Ask yourself this question: Which are you more tempted to pretend that you are: an everywhere-for-all, a fix-it-all, or a know-it-all? What do you feel you will lose if you stop pretending in these ways and entrust yourself to Jesus?…

I am learning to see and value my story, past and present. I discover opportunities to heal just by showing up in the daily things of life with honesty and willingness to bring my wounds into the light. Knowing your story is about where you’ve been and where you’re going, but it’s also about understanding who you are in every present moment. So, what are you feeling?

What keeps churches from planting churches and sending missionaries? For nearly a decade in various roles, I’ve been honored to create and oversee training for discerning one’s ministry fit and for equipping potential church planters to plant across North America and in multiple nations. I've also been honored to serve, coach, and train church planters in various cultures all around the globe. (I often learn more from them as they learn from me!)

I want you to imagine for a second the person you know who is the least likely to wake up on a Sunday morning, get dressed, eat breakfast, get their family in the car and drive to a church gathering. For many of us this is pretty normal behaviour, it is what we do, because we are followers of Jesus, and this is a part of our rhythm of following him. But for many the likelihood of this happening is becoming increasingly unlikely.

“PREACH THE WORD”: This was the motto at the school where I received ministry training. It was known for its commitment to biblical exegesis and literal interpretation. So, semester after semester, I learned what the actual words on the Bible’s pages meant, and how to explain that meaning to others. I was young in my faith and just learning to know and love the Bible during those years. But looking back, I think I learned to preach the Bible’s words, but not actually preach the Word. And there’s a difference.

What will the North American Church look like in 2050 (which isn't even 30 years away?!) What foundations can we keep from the past, and how must we contextualize for the future? And how is Jesus still good news in an increasingly pluralistic, post-Christendom culture?

Join Daniel Yang & Ben Connelly to discuss these themes in our first workshop of 2023, sponsored by Fuller Church Planting Initiative.

While it’s probably true that 18-25 year olds of every generation are sort of anti-institution, we have not seen any other generation born into the age of the internet, extremely heightened by social media, raised in an economic recession, plagued by mental health diagnoses, navigating college during the most politically and racially divided moment in our lifetime, and then thrust into the workforce in a global pandemic.

Gen-Z is not a snowflake generation. They’re just accurately reflecting back to us the cultural chaos that started off this decade.

The birth of Jesus was the deepest, most heartfelt song the world has ever heard. God’s beautiful masterpiece made its debut with a note ringing out clear and bright. It has resonated throughout the ages in the hearts of those whose longing ran too deep to be satisfied by the pervasive but placid promises of this broken world. For centuries, followers of Jesus developed Christmas into a joyous recognition that where there is darkness, the Light of the World will shine through.

The world of publishing is a weird, at times overwhelming world. It feels confusing to navigate, and it's often hard to even know the first step. But every book started with an idea, and every author started out in some form of obscurity -- so sometimes it's just helpful to know where to start!

Trillia Newbell and Don Gates will help get you started in this free, online video workshop.

For Christians, suffering produces real hope by pointing us away from possibility and to what has already been done in Christ and the love of God that has already been given to us through the Holy Spirit.

Suffering produces hope, and I really wish there was another way. But if hope were earned through chances and striving and results and luck, who could attain it? And how many could attain it?

Cultural celebrations are not man-made institutions. Like much of God’s creation, holidays can be—and have been—distorted for all sorts of less-than-holy purposes. But what if “Santa” really isn’t an anagram for “Satan”? What if we can can we redeem this holiday season, and use it for God’s work?

Seen throughout the Old Testament, and most clearly in Leviticus 23, God commanded His people to pause several times each year, simply to feast and celebrate. Here are far-too-brief summaries of Old Testament Israel’s national holidays…

As we wait through our own silent periods, we wait in hope. The One who heard and answered Zechariah is the same One who hears us today. The One who sends snow to quiet the world is the same One who quiets our hearts even when we can’t hear him…

How do you join civic action with the work of faith? I look forward to discussing this with you in the upcoming (free!) workshop “Faithful Discipleship in a World of Activism” (September 14th, 1p ET / 10a PT).

Did you know that the Bible never refers to itself as God’s Word? Of course, the Bible is a primary means by which we can know God’s message and God’s Son, but we must distinguish the two concepts. Because God’s words, rightly read, point us toward God’s Word.

If you’re feeling tired, worn down, and anxious, you are not alone. But how do you persevere? How do you minister when your own emotional health as a leader is suffering?

In this workshop we will look at Biblical and practical ways leaders can remain healthy - or return to health - no matter the season.

There comes a day when a wall is simply too high to get over with the usual means. This is a mercy. It is an opportunity. It is God’s means to “crucify our ministry” and bring us into greater awareness of our union with Him.

Bivocational ministry -- like so many other aspects of life -- often leads to an outcome unexpected by those who pursue it.

“I remember lots of laughter and tears in that community. Above all, I remember Jesus’ presence. Being part of that community helped Jesus go from blurry to clear.”

God made us interdependent as men and women. His vision for his church is that we would partner together. We are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, called to steward the good news of Jesus Christ.

Communicating the gospel is difficult work, but when you break it down into “goal and hurdles,” the work can be shared.