Links and Sources: 

• 1 Peter 3:15 - be prepared to give an answer 
• Missio Dei - the Mission of God
• John 15 - Abiding and bearing fruit. 
• Luke 10:6 - Find a person of peace
• The Case for the Resurrection - by Lee Strobel
• The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus - by Habermas and Licona
• Arguments for the Existence of God by Reasonable Faith and William Lane Craig
  • Is There Meaning to Life? 
  • The Kalam Cosmological Argument - Part One
  • The Kalam Cosmological Argument - Part Two
  • The Fine-tuning Argument 
  • The Moral Argument
  • Leibniz Contingency Argument 
  • The Ontological Argument
• How to Talk about Jesus (Without Being That Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World - Sam Chan
• Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out: Evangelism the Way You Were Born to Do It by D. Scott Hildreth and Steven A. McKinion
• BLESS: 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World - Dave Ferguson
• FCA app for coaches.
• For resources from Jeremy Jenkins, go to AllThingsAllPeople.org. Follow Jeremy on Instagram. 
• Books by Jeremy Jenkins: 
• Explore and Engage: Latter Day Saints 
• Explore and Engage: Wicca & Neo-Paganism 

Questions: 

• Is there any area of your life not fully given to God? 
• What does it mean to say evangelism is just joining a conversation God is already having with a person? 
• How long does a person have to know you before they learn the most important thing about you? Is this question a challenge for you? 
• How do we navigate the tension between deepening community with believers and being known by unbelievers? 
• What has God put into your hands to leverage for the Gospel? 
• How can you more fully open your life to others for the Gospel’s sake? 
• Why is inviting unbelievers into your community important? 

Links and Sources: 

• Undeceptions - a podcast from John Dickson
• John Dickson books: 
• Simply Christianity: Beyond Religion, and A Spectator’s Guide to World Religions 
• Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History 
• The First Hymn: Resurrecting a song buried for millennia, was released in April 2025. It tracks the world’s oldest Christian hymn with lyrics and musical notation from its discovery in the ruins of an ancient Egyptian city to the middle of a modern rock concert in the heart of America.
• How to Talk about Jesus (Without Being That Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World - Sam Chan
• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion - Rebecca McLaughlin

Questions: 

• Who was instrumental in your coming to faith? 
• Who has been important in your spiritual journey? Why? 
• How does our cultural moment war against the idea of living a faithful, unknown, life of obscurity? How do we face this challenge?
• How do we move past this “the church will do it” mentality into “we will do it, because we are the church"?
• What is God’s reason for including us in Gospel work? 
• How do we cultivate a love of hiddenness? 

Links and Sources: 

• Ken Katayama’s Information: 
• Follow Ken on Instagram.
• Crossover Global 
• Illuminations, a partner of NewSpring Church, is an alliance of Bible translation partners and resource partners working together to eradicate Bible poverty in this generation. Their goal is to make the Bible accessible to all people by 2033. 
• Vision 2030 is a NewSpring initiative to become debt-free, secure permanent locations for all our NewSpring campuses, and to plant ten autonomous churches by 2030. 
• Crossover Global’s mission- A church planting organization that provides gospel access by planting multiplying churches among unreached people groups. 
• “Gospel Access” is defined as “an indigenous church capable of evangelizing its own people.” 
• Acts 2:42
• To learn more about Global Gospel initiatives, visit the Lausanne Movement.
• Colossians 2:6

Questions: 

• How do you respond when you hear that finishing the Great Commission is an attainable goal in our generation? 
• How can every person play a role in global missions? What part can you play in reaching the unreached with the Gospel? 
• What would it be like to not have access to the Bible? 
• Are there people in your circle of influence who have never heard the Good News? What’s your plan? 
• Why is it important to place evangelized people into faith communities? 
• What does it mean to have a “desperate faith”? How does the persecution of believers across the world challenge our daily practice? 

Links and Sources: 

• Chris Dew’s Info: 
• Follow Chris on Instagram. 
• Ask Chris Dew to speak: Chris Dew Ministries. 
• Artisan City Church in St. Petersburg, Florida
• Josh Bulls info: 
• Follow Josh on Instagram. 
• Ask Josh Bull to speak: Joshua Bull
• Society Church in Melbourne, Australia
• Ephesians 4:11-12 speaks to the role of pastors in equipping the saints for ministry. 
• C.S. Lewis addresses the false divide between sacred and secular in The Weight of Glory, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, and Mere Christianity. 
• Acts 4:22-26 addresses the church gathering in large and small groups. 
• Romans 10 speaks to the importance of preaching and being sent. 

