Podcasts about Great Commission

We want to live wisely, but that can seem impossible at times. Discover what the Bible means when it says that wisdom begins with “the fear of the Lord.”Receive What does it look like for you to grow in wisdom? Scripture invites you to begin by fearing the Lord—by learning to revere Him for who He truly is and letting that reverence shape your daily choices.  Reflect Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you?  Isaiah 10:13  Psalm 107:27  Exodus 28:3  Deuteronomy 34:9  1 Kings 5  Psalm 37:30  Deuteronomy 4:6-7  Proverbs 1:1, 7-8  Proverbs 21:23 Proverbs 3:18 Proverbs 16:7 Proverbs 15:32-33 Proverbs 10:1, 27 Proverbs 25:1 Proverbs 9:10  Proverbs 14:27  Proverbs 19:23  Proverbs 22:4 Proverbs 2:1-5 When you hear Proverbs 1:7 say that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” what stands out to you personally? How does that shape the way you think about wisdom and learning? As you reflect on Scripture, what kinds of good fruit or growth does the Bible connect with fearing the Lord? Where have you seen any of these take shape in your own life? How does it encourage or comfort you to remember that the benefits of fearing the Lord are meant to guide how we live, rather than serve as promises to hang on to?  Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) Jesus, help me to truly revere You—not out of fear that pushes me away, but out of awe that draws me closer. Grow me in wisdom as I learn to trust who You are and submit my heart to You. Show me, day by day, what it looks like to honor You in my thoughts, my choices, and my relationships. Help me recognize how walking in reverence shapes the way I respond to others. May Your wisdom guide me so I can live with a heart that reflects You. Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Our Daily Bread Publishing Listen: Proverbial Wisdom  A Life of Wisdom and the Proverbs 31 Woman  Read: Reverent Fear  Understanding the Bible: The Wisdom Books  Watch: Mount Arbel - Sermon on the Mount and the Great Commission

People use Jesus' reply to Pilot, "My kingdom is not of this world" to claim we should have nothing to do with the world, specifically politics and culture. We're about saving souls and such. I seek to disabuse Pietistic Christians of this notion in this episode. We're not to escape the world but to transform it in obedience to the Great Commission. https://mikedvirgilio.com/

