Some people think that the idea of church membership is outdated, too rigid or constraining, optional, or totally unnecessary. Yet David Platt says, “You cannot be a disciple of Christ and you cannot fully make disciples of Christ apart from total commitment to a local church.” And Matt Chandler explains that, “local church membership is a…
I wanted to recommend a website that has impressed me recently as I have used some of their resources during my talks and in my devotions. It is called the Bible Project. At the website you will find animated videos on biblical themes, videos explaining each book of the Bible, and a Bible reading program…
I learned this prayer pattern years ago in a class I took from Donald Whitney on spiritual disciplines. Like no other discipline, prayer through the Bible in this way, especially using the Psalms, has been used by God to sustain and refresh my prayer life. The videos help people learn and practice the prayer pattern for…
The theme of union with Christ may be the one of the most under-emphasized doctrines today. I recently asked a group I was teaching to raise their hands if they have ever heard a sermon or talk on union with Christ. Nothing! Yet as I have been studying this theme recently, I am increasingly convinced…
The shepherding motif is a powerful biblical theme and provides many implications for church leaders. Why discuss shepherding with church leadership? First, it is a prominent Old Testament theme attached to leadership as God is the shepherd and leaders are to be his representative undershepherds (Ps 23, Ezk 34). Second, Jesus is the good shepherd…
Empirical research on leadership reveals that ministers place great significance on calling. This brief review will organize thoughts from ministry leaders about the importance of calling into three categories 1) calling in general, 2) the internal call to ministry, and 3) external calling. The Importance of Ministry Calling Recent research on pastoral development demonstrates the…
Scholars have defined and categorized the call to ministry in various ways. Jeff Iorg defines calling as a “profound impression from God that establishes parameters for your life.”[1] Iorg explains three types of call experiences as 1) the universal call to Christian service and growth, 2) the general call to ministry leadership, and 3) the…
In the book of Nehemiah, God did a great work through his people to build the broken wall and establish the city once again. One of the main reasons this work was accomplished is because God used a great leader, Nehemiah, to motivate, organize, and inspire the people. Nehemiah overcame great opposition and multiple obstacles, always…
Our book club just recently finished the book, Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller. Keller gives his definition of an idol and a counterfeit god, “What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you only what…
How did Jesus create a movement? The simple answer, he made disciples who made disciples. Jesus invested in a few key disciples and showed them how they could pass on their Christian faith, simply and effectively. The same strategy works today in our lives and in our churches. But how exactly did Jesus do this?…
I wanted to introduce you to an excellent resource website that I have been tracking for the last couple of years. It is a website that offers a wide variety of classes for free! It has classes of all kinds and for all levels taught by some of my favorite teachers, including John Piper, Thomas…
I am currently reading an excellent book by Dann Spader called 4 Chair Discipling. In this book, Spader takes a look at Jesus’ life and ministry and pulls out principles for us to strive for as we seek to make disciples. Each chair represents a stage in the growth process in the Christian life. Spader…