Questions: 

• Why is sending and being sent so important in our spiritual formation? 
• What does it mean to contextualize the Gospel? Where do you see this working well? 
• With so many existing churches, why is church planting important? 
• What’s the difference between the Gospel and Evangelism? 
• Why is it important to clarify the purpose of spiritual disciplines?
• Have you ever experienced a gospel goodbye? What was that experience like? 
• Why is it unhelpful to divide sacred and secular? 

Links and Sources: 

• For more on NewSpring’s residency program, email Robbie.Green@NewSpring.cc.  
• View NewSpring Network resources at NewSpring Network 
• For more on NewSpring Missions: Nations | NewSpring.cc 
• https://www.untold.org/Untold is one of NewSpring’s ministry partners. They exist to equip people in Sub-Saharan Africa to live a life beyond AIDS. 
• Visit Newspring.cc/locations to reach your campus pastor. 
• Free download on God’s sovereignty in missions: Let the Nations Be Glad! | Desiring God 

Questions: 

• Why is it important for churches to cultivate a kingdom mentality?
• How should Acts 1:8 inform the current church of its responsibility to the Gospel?
• Why is humility such an important aspect of ministry? 
• What about your salvation story inspires you to reach others for Christ? 
• When was the last time you surrendered or sacrificed something for the mission of God? 
• Why does a new place and a new pace bring a new perspective? 
• What opportunities are you taking to participate in the work of God? 

Links and Sources: 

•  Soul Searching – This book by Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton helps to define and explain Moral Therapeutic Deism. 
• Hevel, Hevel, Hevel is a sermon from Brad Cooper on our cultural moment from the book of Ecclesiastes.
• The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog – a book by James Sire
• Christian Worldview Handbook – a book by David S. Dockery & Trevin K. Wax
• It was Aristotle who brought forward the concept of an unmoved mover in Book VIII of the Physics and Book XII of the Metaphysics. Thomas Aquinas picks up this idea of an unmoved mover in Summa Theologica. 
• Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution –This book by Carl Trueman is written on a more popular level than his larger work, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution. 
• To Change All Worlds: Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse – a book by Carl Trueman
• The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures – a by Jayson Georges
• Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible – a book by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien 
• Follow Jeremy Jenkins on Instagram @allthings.allpeople. Find resources from Jeremy, including a free worldview course, at All Things All People. Jeremy’s published works exploring LDS and Wicca can be found at phyliciamasonheimer.com. 

Questions: 

• How can an understanding of worldview be helpful when sharing Jesus with others? 
• What are some of the distinctives of our own culture? 
• Have you explored the fundamental questions of worldview (origin, meaning, morality, and destiny)? 
• Are there any areas of your worldview that conflict with your actual behavior? 
• What are the distinctives of a Christian worldview? 
• How do we cultivate our curiosity in others’ worldview? 
• How do we evaluate the validity of the various worldviews? 

Links and Sources: 

• A free world religions course from AllThingsAllPeople.org. 
• 40 Questions About the Great Commission – a book by Daniel Akin
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism – a book by Tim Keller
• Contextualization in the Late-Modern West – an article by Michael Keller
• Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible – a book by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien 
• Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable – a book by Sam Chan
• A Spectator's Guide to World Religions: An Introduction to the Big Five – a book by John Dickson

Questions: 

• How would you say that the Gospel transcends any one culture? 
• What are some examples of Jesus contextualizing His message of the kingdom? 
• What does it mean to order our loves? What happens when we misorder our loves? 
• Why do we struggle to consistently give Christ our primary allegiance? 
• When hoping to share the Gospel effectively, what are some important cues to listen for that help us contextualize our message? 
• Paul said that he “became all things to all people.” How do you see Paul contextualizing the message without compromising the message? 

Links and Sources: 

• The Training of the Twelve: How Jesus Christ Found and Taught the 12 Apostles – a book by A.B. Bruce
• Ten Who Changed the World – a book by Daniel Akin
• The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development – a book by Robert Clinton
• The Jewish Jesus: Reconnecting with the Truth about Jesus, Israel, and the Church – a book by David Hoffbrand
• In his 1855 sermon, The Carnal Mind Enmity Against God, Charles Spurgeon says that Martin Luther “constantly preached justification by faith alone, ‘because,’ said he, ‘the people would forget it; so that I was obliged almost to knock my Bible against their heads, to send it into their hearts.’" 
• Both Trevor and Jeremy use the phrase, “the Gospel penny drops.” That concept comes from a Tim Keller Sermon entitled, The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Post Modern World. 
• Charles Spurgeon preached many sermons on the Holy Spirit. 

