Zach Zehnder's Blog, page 11
March 21, 2023
034 Bryan Rose on Having a Purpose for Your Family, How to Reach Families in Kid’s Sports, and His Family’s Story of Infertility and Adoption!
Bryan Rose is passionate about families. Not only does he share his family’s story of infertility and adoption, but he has also devoted his life to mentoring other families as they incorporate discipleship into their everyday lives. Architect turned pastor, Bryan knows what it is like to do a 180 degree turn. He helps churches create a vision for their ministry and breakthrough in their churches.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living. At its core, Red Letter Living creates resources to challenge all people to be greater disciples of Jesus.
Pastors and church leaders, enjoy a FREE resource called Growing Your Church Challenge: 10 Ideas to Grow Your Church that Cost Little to No Money. Enter the code “PodcastPastor” at checkout to receive this totally FREE! This offer is good up until Easter 2023 (4/9/2023). These ten ideas are going to be extremely practical, and not vague ideas like “preach better” and “be kinder.” I trust you already do that. So, go, grab this FREE resource and let’s grow our churches for the glory of God.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
My Ministry Breakthrough Podcast
For more on the Family on Purpose, email bryan@auxano.com.
Key insights from the episode:Clarity isn’t everything you do in leadership, but it affects everything you do in leadership. – Bryan Rose
Our story of becoming parents is a story of brokenness and deep dependence on the Lord. – Bryan Rose
Your mission is the great commission. It’s just contextualized with different words. – Bryan Rose
We want to foster acceptance. – Bryan Rose
Family values are fencelines shapes how you make decisions. Bryan Rose
How do we see every day, everything we do as an opportunity to make disciples? – Bryan Rose
The average church family is over-scheduled and under-discipled. – Bryan Rose
Let’s not excuse the absence of sports families, but equip their presence somewhere else. – Bryan Rose
Lead yourself (and your church) to be more like Jesus.
For so many Christians, the discipleship process isn’t very clear.
They know they need to go to church, pray, not sin, and maybe attend a small group. While these are great things, they don’t outline a clear path leading people to live more like Jesus.
We’d love to introduce you to the 40-Day Red Letter Challenge.
When you and your church take the challenge, you’ll have a clear 40-day discipleship path that will help you master five key areas of discipleship.
You can learn more about the challenge here!
Watch the entire season for free: We’ll upload every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our Youtube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here!
The post 034 Bryan Rose on Having a Purpose for Your Family, How to Reach Families in Kid’s Sports, and His Family’s Story of Infertility and Adoption! appeared first on Red Letter Living.
March 14, 2023
033: Dr. Joel Hunter on What It’s Like to be In the Oval Office, How to Pastor the President of the United States, and if Discipleship and Politics Can Go Together!
Dr. Joel Hunter has been a spiritual advisor to a congregation and to a President of the United States. In this episode, he will help us understand our role as disciples and how we can be engaged or involved in politics. Plus, he’ll encourage us as disciples to focus on what simple ways we can help each and every day.
Every pastor knows small groups are important, yet a lot aren’t too happy with where their small groups are right now. You can grow your small groups right now. That’s right. We have helped nearly 1000 churches grow their small groups, and it’s not as hard as you think. Our super-simple, easily-doable 5-step guide to grow your small group strategy is found by clicking on this link.Resources mentioned in the episode:Key insights from the episode:Jesus wasn’t interested in winning arguments. – Dr. Joel Hunter
The best thing you can do politically is vote and be an example of a healing act. – Dr. Joel Hunter
Politically, it’s not whether you are right or wrong. It’s what kind of relationships you can build with people who disagree with you. – Dr. Joel Hunter
We are relapsing into political categorizations rather than personal relations. – Dr. Joel Hunter
We now define ourselves by what we are against. – Dr. Joel Hunter
Christians would care for those no one else would care for. – Dr. Joel Hunter
Sometimes we need to lose to let people see that there is something more important than being on top. – Dr. Joel Hunter
Dr. Joel Hunter’s Challenge: Make the world a better place by doing one thing this week.
Lead yourself (and your church) to find freedom in forgiveness.
As Dr. Hunter was talking in this interview, it showed me that what the world needs more is the forgiveness of God.We’d love to help you and your church discover what freedom in forgiveness feels like by exploring the powerful forgiveness that Jesus offers to each and every one of us.
We’d love to introduce you to the 40-Day Forgiving Challenge.
The Forgiving Challenge takes you on a life-changing journey to experience the gift of God’s grace so that you can share it with others. It also helps you identify and walk through the five phases leading to freedom.
You can learn more about the challenge here!
Watch the entire season for free:
We’ll upload every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our Youtube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here!
The post 033: Dr. Joel Hunter on What It’s Like to be In the Oval Office, How to Pastor the President of the United States, and if Discipleship and Politics Can Go Together! appeared first on Red Letter Living.
March 8, 2023
4 Ways You Can Fight For Generation Z
They are described as the loneliest, the most socially awkward, identity-confused, and least religious generation America has ever seen. Yet, on the flip side, they are the most educated, diverse, and justice-driven generation that America has ever seen.
This is a blog about Gen Z. If you’d rather watch a sermon on this material than read a blog, go here.
