Zach Zehnder's Blog, page 2
March 4, 2025
092: Kate Gardner on Receiving an Inheritance at Age 21, What We Need to Know about Gen Z Giving, and How to Talk about Money with Wealthy Friends
Kate Gardner is a trailblazer in the realm of next-generation philanthropy. Living in Nashville, TN, she is the co-host of the Ascendants Podcast. She helps all people, but she is especially a rising voice in the next generation, championing generosity, stewardship, and the importance of the Gospel going forward! To learn more about the podcast or the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living, particularly our newest 40-day book and sermon series called Giving Challenge. This Fall, on October 5, 2025, we are launching this new 40-day series worldwide, and we’d love for your church to get in. To find out more information, to join the first wave, to order some books, and stay up-to-date, visit www.redlettergiving.com.
This 40-day challenge will inspire generosity in your church, and it is well worth your investment. Disciples of Jesus are generous and this book will feature how each one of us can become generous like Jesus. Along with the books come a sermon series, a small group series, kids books, weekly kids Sunday School or kids church curriculum, graphics, and so much more. All of it is available, get in now, at www.redlettergiving.com and let this Fall be the season where the generosity of Jesus is unleashed in your church! Have questions? Email us at hello@redletterchallenge.com.
Resources mentioned in the episode
Ascendants Podcast by Kate Gardner
Becoming Ascendants: A Framework for Next Generation Stewardship Book
Key insights from the episode:The heart posture is what God wants, not just the number amount. – Kate Gardner
There’s a small window of time to turn money into something that actually will endure. – Kate Gardner
There’s a desire among Gen Z to have their work purposeful. – Kate Gardner
Money makes you funny. – Kate Gardner
Kate Gardner’s Challenge: Take 5-10 minutes of silence and ask God where you can be generous this week.
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. 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 next 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 be uploading every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our YouTube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here.Ser
The post 092: Kate Gardner on Receiving an Inheritance at Age 21, What We Need to Know about Gen Z Giving, and How to Talk about Money with Wealthy Friends appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 25, 2025
091: Carson Bacha of the Auburn Tigers on How Faith in Jesus Fueled His D1 Golf Championship Victory and How Revival is Coming to College Campuses Right Now
Carson Bacha is the greatest golfer we’ve ever had on the podcast. He was one of the core pieces to the Auburn Tigers national championship in 2024. He credits his faith as the driving force behind his discipline on the golf course. Not only this, but we get an inside look at how revival is coming to college campuses, and what it takes to become a Division 1 golfer and a future in professional golf. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
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. Our newest 40-day challenge is Serving Challenge. Get ready to embark on a 40–day journey that leads to more personal fulfillment than ever.
You were made for more than just believing and existing until you die. You were made to follow the way of Jesus. You were made to serve.
This is a proven resource that will help mobilize volunteers inside and outside your church. Right now you can go to www.servingchallenge.com and check out the ready-made church packs. You can lock in the best pricing there, request a custom quote, or if you are a pastor, request a FREE book. Go to www.servingchallenge.com. Have questions? Email us at hello@redletterchallenge.com.
Resources mentioned in the episode
Key insights from the episode:It’s taken a lot of sacrifice as well to play college sports. – Carson Bacha
There are no shortcuts in life. – Carson Bacha
There are a lot of Gen Zers who are willing to do the work and put the time in. – Carson Bacha
Carson Bacha’s Challenge: Introduce or share Scripture to someone completely random.
