We’ll be using a Bible-reading plan that we’re making freely available to anyone who’s interested (see below for how to access it). We invite you and your church to join us!

From Bethlehem (which means “house of bread”) came the one who was the “bread of life” and brought a greater redemption, a deeper salvation, and a more glorious kingdom. What a remarkable encouragement for all who feel small and unimpressive, for all pastors who feel weak and ordinary, for all churches whose Christmas celebrations feel small and simple.

We have a Father who loves his children. He’s not a distracted parent. His children’s small deeds of trust in his good instructions don’t go unnoticed. It would be impossible for the Father in Heaven to miss anything!

Hebrews 10:1-18 is that plot-twist culmination: the whole enterprise of the Old Covenant worship system was about Jesus all along.

God’s illustration of truth is different than ours in that we can only draw on realities he’s created, but he creates to illustrate. Jesus was the Bread of Life before God ever made bread to point to him. Our union with Christ was in the mind of God before he ever created vines and branches. In the same way, there were heavenly realities in the mind of God before he ever established the Mosaic Law and the Levitical priesthood, prescribed its rituals, or gave instructions for the tabernacle that was the portable sanctuary where God would dwell with His people.

That burden—the greatness of the needs in front of us mixed with the greatness of the weakness inside of us—can destroy our souls if we let it. That is because we are not Jesus. And that is okay. In fact, it is better that way.

The Jews argue that Jesus comes from the wrong tribe and the wrong name. They thought of Jesus as another guy, whose name was insignificant, and whose followers had caused a ruckus. Hebrews shows us that Jesus isn’t just anybody. He is our extraordinary priest.

Jesus is dear to those who know and cling to him by faith. As you shepherd the little flocks among you, please remember to “Hold On For Dear Life!”

The path to spiritual maturity involves an intimate relationship to Jesus as Priest.

There remains a rest for the people of God. The God who rested from his creative works promises the Christian a future rest. Hold fast and draw near to Jesus. Only for those who do will it be said, they made it home. 

Pastor in a small place or a small church, do not despise the small moments. God cares greatly about the small unseen moments of discipleship. We should too.

Christ is faithful to the house that he himself is building, one redeemed sinner at a time.

When you’re tempted to give up, instead look up to the exalted Christ and see him on his throne (Hebrews 1). And then look beside you, to the Christ who calls you brother.

Jesus is the wow factor in our small-town churches. If we continue to press into our extraordinary Christ, we will find that we can also press on for him.

If a good friend is a hard thing for a man to find, then a good friend in the church is an even harder thing for a pastor to find.

Perhaps rural towns and villages can be thought of as seed beds within which to nurture, grow and prepare people to serve, nourish and enrich the urban environments they may end up living within.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. One way we can do this is to prioritize attending the funerals of church members.

What can a hurt pastor do? How can you stand tall and say “In God I trust…What can a mere mortal do to me?” Get your job assignment from the Book of Job.

We’d like to share and celebrate some of the guiding principles that have, from the beginning, defined and directed us. We hope these principles will continue to remain central to the culture and mission of Small Town Summits.

Small places have unique strengths and opportunities. Lean into the big strengths in small places to see people saved, lives changed, the gospel spread, and God glorified.

For bivocational pastors finding a healthy balance in life where your physical, emotional, and family health is not sidelined is exceptionally difficult and critically needed for a lifelong marathon of faithful ministry.

We need not fear a disease that can kill the body but not the soul. God’s treatment goal for your disease and mine is curative, not palliative.

As we face an uncertain future, let’s fix our hope upon the surety of our God and look for ways to partner with one another in the work that he’s bringing about. And may the Lord of the harvest send more workers for his harvest.

Voices are the primary instrument in the church’s worship. This frees small-town pastors and worship leaders from the burden of musical complexity or even proficiency. The voices of the people simply need to be unleashed.

While the city offers unique discipleship opportunities, small places have unique discipleship opportunities of their own. Here are three discipleship opportunities unique to ministry in small, slow, out-of-the-way places.

A Loving Life helped me to process the book of Ruth in bite-size chapters that explain a small portion of the text, with robust application and illustration for today. Here are three reasons that the biblical lessons from A Loving Life are especially relevant to small-town pastors. 

I pray that the Lord places a big ambition in our hearts to carry out our work in small places in such a way that we are conformed to the image of our Savior.

Our churches should not be working to advance our kingdom and our glory but God’s kingdom and his glory. To do that, we need to work together. We need a “kingdom mindset.”

Fellow small-town pastor, a sabbatical will be good for you and your church.

We can never underestimate the importance and necessity of every believer encouraging unbelievers in Christ