The Asbury Revival is a perfect time to stand behind God’s actions. From everything I have looked at and read about this revival from people, pastors, and sources that I trust, it appears this revival is unique. It is not a revival filled with the more extreme outer gifts of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t feature great world-class preaching or even stellar worship performances.
It has been called a “repentance” revival, and it has been entirely led by Generation Z.
Celebrity pastors and news media stations who have tried to participate in this revival have not been welcome. This is not a time for others to make a name for themselves. Instead, it’s a sweet time when there is a genuine, authentic pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Generation Z.
Jon Tyson, a man who has studied revivals for years, said, “It is a revival from Gen Z, for Gen Z, to Gen Z.”
And, frankly, I’m really encouraged by this.
Amid all this beauty, it’s been met with as much cynicism, skepticism, and unbelief that God is at work in Generation Z. Frankly, these sentiments double down on what I’ve been feeling for the better part of the last couple of years. Overall, the church, and those in the church, badly misunderstand Generation Z. Not only this, but we are not doing our part to build them up in the way they ought to be built up. Furthermore, we are doing far more damage than we may perceive.
So, Gen Z, for my part in that, I want to join with the repentance revival of Gen Z and say, “I’m sorry. I want to do better. I want to change.” And I want to do everything I can to stir up other older generations like me to join me in repenting, changing, and doing better in the future.
My goal in this blog is that you believe in and fight for the next generation. You might think they are uninterested in having you fight for them. The popular opinion is that Gen Z wants to be independent and do their own thing. But the truth is that this generation wants us to fight for them. I’ll show you that in this blog through a rather painful research project that Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL, commissioned. Then, I’ll share with you 4 practices, or ways, that you can fight for the next generation.
We all have a role in fighting for the next generation, whether we are 12 or 90.
Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, a neighbor, a fellow church member, a pastor, or a student, everyone has a part to play in pouring into, developing, and believing in the next generation. So how do we fight for this generation? What does it look like for each one of us to faithfully steward the next generation to become world-changing disciples of Jesus?
Here’s a chart to show the birth years of the generations in America today.
If you still think Millennials are the young up-and-comers, they’re not. Millennials have already started to turn 40. I’m raising my hand on that one and soaking in the last few months of my 30s right now!
Gen Z is one out of every 4 Americans, 74 million people.
Here are some statistics about Gen Z when it comes to faith:
2 out of 3 are currently leaving the church or have left the church.They are twice as likely to become Atheists.Only 9% of Gen Z youth read their Bibles regularly.Those statistics could look better.
Here’s the truth: we don’t just have an obstacle but also an opportunity.
But it’s time for the church and the people of God to step up into this moment. We were born for such a time as this. The Bible is filled with opportunities and people stepping up at the right moment. One of those is Nehemiah. I’m grateful for Pastor Chris Hodges opening my eyes to his connection to this moment we are in when he preached a sermon entitled, “They Want us to Fight for Them.”
Nehemiah is not the last book in the Old Testament. Still, it is the last story in history recorded in the Bible before Jesus came. To frame it into context, Israel was taken into Babylon exile or captivity, beginning in 605 BC and culminating in 597 BC. Israel was decimated. The walls were torn downs. Walls were good symbols of strength, power, sound systems, values, and traditions, and the walls of Israel were torn down. A thing of the past. Babylon was then conquered by Persia in 537 BC by King Cyrus. In the first year of his reign, kind of miraculously, he allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple. Ezra and Nehemiah were the prominent leaders in this temple rebuild.
Nehemiah is the cupbearer to the king. And, on most days, that’s an excellent profession. You get to drink the choice of wines and drinks for the very king. But think about it…there were lots of plots to kill and assassinate kings, and one of the ways in which this could have happened was by poisoning the king. And so, all it takes is one bad day on the job. It’s actually a dangerous job. But, anyway, Nehemiah had favor from his king. He was allowed to go back and rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah is a book about rebuilding a broken nation, a nation where the walls were torn down. Is this a picture of our country? Nehemiah looked at it, wept, and set out to rebuild the walls. He didn’t complain about it, post on social media about it, or blame someone else. Instead, he decided to do something. He set out to rebuild it.
The tendency is to look at the next generation and those who are younger and either blame them or just let them figure it out for themselves. Neither is appropriate. It’s time to rebuild what was broken and fight for them. As Nehemiah says in Nehemiah 4:14
“After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.'”
I love the order of this. Nehemiah starts by looking and recognizing there is an issue. There is a problem.
But rather than freaking out, panicking, and getting discouraged, He remembers that God is on His side. And then, after acknowledging God, He fights. That order is essential. God is with us, and so we fight against injustices, and we fight for the broken-hearted.
A study commissioned by Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL, opened my heart and ears to this more than anything. The study, which received thousands of responses from Gen Z’ers, was simple. It was one statement:
I wish my parents knew ___________.
