Rural Pastor's Talk

Losing Focus in the Rural Church

November 19, 2020 TJ Freeman & Joe Wagner Episode 85

Info

Rural Pastor's Talk

Nov 19, 2020 Episode 85

TJ Freeman & Joe Wagner

In this episode we discuss...

our 5 points on losing focus in the rural church:
1. Fear of man.
  - I hope they like me: makes for weak sermons, poor counsel, and a continual inward calculating, etc…
  - Proverbs 29:25
  - Galatians 1:10
2. Platforming.
  - Feeling accepted/important based on FB likes, how many people attend Sunday, how many people viewed online, who you know, etc.
  - 1 John 2:16
  - Galatians 6:3
  - Jeremiah 9:23-24
3. Woe is me.
  - Thinking your ministry is too hard, the situations you are facing are unusual, or longing for something else.
  - 1 Peter 5:10
  - Romans 8:18
4. Personal idols want to be worshipped.
  - Exodus 20:3-4
  - Psalm 135:15-18
  - Hebrews 13:5
  - “Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.” Charles Spurgeon
  - “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God, your functional savior. ” Martin Luther
  - “What are you really living for? It's crucial to realize that you either glorify God, or you glorify something or someone else. You're always making something look big. If you don't glorify God when you're involved in a conflict, you inevitably show that someone or something else rules your heart.” Ken Sande
5. Self-focus is exhausting.
  - Philippians 2:3-4
  - Proverbs 13:15
  - Galatians 2:20

Stuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:

Looking for a resource to help train your kids? Joshua takes times to share two books to help: God's Bible Timeline: The Big Book of Biblical History & God's Timeline: The Big Book of Church History

Our Quote of the Day:

"Live near to God, and all things will appear little to you in comparison with eternal realities." Robert Murray M'Cheyne

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

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

Email: ruralpastorstalk@gmail.com

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

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalk

Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN

CONTACT

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

Email: ruralpastorstalk@gmail.com

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

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ruralpastors

Twitter: @ruralpastors

LISTEN

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In this episode we discuss...

our 5 points on losing focus in the rural church:
1. Fear of man.
  - I hope they like me: makes for weak sermons, poor counsel, and a continual inward calculating, etc…
  - Proverbs 29:25
  - Galatians 1:10
2. Platforming.
  - Feeling accepted/important based on FB likes, how many people attend Sunday, how many people viewed online, who you know, etc.
  - 1 John 2:16
  - Galatians 6:3
  - Jeremiah 9:23-24
3. Woe is me.
  - Thinking your ministry is too hard, the situations you are facing are unusual, or longing for something else.
  - 1 Peter 5:10
  - Romans 8:18
4. Personal idols want to be worshipped.
  - Exodus 20:3-4
  - Psalm 135:15-18
  - Hebrews 13:5
  - “Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.” Charles Spurgeon
  - “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God, your functional savior. ” Martin Luther
  - “What are you really living for? It's crucial to realize that you either glorify God, or you glorify something or someone else. You're always making something look big. If you don't glorify God when you're involved in a conflict, you inevitably show that someone or something else rules your heart.” Ken Sande
5. Self-focus is exhausting.
  - Philippians 2:3-4
  - Proverbs 13:15
  - Galatians 2:20