Rural Pastors Talk

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

Rural Pastors Talk episodes

August 23, 2024The First 400 Words Matter
In this episode we...
discuss why the intro to your sermon matters.
What is a bad intro?
What makes a good intro?
Short (400 words or less)
Central to the text
Relatable to everyone (Problematize the text)
A good hook
24 min
August 09, 2024Shepherding Through the Unknowns
In this episode we...
discuss shepherding our churches through highs and lows, knowns and unknowns.
TJ interviews Josh concerning his recent experience with a building that fell through, and very well may be resurrected!
23 min
August 01, 2024How to Know If You’re a Heartless Preacher
In this episode we...
discuss not stopping until the text you’re preaching has impacted your heart.
What are the consequences if you preach unaffected by the text?
You give a lecture
You have no purpose
You have weak application
You are a hypocrite
You are unable to sympathize with the people God has called you to shepherd
How can you get the text into your heart?
God must do this!
Pray
Meditate
Visualize
Answer how the gospel answer’s the problem in your text
If the texts doesn’t move you, it won’t move anyone
29 min
July 25, 2024If We Can Do It, You Can Do It Too!
In this episode we...
discuss our latest sermons and how we put them together.
We use the tools we've spoken of this season, and are excited to share our latest examples of sermons we've preached and are preparing!
32 min
July 18, 2024Are You Stuck in a Rut?
In this episode we...
discuss the path forward in ministry when you’re serving under compulsion.
Do you feel stuck in a rut for any number of reasons?
Pushback in the church
Lack of zeal
Nothing seems to be changing in your congregation
What should our response be?
Repentance
Romans 12:9-11
15 min
July 12, 2024Does Your Sermon Title Matter?
In this episode we...
discuss how to articulate your sermon study in such a way that is understandable and clear to the congregation.
How you "adorn" your sermon matters.
Put your title, argument, and points to work!
What illustrations will you use that are pointed, but clear?
Clarity over cleverness!
19 min
July 06, 2024Should You Argue with Your Church Members?
In this episode we...
discuss how to make the argument in context for your sermon passage.
Don't just teach a lesson
Don't tell people about the passage
Make the argument the author was making to his audience!
All of season 4 has given you the tools to come to this step.
20 min
July 05, 2024 Hang Tight!
Thanks for sticking with us! We’ll get the latest episode up ASAP!
1 min
June 28, 2024Is Your Application Helping?
In this episode we...
discuss how to make application rise from the text and resonate with your people.
Ask good questions that actually relate and are answered by the text.
Apply the text to Christians and Non-Christians alike.
Apply the text to the head, heart, and hands.
https://kirkmillerblog.com/2022/05/19/my-sermon-series-preparation-worksheet/
21 min
June 20, 2024Don't Shoehorn Jesus Into Your Sermon
In this episode we...
discuss how to properly include the gospel in our sermons.
Beware playing "Pint the Jesus on the Sermon"
The gospel is not just "Jesus died for your sins."
Instead, consider from the text itself what aspect of God's ETERNAL plan of redemption the author has in mind.
The gospel could be seen through:
Explicit mention (1 Corinthians 15)
Allusion (Genesis 28)
Types and shadows in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 17)
Prophecy (Isaiah 53)
Use an "anchor text" somewhere in the New Testament that amplifies how the gospel informs your sermon.
26 min