Jesus-style equipping was purposeful, practical, and portable. Immediately after He challenged the disciples to become “fishers of people,” He took them on people-fishing expeditions. They were learning in the laboratory of real life how to bring the good news to both the religious and irreligious, to people with varying backgrounds with a multitude of needs …
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” Ephesians 4:11-12 Our primary role as ministry leaders is to equip people for works of service. What does it mean to equip people …
I spent the last four days in Daytona Beach equipping students to be, and make, disciples of Jesus. While we had to improvise because of COVID-19 restrictions, the students were still fully engaged and excited about how their faith was being challenged. We used Sonlife’s Reverb training to energize and equip the students to live …
Back in 2016 I decided to take a deep dive into Jesus, studying a different harmony of the Gospels every month throughout the year. In 2018, I did the same thing again, revisiting a few of my favorite harmonies from 2016 while studying through several new ones. In 2021, I plan on taking another deep …
Fully God, fully man. Jesus lived His earthly life in dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Jesus fulfilled His earthly Messianic calling through the power of the Holy Spirit. Stepping into the synagogue of His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus picked up the scroll from Isaiah and boldly declared: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, …
Jesus was a Jew. He was raised by a Jewish mother and a Jewish stepfather in a small Jewish town, Nazareth. He was born in a small hamlet on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, a member of the tribe of Judah, in the line of David. Jesus was given a Jewish name, Yeshua, and ate …
Last week I was in Denver for meetings with our ministry partner, Dare 2 Share, when the words of a respected Christian leader blew up social media. As we all have seen in the past month and even recent years, the words of leaders have an effect on the people they serve and ultimately reflect …
Fifteen years ago, I partnered with my dear friend, Pastor Wiljean Compere, to start Open Door Haiti, a U.S. based non-profit that supports Pastor Wiljean’s ministry efforts in the poorest country in the western hemisphere. During that time, we’ve raised several million dollars to support church planting efforts, build a Disciple-Making Training Center and Bible …
Eight Minutes, Forty Six Seconds. That’s how long it took to turn a nation upside down. George Floyd was killed. Another tragic injustice. A policeman’s knee crushing his neck as he repeatedly cried out, “I can’t breathe.” A policeman who will likely be convicted of murder and spend years behind bars. For almost three months, …
Some of the most sobering moments in my life have been at places like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Pearl Harbor, the Alamo, and Masada. These memorials mark the lives of men and women whose heroic sacrifice was offered in the fight for freedom. At the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. these …