Not Another Baptist Podcast

Kyle and Matt started this thing as the Astros were in route to their first World Series* and have recorded an episode every Friday since (except for one in June 2024), but that comes to an end today after 365 episodes since October 2017. Thanks for tuning in!

Kyle and Matt get together to discuss the need for and biblical qualifications of deacons, as well as what pastors really need in these pivotal servant-leaders.

Kyle holds down the fort because Matt was out of town to mourn the end of his beloved Astros' playoff runs whilst leading a church planting assessment in H-Town, but that didn't stop us from highlighting Southern Baptists and our response to the recent hurricane. Here's how you can help: https://ncbaptist.org/hurricane-helene-response/

Kyle and Matt discuss several ways pastors can fail as preachers. Article: https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/bptoolbox/preaching-fails/ Book: https://amzn.to/4gJqIsb 

Kyle and Matt discuss the people you should invite to church on today's episode...pastor, share this with your people! Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/09/09/8-people-you-should-invite-to-church/

Kyle and Matt get together to discuss a few little things pastors can do to stay for the long haul, to help them persevere in ministry.

Kyle and Matt sit down to discuss a few practices pastors ought to initiate for better effectiveness in ministry. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/09/05/4-healthy-and-4-unhealthy-ministry-practices/

Kyle and Matt get together to discuss several things youth pastors wish their senior pastors understood about ministering to students and their families. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/08/09/6-%c2%bd-things-student-ministers-wish-senior-pastors-understood/

Kyle and Matt discuss a few encouraging trends to help churches reach the next generation of college students for Jesus. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/08/16/5-trends-in-reaching-college-students/

Kyle and Matt discuss a few ways a solo pastor (or any pastor) can enhance their church communications and online ministry presence. Article to explore: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/08/14/church-communication-for-solo-pastors/

Kyle and Matt discuss the need for church revitalization triage when serving churches in need of health––where do I start? What must I do first? Practicing triage will help you chart the course from first to next and beyond. Article to consider: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/08/05/church-revitalization-triage-whats-the-first-step-to-save-a-declining-church/

Kyle and Matt discuss some strategies to become the humble pastor and why that's critically important as we lead and serve our churches. Article: https://www.namb.net/church-replanting/resource/7-ways-to-practice-humility-in-your-leadership/

Kyle and Matt discuss some ways to leverage the back to school season for your church to give it a boost. To Read: https://research.lifeway.com/2023/08/21/engaging-families-during-the-back-to-school-season/

Kyle and Matt realize life happens during the week, news takes place, and sometimes, that news is big enough that it can cause an elephant in the room when it comes to Sunday. How do we address them?

Kyle and Matt realize most churches tend to have a dip in attendance, and sometimes giving, during the dog days of summer. There are some ways you can avoid that, though, and they talk about it on this episode.

Kyle and Matt get together to discuss July 4th when it comes to worship gatherings. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2022/06/28/patriotic-displays-common-in-july-4th-worship-services/

Kyle and Matt discuss an incredibly timely and helpful article about locating, managing, and ultimately avoiding "ministry knots." Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/06/25/five-symptoms-of-ministry-knots-in-your-church/

Kyle and Matt get together to discuss a few tips to help with time management for pastors in the trenches of ministry, especially normative-sized churches. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/06/14/3-simple-time-management-tips-for-pastors/

Kyle is nowhere to be found, so Matt grabs the mic for a quick word of encouragement to Southern Baptists who are heading to Indianapolis for #SBC24.

Kyle and Matt have many years of student ministry experience, though more recently as senior pastors. How do the latter (or even church members) support their students while they're away at youth camp? Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/05/24/7-ways-to-support-your-group-when-theyre-at-camp/

Kyle and Matt discuss a recent article by Mark Dance about several pain points for pastors with a reminder to stand firm, stick with it, and press on. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/05/22/5-pain-points-of-pastoring/

Kyle and Matt discuss some recent stats from the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Church Profile report.

Kyle and Matt get together to take a look at the schedule for the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis, especially, as well as a few notes about the current expected nominations for president that number six (today).

Kyle and Matt discuss the importance of the physical and financial health of pastors. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/04/23/most-pastors-are-healthy-and-thats-good-for-churches/ Art Rainer: https://www.artrainer.com/

Kyle and Matt discuss some things to consider when starting or doing bilingual worship services. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/04/24/7-elements-of-effective-bilingual-worship-services/

Kyle and Matt recently returned from vacation to talk about the need for vacations or time away as pastors.

Kyle and Matt recorded a few thoughts about worship before Matt headed out to preach a conference in Alabama and enjoy some time at Disney World.  Article to Dig Deeper: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/04/05/7-things-we-may-wish-the-bible-didnt-say-about-worship/

Kyle and Matt sit down to discuss some ideas for Easter follow-up. Make it stick, pastor!

Kyle and Matt have a special episode for you on this Good Friday with a look at the cost of the cross. Consider sharing this with those you know!

Kyle and Matt discuss how you can partner with church planters (or simply nearby pastors) in or near your town.

