The Red Letter Disciple

Rev. Dr. Tim Ahlman is a third-generation LCMS pastor passionate about nurturing future church leaders. In this engaging discussion, he emphasizes the importance of healthy disagreements within the Lutheran Church, advocating for unity amidst differing opinions. Tim shares humorous anecdotes from ministry, illustrating the humanity in pastoral work. He also stresses the need for innovative training for the next generation of pastors and inclusive discussions to revitalize leadership and discipleship in the church.

Season 8 kicks off with an impressive lineup of guests ready to dive into discipleship and generosity. Expect enlightening discussions that intertwine sports with spiritual growth. One young guest shares the realities of managing wealth while pursuing a faithful life. The hosts invite listeners to spread the word and engage with the rich themes that connect biblical narratives to today's practice of generosity. Get ready for an inspiring journey as you enhance your role as a disciple!

Zach and Allison discuss what it’s like to balance working together and staying married to one another. Also, discover what motivated them to write Red Letter Advent, why you should take your church through the Advent journey, discovering the meaning behind hope, peace, joy, and love. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com. Thanks to our sponsor today Red Letter Living. We create resources that help people become greater disciples of Jesus. This podcast is one of them. But our newest resource, which is available now for ordering, is Red Letter Advent. This thing is hot off the press! Red Letter Advent is a 25-day devotional that is perfect for your church. For December 1-25, readers will be invited to unbox the four gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus so desperately wants for them to not only open but give away to others. Not only will readers go through a powerful journey but so will the whole church. Alongside the book, we provide every other resource your church would need for FREE for a powerful month of December. I’m talking sermons, small group videos (or for those that do midweek, you can use them for your midweek offerings), kids curriculum, daily family questions, graphics, you name it. It’s going to be an epic month of December. Now, here’s the deal. Because we have seasonality of this product, we did a presale and we only have very limited copies available. So, first-come, first-serve. Get them now. You can check out our bulk pricing and all of the FREE resources we are building for this project at www.redletteradvent.com.  So, get in now, today, you can’t wait any longer, and lock your church into a powerful month of December with Red Letter Advent.  You can find all the details at www.redletteradvent.com. That’s redletteradvent.com.Resources mentioned in the episode: Devotions by Mary OliverRed Letter Advent  Advent BlocksKey insights from the episode: Your wife’s opinion should count at least double everyone else’s because she’s the one still sticking around at the end of the day. - Zach ZehnderYou never make something from scratch: you either learn from the school of hard knocks or you are doing a lot of research. - Allison ZehnderThe wonderful thing about writing is that there is a backspace button. - Allison ZehnderWrite something every day. - Allison ZehnderIn all the glitz of Christmas, don’t forget the why. - Zach ZehnderRed Letter Advent helps church leaders focus on the most important thing at Christmas: Jesus.  - Zach Zehnder. Zach and Allison Zehnder’s Challenge: Make a plan for Advent this year. Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or the Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Robbie Angle is the Discipleship Advisor for RightNow Media, a company that owns the world’s largest library of Bible study videos. Robbie is also the president and CEO of True Face and a professional counselor whose vast experience with small groups makes him one of the leading experts on small group formation. He lives in Dawsonville, GA, with his wife, Emily, and their eight children. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com. Today’s episode is brought to you by RightNow Media. Every pastor knows the importance of small groups to help spur on discipleship, and RightNow Media is THE #1 platform. Church leaders can visit www.rightnowmedia.org to learn more about us and schedule a free demo. RightNow Media is the world’s largest library of Bible study videos. With a RightNow Media subscription, everyone in your ministry gets unlimited access to over 25,000 discipleship resources from Christian leaders like me and Robby, as well as Francis Chan, Jennie Allen, Derwin Gray, and more. Visit www.rightnowmedia.org to schedule your free, in-depth tour of the video library today.Additionally, church leaders, I want to invite you to register for a FREE webinar that I’ll be doing in November with RightNow Media on their platform. It’s November 13th 12-1PM CT and it’s all around helping churches define discipleship targets, so they can measure the impact of their discipleship efforts. So, you can visit www.rightnowmedia.org/webinars and register for that. I’m so pumped to be on their platform helping thousands of pastors and would love to have you there.Let’s still include some RightNow Media graphics, links, and a link to my webinar here with them when we have it.Resources mentioned in the episode: The Cure: What If God Isn’t Who You Think He Is And Neither Are YouThe Cure for Groups: How to Lead a Small Group that People Will Talk About the Rest of Their Lives RightNow Media NorthPoint Community Church in Atlanta, GA TrueFaceKey insights from the episode: If God designed us to grow through the context of relationships, then any church with over 50 adults should create an environment that’s more conducive for relational and growth. – Robbie Angle The number one question to ask for small groups is what is our pipeline for the formation of leaders? – Robbie Angle A small group that has a shared mission outside of shared study content is often the most impactful. – Robbie Angle One of the greatest differentiators of a group was whether they got away for at least one night together a year. – Robbie Angle Small groups that only focus on “know more and sin less” goals are not focused on the gospel and are not successful. – Robbie Angle 65% of the efficacy of small groups depends on the leader. – Robbie Angle Once you taste the freedom of being fully known and loved in a small group, you don’t go back to Supper Club mediocracy. – Robbie Angle Pastors know disciple-making is important, but they don’t know how to do it. – Zach Zehnder Robby Angle’s Challenge: Ask, “God, what do you want me to know, and what do you want me to do?”Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here.This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daniel Im, a pastor and author of 'The Discipleship Opportunity,' shares his insights on the distinctions between interested and uninterested Christians. He discusses the challenges of avoiding consumerism in church practices and critiques the church growth movement's impact on community engagement. Reflecting on church dynamics in Canada vs. the U.S., he emphasizes the need for genuine relationships over mere attendance. The conversation offers a fresh perspective on adapting discipleship approaches to foster deeper faith connections.

President Brian Mueller joined Grand Canyon University in July 2008, transforming it from a financially struggling institution into a driving force in higher education. Under his leadership, campus enrollment grew from 2,600 to over 25,200, and online enrollment soared to nearly 93,500 students. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com. Today’s sponsor is Child Beyond International (CBI). I love the work that Child Beyond International does in Guatemala. This is a mission organization that is the most intentional overseas organization about rescuing the vulnerable that I’ve ever seen. They reach the kids that even other great mission organizations may miss. And I’d love for you to check out this organization and be changed in just 10,000 minutes! Why 10,000? Because 10,000 minutes is the exact amount of time spent on a seven-day mission trip. Child Beyond International has everything set up for you and your church to experience a powerful overseas mission trip that will not only change the life of someone in Guatemala, but amazingly, it changes lives for those who go on the mission trip as well. You and your church can be transformed in just 10,000 minutes. Truthfully, in my life, I can point to the impact that overseas missions trips had perhaps more than anything else in my faith formative years. And even still in my adulthood when I’ve had the chance to go. It changes my perspective, restores my purpose, and it grows my faith unlike any experience I’ve ever had. Mission trips are one of the most effective faith-building discipleship opportunities God provides for us, not only to make a huge spiritual difference in the life of one soul at a time, but in each one of our own spiritual lives as well! So, today, I invite you to check out the great work of our partner at their website www.childbeyond.org. Also, check out my webinar with CBI Founder Jeff Mueller about how you can join a powerful global mission effort like CBI. Let’s still include some CBI, links, and webinar material here for when we post it on our website.Resources mentioned in the episode: University of PhoenixGrand Canyon Universitybrian.mueller@gcu.eduKey insights from the episode: I never stopped coaching, I just have a bigger team now. - Brian MuellerI think the two greatest ideas in history that created the most prosperous society in the world are the free market system and the Christian worldview perspective. – Brain MuellerWe have created 16,000 jobs in the area since we moved here. – Brian Mueller We wanted our faith expression to be visible, relentless, and identifying with those people who have the least of these. That’s the irresistible way to live.  – Brain Mueller What people thought would be a detriment (poverty location) has turned out to be an absolute blessing. – Brain Mueller 70% of our students are Christians, that means 30% are not. – Brain Mueller I see a desire in millennials to serve. – Brian Mueller We need to get kids believing that they are going to have a ministry in whatever occupation they are doing.  Brain Mueller We haven’t raised tuition in sixteen years. – Brain Mueller Brian Mueller’s Challenge: Don’t be afraid to take the Word of God very seriously.Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here. This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chris Willard, co-author of Contagious Generosity, provides insightful commentary on generosity and stewardship within the church. He discusses how to inspire financial engagement among congregants while promoting personal and community growth. Humorously, Willard touches on the mustache trend, linking grooming to broader life lessons. Listeners will learn about transforming the narrative around giving, biblical perspectives on financial stewardship, and practical strategies for instilling generosity across generations in church communities.

Brenna Blain is a contemporary theologian and public speaker who preaches about who Jesus is near. She is not afraid to ask God hard questions. Now, she is an author. Her brand new book, “Can I Say That? How Unsafe Questions Lead us to the Real God” is out now! To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.  Today’s podcast is brought to you by our partner’s newest resource called Red Letter Advent. This product is only available to order for one final day (September 17th)! Red Letter Advent is a 25-day devotional that is perfect for your church. For December 1-25, readers will be invited to unbox the four gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus so desperately wants for them to not only open but give away to others. Not only will readers go through a powerful journey but so will the whole church. Alongside the book, we provide every other resource your church would need for FREE for a powerful month of December including sermons, small group or midweek videos, kids curriculum, daily family questions, graphics, you name it. But the only way to guarantee it for your church is to get your orders in today. Retail is $20 per book, but our current sale has the books 25-35% off with a minimum order of 25 books or more. Because of the seasonality of this product, we cannot guarantee a church books if they choose not to get in now. So, get in now, and lock your church into a powerful month of December with Red Letter Advent.  You can find all the details or grab a FREE sample at www.redletteradvent.com.Resources mentioned in the episode: Can I Say That?: How Unsafe Questions Lead Us to the Real God by Brenna BlainThe Trevor ProjectMark Yarhouse Psy.D.Can I Say That? Podcast with Brenna BlainYWAM: Youth With a MissionBrenna’s Instagram: @bunonmyhead Key insights from the episode: I was enamored with the Jesus I saw on the pages of the New Testament compared with the “Veggie Tales Jesus” I had been raised with. - Brenna BlainMy entire walk with God has been one giant taboo question. - Brenna BlainWhile our society at large says your doubts and questions serve as an offramp to faith, my questions have revealed God's character. - Brenna BlainJesus welcomes and invites hard questions because it’s a beautiful unveiling of who he is. Brenna BlainJesus meets you with compassion. - Brenna BlainJesus doesn’t cause suffering, but he can redeem it. - Brenna BlainBrenna Blain’s Challenge: Who is the most difficult person in your life right now, and how can you serve them?Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here. This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or the Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Ashcraft, President and CEO of the Global Leadership Network, leads Global Leadership Network, highlighted by the Global Leadership Summit. He previously served 32 years at LCBC Church, growing it from 150 attendees to 19 locations with 22,000 weekly attendees. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.Today’s podcast is brought to you by our partner’s newest resource called Red Letter Advent. This product is only available to order for one more week (September 17th). Red Letter Advent is a 25-day devotional that is perfect for your church. For December 1-25, readers will be invited to unbox the four gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus so desperately wants for them to not only open but give away to others. Not only will readers go through a powerful journey but so will the whole church. Alongside the book, we provide every other resource your church would need for FREE for a powerful month of December including sermons, small group or midweek videos, kids curriculum, daily family questions, graphics, you name it. But the only way to guarantee it for your church is to get your orders in now. Retail is $20 per book, but our current sale has the books 25-35% off with a minimum order of 25 books or more. Because of the seasonality of this product, we cannot guarantee a church books if they choose not to get in now. So, get in now, and lock your church into a powerful month of December with Red Letter Advent.  You can find all the details or grab a FREE sample at www.redletteradvent.com.Resources mentioned in the episode: Global Leadership SummitGlobal Leadership NetworkLCBC ChurchRed Letter AdventKey insights from the episode: Churches stop growing because of a systematic issue, not a spiritual issue. - David AshcraftIf churches want to grow, you gotta look at the structure of growing churches double your size. - David AshcraftLead pastors need to hire people who will cause the church to grow, not just take the load off them. - David AshcraftFor church growth, you have to constantly be creating systems. - David AshcraftYou can’t cookie-cutter discipleship. - David AshcraftSome pastors will settle for just money when they could have had all of the individuals. - David AshcraftThe bigger the organization, the less you, as a leader, get to do. - David AshcraftI know we are called to teach discipleship, but the church seems to focus only on leadership. - David AshcraftI would love to be an advantage to every pastor I come across. - David AshcraftDavid Ashcraft’s Challenge: Up your leadership. Focus on leadership as an integral part of discipleship. Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here. This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or the Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wil Crooks, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Children's HopeChest, mobilizes resources for the oppressed alongside Carolina Cardona, HopeChest Guatemala Director, who uses her U.S. business degree to serve her home country. This unique partnership has lasted for fourteen years and offers churches an opportunity like no other. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com. Today’s episode is brought to you by Children’s HopeChest. To put it bluntly, I love the way they do global ministry. So much so that we at Red Letter Living are teaming up with them for an epic Pastor’s Vision trip March 24-29, 2025.On this vision trip, pastors and their spouse (or associate) willl have the opportunity to engage in different activities including evangelism, home visits, and connecting with children at HopeChest’s CarePoints. With only 30 spots available, this exclusive trip promises an intimate experience with other pastors from around the country. Each day, I’ll also be leading inspiring devotions, guiding you some Red Letter Challenge principles, and empowering you to embody the teachings of Jesus in your everyday life. All the details are at www.redletterchallenge.com/hopechest. And because I love golf and my wife loves coffee, we’ll even close the trip with a round of golf or a coffee tour in Antigua, Guatemala. So, yes, meaningful, impactful work, but also a day of fun and relaxation to close. But hurry, there are only 30 spots available total. So, get in now to connect more with not only Red Letter Living, but hopefully to find a great mission partner overseas in Children’s HopeChest. To find more info and to register for this trip go to www.redletterchallenge.com/hopechest. I truly hope that I’ll see you there.Resources mentioned in the episode: HopeChestRegister for HopeChest Webinar with Zach September 12, 2024Pastor’s Guatemala Vision Trip: March 24-29, 2025Key insights from the episode: Relationships are key when you are doing mission work.- Carolina Cardona  Resources without relationships are transactional. – Wil Crooks When you are out of your normal, there’s an openness for learning and being disciplined. – Wil Crooks We are not empowering others, we are partnering with others. – Wil Crooks People are wanting to share their lives with you. – Carolina CardonaThrough our friendship model, we equip the kids with the agency to choose their sponsor, not the other way around. - Wil CrooksThe key to a successful mission partnership is an exit strategy at the end. - Wil CrooksCarolina Cardona’s Challenge: Go on a trip ( in your neighborhood or internationally) and learn. Wil Crook’s Challenge: Cross a border you have never crossed. Are you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here.This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or the Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.