Discipleship
See Lives Transformed
Why did you go into ministry in the first place? Most likely you wanted to make disciples, see lives changed, see the Kingdom of God advanced. You wanted to see transformation.
Churches and ministries only grow as well as the disciples they develop. It’s time to go back to the basics with a focus on discipleship. We can help you create a simple, relational, yet focused system that can help you get traction for making disciples at all levels.
Fears that get in the way
In conversation with my colleague and professor of Psychology at Texas A&M, Dr. Charles Ridley, we talked about what really gets in the way of personal discipleship growth and process. There are many types of impasses—blind spots, assumptions, patterns,...
Too many new Christians
When I was first planting a church, we had an enviable problem: too many new Christians. We began seeing numerous people come to faith and were trying to keep up with discipling them and helping them grow. At the time I was using a simple follow-up tool—something with...
On the California fires
As many of you know, Janet and I moved to Santa Rosa in northern California this past April. After spending almost our whole lives in the Los Angeles area, this move brought a lot of changes. But one we certainly didn’t foresee was the catastrophic spread of wildfires...
Disasters large and small
On this anniversary of 9/11, we recognize that we face disasters both natural and human-made. First responders are out providing hurricane relief and rescues. Everyday people in affected areas are reaching out to help one another. Those of us at a geographical...
Pastoral ego in leadership
Note: This entry by guest blogger Jonathan LaBarge When I think of ego in a pastoral context, I think of Peter. Peter, who was told by Jesus to “feed my sheep” (John 21:17). Peter, who swore he would do anything for Jesus (Luke 22:33). Peter, who was the rock on which...
Diversity and dialogue
Diversity is a popular word as of late. Diversity is important, because often what most changes the heart is engagement with people who are different than ourselves. But what do I see in many churches? ... ... People who don’t like those who are different from...
Are you focused on thinking right or doing right?
I often find it’s easier to help people get connected to a relationship with God when they’re already focused on and connected with people than it is to get people who are focused on correct doctrine to develop a relationship with God that is lived out through...
The relationship of discipleship to leadership
What is the relationship of discipleship to leadership? Consider someone who desires to become a Christian leader. He may have solid theological knowledge and know how to communicate it in a compelling way. He may have good interpersonal skills and provide sound...
Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day
At least in America, where I live, everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. It doesn’t matter if you actually have any ancestors from Ireland. People wear green shirts, order Shamrock shakes, or even dye their city river green (I’m looking at you, Chicago). But it...
The Kingdom: Who’s in charge?
As we in the United States observe President’s Day today, authority can be a challenging concept to understand. Who has it and why? Does it come from position? From character? From earning trust? How we answer these questions depends on our identity. If we are first...