The Rural Church Podcast 2.0: Recent Episodes
Allen Nelson
TWO SBC PASTORS IN ARKANSAS DISCUSS LIFE, MINISTRY, THEOLOGY, AND THE GOSPEL FROM A LOCAL CHURCH PERSPECTIVE.
This is the 2nd Part of Allen's and Jay's conversation about Voddie Baucham and how he impacted both of them. Woven into the conversation is discussion about Charlie Kirk and John MacArthur. The episode ends with thoughts about where we go from here.
Pastor Allen is joined by Jay Harrod, a fellow writer at ThingsAbove.Us. They discuss the sadness of Voddie Baucham's passing and how it is all the more so in the light of the passing of John MacArthur in July and the assassination of Charlie Kirk just a few weeks ago. This is a two part episode. Part 2 will publish next Wednesday.
This is part of a Wednesday Night series at Providence Baptist Church on why the teachings of Roman Catholicism are not compatible with Biblical Christianity. Sadly, this first episode did not get recorded properly. This is week 3 from that series regarding Rome's unbiblical view of sin.
This is part of a Wednesday Night series at Providence Baptist Church on why the teachings of Roman Catholicism are not compatible with Biblical Christianity. Sadly, this first episode did not get recorded properly. This is week 2 from that series regarding the canon of Scripture.
This is a sermon excerpt from Pastor Allen in his expositional series through the book of Acts. In this segment he walks through why Acts 2:38-39 cannot support the Church of Christ, Oneness Pentecostal, or paedobaptist positions .
In this episode, Pastor Allen gives an encouragement to pastors and churches on the need for biblical reformation. What is a healthy church? How do we get there? This episode walks through the answers to those questions.
Pastor Allen has a phone call with Bro. Randall Chronister of the big city of Hector, AR about their recent trip to Tuxtla, Chiapas (MX). In this convo they discuss what biblical missions should look like.
Allen sits down with Pastor Jonathan Murdock and Pastor Landon Schrock to talk about the doctrine of the Christian Sabbath and why this is wonderful gift of God for His people.
Part 2 of Pastor Allen's roundtable with Danny Thursby and Cole Dixon on their podcast, Classic Cast, discussing Charles Spurgeon's book, All of Grace.
This is a sermon on the importance of preaching from the pulpit of Providence Baptist Church on June 29, 2025.
Pastor Allen joins Danny Thursby and Cole Dixon on their Podcast, Classic Cast, to talk about Charles Spurgeon's book All of Grace. They get into Spurgeon, church life, evangelism, Calvinism, etc. Part 2 to air soon!
Pastor Allen and Pastor Jacob talk about how the doctrines of grace must affect your view of the church.
On this episode of the Rural Church Podcast, Pastor Allen sits down with Pastor Jacob Robinson, his fellow elder at Providence Baptist Church (ProvidenceBaptistAR.com) as they discuss Jacob's journey to the doctrines of grace and the lessons he learned along the way.
Here is part 2 of the interview with Pastor Joseph Allen from Grace Community Baptist Church in Danville, KY. In this episode we talk about coming to the doctrines of grace.
This week on the RCP 2.0 we listen to a midweek Bible Study lesson from Pastor Allen on the biblical understanding of the rapture and why the Bible does not support a dispensational pre-tribulation rapture. You can download the handout here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J6SqXuT9Fwx05ixyawT1VHEApiQk2buC/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109546267068952701498&rtpof=true&sd=true
In this episode, Pastor Allen interviews Pastor Joseph Allen of Grace Community Baptist Church in Danville, KY. They talk about Joseph's view of the church and getting to know him and his work in Kentucky. Stay tuned for part 2 of this episode in 2 weeks!
Pastor Allen continues from his May 21, 2025 episode on Spurgeon's sermon on Predestination and Calling. He reads the sermon and gives commentary and application. Part 3 will air sometime later this summer or in the Fall!
Pastor Allen walks through the life of Luke, the author of Acts and the Gospel of Luke. Why should we study the lives of men like Luke? What can we learn specifically about his life and how does that apply to Christians today? This and more in this week's episode!
