Everything today is moving at a rapid pace. In the West we value our time and this has created an instant, must have it now mind set. Anything we desire must be done with great speed because we have other things to accomplish. We do not like to wait, not…
How do you define spiritual maturity? Whatever way or method you define it, most of us would agree that there is a direct connection to discipleship and spiritual growth or maturity. A lack of intentional discipleship equals spiritual immaturity. Many of our churches are attempting to get some handles on…
We spend lots of time searching for God’s perfect will and wondering if we are fulfilling our God given path for life. A disciple should always pray to be at the very center of God’s will for his or her life. Sometimes we are not where God wants us to…
On May 11, Baptist Press quoted Henry Blackaby on his thoughts about the Great Commission Resurgence. His answers are very insightful to churches on why we are not growing and reaching this culture with the Gospel. I am not going to be the color commentator on his comments, or put…
Everywhere you turn we are hearing about the economy and the stimulus package. Honestly, I don’t completely understand what’s contained in this stimulus package, but I do hope it helps our economy and especially my annuity! How did we get in this economic melt down? I don’t have a degree in…
Discipleship is a step (decision) followed by a walk. In the Bible we discover a great one-word description of what discipleship is. Read the following Scriptures… 1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 2 John 6 “And this is love: that we walk…
John 12:42-43 says, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” I am…
In my last blog we discussed the research related to reaching young adults and their receptivity to our invitations and ministries. There have been numerous studies detailing who are more likely to visit our churches or join based on all kinds of empirical data. New books come out each week…
Tobin Perry writing for Baptist Press says, “There’s a surprising new description for unchurched young adults in the United States: spiritual. Despite popular reports that young people aren’t interested in spiritual matters, newly released survey data from LifeWay Research and the Center for Missional Research at the North American Mission…
In my last blog we talked about the first four of these nine habits for reaching and keeping people based on research by Dr. Thom Rainer. They were…Habit of Intentionality, Habit of Cultural Awareness, Habit of High Expectations, and the Habit of Clear Doctrine. Here are the remaining five with…
Two encounters are critical. First, the leader encounters God in His Word and is changed. Second, the leader guides the group to have a life-changing encounter.
In John 13:34-35, three times Jesus said, “Love one another.” Your group is the ideal place to practice and launch the kind of love for one another that shows the world that we are His disciples.