Here are a number of their responses:
Even though my actions don’t always show it, I desperately want to please them. How much I love you even though I don’t always say it.How much I treasured their advice even when I acted like I couldn’t care less.My dad knew how much I loved holding his hand, even when I would act like it embarrassed me in front of my friends.When they wouldn’t let me date a guy, and I acted mad, I was really thankful that they were fighting for me.Instead of threatening to punish me, I needed them to do it.When I saw them fight all the time, it really messed me up.Their words impact me more than any others. Things they don’t remember saying have changed my life.I wish I could be open with them about my mistakes.The evils I face every day.How hard it is to stay pure.
When I read these repeatedly, how can my heart, how can your heart, not stir for this next generation? It’s time for the spirit of Nehemiah to rise up in all of us as we fight for this next generation.
As Chris Hodges says, part of fighting is building a plan and educating everyone involved.
So, what’s the plan? What practices can we all participate in some way, shape, or form?
I suggest four ways we can fight for Generation Z.
Be Positive
Every generation has been made fun of, mocked, and extremely worried about the next generation. This isn’t shocking… it’s just old. Why do we tear down what is coming? We should be excited about what is coming next and do our part to make it better. Every one of us is screwed up. Old and young. But if we are in the older generations, we have a call to lead the way with maturity and our example.
Our opportunity here is to be optimistic about our words for the next generation. When something exciting happens like an Asbury Revival, rather than jumping to cynicism and skepticism, can’t we celebrate it?
The one line of the study that stuck out to me the most was this one:
I wish my parents knew their words impact me more than any others. Things they don’t remember saying have changed my life.
Our words have power. So, why would we want to discourage the coming generations? Don’t you care about the faith of those that come? If you did, then why would you like to undercut them? Just because they do things differently than you? Just because they are younger?
Be positive about them. Tell them who they can become. I remember a little book by John Eldredge. In it, he talks about the one phrase every father needs to tell his sons, but this extends generationally. So here it is…these five words, “You have what it takes.” Please do whatever you can to tell them they have what it takes.
In my story, I still remember words from my student pastor here that helped transform me. And I still remember other words from older adults that tore me down.
Be positive. Our words have power.
Gen Z places a high value on mentorship and adult role models with one caveat: they need to trust the older adult. They want us to fight for them. They need our positive words.
Pray
Biblically speaking, there is nothing better you can do for the next generation than prayer. God isn’t worried as He looks down on His world and the coming generations, thinking everything is doomed. God’s in control. Prayer is not a last line of defense; it’s a first line of offense. The moment we see injustices, hear of brokenness, and our hearts are stirred, all of these are opportunities to give it to God and put it in His hands.
Have you ever thought that the most significant difference you will make in this world is not by things you do but by your prayers? Why? Because then it’s not in your power but God’s power. We can’t save the next generation. Only God can. But you know what? He uses us in the process to do it.
So, when you hear of things in the next generation like more family brokenness than ever before, less church than ever before, less Bible reading than ever before, increase in the pace of culture change, increase in technology, the loneliest generation to live, anxiety levels that rival psychiatric patients in the 50’s, all these are all things we have to pray for.
Just think of how confusing it is to live in this world as a child or teenager right now. They’re the most diverse generation in American history, racially, sexually, and theologically. With that comes higher regard for pluralism, tolerance, and equality. Confusion exists regarding LGBTQ rights, immigration, the environment, and women’s and gender equality. They’ve grown up with a mass school shooting every single year of their life. That’s just normal for them. That shouldn’t be normal.
God, we need you.
Directly after the first temple was built by Solomon, the Lord appeared and said this, from 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” But, unfortunately, the people of God didn’t do this. And that’s why they needed a temple rebuilt. That’s why a Nehemiah was required. I don’t know or care exactly how we got here, but America is far from what God wants from us, and it’s time we rebuild. And it starts with prayer.
What next?
Prioritize church*
We need to prioritize church, but I have an asterisk by it. So, let me tell you about the asterisk first. The following is from Relevant Magazine, talking about Gen Z and its relationship with the church.
“Of Generation Z—people born after 1996—34 percent identify as atheist, agnostic or non-religious. It’s the highest figure of any generation ever.
When naming key components of their identity, only a fifth of Gen Zers name religion…Young people are drawing back from, if not running from, church as their predecessors know it.
But maybe that’s a good thing.
Here are more numbers: Nine out of 10 people say the American Church is too judgmental, and 85 percent described it as hypocritical.
A third of people said the American Church is characterized by “moral failures” in leadership, and a startling 70 percent found the Church “insensitive to others.”
The question here isn’t, “How can we draw the next generation back into church?” The question is, “Can we blame them for not showing up?”
So, my asterisk is I don’t want to draw Gen Z into a “normal” church or church as it was.
The model of church in America from Gen Z’s perception is broken.
Rather than blaming them, can’t you see that Gen Z is not necessarily fed up with Jesus, but they are fed up with inconsistent, inauthentic, monotonous churches. And they run from things, especially institutions that are hypocritical.
If you are a church leader reading this, here is my plea. You don’t have to be and ought not to want to be the church of the past. Authenticity, honesty, and transparency are better than creating a fancy building that is inauthentic, new, and shiny that they can see right through. Let’s admit we haven’t had it all together and won’t have it all together in the present and future. Churches are places where it’s okay to not be okay. We trust in the power and grace of God to not only help all of us and still make beauty out of the mess.
