In this episode we discuss...

• church discipline in the local church!
  • What does Scripture say about church discipline?
    • Matthew 18
    • 1 Corinthians 5
    • Titus 3:10
    • Hebrews 3
    • Galatians 6:1
    • James 5:19-20
    • Hebrews 12:6
  • What forms of discipline exist?
    • Formative
    • Corrective
  • What should you do to move forward?
    • A clear understanding of membership.
      • (Clear inside and outside i.e. 1 Cor. 5)
    • A leadership that is aligned.
    • A congregation that understands.
    • An appropriate issue:  The sin should be open, serious, unrepentant.
      
      

The listener question we answer this week:

• Common Questions about Church Discipline!
  • Isn’t it pushing people away from God instead of toward Him?
  • How do we relate to someone who has been removed from church membership?
  • How do you practically bar a disciplined member of the church from the Lord's Supper?

Links for our Top Two's:

• Wretched Radio
• Champ Thornton's The Radical Book For Kids & Kevin DeYoung's The Biggest Story
• Amazon Alexa Auto
• Speck Phone Case

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

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Twitter: @ruralpastors

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In this episode we discuss...

• what to do when members of our congregation begin to 'bite' us!
  • Where do we start?
    • With Scripture!
    • Acts 20:28
    • Acts 14:19-23
    • Titus 1:5
    • 1 Peter 5:1-14
    • Hebrews 13:17
    • Titus 1:9
    • Colossians 3:16
  • What practical principles can we put in place?
    • Have a heart devoted to and SATISFIED in Christ.
    • Have a heart devoted to the spiritual health and maturity of the body of Christ.
    • Have a heart of humility and patience.
    • Lead well, even when it’s hard.
    • Don’t lead alone.
  • Practical questions to ask.
    • What can I own here?
    • What can I learn here?
    • What needs correction?  
    • Is there an underlying issue that needs addressed?
    • Often sheep who bite are dealing with some kind of pain or difficulty. How can you love and help?
    • Sometimes biting sheep are malnourished. How can you help? How can you avoid this?  

The listener question we answer this week:

• Denny from PA asks, “Is it okay for a pastor to retire? Or should he work until he dies?”

Links for our Top Two's:

• Sam Crabtree's Practicing Affirmation
• IBCD Care and Discipleship Podcast 
• Kyser Short-Cut Partial Capo
• Old School Sermon Prep w/ Pen and Legal Pad

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...

• the call we have to care for our families while ministering to God's flock!
  • How can we fall into the temptation to neglect our families?
    • Being busy...
    • Being physically absent...
    • Being mentally absent...
    • Placing too little emphasis on the needs of the family...
• What does the Bible tell us about caring for our families??
  • Genesis 2:24
  • Ephesians 5:25-32
  • Psalm 127:3-5
  • Ephesians 6:4
  • Proverbs 22:6
  • Matthew 11:11-12
• How can you be more intentional with your family?
  • Take a day off and make it sacred.
  • Family date night.
  • Go home for lunch a few times each week.
  • Make dinner a priority.
  • Family devotions.
  • Use your calendar.
  • Put your phone in the garbage (or at least in another room) and use the do not disturb function.
  • Be careful what kind of load you place on your wife.
• Resources:
  • Jay Adams' Shepherding God's Flock
  • Jason Helopoulos' The New Pastor's Handbook

The listener question we answer this week:

• Denny Dillman from Henryville, IN asks, "'Pastor' is an office in the church, NOT a title. It is OK for people in my church to call me 'pastor'. Is it OK for anyone outside the church I serve to call me 'Pastor?' If I am speaking to the Rotary Club, should I be introduced as 'Pastor Denny?' Is there such a thing as a 'Community Pastor'? 
  (These are questions driven by a concern for the overuse of the word 'Pastor.')"

Links for our Top Two's:

• Douglas Wilson's Reforming Marriage
• Quitting Twitter
• French Press with Good Coffee
• The 4 Disciplines of Execution

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...

• gospel literacy and its application in all of ministry!
  • What are the four aspects of the gospel?
    • God
    • Man
    • Jesus
    • Response
• What Scriptures do we use to explain the four aspects of the gospel?
  • Exodus 34:1-8
  • Psalm 8
  • Romans 3:9-20
  • John 1:1-18
  • Romans 5:6-11
  • Acts 13:26-39
  • Philippians 3:7-14
  • Romans 6
• What specific impact should the gospel have on ministry?
  • ALL OF IT!
  • In Counseling
  • In Outreach
  • In Discipleship
• Resources:
  • Greg Gilbert's What is the Gospel?

