In this episode we discuss...

• the first step toward church revitalization: PRAYER!
  •  Do you treat prayer like this?
    • A transition time?
    • You have the “prayer voice.”
    • You repeat phrases.
    • It’s obligatory.
    • Fast and short.
  • This is a possible indicator that your personal prayer time is lacking.
  • We need a constant, deep, sustaining prayer life!
  • A church will not experience spiritual revitalization until the pastors prayer life and the prayer life of those in the church becomes vital.
    • If it isn't, we will be distracted by wrong priorities and bad circumstances.
  • So, begin praying! And teach your people the importance of prayer!
    • 1 John 5:14-15
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
    • Ephesians 6:18
    • James 5:13-18

Links for our Top Two's:

• Church Security Plan
• No Prayer Time Transitions
• Airpods (Joe's wife likes them)
• Klymit Air Mattress

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...

• responsible financial stewardship in the rural church!
  • Fraud can happen without you knowing it!
    • Most pastors and church leaders have NO intention of hurting the Church.
    • We think there is a way that a lot of rural pastors are misusing church funds without even realizing it.
      • Many rural pastors are overworked. Pastoral ministry is demanding.
      • What if we told you that instead of being overworked and underpaid, you are actually overworking and overpaid?
    • THEORY: Pastors should focus most of their time doing what only pastors can do!
      • If you’re getting paid a pastors salary to create, print, and stuff the bulletins, or clean the sanctuary, or put lyrics into the computer, or check the mail and pay the bills - you are being overpaid!
      • Now, we're not suggesting that any of those things are beneath you.
      • But, as part of your regular routine, you should be spending the majority of your time doing the things that God has instructed, qualified, and called what ONLY elders or pastors can do.
  • What does Scripture say?
    • 1 Peter 5:2-3 (1-14)
    • Acts 20:28
    • 2 Timothy 4:2
    • 1 Timothy 5:17
    • Hebrews 13:17
    • Ephesians 4:12
    • Titus 1:9
    • Acts 6:1-6
  • Arguments against?
    • We hardly have enough to pay our pastor as it is!
    • Nobody is willing to help.
    • I’m too busy to train anyone. It’s easier to just do all the work.
  • The real problem.
    • Pride in doing a ton.
    • More comfortable doing things they can see making an instant impact.
    • Haven’t thought carefully about what Scripture calls to do.
    • Too proud to ask for help.
    • Trying to please men instead of God.
       
    • Don’t know what to do.
  • What can you do?
    • Pray
    • Repent if necessary.
    • Log your hours.
    • Make a list: what can someone else do?
    • Make a job description.
    • Talk to your leaders.
    • Talk to the congregation.
    • Hire a non-paid admin assistant OR
    • since a laborer is worth his wages, trim the budget somewhere else, or start a small savings line item to hire a very part-time person to do some of the basics.
      • Have a bigger vision for the position than what you can hire.   Start small, but build in ways for it to grow.

Links for our Top Two's:

• 9Marks Weekender
• 2020 5 Day Bible Reading Plan
• Aero Press
• Lamy Fountain Pen

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

In this episode we discuss...

• how 3 rural churches saved Christmas by partnering with one another!
  • The Set Up.
    • Across the country, many rural churches are stagnant, declining, or on death’s doorstep thinking
      • We don’t have the money…
      • We don’t have the people…
      • We don’t have the time…
      • We are struggling to keep our own heads out of the water…
      • We’re happy with things just the way they are…
      • If people want to find us they know where we are…
      • Sharing the gospel is the pastor’s job…
  • But Why Christmas Eve?
    • Christmas is a CRITICAL time to think about reaching your community because there are people in the community who will never come to a normal church service, but they will come to a Christmas Eve service. 
    • Statistics show that more unchurched people come to Christmas Eve services than any other service, including Easter!
  • How did we do it?
    • Call it a COMMUNITY Christmas Eve service
    • Involve people from both churches
    • Advertise
    • Share the expenses
    • Share the labor
    • Share the invites

Links for our Top Two's:

• Personal Repentance when you are frustrated, depressed, anxious, and/or at the end of your rope.
• Hymns of Grace and T4G Live on Spotify
• Echo Dots paired in stereo
• Knack Backpack

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 importance of fiction in the life of the rural pastor with special guest Mike Conroy!
  • Can busy pastors glean any useful information from reading fiction?
  • How do fiction stories help illuminate reality to make us better pastors?
  • Does reading fiction make pastors better preachers?
  • What kind of fiction should pastors read?
  • Resources from Mike Conroy:
    • C.S. Lewis'The Chronicles of Narnia
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Evangeline
    • Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich
    • Tim Challies 2020 Reading Challenge

Links for our Top Two's:

• Lewis Allen's The Preachers Catechism
• Simply Put: Theology in Simple Terms Podcast
• Mini-Cucumbers
• Chickens

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...

• a continuation from last week: Can small churches be effective in reaching their communities without acting like a mega church?
  • Conference initiatives we learn in larger areas that don't translate to the rural area:
    • Evangelism Initiatives.
      • Street Witnessing.
      • Build a relationship and bring them to the big show!
    • Having an expensive and elaborate children’s ministry program.
    • Worship that melts your face.
    • The preacher with 2 Ph.Ds who was trained by Tony Robbins and Oprah
  • What can we do in our small churches to make real kingdom impact?
    • Preach really good Biblical sermons.
    • Administer the sacraments.
    • Sing with faithfulness and enthusiasm.
      • No matter the size of your team.
    • Be the best shepherds you can be.
      • Love the sheep.
      • Feed the sheep.
      • Correct the sheep.
      • Love the sheep some more.
      • Learn from the sheep.
    • Teach your congregation to take responsibility for the geography you’re in!

