The Rural Church Podcast 2.0

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!

Allen and Eddie tackle the antiquated practice of sending and receiving members via a "church letter." What is good about this practice? What needs to be updated? Christ is worthy of healthy churches. Let us strive to have a more biblically faithful ecclesiology. You can also check out this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/wJsiH4YrteE

On this episode of RCP 2.0 Eddie and Allen talk about the global day of prayer and fasting to be held on October 4, 2023. They talk about the purpose of prayer and fasting and encourage your church to participate. Sign up here: https://globalprayerforrevival.com/

This week Allen sits down with Pastor Jacob Robinson, a fellow elder at Providence Baptist Church in Perryville, AR. They discuss their name change from Perryville Second Baptist Church to Providence Baptist Church and some important things to consider in your local church's name. More about Providence Baptist Church: https://perryvillesbc.org/what-we-believe/our-story/

On this episode of the Rural Church Podcast 2.0, Eddie and Allen discuss the topic of the 10 Commandments and the Christian.

Eddie and Allen finally catch up after a busy summer. They address the "dos" and "don'ts" of repreaching sermons and when to revisit a sermon series in another context like Sunday School.

Allen and Wes Brown conclude their discussion on George Whitefield by considering his trips to the colonies, his relationships with men like Jonathan Edwards and John Wesely, and how pastors and churches ought to learn from men like George Whitefield today.

In this episode, we share a clip from our weekly Wednesday F.I.R.M meetings with pastors from Mexico and Central America. This week Pastor Allen teaches on 2 Timothy 4:5 and the necessity of pastors doing the work of an evangelist.

This episode is part of our summer sermon clips series where we'll periodically post preaching clips to keep episodes rolling during the sermon. This sermon clip is from Allen in his first pastorate at FBC DeWitt, AR. This portion of the sermon covers the "overseers and deacons" from Philippians 1:1.

Eddie has on special guest Gunner Madewell to talk about their recent trip to Fayetteville, AR to preach the gospel. They also talk about the necessity of every local church caring about intentional evangelism.

Allen has on special guest Jonathan Murdock to recap their recent trip to Veracruz, Mexico, to chat about Fellowship of International Reformed Missions, and to discuss every local church's responsibility to invest in the Kingdom. The guys referenced this earlier episode: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ajsfxL6aaBb

They also referenced this sermon from Pastor Randall Easter: https://t.co/UF2qvJP8aO

Eddie, Allen, and Wes continue their discussion of George Whitefield. They consider the power of his preaching, his discipline with the Word and prayer, and his passion for lost souls. They cover from his conversion to the time right before he leaves for the American Colonies.

In this episode, Eddie and Allen have a conversation with Wes Brown the pastor of First Baptist Church of Plumerville, AR to discuss the life and legacy of George Whitefield. This episode covers why we should study men like Whitefield and takes listeners from Whitefield's birth to his conversion.

In this episode, Eddie and Allen wrap up their discussion on Baptist Covenant Theology. They consider Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36, Galatians 3, and more. They love and appreciate their Presbyterian and Dispensational brothers. But, it is Baptist Covenant Theology that gives the best understanding of the totality of the Scriptures.

Allen and Eddie continue the Baptist Covenant Theology discussion. This time, they get into the Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Covenants and the differences between Baptists and Presbyterians in understanding these covenants.

On this episode, Allen and Eddie interview Ronnie Martin, Pastor of Substance Church in Ashland, Ohio. Ronnie recently co-authored a book with Donnie Griggs (B&H Publishing), Pastoring Small Towns: Help and Hope for Those Ministering in Smaller Places. With this being the Rural Church Podcast, we thought a conversation like this would be edifying to our listeners. Find out more info about the book at https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/pastoring-small-towns/.

In this episode, Eddie and Allen talk about the importance of reading and discuss some books they've been reading lately.

In this special episode of the Rural Church Podcast, Eddie interviews Brandon Saucier, worship Pastor at Southside Baptist Church in South Bend Indiana, about his journey dealing with a aggressive cancer diagnosis while continuing in ministry to his local church and caring for his family.

