Josh Hunt's Blog, page 264
May 18, 2016
You can’t turn lecturing teachers into discussion leaders by lecturing them
I wrote an article recently on the idea that we are changed more by what we say than what we hear. “Speaking the truth we will grow…” Not, “Hearing the truth we will grow.” Ephesians 4.15. I suspect you agree. Question: how do you get your lecture teachers to adopt a question-and-answer approach? Answer: you […]
May 17, 2016
Why We Must Discuss
I have always preferred a discussion group to a lecture group, but I didn’t understand until recently why discussing the Bible—versus hearing a Bible lesson—is so important and life-changing. To illustrate why we must discuss, I’d like to misquote a verse and ask you to catch where I have misquoted it. (This is a favorite […]
May 16, 2016
Behave, believe, and belong
Wesley clearly understood that Christian formation (disciple making) does not happen by accident, but by intention and with discipline. Discipline, for Wesley, is simply a habitual practice of the means of grace (or Christian spiritual disciplines, known as “works of piety” and “walks of mercy”) supported by weekly accountability in a small group. He knew […]
May 14, 2016
What is spiritual direction?
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the ancient art of spiritual direction, even in evangelical circles. There is a sense that this centuries-old practice can have a fresh relevance to the hungering hearts and minds of contemporary Christians. Spiritual direction has been used in religious communities for generations: in the desert […]
May 12, 2016
Jesus on community
Jesus designed Christian community to be the place we find wholeness, a congruency between who we are in public and who we are in private. He wants us to live together honestly and transparently. Not so we can be resigned to our brokenness, but so that we can begin to grow out of it, becoming […]
May 10, 2016
Bible Lessons for Bible Teachers
I am working on a new series of lessons designed for small group pastors to teach to their group leaders. You can access there here http://www.joshhunt.com/bible-lessons...
Small groups are not the end of ministry…
Small groups are not the end of ministry; they are the beginning. Many youth workers believe that if they can get kids into small groups, their job is done. But the real job has just begun. Ministry is about life change, and for this to happen, there needs to be an intentional approach to HOW […]
Disciplemaking in groups
One of my favorite verses about discipleship is found in Mark 3:14. It says that Jesus “appointed twelve . . . that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.” The first part of the disciples’ training was just being in relationship with Christ. Before he sent them out to preach, […]
May 8, 2016
Revival or Revitalization: what is the difference?
A clear and definite distinction must be drawn between the content of ‘Revival’ and that of ‘Revitalization’. Although the two may often experience an overlap, they are not necessarily synonymous; nor are they always coincidental. Revival and revitalization are different both in origin and in effect. Revival is a supernatural work of God, and God […]
May 5, 2016
Church Revitalization: A 100 year old perspective
In the Reports of the Conference we find the same thoughts expressed in different words. Thus in Vol. I., “Carrying the Gospel,” we read under 3A, “The missionary problem of the Church to-day is not primarily a financial problem, but it is how to ensure a vitality equal to the imperial expansion of the missionary […]
