Five Essentials for Disciple-Making (Pursuit 12)

What do Abraham Lincoln, a desperate ancient king, and millions of grieving people today have in common? They've all felt the pull of the same question: Is there a way to reach the people we've lost? In this episode, we look at what the Bible actually says about communicating with the dead — not just as a list of rules, but through the vivid, tragic story of Saul and the medium at Endor. We'll see why God's prohibition is merciful rather than restrictive, what's really happening in séances and spiritist sessions, and why the Christian answer to grief is something far better than any medium could ever offer. Read the article and join the conversation!Key Scripture References1 Chronicles 10:13-14 (NIV) — God's verdict on Saul: he died for consulting a medium instead of inquiring of the Lord1 Samuel 28:5-7 (NIV) — Saul's terror before battle, God's silence, and his decision to seek a medium1 Samuel 28:11-15 (NIV) — The séance at Endor: Samuel appears and delivers a word of doom, not comfortDeuteronomy 18:10-12 (NIV) — God's comprehensive prohibition on mediums, spiritists, and consulting the deadIsaiah 8:19 (NIV) — "Should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?"2 Corinthians 11:14 (NIV) — Satan masquerades as an angel of light — the source of convincing spiritual counterfeits1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV) — We do not grieve as those who have no hope; God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in himRomans 8:1 (NIV) — No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus — a word for anyone who has walked through the wrong doorEpisode Takeaways & HighlightsThe question is ancient and human: The desire to hear from someone we've lost isn't fringe or irrational — it's one of the oldest human questions, and God addressed it directly in the law he gave Israel.Saul's story is the entry point: He wasn't a curiosity-seeker — he was a desperate man who had walked away from God and found every authorized channel silent, which made the forbidden door look like a solution.The prohibition is merciful, not restrictive: God doesn't close the door to mediums to withhold comfort — he closes it because something is waiting on the other side designed to counterfeit what only he can give.Spiritual experiences can be real without being safe: What mediums produce often feels genuine and carries accurate details, because spiritual forces are old, intelligent, and skilled at imitation — the question isn't whether the experience is real, but what produced it.Desperation doesn't make the forbidden door safer: If anything, the hunger for comfort makes us more susceptible to counterfeit — Saul's story is a warning that going to the wrong place doesn't just fail, it can confirm your worst fears and leave you with nothing left.The Holy Spirit is the Comforter — right now: Jesus called the Spirit parakletos — the one who comes alongside in grief — a sustaining, indwelling presence available every moment of every grieving day, not a session that ends and leaves you wanting to go back.Resurrection is the real answer to grief: The Christian hope isn't vague spiritual reunion — it's the same person, raised, in an embodied, relational, real future. The right door leads not to a medium's voice for fifty dollars, but to face-to-face reunion in a world where death has been destroyed.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now

The entire LDS church rests on one foundational claim: that God sent a real divine messenger named Moroni to Joseph Smith in 1823. So the question “Was the angel Moroni actually a demon?” isn’t provocative for its own sake — it’s unavoidable. In this episode, we work through exactly three options Scripture gives us for evaluating that claim, guided by Paul’s pointed warning in Galatians 1 that even an angel from heaven can deliver a cursed gospel. We examine how LDS theology’s view of God, Jesus, and salvation compares to the biblical record, what history reveals about Joseph Smith before the Book of Mormon, and why 2 Corinthians 11:14 may be the most important verse for understanding what actually happened on that hill in upstate New York.Key Scripture ReferencesGalatians 1:8-9 (NIV) — Paul’s double warning that even an angel from heaven preaching a different gospel is under God’s curse (anathema)2 Corinthians 11:14 (NIV) — Satan masquerades as an angel of light, making sophisticated deception look divineIsaiah 43:10 (NIV) — “Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me” — the eternal, uncreated God of the BibleEphesians 2:8-9 (NIV) — Salvation is by grace through faith, not from yourselves, not by works — a free gift1 John 4:1-2 (NIV) — Test the spirits; every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from GodDeuteronomy 13:1-3 (NIV) — Even if the sign works, don’t follow a messenger who leads you toward a different godMatthew 7:16 (NIV) — By their fruit you will recognize themEpisode Takeaways & HighlightsThe Galatians Test: Paul repeats his warning twice in back-to-back sentences — a biblical signal that this is non-negotiable. The test isn’t about the messenger’s appearance; it’s about whether the message matches the apostolic gospel.Three options, not more: Moroni was a real angel from God (fails the theological test), Joseph invented it (historically coherent but possibly incomplete), or something supernatural appeared and deceived him (the option Scripture most clearly prepares us for).A fundamentally different foundation: LDS theology presents a God who was once a man, a Jesus who is the spirit-brother of Lucifer, and a salvation requiring ordinances and lifelong institutional obedience — all incompatible with the biblical record.Sincerity doesn’t equal truth: LDS members are often genuinely kind, morally serious, and spiritually sincere — and can still be building on a foundation that cannot save. The question is never about the people; it’s about the foundation.The 99% counterfeit: The most dangerous deception uses Christian vocabulary, invokes the name of Jesus, and looks nearly identical to the real thing. The only defense is knowing the genuine gospel so thoroughly that the one wrong thing registers as wrong.The gospel was never lost: The biblical gospel doesn’t ask for ordinances or institutional loyalty. It offers salvation completely, freely, by grace alone through faith alone in the Jesus who is the eternal Word — and it never needed to be restored.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now

