In this episode, we’re wrapping up our three-part series on discipleship with a conversation about one of the most significant calls in Scripture: the Great Commission. Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19-20 is clear—“Go and make disciples of all nations.” But how often do we feel overwhelmed, unprepared, or even too busy to step into this calling? If you’ve ever wrestled with what it means to make disciples in your everyday life, this episode is for you.

We start by exploring the cultural context around discipleship today. Did you know that only 2–3% of American adults consider themselves true disciples of Jesus? Or that less than one-third of Christians actively engage in discipling others or being discipled? We’ll unpack these surprising statistics and the barriers holding many back, including fear of not knowing enough, feeling unqualified, and the busyness of life.

From there, we take a deep dive into Scripture, looking at passages like James 2:17-23, which reminds us that faith without action is dead. We also reflect on the Parable of the Talents, a story that challenges us to use the resources God has entrusted to us for His Kingdom. Finally, we explore Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14-16, where He calls us the light of the world—a light meant to shine before others, not be hidden under a basket.

This episode is filled with practical encouragement and heartfelt honesty. We address questions like:

You’ll also hear a powerful reminder that God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called. Nearly every person Jesus invited to follow Him was unprepared, flawed, and ordinary, yet God used them in extraordinary ways. If you feel unequipped or hesitant, remember that Jesus delights in working through people who feel inadequate.

To close, we challenge you to take a hard look at what’s keeping you busy and ask whether those things are more important than the call God has placed on your life. Discipleship isn’t about perfection; it’s about obedience, availability, and trusting God to work through your willingness to show up.

If you’ve been searching for inspiration, practical wisdom, and a renewed sense of purpose in your walk with Jesus, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Let’s discover together what it looks like to live out the Great Commission in our daily lives.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, or head to BeckyCrawley.com for show notes, resources, and links to the Barna study we referenced. Don’t forget to share this episode with a friend—it might just be the encouragement they need to step into their calling too! 

In this episode of the podcast, we dive deep into a topic that’s both personal and powerful—discipleship. Discipleship isn’t just a church buzzword or a program you sign up for; it’s an intentional journey of growing in faith, learning from others, and becoming more like Jesus. But what does that actually look like in our everyday lives?

This week, I share stories of two kinds of discipleship I’ve experienced: the kind you seek out and the kind that finds you when you least expect it. From structured Bible studies to the influence of wise mentors, these relationships have shaped my faith and my understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.

We also take a hard look at what modern culture says about discipleship. In today’s world, the concept can sometimes feel like it’s been packaged into programs, coaching, or mentorships that you pay for. But can discipleship really be “for hire,” or is there something deeper and more transformative about walking with someone who genuinely invests in your spiritual growth?

One of the most powerful illustrations of discipleship we explore is the story of the paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof to get him to Jesus (Mark 2:1–12). Those friends believed for him when he couldn’t believe for himself, showing us that discipleship isn’t just about guidance—it’s about carrying one another when life gets heavy.

On a personal note, this topic hit home for me as I prepared for this episode while facing some scary medical news about my pregnancy. Fear and uncertainty were overwhelming, but the wise women in my life stepped in to remind me of God’s peace and faithfulness. Even when my own belief wavered, I borrowed theirs, and it made all the difference.

In this episode, we ask tough but necessary questions:

We also explore what the Bible says about discipleship, from Moses and Joshua to Paul and Timothy. Jesus’ final instructions to make disciples (Matthew 28:19–20) and his call to love one another (John 13:34–35) show us that discipleship isn’t optional for believers—it’s essential.

Finally, we break down practical ways to recognize if you’re in a season where you need a mentor or are being called to disciple someone else. This episode is packed with real-life stories, biblical wisdom, and actionable steps to help you step into the discipleship relationships God has for you.

So, how do you borrow belief? How do you disciple others in love and humility? How do you open yourself up to the transformation Jesus has in store for you?

Tune in to this episode to hear the full story and gain fresh perspective on what it means to follow Jesus and help others do the same. Whether you’re looking to deepen your faith, navigate hard seasons, or simply grow as a believer, this episode will inspire and equip you.

Being a disciple of Jesus means learning from Him and staying close to Him. But let’s be real: the term “disciple” or “making disciples” can feel a bit fuzzy. Is it a Bible study? A church program? A secret handshake club? Let’s clear things up—and have some fun while we’re at it.

There’s so much confusion about this word. Some people think discipleship is just going to Bible studies. Others think it’s a fancy church program, like Christianity 101 but with potlucks. Then there’s the whole “habits and practices” angle, which is helpful but can feel a bit like Christian self-help if you’re not careful. Here’s the truth: discipleship isn’t about content; it’s about relationship. It’s not a checklist or a workbook—it’s a way of life.

I saw a meme that nailed it: “Discipleship is not content.” Boom. That’s it. It’s about being in relationship with Jesus and with others, usually in small groups, living life together. So, spoiler alert: we’re not actually doing discipleship on this podcast. We’re just talking about it. Sorry to disappoint.

Here’s the game plan for this series:

How Jesus disciples us (that’s today!)

How others help disciple us

Our turn to go and make disciples

Back in the day, being a disciple (or talmid) was serious business. You didn’t just show up to a weekly study. You literally lived with your rabbi. Ate with him. Walked like him. Talked like him. Basically, you became his clone. The idea was to absorb every single thing he did so you could do it too.

But Jesus flipped the script. Most rabbis waited for students to come begging. Not Jesus. He called His disciples straight out of their day jobs. Fishermen, tax collectors—you name it. They weren’t the valedictorians of the rabbi pipeline. And that’s the point: Jesus doesn’t care about our qualifications. He sees our potential and says, “You. Come with Me.” (Cue the heart eyes.)

John Mark Comer’s book Practicing the Way breaks it down into three steps:

Be with Jesus

Become like Jesus

Do as Jesus did

It all starts with being with Jesus. Closeness is key. You can’t be discipled by someone you’re not spending time with. And yeah, there’s a cost. Mark 8:34 talks about denying ourselves and taking up our cross. Sounds intense, but it’s worth it. Trust me.

Let’s take a closer look at how Jesus rolled:

He lived, traveled, and ate meals with His disciples.

They cooked together (and probably argued over who’d do the dishes).

They went to synagogue, visited friends, and partied (yes, Jesus went to parties!).

They grieved together during hard times.

Jesus shared vulnerable moments, like in the Garden of Gethsemane.

He explained His actions and broke things down when the disciples were confused (which was often).

They did ministry together—teaching, healing, serving.

Jesus didn’t just tell His disciples what to do; He showed them. Every moment was a teaching moment.

Here’s the deal: letting Jesus be your Rabbi means inviting Him into your everyday life. Ask yourself:

Are there areas of your life you’re keeping off-limits?

What habits, relationships, or sins might He be asking you to hand over?

This week, take a few quiet moments (or noisy ones—Jesus doesn’t mind) to sit with Him. Ask Him how He wants to disciple you. And remember: it all starts with being with Him. The rest? He’ll take care of that. Let the adventure begin.

For more faith-filled resources, visit beckycrawley.com and stephaniehillberry.com.

Today, we’re diving into the topic of taking risks—both the literal kind, and the kind that stretches our faith and challenges us to trust Jesus more deeply. If you tuned into our last episode, you might remember Becky casually dropped a bomb about living out of a van for a year. We sort of left you hanging on that one, so today, we’re picking up that thread!

First, let’s define risk. According to the dictionary, risk is:

1. The possibility of loss or injury: peril.

On the flip side of risk, we have safety, something we value far more highly in our culture. We live by sayings like, “Better safe than sorry.” And if we’re honest, most of us build our lives around minimizing risk—whether it’s keeping our jobs stable, our retirement secure, our kids safe, or our finances sound. We create comfort zones, and venturing outside of them is something we rarely do.

But here’s where it gets deeper: it’s not just about taking risks with our lives; it’s about taking risks with our faith. How many of us push back when the Holy Spirit nudges us to share something with a stranger? Or when we’re called to take a bold step with a friend? Instead of trusting that nudge, we often retreat back to what feels safe. In doing so, we rob ourselves of the gift of living a daring, adventurous life with the Holy Spirit.

So, let me back up a bit and tell you how I ended up living in a van for a year.

• How it all started: I had more conventional choices, safer choices, but I felt God calling me to something different.

Here’s the thing: working that risk muscle changed everything for me. The more I trusted Jesus in risky moments, the more I built an iron-clad trust in him. Living in that van didn’t just teach me about minimalism and adventure—it taught me that when Jesus invites us to take a risk, he always shows up. He doesn’t promise it will be easy, but he promises he’ll be there.

The Bible itself is a story of God’s relentless pursuit of us, this daring, risky adventure of him never giving up on us—even when we turn away. And he took the ultimate risk when he sent Jesus to die for us, trusting that we would choose him in return. Time and time again, God shows us through the Bible that his heart is bent toward risk and faith.

Steph and I are going to alternate sharing some of our favorite risk stories from the Bible, where people trusted God enough to take a risk that seemed completely irrational, yet God showed up in powerful ways:

• Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:29): Peter had to step out of the boat in the middle of a storm. He literally took the risk of sinking, but as long as his eyes were on Jesus, he walked on water.

Risk is uncomfortable. It’s uncertain. But it’s also the place where we see God’s power, faithfulness, and love the most clearly. What risks is Jesus calling you to take today? Maybe it’s stepping into a new job or starting a business. Maybe it’s reaching out to someone with something God has put on your heart, or being vulnerable in a relationship. Whatever it is, the Holy Spirit is always with you—calling you to a deeper, more daring life of faith.

Our challenge for you this week: What’s one risk you can take with Jesus? Whether big or small, trust him enough to step out of your comfort zone. You might just find that the greatest adventures happen when we’re willing to take a risk with him.

BeckyCrawley.com

Journaled With Steph

Today, we’re diving into a crucial topic: what it means to participate in community life together in today’s busy culture. In a world that’s more connected than ever through technology, it seems that genuine community is harder to come by. So, why is real, in-person community more important now than ever before?

This idea really struck me earlier this year when I was taking a course from The Bible Project. The instructor talked about the Greek word "koinonia," which is often translated as “fellowship.” But here’s the thing—the word "fellowship" doesn’t really capture the full meaning anymore. To truly understand what participation in community looks like, we need to rethink how we approach "community" today.

Defining Community Today

I stumbled across a fascinating discussion on a Substack called After Babel. They explored how YouTube defines community, which reflects a lot about how we think about participation in the digital world:

YouTube defines its community like this:

• Creators: The people or brands producing content.

At first glance, this seems like a simple, plug-and-play way to be part of a “community.” Let’s break down the positive attributes of these virtual communities:

• Becky: "They’re easy to plug into. You can find content that really speaks to you and instantly be a part of something bigger."

• Becky: "And they can help you make and keep friends beyond your local community—people you might never meet otherwise."

But, of course, there are downsides to these virtual communities as well:

• Steph: "One big one is the lack of consequences for being rude. Because interactions aren’t face-to-face, people often say things they wouldn’t dream of saying in person."

Real Community in the Bible

Now, let’s compare this to what the Bible says about real, in-person community. One of the best examples of Christian community comes from Acts 2:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." — Acts 2:42-47 NIV

This passage gives us a picture of real, messy, face-to-face community. The early church didn’t just meet up for Sunday services—they shared life together. They broke bread, prayed, sold possessions to meet needs, and gathered daily in homes and in the temple. It wasn’t always perfect, but they were committed to one another in a way that went far beyond digital interactions.

Likewise, in 1 Corinthians, Paul writes about how the early church functioned as one body, with each member playing a crucial role. He emphasizes the need for mutual concern and participation in one another’s lives:

"So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." — 1 Corinthians 12:25-27 NIV

This kind of community requires vulnerability, commitment, and showing up. You can’t hide behind a screen when you’re sitting at someone’s kitchen table, breaking bread, or praying together.

Why It’s More Important Now Than Ever

In today’s culture of busyness, virtual connections, and compartmentalized lives, finding time for real community can feel impossible. But we’re called to more than just "fellowship" as we know it today. We’re called to participate in each other’s lives, even when it’s messy and inconvenient. That’s where real transformation happens—when we’re willing to show up for one another, day after day, in big ways and small ways.

BeckyCrawley.com

Journaled By Steph

In today’s episode of Orderly, we’re diving into a topic that hits home for many women—independence. It’s a value we often admire and strive for, one that can feel empowering, fulfilling, and necessary in a world that encourages self-reliance. But what happens when our sense of independence keeps us from the deep, intimate relationship we truly desire with Jesus? That’s what we’re examining today.

The Blessing (and Trap) of Independence

For many women, independence brings a sense of agency. It allows us to make decisions, build careers, raise families, and carve out lives that feel meaningful and fulfilling. This isn’t necessarily bad—after all, the Bible encourages freedom in several areas. We’re called to free ourselves from:

• The love of money (Hebrews 13:5)

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible presents a theme of freedom. We were created to be free, and Jesus came to free us from death, sin, and other forms of enslavement. But here’s the twist—the Bible also emphasizes dependence on God, which can feel counter to the independence we value so much.

Trusting in God vs. Trusting in Ourselves

The Bible doesn’t shy away from warning against misplaced independence. In Jeremiah 17:5, it says:

"This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.’" — Jeremiah 17:5,7 NIV

It’s a stark reminder that when we trust in ourselves or others more than God, we risk drifting away from Him. Independence can turn into a trap, where we rely solely on our own abilities and strength. But what does true freedom look like in Jesus? It’s the freedom to depend on Him, knowing that He’s the source of everything we need.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" — Psalm 56:3-4 NIV

Balancing Independence with Dependence on God

It’s not that independence is inherently wrong—it’s about recognizing where our independence ends and our dependence on God begins. Jesus invites us into a relationship where we can lean on Him, not just when we’re weak or struggling, but in every aspect of life. The very freedom we’re meant to enjoy comes from our dependence on Him, not from doing everything on our own.

The Importance of Community

The Bible also reminds us that we’re not meant to live isolated, independent lives. We’re part of a bigger community—the body of Christ—and we need one another:

"So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." — 1 Corinthians 12:25-27 NIV

Just as we depend on God, we also need to depend on each other. The strength of our independence can sometimes make us believe we should "go it alone," but true growth and support come when we allow others to walk alongside us in life’s journey.

Today’s Challenge:

Ask yourself, Where has your independence led you away from God? Are there areas of your life where you’ve tried to take control instead of relying on Him? Or perhaps, are you resistant to asking for help from your community, thinking you need to figure it out on your own?

Let’s start rethinking independence—not as something to idolize but as something to balance with a deep, abiding dependence on Jesus and a genuine connection to others.

BeckyCrawley.com

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