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Lives of Faith and Grace Series
A Brief Biblical Theology of Friendship
In the beginning, we walked with God in friendship. Then we walked away. But now, God is befriending us again.
Articles on Community
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Podcast: Is the Church Facing a Discipleship Crisis? (Ajith Fernando)
Has the church neglected one-on-one discipleship? Why should an emphasis on this kind of intensive discipleship be recaptured today?
3 Ways You Can Discover Authentic Community in Your Church
For the frustrated, disaffected believer on the fringes of the church—feeling disconnected, unwanted, or not at the center of things—there’s good news. True belonging is possible.
Why Youth Ministry Can’t Function Like Little League
The job of a youth pastor involves equipping the whole church to invest in the whole lives of young people.
Conflict is inevitable, so how will we handle it?
Why Do We Need to Keep Praying “Forgive Us Our Debts”?
If you want to be happy in the church (or simply not give up on the church), you need to learn forgiveness. You need to grant it, and you need to receive it.
How to Pray for Unity across Denominations
Jesus prayed that our unity would also be a testimony such that “the world may believe you have sent me” (17:20).
A Call for Theological Humility
There are plenty of issues over which Christians will be tempted to divide. We must even be willing to make sacrificial adjustments for the sake of our unity with others in the body of Christ.
Our Sorrows Keep Getting More Sorrowful and Joys Keep Getting More Joyful
As you grow in age and in grace, the sorrows become more sorrowful and the joys grow deeper. The sorrows deepen, and yet are infused with stronger joys.
Discipling Is Inherently Countercultural
In our contemporary world, where efficiency, appearance, and marketability are high values, spending hours with disciplees seems like a waste of a leader’s time.
A Tool for Spiritual Formation You Might Be Underutilizing
Whether at home or church, one of the primary ways that Christian relationships advance our spiritual formation is through honest, serious, God-honoring conversations.
Can We Have Jesus without the Church?
Being in fellowship with a church is integral to participating as a part of the body of Christ.
The Promise Jesus Offers to Those Who Leave Everything Behind
Jesus is always honest, even blunt, about the cost of discipleship. He never buries suffering in the small print. He wants us to know that following him will be hard.
4 Ways to Practice Theological Humility
Our zeal for theology must never exceed our zeal for our actual brothers and sisters in Christ. We must be marked by love.
Why We Desperately Need the Body of Christ
Why do I need the daily intervention of the body of Christ? The answer is as simple as it is humbling.
Are You Losing Your Gospel Mind?
I don’t know about you, but in the rush and press of life I can lose my mind. No, I’m talking about a subtle form of insanity that often inflicts me and a vast number of my Christian brothers and sisters.
3 Reasons We're Addicted to Digital Distraction
Author Tony Reinke explains how we use digital distractions to escape people, situations, and thoughts that make us uncomfortable.
How to Repent of Sin and Rejoice in Christ Together with a Discipleship Group
How can we fight the good fight of faith? I want to explain the concept of “discipleship groups” as a way for all disciples to fight for what is noble and beautiful.
A faithful response to sin involves drawing near to God in faith through confession, repentance, and trusting the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
6 Purposes for Plural Leadership
Leading in community puts us under a holy spotlight. But it’s all part of God’s plan and protection.
How to Help Others Understand and Apply the Bible
Helping others understand the Bible and apply it to their lives is a great privilege and a great responsibility.
7 Tips for Improving Your Ministry Team
Jesus does not mean for his followers to go about their work alone. He is the one singular leader in his church. No peers. The rest of us follow his example together.
What Our Individualism Costs Us
In Western culture, the high regard for autonomy and obsession with individualism has come at a cost: community. Tthis lack of community has contributed to rising loneliness.
11 Notable Quotes from Everyday Faithfulness
What does Christian faithfulness look like when life feels unpredictable, hard, or just plain ordinary? Be encouraged by these quotes from Everday Faithfulness by Glenna Marshall.
An Open Letter to Women in the Church
Sister, don’t try to follow Christ alone. There is no substitute for your commitment and service to your local church.
Hospitality: What It Is and What It's Not
Hospitality, biblically speaking, means love of the stranger. What hospitality is not is fellowship.
Teens Need Something They Can’t Find Online
It is vitally important today for all of us to prioritize our local church even as the rest of the world moves more of life online. The body of Christ is essential to spiritual growth.
5 Myths about Counseling and the Church
We come to Jesus as people in need, and we continue in Jesus as people in need.
The 5th Commandment Is for Adults Too
The fifth commandment is found in the middle of a list of commands clearly addressed to adults, targeting issues that are, developmentally speaking, primarily the concerns of adulthood.
Who’s in Charge at Church? 3 Ways the Answer Is You
The whole congregation has the responsibility for its health, its preaching, and its membership. All the members together are responsible.