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Small Town Big Church Podcast

The Small Town Big Church Podcast exists to equip rural leaders and followers of Jesus to make disciples and to embrace the truth that God desires to do big things in small places!
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Now displaying: January, 2022
Jan 26, 2022

Most pastors report feeling overwhelmed and stressed out much of the time.  They often find themselves running from one meeting to the next or reacting to multiple interruptions and distractions most days rather than making progress on the work they really need to be doing.  In this episode I share several practical resources for pastors who need to get a better handle on their schedules.

 

  • Talk about pastors “finding the time” to get things done.
  • We don’t find the time.  We manage our time.
  • We’ve all been given the same 24 hours a day.  Some people are simply better managers than others.
  • Recommendations:
    • Use a calendar
    • Use a commitment tracking system (close the open loops in your life)
    • Budget your time (time blocking)
    • Eliminate distractions (shut off notifications to certain apps, do not disturb mode, airplane mode, etc.)
    • Utilize a scheduling tool. (I recommend Calendly.)

 

  • Resources:
    • Redeeming Your Time – Jordan Raynor
    • The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
    • Calendly
Jan 17, 2022

If there has ever been a time when leadership is needed in the rural church…it is NOW!  We are living in transformational times and so much is changing right in front of us. Yet sadly, at the same time, the Church in rural America is facing a crisis of leadership.  In this podcast I identify the source of this leadership crisis and offer a few practical solutions to it. 

 

  • Problems:
    • Bad church structure
    • Unbiblical expectations of church people
    • Pastors are “unable” or unwilling to LEAD

 

  • Solution:
    • It’s simply time to overhaul the system!
      • For some pastors that may mean “fighting” right where they’re at.
      • For other pastors that will mean you need to leave and start something new and healthy.
      • For many pastors this will mean boldly stepping into new ways of “doing church.”
    • But hear me clearly, settling for the status quo is not a good option.  The churches and leaders that fight to maintain “the way it’s always been” in this season will not survive.

 

  • Questions:
    • Are you the LEADER God has called you to be?
    • What action step do I need to take in my pastoral leadership right now?

 

If you need help changing your bylaws or navigating some other change in your leadership journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  I’m here for you.

Jan 10, 2022

Do you feel like you are stuck in one or more areas of your life or ministry?  In this episode I share what I believe might be one of the biggest things that is keeping you there.  



  • What if you knew you couldn’t mess up God’s plans for your life this year?
Jan 3, 2022

In this episode I share an inspirational challenge as we begin a new year.  Have you ever had a time when you encountered a message that came from multiple sources, but you were able to hear the voice of God speaking consistently through it?  Well, recently that has been the case for me and I want to share this message with you in hopes that it might encourage you as well.



  • What if you knew you couldn’t mess up God’s plans for your life this year?




  • Quote from Jordan Raynor in Redeeming Your Time:
    • “But in His great grace, our heavenly Father has given us a tremendous amount of freedom to choose exactly how we will contribute to that mission.  And guess what?  As long as you are obeying his commands, you can’t make a wrong decision.”

 

  • Scripture I’ve read recently:

 

Psalm 1:  Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
    bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
    and they prosper in all they do.

But not the wicked!
    They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
    Sinners will have no place among the godly.
For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
    but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

  •  

 

  • I’ve also recently been challenged by John Michael Clark (The Family Captain) (Episode #308) with the reality that God put Adam in the garden with the mandate to:
    • “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
    • God is our Father who is pleased to see his children filling the earth, subduing it, and ruling over it for His glory.
  • Recently I had a powerful coaching call with someone in which we discovered an awesome breakthrough:  If I am delighting myself in the Lord, I can trust the desires of my heart.
  • What if you knew you couldn’t mess up God’s plans for your life this year?
  • What would you attempt to do for His glory and the good of others?
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