Search Results for: church

In my life and throughout my discipleship journey I have struggled with wanting to be perceived as being right more than wanting to do what is right. I think the struggle is mostly motivated by fear, self-protection and hurts from the past. Some of it comes from seeking the praises of others and the applause…

It’s one thing to desire to serve God but feel like you are restricted by your schedule. It’s quite another thing to lose the desire to serve God altogether. Yet, many people feel exactly that way. The urgency, the desire and the drive to share Christ have all long since faded away, and there is…

Are you the kind of person, like me, who makes a list, checks the boxes, and thinks you’re ready? When I look back over my life, much of it has been defined by that very core belief that I, as a naturally Type A person, have it all under control. What that has prepared me…

Dear Discipleship-first Friends, Have you ever attended one of our National Disciple Making Forums? Or, perhaps it’s been a couple of years since you have been able to make it to the Forum? Whether this will be your first time to experience it or your first time in a long time–this is an amazing year…

Well, I never been to heaven, but I’ve been to Oklahoma…”1 From gospel tracts to billboards to evangelists looking me in the eye from my television, I have heard the question they assume is everyone’s biggest concern, “How do I go to heaven?” The answer typically follows a brief (emphasis on brief) description of what…

“Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”” ‭‭John‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ In John 5, Jesus returned to Jerusalem for a “Feast of the Jews.” We’re not told which Feast this was. Passover? Pentecost? Tabernacles? But the last time we saw Jesus in Jerusalem for one of the Feasts, He made a scene…

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ”” Matthew 4:17 NLT ‭‭“Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom…

In any field, there are specific core competencies that a person must learn and perform in order to be successful. Surgeons must master the skills involved with surgery. Accountants must master the skills involved with accounting. Teachers must master the skills involved with teaching. Can you imagine a surgeon who couldn’t do surgery, an accountant…

Have you ever been somewhere severely unlike where you live? I have traveled a lot over the years – across the globe and within the United States. It’s been a gift to be able to travel and experience all sorts of people, languages, cultures, and FOOD. One thing I’ve learned is that everywhere I go,…

I looked over into the opposing team’s huddle, and I saw the all-star running back shove his teammate to the ground, which resulted in an eruption of hollering and fighting among teammates. Even though this event was 30 years ago, I remember it like yesterday. I can still recall the sense of victory I had…