A bit of a potpourri episode as Allen discusses his recent trip to Mexico (May 27-June 2, 2025). This leads into some thoughts about G3, the SBC, and are we losing our focus when it comes to the local church?
Here is the full audio from the 5/22/25 Debate between Pastor Allen S. Nelson and Catholic Priest Stephen Hart. There was a 3 minute intermission between the debate and the Q&A that was deleted. Everything else is the full recording. To see this on YouTube go here: https://www.youtube.com/live/-dgcJNWJH4E
In this episode, Pastor Allen begins working through a sermon preached by Charles Haddon Spurgeon on Romans 8:30 dealing with effectual calling and predestination.
Listen to last week's episode first! This episode picks up immediately where last week left off. Michael Coughlin and Pastor Allen discuss preaching to children in street preaching scenarios and an exhortation to churches to love children.
Pastor Allen sits down with his friend Michael Coughlin and they discuss the state of unconverted children in a Christian home from a Reformed Baptist perspective. This episode includes a foundation of baptist covenant theology and the need for pastors to preach to children from the pulpit. Tune in next week to hear part 2!
In this episode, Pastor Allen sits down with the President of Founders Ministries and Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, FL, Dr. Tom Ascol. They talk about some of what Founders does, including some new things this year. Then they get into how and why churches and pastors should invest in pastors. Investing in pastors is investing in churches! Listen in to find out more...
In this episode, Pastor Allen talks about the sovereignty of God. Every true believer confesses this glorious attribute of God, but too many do not truly understand what it means. Can you trust a God who is in meticulous control of His creation? Dive in and consider the Biblical truth of God's sovereignty!
Pastor Allen is joined this week by Jeremiah Nortier, one of the pastors at Twelve5 church in Jonesboro, AR, and also the one and only "Apologetic Dog"! Listen in to learn more about Jeremiah's life and ministry as well as a discussion on the role of apologetics in the Christian life and the local church.
For more: https://theapologeticdog.com
For the Bahnsen/Sproul debate on Apologetic Methodology, check out: https://apologiastudios.com/courses/the-bahnsen-sproul-debate-over-apologetic-method/
In this episode, Pastor Allen talks about the necessity of local churches not viewing pastors as those who are "hired." What then ought to be the relationship between pastors and the church? Listen in to find out! This sermon was mentioned toward the beginning: Paris Reidhead's 10 Shekels and a Shirt - https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermons/10180222445
What a great conversation! Pastor Allen and Pastor Brian start off talking about Brian's background and then they get into the abolition of abortion and IVF. Next, they dive into Brian's leading his church through the 1689 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith, why that matters, and an encouragement to pastors and church members for reforming churches to healthier for Christ's glory.
You can find his messages on the 1689 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElwsVQT8y1A&list=PL6DL1qiBMJYP71-ZXuyBhFHzp5X-rT60F
A rare episode! Pastor Allen sits down with his family on a cold, snowy February evening to talk about Providence Baptist Church, why we love it, and why having a healthy church is worth it... Tune in and meet the fam!
In this episode, Pastor Allen in joined by Pastor Jacob Tanner who is no stranger to the Rural Church Podcast 2.0! They discuss his new book,Resist Tyrants, Obey God, and then get into the important discussion of what makes a faithful pastor and why they are needed.
See more about Jacob's book here: https://press.founders.org/shop/resist-tyrants-obey-god/?srsltid=AfmBOoriXM36xj9Y8uZ1nwjZ1GeWw2sPAdoLRiL4V7C3o_OoryKLtzi8
Pastor Allen and Pastor Nick White of FBC Hamburg, NY continue their discussion on preaching the doctrines of grace and why it matters in the local church.
This week Pastor Allen is joined by Pastor Nick White of First Baptist Church of Hamburg, New York. The two begin a discussion on the necessity and joy of preaching the doctrines of grace.
