Rural Church Renewal

TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, & Josh MacClaren

Rural pastors helping rural churches think biblically about the local church.

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Top 10 Rural Church Renewal Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Rural Church Renewal episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Rural Church Renewal for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Rural Church Renewal episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

On Rural Mission & Church Planting

Rural Church Renewal

05/12/22 • 54 min

In this episode we discuss...

missions and church planting in rural places
- Today we interview Will Basham, church planter and lead pastor of New Heights Church in West Virginia.
- Will answers questions like:
  - What is a holler?
  - Evangelism in rural places often looks like “tent revivals” and “altar calls.” What is your perspective on this practice? You mention in your book a more biblical altar call. What is that? Where do you wish altar calls were happening?
  - “I truly believe that in order to reach a generation of disenchanted people, our discipleship will have to be deployed.” What does deployed discipleship look like?
  - “When we create discipleship strategies that are designed for higher educated areas, we leave so many people out. And they’re not just dumb hillbillies.” Tell us about your model of Meet-Read-Pray!
- Find Will at: https://newheightswv.com/leadership-will-basham
- Order his book here.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

Looking for a new hobby? Consider building an AR-15 with a Polymer 80% lower!

Our Quote of the Day:

'You are no saint!' says the devil. Well, if I am not, I am a sinner. And Jesus came to save sinners! Other hope? I have none. - Charles Spurgeon

CONTACT

Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastorsLISTEN

Itunes

Spotify

Pastor, Are You Misusing Church Funds Unaware?

Rural Church Renewal

01/06/20 • 75 min

In this episode we discuss...

responsible financial stewardship in the rural church!
- Fraud can happen without you knowing it!
  - Most pastors and church leaders have NO intention of hurting the Church.
  - We think there is a way that a lot of rural pastors are misusing church funds without even realizing it.
    - Many rural pastors are overworked. Pastoral ministry is demanding.
    - What if we told you that instead of being overworked and underpaid, you are actually overworking and overpaid?
  - THEORY: Pastors should focus most of their time doing what only pastors can do!
    - If you’re getting paid a pastors salary to create, print, and stuff the bulletins, or clean the sanctuary, or put lyrics into the computer, or check the mail and pay the bills - you are being overpaid!
    - Now, we're not suggesting that any of those things are beneath you.
    - But, as part of your regular routine, you should be spending the majority of your time doing the things that God has instructed, qualified, and called what ONLY elders or pastors can do.
- What does Scripture say?
  - 1 Peter 5:2-3 (1-14)
  - Acts 20:28
  - 2 Timothy 4:2
  - 1 Timothy 5:17
  - Hebrews 13:17
  - Ephesians 4:12
  - Titus 1:9
  - Acts 6:1-6
- Arguments against?
  - We hardly have enough to pay our pastor as it is!
  - Nobody is willing to help.
  - I’m too busy to train anyone. It’s easier to just do all the work.
- The real problem.
  - Pride in doing a ton.
  - More comfortable doing things they can see making an instant impact.
  - Haven’t thought carefully about what Scripture calls to do.
  - Too proud to ask for help.
  - Trying to please men instead of God.
  - Don’t know what to do.
- What can you do?
  - Pray
  - Repent if necessary.
  - Log your hours.
  - Make a list: what can someone else do?
  - Make a job description.
  - Talk to your leaders.
  - Talk to the congregation.
  - Hire a non-paid admin assistant OR
  - since a laborer is worth his wages, trim the budget somewhere else, or start a small savings line item to hire a very part-time person to do some of the basics.
    - Have a bigger vision for the position than what you can hire. Start small, but build in ways for it to grow.

Links for our Top Two's:

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)

Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastors

Is Your Church Ready For Shady People?

Rural Church Renewal

03/16/20 • 39 min

In this episode we discuss...

how your church should respond when shady people come through the door!
- We've all had folks walk into our doors on a Sunday morning looking and acting strange!
- What should we do in these scenarios?
- Solutions!
  - Love them!
    - 1 Cor. 13.
  - Shepherd.
    - Guarding the flock should imply doing everything it takes to keep the people safe.
  - Showing hospitality means protecting those you’ve asked to attend the service.
  - Trained security team.
    - Do a walk-thru, find vulnerable areas, clearly label entrance doors, hallways, classrooms, etc...
  - Child Safety.
    - Check-in, window in the doors, physical guard, and background checks.
  - Lock the church doors during the service, but keep a person nearby to let people in.
  - Have an easy way to communicate a concern you have to a security team member.
  - Engage shady people.
    - Ask questions, look in the eyes, etc.
    - Have someone shadow them.

Links for our Top Two's:

Robert Wuthnow's The Left Behind
Pastor swap
Homemade Hand Sanitizer
Take your meetings on the road

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)

Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastorsLISTEN

3 Reasons Grace Stories are Vital to the Life of Your Church

Rural Church Renewal

06/24/19 • 77 min

In this episode we discuss...

