The Entrust Podcast

The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples on Pentecost, but they required persecution to move them out of Jerusalem. God uses varied catalysts to send His people out on mission.

Without the empty tomb, the Christian faith is an empty religion devoid of any hope. Jesus rose triumphantly from the grave and commissioned us clearly to the world.

While Jesus' death seemed like a shocking defeat to his followers, the crucifixion of Christ was God's plan all along. By studying the context of the event, we can understand what Jesus truly accomplished. 

Jesus' ministry centered around his association with two critical groups: sinners and self-righteous. To understand these complex dynamics reveals the nature of Jesus' approach.

When you look at this unique group of disciples that Jesus chose, there isn't anything special about them. Jesus invested three years into these men so they would be mature disciples.

Jesus’ ministry only lasted three years, but the effect of it has completely changed history. In studying the critical components of his ministry, we can better ascertain the purpose for which he came.

We know little about his life between the birth of Jesus and the beginning of his ministry. The gospel authors reported very sparse details, but what we do know provides excellent insight into his preparation for the ministry.

The Son of God came in the flesh to fulfill God’s plan of salvation. The birth of Jesus was not an afterthought but an intentional plan from the beginning.

The four Gospels are books about Jesus but not by Jesus. These accounts show a full picture of Jesus’ message and ministry, delivered to four specific audiences.

Truth has a story, and the Bible puts the entire narrative together. While many people know isolated events and popular phrases from within the pages of the Scriptures, it is important to understand the big picture of what God is doing.

Nine authors wrote the twenty-seven books that comprise the New Testament. Within a few decades, they complied and spread the message of Jesus and the ministry of the early church.

The New Testament highlights the message and ministry of Jesus Christ. Understanding the purpose and position of the section within the Bible helps us know how to apply it better to our lives.

When encountering other religions or cults, it can be difficult to share Christ with people of religious backgrounds effectively. It is important to understand shared language and differing beliefs.

After we have put our faith in Jesus, we can often be led to question our salvation due to our circumstances. What do we do if we have those questions? How can we counsel others by asking those questions? When we put our faith in Jesus, His work has saved us once and for all.

Once people respond to the Gospel what are we to do next? What are they to do next? Jesus gave us an example of baptism, and a command not just to evangelize, but to make disciples.

When we share the gospel, we pray that people respond positively. While few respond to the gospel, most don’t respond at all, and a few will have obstacles they need to overcome in order to respond. We need to understand these obstacles in order to help people move past them.

Even when we understand the message of the Gospel and the method we would like to share, we can struggle to learn the best way to begin a conversation. Crossing the bridge into a spiritual conversation can be difficult but is much needed.

The Gospel is not just for those of a certain age. Jesus himself teaches that we should invite children to believe in Him. Ultimately, Evangelism begins in the home.

Some of the people closest to us need us to share the Gospel with them. Evangelizing family members can be difficult because of the fear of ruining a relationship. If we truly love our family, we will share the Gospel with them.

We can only know which method of sharing the Gospel is most comfortable to us by practice and repetition. Once we have a preferred method, we can start to learn the best way to call for a response.

Once we understand the message of the Gospel, it is time to dive into the method. There is no one method for sharing the Good News of Jesus. The best method is the one that makes us feel the most comfortable.

Once we understand the message of the Gospel, it is time to dive into the method. There is no one method for sharing the Good News of Jesus. The best method is the one that makes us feel the most comfortable. 

Prayer is important in the Christian life. Especially when it comes to evangelism. We should pray for guidance, empowering us to effectively share our faith and impact others positively. Additionally, it fosters a deeper connection with God's mission, aligning our hearts with His purpose to bring others into a relationship with Him.

If we want to evangelize properly, we must first have an understanding of the gospel. It is impossible to share about Jesus without knowing the gospel.

As Christians, we are called to evangelism. But why should we be motivated to do so? The more we understand Christ’s love for us, the more we will want to share it with others.

The task of evangelism is an expectation of all followers of Jesus, but few of us feel comfortable in undertaking it. We must understand the foundation of evangelism if we are to prioritize it in our lives. 

Piedmont Women's Center exists to help women with unexpected pregnancies choose life and receive help. Listen to Martie Spurgeon discuss the way to address abortion in our culture and in the lives of those around us.

Jesus single-handedly altered the course of history and is the most influential person who ever lived. As a homeless teacher, His ministry emerged from obscurity to a worldwide impact based on uncommon humility and power.

Leaders will experience no shortage of conflicts when they try to make a difference. It’s not a matter of if crises will come but how we will respond when we encounter them. 

Ambitious yet isolated individuals will not advance Kingdom work. Jesus’ plan to reach the world hinges on our ability to pass lessons and provide opportunities to those behind us. 

We can easily miss leadership opportunities due to perceived inabilities. We must maintain that conviction that God will give us what we need to accomplish what He has called us to do.

A position may grant you the right to give orders, but a true leader is one who diligently works alongside others. Your example lived in front of others will be the most remarkable leadership lesson you could ever teach. 

The dismal state of the world can cause a leader to question if positive change is even possible. We must lead with integrity and intentionality no matter how dark this culture becomes.

Failures will either sideline us from future usefulness or motivate us for current development. We will make mistakes, but we don’t have to let them define us.

The world characterizes leaders as those who have achieved so much that others serve them; the Word surprisingly teaches that the best leaders are the humblest of servants. Humility distinguishes authentic leadership.

While many churches desire to send missionaries to the field, few are prepared to support those they send out. Supporting missionaries includes more than simply writing checks – it requires ongoing prayer, encouragement, and connection.

We desire to be more than a mission-minded church; we want to be a mission-guided church. If we are not careful, we will miss opportunities for missional endeavors because of dangerous distractions. 

While Scripture does not provide us with a prescriptive plan for how churches should be planted, it does provide us with sufficient guidance to carry out the Missionary Task.

As we think about missions, one important and sometimes neglected aspect of missions is urban missions. Urban missions focus on the cities of the world. 

As we undertake the Great Commission, we will share the gospel with people firmly convinced of another religion’s claims. Discover the differences between the major world religions and how the Word interacts with them. 

We often strategize ways to impact international fields with the gospel, but Western culture is also in great need. Understanding this mission field is necessary as we seek to engage the people around us.

While each individual Christian must take personal responsibility for Kingdom activity, the Great Commission is not to be accomplished alone. Missions mobilization should be ingrained in the DNA of each healthy local church.

The gospel transcends all cultures, but we must be aware of the context in which we share it worldwide. Dr. Allen McWhite teaches the importance of contextualization in missions.

Throughout the years, Christianity has struggled to maintain the proper balance of sharing both the gospel and compassion. As followers of Jesus, we are called to display His kindness in both word and deed.

We misreport history and misrepresent reality when we consider Christianity a Western religion. The Church is a worldwide phenomenon with trends that will surprise the observant.

Since every nation and every tribe has not heard the good news, the mission of God presses forward with our approaches and methods to Christian Missions under careful evaluation.

History is HIStory. It begins and ends with God. However, it involves God’s people as they respond to His Commission to “make disciples of all peoples.” Over time, God’s people have responded differently to this commission, with obvious varying results.

Mission originates and culminates with God. It is His work, not ours. We are not called to bring our mission into a local context; instead we are called to partner with God in His mission.

The Bible does not contain missional sections; the Bible itself is a missional book. The overarching narrative of Scripture depicts a God going to a lost world with the hope of the gospel.

As followers of Jesus, our mission is to make disciples of all nations. Discover the redemptive plan of God and His expectation for how you are to be involved.