In this episode Pastor Allen discusses the need for local churches committed to sound doctrine. Practically, this means churches holding to a solid confession of faith. Listen in to consider why this matters so much and what it looks like practically.
Danny Thursby, an elder at Grace Bible Church in Conway, AR, joins Pastor Allen to discuss the "whys" and "hows" of church discipline.
After some introductory comments from Allen, listen to this sermon from Pastor Randall Easter on evangelism. You will not regret it.
This is the follow-up to Episode 102. Pastor Allen, Gunner, and Jeff, discuss the importance of musical worship in the local church and how no matter your church's talent, you can and must lead with excellence. Christ is worthy!
Pastor Allen sits down with Gunner Madewell and Jeff Crago to discuss a foundation for worship in the church. In this episode the guys discuss the regulative principle, elements of worship, and why worship matters in the church. In Part 2, releasing next week, they get into the nuts and bolts of music in the church.
Pastor Allen sits down with Pastor Jacob Reaume of Trinity Bible Chapel in Ontario, Canada. In this episode, we explore a multifaceted discussion on Donald Trump's comments on making Canada the 51st state. This brings into broader topics such as patriotism and cultural engagement.
This candid conversation offers thoughtful insights on how Christians can engage their culture without compromising their faith and calls for a clear local, church-centered focus in addressing societal issues.
Check out Pastor Reaume's new book on marriage here: https://asserpress.com/product/bible-based-marriage/
Eddie and Allen are giving away a copy of Dr. Sam Waldron's new book, The Doctrine of Last Things, but you'll have to listen to the episode to see how to enter. We also discuss how to have Biblical goals and priorities and Eddie gives an update on some of his priorities for 2025. You can find out more about the book itself here: https://freegracepress.com/products/the-doctrine-of-last-things-an-optimistic-millennial-view
This is a sermon from Pastor Allen in his exposition of Nahum at Providence Baptist Church on Nahum 1:10 which says, "For they are like entangled thorns, like drunkards as they drink;they are consumed like stubble fully dried." Has sin ensnared you? Is there hope? Think carefully through this sermon.
Our annual exhortation to read the Bible!
In this episode, Eddie and Allen sit down with Pastor Jonathan Murdock of Trinity Baptist Church in Port Arthur, TX, for a pointed discussion about the treasure of God’s Word and the sad reality of the poor Bible reading habits of many Christians.
Together, they explore what the Bible truly is, the incredible blessing of having it in our own language, and how Christians are called to cherish and honor it.
They also reflect on the sacred privilege and solemn duty pastors have to read and meditate on Scripture daily—as in, seven days a week.
We all fall short of loving the Bible as we should. But take heart—Jesus paid for that sin too!
Join us as we rest in His grace, repent of our neglect, and renew our love for God’s Word. Let this episode inspire you to "take up and read," delighting in the sanctifying truths of Scripture.
On this episode we feature not one but TWO Christmas Sermons. The first is by Jacob Tanner of Christ Keystone Church in Middleburg, Pennsylvania. The second (starting at 51:10) is by Nick White of First Baptist Hamburg, New York. I (Allen) am blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know these brothers in 2024 and to hear both of them exposit God's Word. You will be blessed! This week and next week's episode release on Monday. January 8, 2025 we begin going back to our normal Wednesday release.
Eddie and Allen welcome the man, the myth, the legend, Keith Foskey onto the show. They discuss a theology of comedy, manhood, church life, and why you should celebrate Christmas. Check out more from Keith at https://keithfoskey.com!
Eddie and Allen dive into the critical yet often overlooked topic of pastoring pastors. Together, they unpack why every pastor— every ministry leader, denominational servant, etc.—needs pastoral care, accountability, protection, and encouragement. From biblical principles to practical applications, they explore how God has uniquely designed the local church to provide this vital support. Whether you're a pastor, leader, or member of the flock, this conversation will deepen your understanding of the importance of mutual shepherding in the body of Christ as well as the beauty of the local church.
