Blog Posts - 200churches

Episode 336 - N.T. Wright On His Future Plans, Brexit, and Small Church Ministry

11/5/2019

It was our pleasure to speak again to Dr. N.T. Wright, one of the Western world's leading New Testament scholars and an expert on the Apostle Paul and his Epistles.

Tom joined us for one hour to speak on subjects ranging from his devotional life to a short lesson on Brexit in the U.K. He talked about how to begin to teach a church about the difference between "heaven and hell" and "new life through Resurrection". He spoke on racism, classism, and even about his future plans since turning 70.

Pastor Jake Feirberg from Aurora CO joined us on the call. Jake is a long time listener and it was a real treat to have him join me and Jonny to speak with Tom Wright.

Dr. Wright is offering a free online course from his N.T. Wright Online ministry. All of our 200churches listeners can access the course FAITH WORKING THROUGH LOVE by clicking right here!

Find all of Dr. Wright's courses here at https://ntwrightonline.org/.

Episode 335 - Bivocational Ministry with Jake Fierberg

10/29/2019

Pastor Jake Fierberg is a bivocational pastor in Aurora CO. In this episode he talks with Jeff and Jonny about the blessings and challenges of working a secular job and pastoring a small congregation. This is a FANTASTIC episode - encouraging and inspirational!

While editing this episode, I (Jeff) actually bowed my head in silence as I listened to Jake talk about being quiet before God, learning how to pray, and observing Sabbath as a bivocational pastor. This is what we love about the 200churches Podcast - that a pastor of a church of 500 will sit at the feet of the pastor of a church of 25 and be spiritually refreshed. I was challenged, convicted, and edified by Jake's words. This is a very encouraging episode for pastors of all size churches!

Again, Jonny and I offer this episode as a gift to you, praying that you are inspired and encouraged to thrive in your ministry context! Thanks Jake for joining us and helping us to encourage pastors!

This episode is sponsored by CoachingForPastors.org.

Episode 334 - The Art of Neighboring with Dave Runyon

10/1/2019

Jeff and Jonny met up with Dave Runyon at the GOOD FOR ALL Conference in West Des Moines IA recently, and spoke with him about his passion for seeing churches work together to reach their neighbors.

Dave and his friend, Jay Pathak are the co-authors of the book, The Art of Neighboring - Building genuine relationships right outside your door. They also have put together a FREE resource page at https://www.artofneighboring.com where you can access a 3-week series to implement a neighboring initiative with your church family.

Check out all the downloadable FREE resources at https://www.artofneighboring.com and buy the book The Art of Neighboring.

Episode 333 - Dynamic Advice For Effective Visitor Follow Up with Jon Dunwell

9/4/2019

Why is it that so many churches are challenged when it comes to new guest follow up? How can churches up their game in the area of following up with new attenders? Jon Dunwell joins Jeff in Episode 333 to answer those questions and more!

Jon Dunwell has been in ministry for 25 years from Student to Senior Pastor in churches small and large. He is a John Maxwell Certified Speaker, Trainer, and Coach.

Jon talks with Jeff in this episode about effective follow up for first time guests, and gives detailed advice for how you can begin to improve your follow up of first time guests beginning this coming weekend!

Want to be personally coached by Jon? He will work with you in the areas of business, ministry, or health coaching. See below to contact Jon...

Click here to connect with Jon and learn more about his personal, ministry, and business coaching!

Episode 332 - One Pastor's Unbelievable Health Transformation Story with Scott Buell

8/28/2019

CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH!

CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO JOIN JEFF & SCOTT ON A TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH JOURNEY!

Scott Buell pastors in Central Ohio and has been a 200churches listener for the last year. Early this year he was on the road, driving to hang out with some old college friends. In the car he was listening to Episode 305 of our podcast.

Episode 305 is when Jeff had a conversation with his health coach, David Bush, and shared how he had lost almost 50 pounds at the time (Jeff as of August 2019 has lost 80 pounds!). Jeff and David challenged pastors to go on a health journey - a journey to learn the habits of health and incorporate them into their lives.

God spoke to him and said "Scott, this is your time! This episode is for you. Respond to it." Scott pulled over to the side of the road and emailed Jeff. Scott started his journey on March 11, 2019. It has been less than six months, and the transformation is amazing!

This is his story.

HECK, IF JEFF AND SCOTT DID IT, YOU CAN TOO - FOR SURE! CLICK HERE!

Episode 330 - Redemption Is From The LORD with Gabe

7/31/2019

While on a trip in El Salvador, Jeff met Gabe, his translator and now friend. While Gabe is a native Salvadoran, his story is quite unique, as he spend most of his life in the United States.

Jeff knew instantly that Gabe's story was one that pastors should here. This is Gabe's first time on a podcast, and he was very open with his life story, so that we as pastors could better understand where people come from, and what they go through.

Jeff sat down with Gabe just last night and recorded this conversation with his iPhone. It is raw and unedited. The only episode that comes close to it is when Jeff recorded one in October 2014 from a hospital waiting room.

Hopefully this episode will change your perspective and give you a new appreciation for some of those our culture regards as "the least of these."

Jeff said, "I love Gabe! He is a man of God with a message of grace!" We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 329 - A Church Progress Report from the Yukon Territory with Jeremy Norton

7/26/2019

Jeremy Norton first appeared on Episode 233 of the podcast and now he returns to give us an update two years later!

Did they change the name of the church?
How are his staff coming along?
Are the elders supportive?
Is he burning out and taking his family down with him?
Has the church grown?

These questions and many more will be answered in this episode and Jeremy covers it all with vim, verve, and alacrity! :-)

Enjoy pastors!

Episode 328 - How Pastors Grow with Dan Reiland

7/15/2019

Dan Reiland appears yet once more on the podcast, now six years to the month from his first appearance in July of 2013! Dan is a listener favorite and today he brings his wisdom, experience, and perspective to bear on the things pastors are dealing with in 2019.

Dan worked with John Maxwell for twenty years as first his executive pastor, then at Injoy when John moved to Atlanta. They remain friends and confidantes to this day.

Here are some other places where you can find more on Dan:

Dan's Bio: https://danreiland.com/about-dan/
Dan on Carey Nieuwhof's Podcast: https://careynieuwhof.com/episode105/
Dan's contact info at 12Stone Church: https://12stone.com/staff/dan-reiland
Dan Reiland resources: https://danreiland.com/resources/
Every 200churches Episode with Dan: https://www.200churches.com/dan-reiland-series.html

Episode 327 - One Year Citylight KC Church Plant Progress with Jason Wilson and Eric Carpenter

7/10/2019

What a great couple of guys, actually pastors, we got to talk with on this episode! Jason Wilson and Eric Carpenter are co-pastors of a new church plant in Kansas City MO, Citylight Kansas City! We spoke with these guys in 2018 on Episode 276, so check that episode out if you haven't listened to it yet.

Enjoy this episode, learn, think new thoughts, get fresh inspiration, etc!

This episode is our gift to pastors, and we love sharing these gifts with you!

Check out Citylight Kansas City right here! Share this episode with other pastors you think would benefit from it!

Episode 326 - We Can Lead Like Jesus Led with Mark Strauss and Justin Irving

6/27/2019

Mark Strauss and Justin Irving joined Jeff and Jonny recently to talk about leading like Jesus, in the church. These two are authors, Ph.D's, and seminary professors and they speak with the guys about their new book on biblical leadership.

We talked on this episode about:
Episode 199 with Jeannine Brown
Episode 288 with Pam Dykstra about How and Why To Have Crucial Conversations
No More Mr. Nice Pastor and A Failure of Nerve by Edwin Friedman