Discipleship

Learn to Linger in Grief

Imagine a church where grief isn’t ignored, but it also isn’t hopeless. Where lament isn’t a sign of weak faith, but an act of worship.

An Invitation to Pray

Praying specific can become an exciting adventure and partnership with God– truly seeking to pray the heart, mind and will of the Father!

Expect to Be Different

Avoiding interaction with the world will ensure not only that the world dies but that your church will too. This is the way salt works: it is either used proactively or it becomes destructive to the one who has it.

The Benefits of Conflict

A little conflict will force us to find methodologies for dealing with problems so we will not be blind-sided when major trouble arrives.

You Need to Hear (and Share) These Life-Giving Truths

I once had a pastor say, “Ron, you’re a giant killer!” He encouraged me to kill giants for the Kingdom of God. It changed the trajectory of my life. I possibly wouldn’t be serving the church as I am today without those words. They came at just the right time in my life.

Grieving With Those Who Grieve

In the sensitive moments soon after a tragedy, it is important we remember as churches we exist to live out the mission of Jesus to seek and save that which is lost.

Steven Curtis Chapman: Still Singing Until the Father Says ‘Come Home’

Chapman encouraged Christians to seek Jesus, because life apart from him will lead hopelessness and utter darkness.

Rejoicing Is Rooted in Our God, Not Our Circumstances

Choosing to rejoice, by rehearsing reasons to be happy and grateful while suffering, affirms trust in God.

Give Thanks to God — Even for the Trials

I have been a new kid in school. I spoke funny (Yankee in the deep south). I was short, the shortest kid in the 7th grade. And I was outspoken. All of these combine to make the new kid a problem for the rest of the class to welcome in. I’m thankful for those who did it.

The Tale of Two Fathers

Which father do you think will produce more well-behaved children? As these children grow into adults, which group will be more likely to struggle with broken relationships, need endless hours of therapy, and endure pain-filled lives?

Let Us Live and Pray as One Baptized into the Threefold Name

The Puritans have been stereotyped as legalistic and impersonal and believing in an impersonal God, but in many hours of reading them I believe nothing could be further from the truth!