In this episode of Thats So Hindu, Mat McDermott speaks with Fred Stella (HAF) and John Morehead (Foundation for Religious Diplomacy). The conversation explores the complex dynamics of Christian-Hindu relations, focusing on proselytization efforts in India and the reactions from the Hindu community. They discuss the ethical boundaries of evangelism, the importance of understanding different religious perspectives, and the need for interfaith dialogue that respects both beliefs. They emphasize the significance of educating young Hindus about their own faith to better engage in discussions with Christians and navigate the challenges posed by missionary activities.TakeawaysChristian evangelism often overlooks the perspectives of those being evangelized.Hindus feel their spiritual identity is often treated as a problem needing a solution.Interfaith dialogue can foster understanding and respect between different faiths.Ethical evangelism should avoid coercion and respect individual beliefs.Education is crucial for Hindus to articulate their beliefs in interfaith discussions.Not all Christians share the same approach to evangelism; there are diverse perspectives.The Great Commission is a fundamental aspect of evangelical Christianity.Interfaith discussions should focus on storytelling rather than debate.Creating alliances with other faiths can help address anti-Hindu sentiment.Respectful dialogue can lead to greater understanding and cooperation among religions.Chapters00:00Setting the Stage for Christian-Hindu Relations05:59Understanding Hindu Perspectives on Proselytization16:49Navigating Differences in Evangelism and Understanding18:21The Nature of Evangelization23:44Understanding the Great Commission24:17Exploring New Perspectives on Other Religions27:14Sharing Spiritual Beliefs Ethically33:28Experiences of Unethical Evangelism39:03Ethics of Evangelism in Interfaith Contexts45:16Finding Common Ground in Diverse BeliefsKeywordsChristianity, Hinduism, proselytization, interfaith dialogue, evangelism, ethical boundaries, cultural relations, religious identity, Great Commission, spiritual beliefs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Jeremy Baker, Lead Pastor of Elevate Life Church in Connecticut. In just over three years, Elevate Life has grown from 70 people to more than 2,000 weekly attendees, becoming one of the fastest-growing churches in the country—especially remarkable in a region widely known as spiritually resistant and unchurched. Jeremy shares the honest, behind-the-scenes story of how God has moved, and what his team has learned about loving people well, building invite culture, and helping people take meaningful steps in their spiritual journey. Is explosive growth possible in spiritually dry regions? How do churches keep the focus on people instead of preferences as momentum builds? Jeremy offers a refreshing reminder that growth is less about formulas and more about faithfulness. Humble beginnings and a clear calling. // Jeremy and his wife left a comfortable ministry role at a large church in Dallas after sensing God's call to the Northeast—one of the least churched regions in North America. With no church-planting playbook and their personal savings on the line, they launched Elevate Life with high expectations and a large marketing push. When only 70 people showed up on launch day, disappointment could have ended the story. Instead, it became the starting point. Jeremy describes the journey as a “God deal” from the beginning—marked by prayer, obedience, and a willingness to go after people rather than polish programs. Loving people from the street to the seat. // One of Elevate Life's defining values is making people feel seen, heard, and celebrated. Jeremy believes every person walks in carrying an invisible sign that says, “See me.” That belief shapes their entire guest experience. From banner-waving parking lot teams to outdoor tents for first-time guests (even in winter), the church treats arrival as sacred ground. Volunteers walk guests through the building, help with kids check-in, offer tours, and even escort people to their seats. The intentional warmth sends a clear message: you matter here. Taking people where they are. // With nearly 4,000 first-time guests in a single year, Elevate Life assumes nothing about biblical knowledge or spiritual maturity. Rather than pushing people toward instant maturity, the church focuses on meeting people where they are. Grow Track, life groups, and clear next steps help people move forward at a sustainable pace. Jeremy warns that churches often forget how far they've traveled spiritually—and unintentionally expect newcomers to keep up. Invite culture that never lets up. // Elevate Life's growth hasn't come from direct mail or massive ad budgets. Jeremy says he'll never do mailbox ads again. Instead, growth flows from a relentless invite culture. Every service, hallway conversation, life group, and ministry environment reinforces the same message: Who are you bringing? Invite cards, QR codes, social media ads, and consistent language keep invitation top of mind. Jeremy believes repetition—not creativity—is the secret. Reaching people over protecting preferences. // As the church has doubled in size, Jeremy is vigilant about guarding its mission. Growth brings new pressures—parking shortages, crowded services, limited space—but he resists shifting focus inward. If churches aren’t careful, they’ll trade purpose for preferences,. Elevate Life's mission—making heaven more crowded—keeps the team outwardly focused. Jeremy regularly reminds leaders that people are not problems to solve; they are people to pastor. A challenge for church leaders. // Jeremy closes with a simple encouragement to pastors: love people deeply, steward what God has given you, and don't lose sight of why you started. Churches don't grow because they chase growth—they grow when leaders refuse to give up on people. In regions others have written off spiritually, God is still moving—and often through ordinary leaders who simply refuse to stop caring. To learn more about Elevate Life Church, visit elevatelifect.com or follow them on Instagram @elevatelifect. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it's time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Pumped that you have decided to tune in today. We’ve got a very good conversation. I’m really looking forward to leaning in and learning from this leader and the story that God’s been writing at his church in the last two and a half years.Rich Birch — Elevate Church in Connecticut has grown from 70 people to over 2,000 on a weekly basis. It’s been named one of the fastest growing churches in the country. I love their mission and purpose is really simple: making heaven more crowded. Today we’ve got Jeremy Baker with us. He is the lead pastor. Jeremy, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Jeremy Baker — Thank you so much for having me. So excited. And what a great privilege and honor to be on on live with you today. So thank you.Rich Birch — Yeah, I’m excited that to unpack this story a little bit. It is not normal for a church to grow from 70 to 2000 in any part of the country, but even more so in Connecticut. I can say as a guy who served in New Jersey, I’m Canadian, you know – don’t hold that against against me. Jeremy Baker — Let’s go.Rich Birch — So I understand the spiritual context that you’re in a little bit. But why don’t you unpack the story? Kind of tell us a little bit what’s gone on over these last couple of years. For folks that don’t know, tell us about the kind of spiritual, you know, climate in Connecticut. Talk us through those issues.Jeremy Baker — Yeah, I first of all, it’s a God deal all the way. And I know a lot of people are asking me, hey, give me some handles, what’s some formulas, what’s some how-tos.Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — I’m just blown away by what God’s done. And I think it’s really just the heartbeat of God is going after his people and serving the community really well. So we’re in an area, I’m 30 minutes away from Yale University.Rich Birch — Okay.Jeremy Baker — I’m not too far away from New Haven, Connecticut. I’m in in a town about 100,000 people. Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — Matter of fact, the building is actually in between two cities. Rich Birch — Okay. Jeremy Baker — The building is divided right down in half. One half being, yeah, it’s crazy. One half being Meriden, one half being a town called Wallingford. And so in those two cities is about 100,000 people. Rich Birch — Okay. Jeremy Baker — So three and a half years ago, I’m working at a big church in Dallas, Texas, mega-world, mega-church, on staff, XP, and the Lord just pressed on our heart, me and my wife that we’re comfortable. We’re we’re living the good life, we’re living the Dallas life, the big Texas life, and there’s more, you know. And nothing wrong with that, nothing wrong with the Dallas life, the big life, the Texas life, nothing wrong with big churches – God loves this, the capital “C” church, you know. And so long story short, prayed for about a year, and we said, we’re going to the Northeast. Rich Birch — Wow. Jeremy Baker — This is where my wife is originally from, the Connecticut region, this area, actually called a little town called North Haven. And we’re going to go back up here because there’s a group of people that need the Lord. And, you know, the Northeast, New Jersey, you know, New York, Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, these kind of, this region up here in this New England region is ah is an unchurched region. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — There’s great people that are God-fearing people, great good Bible-believing churches, but there’s it’s not known as a Southern, you know, Christianity. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — Like everybody goes to church in the South, but up here, it’s a little different region. So we came up here. We didn’t know how to plant a church, honestly.Rich Birch — Love it.Jeremy Baker — I’m just giving you all the honest, the the real, real.Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — I wish I could tell you that I wrote the book on it and I know how to do everything perfectly. Rich Birch — Love itJeremy Baker — But i could I could tell you every horror story what not to do, you know? So we we pulled out our life savings and we started a church and we had 70 people on our launch date. Rich Birch — Wow. And we put about $100,000 into our launch date thinking we would have… Rich Birch — Wow. Jeremy Baker — …you know, 800 people, a thousand people are going to show up. We put mailers in everybody’s mailbox. So long story short, we had 70 people. Rich Birch — Wow, wow.Jeremy Baker — And then out of that, we have just been going after our city. Out of that, we have just been reaching people, inviting people to God’s house, serving our community, clean days, outreaches, food ministry, backpack giveaways, Christmas, Thanksgiving. I mean, just every major holiday, we have just attacked our community. And this last week, we had over 2,400 people in attendance.Rich Birch — Wow. Wow. Praise God. Jeremy Baker — And and so in three and a half years, it’s just been wild. And there’s so much in that story I could tell you.Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — But that’s kind of been from where we were, planning humble beginnings. God, what do you want to do? And it’s not about the size of a church, as you know, because I know there’s great churches out there that are ministering very well to the size that is in their community, and they’re doing a really good job shepherding people, caring for people.Jeremy Baker — But it’s just, you know, I always believe, God, let me not mess this up. Lord, if I can steward this well, you’ll keep bringing them to me. And so we have a brand new team, new staff. I like to call us the the misfits of Toy Island, if I could use the if i could if i could use the Christmas kind of you know… Rich Birch — Yes. Jeremy Baker — …thought process, you know. We don’t know what we’re doing, but we’re loving people well. We’re serving. We’re discipling to the best of our ability. We’re preaching the full gospel now. I don’t want people to think that we’re not preaching the gospel.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — We’re preaching from Genesis to Revelations, and we’re preaching the whole Bible, the whole council. And but that’s kind of that’s a little bit of kind of like how the beginning happened, but it’s been wild.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool.Jeremy Baker — It’s been wild, man.Rich Birch — Yeah. And I know, you know, we know that, well, all of our churches, you know, they they have the impact they do because God chooses to use what we’re doing at the end of the day. It’s got nothing to with us. It’s got everything to do with him. Jeremy Baker — Right. Rich Birch — But he is choosing to use something that you’re you’re doing. He’s clearly blessing something. He’s working through something. When you step back and think about the last couple of years, two or three years, What would be some of the things that you’ve seen him use that are like, hmm, this seems to be a part of the equation of what he’s pulling together.Rich Birch — And that’s not from a like, hey, we want to replicate all this, but it’s like, hey, here’s here’s your story. This is what God seems to be using in your context to reach your people. What would be some of those things that bubble up to your mind?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, great question. I would think the first thing for us is people want to be seen. People in the world that we live in today want to know that someone cares about them, that someone loves them.Jeremy Baker — We like to say it around here. We have little cultural sayings. We see you. We hear you. We celebrate you. We see you, we hear you, we celebrate you. I love what Mary Kay said, the the makeup organization. She had a quote, and if I can quote her right, she said, everybody has an invisible sign around their neck that says, see me. Jeremy Baker — And and I think it’s important. I think it’s real important that we see people the way God sees them. You know, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever would believe in him. So the whole thing is about seeing people the way God sees them, not seeing them through their lens of brokenness or through the lens of maybe a divorce or the pain or the regret or the shame. No, we got to see them through the grace and the mercy of God, through through what Jesus wants to do in their life. So we’re just loving people really well from the street, if I could say it like this, because I know it’s been said in church conferences, but from the street to the seat, we’re just loving people really well, you know, how to how to make people feel like they’re the big deal. Rich Birch — Right, right.Jeremy Baker — You know, that God does love them. So that would be probably one thing that I would say would kind of be our bread and butter of just loving people well… Rich Birch — Yes. Jeremy Baker — …helping people find hope, especially in a season like this, you know, holiday season. It’s like, a you know, a lot of people are hopeless and we need to give hope to people. And so that would be a big thing. Jeremy Baker — I say think the second thing I would say is taking people on the spiritual journey where they’re at. You know, I’ve been a ministry for 30 years. My dad’s a pastor. So I’ve been in church for a long time. And I think sometimes, you know, we can as as as church kids, or if I could say it that way, or church people, we are called the shepherd. We’re called to minister. We’re called the guide. But sometimes we want people to be on the road that we’re on. And and they don’t realize… Rich Birch — That’s so true. Jeremy Baker — …we have we have we have been on this journey for a long time. There’s been a lot of going to the mat, dealing with us, God doing a work in us. Like David said in Psalms 51, Lord, create me a clean heart. Help me help me grow, Lord, as a leader, as a mature, you know. Put away childish things. I, you know, I want to grow. So so we’re taking people on their journey. Okay, you’re new to faith, so we need to start you on this road or this path, if I could say, you know. Oh, you’ve been walking with God for three years. Okay, we’ve got to make sure that you know some of the foundations, some of the basics. Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — You know I think that’s been some of our greatness of helping people stick, find community, be a part. So those are, I think those are two things. Understanding people need to be seen. And the second one is taking them on a journey of where they’re at, you know?Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. I love that. The let’s let’s unpack that a little bit. I’d love to start with the loving people well thing – a little bit more detail. Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — When you say that, so what does that mean from the street to the seat? How are you how do you feel like, oh, this is something that Elevate Life’s doing well to love people as they’re coming, as they’re arriving, as they’re a part of what’s going on at the church?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so great. So for me, it’s going to be guest experience. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — What does it look like when people pull on your parking lot? You know, do we have parking lot – we don’t call them attendants. We call them parking lot banner wavers. Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah. Love it.Jeremy Baker — They’re waving a banner, a blessing over your car. Now, it’s going to be a little charismatic a little bit. There’s going to be a little bit of a, you know, my background is, you know, is I’m I’m very very energetic, very enthusiastic…Rich Birch — Sure.Jeremy Baker — …passionate as a leader. So I want people to know it’s a big deal that you’re on property today. Rich Birch — Right.Jeremy Baker — It’s a really big deal that you brought your family, that you showed up. You didn’t have to show up. You didn’t have to be here. You could have stayed home. You could have did what you wanted to do, but you gave God some time today. And so what we do is we we we we really pray that as the tires hit the parking lot, that miracles take place in people’s lives.Jeremy Baker — Whatever that miracle might be, miracle of salvation. A miracle of of of a mindset change, a miracle of restoration. So banner wavers in the parking lot, loving on people. Jeremy Baker — We have a team called the Impact Team that’s in the parking lot. They’re what we call our first time guest experience connection moments. So when they when there’s tents outside, of course, even in the winter, we got tents outside with heaters outside. You know, we just got four inches of snow the other day, but they’re still outside.Jeremy Baker — So the commitment from our servant leaders is there. The commitment from our staff is there, just to make people seen and feel loved. So as they’re walking into the property, if they’re a first time guest, our team has been trained how to identify a first time people, even with the amount of people that are coming. And they’ll walk up to them and just say, so glad you’re here.Jeremy Baker — Is this your first time? No, I’ve been here for about a month. OK, do you need anything? How can I serve you? How can we help you? Do you know how to check your kids in? Or, hey, can i can I walk you to your seat? I mean, we literally have a team over 100 plus people that are helping people walk into a building… Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — …get a free get a get a cup of coffee, find them to their seat, make them feel loved. If they’re new, hey, let me take you on an experience tour is what we call it, an experience tour. You’re walking into a brand new building. You’ve never been into the building before. You know, lot of churches, it’s all love, but might not have the right signage of communication of where restrooms are, kids check-in nurseries, nursing mother’s room, you know, special needs, whatever. So we have these people that go and walk these people through this building. And, you know, we don’t have a large building. We’re we’re adding on to our building, but we’re about 28,000 square feet.Rich Birch — Okay.Jeremy Baker — And so even in that size, you know, you can get lost in a building that size… Rich Birch — Right, right. Jeremy Baker — …you you know, especially where there’s hallways and doorways you don’t know. And so we’re having people walk through. And then people walk up all the way to their seat.Rich Birch — Wow.Jeremy Baker — And then when they’re in their seat, we got people that are on the host team, which we’d call modern day ushers. We call them host team members. They just walking up to them. Hey, good to see you. How you doing? Good morning before service starts.Rich Birch — I love that. Yes.Jeremy Baker — So we’re creating this we’re creating this interaction culture. Now, if you’re introverted, I’ll be honest with you, it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be hard, man.Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — It’s going to be hard. If you’re more introverted in your personality and your style, you’re going to feel overloaded at a level, you know what I’m saying?Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — So so that that’s some of the feedback we get.Jeremy Baker — Like, hey, I love the church… Rich Birch — It’s a little much. Jeremy Baker — …but I got 18 people talking to me, man, before I even find a seat. And it’s like, I get it, I get it, I get it. But, you know, we just want you to feel seen and feel loved. So that’s part of what we do.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s very cool. I love that.Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — Super practical. That’s cool. And then I like this idea of talking to people where they’re at. I think that can be a concern we run into or a it’s like we’re not even aware that in our our churches we’re we’re we’re using language or or we’re assuming everyone’s at a certain place. What does that look like for you at Elevate Life? How are you helping? Because that’s a lot of people in a short period of time to both get to know and then also try to communicate in a way that actually connects with where they’re at. Talk us through what do you mean by that when you say we’re trying to talk to people where they’re at in their spiritual journey?