If you are a parent or guardian reading this, here is my plea. Your child, the next generation, needs to see you model what faith looks like and be a consistent example. Part of keeping your faith primary is choosing a church. Attending regularly. Having that rhythm that no matter what happens in the world, you come and hear the Good News of Jesus in your lives. You have to prioritize church, attending regularly, and living it out.
Attending and being a part of a local church, while not the only spiritual discipline to model, is still crucial in the next generation’s lives. It’s so essential for your kids to see you worship.
Too many Millennial and Gen X parents choose other good things over the best. There is nothing wrong, inherently, with children’s sports, activities, and hobbies. But, if these are taking precedence over regular church attendance and faith rhythms, you have disordered loves in your life. It’s a weird witness to Generation Z to show up half-heartedly and infrequently to church and expect them to love the church.
If the world and the next generation are riddled with anxiety, what is the antidote to all of this? It’s Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. They live in a world filled with negativity and bad news (which, again, is why we need to be positive). The church is where we can consistently put ourselves in a place to hear the excellent news of Jesus. Over and over and over again.
Provide Opportunities
Lastly, here’s something about Gen Z that is incredibly intriguing. More than any generation prior, they want to be producers, not consumers. This generation loves experience and challenge. Don’t be afraid to ask them to give, love their neighbor, and memorize a verse.
Gen Z has an incredibly high turnout for volunteering regularly. They stand up against injustice better than any generation. And, because of how they are growing up, they will likely have the ability to do more than any generation prior. These kids are smart, they’re savvy, they’re helpful. They’re creative. There’s a study that 72% of high schoolers want to be entrepreneurs. They’re different. And that’s a good thing.
Statistically speaking, this may shock some of you, but Gen Z drinks less, smokes less, and has less sex than any previous generation.
The best way to lead this next generation is not to suppress the evil out of them but to elevate the good in them. The way we can disciple them is to provide opportunities.
What if, rather than telling them not to date someone else, we can get them thinking about smuggling Bibles into foreign countries? What if, rather than limiting their screen time, we encourage them to think about how to build an App that can help fight human sex trafficking? What if, rather than telling them not to drink alcohol, we can spur them to think of how to build water wells for those who don’t have it?
Let’s turn things over to the next generation. Let’s stop holding on, give them opportunities, and see what God does in and through them. Let’s be cheerleaders.
Suppose nothing changes, and we keep going. In that case, the church and Christianity in our state and nation will continue to decline and lose their influence. Pretty soon, we will be in the minority because of our beliefs. That’s where all the graphs are trending, by the way. It should happen sometime between 2050-2070. You might think that’s far off, but it’s not. It’s one or two generations away. And truthfully, the most critical generation to combat this trend is Generation Z.
So, as I watch what’s happening at the Asbury Revival, I’m excited to see them stepping up. The Holy Spirit is stirring inside of them. Part of me really wants to be there. But it’s not for me. It’s for Gen Z. I’ll keep sitting on the sidelines and playing my part to encourage you.
Despite all the hands that you have been dealt, you are now leading the way for the rest of us. Well done. So, yes, I’ll keep cheering for you. But I’m not just going to cheer. I’m going to fight for you as well.
The post 4 Ways You Can Fight For Generation Z appeared first on Red Letter Living.
March 7, 2023
032: Pentecostal Neurologist Jessie Cruickshank on what Memory has to do with Discipleship, the Link Between Science and Faith, and what Antarctica is Really Like!
What do you get when you mash up a wilderness guru and a Harvard-graduated neurobiologist? Jessie’s life calling is teaching others about the mind and body connection and how we are wired for discipleship. Jessie believes we’ve complicated discipleship and is on a journey to get us back to what Jesus said about following Him.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living.
Half of pastors today either will not retire or have no plans to retire. This is not setting the church up well to move forward. And because of this, 80% of pastoral transitions don’t go well. So, what can we do? How do you know if you are ready to transition, or when to start planning for this? On March 16th, I’m interviewing pastoral transition expert Mark Zehnder to discuss with us how do we know when we are ready to retire? What are the necessary steps? And what can we do today, no matter where we are in our ministry, to be more open-handed in our leading the church into the future?
For further reading, in preparation of this webinar, feel free to visit these blogs that we posted in March 2022.
5 Keys to Healthy Pastoral Succession by Mark Zehnder
There’s a Pastoral Crisis Right Now. Don’t Believe These 5 Lies! by Zach Zehnder
5 Predictions if Pastors Really Did Quit by Zach Zehnder
3 Reasons Pastors Don’t Develop Other Pastors by Tim Ahlman
I’m hosting this webinar to help pastors and church leaders. So, genuinely, I’d love to know what questions you have regarding this topic. Please feel free to email hello@redletterchallenge.com.
Register today for this FREE webinar and please invite other pastors and church leaders to join us in this important discussion.
