We all know that there is a cost to missions for those who go. Spiritually, emotionally, physically… missions, for all the impact, takes something from you. That’s why long-term, international missions is such a helpful indicator of discipleship. It innately reflects a level of ...
[See part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 in this series of posts on Discipleship for more info.] Now that we’ve examined much about “the what,” “the why” and “the who” in discipleship, I want to provide some very tangible action steps ...
[See part 1, part 2 and part 3 in this series of posts on Discipleship for more info.] What does success look like? It’s easy to get overwhelmed at the thought of diving into discipleship relationships, particularly if you struggle with inadequacy. It’s easy to ...
[See part 1 and part 2 in this series of posts on Discipleship for more info.] Am I Qualified? Perhaps the first question that stirs up in your heart as we start talking about discipling people is one of inadequacy. “Am I really qualified to make disciples?” There could ...
Fight for joy this holiday season. That can seem like a strange thing to say regarding the holidays. “Fight for joy? Why would it be hard to have joy during the holidays? Thanksgiving and Christmas are the best time of year.” It is true there is no other time of year that ...
As we walk under the bond of Covenant with one another, the call is high. The weight of John 13:34 is nonnegotiable as Jesus commands, “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” And later Paul writes in Galatians, “bear one another’s burdens, and so ...
All genuine Christians will love other Christians. Period. God’s Word is clear on this: Christians are called to show their love for God, in part, by the way they love other Christians. We see this concept repeatedly in the book of 1 John. I want us to briefly examine two particularly ...
There is no secret to it: authentic community is not always easy, but it sure is worth it. When Hope started just over a year ago, it was our sincere desire to see authentic community become the norm. Raw, candid, honest community, the type that takes courage and intentionality. But it’s ...
Please see the April 18 blog for the backdrop to this one. We discussed last time that we were created with a need for a relationship with God and people, which is why God told us in the Great Commandment to love God and love people. The second half of that commandment does not make sense ...
It is interesting that a person can be in a room of 200 people and still feel alone. I played in a golf tournament last year with about that many people and I did not know a single person. It was a strange experience. Some people handle that situation with ease, but I think most of us struggle ...
