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Episodes
Alan and Trent are pastors helping churches and leaders make a difference and last.
Episodes
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
Monday Apr 06, 2020
Monday Apr 06, 2020
Episode 55: A Truthful Encourager
The nature of people’s lives + pastoral levels of frustration = a possibility for a huge disconnect.
1. Know your people
* How are they feeling beat up by life?
2. Know your purpose for preaching the message you are preaching
* Textually driven
* What does it teach
* Let your congregation know what emotion they might experience
3. Know your feelings in preaching
* Don’t take your frustrations to the pulpit
* Attendance trends…don’t beat the people up who are there.
* Encouragement is not just positivity; it's a mindset for helping people.
* It’s learning how to communicate for results
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15 Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. -- 1 Timothy 4:11-16 (CSB)...
Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity. -- 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (CSB).
...Teach and encourage these things. -- 1 Timothy 6:2 (CSB)...
* Don’t avoid difficult passages, but encourage people to hear and respond.
* Don't be afraid to say "I don't know"
* Be a lifelong learner
Saturday Apr 04, 2020
Monday Mar 30, 2020
Monday Mar 30, 2020
Episode 54: On the Other Side
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I hope I deepen my trust in God.
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I hope I value more creativity in my ministry.
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What have you learned about yourself and your church during this time?
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What have you learned from other churches in the past month?
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who have you missed in your community?
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Do you have a relationship with other pastors in your area?
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Have you encouraged your church family to work with other churches?
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Are you willing to dream bigger now?
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Are you willing to consider new and different possibilities now?
Sunday Mar 29, 2020
Sunday Mar 29, 2020
Episode 54: On the Other Side of This
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I hope I deepen my trust in God.
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I hope I value more creativity in my ministry.
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What have you learned about yourself and your church during this time?
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What have you learned from other churches in the past month?
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who have you missed in your community?
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Do you have a relationship with other pastors in your area?
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Have you encouraged your church family to work with other churches?
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Are you willing to dream bigger now?
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Are you willing to consider new and different possibilities now?
Monday Mar 23, 2020
Monday Mar 23, 2020
Episode 53: Habits of Happy Pastors
They Maintain an Optimistic Outlook
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Is it in your nature?
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You can develop the trait.
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Faith plays a role.
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Ask yourself some questions about what is going on in your life?
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Bigger is not always better
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Influence is relative
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Be true to yourself
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“When you compare yourself to others you lose every time."
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Is it only a Thanksgiving thing?
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Optimism leads to gratitude
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“Is there somebody in my life who has blessed me?"
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Thank them
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People are beat down and in need of kindness.
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Kindness requires tenderness and forgiving.
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Don’t let cynicism make you unkind.
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Practice "random acts of kindness."
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Avoid “stinking’ thinkin’” - Zig Zigler
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Invest in the relationship.
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Have friends both inside and outside the church.
Monday Mar 16, 2020
Monday Mar 16, 2020
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just because someone tells you that a whole lot of people are wanting something doesn't make it true.
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usually its just 2 maybe 3 - so ask them for names. usually they won't give you names because they can't.
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The Ambush - If they come to you right before preaching or a big meeting - ask them to wait so that you can give them your attention afterward.
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Repeat back what you heard and ask "is this what you meant to say?"
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"I hear what you are saying and I will consider it"
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"Will you pray with me now about this?" - if they genuinely care about you and the church they will. If not they are showing that they are trying to manipulate you.
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Don't have to respond with defensive excuses. just listen or not
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You don't always have to respond
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"You don’t have to swing at every pitch
evaluate and see if their is some things that you really need to consider and change. Make it easy for them to leave Get help and support from your lay leaders Guard your conversations about them: less is more Watch out for bitterness
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Can’t give you a name, no issue.
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Critical person or an antagonist?
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Episode 51: Avoiding the Wedding Blues
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Counseling required?
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Do it yourself
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Trent requires 6 meetings if they have never been married before
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8 meetings if they have been married before
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meet for 1 hour at a time - 30 minutes planning ceremony and 30 minutes on couseling topics
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SYMBIS - Saving your marriage before it starts
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Contact Trent and Alan if you would like a list of topics and resources to use
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From a professional - know when to send them to a professional
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Who will you marry?
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Living together
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Unequally yoked
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Re-marriage
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Vows
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location rules (church or other location)
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A wedding consultant or planner?
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Just the ceremony?
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Need to be at rehearsal? - yes!
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reception - make an appearance when possible
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Minister’s handbook
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Be flexible
Sunday Mar 01, 2020
Sunday Mar 01, 2020
Episode 50: How not to Bury Your Ministry in Funerals
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Regional differences
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Cremation versus burials
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Time between death and service (role changes as time increases)
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Develop a relationship with your local funeral directors.
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Meet with the family at the funeral home if possible. Harder in larger cities and with corporate services.
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Ask and listen for personal stories.
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Encourage the family and pray often.
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Plan to be flexible.
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Obituary versus opening thoughts or Scripture
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Sometimes I read the obituary, but if its printed; I prefer to encourage through Scripture and wisdom.
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How much music? Slide shows and/or pictures?
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Will others be speaking/ will there be an open mic?
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Putting your message together
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Use outside resources to help create a database of passages
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Be both honest and loving
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"If _________________ could speak with us today…"
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Be evangelistic within your role as a comforter of the grieving.
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Use personal touches
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Use the loved one's Bible if possible
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Usually 20 minutes tops
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Remember we can start to say the same things too often they lose impact.
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Keep it short: prayer and acknowledge the family.
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Give a resource...
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Good Grief by Granger Westberg
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Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Nick and Susan Howard would love to have you follow their ministry: If you would like to receive their newsletter, send an email to nashoward81@gmail.com
Pick up the book Simple Church and keep things simple and strategic.