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so if it so if you’re new, let me just give you context. This year alone, in 2025, we’ve had 3,919 first-time guests walk through our doors. Rich Birch — That’s great.Jeremy Baker — This year alone. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — So for us, we know as a new plant, as a new church, we’re going to have to really walk people through this spiritual journey. Some of these people maybe have some form of God, maybe they have been walking with God. Maybe they’ve been out of church since, you know, let’s just talk about pre, know, after or during COVID. Maybe they haven’t been back to God’s house because that’s really real in the Northeast. Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — I mean, some people are just now coming back to church in the Northeast that have not been in church for the last four years. You know, it’s like, oh yeah, I’ve been out of church for about three and a half years and I’m just now getting back into the rhythm of getting back in my faith.Jeremy Baker — So there’s so much I can talk about that. Like how how do we make our services flow? Like I always introduce introduce myself, hey, my name is Jeremy, and I have the privilege to pastor this church, and I just want to say welcome. If if this is your, you know, 52nd welcome this year or if this is your first welcome, I just want to say welcome. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — Because i want I want them to know that we’re real, that we’re authentic, and we want to help them on their spiritual journey. Rich Birch — It’s good.Jeremy Baker — So we offer stuff like, you know, first-time, you know, decision, if you made a first time decision, let’s go, let’s go into, you know, who is Jesus? You know, what does Jesus, you know, want to do in your life? So there’s, there’s, there’s classes, there’s paths that we offer there. Jeremy Baker — Grow track, you know, we have grow track that we offer every month. Hey, hey, won’t we want to teach you a little bit more about faith, who Elevate Life is, what, what our mission is, what our vision is, what, what the values of our church is. And so we walk them through that.Jeremy Baker — And then, and then what we have is we have life groups. And these life groups are from all different walks. Deep dive of Revelation, deep studies of the Old Testament. Or, hey, we’re just going to go through the book of John. We’re just going to start in John 1 and learn what Jesus, you know, who Jesus is. And we’re to start there. Or if you’re more intellectual, we’re going to go a little bit deeper. You know, so we we we we we have these these life groups, we call them, because we’re Elevate Life. So we call them life groups. We want we want these groups to bring life to people.Jeremy Baker — And and so ah so we just we we have people, we encourage them to sign up, to get involved. That’s our conversations always in the hallways. Hey, are you are you serving on a team? Are you in a life group? Here’s here’s why. The goal for me is not just gathering large crowds. The goal for me as as a shepherd, I would just say as ah as as the lead pastor now in this season of my life, is is to help people develop spiritually… Rich Birch — Yeah, so good. Yeah, definitely. Jeremy Baker — …to help people find their personal walk with God, not just come and hear a good word. You know, motivating, it’s inspiring, it’s it’s helpful. Yes, it’s practical. I’ve got handles I can live my life by throughout the week. But my my heart is, don’t just take a Sunday and give it to God, but give God every day of your life. Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know, sometimes we just turn the surrender switch on on Sunday, not realizing the surrender switch needs to be on every day of the week.Rich Birch — Amen. So true.Jeremy Baker — So I’ve got to turn that surrender switch on every day. And just like you a natural thought when you turn the light switch on when you’re in the room, you turn it off when you leave the room. Well, a lot of people look at church that way. I’m going to turn my surrender switch on today. It’s Sunday. I’m going to go to God’s house. And then on when they leave Sunday, they leave away the property. They pull away. The surrender switch turns off. And I think that’s where the consumer mindset, especially in the Western part of the country… Rich Birch — Sure. Jeremy Baker — …you know, we have gotten, you know, we’re, we’re inundated with consumerism. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — And so, and so how, do how do we help people really become disciples of of Christ? So the second part of our mission statement is making disciples that follow Jesus. So the goal is making heaven more crowded, but making disciples that follow Jesus.Rich Birch — So good. That’s great. Let’s talk about a bit like up the funnel a little bit, like at the top end, where, how are people learning about Elevate Life? You talked about when you launched, you did a bunch of marketing stuff. Has that continued to happen? Is this just like, you’re really good at Facebook ads? Help me understand. What does that look like? How, why is the church growing?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, great question. I personally, I will never do an ad in a mailbox again. That was $25,000 that I think one person showed up, and then we had a bunch of them ripped up and mailed back to us and told us to never mail them and again. It’s the funniest story.Rich Birch — Wow. Yes.Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so it’s it’s all good. It’s it’s it’s this is not the South. I’m a Texas guy, and I’m living in the New England region, and it’s it’s night and day, you know.Rich Birch — Yes. Yes.Jeremy Baker — So what we have done really well at, I believe, causes some of the growth to happen is two things, is every week we’re encouraging people to invite somebody. That is a part of our culture. Invite culture. Who you bringing? Who do you know that’s far from God that needs the Lord right now? Who do you know that’s far from Him that you know that that you could bring?Jeremy Baker — So then the second thing is we’re doing really good social media ads. We’re spending about $1,500 a month on social media ads. And our team has done a phenomenal job. And all my team is 19, 20, 21, and 22-year-old young men and women that are running all of my social media.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great.Jeremy Baker — I’m 50. I want to act like I’m current. But I’m not. You know, there’s things I don’t, I’m not adverse in. There’s things that are constantly changing with technology.Rich Birch — Sure. Yeah, sure.Jeremy Baker — And and and I just got to trust this younger generation.Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — And they have done a phenomenal job.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — That’s been one of our huge success for us to put us on the map in this region, to put us, make us aware.Rich Birch — Let’s pull it, but pull apart both of those. When you say you’re encouraging people every week, so you’re like ringing the bell that I want to hear churches to hear more of. You’re inviting people every week to invite their friends. Give us a sense. What does that look like? How are you doing that every single week? What’s that look like?Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so part of that is in our services. It’s in language. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — You know, we always say, you know thank you for being here this morning. We pray that you have brought somebody with you. And then at the end of our service, we’re saying, hey, don’t forget to invite somebody back next week. So we’re always saying that in our language. So it’s become part of our our culture. It’s become part of of who we are as a church. We are a bringer church. We are an inviting church. We are a reach the lost church. We are the great commission. Because the goal for us is not just giving information, but we’re hoping that the people will receive the information that causes some type of revelation in their own spirit that leads them to the Great Commission. Rich Birch — That’s good.Jeremy Baker — Because we want them to be a part of what Jesus said. He you know he said in in Matthew 10, he goes, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. You know. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would send more laborers. So we are we are Ephesians 4, equipping the church to do the work of the ministry. We are we have to encourage people to build the local community of the church, the local house of God. And so that’s part of our language in our hallways. We have really practical things. We have invite card stands everywhere. Invite card stands everywhere. So simple. We have QR codes. You can scan. You can download all kinds of invite information. Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — You can invite our service times. So really practical steps like that have really helped us. And then in our life groups, it’s in it’s being said. In our midweek services, it’s being said. We do eight services a week. So that’s what we’re doing right now, eight services a week. And and and so in every service, it’s just been indoctrinated. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — It’s been just repetition, you know, over and over and over. Rich Birch — Yep. Jeremy Baker — And then And I think that’s a big part of why God’s allowed us to… Honestly, I don’t know church any other way. Rich Birch — Right. Sure.Jeremy Baker — I personally don’t know church any other way. I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer.Rich Birch — I don’t know about that.Jeremy Baker — I’m just I know I’m just appreciate the love. I mean I I’m a guy who barely graduated from seminary. I barely graduated, you know. I was like everybody looked at me, all the professors, like, oh, man. I hope you make it. You know, it’s like, it’s like one of those guys, it’s like, I just, I just love people well. And I want people to know Jesus. I mean, Jesus changed my life. I mean, he changed my life. He, he did something in me that no one ever has ever done or no one could ever do. And my life is I’m indebted to him.Jeremy Baker — I’m I’m living my whole life for him. That’s why 30 years of working through whatever I’ve got to work through in ministry and working through stuff as a as a young man, now as an older man. I’ve just stayed the course, stayed faithful. Not perfect, but stayed faithful, step moving forward every season of my life. And so I just love people well, and I think people hear the heart of that through our pastoral team, through our elders. Rich Birch — Sure. Jeremy Baker — They hear the heart of loving people well, that we want people to find Christ. So that’s the language I think helped us in this last season, you know, really in this last season, really grow. A year ago, a year ago, this time, we only ran, not not only, it’s great, but we were around about 900 people a year ago.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s crazy.Jeremy Baker — And then it’s last year, we’ve exploded.Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — We’ve doubled our church.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — I mean, we’ve doubled. I mean, we we we have no more parking. I mean, we we we have 345 parking spots. And then two out of the five weekend experiences, because we do other services throughout the week, two out of the five weekend experiences, we have to turn people away, which just breaks my heart as a pastor because it’s like…Rich Birch — Right. Yeah. Yes.Jeremy Baker — …we can’t build fast enough. We’re looking for bigger venues. Again, I could go on that, but we want to make more room. We want people to find hope. It was never about being big. I told a pastor locally, I said, and he was he was coming here to, you know, just to encourage us to keep going, which was very kind of him. But I said, pastor, it was never about being big. It’s always been about reaching the lost.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s great.Jeremy Baker — It’s always been about reaching the lost.Rich Birch — Yeah.Jeremy Baker — So I don’t know if that makes any sense.Rich Birch — It does. It does. There’s a lot there that you, that I, you know, I, I, I didn’t want to interrupt because there’s so much packed in there that I think was so helpful for people. And, you know, that singular focus on, Hey, we’re trying to reach people. I want to come back to that in um in a minute. I want you to kind of speak to, leaders on that. Rich Birch — But I want to underline one of the, it’s a simple thing that um we miss in too many churches. And I’ve done a bunch of study on invite culture and you’re doing classically, you’re doing the best behavior classically. You’ve got to keep invite in front of people. We can’t, you can’t let up the gas pedal on that one. You’ve got to keep that in front of people, make it super practical, give them tools, all that like invite card stuff, all of that super important.Rich Birch — Years ago, I was talking to a lead pastor of a church that was growing very rapidly. And this wasn’t on a podcast. We were talking sidebar and I was like, Hey, asked a very similar question. What’s God using? And he’s like, Oh, it’s a little embarrassing. I don’t want to say it. And I’m like, no, no, tell me, what do you think he’s using? And he said, well, every weekend for this last year, We put invite cards on every single chair in every auditorium for the entire year. And we told people, take those and invite people. And he’s like, I really think that that is like just the intensity…Jeremy Baker — That’s it.Rich Birch — …of we’re keeping it in front of people. We can’t let up. So I want to I want to encourage you and that and listeners. Jeremy Baker — Thank you. Rich Birch — Hey, friends, that is that is a key part of this. Talk to us about the the focus on reaching the lost or reaching people who are far from God or unchurched people. Talk talk us through that. Rich Birch — Because what what’s happening at your church, I know we’ve kind of we’ve referenced this a few times, is super unique in in, you know, New England. What would be some of the challenges that you’re facing to keeping that singular focus of reaching unchurched people, people far from God? What’s been the challenge there and how are you having to adjust and kind of keep your culture focused on that as you continue to grow?Jeremy Baker — Such a great question. I mean, such a great question. I would, man, you’re such a great question asker, if I could say it that way.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s nice. Thank you.Jeremy Baker — Yeah I mean, a great question.Rich Birch — Sure.Jeremy Baker — I would think for me, for me, I got into ministry so that people’s lives could be changed by the good news. There’s no other way there’s no other reason why I’m in ministry. I’m here because I want people’s lives to be changed the way my life has been changed. So the the thing I’m always projecting from the the the the platform that I get to walk in, the the place that I get to stand, is it’s got to be about people. That’s why Christ came. He came and he and he died on a cross so that people would find eternal life, so that people would find hope.Jeremy Baker — And so we’re always pushing that agenda from the front. And, you know, whatever said from the platform stage, whatever you want to, however you want to articulate it, is is is is being pushed for a reason, I believe. So we’re constantly pushing this from the stage. We’ve got to reach people. People are dying and going to hell every day. And this is where I think the church sometimes trips. We got enough people now. So now let’s get let’s let’s stop making it about people and let’s start making it about preferences. Rich Birch — Come on.Jeremy Baker — And I think that’s the danger that’s the danger where guys like me can, you know, I was just having an elder meeting a few days ago, and I andI was telling our elders, because now we’ve got to implement some other pathways of discipleship, some other handles to help people grow and mature faster. And I said, you can’t push maturity. Maturity takes time.Jeremy Baker — If we’re not careful, we’ll we’ll lose the vision of what got us here. And then what happens is we’ll become inward focus rather than outward focus. said, I’ve seen it, guys. And I was talking to my elders. and I was just opening up my heart to them. I said, I’ve seen us do this. I’ve been a part of big churches where now it’s about the building. It’s about the butts.Rich Birch — So true.Jeremy Baker — It’s about the budgets. It’s about, you know, I’ve seen that. And I’m like, let us never lose the very thing that God’s allowed us to be a part of in in this season. Rich Birch — Yep, so true.Jeremy Baker — I never woke up one day and said, hey, let’s go and have one the fastest growing churches in America in the New England region. I woke up one day said, God, I’m comfortable. And I don’t want to be comfortable anymore. Rich Birch — So good. Jeremy Baker — I want you to use my life for the rest of my life until I see you to bring an impact in this region, whatever region that you send me. He sent us to the Northeast. Rich Birch — Yep.Jeremy Baker — He sent us back home to where my wife was from. And so that’s our prayer. And I want to keep the main thing the main thing. I don’t want to drift because there is a difference between, there is a difference between preferences and then and then purpose, you know. The purpose of Elevate is to make heaven more crowded. The purpose of Elevate is to make disciples that follow Jesus. The purpose is to reach our community, to make an impact. But but if you’re not careful, you’ll you’ll get you’ll get satisfied with the people. You’ll settle. You’ll get complacent. We got enough people now.Jeremy Baker — But what if but what if God really wants to change? What if God, this is my question I’ve been wrestling with, and maybe maybe you have answers for me, but I’ve been wrestling with this question in my own spirit. Like, is it possible that one church could really change a community? Is it possible that one church could, God could use a church, a group of people. Not not I’m not talking I’m not talking about domination. I’m talking about just a group of people that are passionate about making heaven more crowded, that God could use a group of people that would change the facet of a community. Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know? That would that that that’s the that’s the thing I’ve been wrestling with. Can God use Elevate Life in this region? What if God wants to use us to help Yale? What if God wants us to use us to, you know, to to to get on college campuses and see a revival, you know, at Yale University?Rich Birch — So good.Jeremy Baker — You know, and I mean, that’s an Ivy League school. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — I mean, people from all over the world go to that school. And we haven’t even, I feel like, scratched the surface. So that’s part of my my always, I got to keep the main thing the main thing. It’s got to be about people. So one of our values is, people is our pursuit. That’s what we’re, we’re pursuing people.Rich Birch — That’s so good.Jeremy Baker — And not programs, not not preferences. I got preferences. I mean, I’m sure we all got preferences. Rich Birch — Yes.Jeremy Baker — But I’m putting down my preference so that I can carry the purpose of the good news. I hope that makes sense.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. Makes total sense. And yeah, super encouraging. And yeah, I think I think God’s placed your church in a, you know, every community across the country is an important place. There’s people all over the world that need Jesus, obviously, but I i don’t think you’re, I think it doesn’t, it’s not surprising to me that the Northeast is a place that is, some call it a spiritually dead or spiritually dry part of the country, while at the same time, it is of global significance in a lot of different ways. Like the the communities that you’re serving are are different than other parts of the kind country from an influence point of view. You place like Yale, it’s not just another university.Jeremy Baker — Yeah.Rich Birch — You know. And so I think God’s placed you there for a real specific reason, which I think is you know, super encouraging. Well, this has been a a great conversation, Jeremy. I just want to encourage you, thankful that you would come on today and help us kind of peek behind the curtain a little bit. As we land today’s episode, any kind of final words you give to church leaders that are listening in to today’s conversation?Jeremy Baker — You know, the only thing I would encourage church leaders is my my my thing I always tell pastors and and people that I am connected with always is just make it about people. Make it about people. And I’ll say it this way. It’s not problems to be solved. It’s people to be pastored. It’s not problems to be solved. It’s people to be pastored. Sometimes pastors, and I get it because I’m talking to myself, sometimes we make people the problem, and the people are not the problem. The people are the purpose of why we do the pastoring. That’s why we do what we do. That’s why we do shepherding. Jeremy Baker — So, you know, when you’re dealing with when you’re dealing with people, it’s messy. It can be hurtful. There’s there’s different things that come with that, and we could list a thousand things in that. But I would just say, just love people well to the best of your ability. Give them grace. Give them mercy. Jeremy Baker — If they leave your church and they go somewhere else, just let them know the key under the mat. We’re on the same team. We’re part of the same family. We’re all going to go to heaven to we know one day. It’s not about who’s got the bigger church or who’s better? Who’s got the better kids program or who’s got ah the more youth? It’s not about any of that. It’s about just trusting God with what he’s given us stewardship over and in stewarding that really well and just loving the people that God brings.Rich Birch — Yeah, so good. Pastor Jeremy, appreciate you being on today.Jeremy Baker — Thank you.Rich Birch — If people want to track with you or with the church, where do we want to send them online to connect with you guys and kind of follow your story a little bit? I would encourage people to follow your Instagram. So where can we find that and your website and all that? Jeremy Baker — Yeah, so our website is elevatelifect.com, elevatelifect.com, and that would be the same for our Instagram. And so thank you so much for having me. ‘m very grateful, and thank you for your time.Rich Birch — Thanks so much. Take care.

