If you are leading a church or ministry staff retreat, there are many things you could bring, but what should you bring? Here’s a list to consider: Open Bibles – I know this comes as a surprise, but I would really encourage you to spend more time in the inspired Book rather than dallying in inspiring books. Too many ministries …
In what ways do you need development? It all depends upon what you have been given and where you have been placed. As particularly gifted and positioned disciples, we each should pursue the needed maturity to do what God has called us to accomplish. CONSIDER There’s a difference in working on something because you are supposed to learn it versus …
God has created us for and called us to unique tasks. As particularly gifted and positioned disciples, we each should pursue the needed maturity to do what God has called us to accomplish.
“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam…” (Rev. 2:14). In the beginning chapters of the Book of Revelation, Jesus serves as a church consultant to seven churches throughout the Asian region. Among each congregation, he gives specific commendations and other condemnations. The church at Ephesus was victorious in resisting and …
Are you confident in the fundamentals of your faith? Maybe the better question is, do you believe what you believe? As a follower of Jesus, you have a set of doctrinal beliefs that come along with the territory, but are they settled in your mind? It’s time to go the 2nd mile in reinforcing the most critical doctrine. Listen to the …
Every September, I attempt to have a fairly organized preaching plan for at least the coming year. Through a time of prayer and study, I try to arrive at a description that articulates every series and every sermon. That plan includes: Date Sermon Title Sermon Passage 2-Sentence Description Once I can communicate a plan like this, I am able to …
Are you confident in the fundamentals of your faith? Maybe the better question is, do you believe what you believe? As a follower of Jesus, you have a set of doctrinal beliefs that come along with the territory. Biblical Christianity is blatant on topics in which the culture will struggle to accept. In Session 4 of Distinctive Discipleship, we are …
While we all know some degree of biblical knowledge, we each should probably know a little bit more by now. Committed disciples need to strengthen any uncertain beliefs by targeted study.
…that altar with the high place he pulled down and burned, reducing it to dust (2 Kings 23:15). To confront the recurring disobedience in our lives, we may need to resort to some drastic measures. We don’t send an alcoholic to a bar for rehab. We get them away from the source of temptation as much as possible. For you to …
There is a sin or a few sins that easily entangle you. While we all can struggle with every possible sin imaginable, there are certain sins with which we regularly drift. In order for you to make progress in your discipleship, you need to narrow down the list to the sin which is critical for you to address right now. …
While I am a Clemson fan, this isn’t a post about the Tigers necessarily. While I am super impressed by Trevor Lawrence, this post isn’t intending to breakdown his athletic caliber. This post seeks to remind us all about not giving up after a mistake. On Thursday, August 29, 2019, the Clemson Tigers started their college football season against Georgia …
There is a sin or a few sins that easily entangle you. While we all can struggle with every possible sin imaginable, there are certain sins with which we regularly drift. In Session 3 of Distinctive Discipleship, we are going to narrow down a list of sins to the 1-3 areas which are critical for you to address right now. CONSIDER …
While we all struggle with sin, we are each prone to wander in different ways. For those confronting disobedience in their own lives, God provides a path of escape through every temptation.
“They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf…” (Ex. 32:8) God’s miraculous deliverance was short-lived in the minds of the Israelites. As Moses lingered in the presence of the LORD on Mt. Sinai, their impatience led them to idolatry [You can read to see what happens in Exodus …
You don’t have to follow Jesus; you get to follow Jesus. The moment that you can see your walk as an opportunity rather than an obligation is the moment when your growth will progress exponentially. If you have felt like you are following Jesus out of duty, it’s time to go the 2nd mile in rediscovering delight in our discipleship. …
The Bible talks about God’s people as sheep. Out of all the animals he could have used, he compares us to helpless, defenseless, fluffy, clumsy sheep. It seems rather accurate. We know we are the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 100:3). We drift away from our shepherd (Luke 15:4). We are harassed and helpless sheep (Matt. 9:36). We have all …
SESSION 2 – DISCOVERING DELIGHT Session 2 of Distinctive Discipleship is all about discovering delight. If we can truly comprehend that the fullness of God dwelt in Christ (Col. 1:19), and now the fullness of Christ dwells in us (Col. 1:27), it should cause us to become overwhelmed with a joy that energizes our desire to take advantage of that …
If unhealthy expectations fuel our reasoning for spiritual growth, we will eventually stall out. Our growth must be motivated by delight rather than obligation.
