Tag: church (Page 3 of 24)

Love Wins…Kind Of

November 7, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 1 Comment

We hear it everywhere: “Love wins.” It’s on T-shirts, social media, and bumper stickers. It’s a feel-good phrase, right? Just love each other, and everything will magically work out. But here’s the harsh reality: our love alone doesn’t win a thing.

Our love is conditional, selfish, and pretty pathetic. It gets tired. It gets offended. We say we’ll love unconditionally, but the second someone hurts us, or something doesn’t go our way, that so-called “unconditional” love suddenly has a lot of conditions. We fall in love as easily as we fall out of it, and we struggle to love people who challenge us. So, let’s cut the crap: if love depends on us to “win,” we’re doomed.

But here’s the twist that changes everything: Jesus’ love. Now, that love? That’s the love that wins. It’s not some mushy, feel-good sentiment. It’s radical, all-consuming, and completely unselfish. It’s a love that didn’t just say nice things but laid itself on the line—literally. Jesus gave up everything. He didn’t just love us when it was easy; He loved us when we nailed Him to a cross. His love didn’t give up when it got hard; His love didn’t turn away even when we turned away from Him. He didn’t stop loving when we lied. He kept on loving even in spite of our harsh words and unkind actions. Jesus’ love won in the only way that matters.

Think about it: Jesus’ love goes deeper than a smile or a kind word. Our love for a significant other is pathetic compared to this crazy, radical love. His love stared sin, death, and hell in the face—and it won. Our own efforts to love can’t even touch that. No amount of human effort or good intentions could win the fight against sin. We couldn’t love ourselves into God’s good graces. That’s why Jesus was essential. He did what we couldn’t do, no matter how much we loved.

When people say “love wins,” they’re often thinking of human love fixing things. They’re hoping that if we just love hard enough, the world’s problems will melt away. But here’s the cold, hard truth: without Jesus’ victory, our love accomplishes very little. Our love doesn’t heal hearts or change souls. It doesn’t break chains of sin or death. Jesus’ love does. He won that battle on the cross—one that our love couldn’t even enter.

So, what does that mean for us? Should we just stop trying to love others? Absolutely not. Jesus’ love calls us to love, but it also tells us to recognize our limits. Our love matters, but it’s not the foundation. It’s not the thing that holds eternity in place. That role belongs to Jesus’ love alone. We love others because He first loved us, but let’s not confuse the order here. We’re not the heroes of this story; we’re the ones who needed saving. Our love is the grateful response, not the game-changer.

So, next time you see “Love Wins,” take a moment to think about who made that possible. Let it remind you of the power, depth, and sacrifice of Jesus’ love, the only love that truly won. Without Him, our love is merely a shadow. With Him, our love has purpose.

That Kind of Sucks

November 4, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 0 Comments

James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” In the words of a friend from my small group “Now, that kind of sucks, doesn’t it?” Imagine working hard all week to keep your room clean, finish your homework, and stay on top of everything, only to fail by not taking out the trash. According to this, your whole week is ruined, shot, a total failure, like it was all for nothing.

That’s the image we get of how the law works from this verse. We can strive to keep it perfectly, and honestly we can be rocking it for a good little bit. But if we break just one small part, we’re guilty of breaking the whole thing. That means if you’ve done a bang up job following Jesus. I mean reading the Bible, going to church, giving that perfect tithe off your income, keeping your language clean, discipling a group from work. Then your child leaves a lego on the floor in the living room, and you get up early in the morning. Yeah you know where this is going. You stop on that little grenade of pain buried in your carpet. The pain shoots through your body like a jolt of electricity, and a phrase of what we’ll call colorful language comes bursting from your lips like Niagara Falls.

Yep the whole deal is down the tubes. One little lego ruined your streak of perfection and now it’s all over.

Another way to look at it is to think of it like a chain. Each commandment is a link, and together, they form a strong chain. But break just one link, and the entire chain is useless. Whether you lie, steal, hate, or gossip, by breaking that one command you’ve broken the whole law completely.