In this brand new series, If You Want to Do Much, Pastor Jerry Dirmann teaches how true, supernatural fruitfulness flows from intentional time spent with Jesus. Drawing from John 15 and the prayer life of Jesus, this message reveals that pausing to seek God, pray, and listen is the key to living with power, wisdom, and lasting impact.MORE...« Jesus Disciple » God is calling believers EVERYWHERE to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission, making disciples around the world. Get free resources and find out more at BeJesusDisciple.com.« Support the Jesus Disciple Vision » Give at https://jesusdisciple.com/give/« Solid Lives » To find out more about the ministry of Solid Lives, visit https://solidlives.com/« Support » Help us get free resources out to more people. To support the ministry of Solid Lives, please visit https://solidlives.com/give/« Podcasts » Listen to weekly messages or a daily episode from The New Testament Daily podcast here: https://solidlives.com/podcast/Support the show

What can the Puritans teach us about missions? This week, Alex is joined by Stephen Yuille, director of Puritan Publishing at Reformation Heritage Books, to explore who the Puritans really were and why they still matter for missions today. Yuille challenges common cultural caricatures of Puritanism, explaining that the Puritans were not merely dour moralists but a vibrant movement of pastors and theologians marked by a deep, heartfelt devotion to Christ that went beyond intellectual assent. The conversation traces how this Christ-centered theology fueled a genuine evangelistic and missionary impulse. Although the Puritans lived before what we now call “modern missions,” they were deeply concerned with the spread of the gospel, both within nominally Christian societies and among unreached peoples as the world began to open through exploration. Key Topics Covered Who the Puritans were—and why modern stereotypes about them are misleading The relationship between Reformation theology and evangelistic zeal How Puritan theology influenced William Carey and later global missions The centrality of Christ's glory as the motivation for missions Want more content from The Missions Show? Become a premium subscriber and get access to the Overtime segment where Alex and Stephen Yuille discuss what the Puritans can teach us about how to deal with weariness and fear in ministry. Sign up at missionsshow.com/premium. Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber! Premium Subscribers get access to: Exclusive bonus content A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts Invite-only webinars A free gift! Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.