Resources mentioned in the episode:Extraordinary Discipleship Online Course
Ordinary Discipleship by Jessie Cruickshank (Pre-Order)
God’s Story- Your Story Template
Biology and the Bible and the two things that help me know my way in this world. – Jessie Cruickshank
Discipleship happens organically through stories. – Jessie Cruickshank
It’s science that helps me see the wonder of God. – Jessie Cruickshank
If being a disciple is being changed by Jesus, then a disciple-maker is helping someone else change too. – Jessie Cruickshank
Most of the breakthroughs in science were made by believers. – Jessie Cruickshank
It’s pretty fascinating to me how many scientists believe in God but how few clergies believe in science. – Jessie Cruickshank
Real transformation happens in divine-human encounters. The amazing thing about wilderness is you can’t fake it. – Jessie Cruickshank
Mediocre people can disciple others. – Jessie Cruickshank
Good news is a story of when God came through for you. – Jessie Cruickshank
It takes 20% failure for your brain to learn. – Jessie Cruickshank
Jessie Cruickshank’s Challenge of the Week: Find a way to share your story and the “aha” moments that God has brought into your life.
If you’d like to share your story with us, email us at hello@redletterchallenge.com or share on social media using #RedLetterDisciple.
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. So we extensively studied everything that Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.
In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! Not only will you get results back immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.
You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here.
We’ll upload every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our Youtube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here!
The post 032: Pentecostal Neurologist Jessie Cruickshank on what Memory has to do with Discipleship, the Link Between Science and Faith, and what Antarctica is Really Like! appeared first on Red Letter Living.
March 1, 2023
Only Time Will Tell
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written [ John 21:24-25].
When you see God’s work, what are you saying? How are you telling that story?
After marrying into the Zehnder family on July 31, 2004, I have learned more about the Zehnder family’s history and lineage. One particular story caught my attention, and I have never forgotten it. It’s the story of how Zach’s great (x6!) Grandpa Johann Zehnder came to the United States from Germany.
The story begins in 1838, when an exhausted pastor named Friederich Wyneken from Fort Wayne, IN, wrote to Germany for help. He had been making mission trips to Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan and wanted to see pastors established in the immigrant communities and to the Native Americans. (Someone in ministry feeling maxed out? What a novel concept!)
The letter worked. A young pastor named Loehe stepped up as missionary pastor to Michigan, taking six single men and four young women with him. These people committed to being part of a missionary congregation in Michigan by serving the Indians and their fellow immigrants by supporting the pastor and by demonstrating a Christian life.
What boldness! What courage! What faithfulness! Surely these young people would need support at home to complete this daring adventure. You would imagine the congregations in Germany, and the Mission Society would be delighted and offer their unconditional support and encouragement.
But it didn’t exactly go that way.
In 1844, The Mission Society of Rosstal, Germany, who responded to Pastor Wyneken’s letter, put the following notes in their minutes:
What the result will be of the intentions of some members of our community to become a part of a mission congregation among the pagan Indians in the state of Michigan, only time will tell . Who knows how many illusions are at play here and how many of these folks are really motivated by sincere motives? In private conversations, they were warned about their dreaming concerning America.
Wait….what?!?!
Time will tell?
Illusions? Insincere motives? Warnings in private conversations?
Keep in mind, THESE WERE THE MISSION-MINDED FOLKS. This wasn’t some random uncle or aunt or neighbor. This was the heart of outreach in the church. At best, they were skeptical. At worst, disbelieving naysayers.
Despite the warnings and mistrust, the small group went anyway and arrived at the settlement after months of travel. They called it Frankenmuth, meaning “ the courage of the Franconians.” A second group would arrive less than a year later, including a young couple named Johann and Margaretha Zehnder, their three-year-old Johann Jr., and an infant, Katrine. Johann Zehnder’s family would become prominent in their congregation, politics, the restaurant industry (check out Zehnder’s Chicken Restaurant, who serves more chicken dinners than any single restaurant in the country), and in their communities.
But, what if those young people had listened to the warnings? What if they had started questioning their own motives and illusions? What if the stern warnings of “time will tell,” scared them into backing out?
Before I throw this mission society under the bus, I’ll be the first to raise my hand in the guilty party. I’m not always the first one on the bus to a crazy adventure. Not only that, but when others do step up to do bold things, I am the “what if” gal. Now, everyone needs the “what if” people. After all, the details need to be flushed out. But the problem comes when those questions rise out of pessimism and fear instead of discernment and love.
The bottom line is God is moving. He’s moving at the Asbury Revival. The story is still being written. God is the same God today. He wrote His story through humble witnesses.
A few shepherds celebrated Jesus’s birth, and we still read about them today.Some raggamuffin teenagers followed Jesus’s call, and we still know their names. Grieving women appeared at the tomb and were the first to behold His glory.A faithful church still lifts high the cross, and a peace that passes all understanding guards their hearts.
He moved in the heart of Pastor Wyneken when he humbly wrote home, asking for help. He moved in the hearts of bold and crazy people, willing to step out. He moved a young couple from their home to a new and foreign land.
Johann Stephan Zehnder was not poor, he was not at odds with the government, avoiding military service, or seeking fame. He went to Frankenmuth, MI, to serve God as a living example of Christianity to the Native Americans.
Not everyone is called to get on that boat like those young people, but you tell a story of God’s goodness daily. The second your heart beat for the first time, your story began. As a Christian, you are writing a story, too. You aren’t just writing your story; you are writing our story. The story of the church. The story has been written since the beginning and continues with you.
