Rural Pastors Talk

In this episode we discuss... our five points on pastoring simply on fumes: Read Paul (Scripture), compare, & repeat! 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 Think about trials correctly and praise God! James 1:12 1 Peter 4:12 1 Peter 5:10 Romans 8:18 2 Corinthians 12:9 2 Timothy 4:5-8 Spend MORE time with Christ! Philippians 3:7-11 Matthew 11:28-30 Philippians 4:6-7 Ask for help! James 5:16 Ephesians 4 Take a...

In this episode we discuss... our five points to remember when guiding small groups through chaos: Remember who you are! You are a pastor who is teaching Christians the Word of God that will equip them and make them able to handle every situation 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Get your own head and heart right so you can model the right spiritual attitude. Remember Micah 6:6-8 and live it out as an example. Re...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on the priorities of rural pastors! Bowling is better than ping-pong. We need to be more like bowling balls: empowered by God, filled with the Spirit, speeding toward the target He’s set up for us.   You are just one part of the body. Pastors are called by God to fulfill a specific function. You’re part of the body that needs to function like only that...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on visitors in the rural church! Your website left me hanging. Outdated info, no idea of what to expect, no photos, no preview of staff, hard to find contact info, listening to a sermon was difficult, etc. Everyone seemed like they knew what they were doing, but me. Confusing parking lot, which door do I go to, no greeters, stack of bulletins, where is...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on planning your first counseling session. Have the counselee complete a PDI: Personal Data Inventory. Necessary basic contact info. Medical history. Religious, Church, and faith background: Is this person a Christian? Basic issues and the counselee’s expectations. Set expectations. We are going to use the Bible Our highest authority 2 Timothy 3:16-17...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on why rural churches matter. Enjoying the flock is a gift from God. Deepens your love for the flock. Romans 12:15-16 - 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Deepens the flock’s love for you. May extend your ministry. You need to build some marg...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on why rural churches matter. Rural churches are dear to Christ. Eph. 3:10 Matt. 16:18 Stop telling yourself they are lesser. Stop telling yourself it’s too hard. Stop looking for greener grass. Rural territory is just as much Christ’s as the cities. Rural churches reach rural people. Genesis 1:28 Matthew 28:18-20 Rural Christians need rural churches....

In this episode we discuss... our five points on when church members disagree with you. Have a process for making wise, Biblical, and plural decisions. Acts 20 1 Timothy 5 Be convictional, but if necessary flexible. Work exclusively for the approval of Christ. Ask thoughtful questions and listen to the answers. Create an atmosphere where people know they can come and ask questions. Example Questio...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on prayer time transitions. Prayer time transitions over-elevate production. Is it really bad to watch a someone slip out the back or the team to transition when they’re through? Prayer time transitions can be more distracting than helpful. People watch the worship team exit, hear the drummer lay his sticks down, a singer bumps the mic, a person trips,...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on the rural pastor and social media! CAVEAT: social media can be a blessing to disseminate a biblical, God glorifying message. We obviously use different platforms for the podcast, but we caution why, how, and when they are used. Social Media can be a CESSPOOL. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 It seems as if we have enough trouble working on personal holiness...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on the rural pastor and reading! Reading is refreshing. Reading is a fight for your life. "A fight for reading is a fight for your life!" Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones Reading reveals your trajectory. You need a schedule. Mark Dever's Tim Challie's You need a reading plan that expands and sticks in your mind. Broad categories. System for r...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on what to do after you preach! Receive encouragement and criticism with grace and humility. Be exhausted, but not indulgent. Excuse to eat all the ice cream, whole bag of chips, etc.   Complain about people from church. Justify lack of guests. Self-righteousness. Expect fruit. Conviction. Confession and repentance of sin. Encouragement. It’s the Lord’...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on what to do before you preach! Pray. Seriously! How many pastors have skipped this? Get some elders involved… Philippians 4:4-7 Review. Prior to coming to the service, take time to prayerfully review your sermon. Hydrate. Take care of those vocal chords the LORD has given you with some water and tea! Exegete the congregation. Don't hide in your...

In this episode we discuss... our five points on dealing with discouragement in rural ministry. You may not be called to be a rural pastor. Acts 20:28 James 3:1 Spurgeon - “If any student in this room could be content to be a newspaper editor or a grocer or a farmer or a doctor or a lawyer or a senator or a king, in the name of heaven and earth, let him go his way.” You may have your eyes on the w...

In this episode we discuss... In this episode we discuss giving money away during a crisis like COVID-19. What do we have to offer as the Church? Pray Consider from Gods Word what a right expression of Biblical generosity is. Prepare As leaders we should identify our assets? Money, teaching… What’s in the storehouse?  Execute What is our plan? How can we help practically? Budget workshop, teach pe...

In this episode we discuss... drive in and outdoor services! If Lowe's and Walmart are considered essential, certainly the Church is more. How can you practically hold a drive in or outdoor service? What should we practically do about: Ushers Communion Passing the Offering Plate Singing FM Transmitters? Our Top Two's: Communication During Busy Times Encourage Your Children to Help in Min...

In this episode we discuss... consumerism and the rural church! Often times people are shopping for something they will not find in many rural churches. Kids ministry. Coffee Shops. Fancy Buildings. Wonderful Greeters. Comfy Charins. Super Hip Worship Leaders. A Preacher like John MacArthur. On Campus Parking. A Vision to Impact the World. Updated Bathrooms. Small Groups. You get the point! If con...

In this episode we discuss... rural churches dying and how you can help! Lots of churches are dying. Thomas Rainer: 6,000-10,000 churches close every year in the US. The problem is especially pronounced in rural places. Rural towns have a smaller population base. Fewer people in rural communities than ever. Jobs are leaving. Consumerism. Church shopping. Rural churches will fall short! Student loa...

In this episode we discuss... are the demands placed on you and your schedule eating your lunch? If so, it’s time to take them back! 4 Ways Ministry Can Eat Your Lunch: You are unorganized. You allow the choices of others to control you. We're not saying we don’t sacrifice to help others. We're not saying we only help those who have done everything right.  We are saying that you should n...

In this episode we discuss... an answer to Matt Gileskie's mail questions: Are there other evangelical authorities to EQUIP people like me who aspire to pastor in rural areas? First goal: Do what God has called elders to do! Be shooting at the right target. Colossians 3:2. Second goal: Get practical advice! As much as we want a magic bullet or book, I don’t think anything could EQUIP you for...

In this episode we discuss... The dangers of big town influence on small town church! We are actually supposed to be imitators! Ephesians 5:1-2 1 Corinthians 11:1-34  We are supposed to be imitators, but we are also created unique! Ephesians 2:8-10 Figure out who you are! What are your ministry strengths? Before you practice what you’re seein’ in other church, you better be a good Berean! Acts 17:...

In this episode we discuss... 10 things you shouldn't do in a crisis, and what you should do instead!  Don’t be fooled into thinking you matter more than you do. Romans 12:3  Psalm 25:9 Don’t neglect your relationship with Christ! Luke 10:27  John 14:21  Don’t neglect your family. 1 Timothy 5:8 Don’t binge eat. 1 Corinthians 10:31  Proverbs 23:21  Philippians 3:19  Proverbs 23:20-21  Don’t sk...

In this episode we discuss... why we need more rural pastors by interviewing Brad Gray, former city slicker and pastor of Stonington Baptist Church. Questions Brad Answers: We rural pastors can smell guys like you a mile away. What are you doing in rural Pennsylvania? What were you expecting when you thought about leaving the hustling, bustling tropics for rural PA? You’re young, you’re in seminar...

In this episode we discuss... helps for small town pastors with David Pinckney, the pastor of River of Grace Church in Concord, New Hampshire, the co-director of Acts 29’s Rural Collective, an area lead in for Acts 29 in Northern New England, and a servant on the Small Town Summits team at TGC. Questions David Answers: You often emphasize the importance of rural churches planting rural churches. ...

In this episode we discuss... COVID-19 and our response as the LORD's Church. As much as we want to gather, right now, we shouldn’t gather together! (At least for now) This is not an issue where the church is being specifically targeted. Everybody needs to do their best to “flatten the curve.” There is a sense of civic duty, obedience to government officials and good Christian witness. The Co...