The truth is, we will never be able to fully obey all of the law. We try to be good, to do what’s right, to keep things as neat and tidy as we possibly can, but we mess up. It’s just that simple. Even when we’re doing our best, we slip. And in God’s eyes, stumbling once is enough to declare us guilty of all of it. It’s an all or nothing kind of thing, if you let the law be in the driver seat.

As impossible as this all sounds, there is some hope. Here’s the good news: that lego grenade is exactly why Jesus came. He knew you’d step on it and blow your stride of perfection. He knew we couldn’t fulfill the law on our own, so He did it for us.

The Bible tells us that Jesus lived his life perfectly. That means he didn’t sin. He didn’t cuss when he stepped on his little brother’s lego. He didn’t fly off the handle when Mary told Him to clean His room. Being a carpenter’s son, He didn’t fly off in a fit of rage when He measured once and had to cut three times. He did it all perfectly. And His perfection covers our imperfection. His sacrifice wipes out our failures. We don’t have to live in fear of breaking the law anymore because His grace is greater than our flaws.

True, it’s impossible to keep the law perfectly. And yeah, that kind of sucks. But because of Jesus, we’re not stuck in the suck of failure—we’re set free in grace.

Discipleship Beyond Sunday

October 31, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 0 Comments

If your faith only shows up on Sunday, then you’re missing the whole point. Christianity isn’t a “Sunday-only” deal. It’s not about showing up for an hour of worship, saying all the right things, and then living the other six days of the week on autopilot. True discipleship means intentionally following Jesus 24/7—living your life as if you actually believe what you say you believe. It’s about letting your faith shape every part of your life, not just your church life.

So, here’s the hard truth: discipleship doesn’t stop when the benediction is over. In fact, that’s when it really begins. Discipleship is about aligning your life with Jesus, not just in words but in action, day in and day out. It’s about living with purpose, prioritizing people, and sharing the love of Christ in real, tangible ways.

Ready to go beyond Sunday? Here are three practical ways to live out discipleship in your everyday life.

1. Show Up for People

Discipleship isn’t just about Bible studies and prayer groups. It’s about bringing Christ’s love into every setting. You know all those places where you live, work, and play. Contrary to popular belief: you don’t have to preach sermons to share Jesus (actually please don’t!), but you can live in a way that makes people wonder, What’s different about them? Make it your goal to show up for people with empathy, integrity, and respect. Don’t just say you care – actually care! When a coworker’s struggling, don’t brush it off—take the time to listen. Offer a word of encouragement. Ask how you can help.

Start each day with a prayer asking God to help you see your coworkers and neighbors through Jesus’ eyes. When they feel genuinely valued and cared for, you’re living out discipleship in a way that speaks louder than words. This is kingdom work in the everyday grind.

2. Turn Your Home into a Faith Training Ground

Family life is messy and busy, but it’s also the perfect training ground for discipleship. If you’re a parent, don’t let faith only show up in mealtime prayers, as if you need help not choking on your food. Talk about God openly and naturally with your kids. Share stories of how you’ve seen God work in your life, in big and small ways. Ask them what they think about God, what questions they have, and how they’d like to pray.

If you live with friends or roommates, this applies to you too—make room for open conversations about faith, accountability, and growth. Choose one night a week to read a short Bible passage together and discuss it over dinner. Make your home a place where talking about Jesus is natural, not forced or weird.

3. Post with Purpose

Let’s face it, social media is where many of us spend far too much time. And for a good number of us, it’s a breeding ground for comparison, anger, and divisiveness. But here’s a radical idea: what if you treated your online presence as part of your discipleship? This doesn’t mean you need to start plastering Bible verses on every post, but it does mean using your influence wisely. Before you post, ask yourself: Does this bring people closer to God or push them away?

I’d recommend this approach to text messages and emails as well because I’ve been on the receiving end of some less than God honoring emails and texts in my life.

A good practice is to share content that reflects the hope, peace, and love you find in Jesus. Engage in conversations that are meaningful rather than mindless. Be intentional about the way you represent yourself online, and let your social media reflect the faith you live out every day.

And don’t have hard conversations over any form of media. Challenging topics should always be covered face to face when at all possible. And if face to face can’t happen, a phone call is the next best option. You’re not going to win someone over through a text, email or social media conversation.