Erik Larson, President and CEO of New Covenant Missions, joins the conversation to share how God invited him to leave a stable, successful career in the restaurant industry for a life shaped by obedience and global missions. Raised in a Christian home, Erik experienced seasons of both closeness and distance from Christ before God used disruption, restlessness, and a growing burden for the unreached to redirect his life. What began as contentment in business-as-mission work became a holy invitation to trust God beyond security, leading Erik and his family into indigenous missions across Africa. Through New Covenant Missions, Erik now works to equip and support local church planters who are best positioned to reach their own communities with the gospel. He explains why empowering indigenous leaders, adapting to local cultures, and prioritizing disciple-making are central to sustainable Kingdom impact. The conversation highlights God's work in some of the most difficult and overlooked places, along with the patience, humility, and discernment required to steward resources wisely and faithfully. Listen to this episode to reflect on how God may be inviting you to say yes, trust Him deeply, and join His work beyond your comfort. Major Topics Include: Invitation versus obligation in God's calling A unique approach for each culture Contrasting discipleship-making and Church-planting movements Working with “Pauls” and “Timothys” Opening hearts through physical needs The balance of missions and charity The blessing and challenge of a communal mindset Emerging strategies in missions Partnering for Global Impact Getting ready for the Holy Spirit's move QUOTES TO REMEMBER “God radically disturbed my life.” “The biggest injustice in the world is that there are still people living out there who have no access to Jesus, and we've got to change that.” “I felt God say, ‘We're going to raise up multitudes of indigenous leaders to reach the nations.'” “The people best positioned to reach their communities are the people who already live there.” “What we really want to do is find the people that already have the heart and the passion for the Great Commission and then be the gasoline to their fire.” “We're not there to build something for them. We're there to empower what God is already doing through them.” “I like to say they're born pregnant. As soon as they become believers, we're training them to make disciples.” “Mission is making disciples who make disciples, not just doing good things in the name of Christ.” “I believe at the route we're going now that by 2050, we could see a church in every village of the world and no unreached people left.” “When the Holy Spirit decides to move, it can be the hardest place in the world, and suddenly everything changes.” “God is doing all the work anyway. We just get invited to join Him.” “Just say yes, and God does the rest.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW New Covenant Missions Every Home for Christ Joshua Project (see our interview with Director, Dan Scribner) Jesus Film Project (see our interview with Executive Director Josh Newell) Finishing the Task (see our interview with FTT Global Church Planting Strategist Dan Hitzhusen) ACHIEVE Alliance BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Acts 16:9 | Macedonian Call   And a vision appeared to Paul in the night, a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.'   Matthew 28:19–20 | The Great Commission   Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.   Acts 16:31–33 | Household Faith   Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.   John 17:21 | Unity in Mission   That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime.  But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What's that next step look like for me?” That's exactly why we've launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity.  Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we've shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you've been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.

When the church commits to the Great Commission, opposition is inevitable—but backing down is optional. In Acts 11–15, we see an unstoppable movement fueled by prayer, obedience, and the power of the Holy Spirit. As persecution rises, God shifts the center of the church from Jerusalem to Antioch, launching a diverse, mission-focused community that takes the gospel to the nations. When believers refuse to back down, God faithfully backs them up—and His Word continues to grow and multiply.

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

A Prayer to be a "Telling Family" Jesus didn’t add qualifiers to the Great Commission. He didn’t say go and tell only if you’re outgoing, confident, or know all the right words. He simply said… go and tell. The beautiful part? We all tell His story differently. At the ball field. In the car line. At work. Around the dinner table. In everyday conversations with ordinary people.This week, let’s keep it simple.Who around you needs to hear about the hope and love of Jesus—from a regular person in a regular place?Let’s be telling families. Reference: Matthew 28:18-19 (msg) Prayer: Father, thank you for entrusting your good news to us. Help us not to take that responsibility lightly. Help us to be telling families. Families who are looking for ways and opportunities to share your hope, your love and your light to a world that is hurting. In doing so, may our children be tellers of your good news as well. In Jesus' name, Amen. LINKS: Follow Everyday Prayers @MillionPrayingMoms Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use! Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon. Discover more Christian podcasts at LifeAudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at LifeAudio.com/contact-us Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We've all heard the argument against attending worship because the Christians involved are all hypocrites. This episode dives into that argument a little and explains that the Church is simply made up of imperfect people trying to do better with their lives.Other show highlights: Allen's "Mission Possible" idea. See a portion below. Contact us if you'd like more information.MISSION POSSIBLEA Congregational Journey Toward Evangelism, Connection, and Community Impact As Demographics Change.I am grateful you found your way to this message. My aim is simple: to humbly encourage and assist congregations who are committed to the Great Commission and to help them better connect with their communities. I am simply a servant, like you.For many years I have participated in Gospel Meetings, evangelism workshops, seminars, conferences, and countless events designed to inspire us to “seek and save the lost.” Each of these opportunities provided valuable instruction, motivation, and tools to strengthen my work as an evangelist. I'm confident you have benefited in similar ways.Recently, a well-known podcaster remarked that humanity has access to 98% of the world's information thanks to modern technology. This caused me to pause and ask a hard question:“If we—as the church—have the Bible, abundant resources, materials, and access to nearly all the world's information, why do we still struggle to study the Bible with others and add new souls to the church?”We can easily list reasons:• Society is busy.• People are distracted.• The world seems apathetic to spiritual things.• Competing information overwhelms attention and interest.But the more I observe, the more I have become convinced that the missing link is this:Most congregations genuinely care about evangelism, but struggle to create Bible study opportunities—and even more so, to follow up with them.We get plugged in during events… but often unplug when the event ends.It is time to bridge the gap between our communities and Christ. ~Allen Jones Would you and your congregation like to:Become better equipped individually?Grow healthier as a congregation?Increase community awareness?Become a place of interest and hope?Extend the reach of the church?Inspire others to love the Lord?If so, “Mission Possible” may be an ideal starting point.Dear Friend,Can We Work Together?

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Jesus gave us a clear command in Matthew 28: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” But what does that actually look like in everyday life?In this episode, we explore practical, lived-out ways to walk in obedience to that call, learning how to live a confident, victorious life in Christ as a disciple maker. This isn't an exhaustive list or a formula, but a collection of lessons learned through years of wrestling, growing, and practicing intentional faith.You'll be encouraged and equipped to reach the people God has already placed in your life, your neighbors, family, friends, coworkers, and teammates, by living from conviction, not pressure, and from confidence, not fear.Recorded at the Tuesday Table with Influencers Bakersfield, this message comes from a ministry that has deeply shaped the speaker's own walk with Christ and continues to help men and women grow in an intimate, abiding relationship with Jesus.This episode is all about stepping into the harvest field with clarity, courage, and faithfulness, learning how to live out the Great Commission in real life.SHOW NOTESWant to Submit a Question for Future Episode? ⁠Click Here⁠Take the ⁠⁠30 Day Identity Challenge ⁠⁠Get the ⁠6 Week Confidence Journal ⁠to build your confidence and train spirituallyFree Resource:⁠ Identity in Christ Statements⁠Free Resource: ⁠Deep Dive on Anger and Forgiveness⁠Free Resource: ⁠Help! I Need Confidence Video⁠Free Resource: ⁠Help! I'm in a Slump Video⁠Follow Pure Encouragement on ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠MORE ABOUT PURE ENCOURAGEMENT

