In this episode we discuss...

• the fear of man in their ministry and reject it in favor of honoring God:
  • There are a number of "scary" people within the church
  • Our fear of these people needs to be replaced, by God's grace, by the fear of the LORD
  • Job 28:28
  • Matthew 10:28
  • Deuteronomy 10:12
  • 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• How can you bless your people in a small way? Write them a personal, handwritten card using Wellsboro Woodland's Cards.

Our Quote of the Day:

• I have never once feared the devil, but I tremble every time I enter the pulpit - John Knox

In this episode we discuss...

• encouragement for rural pastors to think more about the WHY behind their ministry:
  • What is the vision of the church? 
  • What should the vision of your local church be?
  • Let us consider God's plan for the church and how you, brother pastor, can encourage your church toward that vision.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Are our book shelves over run? Consider the occasional use of ebooks and a Kindle!

Our Quote of the Day:

• A Christian, so soon as he is newborn, is born a soldier, and so continues until his crown is put on him. - Richard Sibbes

In this episode we discuss...

• working together in a meaningful way with other likeminded churches and pastors:
  • We have the great commission as our marching orders, but we can possibly achieve disciples of every nation on our own.
  • We NEED each other.
  • Consider Paul's example in 1 Corinthians 16 and Acts 24.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Drowning in paper work, emails, texts, and a cluttered calendar? Consider a ministry like Ministry Desk.

Our Quote of the Day:

• However advanced a man may be in piety or age, he is still in danger of falling. - Charles Simeon

In this episode we discuss...

• 5 helpful tips to encourage saints who are resistant to reading their Bibles:
  • 1. Check their Translation
  • 2. Emphasize the Importance
  • 3. Teach Them to Pray First
  • 4. Expect More, Not Less
  • 5. Start in Mark 

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Looking for a product to make anything stick? Check out Joe's recommendation of Devcon Epoxy!

Our Quote of the Day:

• “Don’t worry about what you don’t understand in the Bible. (Though you probably should - Joe Wagner) Worry about what you do understand but do not live by. - Corrie Ten Boom

In this episode we discuss...

• the need for expositional preaching in the rural church.
  • An expository sermon may be defined as a message whose structure and thought are derived from a biblical text, that covers the scope of the text, and that explains the features and context of the text in order to disclose the enduring principle for faithful thinking, living, and worship intended by the Spirit, who inspired the text. - Bryan Chapell
  • Expository preaching is empowered preaching that rightfully submits the shape and emphasis of the sermon to the shape and emphasis of a biblical text. In that way, it brings out of the text what the Holy Spirit put there…and does not put into the text what the preacher thinks might be there. - David Helm
  • Exposition refers to the content of the sermon (biblical truth) rather than its style (a running commentary). To expound Scripture is to bring out of the text what is there and expose it to view. The expositor opens what appears to be closed, makes plain what is obscure, unravels what is knotted, and unfolds what is tightly packed. - John Stott
  • Expositional preaching is preaching in which the main point of the biblical text being considered becomes the main point of the sermon being preached.  - Mark Dever
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Looking for a preaching workshop to encourage your soul? Check out Simeon's Trust!

Our Quote of the Day:

• Words easy to be understood do often hit the mark; when high and learned ones do only pierce the air. - John Bunyan

A very merry Christmas from TJ, Joe, and Joshua! We will see you in January, 2023!

In this episode we discuss...

• what we can find out about rural churches with rural reasearcher Dr. Jeff Clark.
  • Dr. Clark will answer a number of questions surrounding the rural church landscape, while giving insight and helpful encouragement to rural pastors and churchgoers alike!
  • Find more info about Dr. Clark here.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• No review today.

Our Quote of the Day:

• No Quote today.

In this episode we discuss...

• whether or not a Christmas eve service can be redeemed as  worship service without using gimmicks to get and retain guests.
  • Pew Research: search terms or churches spike around Christmas and Easter
  • 3 out of 5 Americans say they plan to include church in their holiday plans
  • Christmas Eve should be a WORSHIP service
  • But we can also think carefully of how to care for guests and of course preach the gospel

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Looking for a quality pair of headphones for half the cost of AirPods? Raycon Global has your answer!

Our Quote of the Day:

• "I wonder if there was ever a time when true spiritual worship was at a lower ebb. To great sections of the church, the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the "program." This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the public service which now passes for worship among us."  - A.W. Tozer

In this episode we discuss...

• the value of rural ministry from a Biblical theology of rural ministry.
  • Consider the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11.
  • We must not STOP ministering in cities, leaving rural behind. God's glory demands that we bear His image and have dominion in ALL places.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Do you have a junk drawer? Consider a living room junk basket instead! (Nice one TJ...)

Our Quote of the Day:

• "In our first paradise in Eden there was a way to go out...but no way to go in again. But as for the heavenly paradise, there is a way to go in...but not way to go out."  - Richard Baxter

In this episode we discuss...

• mutual support between churches in different locations with special guests Pastor Ed Moore and Pastor Dave Theobald.
  • Dave and Ed will answer questions like:
    • How do this partnership between your churches begin?
    • What kind of fruit has come from this relationship?
    • Is there anything challenging about a rural church and an urban church working together?
    • What are the benefits for the pastors? 
    • What are the benefits for the congregation?
  • Find Ed at https://www.ns-bc.org/pastors-and-staff.
• Find Dave at https://www.gracebcdansville.org/users/david-theobald--5.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• No review today.

Our Quote of the Day:

• No quote today.