In Matthew 4:4 Jesus says, “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” If you go for any period of time without eating, what happens? You get hungry! If you go for a long period of time without eating food, not only would you be hungry but you would also begin to get weak. In the same way that your body needs food, your soul needs God’s Word. If you go for any period of time without it, it hungers! And if you stop feeding on God's Word for a long period of time, it gets weak. God's … [Read more...]
Do You Have Time to Read This?
Fact: Young adults lead very busy lives! Between work, relationships, family, and hobbies there seems to be very little time to spare for young adults these days. And let’s be honest, those of us who are young adult ministry leaders don’t always just sit around waiting for the next phone call or appointment to pop up on our calendars. The reality of life today is that things are simply busy! How can we as young adult ministry leaders bring a sense of calmness or peace to our lives in a culture that seems to value busy? Here are … [Read more...]
Who Have I Given Up On?
There are times when my own lack of faith frustrates me. Recently, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with a young man seated on a plane next to me. I got to ask him some questions about his beliefs and where he is in areas of faith. When I left the plane and headed toward baggage claim, I thought to myself, There’s no way this guy will ever come to Christ. He had expressed extreme disdain and hatred toward the church. So, I prayed for him and asked the Lord to show Himself to this young man – but I’m not sure I really … [Read more...]
How to Tie a Tie
This past week a man that I’ve known since I was a kid went to be with the Lord. Mr. Jim was my neighbor when I was growing up and our family went to church with him. More importantly, Mr. Jim taught me how to tie a tie. When I was in middle school I was involved with school activities that required me to wear a tie. My dad never wore a tie so he encouraged me to go to Mr. Jim to see if he could teach me how to tie the perfect knot. One afternoon, I went to Mr. Jim’s house. After pulling out two ties for us to practice with, he … [Read more...]
4 Tips for Keeping Young Adults Engaged in Your Church
I consistently get asked by church leaders the question, “How do we keep young adults involved in our church?” It may seem like a small word change, but the better question is, “How do we keep young adults engaged in our church?” Churches in communities from small towns to large cities desire to see young adults and young families engaged in the overall mission of the church. The excitement and perspective that young adults bring to a church can breathe fresh life into a congregation that seeks to be both relevant and gospel … [Read more...]
Following Means Growing
Our oldest son, Hayden, and I were out in the yard a few months ago. I was checking things off my project list while he accompanied me. Although his presence sometimes slows my progress, it’s well worth it. These are some of my favorite bonding moments with him. He’s so content to be out “working” with daddy, and I’m proud to have him by my side. The back of our property runs up to a neighbor’s fence. It’s a tall fence that provides complete privacy to their property, including their pool. They don’t use the pool often, and we … [Read more...]
Introducing {MARKED} – A Podcast for Women
Who loves podcasts? We do! A great new one by Lifeway Women just launched Monday that you won't want to miss! {MARKED} is a podcast for women who are marked by a hunger for God’s Word, a longing to impact culture, and a desire to discover and live out God’s calling in their lives. Tune in every other week as Mary Margaret Collingsworth chats with a different guest each episode. In Episode 1: Marked by Boldness, you'll hear from Mo Isom, an author, speaker, and blogger. Spoiler alert: This might become your new favorite … [Read more...]
Peace for the Journey
Sheep get a bad rap. They tend to be followers. If one jumped off a bridge, there’s a good chance the others would too. Without the shepherd, the sheep are helpless. Sheep know the sound of their shepherd calling, and they respond because they are dependent on the shepherd to give them guidance and keep them safe. They have a devotion to their shepherd. When the shepherd calls, they respond. David, the author of much of the Book of Psalms, was a shepherd. He knew the intimate relationship he had with his sheep. He knew they … [Read more...]
Making Disciples Who Make Disciples: the University of Oklahoma BCM story
This past week, I was at the Southern Baptist Convention in Columbus, Ohio. All of us here at Lifeway Young Adults are proud of the partnership we have with collegiate ministries all over North America through local churches and campus-based ministries. One highlight of the convention was a video that focused on the importance of making disciples among college students. A hero among many in the collegiate ministry world is Max Barnett, who started at University of Oklahoma Baptist Student Union with a vision of making disciples. The … [Read more...]
How Can We Live Lives of Authenticity?
Buzzwords. They're everywhere. If you work in the business world, you might hear buzzwords like "synergy," "move the needle," "drill down," or "best practices." In the church world, you might hear phrases like "relevant," "missional," or "creative." When I graduated from college and took my first job working at a church, the word “authenticity” reached buzzword status. It had been spoken to the point that the meaning and value of the word was deluded. While the buzzword is still true and relevant, listeners have begun tuning it … [Read more...]
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