Is "Lucifer" really just another name for Satan — or is that something Christians picked up from culture, not the Bible? In this episode, we dig into where the name came from, what modern translations actually say about Isaiah 14, and what the Bible's own titles for Satan reveal about how he works. Read the article and join the conversation!Key Scripture ReferencesIsaiah 14:12-15 (NLT) — The "morning star" passage describing Babylon's proud king, possibly echoing Satan's fallEzekiel 28:14-15 (NLT) — A figure once in Eden, pointing to a reality beyond any human kingLuke 10:18 (NLT) — Jesus confirms he saw Satan fall from heavenRevelation 12:9 (NLT) — Gathers Satan's titles: the ancient serpent, the devil, the deceiver2 Corinthians 11:14 (NLT) — Satan disguises himself as an angel of lightRevelation 22:16 (NLT) — Jesus is the true bright Morning Star, the title earned through humilityEpisode Takeaways & Highlights"Lucifer" is a Latin word, not a biblical name: Modern Bible translations render Isaiah 14:12 as "morning star" — the name stuck in Christian culture through the KJV, not through Scripture itself.Isaiah 14 has two layers: The passage addresses the proud king of Babylon but also echoes a spiritual reality that goes beyond any human ruler.The Bible's names for Satan expose him: Satan (accuser), Devil (slanderer), and father of lies are titles that reveal his tactics — not titles that glorify him.Pride is the pattern: The "I will ascend… I will be like the Most High" attitude of Isaiah 14 mirrors the serpent's lie in the garden.Jesus is the true Morning Star: Revelation 22:16 gives that title to Jesus — the one who earned it through humility and the cross, not by grasping for power.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now

Jonathan Roumie — the actor who plays Jesus in The Chosen — posted a video this week showing skull rings on every finger and calling it "memento mori." The Christian internet reacted with everything from enthusiasm to accusations of occultism. But the practice of deliberately reflecting on your mortality isn't Catholic, Stoic, or medieval — it runs straight through Moses, the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the letters of Paul. In this episode, Bryan unpacks what it means to number your days, why sitting with death actually makes you wiser, and how the resurrection changes what death even is for the person who follows Jesus.Key Scripture ReferencesPsalm 90:12 (NIV) — Moses's prayer for a heart shaped by the reality that life is finiteJames 4:14 (NIV) — Life compared to a mist that appears briefly, then vanishesEcclesiastes 7:2 (NIV) — Why a house of mourning produces more wisdom than a house of feasting1 Corinthians 15:55–57 (NIV) — Paul's declaration that death's sting has been stripped by Christ's resurrectionPhilippians 1:21 (NIV) — "To live is Christ and to die is gain"Episode Takeaways & HighlightsNumber your days: Moses didn't pray for more time — he prayed for wisdom to use the days he had wellLet death be a clarifier: A funeral asks questions a party never does — don't wait for a terminal diagnosis to start living with clarityThe resurrection changes everything: The Christian meditates on death not as a wall but as a doorway — Jesus already walked through it ahead of you. Learn more here: How can I become a Christian?Angels and Demons SeriesMemento Mori: What the Bible Says About Death

In this final episode of the Pursuit series, Bryan walks through five biblical essentials for disciple-making drawn from Paul's letter to the Colossians. Starting from Colossians 1:28–29, Bryan shows that effective discipleship isn't about having the right curriculum or being spiritually polished — it's about real relationships, timely truth, faithful prayer, and keeping Jesus at the center. Whether you feel fully qualified or completely in over your head, this episode will give you both the theology and the practical framework to begin investing in someone else's faith.Key Scripture ReferencesColossians 1:28–29 (NLT) — Paul's compact summary of disciple-making: proclaim Christ, teach with wisdom, and play the long game toward full maturity in everyoneJohn 15:12–13 (NLT) — Jesus commands love as the foundation of discipleship, modeled by laying down your life for your friends1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) — Spiritual truth is discerned by the Spirit, so timing and receptivity matter as much as enthusiasm1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (NLT) — Paul plants and Apollos waters, but God alone produces the growth — our role and God's role are distinctColossians 1:9 (NLT) — Paul's model of specific, unceasing prayer for people he has never even metEpisode Takeaways & HighlightsCommit to a Real Relationship: Discipleship happens in genuine connection, not content delivery — people can feel the difference between being cared for and being managed.Share the Right Truth at the Right Time: Ask more than you answer, pray before you meet, and let the Holy Spirit lead the timing of what you share.Do Your Part, Not God's: Your job is to show up, plant, and water — but only God can change a heart, so release the outcome.Point Everything to Jesus: The goal isn't someone who follows you well; it's someone who can walk with Jesus even when you step out of the picture.Pray for Them Specifically: Pray by name, about what they're actually carrying, between your meetings — and let them know you're doing it.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now

Jesus gave his followers one final assignment before he left the earth, and many Christians have quietly handed it off to pastors and missionaries. In this episode, we return to the mountain in Galilee in Matthew 28, where Jesus gave the Great Commission to eleven men—some worshiping, some still doubting—and sent them anyway. We unpack a small piece of Greek grammar that reveals the heart of the command, paint the picture of a full circle follower of Jesus, and walk through a simple three-step process for conversational discipleship: engage, establish, and empower. Along the way, we revisit the dropped batons of the 2008 Beijing Olympic relays and take on the honest objection that disciple-making is just recruiting with nicer branding. The big takeaway: if you can have a conversation, you can make a disciple.Key Scripture ReferencesMatthew 28:16–20 (NLT) — The Great Commission: Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on earth, sends his worshiping and doubting disciples to make disciples of all nations, and promises to be with them always.1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) — Spiritual truth only makes sense through the work of God's Spirit, which frees us to be patient and pray as we engage others.Matthew 10:19–20 (NLT) — God promises to give his people the right words at the right time.2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT) — Paul's vision for four generations of disciples in a single verse.1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT) — Paul shared not only the Good News but his own life, too.Episode Takeaways & HighlightsSome Doubted, All Were Sent: Jesus commissioned his followers before their faith was airtight, so the thing you think disqualifies you probably doesn't.One Main Command: In Greek, "make disciples" is the central verb. "Go" carries the force of a command, while baptizing and teaching describe how disciple-making happens.The Full Circle Picture: A mature follower of Jesus trusts Jesus for salvation, honors God with their life choices, and makes disciples.Engage: Start with what the other person cares about. Use the topics and built-in discussion questions at pursuegod.org to build a rhythm of real conversations.Establish: When their questions turn spiritual, walk through the basics together using The Pursuit, PursueGOD's 12-part series.Empower: Like a relay handoff, the goal is a disciple who makes disciples. Help them get connected to someone, then run alongside them for a few strides.Not a Sales Funnel: Real discipleship gives people away instead of building a downline, and it keeps loving people even when they say no.This Week's Challenge: Write down one name, pray for that person every day, and ask them what's going on in their life.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now

Most believers settle for a two-legged version of Christianity: receiving salvation and working on personal morality. While necessary, this framework leaves faith spiritually incomplete and keeps believers stuck on the sidelines. In this episode, we dive into the vital "third leg" of the Christian journey: disciple-making. By exploring the first-century Rabbinic context of Jesus' call, the biblically intended structure of leadership, and the power of relational proximity, we unpack why making disciples isn't just a job for paid pastors or hyper-extroverts. It is the universal calling for every follower of Christ and the primary engine for personal spiritual growth.Key Scripture ReferencesMatthew 28:18–19 (NLT) — The Great Commission: Jesus declares his absolute authority and commands his followers to go and make disciples of all nations.Ephesians 4:11–12 (NLT) — The Role of Church Leaders: Pastors and teachers are called to equip believers to do the work of ministry, shifting the church model from spectator sport to active engagement.Matthew 9:36–38 (NLT) — Compassion for the Harvest: Jesus looks at the crowds with gut-wrenching compassion and tells his disciples to pray for workers in an abundant harvest field.Ephesians 4:14 (NLT) — The Result of Discipleship: True spiritual maturity and discernment are developed as believers step into ministry and active engagement.Episode Takeaways & HighlightsThe First-Century Rabbinic Context: Unlike traditional rabbis who only chose the academic elite, Jesus sought out ordinary, blue-collar workers and empowered them to complete the disciple cycle by reproducing his teachings in others.Obeying over Accumulating: Discipleship is not about accumulating Bible trivia; it is a relational pathway built on intentional, transformative obedience to Christ’s commands.The "Equipping" Model vs. Modern Passivity: Western church culture often expects pastors to perform all ministry work. Biblically, pastors are coaches on the sidelines, equipping church members—the players—to make disciples.Maturity Comes Through Action: Spiritual growth doesn't happen before stepping into ministry; it happens as you make disciples. Engaging with others forces you into scripture, exposes hypocrisy, and deepens prayer.Relational Proximity Matters: While sermons convey truth to crowds, life transformation happens through intentional, small-scale or one-on-one relationships.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now

In this episode we break down the vital distinction between legalistic performance and grace-fueled effort, laying out an actionable playbook for the five foundational spiritual disciplines every follower of Jesus must master to build an unshakeable inner life.Key TakeawaysThe Reality of Spiritual Decay: Physical strength doesn't happen by accident, and neither does spiritual maturity. Without intentional training, your default human nature will dictate your choices.Effort vs. Legalism: Legalism is trying to earn God’s favor through performance; spiritual discipline is your response to the grace you’ve already received. As Dallas Willard noted, grace is opposed to earning, not effort.Training over Passive Faith: The Greek word for training (gumnasia) depicts raw, disciplined, single-minded focus—stripping away distractions to do the heavy lifting required for spiritual growth.Key Scriptures Cited1 Timothy 4:8"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."John 5:39–40"You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life."Hebrews 10:25"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."Matthew 6:20–21"Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now--Notes

Tired of treating your spiritual life like a doomed New Year's resolution? In this episode, we break down why the "try harder" cycle of spiritual growth always fails and uncover the radical truth behind 2 Peter 1:3: God has already given you everything you need to live a transformed, victorious life. Rather than relying on the fragile battery of human willpower or ancient Stoic self-reliance, true transformation happens when we stop striving in our own strength and step into the divine resources already deposited into our account. We dive deep into the three foundational keys provided by God—His indwelling Spirit, His objective Word, and His intentional Community—showing you how to anchor your faith, navigate internal spiritual battles, and walk out daily victory alongside others.Key TakeawaysThe Willpower Trap: Spiritual growth is not produced by personal stamina or good intentions; trying to power a transformed life with human effort leads directly to exhaustion and guilt.Key 1: God’s Spirit (Internal Power): At salvation, God performs spiritual "open-heart surgery" (Ezekiel 36:26-27), replacing a cold, stubborn heart with a responsive one. Internal conflict with old habits isn't proof of failure—it's proof the Holy Spirit is actively working inside you.Key 2: God’s Word (Objective Anchor): Subjective feelings and impulses can deceive us. The Bible serves as our cockpit instrument panel (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Luke 6:46-48), providing the firm foundation and ultimate truth that keeps us from spiritual disaster.Key 3: God’s People (Communal Strength): Isolation is dangerous. Living out faith requires a community that gently restores, holds accountable, and helps bear life's heavy burdens (Galatians 6:1-2).Scripture References2 Peter 1:3 — "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life."Ezekiel 36:26–27 — God’s promise of a new heart and an indwelling Spirit.Galatians 5:16–17, 24–25 — Navigating the conflict between the Spirit and the sinful nature.2 Timothy 3:16–17 — The fourfold authority and utility of God’s Word.Luke 6:46–48 — The parable of the wise builder on the solid rock.Galatians 6:1–2 — Restoring others gently and bearing one another's burdens.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now--Notes

Understanding the shift from receiving God's grace through faith to actively walking out a life that honors Him. While salvation is entirely a free gift, the very first step of obedience Jesus commands is a strange, ancient, wet ritual: baptism. This episode wrestles with the tension between grace and works, explores the rich 1st-century cultural backdrop of baptizo, and explains why getting wet in front of a crowd is the essential "early win" for every follower of Christ.Key TakeawaysBaptism Does Not Save You: Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Physical water cannot wash away moral guilt—only the Holy Spirit brings spiritual rebirth (Titus 3:5). The thief on the cross is the ultimate proof that baptism is not required to enter heaven.The Shift from Mikva'ot to Baptizo: Unlike Jewish ritual purification baths (mikva'ot) which were self-administered, repeatable maintenance routines, Christian baptism is passive (done to you) and a once-and-for-all declaration of permanent identity change—much like fabric fully saturated and recolored in dye (baptizo).The "Early Win" of Obedience: Just as military recruits practice making their beds at 0500 to build the muscle of immediate obedience, baptism serves as a simple, low-stakes step of faith. It trains believers to say "yes" to Jesus before facing harder, high-stakes sacrifices.The Wedding Ring of Faith: Baptism functions like a wedding band. Losing the ring doesn't make you single, but refusing to wear it reveals a heart issue. It is the outward, physical sign of an inward, relational covenant.Scripture ReferencesMatthew 28:19 — The command to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Titus 3:5 — Salvation comes through God's mercy and spiritual regeneration, not righteous human deeds.Acts 8:36 — The Ethiopian eunuch's urgent response to be baptized immediately upon believing.Romans 6:3–4 — Being buried with Christ through baptism into death, and raised to walk in newness of life.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now--