True discipleship means living your faith boldly every day, not just in a pew on Sunday. When you start seeing every part of your life—work, family, even social media—as an opportunity to follow Jesus, you’ll find that discipleship isn’t just a “church thing.” It’s a life thing. So, take the next step. Don’t let your faith be a Sunday-only affair. Let it shape who you are every single day.

Leaders Multiply

October 29, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 0 Comments

If you’re not mentoring others, you’re missing the point of leadership. The best leaders aren’t the ones who do everything themselves—they’re the ones who build up others to lead effectively and carry the mission forward. And if you’re not willing to do that, you’re not a leader—you’re a bottleneck.

This isn’t an issue in the world; it’s an issue in the church too. The church doesn’t need a single superstar. We need a team of leaders empowered to make disciples, serve passionately, and spread the Gospel. Jesus didn’t come to make an all-star solo career. He came to multiply. He poured into His disciples, investing deeply, and sent them out with authority to do even greater things. That’s real leadership. If He could trust people to continue His mission, we have no excuse not to do the same.

Mentorship Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential

Too many pastors and ministry leaders are burning out because they refuse to share the load. They micromanage, hold onto tasks with a white-knuckle grip, and avoid handing over real authority. This isn’t servant leadership; it’s ego, pure and simple. Here’s the hard truth: if you’re not mentoring, you’re not multiplying. And if you’re not multiplying, you’re failing in your role as a leader.

You’re not called to carry the whole load by yourself. You’re called to build others up. And let’s be honest—if your ministry collapses the moment you step back, you didn’t build a ministry. You built a one-man show. The church deserves better than that, and so does the Kingdom.

Mentorship means giving up some control, and for some of us, that’s terrifying. We’re afraid someone else won’t do it “our way.” Spoiler alert: they probably won’t, and that’s okay! The goal is to equip others to lead in their own unique ways, with their own God-given gifts. God doesn’t call clones; He calls disciples, each with a different role and each with a unique approach.

Mentoring means letting people lead, even if they might stumble. Growth often comes through failure, and it’s better for future leaders to make small mistakes now, with guidance, than to have the entire weight of leadership fall on them unprepared.

Real Leaders Make Room for Others

Some leaders seem terrified that empowering others will make them “replaceable.” Well, here’s a wake-up call: you should be replaceable! The church isn’t built on any single person’s charisma or skillset. It’s built on Jesus, and He made room for others, showing that real leadership is about serving others and preparing them to serve, not building up our own reputations.

Jesus invested in 3 of His disciples. Then mentored the 12. But eventually he sent out the 72 and even more as we look through the book of Acts. He didn’t keep the role of leading the church through the New Testament to Himself, so why are we? Why are we making it so hard for people to use their gifts for God’s glory? Why are we clinging to our traditions and our way of doing things, when it’s obviously not reaching the people in our own backyards let alone in our modern Samaria and end of the earth scenarios!

Mentorship allows you to multiply your impact, making your ministry stronger, more resilient, and able to reach far beyond what you could ever do alone. The legacy of a true leader isn’t found in what they achieved on their own; it’s in the lives they impacted and the leaders they raised up.

Building up others takes time, energy, and intentionality. It’s about conversations, encouragement, correction, and shared experiences. And here’s the kicker: if you’re too busy to mentor, then you’re doing ministry wrong. Jesus made time for His disciples. He taught them, walked with them, and sent them out to lead. We need to do the same.

Don’t be a leader who hoards influence. Be a leader who multiplies. Start mentoring others, not because it’s nice to do but because it’s essential for the growth of God’s Kingdom. A ministry that invests in people instead of projects? That’s a ministry that will stand the test of time.

Passing the Baton

October 28, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 0 Comments

One of the most critical responsibilities of a leader is preparing for the day when he or she is no longer in charge. But all too often in the church world we avoid this like the plague. Maybe it’s pride? Maybe it’s fear of being replaced, or perhaps it’s a lack of trust in others. Whatever the reason, leaders who don’t plan for succession set their ministry up for failure.

