The Disciplemaker Team 
“Make it your ambition to live a quiet life,” Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV). That’s an unusual phrase, isn’t it? To be ambitious about living quietly? In my early church experiences, we’d sometimes have very energetic revival services when …
When we probe beneath the surface of relationships into our attitudes toward ourselves and others, we discover that we tend to think of people (ourselves included) as little more than “useful things” which sometimes get broken and need to be …
Read moreThere is Nothing Broken that Needs to be Fixed. Here’s Why.
In my early years as a church planter, I once participated in a Q&A panel at a local university to interact with students’ questions about faith and spirituality. One student, sitting attentively in the back of the auditorium, wiping his …
Read moreFour Reasons that Jesus Had to Suffer and Die for Us
One of the greatest blessings in my life has been working with refugees, most of whom have fled their homelands due to persecution or the constant threat of danger. I have grown close to some of the mothers in the …
A leader must learn obedience in order to influence others toward obedience. An obedience check is a process item through which a leader learns to recognize, understand, and obey God’s voice. The leader encounters this early in his development and …
When you think of Jesus, what comes to mind? Merciful Savior? Humble King? Suffering Servant? What about Brilliant Teacher? Throughout the Gospels, people constantly referred to Jesus as “Teacher.” They marveled at his wisdom, his stories, his questions. His teachings …
Read moreIt’s Not Enough to Hear Jesus. We’re Called to Do This.
When we talk about becoming generous leaders, we need to broaden our imagination beyond dropping a tithe into an offering plate, scanning a QR code to support a charity of our choice, or financially investing in those we lead. Yes, …
Christians and skeptics agree on this: Christianity stands or falls with the Resurrection. This is the cornerstone of all Christian belief and faith. It’s said that among the last words of historian Jaroslav Pelikan were these: “If Christ is risen, …
One area in my life where I am hearing new truth reflects my sense of personal responsibility in all walks of life. Being overly responsible has been an issue for me for years. I thought I had resolved the problem …
Read moreThe Discipline of Irresponsibility Taught Me Something
Need a little inspiration as you purpose to grow in Christlikeness? Here are some quotes to encourage you on your journey. Theologian and author Richard J. Foster says this of Alice Fryling’s book, Aging Faithfully: “Regardless of your age, for …