by internal means:
  1. Buildings are just places.
  2. We are stewards of our buildings.
     • 1 Corinthians 10:31
  3. The way we use our space makes a statement to lost people.
     • 2 Corinthians 2:15
  4. The way we use our space will encourage or discourage our values (gathering, one-anothering, hospitality, etc).
  5. Watch out! Buildings can quickly become idols (idols of neglect or idols of too much care).

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Trying to live stream your church services? Josh reviews OBS Software, and its many applications.

Our Quote of the Day:

• "When we are most lazy, the devil is most busy. Sloth is the cause of sin, and idleness the fruitful mother of wickedness." Andrew Gray

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

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

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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)

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

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In this episode we discuss...

• the motivation of the rural pastor!
  • Why do people live in rural areas?
    • Less people.
    • Less noise.
    • Less traffic.
    • More grass.
    • More wildlife.
    • More like-minded people.
    • Slower pace.
    • Good place to raise kids.
  • Why do pastors live in the country?
    • Where there are people there needs to be a presence of the local church.
    • A local church, by God’s design, is shepherded by men who are qualified, called, and equipped by God.
  • What are false motivations for rural ministry?
    • A paycheck.
    • The approval of a congregation.
    • To express your gifts.
    • To develop a platform for yourself.
    • To feel you’ve earned God’s approval.
    • To save people.
    • Nobody else will do it.
    • You like it.
  • What is the only RIGHT motivation?
    • Philippians 3:7-14
    • Ephesians 4
    • Acts 20

The listener question we answer this week:

• Jeremy from Catawissa, PA asks, "Where do you draw the line regarding when to use a resource from a questionable teacher? What kinds of warnings do you give to those you are using it with regarding the author's overall ministry or problems with his teaching, so that the individuals being taught don't assume a blanket commendation of that teacher?"

Links for our Top Two's:

• Mediator by Ghost Ship
• 8 Signs of True Repentance
• Darned Tough Socks Merino Wool 
• Recon Medical BLK-1PAK-FBA Tourniquet

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

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

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Stitcher

Google Play