It’s really no secret, no one stays in leadership forever. Whether it’s due to retirement, illness, burnout, or simply moving on, a leadership transition is inevitable. Yet, too many leaders behave as if they’ll be in the driver’s seat forever. This mentality is not only unwise, it’s selfish. Refusing to prepare for the next leader is a surefire way to see the ministry crumble when you’re no longer around.

Jesus even modeled succession. He spent years pouring into His disciples, teaching them, empowering them, and preparing them to carry on the mission once He was gone. He didn’t just hope they would figure it out on their own. He invested in them so the ministry could thrive. He gave them authority and then released them to lead.

The harsh truth: If you’re not preparing your successor, you’re building your ministry on your own ego, not the Gospel. And that’s a recipe for disaster.

Succession Is About the Future, Not Your Legacy

Many leaders get so caught up in their own legacy that they forget leadership isn’t about them—it’s about the mission. If your leadership crumbles the moment you’re gone, you weren’t building His Kingdom. You were building a monument to yourself. Succession is about ensuring the ministry continues to grow and thrive long after you’re no longer in the picture.

The church’s mission doesn’t end when you do. It’s much bigger than any one person, and we should be leading in a way that reflects that truth.

Succession planning isn’t just about finding the next person to fill your seat. It’s about building up leaders who can take the ministry further than you ever could. Your job as a leader is to invest in people, not just in programs or systems. When you pour into others, you’re ensuring the next generation of leaders is stronger and more prepared than you were.

This requires intentionality. It means mentoring younger leaders, giving them real responsibility, and letting them make mistakes. Too often, leaders hesitate to share authority because they’re afraid the next generation will mess things up or won’t do it the way we prefer it to be done. Newsflash: they will do it differently and they will mess things up. And that’s okay. Growth happens through failure. Your job is to guide them through it, not protect them from it.

Many leaders wait until they’re burned out or ready to retire before thinking about succession. By then, it’s too late to effectively pass the baton. A sudden leadership vacuum can lead to disarray, division, and even collapse.

Start early. Start now. Begin investing in future leaders long before you’re ready to leave. Succession planning should be part of your ongoing leadership strategy, not an afterthought.

In the end, leadership is about stewardship. You’re holding a position temporarily. Your job is to steward it well and then pass it on to someone else who can run with it. If you’re not preparing for that, you’re missing the mark. Let go of your pride, and start raising up the next generation of leaders today.

Drop the Scarcity Mindset

October 24, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 2 Comments

It’s time to face an uncomfortable truth: someone else’s win doesn’t mean you’re losing. We’ve all felt it—the sting of jealousy when a friend gets a promotion, the bitterness when someone achieves something for which we’re still praying. It’s easy to think, “Why not me?” That thought right there? It’s toxic. It’s what’s called scarcity mindset creeping in, whispering lies that there isn’t enough for everyone.

But that’s a load of garbage!

God is not running out of blessings. His abundance is limitless. Stop acting like His blessings are on backorder just because someone else’s life is flourishing. When you see others succeed, your gut reaction shouldn’t be to shrink in self-pity. Instead, throw them a fist bump, celebrate, and trust that God is still in control. If God’s doing amazing things for them, He’s in the neighborhood—your blessing might be just around the corner.

Scarcity tells you that someone else’s success means less for you. It says there’s only so much to go around, and if they get it, you’re stuck with scraps at best. But the Bible blows that lie out of the water. Philippians 4:19 tells us, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” There’s no cap on God’s goodness.

When we cling to a scarcity mindset, we lose sight of what we actually have. We get so caught up in envy, we forget about the resources, talents, and opportunities already in our hands. God has uniquely equipped YOU to fulfill His purpose for your life. So why are you wasting time comparing your journey to someone else’s?

Here’s the truth: someone else’s blessing doesn’t put you in a drought. We need to reprogram our thinking. You can celebrate others and still pray for your own breakthrough. God’s grace isn’t a pie with limited slices—it’s endless. If we stop grasping for what others have and start thanking God for His provision, we’ll realize how much He’s already given us.

So the next time someone around you wins, drop the scarcity mindset. Cheer them on, and while you’re at it, pray with faith that God’s going to keep showing up for you, too. Then take a second to give thanks for the things you do have in life. We all have something for which we can give thanks. Recognizing blessings is a sure fire way to see that you have more than you thought.

