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Episodes

Podcast: Replant Bootcamp

EP 275 – Navigating Pastoral Care as a Bi-Vocational Pastor – with Matt MacNaughton

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EP 275 - Navigating Pastoral Care as a Bi-Vocational Pastor - with Matt MacNaughton
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In this episode, JimBo Stewart and Matt MacNaughton address a common challenge bi-vocational pastors face: managing the guilt of limited availability while serving their congregation faithfully.

– A question from bi-vocational pastor Josh Walley about handling guilt when unable to visit church members due to work commitments
– The question itself demonstrates a shepherd’s heart that reflects the Good Shepherd’s care for His people
– It’s healthy to feel the weight of pastoral care without carrying the pressure of constant availability
– Trust in God’s sovereign plan for your bi-vocational role

Practical Solutions

– Set realistic expectations with your congregation about your availability
– Implement pastoral triage to assess and prioritize urgent needs
– Focus on leadership development within the congregation
– Share the weight of ministry by raising up other leaders

Key Takeaway

Bi-vocational ministry requires intentional leadership development and delegation to ensure comprehensive pastoral care while maintaining healthy boundaries.

Application

– Evaluate your current system for responding to pastoral care needs
– Identify potential leaders who can assist in pastoral care
– Develop clear communication channels about pastoral availability
– Create a framework for assessing pastoral care priorities

EP 274 – Embracing the Weightiness of Ministry without the Pressure of Performance

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EP 274 - Embracing the Weightiness of Ministry without the Pressure of Performance
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In this solo episode of the Replant Boot Camp Podcast, host JimBo Stewart shares insights from his busiest ministry season ever. He talks about personal challenges, including his son’s health issues and planning to plant a house church with Jason Truck. Jimbo stresses the importance of managing ministry’s weight without succumbing to the pressure to perform, using scriptural references like Hebrews 13 and 1 Peter 5:2-3. He discusses the balance between hard work and faithful dependence on God, referencing various authors like Paul Miller and John Ortberg. Jimbo encourages listeners to focus on their relationship with God, eliminating inner hurry while maintaining outer busyness. He invites them to join him in prayer and reflection as they navigate their own ministry challenges. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:36 Personal and Ministry Updates 03:29 The Weight of Ministry vs. Pressure 06:33 Balancing Busy Lives with Inner Peace 08:43 Dependence on God in Ministry 15:54 Faithfulness and Surrender in Leadership 22:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

EP 273 – Strategic Goal Setting for Church Leaders: Insights and Integration with Walker Armstrong and Brandon Walker

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EP 273 - Strategic Goal Setting for Church Leaders: Insights and Integration with Walker Armstrong and Brandon Walker
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In this episode of the Replant Bootcamp, host JimBo Stewart dives into goal setting for church leaders with guests Walker Armstrong and Dr. Brandon Moore. After sharing their holiday experiences and discussing the importance of reflection, they explore four key phases of goal setting: illumination, integration, implementation, and investigation. They emphasize the balance between strategic planning and spiritual sensitivity, the role of personal and organizational values, and practical steps to achieve goals. The conversation concludes with information on an upcoming book from the replant team. This episode is sponsored by Church QuickSite by One.Eighty Digital.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:36 Holiday Recap and Personal Updates

02:31 Goal Setting and Strategic Planning

08:35 Illumination: Understanding God’s Direction

11:41 Integration: Aligning Values with Goals

21:54 Implementation: Practical Steps for Goal Execution

25:48 Investigation: Measuring Progress and Success

27:24 Conclusion and Upcoming Book Teaser

EP 272 – Church Revitalization Triage: What’s the First Step to Save a Declining Church? with Luke Holmes

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EP 272 - Church Revitalization Triage: What’s the First Step to Save a Declining Church? with Luke Holmes
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In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Luke Holmes to discuss the complexities of church revitalization. We dive into Luke’s article on ‘revitalization triage,’ examining the different areas – head, heart, hands, feet, and vision – and how to prioritize them effectively.

Church Revitalization Triage: What’s the First Step to Save a Declining Church?

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:34 Welcoming Dr. Luke Holmes

01:19 Revitalization Triage: An Overview

01:44 Tactical Patience and Organizational Awareness

02:57 Real-Life Examples of Church Challenges

06:59 Head: Bylaws and Policies

09:20 Heart: Relational Issues in the Church

13:49 Hands: Practical Ministry Programs

19:42 Feet: Evangelism and Outreach

21:00 Vision: Purpose and Direction

23:48 Implementing Revitalization Triage

25:02 Conclusion and Prayer

26:46 Closing Remarks and Sponsor Message

EP 271 – Why Your Preaching May Not Be Connecting and How to Fix It – With Wesley Lewis

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EP 271 - Why Your Preaching May Not Be Connecting and How to Fix It - With Wesley Lewis
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Why Your Preaching May Not Be Connecting (And How to Fix It)

In this episode of Replant Bootcamp, JimBo Stewart and Wesley Lewis tackle one of the biggest challenges pastors face: ensuring our messages truly connect with our congregations.

