Spiritual Life

Interview with Douglas Jacoby about Spiritual living on Relate4ever Publishing as seen http://relate4ever.com/spiritualiving-interview-drdj

By CSN on Sep 05, 2019 01:00 pm There are many ways you can assess the spiritual health of your church members. Faith, regular church attendance, and engagement in community… Read More

Don’t Be Fooled Into Believing These Final Two GRIEF MYTHS You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot… Read More

How well do we know God’s Word? Here’s a tool to evaluate our level of Bible knowledge. The diagnostic test at 3 levels has been constructed with the help of many around… Read More

A North Carolina sheriff’s deputy sues his former employer for religious discrimination after it wouldn’t accommodate his request to not train a female officer one-on-one. David Roach August 20, 2019… Read More

Dear Discipleship-First Tribe, We want you to become the disciple maker God intends you to be. For those of you who are church leaders, we also want you to develop… Read More

Late last year, I noticed our family checkbook was getting very light. Dread filled my mind as I realized that we would need to borrow money to pay our bills… Read More

First – Learn from Disciple Making Leader: Small Circle Steve McCoy is the leader of Small Circle, one of our trusted disciple-making partners. Here’s what he told us about his ministry… Read More

FORT WORTH, Texas — Dr. Kent Brantly sat on his counselor’s couch and wept. The tears came last summer as the Christian physician visited with Dottie Schulz, a missionary care volunteer… Read More

The pdf below is going to be published in various places next month. We just completed it. The goal is to explain Renew succinctly to church leaders.  It is based… Read More

I was recently able to catch up with Renew Gathering speaker Mark Moore. We talked about life transitions, creating a legacy, personal discipline, and a new book he has written… Read More

  Headlines were buzzing with the announcement. Facebook had introduced a new metric that would significantly revamp their algorithms. Continue here.

In his own words, comedian Ricky Gervais went “from Jesus-loving Christian to fun-loving infidel in one afternoon.” Ricky Gervais was 8 years old. He was drawing the Crucifixion as part… Read More

After his wife became Muslim to appease militant Islamists, he fled with their children — and found Christ. Erik Tryggestad President and CEO DONO-MANGA, Chad — In this rural African village,… Read More

Two New AMAZING Videos From SIW! P.S. Put your seat belt on! #1. What Does the Bible Say bout Being Transgender? By Brandon Redler 3.3 min #2. Why I Left My Transgender Life Behind … Read More

WHO ARE WE? SELF-TEST: Rank the following terms in order of usage–what you usually call yourself. Christian Disciple Brother Saint Many of us answered 1-2-3-4, right? But in the New… Read More

Renew.org     4 Things I Would Like to Say to Taylor Swift as a Pastor   June was a big month for Taylor Swift as she embraced LGBTQ month,… Read More

History — We Are Church A Brief History of We Are Church. Excerpt from Letters to the Church, by Francis Chan. Why I Left My Megachurch In 1994, when I… Read More

Two twin boys were raised by an alcoholic father. One grew up to be an alcoholic and when asked what happened he said “I watched my father”. The other grew… Read More

LEARN CHURCH PLANTING FROM OUR PASTORS a note from francis Haven’t you always been a bit confused about Church?  You read about the unstoppable power, miraculous love, and outrageous sacrifice… Read More

Something ominous is happening to young men today; it’s a crisis…and strangely, we are not talking about it. A recent USA Today article captured the essence of the crisis with the article “Boy Crisis Threatens America’s… Read More

Father’s Day is just around the corner. Covenant Eyes would love to see all the dads out there take the Dad Challenge. What better time to start this challenge but… Read More

Two video sermons taken from the book of Hebrews: iFaith 19 (Heb A), “Christ is Supreme,” and iFaith 20 (Heb B), “The Truth about Falling Away”. Listen to either or… Read More

My wife Cathy passed away on August 13, 2018. We were married for 28 incredible years. Through our Strength in Weakness ministry, we traveled the world telling our story and… Read More

Friends,   As a Renew subscriber you likely aspire to be a disciple who makes disciples. We want to help make that as easy as possible for you. This is… Read More

Amazing keynote message given at the Harbor Pepperdine Bible Lectures on Thursday, May 2, 2019 in Malibu, CA. https://livestream.com/pepperdineuniversity/harborpbl19/videos/190780153  

