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.

June 29, 2015

Michael C. Mack

9 Recommended Discipleship Materials

By Michael C. Mack While discipleship is more than a program or curriculum, a number of tools can be helpful in your discipling process. Here are nine resources recommended by ministers and elders across the country: 1. The Pastoral Epistles (especially 1 & 2 Timothy) 2. Thoroughly Equipped (available at www.thoroughlyequipped.org) 3. The Truth Project, Del Tackett (www.thetruthproject.org) 4. Seven Keys to an Effective Ministry, Rick Warren (www.pastors.com/7keys) 5. Multiply, Francis Chan (www.multiplymovement.com) 6. Becoming a Disciple-Maker / A Call to Joy, Billie Hanks Jr. (www.ieaom.org) 7. Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual: Equipping Disciples Who Make Disciples, Jim Putman (amazon.com, among

June 26, 2015

Christian Standard

From Generation to Generation

By Jon Weatherly How can the older generation pass along its faith to the younger? History””even biblical history””shows this is always a perilous proposition. And yet here we are, all these millennia later, still lifting up his name. A review of the Bible”s record can encourage us that it will be true again long after we have passed.  I am a baby boomer, barely. Too young for Woodstock or the Vietnam draft, I watched from the safety of childhood and early adolescence as older boomers turned on, tuned in, and dropped out to create the infamous generation gap. Today, as

May 18, 2015

Mark A. Taylor

Finding Your Way Back to God

Interview by Mark A. Taylor Dave Ferguson founded Community Christian Church, Naperville, Illinois, with his brother, Jon, 25 years ago. Finding Your Way Back to God was released March 3, and we talked with them shortly before that about the purpose and their dreams for their new book. (The book is now available at Amazon.com.)   Why write Finding Your Way Back to God? Jon: As many as 92 percent of people who live in the United States would say they believe in God, but research also tells us the majority of those people feel distant or disconnected from God. We sense a

May 7, 2015

Christian Standard

Growing Deeper

By Jennifer Johnson A look at how some growing churches are growing in ways difficult to measure but vital to achieve. ____ Jason Yeatts Executive minister, adults The Creek, Indianapolis, Indiana In our movement, I think the habits of the early 19th century are ingrained””that discipleship means giving people the right material or sermon. At The Creek, we have made an intentional shift from “informational discipleship” to a relational model. Four years ago we started a series of four classes called “Life on Life.” The idea was you”d move through them””from Belong to Grow to Serve to Engage””and be ready

May 1, 2015

Christian Standard

Roadcup”s Top Five Discipleship Resources

By Michael C. Mack David Roadcup has contributed to four books on biblical eldership and speaks often on the topic (see more information about the ministry effective elders at e2elders.org). Here are five resources Roadcup recommends for anyone who is involved in discipleship: 1. As Iron Sharpens Iron: Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship, Howard and William Hendricks 2. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Richard J. Foster 3. Ordering Your Private World, Gordon MacDonald 4. Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time, Greg Ogden 5. Life to Life Discipleship: Deepening Youth through Mentoring and Accountability

March 14, 2015

Michael C. Mack

The Ministry of Encouragement

Author Rob Bentz describes encouragement as “a blast of gospel-centered truth into a mundane and murky situation.” As Christ followers, and especially as those who seek to minister to others, we need encouragement. “It”s something we must passionately pursue for ourselves and intentionally seek to offer to others on the journey,” Bentz says in his book, The Unfinished Church: God”s Broken and Redeemed Work-in-Progress (Crossway Books, www.crossway.org). What can we do about this tremendous need in our lives? Bentz provides three straightforward suggestions: 1. Seek it out. Invite close friends, mature believers, and people whose faith journey you admire to

March 8, 2015

Christian Standard

Redeeming Lent

By T.R. Robertson Some ignore it. Some condemn it. But others have found ways to redeem this 40-day observance with values both biblical and missional. I didn”t grow up with Lent as part of my life. My church, as well as most other congregations in the Restoration Movement of the 1960s and “70s, didn”t observe Lent at all. It was considered a nonbiblical invention of the Catholic Church. We not only looked down on Lent, we mostly ignored it. I don”t remember Lent ever being mentioned in Sunday school or in sermons. My first exposure to Lent came when I was a safety patrol guard

February 5, 2015

Christian Standard

The Struggles of Henri

By J.K. Jones I admit I am no authority on Henri Nouwen, though I’ve read his writings extensively and prayerfully. The one aspect I want to talk about in this article is Nouwen’s struggle with same-sex attraction. I believe he offers help and hope for anyone struggling with their sexual identity. A brief biographical sketch is a good starting place. Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was born January 24, 1932, in Nijkerk, Netherlands. The oldest of four children, his earliest memories were those of wanting to become a Catholic priest. His educational journey included the study of theology and psychology. He

January 26, 2015

Christian Standard

Dying to Self and Discovering Much More

By Jan Johnson Would I or wouldn”t I say it? My friend had just bought a new specialty Bible (one with notes) and was showing me what she liked about it. But I couldn”t hear her because my mind was jammed with thoughts of telling her that I had written many of that Bible”s notes and introductory articles. When she asked me a question, I realized I was too busy listening to the argument in my mind to hear my friend. So I looked directly into her eyes, knowing she wanted my attention. Loving her meant letting go of my

December 7, 2014

Christian Standard

In Praise of Pretending

By Eddie Lowen Few values have bigger buzzword status in the Christian community than authenticity. I”m glad. Sincerity is always in season. When churches and church leaders are genuine in motive and style, spiritual seekers find and follow them. Everything written about reaching young adults stresses the importance of “authentic community.” While the phrase now seems overused, the value can”t be overemphasized. It”s crucial. But I do have one caution concerning authenticity. In my own journey with God, growth has not always felt natural. Some of the progress I”ve made has been forced and awkward, rather than instinctive. So, I”ve

November 2, 2014

Christian Standard

Do You Have SCD?