Kyle and Matt discuss the approaches of Mary and Martha in light of how we approach Sundays. We also apologize for the sound quality, as Kyle was out of town and the hotel WiFi wasn't that great!

Kyle and Matt discuss the art of preaching evangelistic sermons on their latest episode. Article: https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/bptoolbox/tips-on-evangelistic-preaching/

Kyle and Matt get together to discuss, perhaps, their least favorite part of preaching––sermon illustrations. But they're so, so important! Article: https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/bptoolbox/5-essential-resources-for-sermon-illustrations-and-why-theyre-important/ Sponsor: SWBTS If you're called to ministry, you're called to prepare. See how you can be equipped to live your calling at Southwestern Seminary's Preview Day. When you attend Preview Day on April 12, you'll get to see the campus, meet professors, and explore various degrees. Signing up is completely free, so register for Preview Day at swbts.edu/nab.

Kyle and Matt discuss a few ways deacons can help pastors survive and thrive in ministry. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/02/21/how-can-deacons-protect-pastors/ Sponsor: TBC Wherever God calls you, Texas Baptist College is committed to helping you get there. Attend Preview Day on March 22, and see for yourself all that TBC has to offer. You'll get to visit the campus, meet current students, and explore what life at TBC is like. Signing up for Preview Day is completely free, so register at texasbaptistcollege.com/nab.

Kyle and Matt know a thing or two about the importance of the "NEXT" generation, but what about those that've gone before? How can we invest in the previous generations before they pass away? Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/01/26/gray-matters-aging-congregations-can-serve-an-eternal-kingdom/ Sponsor: SWBTS If you're called to ministry, you're called to prepare. See how you can be equipped to live your calling at Southwestern Seminary's Preview Day. When you attend Preview Day on April 12, you'll get to see the campus, meet professors, and explore various degrees. Signing up is completely free, so register for Preview Day at swbts.edu/nab.

Kyle and Matt discuss how to start (and continue) a new ministry endeavor, particularly for pastors. Sponsor: TBC Wherever God calls you, Texas Baptist College is committed to helping you get there. Attend Preview Day on March 22, and see for yourself all that TBC has to offer. You'll get to visit the campus, meet current students, and explore what life at TBC is like. Signing up for Preview Day is completely free, so register at texasbaptistcollege.com/nab.

Kyle and Matt interrupt your perfectly Good Friday to discuss ways you can try to break the ice in small group discussions. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2020/02/19/75-icebreaker-questions-for-church-small-groups/ Sponsor: SWBTS If you're called to ministry, you're called to prepare. See how you can be equipped to live your calling at Southwestern Seminary's Preview Day. When you attend Preview Day on April 12, you'll get to see the campus, meet professors, and explore various degrees. Signing up is completely free, so register for Preview Day at swbts.edu/nab.

Kyle and Matt consider some recent trends when it comes to the public trust of pastors and what we can do to rebuild trust. Stats: https://research.lifeway.com/2024/01/24/public-trust-of-pastors-hits-new-record-low/ Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevirtualassociation Sponsor: TBC At Texas Baptist College, you'll find a community that is committed to help you succeed wherever God calls you. And when you attend Preview Day on March 22, you'll see first-hand everything that TBC has to offer. Preview Day is the perfect opportunity to explore campus, meet current students, and learn how you will fit at TBC. Sign up for free at texasbaptistcollege.com/nab.

Kyle and Matt celebrate Matt's birth with an episode on caring for your soul online, particularly as we approach a contentious season as a nation and as a Convention, as well as a forum for some encouragement. New Forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevirtualassociation Sponsor: SWBTS At Southwestern Seminary, you'll find a campus community that is committed to help you live your calling in ministry. And at Preview Day on April 12, you'll be able to experience that community for yourself. Come and visit the campus, meet your professors, and explore what training for ministry could look like a Southwestern. Sign up to attend for free at swbts.edu/nab.

Kyle and Matt have a quick moment to discuss some big changes for the Henslees. Sponsor: TBCAt Texas Baptist College, you'll find a community that is committed to help you succeed wherever God calls you. And when you attend Preview Day on March 22, you'll see first-hand everything that TBC has to offer. Preview Day is the perfect opportunity to explore campus, meet current students, and learn how you will fit at TBC. Sign up for free at texasbaptistcollege.com/nab.

Kyle and Matt discuss a recent article by Mark Dance on some church attendance trends and how we may need to shift our perspective on attendance in light of them. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2023/12/20/6-perspective-shifts-on-church-attendance-in-the-new-year/ Sponsor: SWBTSAt Southwestern Seminary, you'll find a campus community that is committed to help you live your calling in ministry. And at Preview Day on April 12, you'll be able to experience that community for yourself. Come and visit the campus, meet your professors, and explore what training for ministry could look like a Southwestern. Sign up to attend for free at swbts.edu/nab.