Happy December! The guy get into a theology of fellowship in this episode. What it is, Who creates it, how we should cultivate it, and why it is necessary. They also talk about some practical ways they plan to fellowship with their local churches in December.
What happens when a professing Christian will not repent even after the church has called them to turn again to Christ? In this message, Eddie walks through Paul's instructions to the Corinthian Church about Church Discipline. Christ is worthy of a healthy church! A healthy church will practice biblical church discipline.
In the first episode they've recorded since Election 2024, Eddie and Allen spend a few minutes discussing the results. Then they spend the rest of the episode working through the practice of Children's Church and Nursery. What should we think about these practices in the church today?
The guys are joined by Pastor Tom Hicks of FBC Clinton, LA. They talk about the distinctions between Law and Gospel and why this matters for every pastor and every Christian.
Like a Golden Corral, this episode features a few things to put on your plate! Eddie and Allen discuss the Election, Biblical Parenting, what do to do in an unhealthy local church, the Rapture, and antichrists in this eclectic episode of the Rural Church Podcast 2.0.
Eddie and Allen discuss a short outline on the Reformation and then talk about the importance of godly pastors. After all, it's Pastor Appreciation Month! They talk about men who have influenced them as well as practical ways you can honor your pastors.
With all that is happening in our country today and in our churches and being on the precipice of another important election, will God's people be burdened to pray? Eddie and Allen discus these things in today's episode.
The Rural Church Podcast is unapologetically committed to the local church. So in this episode, we thought we'd take some time to chat about what is it that makes a church a church? And remember always, Christ is worthy of healthy churches!
Allen Nelson is joined by Pastors Jonathan Murdock and Jon Speed to explore Jon’s current eschatological shift from Postmillennialism to Amillennialism. They’ll dive into some of the challenges within certain segments of Postmillennialism today and discuss why these eschatological views matter for the local church.
Eddie and Allen have the great privilege of hosting Dr. Sam Waldron on today's show as they interview him regarding his forthcoming book with Free Grace Press: The Doctrine of Last Things—An Optimistic Amillennial View. The topics range from orthodox eschatology to specific dangers of premillennialism (historic and dispensational) and postmillennialism positions as well as the importance of Christian charity and agreement when discussing eschatological differences.
Relevant links from the episode:
Free Grace Press - https://freegracepress.com
CBTS - https://cbtseminary.org
CovCon 2025: The Law of God - https://cbtseminary.org/covcon25/
Eddie and Allen discuss the end times! Sort of. In this conversation of the Rural Church Podcast, the guys talk about what is necessary to have an orthodox eschatology as well as what puts one outside the Christian faith. They also talk about the humility and charity we must have in these conversations. Also, Eddie's eschatology is revealed! And so is a new book coming soon from Free Grace Press...
Eddie and Allen continue their discussion on the sovereignty of God in salvation and this week take that into the home. What is the status of uncoverted children in the Christian home? For more resources, see here: https://providencebaptistar.com/what-we-believe/baptist-covenant-theology/
Eddie and Allen discuss the sovereignty of God in salvation. It is important to understand the biblical reality of God's sovereign grace in the salvation of sinners and how that applies to evangelism. Salvation is of the Lord!
“How vastly different is the God of Scripture from the god of the average pulpit.” A.W. Pink
Eddie and Allen take an Episode to discuss why our people need to know who God is and talk about some practical ways to teach on God's attributes in the local church.
After Summer Break Eddie and Allen are back on a consistent schedule with RCP 2.0! In this week's episode, the guys breakdown "cultural Christianity", why it's on the rise, what are some of the positives, and what are the dangers... Feel free to contact us here: https://providencebaptistar.com/contact/
Allen Nelson interviews Jacob Tanner on his new book, Wait and Hope: Puritan Wisdom for Joyful Suffering (Reformation Heritage Books). Jacob was on the RCP 2.0 back in April discussing his biography of John Bunyan: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/BOuMOV5HOLb. You can find his new book here: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/wait-and-hope-tanner.html. At the end of the Episode Jacob and Allen discuss the conference they will be preaching at on August 31. More info here: https://theartofworship.net/gtconference2024/
In this week's episode, Pastor Allen Nelson gives a brief overview to his local church at Providence Baptist Church in Perryville, AR on what is the mission of the church. This talk was from October 2023 after he returned from a September trip to Chiapas and Tabasco Mexico.
In this episode of the Rural Church Podcast 2.0, co-host Eddie Ragsdale deals with the believers adoption into the family of God. The necessity, source, and purpose of this adoption. Ephesians 1:5-6.
It's a bit of a potpourri episode! Eddie and Allen talk about the Nicene Creed and the politics of the SBC. They work through various definitions of Biblicism. They conclude with the hope and promise of Christ to build His church. Hopefully, you find this an edifying Summer listen!
Today, July 24, 2024, is the two-year anniversary of this message, A Church at the Crossroads. This message was preached by Pastor Allen Nelson at Perryville Second Baptist Church (now Providence Baptist) about the need for Biblical reformation. We hope it encourages you and helps you along your journey towards a healthy church! Eddie and Allen will be coming of their Summer Break soon...
This episode comes from a Wednesday Night teaching series on Baptist Covenant Theology. Pastor Allen Nelson walks us through the Covenant of Redemption and why it matters.
Eddie and Allen talk about the doctrine of general revelation and then get into the beauty of the Natural State, aka, Arkansas! Then, they tie these truths into practical application for local churches.
Happy Independence Day (almost)! On this July 3 episode, we listen to a 2024 Conference message from Pastor Jacob Reaume of Trinity Bible Chapel in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Pastor Reaume was in central Arkansas in March of 2024 where he preached this message. It is an exposition of Matthew 22:15-22. Listen well!
On this episode of the RCP 2.0, Eddie and Allen talk about a lesser known New Testament believer, Tychicus. They examine Ephesians 6:21-22 and discuss how lesser known brothers and passages from the New Testament actually have quite a bit to teach local churches today about biblical Christianity.
Eddie and Allen encourage both pastors and church members to have a different expectation when it comes to pastoral tenure than most places do. Think in decades instead of months and years. We hope this is gracious, encouraging and challenging. Christ is worthy of a healthy church!
In this episode, Allen gets into Revelation 20 and why eschatology is so important when it comes to advancing Christ's kingdom in the world today.
Take the backwoods Christian man from nowhere Arkansas. Put him out in the hills with just his Bible. How old is he going to think the earth is? Eddie and Allen tackle the age of the earth and why it matters in this week's episode of the Rural Church Podcast 2.0... Check out this link for more (sorry Alex for forgetting its name during the episode!): https://creation.com/
Eddie and Allen have the privilege of chatting with Chris Bolt on this episode of RCP 2.0. They discuss Chris's tweet from May 15, 2024 about the difficulty of pastoral ministry. This episode is an important one for church members and pastors young and old. Check out Chris's podcast, Christ or Chaos, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/christ-or-chaos/id1733367334
Ecclesiology matters. Eddie and Allen discuss the Mike Law Amendment and the SBC Annual Meeting coming up in June of 2024. Why does this matter to evangelicalism? What hath the SBC to do with the Great Commission?
Welcome to the Rural Church Podcast 2.0! Periodically, we share sermons. In this message, Eddie shows the providential power of God to save His people through the unexpected savior named Ehud from the portly potente Eglon giving the underserved blessing of rest.
What makes a good pastor, evangelist, deacon? In this episode, Eddie and Allen discuss why brothers must care about serving the local church. Every pastor needs the heart of an evangelist. Every evangelist needs the heart of a pastor. This isn't the day for more platforms. We need more godly pastors!
Christ is worthy of healthy churches! Party of what that looks like is churches obeying what the Bible has to say about church life. In this week's episode Eddie and Allen jump into James 5:16 and talk about what it means to confess your sins to one another in the local church.
This is Part 2 in a 2-Part series on why Baptists are right when it comes to the proper mode and subjects of baptism. Part 1 aired on 2/14/24. Originally, this was going to go next, but we moved some things around... Disclaimer: In no way does this mean we think only Baptists are going to heaven! Eddie and Allen have grown so much over the years learning from non-Baptists who love the Lord. Nevertheless, this is an important doctrine and all believers would do well to make sure they get this right.
Eddie and Allen discuss the "thousands" of people that came in for the eclipse and how evangelism and ministry went during that time. This episode is filled with practical tips and encouragement for evangelism and fellowship between local churches. To listen to the messages from the Eclipse meetings at Providence Baptist Church, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNI1Lwgu0Js&list=PLZkGXeKWedWH12qgWJrWQfZMnJTdepnsV
Every local church must be regulated by the Scriptures. In this episode, Pastor Allen discusses briefly an instance in his past where he came to see this experientially, and then we get into a sermon he preached on this subject in October of 2022 at Beryl Baptist Church in Vilonia, AR. This message should both encourage and challenge us in the days ahead.
On this week's episode, Allen interviews Pastor Jacob Tanner about his new book, The Tinker's Progress: The Life and Times of John Bunyan. Jacob and Allen discuss the importance of biography and, specifically, the life and legacy of a man like John Bunyan and why he still matters to the church today. Grab the book here: https://www.christianfocus.com/products/3109/the-tinkers-progress
Eddie and Allen discuss Eddie's recent trip to the Ligonier Conference as well as his experience in a Lutheran service. Then the guys turn to Numbers 25 to look at the story of Phinehas and Zimri and the application this has today to local churches and even conventions and denominations.
Throwback! Eddie and Allen take you back to the Rural Church Podcast 1.0. One of their favorite episodes: An interview with the one and only, Prissy Wallace. Ms. Prissy is a faithful Christian women, never married, blind from Type 1 Diabetes, and currently in her 70s. You will be blessed by this episode. Originally recorded in September 2017.
Eddie and Allen head to the pub. NOT A REAL PUB! The guys interact with a post on the Reformed Pub from Facebook regarding paedocommunion. This gets them into a discussion on paedobaptism, credobaptism, and Baptist Covenant Theology. We hope this is a helpful episode and encourages you to Baptist even harder! Soli Deo Gloria
On this week's episode of the RCP 2.0, Eddie Ragsdale dives into 2 Peter 3:1-13 to give us the beautiful promise of God's faithfulness to His plan and to His people. He deals with an oft used text against Calvinism, 2 Peter 3:9, and why it's actually a beautiful text in support of reformed theology.
Eddie and Allen discuss the upcoming solar eclipse in April 2024 and how their churches plan to do evangelism. Then they get into a discussion on what is revival, why should we seek it, and how should churches seek it. They also mention Founders 2025 conference on Revival. More information to that conference can be found here: https://founders.org/conference
Sadly, church discipline is an oft-neglected aspect of church life, particularly in the Bible Belt. What is church discipline? Why and how should it be practiced? What should you do if it's not? In this week's episode, Eddie and Allen tackle these practical questions and more about church discipline. You can listen to Allen's sermon on this subject here: https://providencebaptistar.com/imi_sermon/a-disciplined-church/
In the year of our Lord, 2024, we are still Baptists. In this episode, we hear a sermon from co-host Allen Nelson from Ephesians 4 on the biblical meaning of baptism. We are grateful for our brothers and sisters who see this issue differently. Nevertheless, we feel this is an important subject.
Eddie and Allen pick up a sobering but crucial subject when it comes to the Scriptures: Hell. The Bible teaches a literal, conscious, eternal, hell for unbelievers. The guys jump into this doctrine as well as how to preach it in our churches.
Are there ever any good reasons to "cancel" church? On this week's episode of the Rural Church Podcast, Eddie and Allen tackle this issue amid a snowstorm! Kinda. Why should Christians value Sundays? What about Wednesday Nights? This and more in Episode 67...