The listener question we answer this week:

• Aaron Batdorf from Lock Haven, PA "What level of agreement should there be among the eldership? That to me is the easier question than how to work towards greater agreement? Especially in the rural setting that has not necessarily downplayed doctrinal depth, but it has also not been a focus because it is seen as too intellectual or whatever excuse might be given. Perhaps it's even complicated by the pastor being the only one to have received formal training and there is a deep seated clergy/laity divide? Assuming a plurality of elders, how can they work towards greater depth and agreement that will catch on to the rest of the body?"

Links for our Top Two's:

• Tabletalk Magazine Website
• Samuel Medley's Awake My Soul to Joyful Lays
• Milk Crate Storage Solution
• Google Swipe Keyboard

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...

• inconsistent attendance and engagement in the local church!
  • What does Scripture say about engagement in the body?
    • Matthew 22:36-40
    • Acts 2:42-47
    • Acts 13:21-25
    • Acts 20:7
    • 1 Corinthians 11:17
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
    • Hebrews 10:19-25
• How can we encourage more regular and consistent attendance?
  • Teach Meaningful Membership
  •  Intentional, Efficient, God Glorifying Order of Worship
  • Don’t just play church! Don’t seek to be just attractional or people pleasers! Seek Gospel Centered transformation both in justification/salvation and continued sanctification. When people love God more, they’ll set aside time to corporately worship Him and be with His people more!
  • Love, Love, Love!
  • Don't measure success using the wrong stats!
• Resources:
  • Thom Rainer Article on Church Attendance Decline

The listener question we answer this week:

• We respond to a constructive criticism from Tim Madden, ”Not to be 'that guy,' but one of the guys at the very beginning of the second to last podcast spoke about the seed of Abraham blessing the world. They accredited the blessing to the church. In Galatians three, Paul says the blessing that blesses the world is actually the cross of Christ."

Links for our Top Two's:

• 1-1 Elder Meetings before the Main Meeting
• Scripture Lullabies
• Amazon Basics Laptop Sleeves
• Charlie Daniel's Never Look at the Empty Seats

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...

• Retreating and discipleship!
  • Does the Bible say anything about this?
    • Matthew 28:19-20
    • Acts 1:8
    • Mark 1:17
    • Colossians 3:16
    • Hebrews 10:24-25
    • 1 Timothy 4:12
    • Ephesians 5:1
    • 1 Peter 2:21
    • 1 Corinthians 11:1
  • What types of retreats can you go on?
    • General Discipleship Retreats
      • If you’re discipling men, take them somewhere different and have intentional conversation and encouragement
    • Elder’s Retreats
      • Schedule times of fun, enrichment, and work.
    • Staff and Volunteer Retreats
      • Show appreciation for one another.
  • Resources:
    • Mark Dever’s Discipling
    • R. Kent Hughes’ Disciplines of a Godly Man
    • Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together

The listener question we answer this week:

• Ben Miller from Quarryville, PA asks, “I notice that in rural communities, men tend to work longer hours due to the nature of their jobs. How do we best develop and challenge men to lead in the church when they are working 60+ hours in the workplace and still needing to lead their families?”

Links for our Top Two's:

• Sharing Ministry Philosophies
• Pastoral Prayers
• Sworkit Exercise App
• Stand-Up Desk

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...

• Community engagement!
  • Does the Bible say anything about community involvement?
    • 1 John 2:15
    • James 4:4
    • Galatians 6:14
    • 1 Peter 2:9-11
    • Matthew 10
    • Genesis 22:17-18
    • John 13:35
  • Why should the church be involved in the community?
    • You’re visible.
    • You want people to know you care.
    • You’re sent.
    • Outreach lets people see what’s going on inside the church
    • You build equity that can be spent on Gospel conversations.
    • You learn the names and issues of your neighbors and can serve them.
    • You can pray more specifically.
    • People will remember you in their time of trouble.
    • People who might not normally serve have an easy way to get involved.
    • Churches have critical mass
  • Why should the church teach individuals to be involved in the community?
    • Nobody can impact your neighbor like you
    • The circle is bigger.
    • Much more personal and intimate conversation.
    • You have more time.
    • You’re not wearing a t-shirt and slapping on a smile.
  • What are ways the church can be involved in the community?
    • Block party
    • Feeding the teachers
    • Visiting nursing homes (this is SO critical and SO overlooked)
    • Community Christmas Eve Service
    • Community Service Events
    • Intentional informal involvement (everyone go to the ______ town event and be a warm, friendly, kind presence in the community)
    • Movie nights
    • Float in the parade
    • Take care of your property (be a good neighbor)
    • AWANA
    • Free Biblical counseling
  • Warnings (pitfalls, shortcomings, silly things, etc. we want to avoid):
    • Don’t let it stop with a fun event.
    • Don’t always make it a revival sermon 
    • No bait and switch
    • Be distinct from the world
    • Be distinct, but don’t be odd (let the Gospel be the offense, not your strange behavior, bad breath, veggie tales references, etc…)
    • Don’t call someone a brother who is not your brother

