In this episode we discuss...

• There have never been more books than there are today. There have never been more books that people are trying to sell you than today! And we all have struggles and hardships, and things we wish we were different.
• For every problem, or frustration, or question we struggle with in the church, there are many books fighting for your attention and promising a solution!
  • This is a good thing!
  • We have been more helped over and over again by things we have read in books (mostly older books) some newer books.
  • We’ve also gone to conferences and attended workshops led by pastors who we admire and look up to and who we think will be much closer to the throne of God in heaven than we’ll ever be.
• BUT, in reading books and going to conferences and attending workshops there is a great danger we need to diligently fight against or it will pull us right in. The danger of thinking that if it works for them it will work for me too.
• To be fair, healthy churches have a lot of similarity and there are some things we should all be doing. And a lot of the suggestions leaders of those churches make will probably help you.
• But, the template Scripture lays out for what a church should like like is fairly basic and allows for all kinds of variations.
  • People of every tribe and tongue
  • People from cities and people from the country
  • People in places there are relatively few Christians
  • All different contexts! The church should reflect this diversity!
• What does the Bible say the church should be?
  • Baptism and the Lord’s Supper - Mandatory
  • Preaching the Word
  • A deep level of commitment to one another
  • A Biblical leadership structure
• PASTOR, YOU AND YOUR ELDERS KNOW YOUR CHURCH BEST! You know your community best and your context.
  • Don’t shepherd your people to look like some other church you admire.
  • Don’t make changes because the guy in the book or on the stage said you should.  
  • Develop convictions based on the Word of God.
    • Seek more counsel from God than from books.
      • (Pray and read Scripture)
    • Love your congregation more.
    • Love your community more.
    • Focus on the work God is doing right where you are. 

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

• Feeling fishy for a snack? Try out King Oscar Sardines, and Anchovies.
• Joe's Recipe: Tin of canned fish, triscuit, extra sharp cheese, dill pickles, olives, and a honey crisp apple.

Our Quote of the Day:

• Reading without meditation is unfruitful; meditation without reading is hurtful; to meditate and to read without prayer upon both is without blessing. - Richard Greenham

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