Two classes given by Douglas Jacoby & Nick Zola at “The Harbor” Pepperdine Bible Lectures, on May 3, 2019. The two audio lessons are followed by the Powerpoint presentation with… Read More

Can You Be Gay and a Christian? See why over 100,000 people have attended a Strength in Weakness workshop!   SIW HITS  THE ROAD   Madrid, Spain Guy Hammond May… Read More

  Friends,   Many Renew leaders have success stories to share. We want God to get the credit in these stories. We also want to learn from these stories how… Read More

May News from Tyndale House Dear friends, At Tyndale House we are passionate about supporting evangelical biblical scholars, and ensuring that Christians across the world benefit from their work. In… Read More

#3. “When Your Kids Tell You They Are Gay” Steve Bowen 4 min #1. “Is It a Sin If You Feel Gay?” Guy Hammond 3.5 min #2. “Can You Be… Read More

The Renew tribe is inclusive – anyone can be a part of it. The process is self-selecting.  People join because they support the beliefs (theological convictions), the philosophy (disciple making… Read More

Dear Discipleship-first Tribe, Disciples of Jesus are facing a subtle but pervasive challenge in North America right now. Left unchecked, this challenge erodes the convictions of everyday disciples, leaders, and… Read More

Each year, Barna examines behaviors and beliefs related to the Bible among American adults, a study conducted in partnership with American Bible Society. In the 2019 “State of the Bible” report,… Read More

See why over 100,000 people have attended a Strength in Weakness workshop!   SIW HITS  THE ROAD   Madrid, Spain Guy Hammond May 5, 2019 La Iglesia de los Disćipulos… Read More

I am a senior pastor; I have been one for more than 30 years. So, I know the subtle pressure that can sneak in: to produce, provide and program for… Read More

Dear Friends and Partners of Renew, We are so pleased to announce to you, our ministry friends and partners, that our new website is LIVE!! We want to sincerely thank… Read More

From slow WiFi to broken phone screens to zero “likes” on social media, everyday stressors are causing young adults to have struggles falling asleep 138 nights each year, researchers say…. Read More

From Reuters News: Conversion is not your mission, pope tells Catholics in Morocco http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pope-morocco/conversion-is-not-your-mission-pope-tells-catholics-in-morocco-idUKKCN1RC0FJ Pope Francis told the tiny Catholic community in predominantly Muslim Morocco on Sunday that their mission… Read More

Why I am NOT a Gay Christian By Guy Hammond Executive Director, Strength in Weakness Ministries “You are not being your authentic self, you’re a liar and a fraud.” “You… Read More

The following are responses to the Ezekiel series (10 installments), which appears in the newsletters of 20 & 27 Feb; 6, 13, 20, and 27 Mar; and 3, 10, 17,… Read More

A List of All Scriptures that Proves God Condones Homosexuality By Guy Hammond Executive Director; Strength in Weakness Ministries Does God love homosexuals? Of course, God loves everyone! But where… Read More

Greg explains the importance of listening and encourages Christians to remember that the one who makes the claim bears the burden. Play the 3-minute video by clicking here, and/or read… Read More

Image: Illustration by Rick Szuecs / Source image: Courtesy of Baker Publishing Group Michael McClymond decries the rising popularity of an idea Christians have rejected for most of church history…. Read More

Photo from Pixabay.com Feb. 28, 2019 Modern-day ‘sticks and stones’ Before you type, maybe you should ask, ‘What would Jesus tweet?’ By  Chellie Ison ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones,… Read More

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” That statement, attributed to the most influential management guru of our time, Peter Drucker, describes a reality church leaders must face in the pursuit of… Read More

The Benefits of a Stiff Neck? by Rob Kranz This is my first post since arriving back in Jerusalem. The time is flying by at blazing fast speed. As I write this,… Read More

How do you react when things go wrong? Your e-mail or Twitter gets hacked and people send you unkind messages… You’re stuck in traffic and late for an important meeting…… Read More

Dear Friends of Renew, If you are subscribed to our newsletter you are likely interested in all of Jesus’ teachings. You may also be laser focused on how those teachings… Read More

Art For The Glory Of God “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” This was the counsel of King Solomon, as chronicled in Proverbs 18:16…. Read More

Are You Ready to Respond to Pro-Abortion Arguments? The message being given to us by our culture has moved from the regretful necessity of abortion to the goodness of abortion…. Read More

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Four in five Americans believe in the healing power of prayer, according to surveys, and even a majority of medical doctors say that miraculous healing sometimes occurs…. Read More

Discipleship-First Tribe, Discipleship·org asked Roy Moran to write a two-part blog on Disciple Making Movements. We asked Roy to do this because he’s an expert on Disciple Making Movements and… Read More

ACCESS ALL IMITATION OF CHRIST PODCASTS HERE (scroll down)    Since the early 1400s, The Imitation of Christ has been a Christian classic—for many centuries surpassed in printing and sales only by… Read More

Scripture: Phil 3:14; (1 Macc 2:63); (Sir 7:6); (Sir 38:22); Luke 21:36; Matt 24:44; 2 Cor 6:2; Rom 6:8; Ecc 7:2; Psalm 144:4; Luke 12:33; 16:9; 1 Pet 2:11; Heb… Read More

Scripture: Psalm 43:3-4; 55:6; 34:8; 106:45; 40:5; 19:9; 1 John 2:15; Rom 8:6; Col 3:11; Rom 6:6; Gal 5:17; Psalm 89:9; 44:26; 68:30; (Sir 36:6); Isa 26:3; Matt 6:25-34   Application… Read More

Scripture: Phil 1:23-24; Jas 1:17; Rom 8:21; Luke 22:18; Josh 1:6; Eph 4:24; Isa 61:3; Phil 1:20 . Powerful sentences: * “It’s not by your own meditating and striving that… Read More

Make Your Prayer Space Ready For God Jesus notoriously went off into the garden of Gethsemane to pray before he was betrayed and eventually hung on the cross. What most… Read More

Scripture: Matt 7:1-2; Jas 3:7-9; Matt 26:41; Eph 4:29; John 21:22; Rom 14:12; Ecc 1:14; John 2:25; Rev 3:20; 1 Pet 4:7 . Thought questions: * Am I aware of… Read More

Scripture: Prov 4:23; 19:23; Jas 4:9; Eph 4:29; Col 2:20-23; Psalm 80:5; 75:5. Spiritual focus: * Holy reverence * Discipline * Avoiding senseless humor (flippancy) * Cultivating spiritual sensitivity. * Clear… Read More

Scripture: 2 Cor 6:7; Psalm 91:14; Rev 2:17; Rom 8:18; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 91:15; Job 7:1; 1 Pet 5:8; Jas 1:14; Col 1:11; (Sir 31:26); 1 Cor 10:13; (Jud 8:17); Luke… Read More

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and… Read More

Scriptures: 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 13:9; Psalm 117:2; Heb 1:1; Rom 2:11 Ten thoughts: * We shouldn’t seek novelty for novelty’s sake. The gospel is seldom advanced through curious, shocking,… Read More

by Steve Staten | Jan 23, 2019 At age thirty I had been in technology for nine years and fulltime ministry for just over a year.  My wife and I had three little… Read More

Scripture: 2 Pet 1:5-8; Prov 16:9; Jer 10:23; Heb 12:1; Eph 6:11; Rom 8:18; Luke 12:37,42 Application: * Daily renewal: Begin the day the right way!  * Stay busy. Redeem… Read More

Scripture: Gal 5:22-23; Eph 4:2; Gal 6:2; Rom 12:18; Phil 4:8; Rom 2:9; 1 Pet 3:16; Isa 57:20-21; 2 Cor 1:12; 7:4; 1 John 3:21; Isa 48:22; Mic 3:11; Psalm… Read More

Dear Renew Subscribers, I was recently in a theology class where the teacher made this point: anyone wanting to be like Jesus should try doing what he did. What did… Read More

Scripture: John 14:27; Matt 3:10; Gal 2:20; 5:24; 6:14; 2 Tim 2:4; Rev 2:4; Psalm 37:7; Mark 6:31; Luke 5:16; 2 Cor 1:12; Psalm 4:4; 1 John 2:17; Prov 23:32;… Read More

Scriptures: Luke 11:4; Gen 50:20; Titus 3:10; Gal 6:2,5; 2 Cor 3:5; Prov 3:7; Col 3:13; 1 Thess 5:11 . Application: * We often operate under a double standard, wanting others… Read More

Scripture: Jas 1:17; Nah 1:7; Matt 11:28; Jer 32:27; 1 Pet 5:10; Num 23:19; Ps 40:1; Matt 8:7; 6:34; John 14:27; 14:1; Ps 44:21; John 15:9; Luke 8:15; 2 Cor… Read More

Deaf communities around the world are still waiting to experience God’s Word in their first language. How much longer will it be? Donations from the 40,000 attendees at this year’s… Read More

Scripture: 1 Cor 1:26-27; 2 Tim 4:3; Num 16; Ps 94:10; 119:100,130; Col 3:4; Zeph 1:12; 1 Cor 4:5,20; 12:11. . Application: * “Sweet-sounding compliments”: beware flattery, and people lowering… Read More

Scripture: 1 Pet 5:5-6; Matt 6; Jer 10:23; Ps 91:4; Rom 11:25; 12:3; 1 Cor 13:1-3; Rom 11:20; 12:3; Jas 3:1 Practical application:  * We should be modest about our… Read More

Young adults are dropping out of church in large numbers, survey finds. This is why. www.usatoday.com 3 mins read ASHVILLE, Tenn. —Large numbers of young adults who frequently attended Protestant worship services in… Read More

Christian churches still struggle with race, how to discuss it, what to do www.usatoday.com 10 mins read CINCINNATI — On a Wednesday night at Crossroads Church in the Cincinnati neighborhood Corryville,… Read More

Scripture: Ps 37:4 Matt 26:41 Heb 12:1; 6:12; 11:1-40 John 12:25 Application (10 areas): * Learn from those who have gone before us (in church history, the O.T., and even… Read More

Greg encourages Christians for whom evangelism seems overwhelming to focus on small opportunities of influence rather than “sealing the deal.” Look forward to more Mentoring Moments from Greg in the… Read More

Scripture: Jas 1:22-25; Ezek 20:19; Eph 5:17; Gren 32:10; 1 Cor 4:7; Rom 2:11; Jas 2:5; Ps 45:16; 1 Pet 2:1; Acts 5:41; Luke 14:10; Matt 16:24-25; Phil 2:21; Ezra… Read More

Scriptures: 1 John 5:2-3; Prov 12:15; Rom 14:17 Insights for Life: * “It is far safer to live under authority than to be in a place of authority.” * “It… Read More

The Problem of Human Suffering We inhabit the same world Jesus did—one of pain, joy, surprise, suffering, and wonder. At times life is good, joyous, and fair. At other times… Read More

Scriptures: Rom 8:17-18; Heb 12:4; 2 Tim 2:5; Luke 18:27; John 15:9-10; Ps 18:42; Jas 2:20; 1 Sam 16:21; Ezek 20:17; Gen 2:7   Application questions: 1. Do I react differently… Read More

Scripture: Phil 4:11-13; Ps 30:6-8,10-11; Job 7:18; Rev 2:7. Practical application: (1) Don’t allow ourselves to lose faith or perspective just because we are going through hard times. (2) Don’t… Read More

Scriptures: Phil 3:7-9; Ps 73; Ps 25:17; 2 Cor 6:2; Heb 10:36; 2 Cor 5:4; 1 Thess 5:3; Prov 30:7-9; Col 3:1-4; Ps 32:5; 40:2; 69:14; 1 John 2:15: Job… Read More

Scriptures: Matt 7:3; 16:26: Jer 34:24; Ps 119:137; 19:9; Rom 11:33; 1 Cor 14:33; Ps 21:3; Rom 8:29; Jn 15:16,19; Gal 1:15; Matt 18:10; Rev 4:10; Matt 18:1; 1 Jn… Read More

Scriptures: Rom 1:21; (Sir 19:14; 14:1; 34:9); (Tob 4:18); Ps 60:11; 37:39; (Wis 1:1); John 14:6; Rom 3:4; Matt 10:17,36; 24:23); James 3:1; Phil 3:4-8. Application: Types of information of… Read More

Scripture: John 16:13-14; Ps 94:19; John 12:48; Mic 6:8; Gen 17:1; (Wis 1:1); John 8:32; Ps 25:5; 1 John 3:22; (Tob 3:5); Ps 119:20; (2 Macc 7:38); (Sir 11:4); Isa… Read More

Scripture: Ecc 2:11; 1 John 2:17; Ps 51:12; Eph 3:16; Eph 4:14. (Also Wis 9:4) Key phrases: * “In captivity”: True freedom is found in Christ, not the world. *… Read More