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. 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 next 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 be uploading every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our YouTube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here.Serc
The post 091: Carson Bacha of the Auburn Tigers on How Faith in Jesus Fueled His D1 Golf Championship Victory and How Revival is Coming to College Campuses Right Now appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 18, 2025
090: Jason VanRuler on Healing From the Past, The Secret to Building His Social Media Platform, and Why He’s Committed to Going to Therapy for the Rest of His Life
Jason VanRuler is one of the most sought-after therapists in relationships, trauma, and personal transformation. He has helped thousands show up as their best self, get connected, and have exceptional relationships. Jason has also been featured in renowned media outlets such as the New York Times, Fox News, and many others. He is also the author of the #1 Amazon Best Selling “Get Past Your Past: How Facing Your Broken Places Leads to True Connection.” To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
Today’s episode is brought to by you by Forgiving Challenge. We talk about the power of freedom in today’s episode with Jason VanRuler. And we’d now love for you to go on the journey to not only forgive others, but to receive God’s forgiveness for your life. Before we can truly bring reconciliation to others in the world, we need to be reconciled to God. Thankfully, He doesn’t withhold His grace of forgiveness from any of us. It’s time to receive the freedom that comes with the forgiveness of God because a forgiven person becomes a forgiving person!
We’d love to introduce you to the 40-Day Forgiving Challenge.
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!
Resources mentioned in the episode
Get Past Your Past How Facing Your Broken Places Leads to True Connection by Jason VanRuler
Key insights from the episode:We get comfortable with our past even when it’s bad. – Jason VanRuler
Generational trauma stops with us. – Jason VanRuler
The first step is saying, “I am responsible.” – Jason VanRuler
Jason VanRuler’s Challenge: What is one thing you are carrying around from your past that it’s time to let go of?
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. 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 next 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 be uploading every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our YouTube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here.
The post 090: Jason VanRuler on Healing From the Past, The Secret to Building His Social Media Platform, and Why He’s Committed to Going to Therapy for the Rest of His Life appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 11, 2025
089: Pastor Noah Herrin on Learning How to Preach, the Key to Reaching Gen Z, and How a YouTube Sermon by Judah Smith Changed His Life
YouTube changed Pastor Noah Herrin’s life when he listened to a Judah Smith sermon that led him to give his life to Jesus, start a Bible study, begin a college ministry that reached thousands, and now into being an evangelist, speaking over 100 times in a year. He’s the lead pastor at Way Church in Nashville, TN. To learn more about the podcast or the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Children’s HopeChest. HopeChest and Red Letter Living are teaming up for an epic Pastor’s Vision trip March 24-29, 2025. Only a few spots remain. Pastors, we want to invite you and a plus-one to join us on this trip. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in different activities including evangelism, home visits, and connecting with children at HopeChest’s CarePoints. Each day, I’ll also be leading inspiring devotions, guiding you some Red Letter Challenge principles, and empowering you to embody the teachings of Jesus in your everyday life. All the details are at www.redletterchallenge.com/hopechest. So, get in now to connect more with not only Red Letter Living, but hopefully to find a great mission partner overseas in Children’s HopeChest. To find more info and to register for this trip go to www.redletterchallenge.com/hopechest. I truly hope that I’ll see you there.
Resources mentioned in the episode
Key insights from the episode:The closer you can be your genuine self on stage, the more anointed you become. – Pastor Noah Herrin
Expose yourself to great communicators. – Pastor Noah Herrin
If the community is strong, discipleship will happen. – Pastor Noah Herrin
Gen Z wants to be challenged. – Pastor Noah Herrin
Make church real and sustainable. – Pastor Noah Herrin
Conflict means a great opportunity for healthy relationships. – Pastor Noah Herrin
Noah Herrin’s Challenge: Go for a 10-minute walk outside with no music and let God speak to you.
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. 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 next 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 be uploading every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our YouTube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here.
The post 089: Pastor Noah Herrin on Learning How to Preach, the Key to Reaching Gen Z, and How a YouTube Sermon by Judah Smith Changed His Life appeared first on Red Letter Living.
