As you seek to become a better student of the Word, you quickly realize that this process takes work. It doesn’t come naturally, and the Bible is a very big book full of complex details. Good intentions can easily become sidelined. God wouldn’t set you up to fail. It’s time to go the 2nd mile in protecting your Bible reading …
Bible reading is one of those tricky habits for a disciple of Jesus Christ. We all know we should be doing it. We assume that everyone else is more consistent than we are, but yet we start numerous plans only to stop along the way. You are not alone. It’s time to go the 2nd mile in finishing a Bible …
Proverbs 22:1 reads that “a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” The reality is that each of us will be remembered for something, but will you be remembered for something good? It’s time to go the 2nd mile in your life’s ambition.
Plenty of people associate with Jesus, but very few keep their steps at a pace where they can truly follow him. He is not someone that you want to follow halfway with mediocre attempts. If you’ve been following Jesus at a distance, it’s time to go the 2nd mile in your spiritual journey.
The lights are hung, the presents are wrapped, the food is prepared, and the sweaters are laid out. What could be missing? Jesus. Jesus might be missing. If you are worried about missing Christ this Christmas, it is time to go the 2nd mile in your Christmas celebration.
The Great Commission calls us to make disciples – not converts. As he ascended into the skies, Jesus clarified our purpose of discipleship when he delivered the Great Commission. The job is incomplete when someone comes to faith in Christ. Discipleship – and not conversion – is the goal. Evangelism is necessary, but it is not ultimate.
Most Christians can easily communicate the importance of making disciples, but few can articulate how they are personally engaging in the process. Proclaiming the need for discipleship in theory is not the same as prioritizing its implementation in life. Most churches and ministries are very busy with numerous activities, yet many regularly lament the lack of tangible success despite extensive …
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be the most frantic. As you prepare for Christmas, you may feel many expectations that can cause you to make some poor financial decisions. You don’t have to go broke during the holidays. It’s time to go the 2nd mile on Black Friday.
While we are much more than what we do, a significant portion of our lives will be spent in the 9-5 realm. That’s why how we approach work is so vital to our overall outlook in life. Have you ever considered your work as it relates to your walk? It’s time to go the 2nd mile as a kingdom-minded employee.
You know your marriage needs work, and you accept that your spouse isn’t 100% completely to blame for the condition of your marriage. You are ready and committed to doing the work, but what if your spouse isn’t putting forth the same type of effort? It’s time to go the 2nd mile in working on your marriage all by yourself.
You’ve already been tempted to sin today numerous times. While everyone is tempted, particular people are more prone to certain temptations than others. While you can’t avoid being tempted, you can fight against its pull. It’s time to go the 2nd mile in overcoming temptation. Listen to the podcast below or subscribe to your favorite podcast app here.
It almost seems necessary for young parents to speak as if their children are a hindrance. As parents bemoan their roles as pure drudgery, the culture and the kids get the message: children are unwanted. If you read Scripture, you realize that children aren’t a burden – they are a blessing. It’s time to go the 2nd mile in affirming …
If you grew up in church, you probably memorized the Lord’s prayer from Matthew 6. In many services, the entire congregation recites it out loud as a part of the worship. While this is a great implementation, did Jesus mean for us simply to quote it? It’s time to go the 2nd mile with the Lord’s prayer. Listen to the …
Each of us must count the cost to follow Jesus. We need more than motivation to begin; we need preparation to endure. If not careful, we will start with high aspirations yet fail to follow through due to a lack of planning. Listen to the podcast below or subscribe to your favorite podcast app here.
