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EP 309 – Finalizing Your Sermon Calendar with Chris Snider and Matt MacNaughton

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EP 309 - Finalizing Your Sermon Calendar with Chris Snider and Matt MacNaughton
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In this episode, we continue our monthly focus on the bi-vocational pastor. The “Bi-Vo Bros”—Chris Snider and Matt MacNaughton—join JimBo to walk through the practical steps of building a sermon calendar once you’ve carved out dedicated planning time.

We move from the “why” of sermon planning (covered last month) into the hands-on process of how to actually build a yearlong preaching plan.

1. Start with Scripture, Prayer, and a Blank Page
Matt explains why he begins with nothing more than his Bible, a blank sheet of paper, and prayer. He writes out themes the Lord is impressing on him, reflects on where the church is spiritually, and reads through the book he’s considering at a surface level before consulting any outside resources.

2. Read the Book Before You Plan the Book
All three hosts emphasize reading the book devotionally ahead of time. Early exposure—months before planning day—builds intuition for pacing, themes, and structure.

3. Break the Text Down Thoughtfully
Each pastor outlines the book based on natural units of thought, often comparing their outline with trusted preachers and commentary series. They stress not copying another preacher’s outline but treating those resources as a conversation partner to sharpen your own discernment.

4. After You Outline, Lay It on the Calendar
Once the text is divided, they lay the plan over the year’s Sundays and make small adjustments for pastoral wisdom (e.g., avoiding awkward texts on Mother’s Day). The biblical text drives the plan, but the calendar helps fine-tune pacing.

5. Build Systems That Serve You All Year
Chris and Matt both use tools like spreadsheets and Notion to store sermon outlines, themes, theological and anthropological ideas, illustrations, and quotes. These databases grow richer every year and streamline week-to-week preparation.

6. Use Technology, But Don’t Outsource Spiritual Discernment
AI can help with repetitive tasks such as mapping dates or generating headings, but the hosts warn against letting it replace exegetical work or dependence on the Holy Spirit. Technology assists; it doesn’t direct the sermon.

7. Sermon Planning Is Hard Work, but It Becomes a Joy
If planning feels overwhelming at first, that’s normal. Over time, pastors develop a rhythm and start looking forward to the focused, prayerful work of shaping a year of preaching.

What’s Coming Next
In the next bi-vocational episode, we’ll shift from building the sermon calendar to exploring the weekly rhythm of writing and preparing sermons once the yearly plan is in place.

EP 308 – Why I am Grateful for the SBC

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In this episode, I share why I’m genuinely grateful to be a Southern Baptist — even in a season when headlines, social media noise, and internal debates can make it feel easier to walk away. After five years of traveling to more than 30 states as a North American missionary, I’ve seen firsthand that God is still at work through ordinary pastors, churches, missionaries, and partnerships across our convention.

I talk about why the Cooperative Program still matters, how our shared theology keeps us anchored in Scripture, and why real cooperation requires friendship, presence, and showing up for one another. I also walk through encouraging data about baptisms, new churches, replanting, revitalization, and theological education — reminders that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.

I don’t ignore the problems: abuse, division, discouragement, and institutional failures. But I make the case that stepping closer, not farther away, is how we strengthen what’s good and address what’s broken. If you’re weary or disillusioned, I hope this episode helps you lift your eyes to the real people and real stories behind the noise.

EP 307 – Planning Your Ministry Calendar

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EP 307 - Planning Your Ministry Calendar
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In this episode, we unpack why planning your ministry calendar is not just an administrative task, but a theological act of stewardship. We walk through the biblical foundations for planning, the danger of goal-setting without humility, and a practical framework for building a gospel-driven calendar that serves your people instead of your ego. Our goal is that you will leave with tools to align your preaching, budget, leadership development, and community engagement around faithfulness to Christ in this season.

Biblical Foundations for Planning

  • Planning is wise: “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance” (Proverbs 21:5). Wise leaders do not drift; they plan.
  • Presumption is sinful: James 4 warns against planning as if we are in control, instead of saying, “If the Lord wills…”
  • For followers of Christ, planning is not a solo effort. It is done in dependence on the Lord and, wisely, in community with other leaders.
  • Planning your ministry calendar is a way to:
    • Steward people, time, and resources faithfully
    • Ensure the church is shaped by God’s Word and mission, not tradition, urgency, or personal preference

Key question:

What does faithfulness to Christ look like for our church in this season?