Businessman and investor Doug Cobb joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about his goal of assisting in the completion of the Great Commission.   (click for more...)          Website:  https://finishingfund.org, https://www.douglasfcobb.comIn this First Person interview, Wayne Shepherd speaks with Doug Cobb, founder of the Finishing Fund and author of The Sprint to the Finish, about the accelerating global effort to fulfill the Great Commission. Cobb explains how his background in business and venture investing uniquely prepared him to help fund and launch first-time gospel engagement among unreached people groups, noting that fewer than 100 such groups remain worldwide. He describes three biblical “finish lines” of the Great Commission—believers in every people group, Scripture in every language, and a gospel presence in every place—and highlights remarkable progress through collaboration, technology, media, and prayer. Throughout the conversation, Cobb shares powerful stories of first believers, emphasizes prayer as foundational spiritual warfare, and challenges listeners to participate by praying, giving, and “going,” whether across the globe or across town, as God brings the unreached into everyday reach.                           NEXT WEEK:  Dan Hawkins, Village MinistriesSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Today's "Big Question" is "How do Christians live out the command to evangelize within the military context?" Today's guest is Evan Murray who's an active duty member who I connected with in a Persoanl Evangelism and Devotion class at Southern Baptist Theological University: What is the gospel? God-Man-Christ-Response What does the gospel cost? Everything! Our former self and our pride. Evangelism, who in the military should share the gospel? And with whom? Great Commission in Matt 28:19-20 Am I allowed to share my personal faith as representative of the government? We are ambassadors of Christ first and foremost What are common challenges to sharing the gospel with other military members? Busyness and laziness What are some common barriers or objections to the gospel for military members? Postmodernism and relativism. Reflect: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior?  How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ today: ✝️ "Choose this day whom you will serve..." ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬  Next steps: Share with an armed forces member Follow Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion              

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Today we continue in Ephesianschapter 6, looking at verses 5 through 8, where the Apostle Paul turns hisattention from the home to the workplace. The word "servants," or inthis translation, “bondservants”, undoubtedly refers to Christian slaves, butwe may certainly apply these words to the Christian employee today. There wereprobably 6 million slaves in the Roman Empire in that day, and slavery was anaccepted institution. While the New Testament does not launch a politicalattack against slavery, the Gospel itself undermines it from the inside. Paul'smission was not to overthrow governments, but to transform lives throughChrist. History shows us that when hearts are changed by the Gospel, societieseventually change as well.The principles Paul gives hereapply directly to us today as Christian employees and workers. The workplaceis one of the most important mission fields God has given us. Paul givesseveral reasons why Christian servants—and Christian workers today—are to beobedient and faithful in their work.  First, we are reallyserving Christ. Paul reminds these servants that although they have“masters according to the flesh,” their true Master is the Lord. When aChristian goes to work, he does not leave his faith at the door. He carriesChrist with him into the office, the factory, the classroom, or the job site. Beinga Christian employee means showing respect, diligence, and integrity. The factthat an employer and employee may both be Christians is never an excuse to doless work. Instead, it is a reason to be even more faithful. The Christianworker should give full attention and energy to the task at hand, working withwhat Paul calls “singleness of heart.” Paul specifically warns against “eyeservice”—workingonly when the boss is watching, or trying to impress people rather than beinggenuinely faithful. The best testimony on the job is not just what we say, buthow we work. A good day's work done with integrity speaks volumes for Christ. Second, doing a good job isthe will of God. Paul says we are to be “doing the will of God from theheart.” Christianity makes no distinction between sacred and secular work.Any honest job can be an act of worship when it is done for the Lord. Some ofthese servants were assigned tasks they disliked or found difficult. Yet Paultells them to do their work wholeheartedly, as long as it did not requiredisobedience to God. The key issue is the heart attitude. When we work “fromthe heart,” we are acknowledging that our labor ultimately belongs to the Lord. A Christian does not workmerely for a paycheck or for human approval. He works to glorify God. WhenChrist is our true Master, even ordinary tasks take on eternal significance. Itis also good to remember that our vocation or job is God's means of supporting theministry God has called us to. Our first ministry is our family and after thatis our church and other believers. It also gives us the opportunity to support ourresponsibility to fulfill the Great Commission of reaching the lost people withthe Gospel of Jesus Christ. To bear fruit that glorifies God (John 15:8 &16) “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit" Third, we will be rewardedby the Lord. In Paul's day, slaves were often treated as property,regardless of their abilities or character. A Christian slave might even sufferunjust treatment because of his faith. Yet Paul assures them—and us—that no actof faithful service goes unnoticed by God. God is no respecter of persons. Earthly status does not determine heavenlyreward. We serve Christ, not men, and our ultimate reward comes from Him. Thistruth is especially comforting when our work is unappreciated, misunderstood,or unfairly criticized. God sees. God remembers. God rewards. In summary, the Christianworkplace ethic is built on three great truths: We work for Christ, wework according to the will of God, and we work with the assurance ofeternal reward.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly theme of “Who Am I” with discussions about living in step with the Holy Spirit. We then turned to the phone lines to ask listeners the question, “What’s something about yourself that you couldn’t see until the Holy Spirit revealed it to you? We then had Ray Comfort join us to discuss how to differentiate between doing things out of stupidity and doing things out of faith and in obedience to God. Ray is the Founder and CEO of Living Waters, which is a ministry that exists to inspire and equip Christians to fulfill the Great Commission. He also cohosts the award-winning television program, “Way of the Master”, which airs in 190 countries and he is the producer of award-winning movies that have been viewed by millions. He has also written over 100 books, including his latest, “Idiotic Things People Did in the Bible.” We then had our weekly segment, “Ally Thinks It’s Funny.” You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Ray Comfort Interview [05:41] Listener Stories Interview [38:25] Ally Thinks It’s Funny [51:05] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a question that should be vital for Christians, especially since the Great Commission makes growing Christianity one of most important concerns. But do we really know? In today's episode, Warren Smith says we know the answer to this question. It's hiding in plain sight. It is this:  The church grows when we are fruitful and multiply, and when we raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It really is as simple as that. To read a script of today's podcast episode, click here.

Your church has groups, classes, Bible studies, and a beautiful buffet of programs—but your people aren't growing spiritually. You're seeing staff burnout, volunteer shortages, and 40% of your congregation still can't quote the Great Commission. The problem isn't lack of activity; it's that you've created a maze of programs instead of a clear discipleship pathway. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are your hosts for The Church Revitalization Podcast, a weekly show from The Malphurs Group dedicated to helping church leaders develop practical strategies for church health and growth. Together they bring decades of consulting experience working with churches across the country to implement effective discipleship systems. In this episode, Scott and A.J. diagnose three critical signs your church has a maze instead of a map. [2:13] Sign #1: Menu vs. Map  [6:28] Sign #2: Members Can't Name Their Next Step  [13:08] Sign #3: Measuring Programs, Not Progress  The episode concludes with practical steps to shift from program-oriented thinking to process-oriented discipleship. Ready to simplify and strengthen your church's discipleship pathway? Get a 7-day free trial of the Healthy Churches Toolkit at healthychurchestoolkit.com, where you'll find Strategic Envisioning training and tools to help you build a clear discipleship process. Connect with a certified Malphurs Group guide at malphursgroup.com to partner with your church in making disciples who make disciples. Follow us on social media: Facebook: facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: x.com/malphursgroup Read the full show notes at malphursgroup.com/325

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly theme of “Who Am I” with discussions about living in step with the Holy Spirit. We then turned to the phone lines to ask listeners the question, “What’s something about yourself that you couldn’t see until the Holy Spirit revealed it to you? We then had Ray Comfort join us to discuss how to differentiate between doing things out of stupidity and doing things out of faith and in obedience to God. Ray is the Founder and CEO of Living Waters, which is a ministry that exists to inspire and equip Christians to fulfill the Great Commission. He also cohosts the award-winning television program, “Way of the Master”, which airs in 190 countries and he is the producer of award-winning movies that have been viewed by millions. He has also written over 100 books, including his latest, “Idiotic Things People Did in the Bible.” We then had our weekly segment, “Ally Thinks It’s Funny.” You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Ray Comfort Interview [05:41] Listener Stories Interview [38:25] Ally Thinks It’s Funny [51:05] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 281 The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 281 Welcome to Episode 281 of The Thinklings Podcast! In this episode, the Thinklings begin with Books & Business before turning their attention to Jesus' calling of the twelve disciples and how that calling connects to the Great Commission. Thanks for tuning in to this week's conversation!

In this episode of the Global Missions Podcast, Mags talks with Jaci Hutchcraft and Jayne Russell Olson about the heart behind Kids' Kairos, a brand-new missions curriculum designed to help churches disciple children into God's global story. They share the vision, the journey behind creating it, and why they're hopeful about welcoming the next generation into the Great Commission.

