Do you have a desire to be a force for good in your sphere of influence?
This tool is free, and it didn’t originate with me!
When a friend introduced me to the Discovery Group process, it impacted my life and leadership in ways I never expected.
You can gather for Discovery with friends, family, coworkers — sky’s the limit!
Use the Discovery Questions to discuss any story or passage in Scripture together (usually about 10 verses at a time), seeking to understand, apply, and share what you’re discovering together!
1. What are you thankful for? What challenge or stress are you facing? How can we help? Do you know anyone who needs help at this time?
Check-in: Since we last met, how did your “I will…” and sharing go?
2. Read the Scripture passage together (at least twice) and take turns retelling in your own words like sharing with a friend who isn’t here.
3. What stands out to you, and why? What do these verses tell us about God? What do these verses tell us about humanity / about us?
4. If this is God speaking, how will you apply it to your life? (Aim for a specific: “I will…” next step.)
5. Who will you share with before we meet again? (Name a specific person you want to share with who may be encouraged on their spiritual journey by hearing something you discovered.)
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
What stands out to you? What did you discover about God and yourself? How will you apply these principles in your life and leadership?
We are a Disciple Making Movements (DMM) network of marketplace and ministry leaders, uniting everyday disciples of Jesus with a vision to see teams of 2 or more praying, disciple-making catalysts for every county of WI and the UP to see movements birthed here that will spread to the most unreached around the world.
It was a true honor to host this Groups Connection Coaching Huddle with Darnell Robinson of the Milwaukee House of Prayer.
This conversation from the archives about the power of prayer still strikes me as so relevant to this moment in history! Especially at times like these, it’s essential that we develop a prayerfully dependent way of life and learn to be led by Holy Spirit.
Especially at times like these, it’s essential that we develop a prayerfully dependent way of life and learn to be led by Holy Spirit.
During our season serving a church plant in South Africa, Sweet Bridget and I heard that an elderly woman who lived high in the hills was requesting a pastoral visit. She wanted to be baptized!
While this was certainly a special request, what added even more to this scenario, was the reality that this dear woman was physically disabled—unable to move her feet. Usually, our practice of baptism looks like being fully immersed under water as a picture of dying to sin and coming alive through faith in Christ (Romans 6:1-5)! We often celebrate baptism publicly, surrounded by friends and family, to announce our new life in Jesus and to commit to support new believers on their spiritual journey ahead.
We also recognized that Scripture uses the symbol of water being poured to depict the cleansing and forgiveness that Jesus provides, which has led some faith traditions to sprinkle with water in baptism (Ephesians 5:25-27, Hebrews 10:19-23).
Prepared with a water bottle in hand, we made the trek up to her hut.
When we arrived, she explained: “I’ve believed in Jesus, so I have been born of the Spirit, but I haven’t been water baptized! The Bible says unless we are born of water and the Spirit, we cannot enter the kingdom of God! I’m afraid. I don’t want to die and go to Hell.”
She was referring to the words of Jesus about being born again (John 3:3-8). We were encouraged to let her know she definitely had already been born of water! In fact, every human being has been. When the water breaks and we emerge from our mothers, we are born of water.
Jesus emphasized the need to also be born supernaturally by the Spirit through faith in Him! Once we have been born again by giving our lives to Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, a next step of obedience is to be water baptized to demonstrate we are His followers (Acts 2:36-39).
The next step for this dear woman was to affirm that her faith rested in Jesus alone to save her and to bring her safely home to Himself (1 Peter 1:18-21).
Have you trusted in Jesus as your Leader and Forgiver?Have you been water baptized to demonstrate you are following Him (Matthew 3:13-17)?
Do you have a life message, motto, or verse you would love to be known for?
I want my heart to beat in rhythm with the heart of Jesus for all peoples to experience His love, to follow Him, and to embrace His mission to help disciple others!
Here’s a message I got to share from Luke 10 (one of my favorite passages of Scripture), where Jesus sends out 70 everyday disciplemakers like you and me!
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
What stands out to you? What did you discovery about God and yourself? How will you apply these principles from Jesus in your life and disciple-making way of life?
Last Monday, I got to connect with Tom Rice of Great Marriages for Sheboygan County (Sue wasn’t feeling her best, but she chimed in a couple times ), sharing wisdom and experience from 53 years of finding joy in marriage!
Tom & Sue Rice on their wedding day (a few years ago) — I’m sure it feels like yesterday! 🙂
TONIGHT, 7-9 PM Central, I’ll get to chat with our disciple-making friend Liz Kohli ~ greater Milwaukee area team leader for the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement! How Is God at work around the world? How can we be a part?
I had some AMAZING interviews on Monday night with two dear friends: Gerrylynn Ferguson & Myles Hanson!
The first hour, I enjoyed a conversation on the POWER of Encouragement with Myles Tails Hanson (especially relevant for the young, young at heart, and those with kids or grandkids):
Do you love the next generation? Do you long to see them fulfill their full potential in Christ?
What have you found helpful in connecting with your kids or grandkids?
THIS Monday, Oct. 26, 7-9 PM Central Time, I’ll have Tom & Sue Rice of Great Marriages for Sheboygan County, sharing their wisdom and experience from 50 years of a joyful marriage!
Tom & Sue Rice on their wedding day (a few years ago) — I’m sure it feels like yesterday! 🙂
On Monday, I had the great honor to chat with two dear friends: Myles Hanson & Gerrylynn Ferguson!
The second hour with Gerrylynn Ferguson, we focused on making a kingdom impact in our communities.