Heart Posture: Humble, Gospel-Driven Goals

  • Goal-setting is not unspiritual; ministry without direction is poor stewardship.
  • But goal-setting without humility becomes hubris.
  • Dangers:
    • Confusing our dreams with God’s promises
    • Confusing ambition with obedience
  • Heart questions to ask as you plan:
    • Are we trying to grow bigger, or shepherd more faithfully?
    • Are we chasing attendance and easy metrics, or cultivating biblical community, worship, and discipleship?
    • If the numbers do not move, can we still call this year faithful?

Your calendar will either serve your ego or your obedience.

Gospel-Driven Outcomes and Goals

Drawing from Jared Wilson’s Gospel-Driven Ministry and other Bootcamp conversations:

  • Pastoral ministry is about:
    • Shepherding God’s people
    • Dependence on the Holy Spirit
    • Keeping Christ at the center of every effort
  • Start by prayerfully identifying 3–5 gospel-driven outcomes you’re asking God to work in your church this year, such as:
    • A culture of intentional discipleship (more people in discipling relationships, not just more bodies in the room)
    • Deepening worship and prayer as core habits of the congregation
    • Increasing missional engagement among those far from Christ

Input Goals vs Output Goals (with Daniel Im)

  • Output goals: Outcomes only God controls (e.g., attendance growth, number of baptisms, people saved).
  • Input goals: Faithful actions you can actually plan and execute (e.g., block parties, door-to-door evangelism, weekly gospel conversations, training environments).
  • Let input goals shape your calendar.
  • Do not simply set goals around “increased attendance” and then copy-paste the last 30 years of events.

Evaluating Church Health to Inform the Calendar

Drawing from episode 253 with Brandon Moore:

  • Use three lenses:
    • Healthy Identities:
      • Worshipers of God (joy in the Lord)
      • Family with one another (unity and tangible love)
      • Missionaries to the world (compassion that leads to action)
    • Healthy Foundations:
      • Gospel (where is our hope for growth?)
      • Scripture (living under the authority of the Word in practical ways)
      • Prayer (deep dependence woven into the church’s culture)
    • Healthy Structures:
      • Leadership
      • Membership
      • Discipleship pathways
  • Simple exercise with your leaders:
    • Rate each of the 9 areas 1–10
    • Require two concrete pieces of evidence for each rating
    • Ask why it is not 2 points higher and not 2 points lower
  • From that:
    • Identify 2–3 key areas to lean into this year
    • Give priority to identities and foundations before you begin heavily building and tweaking structures

Stewardship and Productivity: Doing What Matters Most

With help from Reagan Rose’s Redeeming Productivity:

  • True productivity is not doing more, but doing what matters most in ways that bear fruit for God.
  • This is especially crucial in normative-sized, resource-limited churches:
    • Every hour, dollar, and ounce of energy counts.
  • A well-thought-out calendar:
    • Guards against activity for activity’s sake
    • Protects your people from overcommitment and burnout
    • Focuses limited resources on intentional, gospel-aligned work
  • Your calendar becomes an expression of Christ-centered productivity, not just an event list.

Letting the Community Calendar Inform Your Ministry Calendar

  • Pay attention to real-life rhythms of your people and your city:
    • School schedules and breaks
    • Local events and festivals
    • Sports seasons
    • Weather and travel rhythms
    • Cultural holidays and civic moments
  • Ask:
    • When do people have margin, and when are they stretched thin?
    • Where can we join what God is already doing in our community instead of competing with it?
    • Do we need to run our own event, or could we serve at an existing one (like a school fall festival)?
  • When your ministry calendar respects community rhythms:
    • Participation increases
    • Burnout decreases
    • The church is seen as a present, loving neighbor, not just another organization fighting for time

Three Reasons to Plan Your Ministry Calendar Intentionally

  1. Ministry should drive the budget, not the other way around.
    • Start with what God is calling you to prioritize.
    • Plan your calendar around those priorities.
    • Then align your budget to support them.
    • Ask: What should we stop or reduce so we can fund what God is calling us to do now?
  2. It connects gospel-driven goals to real ministry.
    • If your goals have changed but your calendar has not, your goals are just good ideas.
    • A planned calendar forces questions like:
      • What recurring rhythms move us toward these outcomes?
      • Where are the clear touchpoints for teaching, discipling, equipping, and sending?
  3. It helps you develop and deploy leaders intentionally.
    • A good calendar creates predictable spaces for:
      • Leadership huddles and training
      • Coaching conversations
      • Opportunities for emerging leaders to observe, assist, and then lead
    • You can set input goals like:
      • Developing three new group leaders in the next year
    • Planning ahead lets you invite people early and give them room to grow, instead of last-minute scrambling.