Links for our Top Two's:

• Linda J. Rice’s Parenting the Difficult Child
• Macarthur Study Bible in NASB App
• Study Eschatology
• Training for a 5K
• Family Date Night
• Alka Seltzer Cold/Daytime

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...

• Church picnics and other events like them!
  • How should a pastor act at a church picnic?
    • There is no Script!
    • There are some principles to follow, however.
  • Is our mandate as a disciple and shepherd ever on a break?
    • Shepherds are never off duty, because neither Christ nor the enemy take a break.
    • This life isn’t ours. It’s God’s! We are merely stewards of the time, talents, and resources He has entrusted to us.
  • What does Scripture say about this?
    • I am a child of God 24/7. (Eph. 3:20)
    • I bear God’s image 24/7. (Genesis 1-2)
    • I am to manage God’s assets 24/7. (Genesis 1-2)
    • I am a sojourner and alien 24/7. (1 Peter)
    • I am called to glorify God 24/7.  (1 Cor. 10:31)
    • I am called to do the good works He prepared before Him (Eph. 2:10)

The listener question we answer this week:

• Phineas from Finland, “There is a member of my congregation who has begun to contact me too frequently. I often receive multiple texts, emails, and phone calls each day and am not sure how to handle the situation.  Most of the communication is negative and comes across as drama.  I don’t want to offend or hurt this person, but I am starting to resent them.  How can I love them yet redirect them?”

Links for our Top Two's:

• IBCD Counseling Videos
• Spiritual - Systems/Processes/Guides/SOPS/Reminders
• Line 6 HX Effects and HX Stomp Patch from Worship Tutorials
• Rotating Your Tires

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...

• Preaching God's Word
  • Why do we preach?
    • Acts 2:42
    • 1 Timothy 4:13
    • Mark 16:15
    • 2 Timothy 2:15
• What sort of preaching is there?
  • Vision Casting
  • Topical
  • Expository (Our Favorite)
• Why should our preaching expose God's Word?
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  • Hebrews 4:12
• What should you stay away from when preaching?
  • Talking too much about yourself
  • Listening to a bunch of other sermons on the text
  • Giving a watered down version of commentaries 
  • Preaching too intensely 
  • Not preaching intensely enough 
  • Talking “at” the congregation
  • Preaching the sermon the same way no matter where you are
  • Not enough application
  • Only applying it in ways that are relevant to your experience
  • Using language that doesn’t match your cultural context
  • Not reviewing your sermons and asking others to critique you

The listener question we answer this week:

•  Joseph from the Mountains asks, “Scripture is quite clear on our Spiritual gifts and that we are to use them to serve one another. Often, rural churches suffer a lack of servants just due to numbers and needs. I have seen people leave a church because of the fear of having to serve. How can we encourage members to see that serving is biblical and encourage them in love to do so?”

Links for our Top Two's:

• An Old School Pulpit Commentary
  • HDM Spence
  • John Calvin's New Testament Commentary
• The World and Everything in It
• Handkerchiefs
• Intermittent fasting 

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...

• Benevolence ministry in the local church...with Pastor Denny Dillman!
  • How are we called to be biblically generous with our funds?
    • Deuteronomy 15:7-10
    • Proverbs 28:27
    • Hebrews 13:16
    • Galatians 6:10 
    • Acts 2:44-45
    • Matthew 5:42 
    • Matthew 25:35-40 
  • What does a biblically healthy benevolence ministry look like?
  • How can you practically implement a biblically healthy benevolence ministry?
  • Denny's Resources!
    • budk.com
    • Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert's When Helping Hurts
    • Robert Lupton's Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor

The listener question we answer this week:

•  John Banks asks, “I'm thankful for investing time in this podcast. I’ve been to a weekender at Capital Hill—and wondered if the beltway gang could actually implement healthy church principles in rural America where local church membership is often viewed as simply a right to cast your vote? I would be interested to hear how you have implemented membership in a meaningful way in your respective churches. What challenges are there, have been, and how did you overcome objections?”

Links for our Top Two's:

• Short, Concise, Well Worded, Understandable Sermons
• Drive By Parenting
• SmartWater
• DW Candle

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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