Revitalize and Replant

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss how to minister to toxic people in your church.Some Highlights:The Gossip/TalkerThe ExploderThe Passive-AggressiveThe Cynic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss an article from Garrett Kell, on the topic of dangerous signs in the life of a pastor.Some Highlights:EntitlementGreedControlCallousnessTribalismUnbalanced GospelResources Related to This Episode:“When to Distrust Your Pastor” by Garrett Kell Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss an article from Garrett Kell, discussing the danger signs in the life of a pastor.Some Highlights:IsolationLack of accountabilityDefensivenessResources Related to This Episode:“When to Distrust Your Pastor” by Garrett Kell Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss an article from Gavin Ortlund on some ways that pastors unintentionally hurt those who are already suffering.Some Highlights:Appeal too quickly to God’s sovereigntyLaunch into a story of how God used your sufferingMinimize the wrongdoing that caused the sufferingEmphasize character formation while neglecting comfort and compassionResources Related to This Episode:“How Not to Help a Sufferer” by Gavin Ortlund Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss some ways to help inject new life into the weekly worship gathering.Some Highlights:Make sure the gathering is truly God-centered, not man-centered.Help people feel the weight and joy of worshiping God, not shallow and joyless.Let theological conviction shape every component, not pragmatism.Preach the Word with precision, passion, and application, not sloppy, dull, and impractical.Celebrate the Lord’s Supper consistently with intentionality, not as an afterthought.Do what you can with excellence, not what you can’t and not half-way.Keep it simple, not unnecessarily complex.Choose songs that are singable and sound in doctrine, not simply what is popular.Encourage congregational singing, not disengaged observing.Make sacrificial giving a worship opportunity, not something to be avoided.Regularly cast vision for how our worship of God must fuel the mission of God to make disciples, never assuming people drift toward the mission. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss some of the benefits and pitfalls of using artificial intelligence in sermon preparation.Potential Benefits:Time efficiencyAccess to a large amount of research and language resourcesPotential Pitfalls:Risk of shallow theologyPastoral integrityLazinessResources Related to This Episode:John Piper’s AI Prayer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss different ways to effectively preach with a manuscript.Some Highlights:Two cons of manuscript preaching:Your delivery can be too wooden.You can miss what the Spirit is doing in the worship gatheringA manuscript can provide clarity and coherence.Even in a manuscript, leave room for what Hallock calls “rant time.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss how to effectively preach without notes.Some Highlights:No notes DOES NOT mean no studySome of the potential pitfalls of preaching with no notesThe importance of thinking through your introduction and closingYou must know how you’re going to “land the plane” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss some current trends that pastors need to be aware of for their churches and communities.Some Highlights:More social media issuesChanging family dynamicsIncreasing cultural headwinds Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss some current trends that pastors need to be aware of—both within their churches and throughout their communities.Some Highlights:Mental health issuesSenior lifeThe current political environmentChanging public schoolsSocial media issues Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst share some reasons why churches are moving from multiple worship services with different worship styles to a single worship style.Some Highlights:Multiple worship styles created an “us-versus-them” mentality.The church did not have the resources to do multiple styles with quality.The church moved from multiple services to one service.The millennial generation has influenced many churches.Worship wars are waning.Multiple generations are becoming more accustomed to different types of church music and worship styles.Resources Related to This Episode:“Six Reasons Some Churches are Moving Back to One Worship Style” by Kenny Lamm Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss an article from Sam Rainer on some simple and creative ways to love your local community.Some Highlights:Don’t go home.Join the fun.Live with your people.Stop complaining.Stay active.Join a civic organization.Try something new on a regular basis.Resources Related to This Episode:“Seven Ways to Love Your Community” by Sam Rainer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst share more reasons why we need to learn from the Puritans, based on an article from Jeff Robinson.Some Highlights:Because they saw all of life as being lived coram deo—before the face of GodBecause they were highly decorated soldiers on the spiritual battlefieldBecause they were skilled physicians of the soulsBecause they understood contentment in Christ as the key to genuine happinessResources Related to This Episode:“Eight Reasons Why We Need the Puritans” by Jeff RobinsonLittle Pilgrim’s Progress: From John Bunyan’s Classic by Helen Taylor and Joanne BrubakerFollowing God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans by Michael Reeves and Joel BeekeThe Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst share some reasons why we need to learn from the Puritans, based on an article from Jeff Robinson.Some Highlights:Because they were mature and we are notBecause they understood the deep sinfulness of the human heartBecause they knew their best life was laterBecause they viewed the family as a little churchResources Related to This Episode:“Eight Reasons Why We Need the Puritans” by Jeff RobinsonA Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life by J.I. Packer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss whether counting worship attendance still makes sense, based on an article from Sam Rainer.Healthy reasons to count:Rhythms build discipleship.Presence enables connection.Trends reveal direction.Opportunities increase.Unhealthy reasons to count:Legalism creeps in.Growth becomes a game.Charisma overshadows calling.Quantity replaces quality.Resources Related to This Episode:“Does Counting Worship Attendance Still Make Sense for Churches?” by Sam Rainer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Kyle Bueermann discuss some issues surrounding worship in the local church. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, Kyle Bueermann discuss an article from Chuck Lawless on why you and your church should be practicing the spiritual disciplines.The disciplines slow us down.They put us in a position to listen to God.They emphasize relationships.They force us to see where we place our dependence.They uncover the sin that's hindering our walk with God.They correct our sins of omission.They prepare us to teach and lead others.They produce in us godly confidence and excitement.Resources Related to This Episode:“8 Reasons Spiritual Disciplines Matter” by Chuck Lawless Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss an article from Mike Ayers that covers some tips for longevity in church ministry.Some Highlights:Be teachableKnow your identityFaithfulness firstDevelop a hard shell; maintain a soft heartSimply don’t quitResources Related to This Episode:“5 Ways to Last 20 Years in the Same Church” by Mike Ayers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss a few lessons they've learned from Christian Communicators Worldwide on the problem of complaining—and how Scripture offers us its cure.Some Highlights:God commands me never to complain.God commands me to give thanks in every circumstance.God commands me to rejoice always, especially in times of trial.I always deserve much worse than what I am suffering now; in fact, I deserve hell.In light of the eternal happiness and glory I'll experience in heaven, this present trial is brief and insignificant, even if it were to last a lifetime.My suffering is far less than that which Christ suffered, yet He did not complain.To complain is to say God is not just.Faith and prayer exclude complaining.This difficulty is being used by God for my good, and it is foolish for me to complain against it.Those more faithful than I have suffered far worse than I and have done so without complaint.Complaining denies that God’s grace is entirely sufficient for me.The greatest suffering—the worst trial or difficulty—can never rob me of that which is of greatest value to me and my great joy: namely, the love of Christ.Resources Related to This Episode:“A 12-Point Cure for Complaining" by Bill Izard Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss some lessons from Puritan pastor Thomas Watson on personal holiness.Some Highlights:Holiness produces joy.Holiness takes intentionality.Holiness will never be reached. Holiness comes from God working through His Word.Holiness requires us to think rightly about sin.Holiness does not save us; only Christ does.Resources Related to This Episode:"Six Lessons on Holiness from Thomas Watson" by Cassie WatsonThe Godly Man’s Picture: Drawn with a Scripture Pencil by Thomas Watson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.