A Simple 7-Step Framework for Building a Gospel-Driven Calendar

  1. Pray and clarify 3–5 gospel-driven priorities.
    • Where do we need to repent of pride, numbers-obsession, or busyness?
    • What fruit would faithfulness likely produce: deeper discipleship, unity, renewed prayer, missional boldness?
  2. Look at your community calendar.
    • Mark school breaks, local events, busy seasons, and margin seasons.
    • Note months that will naturally carry heavy load versus lighter ones.
  3. Map your preaching calendar.
    • Choose books or series that align with your priorities and people’s needs.
    • Anchor the year in God’s Word, not clever themes alone.
    • When possible, align preaching emphases with ministry initiatives on the calendar.
  4. Layer in discipleship, care, and outreach rhythms.
    • When will you train?
    • When will you gather in smaller settings?
    • When will you serve outside the walls?
    • Make sure every key priority actually shows up on the calendar.
  5. Add leadership development rhythms.
    • Plan regular leadership gatherings, coaching, or equipping nights.
    • Set realistic rhythms based on your context (weekly, monthly, quarterly).
  6. Reality-check the calendar.
    • Is this doable with your current size, volunteers, and energy?
    • Are certain months overloaded?
    • What needs to be cut or simplified to protect your people, your family, and your focus?
  7. Align the budget to the plan and do a final heart check.
    • What will it cost to do these things well?
    • Where do we need to say no to have a better yes?
    • Are any items more about ego or tradition than obedience and mission?
    • If numbers do not move this year, could we still say we were faithful stewards?

Takeaway

Planning your ministry calendar is not about controlling outcomes. It is about trusting God enough to plan wisely, steward what he has entrusted to you, and stay open-handed as he leads. A gospel-driven calendar will:

  • Reflect your church’s God-given priorities
  • Guard against burnout and busyness
  • Help you develop leaders and disciples
  • Teach your people, week after week, what truly matters

Use this episode as a guide to sit down with your Bible, your leaders, your community calendar, and a blank year—and ask, “Lord, what does faithfulness look like for this church, in this place, in this year?”

EP 306 – Planning a Preaching Calendar

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EP 306 - Planning a Preaching Calendar
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In this episode of the Replant Bootcamp, I sit down with my friends and regular guests Matt MacNaughton and Chris Snider—the “Bi-Vo Bros”—to talk about how bivocational pastors can plan their preaching calendars with intentionality and peace of mind.

Every second Wednesday of the month, we focus specifically on the unique challenges of bivocational ministry. This time, we’re drilling down on sermon planning—how to move from week-to-week survival to long-range spiritual formation for both you and your church.

Matt, who pastors at Grace Life Church in Middleburg, Florida, and Chris, who serves at First Baptist Avon Park, share how their own planning rhythms have evolved—from scrambling each week to now mapping out preaching six months to a year in advance. We talk about why this kind of preparation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about shepherding faithfully, guarding your time, and communicating to your congregation that you’re invested for the long haul.

We also dig into:

  • Why sermon planning actually frees you to be more Spirit-led, not less.
  • How planning ahead reduces anxiety and makes room for creativity.
  • Practical starting points for bivocational pastors who feel like they barely have time to prep each week.
  • How planning a preaching calendar encourages your church and reinforces that you take God’s Word—and your call—seriously.

You’ll hear stories from each of us about times when God’s providence showed up in remarkable ways—moments when a sermon planned months earlier perfectly aligned with what was happening in our church or community.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly behind or that you’re “running out of things to preach,” this conversation will give you a framework and encouragement to plan prayerfully, lead intentionally, and rest confidently in God’s sovereignty.

Listen now and learn how to approach your 2026 preaching calendar with purpose.

EP 305 – How should we talk about giving at church?