By Tim Harlow If you think about it, the whole idea of getting to live in Heaven with God one day, based totally and completely on the grace of Jesus, is a remarkable concept. Most of us have lived in the world of Christianity long enough that we just don”t appreciate it enough. One day a Christian kid was talking to his friend about the concept of Jesus and Heaven. The other kid was blown away. He said, “Are you telling me that all I have to do is follow Jesus and I can go to Heaven?”Â  “Yes, it”s that

September 29, 2014

Christian Standard

Stages of Faith

By Ryan Connor Growing faith is a changing faith. Here”s a simple explanation of how this happens, why it”s good, and how we can help others through the process. A single verse of Scripture sums up the young life of Jesus: “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:521). Human development includes each of the four areas Luke identified to describe the ways Jesus grew up (see the chart further down). The doctrine of the incarnation teaches us that Jesus underwent the full human experience. He was “made like His brethren

September 18, 2014

Michael C. Mack

Go Away to Get Inside

By Michael C. Mack One way to know you have an intimate relationship with the Father is when you hear and recognize his voice (John 10:1-5). The only way to do that is to spend time alone with him. But that”s not easy in our fast-paced lives. In ministry we tend to spend a lot of time with other people in community, and that”s good! But as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, solitude and community go hand in hand for spiritually healthy people. Jesus modeled this for us. Luke 5:16 says, “Jesus often withdrew [from crowds of people] to lonely places and

September 16, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

A Choice, Not a Prayer Request

By Mark A. Taylor I”ve written before about a friend in ministry who was dealing with some difficult people. “Why don”t you show them why they need to approach this problem in a different way?” I asked her. “Because people don”t change,” she said. “My telling them another way is better won”t make any difference. They”re going to do this the way they want to do it, not the way I say they should.” If she”s right, how do we ever see change happen? At least a part of the answer comes in the excellent essays by Casey Tygrett  and

July 30, 2014

Christian Standard

Celebrate Who?

By Jim Tune Most popular treatments of faith say it doesn”t matter what you believe. Just believe something“”whatever you want””and you”ll find the sheer act of believing will propel you to greatness. The parades and musical numbers at Walt Disney”s Magic Kingdom encourage visitors to believe in themselves and celebrate their dreams, whatever they are. As I left the theme park after a recent visit, the loudspeakers played a positively giddy song with the chorus, “In everything you do, celebrate you!” But life”s not an amusement park, and this endlessly narcissistic message will eat you alive if you attempt to

July 8, 2014

Christian Standard

Loving God Wholeheartedly

By Indu Lall (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) “God has made us relational beings. He has given us the commandments for our best. When it comes to living a Christian life, “˜love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.”” I received this “best advice“ from my Heavenly Father and my earthly parents. My parents were committed servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. They sacrificially served lepers all of their lives in a very remote village of India. If God wanted them to have an easy, comfortable, happy, luxurious life””and if

July 6, 2014

Christian Standard

Simon-Says Religion

By Tim Harlow The religious leaders in Jesus” day were great at it. The religious leaders I looked up to as a kid were great at it. And as a religious leader today, I am great at it, too. I call it “Simon-Says Religion.” Here”s how it works: I, as the all-knowing “Simon,” call out my interpretations of God”s rules, and everyone else must conform their behavior. Woe to you, blind guides! You say, “If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.” You blind

June 26, 2014

Christian Standard

How Much Can We Accomplish Without God?

By Brett Andrews “I love agitation and investigation and glory in defending unpopular truth against popular error.” “”President James A. Garfield My father-in-law died of cancer a few short weeks after being diagnosed. Until diagnosed, he worked, hunted, and enjoyed his grandchildren to the fullest. Although slowed by lower energy levels, he still worked. Although bothered by nagging back pains, he still felt he had many good years left to enjoy working, hunting, and time with his grandchildren. Then he dared see a doctor. The doctor dared to be honest about what he saw. And my father-in-law didn”t like what

May 20, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Internal Security

By Mark A. Taylor Everyone serving the Lord struggles sometimes with tension between external actions and internal motives. Am I singing or preaching or teaching because I love to be in front of people, or because I love to communicate God”s Word? Do I give out of guilt or out of gratitude? Do I approach Bible study, prayer, or weekly worship solely out of duty, or are they a delight to me? And when it comes to ministers who lead growing churches, the tensions multiply. Am I seeking church growth to build the kingdom or to build my ego? Am

April 29, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Maybe the Answers Are Simple

By Mark A. Taylor “We make Christianity so much more complicated than it needs to be, especially when it comes to talking about millennials.” Rachel Held Evans, author of The Year of Biblical Womanhood, had 18 minutes to answer “How will millennials contribute to the future of the church?” Hers was one of 30 questions, each assigned to a different speaker at the Q Conference last week in Nashville. No one gave answers clearer than hers. “Millennials are tired of the culture wars,” Held said. “Time and again church leaders believe a few style changes are the key. But millennials

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