What kind of importance should believers place on physical fitness? Eating right? Exercise? Eddie and Allen tackle this subject in this episode of the Rural Church Podcast 2.0. While we must not make fitness an idol, most of us can stand to improve in these areas. Listen in to this episode and feel free to offer your feedback!
In this episode, Allen reads to us a sermon preached by Particular Baptist Pastor, Benjamin Keach (1640-1704). This sermon deals with the duties of church members and pastors to actively and tangibly strive for true peace together in the local church and with Christians outside their local church as well. A timely message for today!
What should a faithful pastor smell like? A strange question! Yet, biblically, we see that pastors are called shepherds. The idea is that these men should be shepherding God's flock which involves more than only preaching on Sundays. Listen in as Eddie and Allen discuss what it looks like to actually spend time with the sheep. This is an exhortation needed for both pastors and church members, and practical tips are given to both.
This episode is from November 27, 2017, on the original Rural Church Podcast. Listen in as a bit younger Eddie and Allen discuss the failure of the "affinity" and "attractional" based model of the local church. Here is the original episode description:
"Cowboy Church, Biker Church, Outdoor Church, Race Car Church, Gamer Church, Hipster Church, and the list goes on and on and on. Is there anything wrong with the 'affinity' based church movement? Should churches seek to 'attract' people to their main gathering using something other than the gospel? On this week's episode, Eddie and Allen tackle these issues and show why the attraction and affinity-based church movement falls short of the New Testament model of the local church. This is an important discussion..."
Well, it's pretty much like the title says. Eddie and Allen go over some of the top episodes of the RCP 2.0 for 2023. They discuss some personal ups and downs for 2023. Then they give an exhortation to why believes should be reading the Scriptures in 2024.
Merry Christmas from the Rural Church Podcast! The guys welcome fellow Arkansan, Dr. Russell Threet, to talk about the glorious reality of God becoming man to save us from our sins. They then discuss how that issue is connected to the Christian desire to abolish abortion in America. This video, The Fatal Flaw of the Pro-Life Movement, is mentioned in this episdoe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k33epqzJIlM
Eddie and Allen finish up their conversation with D. Michael Clary (@dmichaelclary) about his new book God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality. This part of the interview deals more specifically with gender roles in the local church. To purchase the book go to: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Good-Design-Theological-Practical/dp/1956521097
Eddie and Allen chat with D. Michael Clary (@dmichaelclary) about his new book God's Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality. In God's providence, this episode was recorded just after Ohio's wicked vote to enshrine abortion into its state constitution, so the conversation begins there. To purchase the book go to: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Good-Design-Theological-Practical/dp/1956521097
The guys talk about the theology of Christmas and whether Christians should celebrate. Then they get into specific ways to do evangelism during this time of year. Here is a link to the James White lesson mentioned in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SusR-01evO4
Eddie and Allen interview Dr. Jared Moore regarding his new book with Free Grace Prace, The Lust of the Flesh: Thinking Biblically About "Sexual Orientation," Attraction, and Temptation. The guys discuss the recent refusal of Louisiana Baptists to embrace equal protection for the preborn, and then jump into discussions regarding Same Sex Attraction, sin, redemption, the gospel, and the church. We are releasing this episode on a Tuesday since it is Thanksgiving week.
Eddie and Allen discuss Confessions of Faith and why your church should have a healthy Confession. They also talk about the difference between Nominal Confessionalism and Hyper-Confessionalism and why your church should be neither.
More on this here: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZjXzInCx8MM?si=5qxrQEu-Em-1yLBU
Eddie and Allen discuss this season of the year and how and why Christians should be thankful. They offer some practical ideas on how to express gratitude for and in the church. They end the episode talking about some things they are personally thankful for.
In this episode, Eddie speaks with Jim Elliff of Christian Communicators Worldwide about the biblical and historical basis for itinerant ministry as well as the strengths, benefits, and dangers today.
On this week of the RCP 2.0, Eddie and Allen talk about Baptist Associations. Then they get into Psalm 87:1-3 and talk about examples of glorious things in the church. Let us prize the local church's beauty!
