This conversation takes place on July 28, 2019. I had my friend and disciple maker, Jeff McDaniel, come and join me at New Life Linton Hall. Our goal was to give clarity to what it actually means to “make disciples.”

We discuss very practically, some opportunities for everyone to take next steps in being a disciple who makes disciples. In many ways it boils down to these things:

1. Experience Jesus personally!

2. Abide in Christ daily through Scripture reading and prayer!

3. Share your experience with Jesus with someone you know who doesn’t know Christ!

We discuss very practical next steps that you can take within any 24-hour period to become a disciple who makes disciples.

This sermon was recorded during New Life’s “Made” series. The big idea is simply, “You were made to be covered in the dust of your Rabbi.”

The premise flows from a writing in Avot 1:4 in the Mishna. When we read the Bible with Western eyes, we miss the absolute beauty and brilliance of what God is up to and how it all fits together. Following Jesus is about far more than learning a few facts in a Bible study. It is about being completely covered in the dust from His feet because we are following Him so closely.

Follower of Jesus - Church - my prayer for you is that you will be covered in the dust of your Rabbi, Jesus!

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This conversation is sure to inspire, challenge and convict many of us in our current ministry areas. I am so excited to have Jon Ralls on this episode. He is a former college professor, soccer coach and now a friend in ministry. I love what he is doing and what God is up to through him. He is going to lay out for you in this episode what God is up to.

Jon shares about his work with "Media 2 Movement" and the "Zume Project." Through those ministries, God is bringing about a disciple-making movement through Jon and his teams around the globe. But it's not just anywhere. Disciples makers are being made and simple churches are starting in some of the hardest to reach areas in the world. Nations that we can't name for security reasons. Nations that are anti-Christian. Nations where persecution is real and Christians are called to die for their faith. 

And in the middle of all of this amazing work, he is also fighting cancer. He is a warrior on so many levels. Not only his military experience, but also his work for Christ and fighting cancer. His story is truly inspiring and encouraging.

Highlights |

• My passion is to see that there are no unreached or unengaged people groups with the Gospel.
• There are going to be millions of people who are born, get married and live life but never once hear the name Jesus. That's unacceptable to me.
• Our teams are working in countries that are sending people to ISIS and because of disciple making movements we are seeing tens of people every month baptized in these places.
• We spent $26 on Facebook ads and 30 people wanted to learn about Jesus and were passionate about getting Bibles.
• Discipleship and evangelism aren't separate. You can do both at the same time.
• We are training people to be the church and to reach people in other groups in their relational sphere of influence (oikos).
• If we're going to plant, we must plant in our weakness. God, only you can do this.
• Our current systems in the church create dependency not disciples.
• We need to go on the offensive. Do a prayer walk around and get to know your neighborhood.
• Make a list of 100 people you know who don't know Jesus. Then list 5 you want to talk to about Him.
• The people who have the hardest time listing lost people they know are pastors.
• The Holy Spirit is pretty good at what He does.
• What struck me about the early church and its growth to millions was not what they had, but what they did not have and yet they flourished.
• We utilize generational mapping that can see disciples out to the 8th generation.
• There are movements here in the States that are happening. Generational, simple gatherings of believers that consider themselves the church.
• That is what's so attractive about the church. It is Jesus in our midst and the Spirit working in our lives.
• I truly believe that we could see the fulfillment of seeing the Gospel in all places in our lifetime. We could finish the task.
• I love the church. I love it in every form and place. I love those who love the Bride of Christ.

Links |

Disciple Tools - https://disciple.tools

Kingdom Training - https://kingdom.training

Zume Project - https://zumeproject.com

The Rise of Christianity - by Rodney Stark - https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Christianity-Marginal-Religious-Centuries/dp/0060677015/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521843083&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=Lies+of+Christianity+Rodney+Stark

Simple Church - by Thom Rainer - https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Church-Returning-Process-Disciples/dp/0805447997/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521850866&sr=8-1&keywords=simple+church&dpID=41jF-8jr4pL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

Weekly Email | 

I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Sean Cronin joins me for episode 058 of the show. He works for our church planting organization called "Passion 4 Planting." The heart of P4P is to see churches multiply with the purpose of making disciples who make disciples. They come alongside churches with project management, free resources, templates, planter residencies, assessments and more. If you have ever felt the tug toward church planting, I can't recommend touching base with P4P enough.

Even if you aren't a church planter in waiting, your church can still connect with P4P. Maybe you have a dream for going multi-site or launching churches. P4P comes alongside those churches and leaders to help with training, preparation and strategies to get there. So P4P isn't just for brand new startups. Their mindset is a Kingdom mindset to help churches multiply and make disciples.

Highlights | 

• We developed our system partly to come alongside churches to help them multiply and make disciples.
• We have a vision to multiply, but how do we do it?
• We are helping church planter residents ask the right questions about how to plant a church.
• Let's be intentional and strategic about leadership development with our church plants.
• The smartest thing Dave Ferguson has ever done was connecting NewThing to Passion 4 Planting.
• Bootcamp breaks down strategies and plans for your church plant into a week long intensive training.
• We partner with local churches to help them with strategies by giving away free tools and templates.
• If you have questioned if God is calling you to plant a church, take part of Passion 4 Planting's assessment to find discernment.
• Many planters are vision drunk on their own vision.
• The wells of resources for church planting are drying up and church planters are going to have to be more creative when it comes to funding their plants.

Links | 

Website - http://church-planting.net

Twitter - https://twitter.com/4planting

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/passion4planting/

NewThing Network - http://newthing.org 

Phil Ling Book - The Generosity Tsunami

Weekly Email | 

I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

I recently got back home after attending the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. And all I can say is that if you're missing out on the resources and content from Exponential, you need to change that. This podcast episode focuses on some of my lessons learned while at Exponential. I was fortunate enough to be able to serve as the social media guy during the week. Running Twitter and Facebook for a conference this size had me a little nervous, but it ended up being a fantastic week.

In this episode I share 4 lessons learned at main sessions. All of those lessons learned I tweeted live while they were happening. I also share 1 lesson learned while walking through the different workshops. I share that in this episode and in the highlights below. 

Highlights |

• "You can spend 20 years in ministry doing the right thing and miss the greater thing God is doing." Albert Tate
• "What percentage of what you know do you actually obey?" Jossy Chacko
• "You don't have a church. You've been entrusted to steward what belongs to the living God." Leonce Crump
• "I'm asking you to make a commitment today to be someone who will give your life away for the Kingdom so that it can be on earth as it is in heaven." Danielle Strickland
• "Husbands, pray over your wives. Don't just pray for them. Wrap them in your arms and pray a simple prayer over them." Geoff Surratt

Links |

Exponential Conference - http://exponential.org

Digital Access Pass - https://exponential.net/digital-access-pass/

Exponential Events - https://register.exponential.org

Weekly Email |

I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

A topic on everyone's minds after the recent school shooting in Florida, along with the church shooting in Texas, is simply that of safety. While it's not a topic we enjoy or want to think about, with our society devolving into chaos, it's one that must be discussed. My friend, Travis Ludvigsen, a fire marshal from Loudoun County is my guest to discuss safety and training in a church setting. Travis is passionate about ministry and is a disciple maker at our church. He is as genuine as they come. He shares practically some things you need to be thinking through when it comes to keeping your people, families and kids safe at your church.

Highlights |

1. Top priority should be safety for your families and kids.
2. Your team leaders and volunteers need to know the safety plan. 
3. We must plan and train for "What if" situations.
4. Look for someone in your church with public safety experience already to help build a plan and help with training.
5. Deescalation (verbal judo) is one of the first priorities you need in place. Not every situation needs a "hammer."
6. Talk to the school or theater you meet in to ask what current safety procedures are already in place. 
7. Buy high quality, walkie-talkies, so that you can communicate between concrete walls and long hallways.
8. Use of force is the absolute last resort.
9. The ultimate goal in an active shooter situation is simply to save lives.
10. David didn't use other people's armor or equipment to take down Goliath. He used what he knew and had trained with. Your safety plans must be contextualized to your setting!
11. You must know the current laws in your area regarding safety procedures so that you are operating inside the law and are protected in case something does happen.

Travis isn't big into social media, but if you want to follow him on Twitter, you can do that right here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to him.

Weekly Email

I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden, Christians are called to be the light of the world. But in recent years, that has become far more than just the real world. It's more than where we interact with neighbors and co-workers or even the person checking us out at the grocery store. The world has gone digital and we are called to be a light of the cyber world.

In this episode my guest, Haley Bodine, shares 4 practical things that Christians need to think through before posting online. Whether that be a status update, a comment on a post or a retweet on Twitter. This is a great conversation that every believer needs to pay careful attention to. I also share in this episode a recent mistake I made on Facebook to try and give some context to the conversation. 

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Haley Bodine and her family now call metro Detroit “home.” She currently serves as the North American Relationship Catalyst and Communications Director for NewThing Network. She has a background in small group ministry, nonprofit communications, and content development. Her work has been published by Relevant Magazine, World Vision International, Neue Magazine, and more.

Highlights

1. Haley's worst nightmare is showing up to a band concert only to discover her instrument's reed is broken.
2. "We must remember that even though we cannot see actual people on the other side of our screens, we are interacting with real people who have real, God-given souls."
3. Four things to consider before posting: will it build others up, is it truthful, does it reflect the character of Jesus and does it honor the image of God imprinted on others.

"We are the Light of the Cyber World!" -http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/january/we-are-light-of-cyber-world-lets-act-like-it.html

Connect with Haley Bodine

Twitter - https://twitter.com/hmbodine

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/haley.bodine.9

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/haleybodine/

Blog - http://haleymbodine.wordpress.com

Weekly Email

I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."