February 3, 2025
088: Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman on Healthy Disagreements, The Future of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), and Training the Next Generation of Pastors
Tim is a third-generation LCMS pastor at Christ’s Greenfield Lutheran Church in Gilbert, AZ that cares about the future of our denomination. Today, we talk about how to disagree in a healthy way and a path forward. Tim hosts the Lead Time Podcast and is passionate about helping the church become filled with great leaders and disciples through Unite Leadership Collective. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Children’s HopeChest. HopeChest and Red Letter Living are teaming up for an epic Pastor’s Vision trip March 24-29, 2025. Only a few spots remain. Pastors, we want to invite you and a plus-one to join us on this trip. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in different activities including evangelism, home visits, and connecting with children at HopeChest’s CarePoints. Each day, I’ll also be leading inspiring devotions, guiding you some Red Letter Challenge principles, and empowering you to embody the teachings of Jesus in your everyday life. All the details are at www.redletterchallenge.com/hopechest. So, get in now to connect more with not only Red Letter Living, but hopefully to find a great mission partner overseas in Children’s HopeChest. To find more info and to register for this trip go to www.redletterchallenge.com/hopechest. I truly hope that I’ll see you there.
Resources mentioned in the episode
Leader and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box
Christ Greenfield Church, Gilbert, AZ
Episode President Brian Mueller Grand Canyon University
Key insights from the episode:I want to talk to people I disagree with. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman
We need to confess our sins more to each other. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman
The quicker I get to my contribution in our disagreements the better. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman
The Holy Spirit wants to bring unity. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman
I don’t want to give up on our denomination because you don’t leave your family. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman
The quickest way to kill any organization is to go high control, low trust. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman
Jesus gave us the model: it was about apprenticeship, mentorship, and discipleship all for the sake of the local church. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman
When I see the Lord I wanna say I did everything I could to reach people with the gospel. – Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman
Tim’s Challenge: Have at least one encouraging “ICNU”, or “I see in you” conversation with someone this week.
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. 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 next 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 be uploading every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our YouTube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here.
The post 088: Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman on Healthy Disagreements, The Future of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), and Training the Next Generation of Pastors appeared first on Red Letter Living.
January 20, 2025
How a Church Can Build a Lasting Global Mission Partner
Every local church has a call to create greater disciples in the world. Many churches have the opportunity to help globally as well. What does it look like to establish a relationship with a global partner? How would we even do that?
In today’s blog, I want to share with you a story of how a church in the USA teamed up with Children’s HopeChest and a community in Guatemala to create lasting change, both for the community in Guatemala and in their local church as well.
Entitled “How to Launch a Partnership with Children’s HopeChest,” this video illustrates the initiation of a partnership from both sides: Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the United States and San Antonio CarePoint in Guatemala.
What makes HopeChest’s model different from others?
Community-to-Community ModelHow have we seen so much success in our partnering communities? The answer is through HopeChest’s community-to-community Friendship model.
This model eliminates any levels of superiority and inferiority between communities and instead focuses on creating strong relationships that inspire growth. Through this model, an individual’s generosity does much more than provide support for an individual child, instead, it contributes to the transformation of the entire community. This method utilizes strategic analysis of a community’s natural assets to promote holistic community development.
DignifyingHopeChest prioritizes maintaining dignity for the children and individuals living within the vulnerable communities that we partner with. One way this is accomplished is by giving agency to the children to select which North American partner they want as their HopeChest Friend. This subtle but intentional decision is empowering, giving them a sense of joy and excitement that they have ownership over their partnership.
In the video “How to Launch a Partnership…,” the different aspects of the Friendship Match event at the CarePoint are featured, including the setup, the children selecting their HopeChest Friends, taking pictures of the children with their HopeChest Friend cards, and recording why the children chose the partners that they did.
SustainableAnother critical feature of our community-to-community Friendship model is sustainability. When two communities partner with each other, it opens the door for two-way transformation and holistic, long-term development. These relationships that are built empower CarePoints to create programs and provide resources where children are supported and educated to be successful once they “graduate” from the sponsorship program.
When a CarePoint is launched, HopeChest collaborates with local leaders to design a unique and specific plan for the CarePoint’s development, utilizing the community’s natural assets. This lays the foundation for long-term sustainability within the community.
Children’s HopeChest’s model for partnership is rooted in community, dignity, and sustainability.
Next Step: Go on a Vision TripAs you look to partner with a global mission agency, look no further than HopeChest.