3 reasons grace stories are vital to the life of your church!
- What is a grace story?
  - It is a story of how the Lord has saved you by His grace
Why should I share my grace story? 3 Reasons!!!
- They’re seen in Scripture
- They’re an encouragement in the Church
- They’re an example to the lost
When should I share my grace story?
- Anytime the Lord gives you the opportunity to speak the gospel to someone through how He has personally saved you
MyCircle Training

The listener question we answer this week:

Jeremiah from Catawissa, PA asks, “Hello Brothers, I have a question regarding why God's Family Fellowship and Wellsboro Bible Church exist as separate churches. What doctrinal differences do you divide along? If there are no first- or second- order theological differences, could you more effectively minister to your small town community by either combining, or working together and dividing evenly along geographic lines as autonomous congregations with a shared vision to better focus your circles of influence? I would love to hear your thoughts on whether rural churches could more effectively reach their communities with less fragmentation.”

Links for our Top Two's:

Jay Adam’s booklet - Christ and Your Problems
Before you do anything, devote an hour to Prayer!
Lime Mint Seltzer Water
Quaker Oatmeal - Joe Style
- Vanilla Whey Powder
- Craisans
- Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
- Almonds
- Chia Seeds
- Hot Water

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)

Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastors

Should Rural Churches Compete?

Rural Church Renewal

03/02/20 • 48 min

In this episode we discuss...

competition that so often characterizes the rural church!
- Too many churches see other churches as competition because we have a wrong view of success!
  - We had 200 people on Easter!
  - We had 10 new kids at AWANA!
  - We had to expand our parking lot!
  - We had to hire another pastor!
- How does Jesus measure success?
  - God’s grand purpose in creation: His own glory!
    - Isaiah 43:1–7
  - How God’s glory is displayed:
    - Ephesians 3:10
  - JESUS does the building of the church!
    - Matthew 16:18
  - There is a lot of pressure on pastors to feel like they have to build the church. But, if you are the architect, the foundation will crack, the walls will cave, and the roof will fall in!
    - Psalm 127:1
- 3 WAYS TO STOP COMPETING
  - Define success Biblically and refuse to chase after what looks successful.
  - Identify who else is on your team and partner with them.
  - Show your small church how they are connected to something much bigger.

Links for our Top Two's:

When the Man Comes Around by Douglas Wilson
Trained in the Fear of God ed. by Timothy Paul Jones and Randy Stinson
ESV Heirloom Bible
bensbargains.com
Mink Oil

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)

Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastorsLISTEN

Should Pastors Accept Gifts or Shop Thrifts?

Rural Church Renewal

01/27/20 • 43 min

In this episode we discuss...

your email questions!
- From Rich in Wellsboro, PA
  - Does TJ’s hair look the same way when he wakes up as it does when he goes to bed?
- From Jeremy in Catawissa, PA
  - On Episode 32, TJ and Joe both proudly recommended shopping at thrift stores, with TJ even going so far as to say that most of his wardrobe came from thrift stores. Several years ago, Tim Challies wrote an article in which he compared people of adequate means picking through thrift stores with the biblical concept of gleaning from Leviticus 19:9-10 (https://www.challies.com/christian-living/the-heart-of-frugality/). Ever since, when I think about shopping at thrift stores, that concept always comes to mind. I would love to hear all of you interact with this notion. Should you be leaving those "great deals" on the rack for those who truly need them? Is there an element of selfishness to abundantly supplying yourself in this way, when you have the means to supply yourself through more standard means? Is this, perhaps, even a way you could shepherd your congregations to help care for the poor in their communities (which is, after all, the intent of the command to leave the edges of the fields unharvested and the vineyard not stripped bare - to make sure those people have a way to supply their needs)?
- From Denny Dillman in Henryville, IN
  - How do you handle the generosity of a church member? The church member owns an auto repair/sales shop. He determines to provide for your vehicles: tires, batteries, repairs, even crazy discounted auto purchases. Can specific generosity cloud the thinking of the Pastor? Should the Pastor say "No"?

Links for our Top Two's:

Jonathan Edward's The Life of David Brainerd
Develop a Goal, Vision, or Core Values using the WORD
Control Screen Time
Garnier Fructose Pure Finishing Paste

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)

Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastorsLISTEN

Pastoring on Fumes

Rural Church Renewal

09/03/20 • 42 min

In this episode we discuss...

our five points on pastoring simply on fumes:
1. Read Paul (Scripture), compare, & repeat!
  - 2 Corinthians 11:23-30
2. 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
3. Spend MORE time with Christ!
  - Philippians 3:7-11
  - Matthew 11:28-30
  - Philippians 4:6-7
4. Ask for help!
  - James 5:16
  - Ephesians 4
5. Take a break already!
  - Matthew 14:13 & 22

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

TJ will tell us about making your smart phone dumb!

