The Rural Church Podcast 2.0

On this week's episode of the RCP 2.0, Eddie Ragsdale dives into 2 Peter 3:1-13 to give us the beautiful promise of God's faithfulness to His plan and to His people. He deals with an oft used text against Calvinism, 2 Peter 3:9, and why it's actually a beautiful text in support of reformed theology.

Eddie and Allen discuss the upcoming solar eclipse in April 2024 and how their churches plan to do evangelism. Then they get into a discussion on what is revival, why should we seek it, and how should churches seek it. They also mention Founders 2025 conference on Revival. More information to that conference can be found here: https://founders.org/conference

Sadly, church discipline is an oft-neglected aspect of church life, particularly in the Bible Belt. What is church discipline? Why and how should it be practiced? What should you do if it's not? In this week's episode, Eddie and Allen tackle these practical questions and more about church discipline. You can listen to Allen's sermon on this subject here: https://providencebaptistar.com...

In the year of our Lord, 2024, we are still Baptists. In this episode, we hear a sermon from co-host Allen Nelson from Ephesians 4 on the biblical meaning of baptism. We are grateful for our brothers and sisters who see this issue differently. Nevertheless, we feel this is an important subject.

Eddie and Allen pick up a sobering but crucial subject when it comes to the Scriptures: Hell. The Bible teaches a literal, conscious, eternal, hell for unbelievers. The guys jump into this doctrine as well as how to preach it in our churches.

Are there ever any good reasons to "cancel" church? On this week's episode of the Rural Church Podcast, Eddie and Allen tackle this issue amid a snowstorm! Kinda. Why should Christians value Sundays? What about Wednesday Nights? This and more in Episode 67...

What kind of importance should believers place on physical fitness? Eating right? Exercise? Eddie and Allen tackle this subject in this episode of the Rural Church Podcast 2.0. While we must not make fitness an idol, most of us can stand to improve in these areas. Listen in to this episode and feel free to offer your feedback !

In this episode, Allen reads to us a sermon preached by Particular Baptist Pastor, Benjamin Keach (1640-1704). This sermon deals with the duties of church members and pastors to actively and tangibly strive for true peace together in the local church and with Christians outside their local church as well. A timely message for today!

What should a faithful pastor smell like? A strange question! Yet, biblically, we see that pastors are called shepherds. The idea is that these men should be shepherding God's flock which involves more than only preaching on Sundays. Listen in as Eddie and Allen discuss what it looks like to actually spend time with the sheep. This is an exhortation needed for both pastors and church members,...

This episode is from November 27, 2017, on the original Rural Church Podcast. Listen in as a bit younger Eddie and Allen discuss the failure of the "affinity" and "attractional" based model of the local church. Here is the original episode description: "Cowboy Church, Biker Church, Outdoor Church, Race Car Church, Gamer Church, Hipster Church, and the list goes on and on a...

Well, it's pretty much like the title says. Eddie and Allen go over some of the top episodes of the RCP 2.0 for 2023. They discuss some personal ups and downs for 2023. Then they give an exhortation to why believes should be reading the Scriptures in 2024.

Merry Christmas from the Rural Church Podcast! The guys welcome fellow Arkansan, Dr. Russell Threet, to talk about the glorious reality of God becoming man to save us from our sins. They then discuss how that issue is connected to the Christian desire to abolish abortion in America. This video, The Fatal Flaw of the Pro-Life Movement, is mentioned in this episdoe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k...

Eddie and Allen finish up their conversation with D. Michael Clary (@dmichaelclary) about his new book God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality. This part of the interview deals more specifically with gender roles in the local church. To purchase the book go to: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Good-Design-Theological-Practical/dp/1956521097

Eddie and Allen chat with D. Michael Clary (@dmichaelclary) about his new book God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality. In God's providence, this episode was recorded just after Ohio's wicked vote to enshrine abortion into its state constitution, so the conversation begins there. To purchase the book go to: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Good-Des...

The guys talk about the theology of Christmas and whether Christians should celebrate. Then they get into specific ways to do evangelism during this time of year. Here is a link to the James White lesson mentioned in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SusR-01evO4

Eddie and Allen interview Dr. Jared Moore regarding his new book with Free Grace Prace, The Lust of the Flesh: Thinking Biblically About "Sexual Orientation," Attraction, and Temptation. The guys discuss the recent refusal of Louisiana Baptists to embrace equal protection for the preborn, and then jump into discussions regarding Same Sex Attraction, sin, redemption, the gospel, and the c...

Eddie and Allen discuss Confessions of Faith and why your church should have a healthy Confession. They also talk about the difference between Nominal Confessionalism and Hyper-Confessionalism and why your church should be neither. More on this here: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZjXzInCx8MM?si=5qxrQEu-Em-1yLBU

Eddie and Allen discuss this season of the year and how and why Christians should be thankful. They offer some practical ideas on how to express gratitude for and in the church. They end the episode talking about some things they are personally thankful for.

In this episode, Eddie speaks with Jim Elliff of Christian Communicators Worldwide about the biblical and historical basis for itinerant ministry as well as the strengths, benefits, and dangers today.

On this week of the RCP 2.0, Eddie and Allen talk about Baptist Associations. Then they get into Psalm 87:1-3 and talk about examples of glorious things in the church. Let us prize the local church's beauty!

Eddie and Allen chat about some recent life updates and evangelism opportunities. Then they get into John 2:17 and discuss the focus and zeal believers and especially pastors must have for the local church.

In this episode, Eddie and Allen catch up on their activities in the last month. They discuss G3 2023, Mexico Missions, Nursery/Cry Rooms, is it okay to pay for Christian Conferences?, and what about some of the current Baptist controversies? These things and more in this week's episode...

To kick off Reformation Month, Eddie and Allen discuss, "What is a Reformed Baptist?". How is this different than other baptists? How should Reformed Baptists cooperate with others?

In this episode of RCP 2.0, Pastor Allen S. Nelson IV preaches from Matthew 5:8 on The Heart that Sees God. What does it mean to "see" God? What applications are there for the Christian walk? What about images of God and/or Christ? We dive into this and more in this week's episode!

Allen and Eddie talk for a bit about the death of Sundays in America today. They then spend the majority of the episode talking about the purpose and value of good sermon illustrations. What are some dos and don'ts when it comes to the art of sermon illustration? Listen in and find out!