While there are many examples of how Jesus trained his disciples, we are limited in our level of knowledge. With them spending three years with him, they experienced countless lessons and experiences of which we are unfortunately unaware. Jesus did so much in his life that the world is unable to contain all the volumes that they could have written …
With school in session, it is important to remember the God-glorifying pursuit of receiving knowledge. We are to love God with all of our mind as well (Mark 12:30). While we attempt to do that, here is an additional 10 Bible verses on learning. Prov. 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. …
We talk about discipleship in churches a lot, but are we really doing it? Jesus’s words are straightforward – make disciples of all nations. Before we attempt to make a bunch of disciples, maybe we just need to learn how to make one. It’s time to go the second mile in developing a discipleship plan. Listen to the podcast below …
If you feel like you are stuck in your Christian walk, then it is time to start moving again. The solution for spiritual stagnation is distinctive discipleship.
Generalized approaches can never adequately address distinct disciples. In order to see legitimate discipleship take place in your life and in the lives of those around you, we cannot depend upon widespread methods hoping to address the specific needs of everyone. [Note: Audio is distorted but audible through recording.] CONSIDER Answer these following questions: Who first introduced you to Jesus? …
If you feel like you are stuck in your Christian walk, then it is time to start moving again. The solution for spiritual stagnation is distinctive discipleship.
After every test taken within the halls of academia, at least one student is praying that the teacher will graciously grade on a curve. Due to a lack of preparation or a believed impossible standard, the student just hopes that enough of his classmates did as poorly as he thought he did that the teacher will be forced to bump …
At some point in our lives, we have all desired to know God’s will in some area. We almost speak of finding God’s will as if it is something he is trying to hide from us. God wants you to do his will even more than you want to do his will. It’s time to go the second mile in …
On August 18, we begin an 8-week sermon series called Distinctive Discipleship. This has been a 20-month process of prayer, study, and practice to help craft a plan for how we truly make disciples in our church and beyond. I cannot overstate this hope of mine: I do not plan on this being a sermon series we engage with for …
Would you view it with your pastor beside you? Don’t act like you are unsure of what I am talking about. You know what “it” is. Everyone has “it.” “It” is your regular media consumption. “It” is that show you don’t miss. “It” is that series that you binge-watch. “It” is those videos you watch. “It” is those pictures you …
David desired to see holiness restored among God’s people, and so he decided to start it by focusing on himself. If we long to see revival, we must pursue our own personal integrity first. Psalm 101 101 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me?I will walk …
In a former life, I recorded some tunes, and we made those sounds available through an archaic method called burning CDs. The only problem with such mediums is that scratches would come upon the back side of these silver discs and cause the music to skip. Nowadays, kids think those CDs are as ancient as vinyls and 8-tracks. I am …
For the last few decades, we have expected church programs to do what God has called parents to do. We have effectively dropped our children off at church and expected them to be Jesus-loving, Bible-obeying, manner-displaying kids by the time we pick them up. If we want children like that, we will need to be parents who prioritize family discipleship …
Does God change his mind? The typical response is in the negative, but what about all those times in the Bible when it appears that God changed his mind? Does the change of direction reveal that God is actually mutable? For if he has changed in the past, that implies he could possibly change in the future. If he has …
While jobs can bring stress, weariness, and drama, it can also provide Kingdom opportunities. Learn how to reinstate your work as a platform for worship and mission. Relearn Work isn’t a consequence of sin – frustration with work is (Gen. 3:17-19). God is a Creator, and He desires us to cultivate that Creation for good things. We should pray that …
David had experienced God’s deliverance repeatedly during his life, and so have we. Such a constant help deserves more than an occasional offering. Psalm 34 34 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and he …
In every arena of our culture, we have grown more accustomed to viewing leaders speak to crowds from video screens. Preachers preach, teachers teach, trainers train, comedians entertain, doctors prescribe, and musicians inspire all from the convenience of a video screen. From the comfortable safety of our devices and the detached nature of their mediums, we have grown accustomed to …
Where our worship wars used to be over what style of music a church should use, I believe the current worship war is the manner in which a worship team leads. While songs can still be divisive, subtle yet serious danger transpires when a worship team employs worldly practices instead of biblical principles. It’s time to go the second mile …
I am so thankful to be able to celebrate another birthday today. While I know it is customary to receive gifts, I really wanted to give gifts on this day. I first read about the idea when Bilbo Baggins gave everyone gifts at his birthday party in The Fellowship of the Ring. Seems like a great idea! So my gift …
While technology has incredible benefits, it also brings dangerous possibilities. Learn how you can protect yourself and your family from unwise technological usage. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything (1 Cor. 6:12). Incredible Benefits Relationship Strengthener– Technology allows us to …
While we honestly hope that others receive what they deserve, do we really want that for ourselves? David cried out to God because he was fully aware of his own need for mercy. Psalm 28 28 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me,lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.2 Hear the …
To honor your marriage, you must keep the marriage bed pure from anyone else invading it. That includes real experiences and virtual experiences. Sex isn’t the problem. Sexual desires are not the issue. The dilemma is when we attempt to meet a God-given desire in an ungodly way. You are supposed to have your sexual needs met with your spouse …
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