We followers of Jesus try so hard to summarize what He means, turning His words into eternal life advice. But Jesus has another message: die first, then live.
Read my guest post on Tyler Braun’s blog: Discipleship in the Life Advice Age
(Image for blog series designed by Ross Gale, original iconographic artwork by Duccio)
Put this in the category of songs every father should listen to.
A music video of “You’ll Find Your Way” by Andrew Peterson from his new album, Light for the Lost Boy:
Listen as a son, listen as a father. Andrew wrote it for his second son Asher. 1
Lyrics: 2 Continue reading
What is the best way to train new leaders?
Christopher Wright was asked how the local church should train leaders. His answer might surprise you. Watch this brief clip:
Today we begin a new weekly series I’ll simply call “-ISMS,” a look at the dominant philosophies of our day. Some will be overtly religious; some will seem non-religious (at first); all are the lenses through which we tend to think and feel about ourselves, God and the world around us. First up, consumerism.
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Alan Hirsch gets to the heart of how everyone is a disciple of something and why someone cannot stay a consumer and become a growing disciple of Jesus.
(Let this 3 minute video provoke your thoughts.)
“Everyone is a disciple and no one stops being a disciple.”
“If we don’t disciple, then the culture sure will. (And it’s doing a good job of it.)”
Consumerism is being defined by what we consume. One’s meaning, identity, purpose and belonging becomes tied to the consumption of products. Consumerism is the most prevalent religion of our day.
Jesus’ call to all consumers:
DIE.
Only then will we truly live.
radish seed sprout
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” —Jesus (John 12:24)
If you ever say to your pastor, “Pastor, It’s your job to feed me.” He should graciously remind you, “No, it is your job — and will become your joy — to feed others.”
[See Ephesians & 2 Timothy 2:2]
Consumers cannot become disciples who make disciples unless they are drawn outside themselves.