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What’s the Difference between Discipleship and Apostleship?
What’s the difference between a “disciple” and an “apostle?” The word disciple comes from the Latin discipulus, meaning scholar. A disciple is a student of Jesus’ whose primary focus is on mastering his teachings so that he or she can live out Jesus’ way. An apostle,...
When Discipleship Isn’t Enough
Discipleship pathway systems are all the rage in the United Methodist Church these days. And with good reason. These systems are supposed to produce disciples, i.e. growth, and thus enable churches to fulfill the Great Commission, as well as the mission of the...
Women, Leadership and the B-Word
When a male leader is direct, confident, or decisive, he’s often known by a C-word: Confident. Competent. Charismatic. He’s prized as a strong leader, a natural leader. A woman, however, is often stuck with a less desirable word. With less desirable...
It’s More Blessed to Receive than to Give
Last year, I had the opportunity to hear Ed Wingfield, one-time Executive Director of the former Denver Urban League speak on leadership. “Using our current models of leadership, if we’re not careful, a few heroes will rise economically in our community. But no one...
Debate as Sacrament
At one church I visited recently, a long-time member confided that the church was going to have to split because the two pastors had differing views on human sexuality and the Bible. Why can’t our differences live side by side? They do in the Bible. ...
Beyond Thoughts and Prayers
A flurry of well wishes were unleashed across the United States in the wake of the Dayton and El Paso shootings ten days ago. These well-meaning expressions of sympathy were tweeted, emailed, texted, written, preached, and whispered: You are in our thoughts and...