Great list. A very high bar only possible by the Spirit of God working in a pastor! Seems like they'll have many methods and styles and skillsets but fundamentally rooted in applying the Word for others to grow. And you can know them best by their fruit ... like when 95% of their flock REALLY loves the Lord and they REALLY love the lost and the least and their brothers and sisters and even their enemies. "Teach them to observe" ...otherwise the pastor was not feeding them in the way they actually needed fed ... and should modify their discipleship/teaching/preaching approach.

The "Wooden" criticism of the NASB is one that gets repeated again and again (often by people who have not read much in it). I do not find it "wooden" at all. It is a beautiful translation.

Great 🎉

Wah, great stuff ..tuned from Kenya

What size iPad would you recommend I purchase for preaching?

Good timing on this set of videos. I'm meeting with 6 gen z guys tonight for discipling.

I would have liked for you to have addressed divorced pastors. Lots of arguments can be given but there are way too many divorced pastors in churches today.

Throwing Ergun right under the bus! I can’t believe he’s still in ministry.

Have to disagree with your statement on killing groups. Taking them off site does not kill them. In fact, I know many churches who have 100% of their Sunday Morning attendance sign up for their weekly small groups that meet off campus.

I look forward to the SS discussion.

As a "professional volunteer" for almost 30 years now, here is my limited experience of how pastors interpret Ephesians 4:12-16. 1.a. Pastors cannot articulate the vision of their community church well--to either the congregants, or especially to the volunteers. 1.b. Pastors change their vision when a previous one doesn't work as they had hoped. 2. Pastors do not regularly meet with their volunteer leaders or volunteers to communicate their heart--and confirm the local church vision--or even express appreciation for what volunteers do. 3. Pastors feel that Ephesians 4:12-16 are ministries that must be done by paid people--and don't keep their eyes open for God's gifting to the laity. P.S.: My wife and I recently visited another church and I dropped by the tech room to see how they do things. Within 10 minutes of listening and explaining a few things, one of the people in the room slammed the door and said, "You're not leaving this room!" She then asked another person to get me a coffee and asked how I want it prepared. We all talked a bit more and realized that although they had nice starter gear, the installers hadn't coached them very well on setup and use. Who wouldn't WANT to help them??

The problem is churches are not doing discipleship as we should. Two hours per week service and a may be a contact group for anther two hours mid week, are not enough to build strong churches and hence we decline. Non believers are sceptical because we preach beautifully about holiness, charity, humility, integrity etc.. But when we fail we say, 'Do what we say and don't do what we do.' You don't need moral failure for churches to decline. The essence of modern church itself is designed to die.

Really interesting conversation. Definitely curious about a few things. One, the percentage of pastors that are actually content. I wonder if there are certain areas where that data is being pulled from. I would say 80% of the pastors I talk to are discouraged. Also, I really like the transparency with Ryan talking about his church and the decline. I think that story is extremely common. Third, I actually wonder about the amount of pastors that have been pastors for 20, 30 or 40 years and they do not feel that they did well, but they kept at it, didn’t leave, simply because it was the call, not because it felt good. Those are two extremely different things.

So many people have left. SBC and other evangelicals have glorified clergy and men and culture rather than God. For years you glorified in your pulpits one of leaders of your “conservative” resurgence. This leader had a very dark secret, and glorifying this man bordered on the blasphemous. Now many of you glorify a man whose sin is much more open and who feels no shame, and all of this for want to power, another idol. People outside the evangelical bubble witness all this hypocrisy and power worship and they decide to stay clear. And of course you all say you mean well, but this is not how outsiders see you.

And how much does this book cost ? All the churches are dying, the fact that you may not recognize the apostate has happened….

why they dont relieve the pastor of his duties. why do i have to leave,,,,

Mathew 23answers,did not Jesus rebuke the religious leaders,any difference today.we cannot buy or sell the gospel,the one who gets stipend is subject to the oversight doctrine.which system did our Saviour belong to.prorgrams require following the man,Christ said pick up your Cross and follow me.the Holy Spirit must become our teacher.Jesus to the teacher of Israel,john3 v3to20.born again see the kingdom,born of water and the SPIRIT only then can I be taught by the Holy Spirit,Roman's 6v1 to 12 ,acts2 v34 to40,mark 16 v15to end our saviours words.enjoy the Lords favour Love and forgive those whose ways are mans interpretation,salvation.

Sorry to ask an off-topic question, but I’ve been meaning to ask for quite a while: I LOVE the background on Josh’s wall. What is it and where can I find it?