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Join us this week as Raechel and Amanda welcome Whitney Capps back to the podcast for another action-packed week in the book of Acts. In this episode they spur one another on in their unique roles in the Great Commission and rejoice in the power that can only be found in the gospel.Open your Bibles with us this week! This episode corresponds to Week 4 of She Reads Truth's Acts reading plan. You can read with the She Reads Truth community on our site, in our app, or with our Acts printed or digital Daily Reading Guide.In this episode:Simple SeminaryTheology and Other Fun Stuff PodcastThe Melody of Grace by Whitney CappsShe Reads Truth on Instagram & FacebookRaechel Myers on InstagramAmanda Bible Williams on InstagramWhitney Capps on Instagram*If you purchase something through our links, She Reads Truth may earn an affiliate commission.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Magellan AI - https://docsend.com/view/5vdvbdx7cr4tikmyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

In this 2026 Vision Weekend message, Pastor Jerry Dirmann shares God's vision for a disciple-making culture and movement. Through Scripture and prophetic insight, this message calls believers to recognize the time of their visitation, increase fruitfulness, pray persistently, and faithfully steward what God has entrusted to them. You'll be challenged to believe God's promises, respond in faith, and commit yourself to fulfilling the Great Commission in this season.MORE...« Jesus Disciple » God is calling believers EVERYWHERE to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission, making disciples around the world. Get free resources and find out more at BeJesusDisciple.com.« Support the Jesus Disciple Vision » Give at https://jesusdisciple.com/give/« Solid Lives » To find out more about the ministry of Solid Lives, visit https://solidlives.com/« Support » Help us get free resources out to more people. To support the ministry of Solid Lives, please visit https://solidlives.com/give/« Podcasts » Listen to weekly messages or a daily episode from The New Testament Daily podcast here: https://solidlives.com/podcast/Support the show

Has global missions strayed from a reformed foundation? In this episode of The Missions Show, Alex and Scott talk with Pastor Jerry Slate Jr. to discuss the theological foundations and practical realities of faithful reformed missionary work. The conversation centers on the question of what sustains missionaries through hardship, rejection, and long seasons of discouragement. Jerry, Alex, and Scott emphasize the central role of the local church in sending, vetting, and sustaining missionaries, warning against outsourcing this responsibility entirely to parachurch organizations. The episode highlights the need to tether missiology firmly to historic Christian theology, confessional faith, and biblical ecclesiology. Check out Jerry Slate Jr.'s new book, Reforming World Missions from Founders Press. Follow Jerry's church Berean Baptist Church in Powder Springs, Georgia. Find sermon audio here. Key Topics Perseverance in missions grounded in the worth and glory of God The relationship between theology proper and missionary motivation Critiques of pragmatic and movement-driven missiology The local church as the primary sending and overseeing body for missions The importance of biblically qualified leadership and discipleship Recovering historic, confessional theology in global missions Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber! Premium Subscribers get access to: Exclusive bonus content A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts Invite-only webinars A free gift! Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

How can God use a weak and broken life for His glory? What does it mean to truly follow Christ? In this episode, we reflect on the life of David Brainerd, a frail and often melancholy man who wholeheartedly obeyed Jesus' call: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Despite sickness, loss, and rejection, Brainerd chose hardship over ease, taking the gospel to unreached Native American tribes. Through deep prayer and dependence on Christ, he witnessed powerful revival and lasting fruit. His legacy, preserved in his journals, has inspired generations. Like Brainerd, may we follow Christ with our whole hearts and pray to be used beyond what we are.

Preacher: Chad Vegas

Summary Why doctrine matters is not theoretical; it is deeply practical. What we believe shapes how we live, worship, serve, and remain faithful. We rarely form our theology in a vacuum. It is forged through conflict, culture, and confrontation with error. In this sermon, Dr. Michael Easley explains why belief demands clarity and conviction. He focuses on the doctrine of the Trinity as foundational, not optional. Scripture reveals one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This truth anchors Christian faith across both Old and New Testaments. Dr. Easley walks through the Shema, the Great Commission, and key apostolic teachings. He shows that Trinitarian belief shapes salvation, fellowship, and access to God. The Father is the source. The Son accomplishes redemption. The Spirit indwells and seals believers. The Trinity reveals perfect divine community. God invites His people into that same fellowship with Him and one another. Doctrine is not dry or abstract when rightly understood. It leads to worship, unity, and faithful obedience. We believe Scripture because God has revealed Himself. We trust the Word because God is true. Why you believe what you believe is not merely important. It is crucial. Takeaways We don't form our doctrine in isolation but in real world trials. The Bible reveals one God who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is essential to understanding salvation, redemption, and assurance. God's triune nature models perfect community and calls believers into meaningful fellowship. Baptism and discipleship are rooted in Trinitarian identity, not personal preference. We believe Scripture because God is true—not because we've proven the Bible to be reliable. To read the bible online, click here. Click here for other Michael Easley Sermons.

The Book of Acts reveals the birth and explosive growth of the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke, this book follows the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as ordinary believers are empowered to live out the Great Commission. Join Jerry Dirmann each day as he walks through Acts, bringing Scripture to life through teaching, encouragement, and practical application. Be inspired by the bold faith of the apostles, the miracles of God, and the unstoppable advancement of His Kingdom. Grab your Bible and grow daily in God's Word with The New Testament Daily. FREE MEDIA LIBRARY https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library SOLID LIVES https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

What does it actually mean to put God first—not just in belief, but in real life?In this message, we walk through three defining truths that reshape how we see faith: the Greatest Commandment, the Great Commission, and the Greatest Relationship. This isn't about religious performance, personal improvement, or checking spiritual boxes. It's about love that shows up in action, obedience that doesn't wait for qualification, and a relationship with Jesus that goes deeper than familiarity. If your faith has felt distant, stalled, or overly complicated, this conversation is an invitation to reconnect your soul to what truly matters—and to step into the life and purpose God intended all along.—To connect, learn more or donate, visit gravetopchurch.com  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok by searching @gravetopchurch

What if the life you're chasing isn't found in success, comfort, or achievement—but in the Kingdom of God?In this message, we return to Matthew 28:18–20, where Jesus gives His final and clearest mission for the Church: make disciples. Not just attend church. Not just believe quietly. But learn from Jesus, obey Him, and help others do the same—everywhere we go.If faith has felt boring, stagnant, or disconnected from real life, it might be because we've been searching for LIFE in the wrong kingdoms. Jesus offers something better: a life of purpose, courage, obedience, and joy found in His Kingdom.In this sermon, you'll learn:✔️What it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus✔️Why life is not found in comfort, politics, or self—but in God's Kingdom✔️How obedience and mission lead to joy, not restriction✔️Why the local church is God's Plan A for changing the world✔️How making disciples gives meaning to every season of lifeKey Scriptures:- Matthew 28:18–20 — The Great Commission- Matthew 6:21 — “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”- John 10:10 — Life to the full- Luke 9:23 — Take up your cross daily- 2 Corinthians 5:20 — We are Christ's ambassadorsSearch Keywords:Great Commission sermon, what is life about, making disciples, Kingdom of God sermon, Christian purpose, discipleship explained, local church mission, finding meaning in faith, following Jesus fullyLife isn't found in playing it safe—it's found in following Jesus and joining His mission.Like, Subscribe, and share this message with someone who's searching for purpose and a life that truly matters.

What if the life you're chasing isn't found in success, comfort, or achievement—but in the Kingdom of God?In this message, we return to Matthew 28:18–20, where Jesus gives His final and clearest mission for the Church: make disciples. Not just attend church. Not just believe quietly. But learn from Jesus, obey Him, and help others do the same—everywhere we go.If faith has felt boring, stagnant, or disconnected from real life, it might be because we've been searching for LIFE in the wrong kingdoms. Jesus offers something better: a life of purpose, courage, obedience, and joy found in His Kingdom.In this sermon, you'll learn:✔️What it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus✔️Why life is not found in comfort, politics, or self—but in God's Kingdom✔️How obedience and mission lead to joy, not restriction✔️Why the local church is God's Plan A for changing the world✔️How making disciples gives meaning to every season of lifeKey Scriptures:- Matthew 28:18–20 — The Great Commission- Matthew 6:21 — “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”- John 10:10 — Life to the full- Luke 9:23 — Take up your cross daily- 2 Corinthians 5:20 — We are Christ's ambassadorsSearch Keywords:Great Commission sermon, what is life about, making disciples, Kingdom of God sermon, Christian purpose, discipleship explained, local church mission, finding meaning in faith, following Jesus fullyLife isn't found in playing it safe—it's found in following Jesus and joining His mission.Like, Subscribe, and share this message with someone who's searching for purpose and a life that truly matters.

This sermon explores how believers are called to participate in the Great Commission of making disciples, emphasizing that we are sent in the same way Jesus was sent by the Father. The message addresses the common resistance and fear that prevents Christians from sharing the gospel, revealing that we go out already loved by God (with His pleasure), with clear purpose, alongside His people, and most importantly, filled with His presence through the Holy Spirit. The sermon challenges the notion that evangelism is optional or reserved for "elite" Christians, instead presenting it as a standing order for all believers. The key theological insight is that we cannot fulfill our mission in our own strength—we need the filling of the Holy Spirit to empower us, just as a glove needs a hand to fulfill its purpose.

The sermon centers on the Great Commission as exemplified in the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, highlighting that true evangelism is not merely a mission field endeavor but a personal, ongoing responsibility for every believer. Through the narrative in Acts 10, the preacher emphasizes that Cornelius's prayers and alms were heard by God not as a means of salvation, but as a divine preparation for the gospel, underscoring God's mercy toward the seeking heart. The core message is that salvation is not a transaction but a transformative experience that compels the saved to become authentic witnesses—Martus—testifying to what they have personally seen and felt in Christ, a role angels cannot fulfill due to their lack of sin and redemption. The sermon calls believers to move beyond comfort, doubt, and opposition, embracing the personal, costly, and urgent duty to share the gospel, whether through direct evangelism, personal testimony, or supporting missions, all rooted in the authority and presence of Christ. Ultimately, the Great Commission is not a distant mandate but a daily, intimate call to bear witness to the life-changing power of Christ, with the assurance that God is with His people always, even to the end of the age.