For all the progress you have made in your life, have you ever realized how desperately dependent on God you still are? Our cultural mantra wants to espouse independence as if we have it all together, but the longer we walk, the more it seems that we trip up. Do you feel like you don’t have it together? It’s time …
Have you considered the spiritual giants in your life and why they are that way? They just seem to be in a different category than everyone else. We often categorize them as those who must be more spiritual than the rest of us, but what if that’s not it? What if it is because they are more disciplined than the …
You’ve made some adjustments. You’ve seen some improvement, but you also admit that you’re not there yet. Each of us has many areas in our lives that could benefit from some further growth. In discipleship, you don’t have to be there yet, but you should be getting there. It’s time to go the 2nd mile in admitting your needed development. …
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 …
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. …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Oftentimes in ministry, I want to discover what is the secret ingredient in the life that continues to grow in Christ and what is lacking in those who experience downfall. Where I used to think it was diligence or dedication, I have learned that many people continue to grow simply because they surround themselves with solid friends who want to …
It is important to highlight the need for a personal relationship with Jesus. But somewhere along the way, we have made our faith so private that we neglect the benefit of walking alongside others. Have you ever wanted to continue your growth but find yourself falling time and time again? It’s time to go the 2nd mile in having an …
It happens at every summer church camp. It’s the final night of worship, and almost every person in attendance is ready to make a decision. If the person is confident in salvation, he or she might repent of sins or make a rededication of sorts. Since last year’s camp got them all excited about living for Jesus, they thought it …
I love sitting down with couples to lead pre-marital counseling. As we discuss all the opportunities and complexities that marriage brings, I will often ask, “So, tell me how you two handle conflict?” In some instances, they will look at each other in such a way that makes me think they were arguing on the drive over to meet me. …
Imagine a time in which you were surrounded by danger. Forces were against you that literally threatened your very life. Someone comes up to you at the scariest moment and seeks to encourage you. Instead of providing personal counsel, this individual actually quotes a Bible verse to you. Recited from a beloved psalm, this verse reminds you that God will …
As a young Christian, people always told me about the importance of having a quiet time without anyone ever showing me how to have one. I tend to be a rather loud person anyway, so setting apart time to quiet myself seemed odd in the first place. What exactly am I supposed to do during that quiet time? All the …
We all know reading is supposed to help us, but many of us also feel as if we could be more dedicated readers. The reason many of us struggle is that we don’t have a reading plan that has specific goals. If you ever wanted to become a more avid reader, it’s time to go the second mile with our …
Our culture worships the Wiki God. We want ever so desperately to serve a deity whom we have the freedom and capability to edit. Many people are attempting to revise the Christian faith by cutting out what they don’t like, copying favorable ideas from other worldviews, and pasting them into some hopeless attempt at a hybrid faith. How do we …
We all want change, but few of us were willing to do the work with one another to see that change happen. Discipleship happens within the context of intentional relationships. If you have gotten tired of spiritual stagnation, it’s time to go the 2nd mile with your small group. 6 Helpful Tips Listen to podcast below or subscribe to your …
Wiki God is finally available. It is a book I authored on the attributes of God. Despite the fact that I wrote it, I do think it is a book worth reading. In fact, I have 714 reasons why. As I completed the book, I decided to compile a Scripture index at the back of the book. In the case …
My new book on the attributes of God is available now! I have never poured my soul into a project like I have this one, and I am so eager to share it with you. WIKI GOD available now (https://amzn.to/2VAg0K0) 📖. Wiki is a type of website that allows collaborative editing of its content. Anyone can become an expert on …
Wiki God is a book that has been a work in progress…a long progress. Here’s why I wrote the book. WIKI GOD available now (https://amzn.to/2VAg0K0) . I began following Jesus when I was seven years old. Like every believer, I’ve had times of encouraging growth and times of glaring apathy. My story has significant milestones along the way that formed me into …
As I grew and developed in my faith, I was given the opportunity to lead many small groups. Even as a teenager and collegiate, many people trusted me with the opportunity to open up God’s Word and teach from it to varying degrees of eager learners. Does that scare you? It did me. And it should have scared others. You …
If you have ever desired to have meaningful Sunday worship experiences with your church, the process starts on Saturday. In fact, if you don’t prepare well, your frantic pace on Sunday can rob you of meaningful interactions with God and with God’s people. In this episode of the 2nd mile podcast, I share 10 tips to ensure you have a …
Biblical illiteracy is on the rise. Why are so many people without a thorough understanding of scriptural teaching? One of the main reasons is we are reading it in a different way from how it was written. Subscribe to the 2nd Mile Podcast Warnings Don’t attempt a marathon before you have completed a lap. Don’t get stagnate with your time …