Gerrylynn also shared insights on clarifying God’s call for your life and how to leave a lasting legacy in your community:
THIS Monday, Oct. 26, 7-9 PM Central Time, I’ll have Tom & Sue Rice of Great Marriages for Sheboygan County, sharing their wisdom and experience from 50 years of a joyful marriage!
Tom & Sue Rice on their wedding day (a few years ago) — I’m sure it feels like yesterday! 🙂
~Nov. 2, Liz Kohli with Perspectives on the World Christian Movement ~Nov. 9, Jim Egli of New Generations — Disciple Making Movements around the world ~Nov. 16, Ross Nelson — intercessory prayer that births movements! ~Nov. 23, Dave & Rennie Garda of Cadre — real life disciple-making friendships ~Nov. 30, Christine Jacobs — effective prayer & spiritual warfare
~Dec. 7, Bill Marris of Circuit Rider Ministries — Looking thru Jewish Eyes: the Christmas Story Revisited ~Dec. 14, Avi in Israel — Finding Jesus in the Jewish Feasts ~Dec. 21, Roy Schwarcz of Chosen People Ministries — Without Hanukkah, There Would Be No Christmas ~Dec. 28, Dr. Walter Kaiser — Jewish Roots of our Faith in Jesus
~Jan. 4, Jim Corbett of the Family Rescue Campaign — The Wonder of Covenant with God & Others ~January 11, 18, 25, Q&A with Dr. Walt Kaiser — Women in Ministry Matters, Treasures from the Old Testament, Prayer & Revival
I’m certainly glad that our exchange has taken place via private electronic messages and not posted on an open forum.
Your questions and line of reasoning, in your email response to me, were nothing short of stupid!
It’s disgusting how much you need me and my guidance! We can only be grateful that I’m here for you for such a time as this.
How wonderful, on the contrary, to hear that your client highly regards the clergy-laity divide!
It exquisitely limits the Enemy’s workforce when the majority of “Christians” view themselves as passive pew sitters, punching a weekly time clock of church attendance—while the leadership is busy knocking into one another with puffed-up heads, useless debates, and endless divisions.
Reinforce this concept of spiritual hierarchy wherever it may be found, whether in church structure or personal relationships, as it delightfully divides, discourages, and disheartens.
Overall, protect your client from recognizing the strategy of Jesus, who sought to revolutionize the world by creating a level playing field where any average persona non grata can become a public enemy of concern to our organization.
Arguments about titles, roles, and rules are to be strongly encouraged! Emphasize and even overemphasize non-essential topics.
“Overall, protect your client from recognizing the strategy of Jesus, who sought to revolutionize the world by creating a level playing field where any average persona non grata can become a public enemy of concern to our organization…”
Revise and re-revise the bylaws and policy manuals until the cows come home. Underscore any religious pattern of thinking or behavior that will keep more players on the benches and little to none on the field.
Your client seems a miniscule threat in terms of equipping, training, or mobilizing people to pray or work for the Enemy. He’s securely self-focused.
His own theological training and experience nearly guarantee he will be looked to as an authority. His personality is winsome enough that he will shepherd the flock in our direction without the sheep being any the wiser.
You will also do well to ensure that any passages, referencing humility or unity are relegated as compulsory for others and applied only to his personal advantage, while your client holds tightly to his own self-righteousness.
Another hilarious thing in the religious sector (if one is given to laughter) is that with one well-placed fear, doubt, or unnecessary concern one can spin an entire conversation, conference, or series of meetings out of focus into total disarray and ensuing chaos!
Photo by Trinity Kubassek
Lest you doubt me, I will cite a case study.
I heard from one of our colleagues who inspired a group of church leaders to fully dissociate from one of their own and disregard this other’s so-called “success” because of his unconventional use of untrained “lay leaders” in public ministry.
This individual was part of a divergent movement, which I recognized as one of the blips of concern on the map. He was gathering everyday believers for prayer, training, and deployment in what he termed “disciple-making,” which dangerously upset the religious applecart.
Our esteemed colleague, playing on the other leaders’ fears of becoming obsolete and further underpaid, inspired a discussion on traditional ecclesial titles and roles. Those mentioned previously, like pastor and reverend, came up but even more like elder, deacon, bishop, overseer, et cetera.
This “friendly” conversation soon became a full-fledged debate with tempers flaring and increasingly more words flying. Of course, this came with the inversely proportional amount of time spent actually listening.
As they heard one another less and less, their argument became more and more heated. Lines drawn in the proverbial sand became deeper and deeper trenches between them.
Photo by Rafael Serafim
The division and distraction that ensued was delicious!
“As they heard one another less and less, their argument became more and more heated. Lines drawn in the proverbial sand became deeper and deeper trenches between them…”
In closing, be sure to keep on the forefront of your mind the fact that you are easily replaceable. And if you fail or your initial attempts suggest that you might fail, I will recommend your immediate termination.
There is a long line of underlings, who would be overjoyed to step into your strong-smelling shoes.
Tenderly yours,
“The Reverend” P. Sophresh
(honorary, self-awarded title included just for the dramatic effect of it)
P.S. Those credentials are so easy to acquire online these days that as I wrote the closing words of this memo I went ahead and registered myself for one! The official certificate I printed is prominently displayed on my home office wall.
Oh, what irony and hilarity! You might well do the same if you think it would help you see from behind your client’s eyes. And who says our work isn’t fun?
), sharing wisdom and experience from 53 years of finding joy in marriage! 
Living Truth 