Take and Eat
On the night before Jesus died, He gathered His disciples to prepare them for His sacrifice. While the first temptation was an opportunity to take and eat what was forbidden, Jesus set another table so that we could be forgiven.
The Man on the Middle Cross
Do you think you’re too bad for Jesus to save you? The thief on the cross never had time to make his sin right and Jesus freely promised him a place in Heaven.
The Spread
In the first few years of the church, the gospel spread like wildfire. The Apostle Paul and other leaders continued to take the message of Jesus everywhere they could no matter the cost. The gospel spread due to a bold commitment.
How Old Was the Earth on Day One?
Within broad groupings, the scientific community dates the Earth’s age as older than what biblical genealogies and sorts point to regarding as a timeline. Can these two coexist? Can we know the age of the Earth?
The Work of Christ
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide the path for us to experience true life. In Christ’s work, we find our salvation and purpose.
When Jesus Comes Back
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 – While we don’t know exactly when Jesus will return, we are confident that He will. The reality of Jesus’ second coming helps keep us in the light amid all the darkness of this world.
That Good Idea Might Not Need to Be Your Church’s Strategy
You might discover a good idea that another church is using, but that good idea might not need to be your church’s strategy. Simply copying the latest trend may not help you accomplish the mission in your unique context.
The Church
After Jesus’ commissioned his disciples, he sent the Holy Spirit to empower them for the tasks assigned. On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were transformed from unsure disciples into bold missionaries. The world changed.
You Are Not Meant to Remain Alone
God designed us to need a healthy community. Within a local body of believers, God provides the wisdom, friendship, and support that we all crave to find.
The Person of Christ
Jesus Christ changed everything. Through His person and His work, God brought about the only way to salvation.
We Grieve with Hope
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – As we deal with the pain of losing others to death, our mourning should be different from that of the world. While we grieve, we must always maintain hope because we know the promises of God.
Church Leaders Require Patience
If you are called to lead a church, you must learn how to lead with patience. A refusal to give people time to process change might reveal more about your immaturity than theirs.
The Passion
As Jesus’ ministry swelled to a climax, his opponents grew in hatred toward him, and yet Jesus seemed focused on one task and one task alone. He was going to the cross, but the story would not end at the cross or even at the tomb.
4 Things All Employees Need from Their Bosses
Many people grow weary of a leader not due to a character flaw but a competency flaw. If you are a supervisor to anyone, I would ask that you consider what could be done through your church if you took this aspect of your job seriously.
Waypoint: March 2022
We’re excited to share some of the latest ministy news and updates at this Waypoint. God has done some incredible things already this year, and we are expectant of what He will do next.
Your 9 to 5 for the Kingdom of God
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 – Even in light of Christ’s imminent return, we should not quit our jobs and cease providing value to our communities. God expects us to remain productive and ensure that our jobs are an outlet for ministry rather than an obstruction.
Don’t Allow Guilt to Cause a Greater Separation
When you sin, don’t retreat further from the one who can help you. Don’t let guilt cause a greater separation.
The Teacher
Jesus taught in a time when there was no shortage of religious rabbis and spiritual sermons, but what set him apart from all the rest was his ability to teach with authority. When Jesus taught, people listened and followed.
Don’t Be a Slacker in Ministry
You might be able to fool some in your ministry into believing that you are working hard, but God knows your real efforts. Don’t be a slacker in ministry, but give God and others your very best.
Human Nature
Mankind’s distinct nature derives from being made in the image of God. As image-bearers, men and women are called to be like God.
Disregarding the Holy Spirit
1 Thessalonians 4:8 – When we succumb to temptation, we surrender to our desires and reject the will of the Holy Spirit. God’s presence in our lives helps us fight back wandering ways.
Impatient and Unrealistic Preaching
If I’m honest, I have an impatient attitude and unrealistic expectations for how people should respond to my preaching efforts. God has been extremely patient with me; I might better portray a patience with others as well.
The Messiah
Within the concluding pages of the Old Testament, the people look for the long-awaited Messiah. As the New Testament opens, we are introduced to Jesus the Christ, and the world has yet to recover from his invasion for redemption.
What Has to Change in Your Church to Make Disciples?
We often wait for a perfect scenario within a church to make disciples. Programs don’t make disciples – people do.
Agents of God
Biblical theology includes an understanding of angelic and demonic forces. The spiritual realm is a war field with stakes higher than we could possibly imagine.
God’s Will Regarding Your Purity
All of us want to know God’s will for our lives, and God graciously defines it in many ways – including our purity. God desires that we would grow in Christ and not be sidetracked by lust and immorality.
When Spouses Disagree as Parents
A married couple can agree in the majority of areas of their lives together, but if they don’t stay aligned in their parenting, the entire family will feel the stress. What happens when spouses disagree in their roles as parents?
The Exile
After severe warnings from numerous prophets, God’s people refuse to repent and reap the unfortunate consequences. God’s people are sent into exile and have to learn how to live for God in a land that did not.
If Your Children Worship Like You
Will you pleased if your children worship like you? Cause if you want them to have a deeper spiritual fervor than your own, you might want to start giving them an example to imitate.
Creation
The doctrine of creation is a critical issue for theology because it sets up the foundation for all other doctrines within the Christian worldview. In the Scriptures, we discover a transcendent God who has sovereignly created all things.
Keep Making Progress
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 – The Christian life is more of a journey than a destination. For all the progress you have made, keep going forward as you follow after Jesus and make adjustments to your life.
Achieving Authenticity in Marriage
Every person craves the ability to be truly authentic with one other individual in life. Marriage is the God-given environment in which we should be able to be completely exposed yet surprisingly accepted.
The Kingdom
At the height of Israel’s power, the people dramatically collapse. The grandeur of King Solomon’s kingdom is undone quickly as a result of idolatrous compromises. A nation splits, a people rebel, and prophets call for repentance.
Maybe They Don’t Make Disciples Because They’ve Never Been Discipled
Don’t expect people to start doing something that has never been done to them. If you want your church to start making disciples, then start making disciples yourself.
Distinctive Discipleship Walkthrough
Distinctive Discipleship is a process – not a program. It’s a method to help you design a specific plan for Christian maturity in your life or in the life of someone you are discipling.
We All Need Somebody
1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 – Within the Body of Christ, we experience the gift of mutual encouragement. Through the challenges of this life, we need to support each other and seek to support each other.
5 Financial Differences That Can Frustrate Your Marriage
If you aren’t careful, certain differences regarding finances can frustrate a marriage in significant ways. Here are 5 financial differences that can challenge your marriage and what you can do about it.
The King
Once God’s people established themselves in the land, they desired to have a king like the other nations. The problem with their reasoning was that their qualifications for a king were insufficient. They received what they wanted but not what they needed.
Advance Leadership Podcast – Distinctive Discipleship
The Advance Leadership Podcast is for leaders by leaders. On this episode, Lee Clamp interviews Travis Agnew about the Distinctive Discipleship process.
The Work of God
God’s providential work among creation ensures that His benevolent identity guides His sovereign activity. To know the heart of God is to trust the hand of God.