Eddie and Allen chat about some recent life updates and evangelism opportunities. Then they get into John 2:17 and discuss the focus and zeal believers and especially pastors must have for the local church.
In this episode, Eddie and Allen catch up on their activities in the last month. They discuss G3 2023, Mexico Missions, Nursery/Cry Rooms, is it okay to pay for Christian Conferences?, and what about some of the current Baptist controversies? These things and more in this week's episode...
To kick off Reformation Month, Eddie and Allen discuss, "What is a Reformed Baptist?". How is this different than other baptists? How should Reformed Baptists cooperate with others?
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.
How should you read the whole Bible? In this episode, Eddie and Allen begin a discussion near and dear to their heart, Baptist Covenant Theology. Eddie has recently finished at class at Grace Bible Theological Seminary dealing with this subject and so it was a good time to discuss these important truths while they were fresh on his mind! This episode deals with the Covenant of Works and then gets into the Covenant of Grace and how the Old Testament saints were saved.
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!
In this episode, Eddie and Allen pick up where they left off in Episode 27 on biblical distinctives of a healthy church. This week they discuss how local churches ought to think rightly about evangelism and missions.
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.
Eddie and Allen continue last week's conversation with Gunner and Alex. They talk more about the proper biblical motivations for evangelism, qualifications for street preachers, and the connection between evangelism and the local church.
Eddie and Allen are joined by a returning guest, Gunner Madewell, and a new guest, Alex Osborne. The guys discuss "What is Calvinism?" as well as how this biblical system informs and fuels our evangelism, including one on one conversations, passing out tracts, and street preaching.
This week Eddie and Allen talk about how our lives ought to revolve around the local church rather than squeezing the local church into our lives when we have time. This is a culture that ought to take hold of every Christian and will result in making major life decisions that revolve around the local church. Decisions like where your kids will go to college, whether you will move and take a new job, where you will retire should all be made in connection with the local church.
Eddie and Allen talk about a recent video of a sheep caught in a ditch and how this pertains to pastoral ministry in the life of the local church. They briefly touch on the CrossPolitics remarks regarding Baptists. Most of the episode is spent on the wisdom and beauty of having a plurality of elders in the local church.
Eddie and Allen talk about being intentional in taking the gospel to community events like the County Fair. What are evangelistic ideas for local churches during community-wide events? Why and how should local churches bring the gospel to people at these events? Eddie leads off by talking about the world-famous Chuck Wagon races held annually in Clinton, AR.
This week is Part 2 of Eddie and Allen's interview with the Spurgeon of El Pochote, Cristian Martinez. Cristian is the Pastor of a 1689 confessing local church in El Pochote, Veracruz (Mexico). In this episode, we also hear some about F.I.R.M, Fellowship of International Reformed Missions. See how God is furthering His Kingdom in, by, and through the local church for His own glory.
In this week's episode, Eddie and Allen interview Cristian Martinez, pastor of Grace Baptist Church (a 1689 confessing church) in El Pochote, Veracruz (Mexico). You will be encouraged to hear how this 29-year-old pastor is leading his church to be faithful to the Word of God. Hear his heart for expositional preaching, Scripture memorization, biblical church membership, and the local church. You will be challenged and encouraged by what the Lord is doing in small, out-of-the-way places. Tune in to hear more about the Spurgeon of El Pochote!
Eddie and Allen finish last weeks episode with Jonathan Murdock, Wes Brown, and Gunner Madewell talking about Mission, Ecclesiology, Church Planting, etc.
Eddie and Allen are joined by special guests Jonathan Murdock, Gunner Madewell, and Wes Brown. The guys discuss missions and ecclesiology, including "is the SBC really better together?". Also, how and why small churches must be involved tangible in the mission of Christ. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode recorded after the Conway/Perry Baptist Associaton 2022 Missions' Conference.
Eddie and Allen reintroduce themselves and talk about RCP 2.0. Included in this episode is a recap of Anaheim, Allen's trip to Mexico, Eddie's trip to Utah, and why the local church still matters.