Time HAS told. It has told the story of Jesus that carries on here and now: on football fields, from pulpits, in hospital beds, and from jail cells, the gospel is shared. The results are out, and time has told us that Jesus reigns.
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor [ Matthew 11:5].
Challenge: Encourage those called to do brave things. Get behind someone who is doing something really hard, and help. Write down the miracles in your life and tell them to someone. Get up, look up, stand up, and lift up the cross.
The post Only Time Will Tell appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 28, 2023
031: Chris Burns Discusses Sexual Addiction, The First Step in Healing From Sexual Brokenness, and Why He Compares Addiction to Riding a Backwards Bike
Chris is a recovering addict that now leads a recovery ministry. He is a licensed social worker and sex addiction therapist. Not only will he clarify the difference between sexual brokenness vs. sexual addiction, but Chris shares his own personal story of recovery, how to get help if you need help, and the first step in sexual healing.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living. At its core, Red Letter Living creates resources to challenge all people to be greater disciples of Jesus. If you are a pastor, consider a 40-day challenge to start directly after Easter. Here’s a blog I just wrote called “Stumped with Post-Easter Plans: 5 Reasons to Launch a 40-Day Challenge.” Let’s partner up. Find out more at www.redletterchallenge.com/join.
Resources mentioned in the episode:Smarter Everyday Video (Backwards Bike)
The Backwards Bike, Discipline, and Recovery by Chris Burns Rewrite Recovery
Key insights from the episode:Sex addiction doesn’t have a lot to do with sex. It’s an inability to be intimate, vulnerable, and authentic. – Chris Burns.
The way you know if something is an issue is if there is shame. – Chris Burns
People who would have never had a sex addiction now do because of devices. – Chris Burns
While we have never had so much opportunity to fail in history before, we also have never had so much opportunity for recovery. – Chris Burns
Powerlessness isn’t weakness. – Chris Burns
Jesus never shames because he is always pointing forward, instead of backward. – Zach Zehnder
Addiction is not who you are, it’s what you’ve done. – Chris Burns
Chris Burns’ Challenge: Take one step to prevent brokenness/sexual integrity.
Lead yourself (and your church) to find freedom in forgiveness.
Watch the entire season for free: We’ll upload every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our Youtube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here!
The post 031: Chris Burns Discusses Sexual Addiction, The First Step in Healing From Sexual Brokenness, and Why He Compares Addiction to Riding a Backwards Bike appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 22, 2023
Are You Stumped on What to Do at Your Church After Easter? 5 Reasons to Launch a 40-Day Challenge
Across the world, churches are getting ready and planning to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!
Last year’s Easter was unlike any other. Hardly any of us would have thought this Easter would still be different for many of our churches. As complex of a time as this is to lead through, Easter still does and will always represent an amazing time to welcome new visitors (digitally or in-person). I hope your church comes up with an incredible Easter service to celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus!
But I have a question for you:
What are you going to do after Easter?
As a pastor, I know what it takes to plan Easter. It takes an all-in approach from your staff, key leaders, and volunteers. It takes many hours, much mental preparation, and emotional buy-in. If you are like me, it is an incredibly fulfilling experience to bring your best on Easter Sunday. Usually, however, the day after is a pretty low day for me. I’m typically exhausted from what I have just put out and done. What makes it even more difficult is this truth: the next Sunday is only 6 days away! The Sunday’s just keep coming!
What if you could have 40 days done-for-you that will unify your church in a distanced time that will also lead all of the people in your church to become greater followers of Jesus? That’s our bread-and-butter. We create turnkey 40-day challenges that unify a church and bring the proven results that pastors get excited about!
By the way, we are offering extra incentive off already discounted churchwide packages through February 26th. Email us at hello@redletterchallenge.com for more info.
Below are 5 reasons why implementing a 40-day challenge after Easter could be the right next step for your church.
TurnkeyBy launching a turnkey 40-day challenge that is done for you and has proven results, you can approach Easter with the full “all-in” planning that you need. You can also feel confident in continuing the momentum you build on Easter without driving yourself crazy as a pastor or church leader. It’s healthy for church staffs and pastors to have some occasional down time, and using a turnkey sermon series complete with kids curriculum, small group materials, graphic packages, and sermon manuscripts, should give you the ample time you need to rest and recover and still deliver a powerful 40-day experience.
2. Unify the Whole ChurchThe number one word we have heard from pastors who have launched a challenge during coronavirus is “unity.” Many churches are still offering both an in-person and a digital expression. Our 40-day challenges bring unity not just to the entire church on Sunday’s but also Monday-Saturday as well. Especially in a distanced time like coronavirus, churches have been loving how our resources bring unity to their whole church. These challenges not only unify the digital and in-person church experiences to feel like one church family again, but provide unity across all ages, races, and economic levels as well. It turns out that Jesus is incredibly unifying! For more on how a challenge could be a great next step during coronavirus times check out this short video.
3. Clear Next Steps beyond EasterWe recommend a 4-week promotion time before a 40-day challenge. Using the Easter services to promote a 40-day challenge is incredibly effective. Many churches provide a great Easter service but some fail to give a very clear, compelling next step. Churches that have used our challenges in the past have been amazed at how quickly people will jump in and participate. Giving people the opportunity to jump into something that day will create movement. You could consider how to be generous with the resources and give away free books or discounted books. Giving them a resource and a next step that is fun and exciting will make them more likely to attend, engage, and return to your church (in-person or digitally) the following weeks. For more on promotion and distribution, check out this short video here.
4. Maximum ImpactAfter Easter, depending on the year, there is usually a 6-8-week period across most of the country (coinciding with the school calendar) that is one of the higher attended and engaged times of the church calendar. This represents a great time-frame to rally leading your people into the summer. It’s extremely wise and good stewardship to plan series you feel could be most effective, quite simply, when you are able to engage with the most people. For more on the best times to launch a 40-day challenge, check out this short video here.
5. Collectively Grow Disciples of JesusOn Easter, the focus is on the resurrection of Jesus and what this means for all of us. We are saved by God’s grace and receive eternal life. While God’s grace assures us of heaven, it also invites us into a real relationship right now with Him as His disciples. Following Easter is a great opportunity to help people explore following Jesus more. Our resources push people to the words, habits, and life of Jesus and give real practically, daily challenges that will help them become greater followers of Jesus. People will be so moved by His resurrection on Easter that the best next natural step is to do what He says to do.
Ready to launch?
We hope so and would love to partner with you.
Currently we have two different 40-day challenges: Red Letter Challenge and Being Challenge.
Red Letter Challenge uses the words and commands of Jesus to help identify five targets to help people become greater followers of Jesus: Be, Forgive, Serve, Give, and Go. This was our original workbook and we believe offers an incredible discipleship path that is easy to remember and fun to engage with.
Being Challenge explores the life of Jesus to help identify five keystone habits that Jesus practiced to help Him connect in relationship with God: Commit to Community, Study Scripture, Prioritize Prayer, Seek Solitude, and Choose Church. In a year where many new habits and rhythms were created, it’s important we point people back to the habits of Jesus to help them grow in their relationship with God.
For more on these two 40-day challenges and which one could be right for your church, check out this short video here.
Wanting to learn more? You can watch a series of short training videos here or read the blog entitled “Everything you need to know about launching a church-wide challenge.”
We are launching our next big wave on the Sunday after Easter (4/11/21) and would love to have your church in the next wave. We are offering incentive right now off of the already discounted church packages of Red Letter Challenge and Being Challenge. If you have any questions or want to receive those greater discounts by 2/26/21 please email us at hello@redletterchallenge.com.
The post Are You Stumped on What to Do at Your Church After Easter? 5 Reasons to Launch a 40-Day Challenge appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 21, 2023
030: Tanner Olson on Poetry’s Place in the World, How Being a Writer is Only 10% Writing, and His Best Advice for Those Who Want to Be Entrepreneurs
Tanner Olson is an author, speaker, and poet. Tanner discusses his writing rhythms, how he’s grown his platform and influence over the years, and his unique way of blending humor and creativity into a story and announcing the hope and love of Jesus.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living. At its core, Red Letter Living creates resources to challenge all people to be greater disciples of Jesus.
Pastors and church leaders, enjoy a FREE resource called Growing Your Church Challenge: 10 Ideas to Grow Your Church that Cost Little to No Money. Enter the code “PodcastPastor” at checkout to receive this totally FREE! This offer is good up until Easter 2023 (4/9/2023). These ten ideas are going to be extremely practical, and not vague ideas like “preach better” and “be kinder.” I trust you already do that. So, go, grab this FREE resource and let’s grow our churches for the glory of God.
Resources mentioned in the episode:Written to Speak by Tanner Olson
Walk a Little Slower Podcast by Tanner Olson
Written to Speak Blog by Tanner Olson
Key insights from the episode:Art takes surrendering. – Tanner Olson
Tanner spends 10% of his time writing; the other 90% is “all the other stuff.” – Tanner Olson
Poetry has a place in the church. – Tanner Olson
Poetry is not a sermon; it is not a song. It is somewhere in between. – Tanner Olson
Poetry is for everybody, but not everybody knows that poetry is for them. – Tanner Olson
Create and write for the people who follow you, not for the ones who don’t. – Tanner Olson
It’s better to have a very small audience with faithful followers than to have 100,000 followers who don’t know you exist. – Tanner Olson
Tanner’s Challenge: Rest and read poetry!
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. So we extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.
In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will get results back immediately and be presented with the following steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.
You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here.
Some not-so-key insights:
Tanner knew his spot in heaven was secured when he worked at Chick-fil-A.
Watch the entire season for free:We’ll upload every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our Youtube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here!
The post 030: Tanner Olson on Poetry’s Place in the World, How Being a Writer is Only 10% Writing, and His Best Advice for Those Who Want to Be Entrepreneurs appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 14, 2023
029: Stuart Hall on What We are Getting Wrong with Gen Z, How The Word Purity Needs to be Changed, and the Sure Way to Get Teens to Open Up to You.