Kyle and Matt ring in the New Year with a special episode to encourage you to look back and look ahead in such a way to start 2024 in the right way. Sponsor: SWBTS If you're a Bible teacher, then the Master of Divinity is for you. You'll not only learn how to interpret Scripture, but also train for real-life ministry. And if you are called to the pastorate, an MDiv ensures you are fully prepared. Southwestern Seminary even offers a wide variety of concentrations tailored to fit your calling, from biblical counseling to collegiate ministry. Learn more about the Master of Divinity at SWBTS at swbts.edu/mdiv.

Kyle and Matt get together to celebrate Festivus by sharing their grievances.  Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2023/12/19/the-most-important-element-of-your-christmas-eve-service/ Sponsor: TBC Why do parents love Texas Baptist College? TBC is a college embedded on the campus of Southwestern Seminary, where the Bible is the primary textbook. Students learn in classes modeled after classical education and taught by seminary-grade professors. On campus, students find an authentic community that encourages spiritual growth. What's even better is that 90% of TBC students graduate debt-free. Discover more of what makes TBC unique at texasbaptistcollege.com/parents.

Kyle and Matt dig into some research about all the activities we're filling our calendars with this Christmas season. Research: https://research.lifeway.com/2023/12/05/pastors-planning-several-christmas-events-churchgoers-say-they-enjoy/ Sponsor: SWBTS If you're a Bible teacher, then the Master of Divinity is for you. You'll not only learn how to interpret Scripture, but also train for real-life ministry. And if you are called to the pastorate, an MDiv ensures you are fully prepared. Southwestern Seminary even offers a wide variety of concentrations tailored to fit your calling, from biblical counseling to collegiate ministry. Learn more about the Master of Divinity at SWBTS at swbts.edu/mdiv.

Kyle and Matt have nearly half of a century of ministry experience between them and sit down to discuss stealing sheep on this episode and why they know it's a terrible, awful, no-good church growth strategy. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2023/11/16/dont-use-the-transfer-portal-to-grow-your-church/ Sponsor: TBC Why do parents love Texas Baptist College? TBC is a college embedded on the campus of Southwestern Seminary, where the Bible is the primary textbook. Students learn in classes modeled after classical education and taught by seminary-grade professors. On campus, students find an authentic community that encourages spiritual growth. What's even better is that 90% of TBC students graduate debt-free. Discover more of what makes TBC unique at texasbaptistcollege.com/parents.

Kyle and Matt have different roles these days, but we still understand the pressure of the weekly sermon pastors have to prepare. Let us give you some pro-tips as you look ahead for 2024. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2023/11/27/how-to-get-ahead-on-sermon-planning-for-the-new-year/ Sponsor: SWBTS If you're a Bible teacher, then the Master of Divinity is for you. You'll not only learn how to interpret Scripture, but also train for real-life ministry. And if you are called to the pastorate, an MDiv ensures you are fully prepared. Southwestern Seminary even offers a wide variety of concentrations tailored to fit your calling, from biblical counseling to collegiate ministry. Learn more about the Master of Divinity at SWBTS at swbts.edu/mdiv.

Kyle and Matt tee off on some of the worst Christmas songs. As we approach the Advent and Christmas season, go ahead and skip these! Our Book: https://amzn.to/3QTYkrb Sponsor: TBC  Did you know that more than 90% of the students at Texas Baptist College graduate debt-free? At TBC, there are many scholarship and financial aid opportunities available. Thanks to the generosity of Southern Baptists, they are also able to offer a discounted tuition rate to members of a Southern Baptist church. To learn more about undergraduate studies at Texas Baptist College, visit texasbaptistcollege.com/admissions for more information. 

Kyle and Matt get together to discuss who is in charge at your church. Article: https://www.namb.net/church-replanting/resource/the-authority-question-whos-really-in-charge-of-your-church/ Sponsor: SWBTS Are you called to ministry? Southwestern Seminary offers over fifty unique degrees that will provide the training you need to live your calling. If you aren't sure which degree is the best option for you, check out swbts.edu/calling and take the quiz to find out. This quiz will help you sort through your interests and discover which degrees could fit your calling. Find the quiz at swbts.edu/calling.

Kyle and Matt discuss some recent stats about why people switch churches. Article: https://research.lifeway.com/2023/11/07/church-switchers-highlight-reasons-for-congregational-change/ Sponsor: TBC  Did you know that more than 90% of the students at Texas Baptist College graduate debt-free? At TBC, there are many scholarship and financial aid opportunities available. Thanks to the generosity of Southern Baptists, they are also able to offer a discounted tuition rate to members of a Southern Baptist church. To learn more about undergraduate studies at Texas Baptist College, visit texasbaptistcollege.com/admissions for more information. 

Kyle and Matt celebrate another year of the pod with some fall outreach ideas to consider.  Sponsor: SWBTS Are you called to ministry? Southwestern Seminary offers over fifty unique degrees that will provide the training you need to live your calling. If you aren't sure which degree is the best option for you, check out swbts.edu/calling and take the quiz to find out. This quiz will help you sort through your interests and discover which degrees could fit your calling. Find the quiz at swbts.edu/calling.