Something extraordinary happened when “the Spirit of the Lord came upon” someone in the Old Testament. Every single time, it meant one thing: battle.

But here’s what might surprise you: Nothing has changed. The Spirit of God still comes to empower His people for war. The battlefield has simply shifted.

https://www.sentones.com/calling/when-gods-spirit-comes-to-fight/

In the early days of the Christian church, a figure named Apollos emerged, not as a convert of the apostles, but as a man already ablaze with passion for the Lord.

https://www.sentones.com/developing-leaders/the-apollos-strategy-search-empower/

Many of us have learned simple, reproducible Gospel tools, such as drawing an illustration, a sticker on our phone, or a memorable outline. These tools are valuable. Yet often, believers in the West struggle to connect meaningfully with people from different cultures or religions.

https://www.sentones.com/engaging-the-lost/ten-everyday-conversation-starters/

Jesus didn’t only go to His oikos. He had His eyes set on every town in Galilee (Mark 1:38-39) to reach “the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24) for the sake of every people and place (Matthew 24:14). So how did He start in these new places with new people that didn’t already have some relational connection with Him?

https://www.sentones.com/engaging-the-lost/from-oikos-to-everywhere/

Today, many might suggest strategies like effective marketing, dynamic programs, or “best practice” methods. While these have their place, a deeper look at Scripture reveals a more foundational answer. In Acts 9:31, we find a powerful insight.

https://www.sentones.com/church-formation/what-makes-a-church-thrive-and-grow/

But let’s be honest—“extraordinary” can sound overwhelming. Some imagine all-night prayer meetings or a 24-hour a day prayer campaign. And over time, yes, it looks like that. But where do disciples of Jesus start? Maybe it’s simpler than we think.

https://www.sentones.com/calling/extraordinary-prayer/

Jesus ascends a mountain, calls a group of His followers from out of the crowd, and proceeds to select 12 to be His apostles. The scene fascinates me, not just for who was chosen, but for those who weren't. More than 12 were there, yet only a handful were set apart. What did the others feel?

https://www.sentones.com/developing-leaders/pondering-matthias/

I recently read an old business book called “The Goal.” It’s a fictional story about a man who is the top executive at a manufacturing plant. Early in the story, his mentor asks him the question:

What is the goal? Why does your manufacturing plant exist?

Hilariously (almost), the main character can’t actually answer the question.

https://www.sentones.com/gods-mission/what-is-the-goal/

The core question is this: What is a nation? This question matters because, for decades, we’ve been aiming people and dollars toward reaching the unreached people groups.

https://www.sentones.com/gods-mission/are-nations-really-people-groups/

Picture this: You’re at a missionary gathering, and someone mentions “KPIs” or “reporting requirements.” You can practically feel the tension in the room. Eyes roll, shoulders tense, and conversations shift uncomfortably. Sound familiar?

If you’ve engaged in missions for any length of time, you’ve likely witnessed—or experienced—this exact scenario. The world of mission metrics is fraught with frustration, mistrust, and genuine challenges that can’t be ignored.

But what if tracking could actually serve field workers instead of burdening them? What if measurement could build trust rather than breed suspicion?

https://www.sentones.com/gods-mission/beyond-numbers/