The Rural Think Tank

Brent Lacy
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The Rural Think Tank (ruralthinktank.com) has articles, demographics, and resources to help encourage ministry workers in Rural Ministry

  1. Mar 30

    The King We Did Not Expect

    Episode OverviewIn this episode, we explore the theological and practical significance of Palm Sunday. We often approach faith with a list of demands, but the story of the entry into Jerusalem reminds us that Jesus came to fulfill a much greater purpose than immediate comfort or political victory. This message challenges us to reconsider what it means to truly welcome the King. Key Takeaways The symbolism of the donkey and the deliberate rejection of worldly power. The reasons why the crowds turned so quickly from praise to silence. How to align personal expectations with the actual mission of Jesus. Ways to prepare your heart for the weight and wonder of Holy Week. Scripture ReferenceMatthew 21:1 through 11 Reflection Questions In what ways have I tried to make Jesus fit into my own plans or desires? How can I cultivate a faith that persists even when God does not act the way I expect? What does it look like to lay down my own version of a cloak before the Lord this week?

    32 min

  2. 11/05/2025

    You can't make this up! - Week 10 - A donkey...

    Welcome to another week of “you can’t make this up”. This week we will be talking about talking donkeys and prophets for hire. The context of this passage is where the children of Israel have left Egypt for the promised land, they have been wandering in the wilderness and are about to enter the land they have been promised. They have some encounters and battles with neighboring tribes, one of them being the Midianites, that we talked about a little last week when discussing Gideon and his sons. What we are dealingwith here is one of their first encounters.

    25 min

  3. 11/03/2025

    You can't make this up! Week 9 - Abimelech

    Welcome back to another week of “ You can’t make this up”. This passage from the book of Judges comes directly after The defeat of the Midianites under Gideon Theprevious chapter recounts how after he led the armies of Israel in victory, he just asked for a little of the spoils and went home, despite the people begging for him to be their king. It also tells us that Gideon had 70 sons between all his wives and a female servant. The son from the servant was named Abimelech.

    25 min

  4. 10/31/2025

    You can't make this up! Week 8 Elijah? ....He gone!

    Welcome back to another week of “You can’t make this up”. A few weeks ago, we looked at another passage with Elisha, and this passage precedes the floating axe head. This takes place right after Elijah is taken into heaven, and Elisha is left to be God’s prophet to His people. There were some of the men that were called “sons of the prophets” traveled to the Jordan River beginning in verse 7. As you read on, you find that Elijah instructs them to stop and stay on one side, while he and Elisha would go on across. So Elijah rolls up his cloak and strikes the water, the Jordan parts, and Elija and Elisha crosses over. Elijah asks Elisha what he would like before Elijah goes away. Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elijah points out that it is a difficult ask, but if Elisha sees Elijah as he’s going away Elisha will receive it. Elijahis taken up in a whirlwind with the chariots of fire. Elisha didn’t see him anymore. He cried out, tore his own cloak, and then Elisha receives Elijah’s cloak as it falls from the sky towards the ground. As I mentioned the other week, thispassage is where we get the phrase “taking up the mantle” from. In some older translations, mantle is used as a word substitute for cloak. Elisha takes the cloak, and hits the Jordan again on the way back with the same result, provingthat he did indeed get the double portion that he asked for.

    22 min

  5. 10/27/2025

    You can't make this up! Week 7 - Demonic Pigs

    Welcome back to another week of “ You Can’t make this up”.   This passage takes place right after Jesus and the disciples had sailed across the Sea of Galilee and dealt with a particularly nasty storm that the Jesus was trying tonap through. Instead, the concerned disciples woke Him up, and Jesus calmed the storm. This passage is also detailed in Mark 5 and Matthew 8.

    24 min

  6. 10/24/2025

    You can't make this up! Week 6 - Golden Tumors

    Welcome back. Last week we studied the chapter previous to this and the events leading up to it that saw the Ark of the Covenant in the hands of the Philistines, as apunishment for The Israelite armies and even the priests treating God as a “good luck charm”, or that His hand could be forced by something we do. The Philistines got the Ark, placed it in their temple, and God, not once but twiceshowed his superiority over their idol Dagon.

    21 min

  7. 10/22/2025

    You can't make this up! Week 5 - The Ark

    Welcome back to another week of “You can’t make this up”. This week is the first of a few that we will spend on this passage and the following chapter, as there is a bithere to unpack. There is a little bit of context that we need to add to this before we start digging into chapter 5, verse 1. A few chapters prior to this one is where God called Samuel in the night, while he was serving under Eli thehigh priest. God revealed to Samuel and Eli his displeasure with Eli’s sons and their behavior as fellow priests. God announced his punishment to the house ofEli as a result. In chapter 4, Eli’s sons took the Ark of the covenant into the encampment of the Israelites during their battles with the Philistines.  The Philistines had already beaten them once, so they called for the Ark to come from Shiloh. There was great rejoicing at the Israelite camp, the Philistines could even hear it, but they determined tostand up, fight, and not become slaves to the Israelites. The Philistines won the battle. 30,000 Israelites were killed, including Eli’s two sons. The rest of the Israelite army fled. One of those soldiers went back to Shiloh and gavea report to Eli, letting him know that his sons had been killed and that the Ark had been captured, Eli fell out of his seat, broke his neck and died, completing God’s declared judgement on the house of Eli. The Philistines now have the ark as a trophy ofbattle. They know it is connected to the God that the Israelites served, but it was not an idol like they worshipped. So there was a little bit of confusion as to what exactly to do with the Ark

    20 min

  8. 10/17/2025

    You can't make this up - Week 4 - Eutychus

    Welcome back to another week of “You can’t make this up!”, as we look at true narratives in the Bible that seem stranger than fiction. This passage was part of Paul’s last missionary journey before being arrested in Jerusalem, to ultimately wind up before Caesar at Rome with his appeal.

    22 min
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About

The Rural Think Tank (ruralthinktank.com) has articles, demographics, and resources to help encourage ministry workers in Rural Ministry

Information

  • Creator
    Brent Lacy
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brent Lacy
  • Show Website
    The Rural Think Tank