Our Quote of the Day:

"By constantly meditating on the goodness of God and on our great deliverance from that punishment which our sins have deserved, we are brought to feel our vileness and utter unworthiness; and while we continue in this spirit of self-degradation, everything else will go on easily. We shall find ourselves advancing in our course; we shall feel the presence of God; we shall experience His love; we shall live in the enjoyment of His favour and in the hope of His glory. . . . You often feel that your prayers scarcely reach the ceiling; but, oh, get into this humble spirit by considering how good the Lord is, and how evil you all are, and then prayer will mount on wings of faith to heaven. The sigh, the groan of a broken heart, will soon go through the ceiling up to heaven, aye, into the very bosom of God." Charles Simeon

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)

Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastorsLISTEN

Losing Focus in the Rural Church Pt. II

Rural Church Renewal

12/04/20 • 58 min

In this episode we discuss...

our 5 points on losing focus in the rural church part II:
1. Politics can distract the Church
  - Titus 3:1-8
  - Instead of MAGA, Christians should be K.O.G.I.B - The Kingdom of God is Better
  - Instead of The Resistance, Christians should be The Persistence - Living a Christlike Life no matter who the president is
2. Hyper-Patriotism and/or Nationalism can distract the Church
  - God CREATED the nations (Acts 17:24-26)
  - God RULES the nations (Psalm 66:7)
  - God RAISED UP HIS OWN kingdom (Rev 5:9-10)
  - God’s KINGDOM will continue to grow (Matthew 13:31-32)
3. The Culture War can distract the Church
  - The culture war is actually a spiritual war.
  - Don’t be surprised at the depravity of man! Don’t make your only goal to win the culture war, make your goal to make disciples.
  - Jeremiah 17:9
  - Romans 1:21-24
  - Isaiah 5:20-21
  - 2 Timothy 4:1-5
4. The Church can get distracted by our response to COVID-19
  - 2 Timothy 1:3-7 - Walk in the STRENGTH/POWER of Biblical Conviction, the LOVE of Christ and the SELF-CONTROL given by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God planted into a regenerate heart... and PRAYER helps too!
5. Rather than have the “perfect church” in our own eyes, our goal is to have a church that responds perfectly to these things, and shepherd them through it
  - Be encouraged! Christ has and is working to make His church perfect, so stop comparing your church to other churches.
  - Ephesians 5:25-27
  - 2 Timothy 1:15
  - 1 Corinthians 3:3-4
Next week we’ll focus on the INTERNAL FOCUS rural congregations can develop and how to overcome it.

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

Got some free time and want to listen to some books? Joe reviews Audible Plus.

Our Quote of the Day:

"The day is coming when he will ride on his white horse and go forth conquering and to conquer; but today, it is the red horse; for his church still suffers; still is she stained with the blood of persecution." Charles Spurgeon

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)

Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastorsLISTEN

The Pastor's Schedule - How to Use Your Time Best

Rural Church Renewal

05/06/19 • 53 min

In this episode we discuss...

Why it is imperative that rural pastors plan their schedules!
- Is there a biblical basis for planning?
- Why is it challenging for pastors to plan?
- How can you prudently, and effectively plan your agenda to the glory of God?
- David Murray's Reset

The listener question we answer this week:

Mark from North Central Pennsylvania asks, "I pastor in a small town where there are quite a few churches. The problem is that not all of them are gospel preaching, and of the ones that are we either have some significant level of doctrinal disagreement or they just are not healthy. How can I as a pastor engage with the other pastors right in my area in a positive way that encourages them towards Christ and the Word in spite of disagreement?"

Links for our Top Two's:

R.C. Sproul's God Is Holy
Martha Peace's The Excellent Wife
Honey and Loquat Syrup
Maxpedition Micro Pocket Organizer

CONTACT (give us feedback, topic ideas, or just say hey)
Call and leave a message at (570) 724-3741Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalkTwitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN
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Google Play

Pastoring Rural Parents with Dr. Tedd Tripp!

Rural Church Renewal

11/11/19 • 69 min

In this episode we discuss...

pastoring rural parents with our guest author, speaker, and pastor Dr. Tedd Tripp!
- We'll answer these questions:
  - What do we need to know about the kids in our church before we can equip the parents in our churches to shepherd them well?
  - What is the biggest mistake you see Christian parents making that they might not even be aware of?
  - If a young pastor came to you and said, “Dr. Tripp, I’ve noticed that the children in our church are undisciplined. They can’t sit still. They don’t listen to their parents. They don’t respect their teachers.” And I don’t know what to do.” How would you counsel that pastor?
  - One of the main arguments you make in the book is that our focus should be on changing hearts rather than behavior. Are you suggesting that we should not try to change the behavior of our children?
  - Why would you encourage us to spank our children when a nice time out could get the job done and keep us in the good graces of society?
  - How can we encourage the parents in our churches to see their children as a blessing?
  - Is it wrong for us to discourage the parents in our churches from having their children so involved in these activities?

Links for our Top Two's: