July 20, 2008
Christian Thinking and Christian Living
H. Lynn Gardner calls believers and congregations to recover Christian thinking, renew the mind through Scripture, and train disciples whose lives reflect the truth of Christ.
Discipleship & Spiritual Formation
Discipleship & Spiritual Formation focuses on becoming more like Jesus through lifelong growth in faith, character, and obedience. Explore Bible-based articles on following Christ, spiritual disciplines, prayer, Scripture reading, community, and the habits that shape a mature disciple. You’ll find practical guidance for mentoring, accountability, repentance, perseverance, and cultivating a gospel-centered life in every season. Whether you’re learning the basics of discipleship or helping others grow, these resources equip you to form disciples who love God, love people, and live on mission.
July 20, 2008
Changing the Way We Do Church
Willow Creek’s Reveal study challenged assumptions about church activity, spiritual maturity, and discipleship, urging leaders to rethink how believers grow beyond attendance, programs, and traditional ministry measures.
July 20, 2008
The Bible Is the Springboard
At Grandview Christian Church, Aaron Wymer says discipleship must move beyond Bible knowledge alone, encouraging members to develop gifts, serve together, and live out Scripture in community.
July 20, 2008
More Than the ABC”s
Mountain Christian Church keeps disciple making at the center of its mission, measuring growth by spiritual transformation rather than attendance alone.
July 20, 2008
Intentional Events
Southland Christian Church’s discipleship approach emphasizes fewer events, deeper relationships, home-based formation, and small groups shaped by shared life, spiritual growth, and service.
July 20, 2008
ONLINE EXTRA: Making Disciples–An Interview with Ethan Magness
Ethan Magness of Mountain Christian Church discusses how churches can resist pandering, pursue deepening faith, and use both large events and small groups to make disciples.
Let There Be Peace
Victor M. Parachin offers practical Christian wisdom for cultivating personal peace through prayer, releasing worry, treating others with dignity, and living with serenity amid life’s pressures.
Turn Up the Quiet (How I Learned to Enjoy Solitude)
Jan Johnson reflects on solitude as a spiritual discipline—found on canyon walks and retreat days—where inner “committee” voices are quieted, God is heard, busyness loosens its grip, and we learn to be better with others.
What Am I Likely to Hear?
Clearing out competing voices is only the first step in hearing God. Jan Johnson describes common themes God speaks—love, comfort, surrender, and purpose—and shares how God’s gentle questions can move us forward.
December 26, 2007
Change: How to Accomplish the “Impossible”
A ministry conversation about confronting needed change leads to a deeper question: what do I need to change that no one tells me? Real transformation begins with renewed thinking and choosing personal submission to God’s Word.
He Makes Me Lie Down
After a mild stroke, a senior minister reflects on Psalm 23 and the unexpected gift of being made to rest. A sabbatical, Scripture, and new boundaries reshaped his health, leadership, and pace of ministry.
Natural Thanksgiving
A reflection on why abundance can dull gratitude—and how Scripture points to thankfulness rooted in Christ, prayer, reverence, and joy “in all circumstances,” even when life changes through loss or hardship.
October 17, 2007
Ad Pitches and Spiritual Warfare
Mark A. Taylor reflects on spiritual warfare, Satan’s believable lies, and the call for Christians to remain alert, submit to God, and stand firm against temptation.
July 29, 2007
Avoiding “˜I” Contact! (Do You See What I See!)
By Lisa Jernigan I recently attended a training conference for women themed, “The Masquerade.” We talked about the various masks women wear and how we have become very good at disguising who we really are. I spoke with a sweet older woman who seemed to show the spirit of Jesus. As we were talking she began to tear up as I complimented her genuine smile and sweet spirit. She graciously thanked me and said, “If you only knew my past.” Well, I didn’t and I couldn’t imagine that this gentle lady could have ever had a “past.” I said her
July 8, 2007
How Do We Make Disciples Who Look Like Jesus?
Teaching matters, but it isn’t enough. Randy Gariss outlines a clear disciple-making path built on truth, close relationships, and servanthood—three essentials that help believers grow to look and behave like Jesus.
July 3, 2007
Partnering to Grow Disciples
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Randy Gariss’s call to rethink disciple-making so believers look more like Jesus—through knowledge, relationships, and service—and to strengthen Bible teaching beyond the classroom.
Are You Physically at Your Peak?
After a painful ministry season, Stephen Bond reflects on how neglecting health diminished his clarity and stamina. He argues fitness is spiritual stewardship and offers three practical guidelines for lasting discipline.
Discipleship for Slow Learners
Larry and Judy Niemeyer share 10 hard-won lessons from decades of disciple-making work in Africa—prioritizing disciples, designing for reproduction, and relying on God’s presence for lasting transformation.
Looking for Wholeness
What would a “whole life” look like—one marked by wisdom instead of crisis and fads? Randy Gariss outlines ten essential areas of accountability in God’s sight, from worship and friendships to rest, solitude, stewardship, and creativity.
March 18, 2007
Coaching God’s Team (Part 1)
Jim Putman compares the church to a team and argues “winning” is defined by making disciples. He examines sobering statistics and urges leaders to return to Jesus’ relational disciple-making game plan.
