November 5, 2025
As those who have been charged with carrying out the Great Commission to go to all the world making disciples, let's remember that baptizing and teaching is not complete if obedience is not also taught and modeled by those who claim to follow Jesus.
Spiritual disciplines, by themselves, do not bring about the spiritual transformation God seeks in our hearts.
September 1, 2022
A tragic event like the unthinkable massacre of schoolchildren generates an understandable emotional response. The faith community often responds with the words “thoughts and prayers,” which incenses secularists who consider them to be “do-nothing” sentiments. But God uses the thoughts, prayers, and actions of dedicated Christ followers to change troubled young men into godly leaders. I know, because he used them to change me.
January 28, 2015
By Jim Tune I”ve heard the axiom “Love everyone, but move with the movers!” shared by speakers at leadership conferences. There”s truth in this counsel. I”ve had to encourage people to find another church when they became obtusely stuck on some element of vision or direction. At some point, I”ve had to weigh the value of giving disproportionate amounts of energy to people who refuse to change or compromise. So yeah, there”s some wisdom in moving with the movers. That said, I”m not entirely comfortable with this approach. Sometimes in order to truly love someone like Jesus did, you just
January 11, 2014
By Laura Buffington It”s absolutely right to consider congregational surveys, meet felt needs, and offer the crowd exactly what it wants. Jesus himself sometimes did this. But what can we learn from the times he did something entirely different? And how do we point church consumers toward the God who wants to consume them? When I was fresh out of seminary and brand new to church meetings, I had a hard time making a distinction between the two environments. In meetings about parking lot flow and service times, my mind was always wandering off to abstract questions about how traffic
  by Randy Gariss Preacher, You”ve Got Friends This article is adapted from a chapter that appeared originally in Preacher, You”ve Got Friends, compiled by Murray Hollis. This collection of life and ministry stories and advice is written by 25 Christian leaders, all of them with considerable ministry experience. The book is available for $15 plus $3 shipping at www.christianfriendsconnexion.com. Or write Christian Friends Connexion, 1111 Windsor, Joplin, MO 64801.  In 27 years at the same ministry, there have been multiple opportunities and reasons to leave. Sometimes the temptation to resign and start fresh somewhere else involved joy and
July 20, 2008
Mountain Christian Church keeps disciple making at the center of its mission, measuring growth by spiritual transformation rather than attendance alone.
June 8, 2008
Michael C. Mack explains how small groups can move from good to great through transformed leaders, devoted teams, and a God-Sized Plan that pushes them toward mission.
December 30, 2007
We love before-and-after stories, but God’s transforming work is the most breathtaking. Jackina Stark reflects on Scripture and real-life examples of renewed minds, mended relationships, and Spirit-enabled courage to do what we cannot.
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