In this week's episode Eddie and Allen dive into a discussion about Artificial Intelligence. How is it good? How is it harmful? And what are some specific areas local churches should think about when it comes to A.I.?

There are some people who are unconverted and believe they are saved. There are others who are genuinely converted who are not sure whether or not they are saved. In this week's episode, Allen and Eddie tackle the biblical doctrine of assurance including the dangers of false assurance and how genuine believers can really have true assurance of their salvation.

This week Allen brings on guest, Pastor Jonathan Murdock, of Trinity Baptist Church in Port Arthur, TX to discuss the subject of the day: Christian Nationalism. Allen and Jonathan seek to give a brotherly pushback to postmillennialism and desire to give believers the amillennial perspective regarding Christian Nationalism. This is an effort to keep the conversation going in a charitable way so that believers today can have a true sense of unity even when they find themselves on different sides of this debate. There should be healthy pushback against postmillennial thinking but done in love and honor to our brothers and sisters. This episode is an effort to do just that.

Arkansas is known for many wonderful things. One negative thing it is known for, however, is its tornados. In this week's episode, Eddie and Allen discuss the reality of the decree of God as well as His divine providence and His sovereign control over all things, including storms. How should a Christian respond to such truths? Are Christians guilty of sinful fear when it comes to storms? The guys discuss these questions and more... This video promoting Allen's new book, A Change of Heart, was referenced in the beginning of the episode: https://youtu.be/k_SplvaLc1s

Should Christian parents homeschool? What about finances and socialization and knowledge? Can parents really do this? Eddie and Allen work through these issues as they encourage all Christian parents to raise their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as they work through their particular situations.

Eddie and Allen discuss 2 Corinthians 11:28 and Paul's anxiety for all the churches. They get into how pastors carry a burden that no other Christian really carries. They exhort pastors to labor well in the ministry while encouraging church members to rightly honor and take care of their pastors. This is a practical episode for all Christians.

Eddie and Allen tackle an important subject in this week's episode as they seek to work through how children come to know the Lord and when a local church should seek to baptize a child. 

Allen and Eddie talk about the recent conference at Perryville 2nd Baptist Church with Tom Ascol and Mike Stone. Link to all messages from the conference and the panel discussion with Owen Strachan can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZkGXeKWedWGR0FI55C_ZmYvQMW9kQfNT

After the conference review, the guys talk about the importance and necessity of Christian friendship. 

In this week's episode, Eddie and Allen talk about Allen's forthcoming book (4/7/23) with Free Grace Press, A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. For more information about the book, you can contact Allen on his twitter page, @cuatronelson. You can also go to the Free Grace Press website here for the special sale price: https://freegracepress.com/products/a-change-of-heart?_pos=3&_sid=51352f588&_ss=r

Eddie and Allen finish their discussion on the Biblical distinctives of a healthy church in this week's episode. They talk about the regulative principle of worship, the roles of men and women in worship, and the importance of the home and church fellowship. They also share some practical wisdom on reformation in the church. 

Eddie and Allen discuss the biblical distinctives of leadership and membership in the church. Who can be Elders and Deacons? How many should there be? Should church membership really be formal and covenantal? These questions and more are discussed in this week's episode! 

On this week's episode, the guys discuss the why and how of having a conference at your local church. They also talk about going to conferences both "big name" and small. 

Christ is worthy of a healthy church in every community across the globe. In this week's episode, Eddie and Allen talk about the need for healthy churches and begin discussing 10 biblical distinctives of a healthy church. They only make it through the first 3: Biblical Sufficiency, Biblical Holiness, and Biblical Preaching. That means there will be some more episodes in the future covering the remaining 7! Allen is preaching on these distinctives here: https://www.perryvillesbc.org/sermon/

God's people are praying people. Jesus said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer...’ In 1 Timothy 2, Paul exhorts the churches to be places of prayer. This week on the Rural Church Podcast 2.0, Eddie and Allen talk about prayer meetings in the local church - Why they are necessary and how to conduct them! 

God has communicated to His people in words to be read. God's people are readers! While the Bible takes the highest priority over all other reading, Christians also seek to read other books to learn, grow, exercise their imagination, etc. In this episode, Eddie and Allen discuss how to choose the right books to read and some practical tips on reading that will encourage you in the days ahead to be a better reader. 

Allen is joined again by Alex, Jacob, and Gunner somewhere south of Pontoon Arkansas. The guys discuss the importance of godly manliness and various ways to cultivate godly manhood in the local church. This episode was recorded before baby Jace was born. Now that he has arrived, big congrats to Jacob, Taylor, Trey, and Jack!

This week Allen is joined by church members Jacob Robinson, Gunner Madewell, and Alex Osborne from an undisclosed location in the boondocks of Perry County Arkansas. The guys discuss mishaps from dealing with Covid and what churches should have learned from that as well as what sort of emphases churches ought to have in a post-Covid environment. The local church still matters! 

Happy New Year! In the U.S., we are blessed with abundant access to God's Word. Christians here ought to be reading the Bible every day. Why and how should this be done? Eddie and Allen discuss these things as well as their own strategies for regular Bible reading. This is a practical episode that exhorts you to read the Bible! Eddie mentioned this YouTube video of a clip of one of Allen's Sermons: https://youtu.be/VXFitPkS_-8

In the final episode of 2022, Allen and Eddie discuss pastoral visitation. When and why should pastors visit church members? How should we think about hospital visits? 

Don't worry, Harold Smith won't actually sing. But he's back on this episode with Eddie and Allen as they seek to encourage pastors in networking with other pastors, in preaching the Word, and in remaining faithful where the Lord has called them. The guys offer ideas for fellowship with other pastors as well as in doing small church conferences and in encouraging the people of God in the Word of God. The local church still matters. Merry Christmas!

Eddie and Allen have a conversation with Harold Smith (@BackwoodsBapti1) co-host of The Patriot Pastor's podcast about his ministry of helping pastorless churches. In this episode, you'll hear Harold's love for the local church and why he believes in the importance of biblically healthy churches no matter their size or location. 

Christmas is on a Sunday in 2022. How should local churches "respond" to Christmas falling on the Lord's Day this year? Should anything be different? Should everything be the same? Should we just have another "ordinary" service? Eddie and Allen dive in on these questions and more in this week's episode of the Rural Church Podcast 2.0. 

Eddie and Allen continue their discussion of Allen's series through Ephesians. They tackle some practical questions about preaching through specific texts and the need for expositional preaching beyond just preaching through books of the Bible, i.e. topical series, teaching through catechisms/confessions, etc. 

Eddie and Allen talk some about Thanksgiving and then the reformation happening in their churches. Next, they discuss Allen's sermon series through the book of Ephesians as they get back to last week's episode about Expositional Preaching on the ground. 

Eddie and Allen get into the nuts and bolts of Expositional Preaching by discussing Eddie's current sermon series through the book of Jonah. Eddie mentions this commentary in the episode: https://onemilliontracts-com.3dcartstores.com/Commentary-on-Jonah-_p_308.html

In this episode, we listen to a sermon excerpt from Allen Nelson from Ephesians 4:31-32 on why the local church is a non-negotiable for New Testament Christianity. You can find the full sermon at www.perryvillesbc.org. 

Eddie and Allen discuss Mike Law's letter to the SBC Executive committee about the biblical qualifications for pastors and how moving away from the bible's teaching on leadership in the church is a "Deformation", not Reformation. They go on to discuss why this matters and some of the root causes of these issues in churches today. They also talk about the importance of Reformation and why Reformation brings division. Mike Law's letter can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yR4GD03KD2842r3RFlfJL-WX2CFRAbLTp5O592twPSw/edit

Eddie and Allen welcome Gunner again to the podcast as they all talk about the Reformation and particularly focus on the doctrine of Sola Scriptura and how pastors and church members ought to apply this to both their daily lives as well as reformation in our churches today. One book mentioned is Wycliffe by Steve Burchett. Link: https://www.ccwtoday.org/product/wycliffe-a-bible-man-in-england-when-there-was-no-english-bible/

Eddie and Allen recap evangelism at Goat Fest. Then the guys talk about long-term ministry in a local church including the benefits and struggles of pastoring in your hometown. This episode includes practical advice about making changes in the local church.