The opportunity for a vision trip to see their work in Uganda is what helped me see this organization is special.
My family, and my local church, is proud to support the work of Children’s HopeChest. Without hesitation, we would highly recommend their organization because they do things right.
They build a mission organization that truly is the “helping without hurting” model. Plus, in my estimation, there are few things in church life that accelerate discipleship as much as being partnered with a global missions organization. Can you imagine the impact that a long-term partnership, including mission trips overseas to visit your global partner, would have on those in your church?
The best thing for you to do is go on a vision trip. There, you can see the work in action. To see a list of some vision trips in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Guatemala coming up, go here.
And, if you’d like even more information on why global missions can spur discipleship on in your church, visit the blog here.
The post How a Church Can Build a Lasting Global Mission Partner appeared first on Red Letter Living.
November 25, 2024
The Secret Behind Our November Christmas Lights
On November 8, I began putting up Christmas lights outside my house. The weather was perfect—a high of 58—and I knew colder days were on the way. That warm weather is pretty rare for Omaha, and I wanted to take advantage of it. As I worked, my neighbor Pat called out,
“I’ll be putting mine up next weekend! Looks great!”
I smiled back, a little sheepish. Was I jumping the gun? Was it too early?
“Don’t worry,” I called, “I won’t light them until after Thanksgiving! I just wanted to take advantage of the warm weather.”
Pat shook his head and laughed.
“Why wait? You put them up; might as well turn them on!”
So I did. And every night since then, our street has been glowing with Christmas cheer. Two weeks later, as I write this on November 23, five days before Thanksgiving, over half our neighbors have joined in. Christmas came early to our little street!
Lights Before Thanksgiving?I understand why people might “bah-humbug” about putting up lights early. In the famous Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving show when seeing Christmas ads Sally remarks, “I haven’t even eaten all my Halloween candy yet!”
I’ve even said a lot of these myself. Here are some common objections:
“Jumping into Christmas skips over pausing to give thanks.”
“You’re overshadowing family and gratitude with gaudy lights.”
“Let’s keep things in their proper order—December is for Christmas.”
“You’re feeding the commercialization frenzy.”
“I want to savor the fall colors and pumpkins. Don’t rush into green and red!”
“We can’t sustain the Christmas hoopla for two months!”
“What is this—Thanks-mas?”
I get it. Truly, I do. But as a wife and mom, let me make the case for doing the Christmas prep work in November.
My Case for “Harvesting” in the FallI think of Christmas preparation like a farmer’s harvest. In the past, farmers worked tirelessly through September, October, and November, harvesting crops before the freeze. It was backbreaking, high-stakes work. Miss the timing, and the crops would rot or freeze. Meals and sleep often had to wait.
But when the harvest was done, Thanksgiving came—a time to sit, rest, and reflect on the fruits of their labor.
I need that cadence as a mom. I want to harvest in the fall so that December can be a time of Advent. You can’t fully embrace Advent—a time of waiting, reflection, and preparation—if you’re scrambling to “do all the things” at the last minute.
My “Harvest” Looks DifferentI don’t have crops to gather or potatoes to bag. But my harvest is no less labor-intensive:
Cards to sign and mail.Gifts to buy, wrap, and ship.Decorations to haul out, arrange, and string.Goodies to bake and package.Stockings to fill.Outfits to plan.As mothers, we often shoulder the bulk of the holiday workload.
68% of women handle most Christmas shopping, compared to 19% of men.Women spend an average of 13 hours shopping for gifts each holiday season.53% of moms say they feel responsible for ensuring everyone’s happiness at Christmas.63% of moms admit to feeling stressed by the high expectations of the holiday.44% experience physical symptoms of stress, like fatigue and headaches, during this time.70% believe they do more holiday-related work than their partners.If the work has to get done, why not do it during the “harvest” season so we can have a little better chance of creating some margin in December?