Why You Should Listen:

  • Discover why even solid expository preaching sometimes fails to create lasting change in your congregation
  • Learn practical ways to make your sermons more memorable and actionable
  • Understand how Jesus’ teaching methods can inform our modern communication approach

Key Insights:

  • Why most people struggle to turn abstract biblical truth into concrete action steps
  • How to create clear pathways for spiritual growth in your preaching
  • Practical ways to demonstrate both biblical authority and pastoral empathy

Application Areas:

  • Sunday morning sermons
  • Leadership communication
  • Ministry vision-casting
  • Outreach and evangelism

Wesley Lewis, founder of One.Eighty Digital and experienced ministry leader, shares insights from years of helping churches communicate more effectively. This episode goes far beyond simple communication tips – it’s about helping your congregation move from merely hearing the Word to living it out.

The episode concludes with prayer requests for wisdom regarding family decisions and the development of new tools to serve the church.

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EP 270 – Changes in Replanting with Together for the Bluegrass

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EP 270 - Changes in Replanting with Together for the Bluegrass
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I had the pleasure of catching up with the Together for the Bluegrass guys at a coffee shop in Louisville recently! Together for the Bluegrass is an online ministry provided by the Central Kentucky Network of Baptists.

In this conversation with special guests CJ Pearce and David Barron we chat about current trends in replanting, what’s on the horizon, and what makes us most hopeful. The discussion covers the need for church intervention at various levels—from local to national—and the importance of fostering relationships, handling conflict, and leading with a focus on biblical principles. Key insights include the role of spiritual renewal versus strategic solutions, the importance of raising up new leaders within local churches, and practical advice for managing conflict in church settings.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship

01:17 Special Guest Introduction

02:06 Replanting Trends and Challenges

05:41 Generational Differences in Church Loyalty

08:35 Fostering and Church Autonomy

13:18 Pastoral Leadership in Revitalization

19:06 Handling Conflict in Church Replanting

28:18 Signs of Hope and Future Directions

30:28 Conclusion and Resources

EP 269 – Exploring the ‘Withness’ of Discipleship with Bob Bumgarner

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EP 269 - Exploring the 'Withness' of Discipleship with Bob Bumgarner
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In this episode of the Replant Boot Camp, host Jimbo Stewart and guest Bob Bumgarner discuss the significance of discipleship in church renewal. They explore how the American church has lost its focus on discipleship and the importance of creating a framework for making disciples with the end goal in mind. They delve into practical steps for pastors to prioritize discipleship in their churches and challenge the overreliance on content over relational and experiential learning. Bob Bumgarner also introduces the concept of ‘withness’ as a key element in effective discipleship, emphasizing relational proximity and intentional interaction within the kingdom life of Jesus.

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EP 268 – Fundamentals of Church Renewal with Brandon Moore

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EP 268 - Fundamentals of Church Renewal with Brandon Moore
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Fundamentals of Church Renewal

We are often asked to give a summary of how to revitalize a church. I get the desire for a quick answer and something to grab on to and implement but I have always struggled to give a concise answer. The reality is that church revitalization and renewal isn’t a cookie-cutter process, but there are some fundamentals that are consistent in healthy church renewal:

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EP 267 – The Realities of Bi-Vocational Ministry with Matt MacNaughton

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Replant Bootcamp
EP 267 - The Realities of Bi-Vocational Ministry with Matt MacNaughton
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If you are serving in bi-vocational ministry, we would love to listen to and learn from you. Take a couple of minutes and fill out this survey: https://su.vc/bivosurvey

Previous Episodes:

EP 228 – Surveying Bi-Vocational Ministry

EP 229 – Serving in Bi-Vocational Ministry

After a week off due to sickness, the Bootcamp is back. Matt MacNaughton returns to the podcast to discuss the realities of bi-vocational ministry. We explore the realities and difficulties of balancing church, family, and marketplace responsibilities for pastors. Key points include insights into effective time management, the necessity of shared leadership, and setting realistic church expectations for bi-vocational pastors. Practical resources like Jordan Rayner’s ‘Redeeming Your Time’ and leadership development strategies are highlighted to help pastors thrive in their dual roles.

00:00 Welcome Back to the Boot Camp

01:11 Introducing Matt McNaughton

01:43 Celebrations and Personal Updates

02:28 Discussing Bivocational Ministry

06:17 Survey Insights on Bivocational Ministry

08:48 Time Management for Bivocational Pastors

19:22 Leadership Development in the Church

24:29 Managing Church Expectations

27:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts