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They call Him “Lord”… but live like He’s not. What over 500 Christians just admitted might surprise you. In our latest survey, we asked you an open-ended question. Instead of me, the researcher, giving you a set of choices, you told us your thoughts in your own words. (This is my favorite way to get to the heart of issues.) I am so thankful to have heard from well over 500 of you who courageously answered the question: “Where in my life am I calling Him ‘Lord’ but not doing what He says?” We found a heartbreakingly honest glimpse into one of the Church’s greatest silent struggles: Reluctant Christ Followers. This isn’t about unbelievers. It is about people like you and me—churchgoers, Bible readers, faithful worshippers—admitting that there are still places in their lives where obedience stops short. The results from this national survey are humbling and illuminating, and they demand a response. Here are the Top 5 Ways Believers Call Jesus “Lord” But Don’t Follow Through 1. Clinging to Control Instead of Trusting God We say “Lord” but keep steering the wheel. Many of us confessed that although we proclaim Christ as Lord, we still hold tight to the reins of our own finances, future, or family. One respondent wrote, “I keep calling Him Lord of my life, but I still try to control my own plans instead of truly trusting Him.” We’re like teenagers who ask Dad for permission, then do whatever we want anyway. This theme of partial surrender was the most common. 2. Staying Silent About Faith Out of Fear We worship privately but live publicly. On Sunday morning, hands are raised in bold declaration: Jesus is Lord. But by Monday morning, silence often replaces that boldness when conversations turn spiritual. Many believers admit to this quiet tension. “At work, I keep my faith private,” one Christian shared. “Even though, in my heart, I know God wants me to be bolder.” The fear of being labeled, rejected, or ridiculed keeps many of us Christ Followers from letting our light shine. We’ve mastered the art of faith that disappears the moment we walk out of church.  3. Withholding Forgiveness and Love We sing about love, but practice holding grudges. This one stung me so badly because it is so common among most of us. We belt out “Jesus Loves Me” while nursing resentment toward our ex, our boss, that family member who hurt us. So many of us wrote about broken relationships and the refusal to let go of past hurts. “I call Jesus my Lord yet hold onto bitterness toward my father,” one participant confessed. Many know what Scripture commands about grace and forgiveness, but choose not to obey. Kind of like forgiveness has expiration dates. 4. Choosing Comfort Over Sacrifice We want Lordship without sacrifice. A staggering number described a preference for comfort and convenience over action and service. One wrote, “I sing ‘Lord, I surrender all’ on Sunday, but I won’t risk my comfort to actually serve or help others during the week.” This exposes a subtle idol—comfort—that competes with Christ for our loyalty. We love the idea of Jesus being Lord, as long as it doesn’t cost us anything. 5. Continuing in Known Sin We confess Him while indulging ourselves. The hardest responses to read were from those of us who are trapped in habits that contradict everything they claim to believe. One gut-wrenching example: “ I know I should give up my addiction, but I haven’t. I call Him Lord with my lips, but my choices tell a different story.” These are people who want to change, but haven’t yet surrendered fully. The Emotional Undercurrent: Sorrow + Hope What’s striking is not just what people confessed—but how. The tone of their responses was not casual or indifferent. It was deeply humble, sincere , and repentant.  These are not hardened hypocrites; these are convicted disciples who are beginning to awaken. They wrote things like: “I want to surrender these hesitant parts of my heart to God and trust Him more.” “I know He’s calling me deeper. I just don’t want to stay where I am anymore.” Why This Matters More Than Ever We are witnessing the largest religious shift in modern history. Cultural Christianity is collapsing, and nominal faith no longer carries social currency. In this moment, the Church doesn’t need more polished performances—it needs wholehearted obedience. The question is no longer: “Do I believe in Jesus?”  The better question is: “Is He really Lord in my daily life? ”That’s why this isn’t just a research report—it’s a call to action. What Now? Start by asking yourself: “Lord, where am I still holding back?”  Then respond—not with guilt, but with grace-fueled resolve . The people in this study aren’t condemned—they’re being invited into deeper surrender. And so are we. You don’t have to fix everything today. But you do have to stop ignoring it. Let this be your turning point. One Simple Next Step: Take 5 minutes and reflect on these three questions: -Do I consider myself a Reluctant Christ Follower? -On a scale of 1 to 10, how often am I reluctant to obey Him? -Where in my life am I calling Him “Lord”… but not doing what He says? Then invite the Holy Spirit to help you close the gap between profession and practice. Because Jesus doesn’t just want our words. He wants our lives. And when we surrender our reluctance, we find freedom on the other side. Let’s stop calling Him Lord and doing nothing. Let’s call Him Lord—and mean it. In His grace, -Arnie

You can go to church every Sunday, join a small group, and even lead a Bible study—and still miss the gospel entirely. It happens more often than we think. People assume they’re right with God because they’ve picked up Christian habits. But underneath those habits is a subtle belief that God’s acceptance is something we earn. That’s why we need to go back—back to the heart of the gospel, and back to a truth that changed the world 500 years ago. When Religion Gets It Wrong In the early 1500s, Martin Luther was a brilliant but tormented monk. He tried everything to please God: fasting, confession, self-denial, religious rituals. But the harder he tried, the more distant God seemed. Why? Because Luther was relying on performance instead of grace. Then one day, while studying the book of Romans, Luther’s eyes were opened. He read, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17), and in that moment, he discovered the truth that would spark the Protestant Reformation: we are saved not by what we do for God, but by what God has done for us in Christ. This wasn’t a new idea. It was the message of the Bible all along. What the Bible Actually Teaches Ephesians 2 says it best: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8–9). Let that sink in. Salvation is by grace—God’s undeserved favor. It comes through faith—trust in what Christ has done. It is not your own doing—no performance, no merit. It is a gift—something to receive, not achieve. This means that no amount of church attendance, moral behavior, or spiritual discipline can save you. Those are good things, but they are not saving things. The Danger of False Assurance This is where it gets uncomfortable. Many people in churches today feel spiritually secure—but for the wrong reasons. They think they’re born again because they were baptized as a child, or because they try to be a “good person,” or because they’ve adopted Christian culture. But none of those things equal salvation. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 7: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven… Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you’” (vv. 21, 23). It’s possible to say the right words, do the right things, and still not be saved—if we haven’t come to the end of ourselves and trusted in Christ alone. What Saving Faith Looks Like Saving faith is not simply believing that God exists. Even demons believe that (Jas. 2:19). Saving faith is trusting that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the full price for your sin. It’s resting in His righteousness, not your own. It’s turning from self-reliance to surrender—and receiving grace as a gift, not a reward. Martin Luther described faith as “a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man would stake his life on it a thousand times.” That kind of faith leads to transformation—not perfection, but a new direction. You don’t obey God to be saved. You obey Him because you are saved. Grace That Transforms When you truly understand grace, everything changes. You stop striving to earn God’s love—and start resting in it. You stop comparing yourself to others—and start rejoicing in Christ. You stop pretending—and start living in freedom. Luther once wrote, “The law says, ‘Do this,’ and it is never done. Grace says, ‘Believe in this,’ and everything is already done.” Christian habits—like prayer, church, and Bible reading—are wonderful gifts. But they must flow from salvation, not toward it. Otherwise, they become spiritual dead ends. Final Encouragement Maybe you’ve been trying to earn your way to God. Maybe you’ve slipped into thinking that your performance determines your standing with Him. Or maybe you’ve assumed you're saved simply because you’ve always “been around” church. Friend, don’t settle for religion without redemption. The gospel is better than that. It’s not about what you can do—it’s about what Christ has already done. So stop striving. Trust in Jesus. Receive the gift. And let your life flow from grace, not for it.

Throughout this series, we’ve been focusing on individual spiritual disciplines while also addressing more general topics like, “ The Power of Spiritual Disciplines in Walking with God ” and  “ A Secret to Doing Spiritual Disciplines .” This week, I want to look at the spiritual discipline of giving.   “Giving” could, of course, include giving our time, our talents, and our tithe to the Lord’s work. We do need to use the time the Lord has given us wisely, always being sure to capitalize on opportunities God gives us (Eph 5:16). It’s also right for us to use our abilities and talents to serve the Lord through our local body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-31 ). For this article, however, I’m focusing on the discipline of financial giving to support God's work. I want to do two things in this post: challenge regular givers to increase your giving and encourage non-givers/new givers to make this spiritual discipline part of your life.   Perhaps a little personal background would be helpful. When I became a believer at the age of 13, giving to God’s work was easy; after all, I didn’t earn much money from the few side jobs I had as a young teenager. I realize there is much debate about whether the New Testament requires a tithe, but my home church strongly emphasized 10% as the starting point for our giving. Ten percent of what I was making—about $30 per week, as I recall—didn’t require much sacrifice.   That challenge became greater as I, and then my wife and I when we got married, earned higher incomes. It seemed almost contradictory to me, but the more money we earned, the harder it was to give sacrificially to the Lord’s work. The more money we had, the more tempted we were to hang on to it—at least early in our marriage.   In fact, I often worried about our funds. That worry came from growing up in a home where my parents simply spent more than we had – and the resulting tensions and arguments were ongoing and frightening at times. As soon as I started getting a paycheck, I carefully counted every penny, tried my best to save what I could, and committed, even as a teenager, to never letting happen to me what happened to my parents and our family. I was careful, and frankly, I was cheap. Honestly, I was idolatrous of the security that comes with money in the bank.   It was my wife who challenged me not only to continue to be wise and frugal, but also to be giving and generous to others. We developed a giving plan—a discipline—that we follow to this day: give until we feel it, and then increase our giving any time we worry about finances.    “Give until we feel it” means we don’t want to give only out of our excess; we want to give until it actually costs us. We want our giving to the Lord to be genuinely sacrificial.   If either of us still gets concerned about our finances, then here’s what we do next: we give more  to God’s work. Rather than fret, we sacrifice more and trust God to take care of us with the remaining funds He provided for us in the first place. We’re now older, and we can say with the psalmist, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread” (Ps 37:25).   So, if you’re a regular giver to God’s work, I challenge you to grow in this discipline by increasing your giving. Here’s why:     The Bible expects us to give cheerfully (2 Cor 9:7).  In my experience, we give most cheerfully when we give most sacrificially. Giving to the work of God brings a joy you can’t experience otherwise.   Many of us get stagnant in our giving.  We too often give the same amount we’ve given for years, without matching any increases in income we’ve earned. We don’t think enough about our giving plans.  Many of us give only out of our excess.  We give, but we seldom miss what we’ve given. That happens when we give only out of our extra dollars.    Giving until it costs us is a faith statement.  When we feel the pinch of our giving—that is, when the sacrifice is genuine—we must trust God in new ways.  Our increased giving tells us something about our hearts.  Pam and I have come to realize that increasing our giving not only provides more for God’s work, but it also helps to weaken the hold that “stuff” has on our lives.    If you are just getting started with this discipline of giving financially to the Lord’s work, here are my simple suggestions for you:    P rayerfully look at how you spend money in general. If giving to the Lord’s work demands that you think more about how you spend, you will become a better steward of what God has entrusted to you.  Determine what percentage of your income you are currently giving to God’s work – and make a plan to give consistently and more sacrificially.  You may need to grow your giving incrementally as you work on your spending (see the last point), but you won’t grow in your giving without an intentional strategy. You need a plan.   Give because you love the Lord.  Love has a way of motivating us to give sacrificially and enjoy every minute of it. Tell the Lord you love Him through your budget and your spending.   Express gratitude for the opportunity to give.  Every time you give, thank the Lord for this spiritual discipline. It really does bring joy.  Just give . . . with great zeal.  That is, start somewhere. You won’t regret it.

He left home without a map.  God simply said, “Go,” and Abraham went—not knowing where the path would lead, how long it would take, or what it would cost. He believed God’s promise, but he didn’t get to see the full picture right away. Or even for many years.  Abraham’s story reminds us that faith is not a one-time decision. It’s not a finish line. Faith is a long walk of trust—step by step, day by day, through detours, doubts, and delays.  And that’s why his story still matters today.  The Call That Changed Everything  “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”  (Gen. 12:1)  When God called Abram (as he was then known), he was 75 years old, settled in Haran, and surrounded by extended family. God didn’t give him a timeline or GPS coordinates. Just a promise: “I will make of you a great nation… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (vv. 2–3).  Remarkably, Abram obeyed.  “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him…”  (Gen. 12:4)  That’s faith: moving forward based on God’s character, not your own clarity.  Faith Grows Through Waiting  God had promised Abram descendants “as numerous as the stars” (Gen. 15:5), but years passed with no child in sight. The waiting was excruciating.  In Genesis 16, Abram and Sarai try to take matters into their own hands, resulting in the birth of Ishmael through Sarai’s servant Hagar. It was a human solution to what could only be solved by divine intervention.  Still, God didn’t abandon them. He renewed His covenant, changed their names to Abraham and Sarah, and finally—at age 100—Abraham held his miracle child, Isaac.  Waiting is not wasted when it produces trust. God was not only fulfilling a promise—He was forming a person of faith.  Faith Gets Tested  In Genesis 22, Abraham’s faith is tested in the most unimaginable way.  “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love… and offer him… as a burnt offering.”  (Gen. 22:2)  It’s a moment of deep spiritual crisis—and yet, Abraham obeys. He trusts that somehow, even if Isaac dies, God will remain faithful. The book of Hebrews later tells us Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead (Heb. 11:19).  At the last moment, God intervenes and provides a ram. Abraham passes the test, not because he understood, but because he trusted.  Faith isn’t always about understanding God’s plan. Often, it’s about holding onto God’s character when the plan makes no sense at all.  Faith Leaves a Legacy  Abraham didn’t live to see all that God had promised. He never saw the great nation his family would become. He didn’t see the Messiah born from his lineage. But he trusted anyway.  “He died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar…”  (Heb. 11:13)  Abraham’s journey wasn’t perfect. He doubted. He made missteps. He wrestled with fear. But he kept walking forward—trusting the One who called him.  And now, Scripture calls him the “father of all who believe” (Rom. 4:11).  What Abraham’s Journey Means for Ours  Your walk of faith may not involve leaving your country or waiting for a child. But the underlying truth is the same: God calls each of us to trust Him, not just once—but over a lifetime.  Faith isn’t static. It moves. It gets tested. It grows.  There will be seasons of silence. Delays you don’t understand. Prayers that seem to go unanswered. But God is still guiding your steps—just as He did for Abraham.  You don’t need the full map. You just need the next step of obedience.  Final Encouragement  Abraham’s story teaches us that the faithful life isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence.  So wherever you are in your journey, keep walking. Trust that God sees the whole picture, even when you can’t. Trust that His promises are worth the wait. Trust that even your detours and doubts can’t derail His purposes.  Because the life of faith is not about arriving. It’s about trusting the One who walks with you, every step of the way.

What if the biggest threat to your faith isn’t sin or doubt—but subtle reluctance to obey? Are you a reluctant Christ Follower?  Please take the simple 3-question survey: https://bttb.org/SundayReluctant Granted, I had a sheltered life, until  I realized how “fun” it was to do things that the Bible clearly said were wrong for me. I can remember like it was yesterday in sixth grade singing at the top of my lungs… I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back, no turning back.  If no one joins me, still I will follow, If no one joins me, still I will follow, If no one joins me, still I will follow, No turning back, no turning back.   If only it were as easy as singing the song as a naive child who hasn’t ever really seen or tasted all the promises of thrills and happiness that Satan has to offer. Ever since then, I have fought with reluctance. First, I was reluctant to give up my evil ways to follow Jesus until I faced death in a storm off of Alaska when I was 47 years old. Then, as a Christ Follower, I have struggled greatly to this day with a severe case of reluctance. So it makes sense as a researcher, that after two decades of researching spiritual growth and observing over a million lives up close in general population studies and in ministry, I’ve come to a difficult but undeniable conclusion: the greatest spiritual struggle in the Christian life isn’t ignorance, immorality, or even apathy—it’s reluctance . Not outright rebellion. Not hatred for God. But a subtle, slow resistance to fully following Jesus . Reluctance wears many disguises. It looks like the mature believer who loves Scripture but never shares their faith. It shows up in the leader who teaches others to trust God while quietly playing it safe when God calls them into something uncomfortable. It appears in the churchgoer who sings loudly on Sunday but shrinks back when asked to serve, give, lead, or speak up for truth during the week. Jesus asked a piercing question in Luke 6:46: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” It’s as if He anticipated our condition and directly addressed those people who want the blessings of His lordship but hesitate at the cost of obedience. The people who claim allegiance with their lips but hold back with their lives. Have you ever considered that you  might be a reluctant Christ follower? Not in the obvious ways. You probably believe in Him. You may pray, read Scripture, and attend church. But do you hesitate when He asks for more? More courage to speak when silence is safe. More generosity when comfort is threatened. More forgiveness when your wounds are deep. More surrender when your plans are already in motion. More boldness when He says, “Go,” but you’d rather stay. If any of this resonates, you’re not alone. The Bible is filled with reluctant servants—Moses, Jonah, Esther, Peter, Thomas, and even Paul’s first ministry partner, John Mark. But they weren’t disqualified by their hesitation. Instead, they were transformed when they trusted God more than their fears, excuses, or comforts. The good news is that Jesus doesn’t abandon reluctant followers. Instead, He invites  us deeper. And in His invitation is the power to change. But first, we must be honest enough to ask: Where in my life am I calling Him “Lord,” but not doing what He says? That question could change everything. Please take the survey: https://bttb.org/SundayReluctant . We guarantee thinking about how you answer could radically change your life. All in, eyes up! -Arnie

I admit it. I’m an introvert. In fact, I tell people that I would happily go off the “I” (introversion) scale on a personality test if I could do so. As a professor and pastor, I’m okay with hanging out with people for a while—I just need to take a nap after it!   That doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle with the disciplines of silence and solitude, though, simply because I’m a “do-er” who always wants to be getting something done. Many of us are so accustomed to doing activity, to “hanging out,” to being with people, to hearing noise in the background that the thought of being alone and quiet stresses us out. It’s sometimes as if we think, ”There’s no way I can just sit still and be quiet for any length of time.”   And, maybe that’s an indication of the problem . . . . Not only can we not just sit still, but we even struggle with being quiet and alone before God. We wrestle with just focusing on our Creator and Redeemer when there are other things to do. That’s why I’ve especially spent some time working on these disciplines in my life—and I hope this post will help you as well.   Over the years, I’ve kept quotes about the disciplines of silence and solitude. Below are a few, followed by some of my thoughts about these important tasks:  “Solitude is the Spiritual Discipline of voluntarily and temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes. The period of solitude may last only a few minutes or for days. As with silence, solitude may be sought in order to participate without interruption in other Spiritual Disciplines, or just to be alone with God and think.” Donald Whitney,  Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life , 225  “In stark aloneness it is possible to have silence, to be still, and to know that Jehovah indeed is God (Ps. 46:10), to set the Lord before our minds with sufficient intensity and duration that we stay centered upon him—our hearts fixed, established in trust (Ps. 112:7–8)—even when back in the office, shop, or home.”  Dallas Willard,  Spirit of the Disciplines , 162  “Getting away, quiet and alone, is no special grace on its own. But the goal is to create a context for enhancing our hearing from God in his word and responding back to him in prayer. Silence and solitude, then, are not direct means of grace in themselves, but they can grease the skids—like caffeine, sleep, exercise, and singing—for more direct encounters with God in his word and in prayer.”  David Mathis,  Habits of Grace , 139  “But the news about him [Jesus] spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed." Luke 5:15-16  Here, then, are some of my thoughts to help you grow:   Thinking “solitude” and “silence” is foreign to many of us.  Some of us who are more introverted often find it hard to make time to be alone. Others who are more extroverted can’t imagine not being with people; after all, what might we miss while we’re alone? And, few of us can even find a place where it’s quiet enough to be silent.   Silence and solitude are not a means to escape people.  These disciplines do allow us time without others around us, but their goal is to grow us in our spiritual walk by tuning our ears to listen to God. There’s intentionality in the efforts of these disciplines, as being with God first helps us to be with people in a better way.    Silence and solitude need not be long, but the disciplines must be purposeful.  Even 15 minutes to step away from the chaos and to listen more intently to God should have purpose. Taking a short break away from people and noise can be renewing—but, think about how much effort it would take to find that time and place. We have to purposefully make these disciplines happen.   Be aware of what you learn about yourself if you struggle with establishing times of silence and solitude.  Sometimes our busyness is a sign not only of workaholism, but also of idolatry. Maybe it’s a sign that our addiction to technology and social media is an idol. Our unwillingness to focus entirely on God for at least a few minutes can also be an indication of something amiss in our spiritual walk. We need noise and people to drown out our ongoing, private rebellion.   I recommend daily short times and monthly longer times of solitude.  A daily quiet time with the Lord can be silence and solitude if we step away from others to do it. Most of us need that kind of focus to hear the Lord well. For me, a monthly time of one hour of silence and solitude—usually a time of hiking or sitting in nature, and often on a day when I’m also committed to fasting—is remarkably refreshing.   Don’t expect life-transforming moments every time, but do expect to know God better as a result of a time of silence and solitude.  I’ve had times of great mountaintop experiences, but I’ve also had routine, simple times with the Lord. Never had I had a time of solitude, though, without some movement toward God. Never have I walked away thinking, “I’m not going to do that anymore.”    Start today or tomorrow.  We typically need to plan for a time of silence and solitude, but all of us can start somewhere. Before the Lord’s day comes this Sunday, find even a few minutes to get away from others and be alone with God. To set a longer time, you might check out this post: " 10 Reasons to Set Aside One Hour of Silence and Solitude before Worship this Week ."  Blessings on your journey toward silence and solitude!

Something critical is missing in American Christianity, and the data confirms it. Research from the Center for Spiritual Fitness reveals a startling reality: most professing Christians in the United States aren't discipling anyone. Not a single person. This isn't just a concerning trend; it's a fundamental departure from the faith as Jesus established it.  Consider Paul's clear instruction to Timothy: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Tim 2:2). This single verse describes four generations of discipleship: Paul to Timothy to reliable people to others. It wasn't a suggestion for church growth or a strategy for the spiritually ambitious—it was the basic mechanism by which the faith would continue.  Yet somehow, we've convinced ourselves that discipleship is optional.  From Movement to Maintenance  The explosive growth of early Christianity didn't happen by accident. It wasn't fueled by impressive buildings, polished presentations, or celebrity pastors. It grew because ordinary believers took seriously their responsibility to invest in others spiritually.  In the face of persecution and without institutional support, the early church multiplied rapidly across the Mediterranean world. How? Each believer understood they weren't merely recipients of the gospel but transmitters of it. Every convert became a converter. Every disciple became a disciple-maker.  Fast forward to today's American church landscape. We've built impressive religious infrastructures—megachurches, publishing empires, online platforms—yet we're witnessing decline rather than expansion. We've professionalized faith transmission to the point where many Christians believe discipleship is something pastors do, not something every believer is called to.  This shift from movement to maintenance has consequences. Research shows that churches across denominations are aging and shrinking. Young people are leaving the faith in unprecedented numbers. And even among those who stay, spiritual depth is often lacking.  Perhaps most tellingly, non-Christians increasingly report they know few, if any, Christians who have shared their faith with them. We've become consumers of Christianity rather than conveyers of it.  The Personal Cost of Non-Discipleship  The failure to disciple others doesn't just affect the church's growth; it undermines individual spiritual health. Jesus designed the faith to be shared, not stored. When we fail to pass it on, our own spiritual vitality suffers.  Consider what happens to water that flows versus water that sits stagnant. Moving water remains fresh and life-giving; stagnant water becomes toxic. Similarly, the Christian who receives without giving becomes spiritually stagnant. The very act of discipling others deepens our own faith in ways that passive spiritual consumption never can.  This might explain why many Christians struggle with doubts, feel spiritually dry, or find their faith intellectually unsatisfying. We've abandoned the very practice that would strengthen our own convictions. As we teach others to follow Jesus, our own understanding grows. As we answer their questions, our theological muscles develop. As we model Christian living, our own accountability increases.  By neglecting discipleship, we're not just failing the Great Commission. We're robbing ourselves of spiritual growth.  Reclaiming Our Discipleship Call  If Paul's instruction to Timothy represents the biblical norm, then our current non-discipling reality represents a serious deviation. How do we correct course?  First, we must recognize that discipleship isn't complex—it's simply intentional spiritual investment in another person. You don't need a seminary degree or official position to disciple someone. You need authentic faith, a willingness to be transparent about your journey, and a commitment to walking alongside others as they grow.  Second, we need to stop waiting for perfect readiness. The disciples Jesus chose weren't fully formed spiritual giants when He commissioned them; they were works in progress. If you've been following Jesus for any length of time, you have something to offer someone earlier in their journey. Your imperfect faith, honestly shared, is more valuable than polished religious performance.  Third, we must create space in our lives for discipleship relationships. This might be the hardest step for many. Our schedules are packed with activities, many of them good, but few as eternally significant as investing in another's spiritual development. What might need to be pruned from your calendar to make room for this priority?  Finally, we should start small, but start now. Identify one person in your sphere of influence who might benefit from your spiritual investment. Invite them to meet regularly—over coffee, during lunch breaks, while exercising—to discuss spiritual matters, study Scripture together, and pray for each other.  From Audience to Army  The early church understood something we've forgotten: Christianity was never meant to create an audience but to mobilize an army. Every believer was expected to reproduce their faith in others.  Imagine if even half of American Christians discipled just one person in the next year. The spiritual landscape would transform dramatically. Churches would be revitalized. Faith would deepen. The gospel would spread through authentic relationships rather than programmatic outreach.  This vision isn't idealistic—it's the original design. And the beauty of God's design is that it works when implemented. Throughout history, every significant spiritual awakening has featured a return to personal discipleship. From the Moravians to the Methodist movement to modern church planting movements in Asia and Africa, spiritual vitality follows when ordinary believers take seriously their call to disciple others.  The question isn't  whether  we have permission to disciple others. No, we have a mandate . The question is whether you'll continue to delay what God has clearly commanded. Will you be among those who receive but never reproduce? Or will you join the long line of faithful believers who have passed on what they received, ensuring that the faith continues for generations to come?  The choice is yours. But make no mistake—it is a choice with consequences that echo into eternity.

Most think they'll go to heaven, but few believe in hell. Yet silence on hell may be spiritual malpractice. It's time to speak the truth in love. We didn’t make God; He made us. And all of the sky, the earth, the deep blue sea, and every living thing in it. So isn’t it logical that God—the Creator—also set the rules pertaining to life and  the afterlife? Yet according to Gallup and Pew Research, the vast majority of adults in America—whether they follow Jesus or not—believe they’ll go to heaven when they die. Almost no one believes they’re going to hell. But is that what the Bible actually teaches? Here’s where it gets personal. As someone whose life has been radically changed by Christ, I’ve found myself completely silent on the topic of hell. Ironically, I used to talk about hell more as a non-believer —joking with my mom that all my friends would be there, or tossing it off in frustration: “Go to hell.” But now, even though I believe it’s real, I avoid the topic entirely. I’m not alone. Most Christians I know—including ministry leaders—rarely mention hell at all. Not in sermons. Not in Gospel presentations. Not even in private conversations. Just the other day, my wife Char and I tried to remember the last time we heard a sermon that spoke clearly about hell. It had been 28 years. Yes, 28. She recalled our former pastor Gary Inrig preaching on it—and how her friend Kathy gave her life to Christ because  she realized she didn’t want to spend eternity in hell. That moment changed Kathy’s life forever. So why is something with eternal consequences so rarely talked about? The truth is, most of us are reluctant to talk about hell—not out of rebellion, but out of fear. I get it. Even bringing it up feels harsh, offensive, or uncomfortable. But I’ve realized that my silence about hell could be a form of spiritual malpractice. Like a doctor who knows the diagnosis is terminal but avoids the conversation because it might upset the patient. That’s not love. That’s avoidance. That’s why we created a simple but powerful tool: a 20-question survey called “What Happens to You When You Die, According to the Bible?”   https://bttb.org/HeavenOrHell  It’s designed not to shame or scare people, but to start honest, thoughtful conversations based on what Scripture actually says. Here’s how you can use it: You might say to someone you care about: “I came across this short survey. It uses the Bible to ask some probing questions about life after death. It really made me think. Would you be open to taking it with me and talking about it?” This isn’t about preaching. It’s about exploring truth together. It’s a conversation starter that can soften defenses and open hearts. And it’s especially effective because the questions invite self-reflection—they do the heavy lifting. And let’s be clear: we’re not trying to frighten people into the kingdom. We’re trying to awaken them—lovingly, gently, but truthfully. As one of our readers, Dr. P, put it so well: “Bashing believers for not bashing other believers is not the answer. Reminds me of medieval artwork depicting demons with pitchforks… Evangelization is not a game of checking boxes about how many folks we tell about hell each day.” Exactly. This isn’t about tallying conversions. It’s about loving people enough to talk about all  the truth—including the hard parts. Ephesians 4:15 reminds us to speak the truth in love.  Not to win arguments or gloat, but to gently, humbly share the reality that apart from Christ, all of us are lost. The old saying is true: people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. A real conversation might look like this: “Do you really believe what these questions imply—that I’d go to hell?” “I do believe the Bible’s warnings are real. But that’s exactly  why I’m sharing this with you—because I care. None of us has to go there. Can I tell you what the Bible says about how to be forgiven and live forever with God?” That’s the doorway to the Gospel—the best news in the world. But before you send this to someone, pray. Ask God to prepare their heart and give you the courage to speak with empathy and humility. Remember, we  were once on the road to hell, until someone loved us enough to speak the truth. Take the survey for yourself first. Let it stir your heart. Then—ask God to show you one person  who needs to see it. That one conversation could be the turning point in someone’s eternity. Take the Survey Now : https://bttb.org/HeavenOrHell . Then invite someone you care about to take it with you.  This may be the most important conversation you ever have.  Let me know how it goes. Send your comments to me   here. -Arnie

During my 70+ years on this Earth, here’s one thing I’ve learned: One of the most powerful things I can do as a follower of Christ is to encourage someone else in their walk with God. Whether it’s a friend struggling through hardship, a new believer trying to find their footing, or a mature Christian feeling burned out, your encouragement might be exactly what they need to keep going.  In fact, the Bible places a high value on encouragement. It’s not just a nice gesture. It’s a spiritual discipline, a command, and a powerful tool for building up the body of Christ.  Why Encouragement Matters So Much  The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. Scripture calls us to community—a family of believers who “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24).  Encouragement is how we remind each other of what’s true when life gets hard. It’s how we lift the weary, comfort the hurting, and inspire the hesitant. It’s a way of saying: “You’re not alone. God is with you. And I am too.”  In a world full of criticism, distraction, and spiritual fatigue, encouragement is like oxygen for the soul.  1. Speak God’s Word into Their Situation  The most powerful encouragement you can give is rooted in Scripture.  God’s Word has authority, power, and comfort that your words alone can’t offer. When someone is struggling, quoting a timely verse can do more than a thousand empty platitudes.  Remind them that God is their refuge and strength (Ps. 46:1). That His grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). That He will never leave or forsake them (Heb. 13:5).  When you speak God’s promises, you're not just offering hope—you’re pointing them to the Source of hope.  2. Be Present, Not Just Correct  Sometimes the best way to encourage someone isn’t by quoting Scripture but simply showing up. Jesus didn’t just preach truth—He walked with people, touched the sick, cried with the grieving, and ate with sinners. Likewise, encouragement often begins with your presence.  Don’t underestimate the ministry of a phone call, a handwritten note, a shared cup of coffee, or a silent prayer offered in person. You don’t have to have all the right words. You just have to be willing to show up and love them like Christ.  3. Share Stories of Faith   When someone feels stuck or discouraged, stories of God’s faithfulness—yours or others’—can rekindle their trust in Him. Paul frequently shared testimonies of what God was doing through the early Church to encourage believers (Phil. 1:12–14). Today, we can do the same.  Tell them about the time God answered a prayer in your life. Or how He gave you peace during a painful season. Stories remind people that God is not just working in the past or in the lives of others—He’s at work right now, even in their situation.  4. Call Out the Good You See in Them  Sometimes the most encouraging words are the ones that affirm who someone is becoming in Christ. Paul often began his letters with affirmation: “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Phil. 1:3). You can do the same by telling someone, “I see Christ in you when you serve,” or “You have a gift for encouraging others.”  This isn’t flattery—it’s biblical encouragement. It helps believers see the fruit of the Spirit in their lives and gives them confidence to keep growing.  5. Pray for Them—and Let Them Know  When someone knows you’re praying for them, it changes everything. It reminds them that they’re not alone in the fight—and that someone is going to God on their behalf. Better yet, don’t just say you’ll pray. Do it right then and there. Pray with them over the phone or in person. Even a short prayer can lift their spirits and refocus their heart on God’s faithfulness.  James reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (Jas. 5:16). Use that power to bless someone today.  Final Thoughts: Encouragement as Spiritual Fitness  At Back to the Bible, we talk a lot about spiritual fitness —staying spiritually strong, healthy, and resilient through regular habits like Bible reading and prayer.  Encouraging others is one of those essential habits. It’s part of how we strengthen each other for the journey of faith. And when we do it regularly, it not only blesses others—it strengthens us too.  So who in your life needs a word of encouragement today? Don’t wait. Reach out. Speak life. And remind them of the God who loves them, holds them, and will never let them go.

I will never forget the first time I, as a new believer not raised in a Christian home, received an invitation to attend a “church fellowship dinner.” I had never heard of such an event. What I learned was that our church family would have a meal together, but I didn’t realize we would have a BIG meal together. Given all the homemade food that good Christian cooks made for that meal, I quickly decided that I liked this “fellowship meal” idea!    When I later heard about “fasting” as a spiritual discipline, I was confused—primarily because  (1) few people talked about it, and (2) I wrongly understood fasting to be only avoiding food, but without having a spiritual reason for doing so. I hardly understood fasting as a “discipline,” as few people I knew ever fasted at all. How grateful I am today that I’ve since learned much more about fasting!   Here are some ways to work on strengthening – or beginning, as the case may be – the discipline of fasting:  Study the Word on fasting.  When you study the Word, you will find that God’s people fasted on the Day of Atonement   (Lev 16:29–31) and in times of national crisis or renewal (e 2 Chron 20:3, Esth 4:16, Neh 9:1). Nehemiah fasted (Neh 1:4). Daniel fasted (Dan 1:11-16). Jesus assumed His followers would fast, just as they would give and pray (Matt 6:2-17). The early church fasted when they made major decisions (Acts 13:1-2, 14:23). Even when Jesus’ disciples were not fasting, it was because they were celebrating in the groom’s presence; the day would come when they would fast as they longed to see Him again (Matt 9:14-17).   Seek the Lord as you lean toward fasting.  This discipline is not simply abstaining from food; it is seeking God so strongly that food almost becomes an afterthought. Pray about your commitment to fast. Invite some prayer warriors to join you in the task. Prayerfully determine the best time to fast, and establish your strategy for how you will use your fasting time to seek God. If all you do is decide not to eat and call it fasting, you have simply chosen to do what I’ve heard others call “a baptized diet.” As I have written elsewhere:  Fasting says, “God, I love you and long to know you more intimately. I long for you to come again.” It pushes away from the table and looks instead to the Redeemer, and your desire to eat then loses its force when you desire God more than anything. As I once heard a seminary president say, “Fasting is about wanting to eat at God’s table more than at our own table.” i   Invite someone to pray for you as you fast—and perhaps join you in the fast. I realize Jesus warned against advertising your fasting, but His caution was a heart check rather than an admonition to keep your fasting secret. Knowing that someone is praying for you will encourage you to stay the course if/when you get hungry. In addition, it’s always good to let someone know you’re fasting just in case you have a negative physical reaction to this new discipline.    Start small if you have never fasted.  My suggestion is that you start by fasting for just one meal. Determine early in the week which meal you will not eat, and mark it on your calendar. Pray each day in preparation for that fasting time. Then, focus on God when that fasting time comes (see the next point). Later, you can increase your fasting to two meals, then to a day and longer as the Lord leads you. If you never start by fasting from at least one meal, though, you’ll never fast for longer times.   Decide up front how you will use the time when you would have been eating.  I generally use that time to read the Word and pray in a more focused way. Sometimes I take a walk and talk to the Lord as I go. I’ve also listened to a Bible teaching or a sermon during fasting times. At other times, I use that time to reach out to someone who simply needs a word of encouragement, as fasting pushes my attention off self to God and to others. My point is this: have a plan to focus on God and His work as you choose not to eat.    Break the fast with thanksgiving and simplicity.  Keep your focus on God before you fast, while you fast, and after you fast. Thank Him for sustaining you with His Word and His presence when the fast is complete. Commit yourself to fast again at the appropriate time. Be careful, too, about overeating the next time you eat. That’s not the time to make up for your food deficit; it’s the time to eat with more gratitude and more focus on God.   Make fasting a regular discipline in your life.  Here is a plan that has worked for me for a number of years:   I calendar at least one day per month when I will fast for 24 hours.  I try to be wise in calendaring (like, I generally don’t fast when we have guests, during holidays with family get-togethers, etc.)—but I make sure I choose at least one day for this purpose.   I fast when I’m longing to know God more and trust Him more.  When I’m pleading with God to answer a prayer, for example, I fast not simply to get an answer – but to seek God more as I wait.   I fast if I simply sense the Lord’s direction to do so.  I don’t always know why I need to fast, but I want to be obedient to the Lord.   I pray one of these ideas will be helpful to you as you fast!