Our next podcast is with Nathan Strom, church planter of Breakwater Church in Sheboygan, WI. For those not familiar with that area of the country, you may have a semi-stereotyped image in mind—Nathan helps us understand the context of Sheboygan and why an OPC church is being planted there among other Reformed and OPC churches […]
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A More Effective Website – Part 4: A New First Impression
If you’ve been following along, you were encouraged to consider what content you could put on your home page to show your most important and neglected audience an engaged, warm, outsider-friendly welcome to your church. When someone comes to your website, you have about 5-10 seconds to connect with them, or they are gone. So […]
A More Effective Website – Part 3: Content For The Most Important Audience
In the first two posts, we’ve considered different audiences you are trying to reach. We’ve ‘argued’ that the most important one, or maybe better stated most neglected one, is outsiders–unbelievers, church-going but no gospel, etc. The other audiences are those that our churches are already reasonably attentive to on our sites. By way of reminder, […]
A More Effective Website – Part 2: Who Should Your Website Be For?
In our first post of the series, we discussed (and hopefully with you evaluating) your current church website regarding who the content is currently for…in the sense of audience(s). If you haven’t seen or done that, you will benefit from doing that first, here: Website – Part 1 Now, let’s talk about who your church […]
Reminder: Website Series-Last Chance Evaluate Your Site Before We Move Forward
This is an ‘off-week’ for posts, but we wanted to give you one last reminder that our series to help you have a more effective website is about to move forward. So, this is your last chance to evaluate your own website and learn and work alongside us in the series. Yes, you can just […]
Regional Home Evangelist–The Story & What He Does
This is Part 2 with the first-ever Regional Home Evangelist, Chris Byrd. Chris spent 4 years as an Evangelist of an existing congregation in Westfield, NJ, working alongside Pastor Tim Ferguson. His new call, a first for the OPC, developed from that first call. In this episode, we focus on the RHE–how it came about, […]
A More Effective Website – Part 1: Who Is Your Website For?
This series is an important one. It’s a very popular topic and question for churches new and old. We hope to provide tangible and specific help in a manageable way where improvements can made without overhauling your website. You will get the most out of this series if you do the ‘exercises’ and answer the […]
Talking to a Regional Home…..Evangelist
For the first podcast of 2025, we are talking to Chris Byrd, the recently installed Regional Home Evangelist of The Presbytery of New Jersey (and Puerto Rico). Yes, you read that correctly. Chris is accustomed to outside-of-the-box calls. He spent 4 years as an Evangelist of an existing congregation in Westfield, NJ, working alongside Pastor […]
Recap & Moving Forward
We like to do a quick recap of the previous year and take a look at the year to come. In 2025, we plan to discuss two major topics–how Reformed churches can best use their website and social media. We will continue podcasts and occasional stories from the field and Outward Preaching. One note: We […]
Gospel Opportunities With Family This Week
Spending time with family during the holidays can be fun and joyful, but it can also be difficult at times. Most of us will spend time with some family members (or friends) who are difficult to love. Maybe they’ve not treated us well or are holding a grudge about something. Maybe there is tension or […]
Outward Preaching (Video #23) – Understanding The Gospel of Mark
This week’s clip opens up the beginning of the Gospel of Mark in an engaging and helpful manner while still digging into the text. It also explains a common misconception about the OT and NT in just a couple of minutes. It’s video #23, here: Outward Preaching
Outward Preaching (Video #22) – Introducing A Sermon & A Text
This week’s clip vividly engages all kinds of people with something everyone is familiar with and draws the connection to the text and call. It’s video #22, here: Outward Preaching
Outward Preaching (Video #21) – Lively Exposition & A Call To Obedience
This week’s clip gives a pointed and challenging call in a way that doesn’t slight the seriousness (actually amps it up) but does so in a way that biblically illiterate people can grasp. It’s video #21, here: Outward Preaching
Outward Preaching (Video #20) – Introducing A Text & Sermon
A note of context about this week’s text: It was the first return to in-person worship after Covid in CA. The preacher, Jesse Pirschel, does a good job of explaining the setting of the text. Again, think about how foreign the Bible is to outsiders dealing with things in the first century and how helpful […]
Outward Preaching (Video #19) – Election & Evangelism
This week’s clip deals with deep theology in an engaging way that shows the heart and life of a sometimes maligned doctrine. How do you explain election? How have you heard election explained? Did it have this kind of glory and grace in it? It’s video #19, here: Outward Preaching
Outward Preaching (Video #18) – What Happens In the Wilderness?
This week’s clip is a great example of deep exposition–not shying away from precision and depth–but also making it accessible to many. It’s video #18, here: Outward Preaching
More From A Young Church Plant in Hays County Texas
This is Part 2 with Corey Paige, church planter in Hays County, TX (just south of Austin). In this episode, Corey talks about the blessings of a mother-daughter church plant among other topics. We also talk about Corey’s unique story. The OPC in Neon, KY and Jay Bennett were a big part of his life […]
Outward Preaching (Video #17) – Jesus Our Pioneer
This week’s clip takes time to open an illustration that would engage Christians and non-Christians alike. After explaining, the title of Jesus is applied in a way many could grasp. It’s video #17, here: Outward Preaching
Outward Preaching (Video #16) – Freedom From & Freedom For
This week’s clip provides a great comparison and illustration that is profound yet accessible to anyone in the midst of our divisive culture. It’s video #16, here: Outward Preaching
Talking With A Young Church Plant In Texas
Our next podcast is with Corey Paige, church planter in Hays County, TX (just south of Austin). This is probably the youngest church plant that we’ve been able to interview the church planter. We talk about life on the frontier of church planting and the challenges and blessings. Corey also has some interesting plans for […]