The Blog
A collection of my random thoughts on church, theology, art, and just other random things. There’s a little of everything here.
It’s Been Real, Harmony
Eight years ago, I joined Harmony Christian Church. Today, I leave an entirely different person. All things end. I’m grateful for all it all.
Review: Real-Life Discipleship
Real-Life Discipleship by Jim Putnam is a thought-provoking book that highlights the crucial need for an intentional process in creating disciples. Putnam effectively argues that attending church and participating in religious rituals alone are not sufficient for true discipleship. He emphasizes the importance of engaging the head, heart, and hands to reflect the teachings of Jesus. By outlining clear stages of discipleship that align with human development, Putnam provides a practical framework that can be implemented in any ministry environment. While he could have provided more guidance on adapting the strategy to individual churches, the book’s solid theological foundation and actionable insights make it an essential read for ministry leaders seeking to transform their congregations into vibrant communities of discipleship.
How to be a Disciple
Over the last nine posts in this series, we’ve explored what discipleship is and how it is done. Discipleship is a life long commitment to become more like Jesus. It’s intense, difficult, and sometimes exhausting, but it’s ultimately rewarding. You were created to be a disciple and to make disciples, so now go live it!
Disciples Make Other Disciples
A disciple hasn’t really completely made it until they make another disciples. The truth is that disciples reproduce. This is God’s plan for the world. Someone leads us into a relationship with Christ and pours into us so that we pour into others. This is also the most difficult step in discipleship. If making ourselves into disciples is hard, then making others is even harder.
The Role of Christian Higher Education
A key part of holistic discipleship is education. Learning and growing in the knowledge of Christ is very important. When most people think of christian education, their minds immediately go to institutions of higher education, such as seminary. What is the role of these institutions in discipleship, and how can the church partner with these institutions to further develop disciples?
Discipleship and the Local Church
God’s plan for the world is the local church. For most people, the majority of their discipleship journey will happen in the context of their local church. How does the church fit into the vision of discipleship and how can churches build disciples in their community?
Growing as a Disciple
You’ve made the decision to actually become a disciple, but how do you actually do that? Becoming a disciple is not a one time event. It’s a life long commitment to grow in Christ. Growing up is difficult, so how do we ensure that we grow?
Discipleship and Christian Education
In many churches discipleship is synonymous with education. They may have discipleship programs, but the focus of these programs is teaching and building up church members with knowledge. While holistic discipleship is not only about education, it is a primary area of development in the discipleship process.
The History of Discipleship in the Church
As we talk about discipleship, it can be tempting to jump right to the newest and shiniest theories and ideas in the realm of spiritual development. This would be a mistake, because the church has a rich history of thoughts and ideas
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Other New Stuff
Latest Photography
Racing Hearts, Resting Souls
Many retired derby horses call Old Friend’s Farm home. Here, they live out their retirement with luxury, befitting the professional athletes they are.
Latest Sermon
Check the Receipts
Do you really know who Jesus is? Jesus tells us who he is through the miracles he did. People respond differently to the miracles that Jesus performed, and we can find these same responses in ourselves. Are you carried along in your faith like the paralytic through the roof, using Jesus like the nine lepers, or do you really and truly see Jesus as your Lord? It’s time to meet Jesus, because once you truly meet Jesus, He will change your life.