Discipleship is one of the most important aspects of the faith, though many parts of Christianity today don’t seem to practice it. Many things might stand in for discipleship: reading a book about a Christian subject, for example, or listening to sermons and going to church each week. However, though beneficial, these and similar activities […]

The post Elements of Discipleship appeared first on Bible Advocate.

We continue our Focus on the Faithful series with one of the New Testament’s most beloved figures, Simon Peter. We know this lowly fisherman-turned-mighty apostle well. After Jesus, his name is mentioned more times than any other, including Paul’s. Few Bible characters are more exposed before us than Peter is. We see all his flaws […]

The post Focus on the Faithful: Peter appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Jesus chipped away at Peter to make a re-shaped disciple, every bit the opposite of what he was when Jesus first met him, firm like a rock!

The post Like a Rock: A Classic Example in Character Formation appeared first on Bible Advocate.

At 9:00 am each morning, my children and I drop what we are doing, gather in the living room, and drop to our knees to “pray like Daniel prayed.” My husband joins us when we drop again in the evening, as the six of us anchor our hope in Christ as a family. It hasn’t […]

The post Why I’m Embracing Fixed-Hour Prayer appeared first on Bible Advocate.

When I was a child, my family would visit my grandparents on Sundays at their home. As we departed in the evening, my grandfather would give me a bear hug and instruct me to “be a good listener” in school. I heard this admonition hundreds of times over the years. The importance of listening and […]

The post Teachable Moments appeared first on Bible Advocate.

To say that coaching is trending these days would be an understatement. Once exclusively related to sports, this term is associated with just about every profession imaginable. Why this rapid growth of the coaching industry? Why this rapid growth of the coaching industry? Theories abound, including the impact of TV shows such as Oprah and […]

The post You Need a Coach appeared first on Bible Advocate.

The story is told of a busy father who wanted to occupy his toddler so the boy wouldn’t distract him. The father tore a world map into several pieces and sent the little boy to his room to put it back together, instructing him not to return until the job was done. Surprised by his […]

The post Skin and Bones Discipleship appeared first on Bible Advocate.

“And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (KJV).  With these words from Jesus, we conclude our Resurrection Commission theme, even if Christ’s Great Commission is just beginning for us (Matthew 28:20b). I do hope that you’ve been challenged and inspired by this yearlong journey. I have.  “I […]

The post First Word – Immanuel appeared first on Bible Advocate.

He was not just a good man who happened to do miracles. Jesus broke with all conventions, doing the unexpected, associating with the downtrodden, ignored, and forgotten outcasts of the earth. Reaching down, lifting up, He did not fill the role assigned Him by the Jews. They figured a proper Messiah would behave far differently […]

The post Don’t Just Stand There! appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Chalkboards, classrooms, and open books dominate web search results for teaching-related imagery. When we include the word Christian, then pulpits, pews, and Bibles join the mix. Because we are heirs of the Enlightenment and citizens of the Information Age, our concept of discipleship and teaching is often conflated with the notion of sharing information. We […]

The post Moving Beyond Information appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Worship and evangelism in the company of doubt.

The post Disciples in Distress appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Reframing the Great Commission.

The post Our Witness, Our Worship appeared first on Bible Advocate.