In this episode, Justin talks with evangelist Ronnie Hill about his remarkable journey into leading small-group discipleship—something he had never done before despite decades of ministry on the road. Ronnie shares how his home Bible study grew from six people to more than fifty each week, with another thirty-plus joining from Canada and beyond through Zoom. He explains why immediate connection, baptism, and consistent follow-up are essential for new believers, and how his verse-by-verse study model naturally forms community and equips people to share their faith. Ronnie describes how small groups become places of real relationship, prayer, accountability, and growth as people learn not just by hearing but by doing.

The conversation also explores how technology is reshaping discipleship, enabling ministry that reaches across states, countries, and even continents in real time. Ronnie shares how his group has expanded internationally through digital tools, and he speaks candidly about the unique challenges and opportunities facing Gen Z. The episode closes with Ronnie’s honest take on measuring spiritual growth, the importance of truth-telling in love, and why authenticity creates a culture where transformation can flourish.

In this episode of the Digital Tools and Discipleship podcast, host Justin Allison sits down with Nate Owens, former Intern of Discipleship at First Baptist Mount Dora, to discuss the dynamic reality of spiritual growth in a complex church environment. Nate shares his experience establishing a cohesive discipleship pathway in an old, mid-sized church that serves a wide intergenerational demographic, including a booming youth ministry. The conversation dives deep into the differences between church attendance and true discipleship, arguing that every person is a disciple of something and the goal is to reorient their lives around Christ. Nate explains his work in streamlining small groups and utilizing resources like “The Way Forward” course to help attendees transition into committed members and active apprentices of Jesus.

The discussion shifts to some critical, forward-looking ideas about spiritual formation, including the powerful notion that Sunday morning worship should be seen as the “climactic moment of discipleship” each week—the concentrated time when the body of Christ is formed through the Spirit and the Word, rather than just a stepping stone to small groups. Nate also tackles the challenge of measuring spiritual growth. While acknowledging that “you will know them by their fruit” is the theoretical basis, he discusses tangible metrics like participation in the discipleship pathway and the helpfulness of self-reporting tools, such as the Spiritual Health Reflection from Practicing the Way. Finally, Nate, an 18-year-old growing up exclusively in the digital age, offers a powerful perspective on why his generation is “grasping for things we can actually do”—seeking embodiment and spiritual practices to combat the “floating ether” feeling of the digital world.

In this episode, host Justin Allison speaks with Austin Cooper, Outreach Pastor at Greenwood, about the critical link between outward-focused ministry and personal discipleship. Austin explains his belief that followers of Christ cannot fully grasp their calling until they see themselves as “sent,” much like Christ was sent by God.

Tune in to hear Austin’s framework, which he calls “low-risk, high-grace,” as a practical way to get church members involved in outreach, regardless of their comfort level with traditional evangelism. The conversation explores how consistent, simple acts of service can be a natural progression toward deeper spiritual growth and leadership.

I’m changing tactics here to try and help my mental health a little. You see Fall 2024 into Spring of 2025 was not good for me. I’d like to change that by building a little more relaxation into my life.

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy mindset is exercise. In the past, I’ve competed in Sprint Distance Triathlons. I’m probably not going to be doing that again, mostly because of the time commitment. But I’ve found that even in reduced physical workouts I tend to get more muscle soreness now that I’m in my mid 40s.

To help alleviate that, I’m adopting the mindset that this substack project exists for me to 1) help others develop discipleship habits, and 2) buy my family a used hot tub off Facebook Marketplace. I’m not asking friends and family to give me money. I’m trying to create a little income from some fun work that I do. For example, I wrote some notes for a study Bible and was paid a couple hundred dollars. It was fun, but it was work that I was paid to do.

Why a used hot tub? Because I’m a pastor and I don’t really have many nice things. I don’t need a brand new swim spa or anything. I just want a place to relax after a workout, or on stressful days.

I’m hoping to raise $4000 through this substack site and other writings projects. So, I’m aiming for a grand total of 80 yearly subscribers or 67 monthly subscribers. I know it isn’t an astronomical goal. I’m not trying to buy a yacht and sail the world, I’m just trying to relax a little more.

I’m not paywalling all my content or anything drastic. I hope to add some more subscriber only stuff in the future, but right now most everything will remain free.

Writing about discipleship is deeply rewarding, but it’s not exactly a path to passive income. I’d like to change that (a little) by seeing if I can buy a hot tub through this newsletter. If you’ve ever benefited from a post, would you consider subscribing or tipping toward the cause?

Earlier this year, I shared some big, ambitious goals. Then life hit. A medication issue sidelined me for two months, and it became clear those goals weren’t going to happen. Honestly? I’m okay with that. Those plans were always a best-case scenario. So now I’m asking: What’s next?

Right now, I’m focused on recruiting new group leaders. One example: this fall we’re launching a Financial Peace University course, led by one of our elders and his wife. It’ll function more like a class than a typical Bible study, but the heart is the same—transformation.

Here’s how I describe it:

In Scripture and in life today, God is always changing the hearts and minds of His people to align more fully with Him. One way we participate in that transformation at Greenwood is through Financial Peace University. It’s a practical, biblically grounded course that helps people honor God with their finances—whether they’re just starting out or preparing to leave a legacy.

To keep launching new groups like this one, I’ve developed a streamlined form to gather the key details for each new group. But here’s the thing: I don’t hand this form out to just anyone. I give it to people I’ve connected with personally—after we’ve had a conversation about leading.

I trust the Holy Spirit to guide your approach in your own context, but here’s why I use this form:

* It helps me advertise the new group effectively

* It sets expectations clearly and kindly

* It allows me to prep materials and train leaders efficiently

The commitments we ask for are basic—nothing too intense—but they provide clarity up front. And if clarity is kindness, then there’s no better time to be kind than at the start.

Digital Tools & Discipleship is a reader-supported publication. I’m trying to raise money for a used hot tub from my writing. I would appreciate your paid subscription!

Once the form is submitted, my assistant and I plug the leader into an automated workflow that includes training videos and timely reminders. We also map out their launch plan so everything’s ready by the group’s first meeting.

I know some churches don’t need this kind of system. But I built it to scale. My goal is to care for every group leader just as well as I did when we only had ten groups. Good systems help me do that. They’re not magic—but they are one way I’m trying to honor God by serving His people well.