The Overflow Life

October 15, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 0 Comments

When you look around, what do you see? A world that’s empty and bleak? Or a world bursting with possibility? I’m reminded of this question every spring when I plant my garden. A couple envelops of seeds sure don’t look like much. But in a few months those seeds become full grown plants that produce far more fruit and vegetables than I could imagine.

In the Genesis account, God didn’t just create for the sake of filling empty space. He made a world designed to be overflowing with life. Creation itself is a testimony to the abundance mindset that God has built into the very fabric of existence.

Every created thing has within it the power to bring forth something new. Fruit contains seeds, allowing them to reproduce and grow more fruit. Animals and humans, have the ability to reproduce and fill the earth. God didn’t design creation to be a one-and-done deal. He built it with the potential for multiplication, for abundance, for more. He planted a cycle of increase right into nature itself.

But here’s the secret we seem to have forgotten: this abundance mindset wasn’t just for creation—it’s meant for us too. Yet, many of us live with a scarcity mindset. We focus on what we lack instead of what we have. We look at the challenges, the struggles, and the limitations, and we convince ourselves that there just isn’t enough. Not enough time, not enough resources, not enough opportunities, not enough love, not enough grace. But when did God ever say there wouldn’t be enough?

Creation isn’t the only thing He filled with potential. He also filled you with potential. You have been made in His image, crafted by the Creator who designed this entire system of overflow. But so many times, we find ourselves operating out of fear, out of worry, out of this scarcity mindset that tells us we’ll never have enough. And it’s killing us.

The Bible is filled with reminders of God’s abundance. Look at how Jesus fed thousands with just a five loaves and two fish, and he even had leftovers. He turned water into wine, and I don’t mean a cup of it but gallons upon gallons! And when He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” He wasn’t talking about a mediocre, halfway kind of life. He was talking about an abundance of love, grace, and purpose.

A Mindset Shift

Now, don’t get me wrong: abundance doesn’t mean we’re all going to be swimming in cash or never facing tough times. This isn’t some backhanded way of talking about some form of prosperity gospel. It means that we stop letting fear and lack of anything dictate our lives. We stop saying, “I can’t,” and start asking, “What has God called me to do?”

The Apostle Paul talks about being content whether in plenty or in want (Philippians 4:12-13). Contentment isn’t settling for less. It’s the confidence that whether you have little or much, God’s got you. And let’s face it—God’s version of “little” is often more than we think.

But the problem is, so many of us don’t realize what we’ve been given. We see our lives as empty baskets instead of containers brimming with seeds. But remember, seeds don’t just grow on their own; they need planting. They need water, sunlight, and care. It’s time to plant seeds of abundance in our lives, our churches, and our communities.

Abundance is a Lifestyle

When we start to live with an abundance mindset, we begin to see opportunities where others see obstacles. We start seeing potential where others see problems. We become people who give freely, who love deeply, and who live fully.

Our churches need this mindset too. Are we going to be a church that hoards what we have, fearing it will run out? Or are we going to believe in the overflow? We have to step out in faith, believing that the same God who created this world of abundance can provide what we need to grow, to reach, and to impact more lives.

An abundance mindset isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a choice. It’s a choice to believe that God has given you enough to be a blessing, to make a difference, and to step out boldly. It’s a choice to look at your life, your church, your community, and see not what is lacking, but what is possible.

So, how are you going to live? Are you going to be someone who sits back, afraid of running out? Or are you going to be someone who steps out, believing that the God who made fruit with seeds, animals with the ability to reproduce, and humans with the power to create has also given you everything you need to live abundantly?

Let’s stop thinking small. Let’s step into the overflow. Because when you live with an abundance mindset, you’re not just living for yourself. You’re becoming a part of God’s plan to keep creation multiplying, thriving, and changing the world.

Whose Voice Matters Most?

