Helping God's People to Flourish
Even though your life is unique, it is helpful to consider what has helped other people to grow closer to God. Here are some basic frameworks for thinking about God, pathways to God, and typical moves that faith can involve as you engage with these practices.
Here are five foundational ideas for how Spiritual Growth works, and a challenge for you to try.
Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence are here to stay. How might we harness their potential for the Kingdom of God?
To make slides more impactful, pay attention to the basic principles of photography.
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In many settings, identifying groups can lead to negative things. But to encourage positive change, it can benefit a person to know how and with whom they identify themselves.
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One of the most helpful books I’ve read in a while is Bowdle’s Rethink Communication. It’s all specifically about churches and how we communicate. I
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People’s lives are constantly stimulated and distracted. To keep them with you, you must vary your content style frequently.
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If it’s all on your slides, why do they need you? Let visuals be an aid, not a replacement.
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Speak to the intersection of theology and life. If your theology doesn’t “become flesh” it won’t provide anything useful.
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People are distracted enough as it is. Don’t contribute to your listeners’ struggle to focus on your message.
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In this episode, we talk with Rachel Howell about Biblical interpretation. A scholar and missionary herself, Rachel has taken a deep dive into Alexander Campbell’s influence on Churches of Christ in the way we view and interpret Scripture. She will critique some areas of imbalance and suggest what it might look like to build an even healthier hermeneutic as we move forward.
One of the best ways to make a story come to life is to help people explore it through their senses.
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Dr. Mark Adams sits down with Dr. Kevin Burr to share some experiential advice for young ministers…and really, for anyone looking to grow spiritually.
Looking back at 2020, here were the most viewed posts at Kingdom Upgrowth.
Mark Powell talks about Discipleship in Community, a book he co-wrote containing a theological vision for the future of churches of Christ.
Scripture speaks often of the “God of Israel.” But who did Israel believe that God was? What kind of a God did Israel envision as she worshiped? Dr. John D. Fortner provides insight into this compassionate, active God we encounter in Scripture.
What does it actually look like for people to get healthier incrementally? How do we help dysfunctional tribes become high-functioning teams? Here are a few ideas.
A commentary on John 21, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
A commentary on John 20, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
How can we lead our churches in healthier ways? Research Spotlight is a collection of live interviews with leading scholars, based on their original research.
Dr. Matt Carter shares best practices for helping every member in your church identify a ministry in which they can connect and flourish.
A commentary on John 19, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
A commentary on John 17, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
A commentary on John 17, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
A commentary on John 16, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
A commentary on John 15, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
A commentary on John 14, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
A commentary on John 13, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Mark Powell.
A commentary on John 12, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
A commentary on John 11, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
A commentary on John 9, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
A commentary on John 9, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
A commentary on John 8, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
A commentary on John 7, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
A commentary on John 6, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
Kevin Burr helps us gain a more culturally-informed view of John’s Gospel. What would John’s original audience have assumed that we might not? This conversation helps to bridge the gap.
A commentary on John 5, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
Dr. Mark Powell of the Harding School of Theology talks about how John’s Gospel enhances our understanding about God.
Dr. Mark Powell of the Harding School of Theology talks about how John’s Gospel enhances our understanding about God.
A commentary on John 4, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Keith Stanglin.
Dr. Kindy De Long shares insights into some of the things that John’s Gospel uniquely contributes to the Gospels’ telling of the story of Jesus. What might John be showing us that he considers of special importance?
A commentary on this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Keith Stanglin.
In 2020 we’re going on a journey through John’s Gospel. We hope you’ll come, too!
Here are my favorite books I read in 2019, along with a full list of all the books I read this year.
Engaging Scripture creatively helps us engage it more deeply. Here are some of my haikus based on I John.
Engaging Scripture creatively helps us engage it more deeply. Here are some of my haikus based on Jonah.
Scripture comes to life when we engage it creatively. Here is a collection of haiku poems I’ve written based on Isaiah.
Good preaching informs, but great preaching transforms. Dr. Rob O’Lynn shares his research about how preachers can utilize transformative learning theory in helping their congregations to grow spiritually. Carefully crafted applications help the sermon move from the mind to the heart, and ultimately to the hands of the listeners who live into the new possibilities which the Word imagines.
Fundraising is an essential part of mission trips. You cannot go on a mission trip without the means to get there. Since many people raise their funds through writing letters, I am offering some tips for how to write excellent letters that are more likely to get you the response you are desiring.
If you are wanting to teach a larger book of the Bible without overwhelming your listeners, here are three strategies for making larger, complex books more accessible.