My Vision for DecemberHere’s what I want December to look like:
Sit by the tree I decorated in November with my kids, rather than rushing to put it up.Read stories and savor memories surrounded by the décor I put up early, rather than hauling tubs out of storage.Stroll through the neighborhood, enjoying the lights I strung in November, rather than teetering on a ladder.Enjoy cookies I baked and froze in November, rather than baking while my kids eat them all before they’re cooled.Open and treasure Christmas cards rather than stressing over who I forgot, buying stamps, or stuffing envelopes at the last minute.Let Me Harvest So I Can Advent TooPreparing for Christmas in November isn’t about rushing or skipping Thanksgiving. It’s about creating breathing room to embrace the beauty and reflection of Advent.
Our Red Letter Advent book is the perfect way to take time and think about what really matters this Christmas. Through twenty-five daily devotionals, you get to unwrap the four gifts Jesus: hope, peace, joy, and love. (No wrapping required!) For more information on how you can use the Red Letter Advent devotional, click here.
When I sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, I want to know the work of the season is done, allowing December to be a time of joy and connection—not stress and chaos.
So yes, I put my lights up on November 8. And I turned them on.
Please, let me harvest in the fall, so I can truly Advent in December!
The post The Secret Behind Our November Christmas Lights appeared first on Red Letter Living.
November 19, 2024
40 Bible Verses that Bring Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love During Advent
Below are some great Bible verses you can memorize that will help you during the Advent season.
Hope1. Psalm 42:5“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
2. Isaiah 40:31“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
3. Jeremiah 29:11“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
4. Lamentations 3:21-23“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
5. Micah 7:7“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”
6. Romans 5:3-5“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
7. Romans 15:13“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
8. 1 Peter 1:3“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
9. Titus 2:13“While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 6:19“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.”
Peace1. Numbers 6:24-26“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
2. Psalm 4:8“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
3. Psalm 29:11“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
4. Isaiah 9:6“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
5. Isaiah 26:3“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
6. Isaiah 54:10“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
7. Matthew 5:9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
8. John 14:27“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
9. Romans 12:18“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
10. Colossians 3:15“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Joy1. Exodus 15:2“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
2. 1 Chronicles 16:27“Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.”
3. Psalm 5:11“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”
4. Psalm 9:2“I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”
5. Psalm 32:11“Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”
6. Zephaniah 3:17“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
7. Luke 2:10“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'”
8. John 15:11“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
9. Philippians 4:4“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
10. 1 Peter 1:8-9“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Love1. Deuteronomy 6:5“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
2. Psalm 18:1“I love you, Lord, my strength.”
3. Proverbs 3:3-4“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
4. Song of Solomon 2:4“Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love.”
5. Matthew 22:37-39“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
6. John 3:16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
7. John 13:34-35“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
8. Romans 5:8“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
9. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
10. 1 John 4:19“We love because he first loved us.”
We pray that these Bible verses encouraged you in your faith.
The post 40 Bible Verses that Bring Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love During Advent appeared first on Red Letter Living.
October 21, 2024
087: Zach and Allison Zehnder on Balancing Marriage and Writing Together, What It Was Like Growing Up in Togo, West Africa, and Why Red Letter Advent Is A Passion Project
Zach and Allison discuss what it’s like to balance working together and staying married to one another. Also, discover what motivated them to write Red Letter Advent, why you should take your church through the Advent journey, discovering the meaning behind hope, peace, joy, and love. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
Today’s sponsor is our newest resource Red Letter Advent, which is available to order now! Red Letter Advent is a 25-day devotional that is perfect for your church. For December 1-25, readers will be invited to unbox the four gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus so desperately wants for them to not only open but give away to others. Not only will readers go through a powerful journey but so will the whole church. Alongside the book, we provide every other resource your church would need for FREE for a powerful month of December, including sermons, small group videos (or for those that do midweek, you can use them for your midweek offerings), kids curriculum, daily family questions, graphics, you name it.
You can check out our bulk pricing and all of the FREE resources we are building for this project at www.redletteradvent.com. So, get in now, today, you can’t wait any longer, and lock your church into a powerful month of December with Red Letter Advent. You can find all the details at www.redletteradvent.com.
