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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play

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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play

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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play

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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play

In this episode we discuss...

• discipling our people with Peter Krol, President of DiscipleMakers and teaching elder at Grace Fellowship Church in State College, PA!
  • We'll answer these questions:
    • What do you see as the role of one-on-one discipleship, as well as congregational discipleship in the local church?
    • How does our ability as pastors to study the Bible help us disciple our people better?
    • How would you help a young pastor who needs to disciple much older men of the church who have never have been truly discipled before?
    • How would you encourage a smaller rural church to disciple when its members may have built up emotional walls and everybody pretends they have it together?
    • How would you encourage our listeners to make time for discipleship?
    • How are you discipling your family, and what would you recommend our listeners to do to better disciple their families?
    • Do you recommend any short books, pamphlets, booklets or resources that a pastor can start handing out to a leadership team that is inexperienced in discipleship?
      • The Trellis and the Vine
      • The Master Plan of Evangelism
      • The Master Plan of Discipleship

Links for our Top Two's:

• knowableword.com
• IVP Dictionary of the Old Testament
• onX App
• Strava App

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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play

In this episode we discuss...

• youth and kids ministry in the rural context with our special guest, Pastor Ben Garner!
  • We'll answer these questions:
    • How do you find volunteers?
    • How do you manage your volunteers?
    • How do you shepherd your volunteers?
    • What is your goal in ministering to youth?
      • How are you trying to accomplish that?
    • Are there events you DO NOT DO because of your philosophy of ministry?
    • What’s different about a rural kid from a suburban or urban kid?
    • How do you connect with little ones and teens?  
    • What would you say to the pastor who can’t afford to pay someone to focus specifically on youth? 
    • What would you say to the bi-vocational pastor who knows he needs to shepherd the youth but can’t find the time or doesn’t connect well with them?
    • What resources do you recommend?

The listener question we answer this week:

• Louis Vining from Royersford, PA asks "How would you guys tackle a stagnant church that is not growing, or has attendees walking through the revolving door and using the church only in a consumer fashion?"

Links for our Top Two's:

• Wretched Radio's Are You a Rotten Fish?
• The New City Catechism
• Keebler Grasshopper Cookies
• Anker Powercore

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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play

In this episode we discuss...

• that good enough is not good enough!
  • What happens when we get comfortable or complacent when we're leading the church?
    • We become program driven.
    • We become metric driven.
    • We have poorly nourished flocks.
  • What does Scripture say about our work to the Lord?
    • 1 Corinthians 10:31
    • Colossians 3:23
  • 7 thoughts effective pastors think to combat complacency and comfortability.
    • I am to work as if I expected the Lord to inspect it (for His glory).
    • Do my work out of the joy of the Lord.
    • Do my work as an image bearer.
    • I am a steward
    • I need the input of others (constructive criticism, input from other pastors, good books, etc.)
    • I’m not supposed to just “get this done.”  
    • I will not do my work to be satisfied by it. 

The listener question we answer this week:

• "What role, if any, should tithing play in Membership?"

Links for our Top Two's:

• Andrew M. Davis' An Infinite Journey
• Elder Board/Leadership Goals
• Wasabi Peas
• Star Kist Tuna Creations

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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play

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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play

In this episode we discuss...

• pressing on in the midst of road blocks!
  • What does Scripture say about trusting the Lord in perseverance?
    • The Pattern of Scripture:
      • Moses
      • Ruth
      • David
    • Deuteronomy 7:7
    • Matthew 6:25-34
    • Acts 18:9-10
    • Philippians 4:7-8
    • James 4:13-17
• What should we do practically to press on during road blocks?
  • Prioritize the BEST things.
    • We exist to glorify God.
    • The Church belongs to Him.
    • We are merely under-shepherds to Christ.
  • Pursue Personal Practice.
    • Check your own soul, and your own skills in the moment of the road block.
    • Do this patiently.
  • Preach, Pray, Love, Stay.
    • Preach the best possible sermons you can, staying faithful to Scripture.
    • Pray for the Lord's help as you shepherd your people.
    • Love those you are shepherding.
    • Stick it out until the Lord would have you leave for righteous reasons.
  • Press On.
    • Do not give up!
    • Trust the Lord as you patiently persevere!

Links for our Top Two's:

• Christ Centered Expositional Commentary
  • Al Mohler's Exalting Jesus in Hebrews
• Matt Papa's His Mercy is More
• Petzl Tikka Headlamp
• Front Pocket Wallet

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

Itunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Google Play