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We don’t give to rescue a budget. We give because Jesus is Lord. Giving is worship that forms us, fuels mission, and frees us from idolatry.

How do we talk about money without fear, guilt, or fundraising vibes? My aim is simple—to reframe giving as discipleship, not desperation. Jesus said we cannot serve God and money. Regular, sacrificial generosity is one of God’s gifts to free our hearts from lesser masters and re-train our loves toward the kingdom.

Why This Matters

  • Fear-based appeals miss the heart of discipleship.
  • Avoid “dues for services.” The church is a family on mission, not a club with fees.
  • Kingdom urgency ≠ panic. God richly provides; we steward with faith and transparency.

My Story

Early in marriage, we could barely make ends meet. I fasted and prayed, and Matthew 6:33 kept pulling me back: seek first the kingdom. We started giving at a level that “pinched.” God used it to reorient our trust.

How I Teach It

  • Give as worship and formation, not compulsion.
  • Use the “pinch principle” (C. S. Lewis): if it never pinches, it may be too small.
  • Resist weaponizing percentages. For some, 10% isn’t sacrificial; for others, it’s crushing. Aim for cheerful, sacrificial faith.
  • Praise God for how he works through his people, rather than congratulating people for “their generosity.” We’re stewards, not owners.

Gospel Orientation for Replanters

  • Formation over fundraising: preach Christ as both reason and resource for generosity.
  • Identity before activity: call saints to live who they are in Christ.
  • Repentance and renewal: let the gospel confront control, nostalgia, and fear around money.
  • Pace with patience: teach, model, and testify toward a culture of openhandedness.

Practical Language Swap

  • From “We’re behind; please help” to “Here’s how God is at work among us—let’s respond in worship.”
  • Tell redemption stories, not revenue gaps.
  • Tie practices to promises: firstfruits, seasonal generosity, automation paired with God’s provision and the joy of cheerful giving.

Missions Vision

Connect giving moments to mission moments. Show how sacrificial gifts become mercy, mission, and formation—at home and to the nations.

Scriptures

  • Matthew 6:19–24, 33
  • 1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19
  • 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
  • Acts 20:35
  • Philippians 4:19

EP 304 – Elders, Deacons, a Plurality of Pastors and Tactical Patience with Mark Clifton

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EP 304 - Elders, Deacons, a Plurality of Pastors and Tactical Patience with Mark Clifton
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Here we are, back at the Bootcamp—back at it again! I had the chance to sit down with my boss and good friend, El Jefehimself, Mark Clifton, during the REVIVE event in Daytona Beach to tackle a topic that’s gaining traction among younger pastors: elders and church leadership in revitalization.

Mark and I talk about why so many pastors are drawn to a biblical model of shared leadership and what it looks like to lead with a plurality of pastors instead of carrying the load alone. We also dig into why some churches resist the idea of elders, how to introduce change wisely, and how to avoid turning structure into a silver bullet.

Mark brings decades of wisdom to this conversation—unpacking the historical roots of Baptist polity, the confusion between deacons and elders, and the difference between being elder-led and elder-ruled. He also shares some practical and pastoral insights on introducing healthy leadership structures without blowing things up in the process.

You’ll hear why tactical patience matters in replanting, how language can open (or close) doors for change, and why just because something hasn’t changed yet doesn’t mean you’ve compromised.

EP 303 – Fighting for Joy with Mark Hallock

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Mark Hallock was gracious enough to jump on the phone with me to record this call, but don’t sleep on this episode –  it is worth the listen for sure. Mark and I talk about JOY.

The first prayer a struggling church should ask is for the joy of their salvation. Joy, a fruit of the Spirit, is attractive and contagious, and can be a catalyst for renewal. Churches should focus on joyful submission to the Holy Spirit and sacrificial obedience to the Word of God, as these, combined with the presence of God’s people, can lead to a movement of God.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and is essential for a church’s growth and attractiveness. To fight for joy, believers should joyfully submit to God’s word, practice gratitude, and intentionally seek God’s presence through worship, prayer, and reflection. This joy, rooted in God’s character and promises, will overflow and attract others to the church.

Fighting for joy involves spending unhurried time with God, repenting of known sin, and surrounding oneself with joyful people. Joy can be contagious and positively impact both individuals and churches. Practicing thankfulness and not taking oneself too seriously are also important in cultivating joy.

EP 302: Christ Centered Church with Richard Blackaby

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Here we are, back at the Bootcamp! I’m excited to have a returning guest and good friend, Dr. Richard Blackaby, join me live from the REVIVE Conference in Daytona Beach. In this episode, we talk about the updated version of Flickering Lamps—now titled Developing a Christ-Centered Church—and the heart behind its message.

Richard shares the story of how the book came to be, the influence of his father, Dr. Henry Blackaby, and how the principles in this book continue to impact struggling and healthy churches alike. We discuss why true church renewal isn’t about strategies or quick fixes—it’s about realignment with Christ as the Head of His Church.

We also dig into Richard’s new Christ-Centered Church course through the Blackaby Bible Institute, how pastors can use it with their teams, and why isolation and insecurity are some of the greatest dangers facing pastors today. Richard offers deeply personal insight into how God set him free from insecurity and reminds us that our identity must be rooted in being a child of God, not in ministry performance or church size.

Key Topics:

  • The story behind Flickering Lamps and its new edition, Developing a Christ-Centered Church

  • The difference between revitalization strategy and spiritual renewal

  • Why Christ-centered leadership changes everything

  • The importance of authentic community and safe pastoral friendships

  • Overcoming insecurity and finding identity in Christ

  • How to use the new course at Blackaby.org to guide your church or team

Quotable Moments:

“The risen Christ overcame death, Satan, and hell—surely He can overcome the problems your church is facing. You just have to do it His way.” – Richard Blackaby

“God is under no obligation to resource your plans for His church, but He will spare no expense to resource His.” – Henry Blackaby

“You don’t have to prove to anybody that you’re somebody. You’re not a big deal—but you’re a child of God. And that’s all you need to be.” – Richard Blackaby

Resources Mentioned:

  • Developing a Christ-Centered Church (updated edition of Flickering Lamps)

  • The Blackaby Bible Institute: blackaby.org

  • Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

EP 301 – Embracing Your Ministry as a Bi-Vocational Pastor

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In this episode of the Replant Bootcamp, JimBo Stewart and Matt MacNaughton wrap up their six-part series on the Healthy Characteristics of a Bivocational Pastor—and they do it one bro short. While Chris is serving his local church (a perfect example of this episode’s theme), JimBo and Matt unpack what it means for a pastor to obediently embrace the ministry God has given him.

Drawing from Matthew 25 and Jeremiah 29, they remind pastors that faithfulness—not comparison or speed—is the measure of ministry success. Whether you’re discouraged by small numbers, limited resources, or slow progress, this conversation helps you see that obedience where you are is what God honors.

Learning to pastor the people you have, not the people you wish you had

Avoiding the trap of comparison and misplaced expectations

How embracing your current ministry aligns with the parable of the talents

Why “rapid multiplication” isn’t the same as faithful multiplication

The importance of developing people slowly and intentionally

Biblical encouragement for discouraged or frustrated pastors

EP 300 – Richard Pope: Canvas Church Merger

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EP 300 - Richard Pope: Canvas Church Merger
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In this milestone episode of the Replant Bootcamp Podcast, I sit down with my friend Richard Pope, pastor of Canvas Church in Salisbury, Maryland. Richard’s story is powerful—he planted Canvas while battling a terminal cancer diagnosis, and God has done incredible things through his ministry in a micropolitan context.

We talk about the early days of Canvas, how the church grew through evangelism, and the challenges of navigating merger conversations with struggling churches. Richard shares what he learned from a merger attempt that didn’t work out and how God used that experience to prepare him for a healthier merger down the road.

In this conversation, we walk through:

  • The story of Canvas Church and its early growth.

  • Richard’s first merger attempt and the lessons that came from it.

  • Why I believe clarity is not unkind—and how convictional leadership matters in merger talks.

  • The wild season when Canvas outgrew its space, got displaced, and began praying desperate prayers for a permanent home.

  • The incredible story of how God provided a historic church building and brought about a healthy merger with Faith Community Church.

  • Practical wisdom for pastors and planters who are considering a merger.

As we celebrate 300 episodes of the Replant Bootcamp, I can’t think of a better conversation to highlight how God continues to provide, even through challenges and setbacks. I hope that Richard’s story will encourage you to trust God’s timing, lead with conviction, and stay faithful in the work of revitalization and replanting.