Stuart has served as Orange’s Director of Student Leadership for over three decades. He also contributed to the 2022 book What Most Parents Aren’t Telling You. As we unpacked some of the latest data and talked about what parents care about, Stuart shared tips on juggling kids’ sports and faith and what is true about Gen Z that the media isn’t letting on.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living.
At its core, Red Letter Living creates resources to challenge all people to be greater disciples of Jesus. One of our integral FREE resources is a Red Letter Challenge Assessment. It only takes 7-10 minutes to complete.
Resources mentioned in the episode:What Most Parents Aren’t Telling You by Orange, (contributor: Stuart Hall)
Key insights from the episode:Take teenagers seriously. – Stuart Hall
Believing in the next generation goes a long way. – Stuart Hall
Teenagers are looking for a significant adult to speak the truth in their lives.- Stuart Hall
Proximity covers a multitude of sins when you are speaking to the next generation. – Stuart Hall
Authenticity trumps coolness every time. – Chris Johnson
The next generation is the smartest, most educated generation in our country. – Stuart Hall
The family used to be rooted in mutual obligation, but now it is rooted in mutual understanding. – Stuart Hall
We can all draw a line in the sand, but eventually you have to release those children into the wild. – Stuart Hall
Parents want to build an empire state building faith on a chicken coop foundation. – Stuart Hall
The difference in prioritizing faith in white parents was more than 24% less than any other ethnicity. – Stuart Hall
Are you willing to offer unconditional belonging long before belief? – Stuart Hall
Adults post a ton on social media and call it “marketing.” Teenagers post a ton and we call it addiction. – Stuart Hall
Belonging drives identity. – Stuart Hall
If you want to go deeper on understanding Gen Z, here’s a sermon by Pastor Zach from October 2022 entitled “How Do We Fight For the Next Generation?”
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. So we extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.
In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will get results back immediately and be presented with the following steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.
You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here.
Watch the entire season for free:We’ll upload every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our Youtube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here!
The post 029: Stuart Hall on What We are Getting Wrong with Gen Z, How The Word Purity Needs to be Changed, and the Sure Way to Get Teens to Open Up to You. appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 7, 2023
028: Brian Fikkert on Why Helping Hurts, How Christians are Creating Problems for the Poor, Why We Shouldn’t Give Away Turkeys at Thanksgiving, and Tall People Problems.
Brain Fikkert is an economics professor and author who wants to see a change in poverty in the world. He not only redefines poverty as a fundamentally relational problem, but he presents a whole new method of how followers of Jesus can serve the poor.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living.
Every pastor I know wants their church to grow. But how? Rich Birch, founder of unSeminary, says “the difference between stagnant and growing churches is that growing churches train, equip, and motivate their people to invite their friends. It really is that simple.”
In this one-hour FREE webinar, we are going to help your church increase its invite culture. Rich will teach us five areas that churches of all sizes can immediately focus on for church growth. You’ll not only learn the five areas, but you’ll discover some real simple tools and practices that you can put into place right away. And, as a bonus, I’ll ask Rich what are some best practices that growing churches are implementing to boost excitement for their Easter services this year.
I’m hosting this webinar to help pastors and church leaders. So, genuinely, I’d love to know what questions you have regarding this topic. Please feel free to email hello@redletterchallenge.com.
Register today for this FREE webinar and please invite other pastors and church leaders to join us in this important discussion.
When Helping Hurts by Brian Fikkert
Becoming Whole by Brian Fikkert
Innovate Initiative from The Chalmers Center
Key insights from the episode:
Good intentions are not enough. – Brian Fikkert
Incorrect helping can create an even bigger divide. – Zach Zehnder
One of the primary features of poverty is a sense of shame, a sense of inadequacy. – Brian Fikkert
Effective ministry to the poor is highly relational and takes a long time! – Brian Fikkert
Poverty is fundamentally relational in problem and takes relational solutions to get fixed. – Brian Fikkert
Real love means restoring people to humanness. – Brian Fikkert
The number one problem with churches in America is that they provide relief when what people really need is development. – Brian Fikkert
Our souls are screaming out, “I’m made for a certain kind of habitat, and the habitat I’m in isn’t the right one.” – Brian Fikkert
There is a superficial kind of love, peace, and joy. Why do we crush happiness? Just because there is a superficial kind doesn’t mean there isn’t genuine, God-given happiness. – Zach Zehnder
Jesus was always trying to restore people to humanness. – Brian Fikkert
When it comes to helping the poor, our message isn’t do less. It’s do more, but let’s do it differently. – Brian Fikkert
Brian Fikkert’s Challenge: Answer this question: Why did Jesus come to earth?
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. So we extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.
In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will get results back immediately and be presented with the following steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.
You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here.
Some not-so-key insights:
Brian Fikkert is 6’10”.
Brian’s primary spiritual gift is offensiveness.
Bathroom stalls/fitting rooms are the worst for tall people.
Zach and Brian share a love for Sheboygan Brat Days.
Watch the entire season for free:We’ll upload every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our Youtube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here!
The post 028: Brian Fikkert on Why Helping Hurts, How Christians are Creating Problems for the Poor, Why We Shouldn’t Give Away Turkeys at Thanksgiving, and Tall People Problems. appeared first on Red Letter Living.
