Category Archives: Discipleship

Yes, Jesus Loves Me

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Mark

One of the first confessions of faith I learned as a child was this simple lyric: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Where the Bible tells me so is in the witness of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Back to Work

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Mark

It is no secret that businesses in our communities and across the United States are on a desperate search to hire workers. Incentives to go back to work continue to increase, with sign-on bonuses and even pet insurance being offered … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Staying True in Persecution

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Mark

What is at stake for Christians facing persecution today is the same as what is at stake for every believer who wants to follow Christ. Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It May Sting but It Doesn’t Have to Stick

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Mark

I read the lines a few times to make sure I understood what I was being accused of. Even though I didn’t believe it was true, the accusation still stung. Words can do that whether or not they are true, … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Reflections on Church Attendance

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Mark

It is no secret that Americans do not attend church as much as they once did.  Whether Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, or Evangelical, attendance patterns overall are down.  Just over a year ago, The Pew Research Center published a report titled … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Time-Out!

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Mark

I played basketball in high school.  I remember the conditioning we went through, including stair-laps around the gym and the infamous “killers,” which were sprints that began and ended with jumping.  I remember our coach timing those and making us continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why Is It So Hard?

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Mark

Why is it so hard to reach religious people with the gospel?  I’m talking about good, upright, moral, people?  Perhaps you can recall times you engaged one of these individuals in conversation, and the door opened to share the gospel.  But in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Follow Me

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Mark

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be My disciple. . . . Every one of you who does not say good-bye … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Sound of Silence

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Mark

Almost everyone has something to say about nearly everything these days.  There appears to be little, if any, restraint in the stream of words flowing out of mouths and from fingers.  It seems to me that we have forsaken the … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spiritual Disciplines and Legalism

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Mark

This month we start up our small discipleship groups at my church.  One of the things we emphasize and hold group members accountable to is their commitment to spiritual disciplines like consistent time in God’s Word, prayer, and Scripture memorization.  Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment