Tag Archives: Discipleship

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How Does Jesus Define Love? (3 Quick Truths)

In this video, you will learn how Jesus defines love. Our culture is confused about love.

What does God say about love?

What does the Bible really say about love?

Does love always affirm behaviors and beliefs? Is love a feeling?

Learn 3 countercultural truths in this quick video that will help you love people like Jesus did.

Biblical Passages About Love

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”-1 Cor 13:6

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”-Col 3:13-15

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How to Overcome Cotton Candy Christianity

Growing up I was aimless, self-reliant, and far from God. But along the way, everything changed for me.

no_cottonCandyAs we begin talking about how we avoid Cotton Candy Christianity and raising a generation of “Almost Christians,” I want to share some of my journey because I think it could make all the difference for you as well.

When I became a follower of Jesus Christ as a junior in High School, I was finally home. Coming from a broken family, I was now able to begin healing in many ways through God’s perfect love and acceptance.

But of all of the gracious gifts God has given me, the one that has most profoundly changed the trajectory of my life is this truth: God desires and deserves our best thinking.

As Christians our thinking matters to God. Yes our emotions and relationships matter to God as do our acts of kindness and serving others. But none of that replaces this foundational part of Christian discipleship–our minds matter.

[Tweet “”To live well we must think well.””]

And it is the failure to grasp this key insight–more than any other–that has lead to the “almost Christianity” we are experiencing today.

When defining the Greatest commandment, Jesus framed it this way:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” – Luke 10:27

To live well we must think well. All of our actions flow from what we believe about reality—including our thoughts about God and our neighbor.

[Tweet “”God desires and deserves our best thinking.””]

C.S. Lewis is no fan of Cotton Candy Christianity:

“God is no founder of intellectual slackers than any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you, you are embarking on something which will take the whole of you, brains and all.” – C.S. Lewis

We can’t just feel. We have to think. We need to take Christianity seriously again.

We must embrace God’s calling to think well and love Him with all of our minds.

You can do this. Now’s the time. Are you ready?

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Article: Is something more true because it’s in the Bible?

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The Indispensable Role of Tests in the Christian Life

Tests. Ugh. Sometimes I wish I had finished with them when I graduated from school. No more homework. No more tests. Sounds great right? Unless there is more to it than that when it comes to the spiritual life.

Recently I re-read some words from The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard that helped me rethink this approach again:

“First we must accept the circumstances we constantly find ourselves in as a place of God’s kingdom and blessing. God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are, and if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being “right,” we will simply have no place to receive his kingdom into our life. For those situations and moments are our life.”

These tests and situations are opportunities. Though well stated, Willard did not come up with this idea. The brother of Jesus did:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4 (NASB)

Comfort is not God’s goal for my life–wow that is even painful to type! Being a disciple means doing homework and taking tests–not to earn God’s favor or merit his grace, but to grow. Growth is not comfortable but it is good, necessary, and what we were made for. This is another reason why theology matters.

God help me receive todays’s circumstances–as husband, father, friend, co-worker–as an opportunity to grow. Help me pass the test for your glory and my ultimate benefit. Help change my perspective.

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How have you experienced receiving circumstances as opportunities in your life? Share how God has met you in them below in the comments section to encourage one another.

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Four Essential Questions For Teaching From A Christian Worldview

How to Teach Christian Worldview Video

How to Teach Christian Worldview

Recently, I wrote about how and why we are failing our students. But, what does it mean to teach from a christian worldview? The foundation of the Christian worldview is the conviction that in Christ are “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). In other words, Jesus has the best information about everything. To live out a Christian worldview is to “think Christianly” about all of life. Here’s how I have tried to flesh out this conviction: Christianity actually rises to the level of being true or false (and there are good reasons to believe it’s actually true). And if Christianity is true, then it speaks to all of life; it makes a comprehensive claim on reality.

“If Christianity should happen to be true – that is to say, if its God is the real God of the universe,” said G.K. Chesterton, “then defending it may mean talking about anything and everything. Things can be irrelevant to the proposition that Christianity is false, but nothing can be irrelevant to the proposition that Christianity is true.”

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Core Worldview Commitments

In light of that, I teach with the following core commitments. First, Christianity is a knowledge tradition, which thinkchristianlycoverhighresmeans that truths about God, history, the spiritual life, and morality can actually be known, not merely believed (cf. Col. 1:9-10 and Luke 1:1-4).

Second, I assume (and argue for) the existence of objective truth. That is, truth is discovered; not created by an individual or culture. These two commitments will give students the confidence to cut through the mindless sound bites and slogans so common in our culture today.

Teaching from a Christian worldview requires that we ask and answer four vital questions:

1.) What do Christians believe about this? (Understanding / Content)
2.) Why do Christians believe this? (Reasons / Evidence)
3.) Why does this matter to my life? (Integration / Ownership)
4.) As an everyday ambassador, how can I help others connect with this important truth? (Embodiment / Connection)

This isn’t everything that could be said. But I think it’s an important starting point. Our beliefs and our thought lives provide the live possibilities for us to choose from in the day in and day out of life. If our thoughts are mostly away from God, then our choices most likely will be as well. Renewing our mind is fundamental to being an apprentice of Jesus and worldview formation (Col. 3:1-3; Rom. 12:1-2).

See more of my biblical worldview, apologetics, and culture teaching videos on my YouTube Channel.

I have tried to flesh out and apply this approach in my book with Zondervan, Think Christianly: Looking at the Intersection of Faith and Culture.

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Howard G. Hendricks ‘Prof’ Is Home With The Lord (1924–2013)

I was sad to learn of the news that ‘Prof’ is now home with the Lord (He was 88). I had the pleasure of serving as a fellow in the Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership during my time at Dallas Theological Seminary and taking Bible Study Methods and Leadership from him. He was the real deal. What an impact this man has had. His influence and passion for God’s Word and discipleship literally spans the globe. If you have never heard of him and especially if you have, please take some time to read and watch this tribute put together by DTS. Odds are that the person who taught you how to study the Bible was influenced by Howard Hendricks. Let’s celebrate his life!

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. – 2 Timothy 2:2

Thank you Prof for marking my life and the lives of so many. Well done…may you enjoy the rest of your Master, Savior, and Lord.