We've always had the paranoid and kook fringe in the church, but they mostly flew under the radar. The COVID years really ramped it up to a whole new level: we had people that demanded we not have any digital record of their attendance or involvement (that way they'll escape the coming persecution or something) to those who refuse to use digital check-ins for nursery or child & youth ministries (because the check-in labels have QR codes which are apparently the mark of the beast) or that our permanent switch to pre-packaged communion elements was somehow giving in to "medical tyranny" When challenged on it, the response is usually to the effect of "how can you be so blind that you can't see how all of this is going to be used against us?" I'd be curious to know where in scripture we see believers being able to use their own cunning and off-the-grid lifestyles to escape the events of Revelation. I've noticed a few things such individuals and families often have in common: • insane and bizarre social media timelines (yeah, don't get how facebook is OK but the church check-in system is in league with the devil) • they and their families usually have an arm's length relationship with the rest of the church family. Their kids and teens often aren't allowed to join the child and youth groups in the church • I hate to say it, but their fashion sense is often a dead giveaway (often decades out of date for both men and women) • they usually have a history of bouncing around at a bunch of area churches. Usually once they've burned all those bridges, the next step is a "home church" because everyone else is apostate or something • they usually refuse to be under any sort of church authority for any length of time

I'm less worried about the crazy view (earth age, end times, politics, etc) and more concerned when they become signs of "real" faith, tests for membership or dividing lines. Certainty becomes idolatry. I try to have humility that God is working on me and the other person. I'm thankful that he isn't done working on me and I reserve the right to be wrong and change my view (new creation, renewing of your mind, etc).

Mountain Dew Baja Zero. 😅

Just wondering why you would want to keep the Baptist name. Any denominations name can cause confusion. Many people like you said don’t know the differences and might just avoid a church with a denomination name. Even in Baptist there are a lot of confusing differences. I’d be interested in your thoughts.

7:57 💯🎯

AMEN 🙇🏽‍♀️

Thousands of dollars disappear from church funds and no one dared to question the pastor for fear of retaliation 😮 I was visiting a church on a Sunday the pastor from the pulpit called out someone and said that person was robbing God because he didn’t tithe the pastor then had that person thrown out for not tithing he was set as an example to non Tithers, this was the same pastor that told us that God will curse us and our children if we don’t give him 10% of all our financial earnings! Many were guilted into giving I ran out of that church never to return..

Like a toxic member who has caused a number of splits in the past? Who secretly campaigns for the former pastor who while he was there allowed her to steal from the church? A toxic former pastor is the worst. Now afflicted with Parkinson’s but still interfering.

I pray as I watched this morning there wasn't a camera on me. On whim I turned camera around facing me afterwards and I had to run away from me it was so scarry. 😭. Have mercy!

3:30 definition of mid-size at 150-300 people

I Pastor a church of 30 and would like to say thank you. This series has been both informative and encouraging. Thank you!

Find a niche in the community and fill it eg football club or tax assistance or walking club and through that create relationship for the foundation for outreach

Toxic behavior by pastors drives away church goers. A newcomer to a Church will not come back. Therefore, pastors should avoid displaying their anger when preaching from the pulpit. A church goer was reprimanded openly for being late for 10 mins. His car was blocked. Normally, he is very punctual to Church. When he walked in late, a loud voice from the Pastor admonishing late comers. He could do it in private and not publicly and with diplomacy. The offended church goer never came back and found another church without such a toxic leader..

4:55 🙏🏽🎚️

Is that why my friend is in the hospital on life support from Covid

Subscribers know this, but let me remind everyone that this segment was recorded probably 2 months before release. Now, virtually no one of significance still expects Biden to be the nominee. So, I disagree with these giys, under the circumstances. I remember the 1968 Dem Conv in Chicago. They will be back in Chicago this summer and I expect absolute chaos that will make '68 look like a picnic. Maybe Thom can add an update for this podcast based on the evolving situation. Keep prayin' people. This thing ain't over yet.

The panhandle would have cost Alabama another $1 mil, so they passed on it.

I have many translations of the Bible, but I love the NLT because it is so easy to understand. I am getting much more out of the Bible with this translation and I love reading this Bible! I am a senior and studying for finals!

There's only one choice for a Christian in this election.

Look up Russian black icon Jesus Christ new evidence

Do you have a weblink of a church with an intentional time of giving "Worship through giving" you could share? I'm looking for something different/more than the traditional users and plates. Thanks for all you do!

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, [katapausis] any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, [katapausis] as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: [katapausis] although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of *the seventh day* on this wise, And God did rest [katapauō] *the seventh day* from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. [katapausis] Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, *he limiteth a certain day* saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, [katapauō] then *would he not afterward have spoken of another day* There remaineth therefore a rest [sabbatismós] to the people of God. {Hebrews 4:1-9} G2663 katapausis - a resting place G2664 katapauō - to lead to a quiet abode G4520 sabbatismós - a keeping sabbath