Title: How to Be BoldScripture Reading: Joshua 1:6-9Series: Be Bold!How do we move from cautious faith to courageous action? We learn the answer from Joshua, who was commanded to be strong and courageous. True boldness is born out of trust in God. To be bold, we must first "Take Hold" of the unique calling God has placed on our lives. Next, we must "Take Heed" of God's Word by internalizing it through study and conversation. Finally, we must "Take Heart." We never go into a moment of boldness alone. The Holy Spirit is always with us, just as Jesus promised. Through these three simple steps, we can live out our mission statement boldly in the year ahead.

Pastor Mark concludes the series of Walking Out the Great Commission Part 4.  He shared from Acts 4 showing that sometimes persecution comes when we walk out the Great Commission, but we need to trust the Holy Spirit's direction and let the Spirit guide us and put the words in our mouths when this happens. We don't need to back down walking this out even though it puts us in the line of fire.

In this foundational message, David Swart dives into Genesis 1 to move beyond the typical "science vs. faith" debate and uncover the profound "Why" behind our existence. He explores the Hebrew concept of Tove (Good), revealing that God's creation isn't just aesthetically pleasing, but perfectly ordered for human flourishing. By unpacking the Imago Dei (Image of God) and the original mandate to subdue and rule, Swart challenges us to see our work, relationships, and identity through the lens of God's royal representation. The sermon concludes by linking the original mandate of Genesis to the Great Commission of Matthew, calling us to be renewed image-bearers who fill the world with the presence of Jesus.Be sure to follow 614 Church online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/614_church/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/614church/Website: https://www.614church.orgTo support our ministry, https://614church.org/give/To fill out a contact card so we can stay in touch, click the link below!https://614.churchcenter.com/people/forms/283193Until Everyone Knows Jesus.0:00 – Defining Our Biblical Worldview and Purpose0:51 – The Rhythm of Forming and Filling Creation3:05 – Beyond Science: Who Created and Why?4:25 – Understanding Tove: Functional Goodness and Flourishing9:58 – Imago Dei: Mirroring the Nature of God15:54 – Royal Representatives: Stewarding the King's World18:08 – The Mandate: Cultivation Over Exploitation23:38 – Great Commission: Filling Earth With Disciples

In this episode of the Ps+ we join Nick Hatton one last time to discuss the lengths a mature disciple will go in obedience to God and submission to his Great Commission. 

Pop Christianity has sold families a version of faith that looks good on the surface, but quietly undermines God's design for marriage, children, and legacy. In this episode, Steven is joined by Jeff Davenport to expose 5 big lies threatening the biblical family and to introduce The Abrahamic Starter Kit—a short, no-fluff series designed to help Christian men step off the spiritual merry-go-round and start building multi-generational faithfulness. This conversation is especially for dads who sense there's more to biblical leadership but haven't had the language or framework to articulate it yet. Stick around, and you'll begin to see your family, faith, and future through a completely different lens. Links Mentioned in this Episode: Pagen Christianity The Open Church About Abraham's Wallet: Abraham's Wallet exists to inspire and equip Biblical family leaders. Please partner with us in inspiring and equipping multi-gen families at https://abrahamswallet.com/support AW website Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Chapters (00:00:00) - The Abrahamic Starter Kit(00:03:04) - The Symbols of the Family(00:04:20) - 5 Big Lies That Threaten God's Design for Your Family(00:06:54) - He Deserves A Mission(00:14:09) - Wonders' gatherings and the Great Commission(00:22:40) - Hebrews 6: The Basic Skills(00:24:19) - The Pastor is the Real Spiritual Head of Your Home(00:29:55) - The Role of the Pastor in a Church(00:33:25) - Abrahamic Family Leader Lie #4(00:40:13) - Give to the Local Church House(00:42:57) - No Child Is a Burden(00:46:54) - Overvaluing Children in the Culture(00:50:00) - The fruit of the Pop Christian story(00:54:11) - The Problem with Church Services

In Week 3 of our NEXT series, Pastor Rich unpacks what it really means to be a disciple—and why Jesus' call is bigger than a one-time decision. We're talking about three simple discipleship goals: Be with Jesus Become like Jesus Be on mission with Jesus. From there, we zoom in on the Great Commission (Matthew 28) and the phrase that changes everything: Jesus isn't just giving us an activity—He's calling us to a lifestyle of disciple-making as you go. We also look at one of the most controversial parts of Jesus' ministry: who He ate with—and what that shows us about God's heart for people who feel far from Him. Scripture in this message: Matthew 28:18–20 Matthew 4:19 Luke 5:29–32 --Connect With Us-- Need prayer, want to sign up for baptism or surrender your life to Christ? Follow this link : https://bit.ly/m/lifechurchia

This week, Kaon Serjani joins the podcast to share what God is doing in the formerly Communist, formerly Ottoman, formerly Christian country of Albania. He gives a brief history and shares encouraging stories of how they are seeing the gospel advance. Learn more about Kaon and his ministry at partner.ifce.alWhat happens when someone journeys from Christianity to Islam, then to atheism—and finally back to Jesus? Kaon explains the complex spiritual landscape of Albania, shaped by Islam, communism, and skepticism, and how God is drawing people to Himself through honest conversations, respectful dialogue, and thoughtful answers to hard questions. Together, they explore why apologetics and relational evangelism matter, how long-term conversations can lead to genuine faith, and why listening often opens doors that arguments cannot.This episode is especially encouraging for Christians engaging friends who are skeptical, Muslim, atheist, or deeply unsure about faith. It offers a hopeful picture of how God works through patience, love, and truth to bring people to Jesus—even after years of doubt.Topics include: faith and doubt, Christian apologetics, Islam and Christianity, atheism, evangelism through relationships, answering hard questions, global missions, and discipleship.Fuel for the Harvest is a Christian discipleship podcast equipping everyday followers of Jesus to make disciples and live out the Great Commission.

Missionaries Lucas and Jeremy challenge the church with a sobering and hope-filled call to surrender—inviting us to follow Jesus not just in power, but all the way to the cross. Through stories from the nations and the vision of Every Language, we are reminded that God uses weakness, obedience, and laid-down lives to fulfill the Great Commission, bringing His Word and His presence to the ends of the earth.

In Taking Control of Your Life, Pastor Jerry Dirmann teaches how believers can move from instability to stability by making intentional, God-centered choices. This message reveals why trying to live two lives creates conflict, how pruning brings greater fruitfulness, and how regret and resentment can keep us stuck in the past. You'll be encouraged to seek first God's Kingdom, receive His grace, and walk in the freedom He has prepared for you.MORE...« Jesus Disciple » God is calling believers EVERYWHERE to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission, making disciples around the world. Get free resources and find out more at BeJesusDisciple.com.« Support the Jesus Disciple Vision » Give at https://jesusdisciple.com/give/« Solid Lives » To find out more about the ministry of Solid Lives, visit https://solidlives.com/« Support » Help us get free resources out to more people. To support the ministry of Solid Lives, please visit https://solidlives.com/give/« Podcasts » Listen to weekly messages or a daily episode from The New Testament Daily podcast here: https://solidlives.com/podcast/Support the show

Do you believe miracles can still happen? In this episode of The Missions Show, Scott is joined by Dr. Darren Carlson—pastor, author, and founder of Training Leaders International—to discuss the ongoing work of God as revealed in the book of Acts and experienced around the world today. Drawing from Carlson's new book, Witness: Missional Devotions from the Book of Acts, the conversation explores whether Acts should be viewed merely as a historical account or as an invitation to expect God's continued unusual activity through the church. Scott and Darren wrestle honestly with the tension between miracles and the “grind” of everyday ministry. Through global mission stories, pastoral experiences, and personal encounters, Carlson emphasizes that God is actively at work—often beyond our narrow expectations. By telling true stories of God's work, the church is strengthened, believers are made glad, and hope is restored even amid suffering, persecution, and apparent setbacks. Key Topics The book of Acts as a model for ongoing Christian mission, not just past history Balancing expectation for miracles with ordinary faithfulness in daily life Discernment amid exaggerated or false miracle claims Forced migration and persecution as catalysts for mission in Acts Storytelling as a means of encouraging believers and strengthening faith Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber! Premium Subscribers get access to: Exclusive bonus content A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts Invite-only webinars A free gift! Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.

In All That I Have Commanded You, we explore whether Yeshua commanded his disciples to teach the Torah to the nations. By examining Matthew 28:19–20 in context with Matthew 5:17–19, we show that the Great Commission includes teaching God's commandments.Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:19–20; Matthew 5:17–19; Deuteronomy 4:5–8; Isaiah 2:2–4Takeaway: Yeshua's Great Commission continues the Torah's mission to bring God's instruction to all nations. Hashtags: #AllThatIHaveCommanded #119Ministries

What does it really mean to have a radical focus on Jesus? Many of us believe the right things and stay connected to church, yet our lives can feel blurry and unfocused. In this message, Pastor AK Kuruvilla explores why focusing on Jesus is foundational to a well-lived life and how loving Him is always expressed through obedience. By looking at the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, we are reminded that following Jesus is not about extremes but about exclusive allegiance. • A radical focus on Jesus is the root of how we live, love, and follow Him• Loving Jesus is evidenced by obedience, even when it's difficult• Discipleship happens in the gap between knowing truth and living it outKey Scriptures:Matthew 22:36–40Matthew 28:18–20John 14:15–23Colossians 2:6–7Psalm 16:1–11Ask yourself where your focus may have drifted and what obedience to Jesus looks like in this season of life. Commit to growing alongside others by stepping into biblical community, and share this message with someone who desires a life centered on Christ.Bayou City Fellowship Spring Branch Campus | AK Kuruvilla | January 18, 2026https://linktr.ee/bayoucityfellowship