Resources mentioned in the episod
Key insights from the episode:Your wife’s opinion should count at least double everyone else’s because she’s the one still sticking around at the end of the day. – Zach Zehnder
You never make something from scratch: you either learn from the school of hard knocks or you are doing a lot of research. – Allison Zehnder
The wonderful thing about writing is that there is a backspace button. – Allison Zehnder
Write something every day. – Allison Zehnder
In all the glitz of Christmas, don’t forget the why. – Zach Zehnder
Red Letter Advent helps church leaders focus on the most important thing at Christmas: Jesus. – Zach Zehnder.
Zach and Allison Zehnder’s Challenge: Make a plan for Advent this year.
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. 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 next 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 be uploading every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our YouTube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here.
The post 087: Zach and Allison Zehnder on Balancing Marriage and Writing Together, What It Was Like Growing Up in Togo, West Africa, and Why Red Letter Advent Is A Passion Project appeared first on Red Letter Living.
October 14, 2024
086: Robby Angle on the #1 Key for an Effective Small Group Ministry, and How to Lead a Small Group People Will Talk About the Rest of their Lives
Robby Angle is the Discipleship Advisor for RightNow Media, a company that owns the world’s largest library of Bible study videos. Robby is also the president and CEO of True Face and a professional counselor whose vast experience with small groups makes him one of the leading experts on small group formation. He lives in Dawsonville, GA, with his wife, Emily, and their eight children. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
Today’s episode is brought to you by RightNow Media.
Every pastor knows the importance of small groups to help spur on discipleship, and RightNow Media is THE #1 platform. Church leaders can visit www.rightnowmedia.org to learn more about us and schedule a free demo.
RightNow Media is the world’s largest library of Bible study videos. With a RightNow Media subscription, everyone in your ministry gets unlimited access to over 25,000 discipleship resources from Christian leaders like me and Robby, as well as Francis Chan, Jennie Allen, Derwin Gray, and more. Visit www.rightnowmedia.org to schedule your free, in-depth tour of the video library today.
Additionally, church leaders, I want to invite you to register for a FREE webinar that I’ll be doing in November with RightNow Media on their platform. It’s November 13th 12-1PM CT and it’s all around helping churches define discipleship targets, so they can measure the impact of their discipleship efforts. So, you can visit www.rightnowmedia.org/webinars and register for that. I’m so pumped to be on their platform helping thousands of pastors and would love to have you there.
Resources mentioned in the episod
The Cure: What If God Isn’t Who You Think He Is And Neither Are You
The Cure for Groups: How to Lead a Small Group that People Will Talk About the Rest of Their Lives
NorthPoint Community Church in Atlanta, GA
Key insights from the episode:If God designed us to grow through the context of relationships, then any church with over 50 adults should create an environment that’s more conducive for relational growth. – Robby Angle
The number one question to ask for small groups is what is our pipeline for the formation of leaders? – Robby Angle
A small group that has a shared mission outside of shared study content is often the most impactful. – Robby Angle
One of the greatest differentiators of a group was whether they got away for at least one night together a year. – Robby Angle
Small groups that only focus on “know more and sin less” goals are not focused on the gospel and are not successful. – Robby Angle
65% of the efficacy of small groups depends on the leader. – Robby Angle
Once you taste the freedom of being fully known and loved in a small group, you don’t go back to Supper Club mediocracy. – Robby Angle
Pastors know disciple-making is important, but they don’t know how to do it. – Zach Zehnder
Robby Angle’s Challenge: Ask, “God, what do you want me to know, and what do you want me to do?”
Are you following Jesus?
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. 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 next 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 be uploading every episode of The Red Letter Disciple on our YouTube Channel. If you aren’t subscribed already, you can do so here.
The post 086: Robby Angle on the #1 Key for an Effective Small Group Ministry, and How to Lead a Small Group People Will Talk About the Rest of their Lives appeared first on Red Letter Living.