October 10, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 2 Comments

We live in a world of noise. Everywhere we turn, voices are clamoring for our attention. They demand our loyalty, whisper doubt into our ears, and shout promises that never seem to be fulfilled. Among these voices, it’s easy to find ourselves lost, trying to make sense of the competing messages that surround us. When trust is broken, relationships fall apart, and we’re left shattered, those voices only get louder. But what if there was a way to silence them? What if, in the midst of the chaos, God’s voice could be the loudest voice we hear?

Imagine for a second that you’ve been let down by someone you trusted…deeply. A friend, a spouse, a family member—it doesn’t matter who, only that it hurts. The kind of hurt that gnaws at you and makes you question everything. Why did they betray me? Was it something I did? Could I have prevented this?

In the aftermath, our minds become a battleground, invaded by voices of accusation and guilt, swirling with regret and “what if” scenarios. We start doubting our worth, questioning our decisions, and maybe even reconsidering our faith. It’s a vicious cycle, one that leaves us feeling hopeless and alone.

In these moments, it’s all too easy to let the voices of the world consume us. They tell us to cut ties, to never trust again, to harden our hearts and move on without forgiveness. But what if those voices are leading us further from the healing we desperately need?

When God’s Word Speaks Louder

When I find myself lost in the fog of hurt and betrayal, I remember that there is one voice I can always trust—God’s. I know. I get it. He’s a pastor of course he would say that. Stick with me for a second.

In the Bible, we find words that cut through the noise, words that give us life, hope, and healing. They remind us of our true identity, rooted in Christ, not in the shattered pieces of broken relationships. The world isn’t coming more together. It’s falling more apart. If the more we lean into worldly friendship, the more we see our anger increase, then perhaps those worldly voices aren’t looking out for our best interests.

Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” When the voices around us say we should give up or that we’re not worthy of love, God’s voice tells us that He cares. He wants our burdens, and He promises to sustain us even when everything else falls apart.

Think of God’s Word as an anchor, steady and unmovable, in a storm of changing tides. The world will pull you in every direction, offering temporary solutions for eternal problems. But God’s Word stands firm, rooted in truth that doesn’t change with time or circumstance.

Drowning Out the Noise

I don’t know about you, but I often find that the loudest voices in my life are not the ones I should be listening to. They’re the ones that play on repeat when I lie awake at night, replaying my failures and amplifying my fears. They’re the voices that stir up resentment and keep old wounds open. But I want to live differently. I want God’s Word to be the loudest voice in my life.

That takes effort, though. It’s a choice I have to make daily. I choose to open my Bible and listen to what God has to say about me, about my pain, about my future. I choose to drown out the voices of fear and doubt with the truth of His promises. And slowly, I begin to find peace.

When we allow God’s Word to be the loudest voice in our lives, we’re choosing to trust in His promises over our insecurities. We’re letting His truth redefine our worth, instead of letting the world or our failures do it. And in that place, we find healing. We find restoration.

Letting God’s Word be the loudest voice in our lives means allowing His truth to shape our perspective on broken relationships and even fractured trust. It means letting go of the lies that tell us we’re alone and that our mistakes define us. Instead, we hold onto the truth that God has plans for us—plans to give us hope and a future.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the noise, take a step back, take a deep breath and listen. Open His Word. Let it be the loudest, most reassuring voice in your life. And in that space of listening, allow God to begin His work of healing, because His love is greater than any betrayal, and His peace is deeper than any wound.

You are not defined by the fractures in your relationships or the trust that’s been broken. You are defined by the voice of God that speaks life, hope, and love into your heart. Make His Word the loudest voice, and you’ll find a strength that no other voice can offer.

Messed Up Discipleship

October 3, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 0 Comments

Personal opinion: the church has screwed up discipleship. And I don’t mean a little bit either. For years, probably even decades, we’ve treated discipleship and evangelism like two separate programs, as if you can have one without the other. Guess what: you can’t. True discipleship requires evangelism. It’s not a side dish on an a la carte menu . It is the mission. If the people in our churches aren’t actively reaching out, telling others about Jesus, and living out the Gospel in the world, then they’re not being discipled. It’s really that simple.

Too Safe

Somewhere along the way, we started making discipleship “safe.” We turned it into a series of cozy small groups, where people sip coffee and swap prayer requests. But is that really discipleship? Is that what Jesus had in mind when He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations”? Did He mean, “Sit around in your comfort zone and get spiritually fat while the world burns around you”?

