Discipleship

If we will invest in the lives of a few at a time...we will make ripples that will extend beyond our line of sight. – Karl Johnson, C. S. Lewis Institute Fellow

Perspectives

An Impact Beyond Words

On a late January afternoon in 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. during takeoff. Heroic bystanders and helicopter crews plucked five people from the ice-clogged waters in a dramatic race against time. The rescuers needed to get to the passengers before the ice got to them. Seventy-four passengers […]

2 Questions for Successful Discipleship

Are you implementing discipleship in your organization, ministry or church? Many ministries have launched, faltered and discarded an attempt at discipleship because they failed to answer two critical questions. They discussed growth, teaching, transformation, mentoring, accountability, spiritual maturity…, but never really identified the distinctions of discipleship. Two significant questions will affect the objectives, content and […]

Discipleship in a Changing Culture

The culture keeps changing. If we don’t change how we say things, they won’t hear us. This is an exciting era of ministry, especially in discipleship. Discipleship is critical, from establishing new believers in the faith to building future leadership. At least three aspects of the culture are cause for a shift in how we […]

Discipleship and Scripture Memory

Kirk Thomsen has been a discipler of men throughout his adult life. After 34 years in human resources with Eaton Corporation, he is retired and still building into men. Kirk summarizes the significant role that Scripture memory has played in his life and ministry— In coming to faith in Christ in my 20’s, I was […]

Two Critical Perspectives

Our perspectives shape the way that we think about the Christian life. We may not readily verbalize these perspectives, but they will greatly influence the growth of our relationship with Christ. They also affect what we pass on to those we seek to disciple. Consider two critical perspectives for a believer: I have Christ, and […]

A Description of the Discipleship Resources

The Bible study resources posted on this website are designed to be used for personal study, one-to-one discipleship or small group discussions. They are written in a format that raises questions or issues along with a list of passages from which you can draw your conclusions. Commentary on the passages has been kept to a […]

Set Your Foundation

Set Your Foundation is an eight-part Bible study series designed for you to navigate by yourself, study with a friend or teach in a small group. The content establishes a foundation that every believer needs for following Christ for a lifetime. We will often return to these truths in the midst of adversity, struggle or […]

Set Your Foundation Leader’s Guide

The Leader’s Guide is designed to equip a discipler or small group leader to effectively discuss each of the topics presented in Set Your Foundation. The Leader’s Guide includes: 1. Basic principles of discipleship. 2. Insights on issues that are often raised. 3. Objectives for covering each topic. 4. Additional discussion questions.

Unlocking The Scriptures

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:15—Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. (NASB) Bible study requires a measure of diligence to move beyond merely reading the Scriptures and skimming off the obvious applications to the Christian […]

Framework

A common question—“How do you live the Christian life?” We usually think in terms of important spiritual disciplines, like Bible reading, prayer and fellowship. Spiritual disciplines describe how we spend time with God. Framework is a Bible study series focused on the indispensable dynamics in our relationship with God–grace, faith and obedience. Framework is designed […]

2 Timothy

2 Timothy is a Bible study series focused on two things. First, it is focused on using Bible study methods to unpack a whole book of the Bible, step by step. These methods expand our Bible study skills. Second, it is focused on identifying ministry principles that will increase our effectiveness in making disciples. This […]

A Roadmap for Discipleship

A Roadmap for Discipleship is written for anyone who engages in disciple-making. Most people ask, “What content is important? Where do I start? Where am I taking a person? How do I get there…?” This Roadmap is based on the materials that several discipleship ministries have found effective for the early phases of moving Christ-followers […]

On-Ramps For Discipleship

Engaging in a ministry of discipleship can seem like a difficult task for most believers, especially for those who have not had someone come alongside them. There are a few “on-ramps” for discipleship that can help you get started.

Bible Studies For Women

For over 30 years Jo Anne Petersburg has written and taught Bible studies for women. Together with her husband, Tom (Catapult director), they ministered to Cleveland professional athletes, wives and girlfriends through Athletes In Action/Pro Sports. In the fall of 2020, a friend, Janet Maltbie, added her technical media skills to Jo Anne’s writing and […]

Practicing the Ways of Jesus

There seems to be an unspoken weight or mystique around what many call the “spiritual disciplines” or the path toward spiritual formation. Theologians like to use the fancy term progressive sanctification in our fight against flesh and the world. But often we tend to over-spiritualize the disciplines or steer toward a legalistic “to do” list […]

PURSUERS

The Scriptures call us to action and intentionality with words like seek, press on, strive and pursue. These words describe how to approach God, how to protect our marriages and lead our families. They are words that drive our spiritual growth and our engagement with Kingdom purposes. They are words that mark a pursuer. The Pursuers Bible study series looks at what it […]

HOPE

Our conversations are peppered with “I hope so.” I hope it doesn’t rain on the picnic. I hope the home team wins today. I hope the boss gives bonuses this year. We hope these things happen; then again, they may not. When the Bible speaks of hope, it has an entirely different meaning. In the […]

1 Thessalonians – A Pattern for Disciple Making

As people engage in the ministry of disciple making, they often ask, “So what do I teach others? Where do I start?” Why not start where the apostle Paul started? Most of Paul’s epistles were written to established churches to address dangerous heresy, persistent conflict, rich doctrine and extensive ministry principles. His letter to the […]