Links for our Top Two's:

• Giving your money away
• Unbelievable? Podcast
• Mint Budgeting App
• Honey-crisp Apples

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...

• is the rural church worth saving?
  • Challenges:
    • Less people over a more spread out area.
      • 95% of the U.S. is rural, but only 20% of the population live there.
    • Rural people often don't want what larger metropolitan areas offer.
    • Rural people are often rugged individualists.
    • There is a lack of healthy churches.
    • Rural churches are often seen as stepping stones for young pastors.
• Solutions:
  • Don't forget the rural area!
    • There are still people that need the gospel!
  • Be a pastor that is faithful:
    • In shepherding, even if your people are difficult to love at times.
    • In preaching, even if your sermons are being heard once.
    • In partnering with other likeminded churches, even if those churches are farther away.

Links for our Top Two's:

• Jay Adams' Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible
• Isaac Adams' Training: How Do I Grow as a Christian?
• The Fedora
• Be all things to all people!
  • In the rural setting...go hunting!

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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On this episode we answer this email question from Denny Dillman:

"A member gets angry about a decision in the church. One minute they are onboard with you totally. The next they are gone, and seeking out other members to see if they can be "turned". The dust settles, but as a Pastor, you find yourself avoiding contact with this person. In a small town, you know you're going to bump into this person at the Dollar Store. Pastors, what should a brother Pastor do?"

THERE ARE 6 MAJOR ISSUES AT PLAY IN THIS SITUATION!

1. A decision has been made that has introduced some kind of change in the church.
   • Examples:  Wallpapering the bathroom, starting a Sunday school class for singles, moving the service time, etc.
2. Some people agree with the decision, some people do not agree.
   • This is normal!
3. Someone who said they agreed now disagrees.
   • This is common, but maybe not normal.   
   • Perhaps:
     • They didn’t understand the decision.
     • They were present for the decision and seemed to agree, but really were just not paying attention.
     • They thought more about it and changed their mind (might have even been influenced by someone who always disagreed).
     • You offended them in another area, now they disagree with you in this area.
     • They lied! They were never really with you, but said they were.
4.  The person is being divisive.  Danger, Will Robinson!!  
   • 1 Corinthians 1:10
   • Philippians 2:1–3
   • Titus 3:1-11
5.  The dust has settled.  
   • If that just means that people have stopped talking about the issue, that isn’t good. 
6.  The pastor now feels himself trying to avoid this person.
   • As pastors we are going to know that, when certain people come our way, they are likely to say something attacking, or cutting, or just disagreeable.
   • Ephesians 4
   • Christians don’t have the luxury of having people in our lives we just don’t deal with.
   • Ken Sande’s The Peacemaker

Links for our Top Two's:

• Plan your 2020 Sermon Calendar Now
• Nick Cole's American Wasteland
• Starbuck's Pike Place Instant Coffee
• Galvanized Tree Collar

In this episode we discuss...

• the problem of Biblical illiteracy and easy ways to fight it!
  • Biblical literacy in the church is on the decline.
    • LifeWay Research
    • Ligonier State of Theology Survey
  • Why is this a problem?
    • Matthew 4:4
    • Through the Bible we:
      • Understand our purpose.
      • Respond to trouble.
      • Learn to steward what God has entrusted to us.
      • Have hope.
      • And much more!!
  • What can we do to combat biblical illiteracy?

1. Make the Bible important.
   • Offer Bibles instead of putting the reference on screens.
   • Don't use bookmarks.
   • Give people time to turn to the reference.
2. Teach while you preach.
   • When you see therefore, ask "What is it there for?"
   • Genre
   • Parallelism
   • Comparison & Contrasts
   • Repeated Words & Phrases
   • Types & Shadows
3. Include passages about Scripture in your everyday conversations.
   • Colossians 3:16
   • Hebrews 4:12
   • 2 Timothy 3:16-17
4. Encourage slow, intentional, Bible reading.
   • gotquestions.org
   • ligonier.org

Links for our Top Two's:

• ESV Heirloom Single Column Legacy Bible
• The Christian Counselor's New Testament
• Be a FUN Dad
• Woodcarving Knives by Morakniv

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...

• How do we help somebody grow who is already a lot older than we are?
  • Sometimes, it can be really hard to teach old dogs new tricks!
    • Familiar worship music and liturgy is comfortable for them and makes them resistant to change.
    • Politics and patriotism. Patriotism is equal to Christianity.
    • The past is perfect. It was never like this when I was a kid!
    • Not as eager to volunteer because they’ve probably volunteered for years already.
    • It is really, really hard to unteach something that is incorrect that has been taught wrongly for a long, long time, especially if their parents, and grandparents believed a certain way.
    • When young families come in for a visit and don’t stay, the older folks have no idea why.
  • How can we faithfully shepherd our older generations through these issues?
    • Remember, you aren't teaching your truth, you're teaching God's truth.
    • This is the flock God has given you. It is NOT a stepping stone in the ministry ladder!
      • Acts 20:28
      • 1 Timothy 4:12
    • Correct them gently.
      • 1 Timothy 5:1
    • Help them finish well.
      • Proverbs 16:31
      • Job 12:12
      • Job 32:7
    • Disciple them! Teach them to be disciples who make disciples!
      • Proverbs 4:6-7

Links for our Top Two's:

• Finding your natural lower register
  • Simply take a deep breath, exhale, and then say "No."
• Purchase USED study Bibles on Amazon
• Hydro Flask at bensbargains.com
• Thrift Stores

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...

• 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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Google Play