Scriptures: * 2 Cor 4:18 * Romans 12:3,16 * James 4:6 * John 15:4 * 1 Cor 4:7 * Matt 11:7 * Isa 40:6. Practicals: Be willing to take on… Read More

How close do I feel to God? We are called to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. The church… Read More

To have a sensitive heart receptive to divine love, we must keep our consciences clear as we live for God (1 Tim 1:5,19). Scripture: Eph 3:17-18; 2 Cor 1:3; Ps… Read More

“The simplicity of the book’s language and the direct appeal to the religious sensitivity of the individual in an uncomplicated way are perhaps the primary reasons why this little book… Read More

The world of the 1420s is radically different from our modern world! Europe is still recovering from the Black Death (1347-1349), which took the lives of easily a third of… Read More

The structure of James Watkins’ arrangement (encompassing 90 of the 114 chapters in The Imitation of Christ) is: I. Imitating Christ (Introduction) — 5 chapters II. Imitating Christ’s Character –… Read More

Click here for the download.

Book I, Chapter I Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth . 1. HE WHO follows Me, walks not in darkness,” says the Lord (John 8:12). By these words… Read More

Dear Renew Partners, As this year ends, and 2019 begins, we are grateful for you. I promised a monthly update to all RENEW PARTNERS. As this month and year ends,… Read More

Why Medicating Shame’s Pain with Porn Never Works Dan Wobschall • Pornography is a pain medication for the shame many men and women experience. For the sex or porn addict, acting… Read More

With 10 U.S. states allowing recreational use and 33 legalizing the medical use of cannabis, it is important for Christians to know how Jesus’ teachings apply to the use of… Read More

Do you know a church or ministry leader who would benefit from personalized disciple making training? At Renew, we want to raise up an army of disciple makers. We are… Read More

Two Common Mistakes Preachers Make: Searching for Reality in Sermons John Piper takes one simple verse in Romans and shows two major and prevalent mistakes preachers make today. www.desiringgod.org

Dear Discipleship-First Tribe, I am still basking in the afterglow of our best National Disciple Making Forum to date, which we hosted a couple of weeks ago. Affirming feedback keeps… Read More

Christians are familiar with the story of Jesus’ last night on earth: the Last Supper, Gethsemane prayer, betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion the following morning. But Jesus isn’t the only… Read More

#1: SIW Support Groups One of the biggest challenges that same-gender attracted Christians face is that they often feel alone, as if they are the only one going through these… Read More

Dear UNBOXED followers, I’m excited about a free resource and a new network for church leaders called the Renew Network (renew.org). I am joining people like Douglas Jacoby, Christian Ray,… Read More

Here’s an interesting piece from The New York Times. The decline in our spiritual vocabulary has many real-world consequences. More than 70 percent of Americans identify as Christian, but you… Read More

Wycliffe translators utilize cartoon animation to produce films in remote parts of the world—to communicate the gospel. http://www.indigitube.tv/

Dr. De Carvalho is passionate about helping people regain their lives and become “unstuck” from the addictions and mental illnesses that have kept them in the darkness. In his new… Read More

Watch this Renew.org video by clicking here.

  Money is the Root of all Evil. Aphorisms have rarely been factual. The oldest ones, at least, are based on opinions, and opinions change. Not more than 500 years… Read More

Dear Renew Subscriber, We would like to ask you to make time for a special webinar. It will focus on two of the seven key elements of renewal – Surrendering… Read More

Watch by clicking on this link: Renew video 1  

To the Discipleship-First Community, There is a good deal of literature today on the subject of corporate culture. Culture shapes behavior Culture defines priorities Culture determines outcomes Every organization has… Read More

By Guy Hammond Executive Director; Strength in Weakness Ministries Often when I speak publicly on the issues of homosexuality and the church, Christian family values and Biblical sexual ethics, I… Read More

I strongly believe that we Christians should fast thrice a week, not for to be righteous, since (as you point out) this can’t be quantified, but to subordinate flesh to… Read More

Dear Renew Network Subscriber, We are sending out the Renew Newsletter earlier this week so that you can make time for a special webinar. It will focus on two of… Read More

Here is the schedule of topics and dates for the next several months of the Athens Institute of Ministry. Click on this link: AIM UNITS

Jesus spoke out often about the very things which lead to a misguided understanding of God’s revealed truth in the Scriptures. Those influences are ignorance, apathy, religion, tradition and open… Read More

Note: the smaller navy blue text is Michael Burns’s response. Recently a group of American evangelical leaders signed and released a statement on social justice to voice concerns that they have over… Read More

Dear Renew Network Subscribers, Would you be interested in some really great Biblical teaching this week? We have two opportunities for you and one other upcoming event that is sure… Read More

Hagiasmos [Greek}: Separated unto God. Hagios [Greek}: Separated from sin, and therefore consecrated to God. Qôdesh [Hebrew]: A sacred, consecrated, dedicated, hallowed thing or place. Qȃdȃsh [Hebrew]: To appoint, bid,… Read More

By Becka A. Alper, www.pewresearch.org A growing share of Americans are religiously unaffiliated. We recently asked a representative sample of more than 1,300 of these “nones” why they choose not to identify with a religion. Out… Read More

Dear Renew Network Subscriber, We are all being discipled. We are all being influenced by the many voices of culture around us every day. It is hard to resist. But… Read More

The choices we make in our twenties set a trajectory for our entire lives. Here are seven tested ways young adults often ruin their lives. Read article here. www.desiringgod.org

How We Worship the Queen of Heaven What must God think of a society that has made child sacrifice normal for the sake of elective infertility? Read here.

Christian Ray Flores tells the story of Max Agapitov – weightlifting world champion. Watch video here.

Good morning Renew Network subscribers, Would you join us as we seek to renew the teachings of King Jesus in our day? It is a bold aspiration. It will require… Read More

The #1 question I’ve gotten since launching Discipleship.Org is this: You’re telling me that there’s a REAL way you can make disciples that make disciples— how is that even possible?… Read More

Greg shares how to make Bible reading more than a chore. Click on this link to see podcast & notes.

Pray for the Peace of Chicago by stevekinnard War on the Sidewalks of Chicago. This morning I opened my paper edition of The New York Times for Tuesday, August 7, 2018 and saw a… Read More

In this series we will proceed more or less chronologically through the New Testament and the Old Testament. There are 128 video messages, being recorded for a period of several years… Read More

No matter which way my mind turns these days, I cannot escape the absolutely unique and essential role that the Bible plays in God’s purpose for the universe, and for… Read More

Listen to this podcast by clicking on link, and choosing Review 81. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sectarian-review/id1031613670?mt=2

Introducing Renew Network By Bobby Harrington and Jason Henderson Renew Network is being launched to help church leaders and everyday disciples to renew Biblical Christianity and Jesus-style disciple-making. The hope… Read More

By Jim McCartney – Boston, MA, USA /  16 Jul, 2018 40 years ago today, I made a decision that dramatically changed the trajectory of my life. An only child of… Read More

Bill Hull’s book, The Disciple Making Pastor, has sold over 150,000 copies. That is a really big seller in the Christian leadership space…I think I know why. The disciple-making pastor cuts through… Read More

The tragic irony in many group Bible studies is that God’s word sits open on our laps while we discuss our own thoughts and… Continue reading this article here.

The following is a free adaptation of Eric Scalise’s excellent article, “Accountability in the Pulpit: Where are the Truth-Tellers?”, in Christian Counseling Connection, vol 19, issue 4, p.14. (This is… Read More

Hello Renew Newsletter Subscribers, We hope and pray that Renew.org will become the hub for a network of millions of disciples of Jesus. When we say network, we do not mean a… Read More

Don’t Be Fooled Into Believing These Three GRIEF MYTHS – Part Two Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. – Job 42:3… Read More

The simplest questions can open the door to amazing conversations. I asked Mike about his tattoo partly out of curiosity but primarily from an instinct of self-preservation. He was helping his… Read More

Understanding the New Testament Historically Do you ever struggle with any of the content in the New Testament (NT) books? Do you ever wonder how their messages, now 2000 years… Read More

Don’t Be Fooled Into Believing These Four GRIEF MYTHS Then Job replied: “How long will you torment me and crush me with words?—Job 19:1-2 Say nothing. Our friends may feel like… Read More

Jesus will soon return and renew all things (Matt. 19:28; Acts 3:21). We want to help everyone prepare for that day. We are a Restoration and Renewal Movement. We believe… Read More

Dear Renew Leaders, I want to give you a sneak peak at a resource that will soon come out by Discipleship.org. Because I have the privilege of leading both organizations,… Read More

Don’t mess with a church’s beliefs or there may be an exodus, according to a new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. Continue reading here.

“I don’t feel burned out, but I am realizing my limitations.” Interview by Kyle Rohane In 2001 Eugene Cho and his wife, Minhee, founded Quest Church, an urban, multicultural, and multigenerational… Read More

Maybe you are like most church leaders in North America – you are confused about what is meant by the expression “discipleship”.   Is it a class? Is it Bible… Read More

Which is more important, people often ask, evangelism or discipleship? It is often stated as though discipleship is just about growth after conversion. Sometimes people describe it as an apparent… Read More

We champion leaders, networks, and organizations that help disciples of Jesus make more disciples. Two of the most important aspects of effective disciple making are an intentional strategy and an… Read More

Hi Friends, I am excited to tell you that we landed on a name for the network and a website that is a little different than when we last communicated… Read More

Every Saturday for 6 weeks Strength in Weakness Ministries is releasing a new brief episode. We pray these are a blessing and encouragement. Insights from the Valley Click here for… Read More

Boko Haram terrorists ordered Habila and his family out of their home in northern Nigeria at gunpoint. Then they told Habila to recite the Islamic creed, leave Christianity behind and… Read More

Are you a high school upperclassman or a college freshman? Then don’t miss out on ReFresh. As students, you know what it’s like to be surrounded by questions. It can be… Read More

This is from a Singles Devotional done in the Greater Houston Church on May 12, 2018 by Toney Mulhollan. “Here is my two page outline. The second page was a… Read More

Every Christian has had doubts at some point in their Christian life. We’re all finite creatures. We don’t know everything. Sometimes we get things wrong. And this possibility can cause… Read More

What would you say about a man who has Andy Stanley in his discipleship group? Well, that is precisely what is happening in Regi Campbell’s Radical Mentoring Group this year…. Read More

Introduction We may be tempted to conceive of Christian history as a vast wasteland stretching from the post-apostolic period till fairly modern times; yet this is not quite accurate. Even… Read More

A Note on Robert “Robert Coleman is the spiritual father of the modern disciple-making movement, and we have some special resources for you to get an up-close and personal view… Read More

By Hamil R. Harris, Christian Chronicle ‘He had intellect, insight and a humble spirit that he used to stand at the front door of the angry lion of racism.’ While Marshall… Read More

Many of us as Christians have heard of the concept, and even some of the benefits of memorizing Scripture, and yet very few of us actually do it.  Why is that?  Many… Read More

A Section from Chapter 8 – Riches and Righteousness IS THE GOSPEL ALSO A GOSPEL OF PROSPERITY? The prosperity gospel (a.k.a. the health and wealth gospel) “is a religious belief… Read More

The file is a chapter from an upcoming book by Patrick Blair. Prosperity-Gospel-Blair

There are no true disciple-making movements in North America right now. That statement may come as a surprise, but it is the conclusion of most (if not all) missions experts…. Read More

Strength in Weakness Ministries is going Español! Lo que Todos los Cristianos Necesitan Saber Acerca de la Homosexualidad La Homosexualidad: ¿hay un tema más controvertido en nuestro mundo de hoy? ¿Alguna vez te… Read More

“I feel like I’m having to choose between you and God.” Read this article in the Washington Post here.

“Let me start off by saying that I’ve gotten incredibly lucky and have no student debt at all.” -Said No One Ever Just kidding. Many have been blessed tremendously to have… Read More

Free Webinar Event – Feb 8, 2018 I wanted to make sure you knew about a free webinar we’re hosting tomorrow called “No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will… Read More

Author: Greg Koukl (Stands to Reason) Prayer is hard. For me, consistent prayer has always been a battle, a fight. One of the most difficult things for fallen people to do… Read More

Igor Kozlovsky endured 700 days of anguish, torture, sickness and inhumane living conditions at the hands of his captors, the pro-Russian separatists who seized control of his homeland in eastern… Read More

Thursday, January 25, 2018 | Written by Jay Stringer What if I told you that your use of pornography could reveal your way to healing? As a licensed mental health counselor and… Read More

Have you ever had that moment in a small group? You know, the moment where you can tell breakthrough is coming soon, everyone is focused and engaged and……..READ MORE

We live in a time of great change in some core moral beliefs in North America. For example, Barna research has documented that over 40 percent of self-described practicing Christians… Read More

It’s no secret that I’m passionate about churches reaching their communities. After all, evangelism and outreach is at the heart of the gospel. So when I hear from pastors who… Read More

Religion, we are told, has a scientific explanation; so we have no need of the God hypothesis. But is that so? This article reviews the alleged evidence and then responds… Read More

In conversations with atheists, they may challenge us: “You’re claiming that God exists. Therefore, the burden of proof rests on you, not me. So … where’s your evidence?” Continue here.    

A national disciple making movement in North America is starting to take off. Groups and networks are forming everywhere. Over 1400 pastors and leaders from around the country joined 17… Read More

Like most people, I make New Year’s resolutions, but I have a unique focus with some of my goals. I want to want what God wants, and God wants more… Read More

In this interview with Tim Mackie, co-founder of The Bible Project, we discuss the origins of The Bible Project and how two friends threw some videos up on Youtube that have now become a… Read More

Robert Coleman wrote The Master Plan of Evangelism decades ago, and it has sold millions of copies. Now, you can experience his core teaching through never-before-seen video teaching sessions of Robert Coleman…. Read More

When we experience doubts, we’re in holy company. A lot of people today—including Christians—don’t know how to doubt properly. Continue reading here.

I’m writing to share a recent blog post—an excerpt fromBecoming a Disciple Maker, a free eBook Greg Wiens and I wrote. The article’s called “We Can’t Be Like Jesus If… Read More

Monday, November 27, 2017 I believe that what some refer to as the “emerging church” is a movement of the Holy Spirit. Movements are the energy-building stages of things, before… Read More

 December 8, 2017 The Holy Bible: A Buyer’s Guide This free eBook guides you through 33 different Bible versions Walk through the religion section of any major bookstore, and you’ll… Read More

Students should take Bible study as seriously as school and sports practice. Article from Christianity Today: Work Hard Pray Hard

Museum of the Bible | MOTB Museum of the Bible is an innovative, global, educational institution whose purpose is to invite all people to engage with the history, narrative and… Read More

Crossing the Line Workshop Overview: Crossing the Line workshops seek to begin or continue the conversation at the local level, on the topics of race, ethnicity, and culture within the body… Read More

This is a 5-hour workshop on Discipleship in the Ministry of Jesus. Although it was recorded in the 1980s, it is still good. Excellent, in fact. The link will take… Read More

Here are my top five personal reflections from the Forum. 1. Pastors and Leaders are Hungry to Learn about Making Disciples Last year we were told that if we had… Read More

No verse is in a vacuum, and it is important to always read a passage as part of the larger story. Why Have Americans Stopped Reading the Bible? By KATHLEEN COOKE | October… Read More

Grace is both an incredibly important and an incredibly difficult concept, explains John Barclay in Paul and the Gift. When boiled down to its purest form, or “perfected,” as Kenneth Burke… Read More

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for great discipleship resources. That’s why I wanted to share with you the website URLs for seventeen of the top disciple making organizations… Read More

The Boston Globe Spotlight team did a series on it that is getting a lot of attention.  Seems it may be a scandal even bigger that the clergy abuse issue…. Read More

OCTOBER 30, 2017 / STEVEKINNARD TEAMwork A Bible Talk for Athletes (and everyone else) Opening question: Name someone who has been a great teammate to you. Explain why. I think of a… Read More

If you’re like me, you are intrigued by tall towers and buildings. Whenever I visit a new city, I want to ascend to the highest point and look out. My… Read More

Last week, Nepal enacted a law to curb evangelism by criminalizing religious conversion, joining neighboring countries like India and Pakistan, where the region’s small-but-growing Christian minority faces government threats to… Read More

Class taught by Douglas during the continuing midweek series called ‘Sharpening the Sword’ at the North River Church of Christ on Wednesday, October 18, 2017. Watch the video here.

What do you think of when you hear the word “righteousness”? About a year ago I was challenged about my understanding of the nature of righteousness in the Bible and… Read More

Sermon by Douglas Jacoby on 10.1.17 at the North River Church of Christ, Marietta, GA

http://marriagematters.ws/daylight-from-a-deerstand/

This is Douglas’ second message from the series ‘Sharpening the Sword’ at the midweek service of the North River Church of Christ on 9/20/17. (Note from the AV team: the… Read More