-- "On the day of preperation, at the hour of dinner, there came out pursuers and horsemen" and Polycarp was killed "on *the great day of the Sabbath* at the eighth hour" (The encyclical epistle of the church at Smyrna, the Martyrdom of Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. Verses 7.1 & 8.1 Charles H. Hoole's 1885 translation.) -- "Again as to the assertion that Sabbath has been abolished. We deny that He has abolished it plainly; for He was Himself Lord of the Sabbath." (Archelaus c. 3rd century.) -- "Gnostic 8th day Origins" "They affirm that man was formed on the eighth day, for sometimes they will have him been made on the sixth day, and sometimes on the eighth, unless perchance they mean that the earthly part was formed on the sixth day, but his fleshly part on the eighth, for these two things are distinguished by them." (Irenaeus of Lyons c. 2nd century.) -- The Gnostic "Eight Day" origins of Sunday rest. "But the works of the Nicolaitans in that time were false and troublesome men, who, as ministers under the name of Nicholas, had made for themselves a hersey, to the effect that what might be offered to Idols might be exorcised and eaten, and whoever should have committed fornication might receive peace on the eighth day." (Victorinious of Pettau c. 3rd century.) -- "For almost all the churches throughout the world celebrate the mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of *Alexandria and Rome* on account of some *ancient tradition* cease to do this." (Socrates Scholasticus c. 380 - 439 A.D.) 👉Ancient tradition ~ die solis -- "There are many here among us now, who fast on the same day as the Jews, [Rome made the Sabbath day a fast] and keep the Sabbaths in the same mannor." (John Chrysostom c. 339 - 407 A.D.) -- 'Primitive Christianity' Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria tells us that "They assemble on Saturday, not that they are infected with Judaism, but only to worship Christ the Lord of the Sabbath" (Pseudo Athanasius; William Cave c. 1676) -- "Thus Christ did not at all rescind the Sabbath, He kept the law thereof.....even in the case before us He fulfilled the law while interpreting its condition; moreover, He exhibits in a clear light the different kinds of work, while doing what the law excepts from the sacredness of the Sabbath and while imparting to the Sabbath itself, which from the beginning had been consecrated by the Benediction of the Father. An additional sanctity by His own Beneficent action. For He furnished to this day divine safeguards..... *a course which His adversary would have pursued for some other days, to avoid honouring the Creator's Sabbath* and restoring to the Sabbath the works which were proper for it." (3rd century Tertillian on the Sabbath.) *Council of Laodicea* canon 29 A.D. 363 "Christians must not Judaize by resting on the sabbath day, but must work on that day, rather honoring --the Lord's Day-- [Sun-day] and, if they can, resting as Christians. But if they they shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be an anathema from Christ." ^ Proof that true Christianity still remembered the sabbath day, to keep it Holy, even in the fourth century A.D.

All modern bibles are interpitations, they're not translations of the a text.

It isn’t the flag or the banner that’s the problem. It’s the emotion and the motivation behind the display. Every church I ever served that contended and bickered over displaying the American flag prominently before the congregation had deeply embedded histories of nationalist political agendas within the congregation; most of which were and still are rooted in Bible Belt “lost cause” idolatry. Personally, I recommend “no flags” inside the sanctuary or congregational worship space. Just my opinion, based on experience. 🕊️

Having lived in Illinois for as long as I have, I am now concerned for the other 49 states that are so strange that Illinois seems normal! The only thing nornal in my state is the city Normal.

There is a Calvary chapel that goes line by line verse by verse through the entire Bible using the nlt . I started going through with them, and they go just as deep, in some cases even more deep, than folks with the formal translation english Bibles. Extremely faithful, very accurate translation. I love it.

Oregon is the weirdest. Not going by stats. I just live here. ;)

When the church makes disciples who makes disciples it grows. There are a variety of spiritual levels and these must be addressed and led to reproduce themselves, If children can share the gospel then so can adults.

Thank you for discussing a touchy subject for all clergy! - Happy Independence Day!

Why is religiosity dropping in America? A bit of history first. Mass used to be held in Latin where very few understood the message. People thought they were too stupid to understand and believed the church leaders. That was done purposely. For Catholicism, it was the early 60s in my Church, where the mass was changed from Latin to the local diaspora's language. Bad move, some people were not fooled by the illogical and contradictory messages. 2024, there are plenty of youtube channels that promote atheism. They are quite articulate, understandable, and mostly punch holes in what the scriptures attest to. Education about the baggage that a loving god, would kill all the people with the exception of one family, because god could not foretell that the world he created will turn bad. God condones slavery, has rules on how to treat slaves, and yes slaves are considered to b property where if one beats a slave and the slave does not die in a few days, then there are no consequences to the abuse slave owner. God orders Saul to kill all the Amalekites, men, women, children and babies with the exception of virgins who can be taken by the warriors for what reason exactly?😜 The more information that is available to people the more they can sort the truth from lies. There are debates Theist vs Atheist, and those over a course of time provide sufficient reason to either not believe a god exists or conclude no god exists. These are two very different issues which sound like the same issue.

Our building of less than 40 years old has a number of "shadows" of light fixtures that were removed, and the holes were not repaired, nor any new paint applied to the ceiling. A lighting truss was installed at the platform roofline (for camera backlighting, I presume). The lights were eventually removed, but not the truss or wiring. What's happening is that the sanctuary of our church is looking trashy because there is no thought to upgrades or design. Surely Brown Church DG has come across this sort of thing before.