Articles for tag: John Whittaker

September 1, 2021

Back to the Drawing Board: How to Lead a Church Built Around Making Disciples (No Matter the Cost)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is well-known for penning the book The Cost of Discipleship about what it costs each of us to follow Jesus. In addition to that cost, discipleship—or disciple-making—also costs church leaders who take it seriously. I recently spoke with a lead pastor who serves not far from where I live. Our conversation went something like this: Me: Disciple-making is the mission Jesus gave to the church. Him: I think we need to focus more on evangelism. It seems like all I hear of late is “discipleship,” and [to me] it sounds like “work harder, learn more, go deep.” It

February 24, 2021

Christian Standard

News & Updates

News Briefs for Feb. 24

An online learning community event for senior leaders of Christian churches is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CT) March 11. The virtual event—presented by Renew.org and sponsored by The Solomon Foundation—will explore the book Disciple Making Culture by Brandon Guindon. Go to renew.org for more information and to register. _ _ _ Lyndon Haines, 33, pastor of Weiser (Idaho) Christian Church, is the newest member of Washington County Board of Commissioners. The Independent Enterprise recently sat down for a Q&A with the Boise Bible College graduate. _ _ _ A Spire Huddle on Effective Digital Church is set

January 20, 2021

Christian Standard

News & Updates

Grubert Named CFO/COO of Financial Planning Ministry (Plus News Briefs)

Grace Grubert has been promoted to the new dual positions of chief financial officer and chief operations officer (CFO/COO) of Financial Planning Ministry in Irvine, Calif. Grubert joined FPM in 2008 and has been serving as director of administration during a time of great growth at the organization. FPM is a nonprofit partnership of national charities dedicated to providing a path to sound biblical stewardship through donor estate planning. In her new role, Grubert will be supported by a national team of 35 staff members serving 100 charitable partners. Together they serve 34,000 estate planned families and have helped facilitate

December 23, 2020

Christian Standard

News & Updates

News Briefs for Dec. 23

Compiled by Jim Nieman Victor Glover, an astronaut now serving a six-month mission on the International Space Station, recently was chosen as one of 18 members of NASA’s Artemis team, which the space agency said “will help pave the way for the next astronaut missions on and around the moon,” the Christian Chronicle reported. Glover is a member of a noninstrumental church of Christ in the Houston area. In an earlier article, the Chronicle wrote that Glover sent up Communion cups and a Bible to the space station before blasting off on his mission Nov. 15. _ _ _ In

March 15, 2020

John Whittaker

New Testament Theology & Bible

Thomas: Testimony . . . and Why Seeing Doesn’t Contradict Believing

By John Whittaker It was evening of the Sunday Jesus rose from the dead, and the frightened disciples were holed up behind locked doors. Emotions, excitement, and tensions soared. Suddenly, though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them. “Shalom,” he greeted them. And then he showed them his hands and his side, scars and all, evidence that it was indeed him. After that encounter, the euphoric disciples couldn’t wait to tell Thomas, who wasn’t with them that night. But upon hearing the news, Thomas was hesitant, uncertain. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to believe. He just needed more

June 22, 2019

Christian Standard

Church & Ministry Teaching

Learning Christ: Education That Transforms

By John Whittaker I was sitting in a coffee shop with a young man I had baptized several months earlier. “I’m lost during the sermon,” he admitted. “I don’t know whether the passage comes before Jesus or after. And it feels like the preacher just opens his Bible to wherever.” Fact: Basic Bible or Christian understanding can’t be assumed anymore. Fact 2: Folks have access to infinite amounts of nice-sounding memes and inspirational junk food on social media, and because they have such a limited and shallow understanding of the Christian faith, it all gets mixed together into a sort