Looking back at 2020, here were the most viewed posts at Kingdom Upgrowth.

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.
A review of Mike Harland’s book Worship Essentials (2018).
How do we help our children’s faith become their own? Luke Dockery shares about his Youth In Family Ministry model as a deliberate way to
How do we help our children’s faith become their own? Luke Dockery is our guest today. He shares about his Youth In Family Ministry model
A great conversation with Bob Turner, Library Director at the Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee. We discuss trends in books, exciting recent publications,
For this Research Spotlight, I had a rich conversation with Dr. Jason Bybee about discipleship. Discipleship involves following behind Jesus while walking beside the people we are helping to grow.
Not Employees Volunteers aren’t employees. When you’re leading in a church setting, there isn’t a single person involved who doesn’t have the real option of
“It was in the last place I looked.” One of my least favorite expressions follows an anxious search for keys, wallets, and phones. Having scoured
The Shepherding Metaphor A good shepherd cares about his sheep. When we talk about leadership, we would do well to stay close to that imagery.
These days, talking about important subjects online is a lot like walking through a minefield. Matt Dabbs provides tools to help us with online conversations–and any conversations–where both the people and the issues matter. I always enjoy any time I can spend with Matt, as he absolutely embodies the healthy principles shared here in this video. This is great advice for anyone to consider before you hit “post”, which is just as valuable to practice at your office, your church, and at home.
These days, talking about important subjects online is a lot like walking through a minefield. Matt Dabbs provides tools to help us with online conversations–and
In this Research Spotlight, I am excited to share a conversation I had with Kevin Burr. Kevin is a Ph.D. student at Asbury Theological Seminary, having previously completed his M.Div. at the Harding School of Theology and a Masters in Education at Harding University. He is also one of the ministers at the Nicholasville Church of Christ in Kentucky.
Kevin had recently conducted a retreat for worship leaders on how worship functions as spiritual formation. I wanted to hear some of the ideas Kevin had been cultivating, and am glad to share them with you.
As the conclusion to the Questioning Forward series about the assumptions of Appreciative Inquiry, Dr. Mark Adams describes his use of the Appreciative Inquiry method at the Old Hickory Church of Christ to help him discern a path forward to renewal at the congregation that would not come at the cost of division, but would promote unity and ownership.
I’ve enjoyed posting about the assumptions of Appreciative Inquiry. In this video, I explain how I utilized this method at the Old Hickory Church of