No! Discipleship is a call to action. It’s gritty, raw, and uncomfortable. It’s not about self-help or spiritual navel-gazing. It’s about reproducing the life of Jesus in others. Disciples make disciples. And if we’re not doing that, we’re not being discipled; we’re being coddled.

What’s the Point?

The modern church has drawn a neat little line between discipleship and evangelism, like they’re two different ministry areas. We’ve got discipleship classes here, evangelism training over there. But that’s insane. You can’t be a disciple without evangelism because evangelism is at the core of discipleship.

Perhaps I need to say it again. If you’re not engaging in evangelism, you’re not being discipled. Jesus didn’t just call people to follow Him so they could hang out and get spiritually fed. He called them to go out and make more disciples. Discipleship isn’t a destination; it’s a multiplication process.

If your version of discipleship doesn’t include evangelism, then it’s counterfeit at best! It’s fake. It’s a watered-down, self-centered version of what Jesus actually commanded. We’re not called to hoard spiritual knowledge or just “grow deeper” while ignoring those who don’t yet know Jesus. Discipleship is evangelism in action.

Many Christians are far too content sitting within the walls of their own church buildings, worrying more about the temperature of the sanctuary than the struggles of the culture outside. We host our Bible studies, plan our potlucks, and give lip service to missions, but we avoid anything that might actually challenge us to reach out to people who don’t look, think, or act like us. We’re so busy protecting and preserving our history that we’re ignoring the people around us.

Here’s the thing: if your version of Christianity isn’t compelling enough to share, do you even believe in it? If the Gospel isn’t radical enough to drive you out of your bubble and into the world, then maybe you haven’t grasped the full weight of it.

Jesus didn’t die so we could get comfortable in pews and fill our heads with more information. He died to send us on a mission. That mission? To make disciples of all nations. Not just to sit in Bible studies with people who already believe what we believe.

How Easily We Forget

In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.” He didn’t say, “Attend church regularly, memorize Bible verses, and stay comfortable.” No, Jesus called us to sacrifice, to step out of our comfort zones, and to follow Him into the broken places of the world. Attending worship and knowing the Bible aren’t bad, actually they are part of the discipleship process. But they are not the end goal of discipleship. The end goal of discipleship is that the world around us sees Jesus lived out in us and comes to know Him through our life witness. Notice that says life witness not just witness. It’s about living it out in our relationships through our words and actions.

When you read through the Gospels, Jesus was constantly engaging with people far from God. His disciples were right there with Him—learning, watching, and then doing the same things. They weren’t passive spectators; they were active participants in the mission of God.

The same is expected of us. If we claim to be disciples, we can’t just watch from the sidelines. We must be in the game—reaching people, building relationships, sharing the hope we have in Jesus. If we’re not doing that, we’re just playing church, and we’ve missed the point entirely.

Discipleship is not for the faint of heart. It’s war. Spiritual war. And I don’t throw that phrase out lightly. We’re pushing back against the darkness, not just for our own sake but for the sake of others. If your version of discipleship looks more like a church picnic than a battlefield, then you’ve missed it entirely.

Discipleship is about making war on the gates of hell. And you don’t do that by staying inside the walls of the church. You do that by stepping into the world and declaring the good news of Jesus to the lost, the broken, the hopeless, and the forgotten. That’s evangelism. And it’s not optional. It’s not for pastors and other church staff. It’s not for those with theology degrees. It’s for everyone who claims to follow Jesus.

It’s time to stop playing pretend. We can’t afford to keep drawing lines between discipleship and evangelism. If we’re serious about making disciples, then we need to start equipping people to reach those far from Jesus. Not in theory, but actually in practice.

It’s time to get back to the basics of following Jesus: go and make disciples. No excuses. No more sitting on the sidelines. If we’re not making more disciples, we’re failing at discipleship. It’s as simple as that.

Let’s be a church that’s known not just for what we know, but for what we do. Let’s be a church that multiplies, because disciples make disciples. And if we’re not doing that, are we even following Jesus.

Did We Trade Jesus for Tradition?

October 2, 2024 / Derrick Hurst / 3 Comments

In far too many churches today, comfort and tradition have become king. We’ve polished the pews, crafted predictable schedules, and formed tight-knit circles where everyone knows the routine. Even our creative expressions have become a routine of their own. We cherish our sacred rituals, passed down through generations, but somewhere along the way, we have to ask: have we traded Jesus for tradition?

When Did Tradition Take Over

The gospel of Jesus was never about comfort. It was a disruptive, earth-shattering call to lay down our lives, pick up our crosses, and follow Jesus. Yet, somewhere along the way, churches began to confuse following Jesus with following routines and rituals. We set up structures, established a rhythm, and suddenly, what was meant to serve the mission became the mission.

How often do churches prioritize the way things have always been done? We cling to old worship styles, familiar liturgies, and routines that make us feel safe. But here’s the hard truth: Jesus never promised safety. He promised a mission that would shake us to our core. The church is meant to be alive, messy, and constantly adapting to reach the world with the gospel.

The Comfort Lie

Comfort is seductive. It feels good to know what’s coming next, to be surrounded by familiar faces, and to have everything mostly predictable. But the danger of comfort is that it can lull us into complacency. It makes us risk-averse, content with keeping things as they are rather than stepping into the unknown for the sake of the gospel.

Too often, we hold on to traditions that have long lost their purpose. We assume people are being changed simply because they show up on Sundays. Meanwhile, the world outside our stained-glass windows is crying out for hope, and we sit in our comfortable sanctuaries, unwilling to adjust our methods to reach them.

And if we’re honest, it’s not just the methods. Sometimes it’s the message. We soften the law, making it palatable, trying not to ruffle feathers, all in the name of keeping people in their comfort zones. But the law was never meant to make us comfortable. Likewise the gospel is often confused with something that is anything but gospel. We make it the gospel plus some attitudinal shift or lifestyle change. But the gospel is God’s welcoming us in spite of our shortcomings.

Rediscovering the Gospel’s Power

So, how do we reclaim the power of the gospel over tradition?

We start by asking hard questions: Are our traditions helping or hindering the mission of Jesus? Are we holding on to practices because they bring life, or just because they’re familiar? Jesus didn’t come to establish a static institution but to call a movement of believers willing to turn the world upside down for His name.

Take a hard look at the local church. Are people being transformed? Are lives being radically changed? If not, then maybe it’s time to reconsider whether the Jesus we proclaim is truly the one who walked the streets with tax collectors and prostitutes, who challenged the religious elite, who loved the unlovable, and who tore down barriers.

The early church didn’t have fancy buildings or rigid schedules, but they had the gospel, and it changed everything. What would happen if we were willing to let go of our comfort zones and embrace the unpredictable, radical call of Christ again?

The Thrill of Following Jesus

When a church chooses Jesus over tradition, everything changes. The mission comes alive, and so do the people. You start seeing new faces, hearing testimonies of transformation, and feeling the Spirit at work in ways you never imagined.

This isn’t about throwing tradition out the window. Some traditions carry deep meaning and connect us to the larger story of God’s people. But when tradition becomes a substitute for mission, when it stifles rather than serves, it’s time for a change.

Imagine a church that isn’t defined by what’s comfortable, but by its passion for the lost. A church that isn’t held back by routines but propelled forward by the relentless love of Jesus. That’s the church Jesus is building, and it’s far more exciting than maintaining the status quo.

It’s Time to Make the Shift

What is the most important thing we have as the church? The choice seems clear to me: Jesus or tradition as the most important principle of the church. One brings life, power, and purpose; the other can bring stagnation and safety. If we truly believe in the gospel, we can’t settle for comfort. We must be willing to break out of the mold, challenge the status quo, and be the hands and feet of Jesus to a world desperately in need of Him.

It’s time to ask ourselves: Have we traded Jesus for tradition? And if we have, are we ready to make the shift back to the life-changing gospel that started it all? Because the moment we choose Jesus over comfort, we step into a mission far greater than anything tradition could ever provide. And that’s where the real adventure begins.

Tag: church (Page 3 of 24)

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