Questions: 

• How did Jesus train the twelve? Can you identify Jesus’ training strategy? 
• What has Jesus done for you? How does a deeper understanding of His death and resurrection affect our zeal for sharing Him with others? 
• Describe a moment when a gospel “penny” dropped for you. How did that change your perspective or behavior? 

Links and Sources: 

• The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings – a book by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Chronicles of Narnia – a book by C.S. Lewis
• The Battle Beyond Comfort: What Bilbo Baggins Teaches Us About Evangelism – an article by Jeremy Jenkins 
• On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis – a book by Louis Markos
• Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition: The Story of the Church for Today's Readers – a book by Bruce Shelley
• The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life – a book by A.W. Tozer
• The story of the demoniac is found in Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, and Luke 8:26-39. 
• The Cross of Christ – a book by John Stott
• The phrase, “Our God has wounds,” is from Jesus of the Scars, a poem by Edward Shillito (1872-1948). 

Questions: 

• How do you see comfort idolized in our culture? 
• What does it mean to live on purpose for God? How does that look practically? 
• What will it take to awaken the Church? 
• When have you seen God working behind the scenes to make the Gospel effective? 
• Why is it important that “our God has wounds”? 

Links and Sources: 

• The Lausanne Movement’s definition of Evangelism is found in article four of the Lausanne Covenant.
• Luke 10:9 - “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”
• Called by some “The Protoevangelion”, Genesis 3:15 is the first place in Scripture that tells the Gospel story: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 
• Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream – a book by David Platt
• Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions – a book by John Piper
• The Screwtape Letters – a book by C.S. Lewis
• John 10:10 tells us that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 
• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God – a book by J.I. Packer
• The Holiness of God – a book by R.C. Sproul

Questions: 

• Where do you see God’s heart for the nations in the Old Testament? 
• How does the Old Testament anticipate and point to the work of Jesus? 
• How does reading and meditating on the Old Testament help our understanding of the New Testament? 
• How does God demonstrate his sovereignty in salvation? 
• What should our response to Satan and his schemes be? 

Links and Sources: 

• For resources from Jeremy Jenkins, go to AllThingsAllPeople.org.
• Barna Report on Evangelism
• Only 17% of Church-goers know the Great Commission
• Every Woman a Theologian: Know What You Believe. Live It Confidently. Communicate It Graciously – a book by Phylicia Masonheimer
• Explore and Engage: Latter Day Saints – a book by Jeremy Jenkins
• Explore and Engage: Wicca & Neo-Paganism – a book by Jeremy Jenkins
• Lausanne Conference 

Questions: 

• How would you describe the spiritual receptivity of those you work most closely with? 
• What do you see in our cultural moment that inspires you to share your faith? 
• How has God historically awakened his people to participate in his mission? What do you see God doing now? 
• How can the Church (the people of God) rise to the challenge of sharing the Gospel in our generation? 

In this episode of Develop in the Dark, Brad and Trevor conclude season three with a conversation about what’s ahead for the Church. What are our responsibilities to the future Church? As the world grows darker, the opportunities for the Church have never been greater. What should the church expect and how should the church respond?

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Matthew 28:18-20
• Matthew 24:14
• Ephesians 3:20-21
• Luke 24:44-49

Further Reading/ Listening/ Watching:

• Great Commission Study: an article from Barna 
• Reviving Evangelism: a study from Barna
• Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City: a book by Timothy Keller 
• Ethics for Christian Ministry: Moral Formation for Twenty-First-Century Leaders: a book by Joe E. Trull and R. Robert Creech
• The Context of the Great Commission is a Miracle: an article from The Gospel Coalition
• Fox’s Book of Martyrs: a book by John Foxe
• Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers: a book by Dane Ortlund

In this episode of Develop in the Dark, Brad and Trevor continue the conversation about the Church. What current issues are we facing as a Church? How should the Church respond to these pervading issues? Brad and Trevor discuss deconstruction, spiritual reformation, personal revival, theological purity, and the Church’s role in addressing modern issues.

Relevant Bible Verses:

• 1 & 2 Corinthians  
• 1 Timothy 4
• Hebrews 13:7
• Matthew 18:15-17
• 1 John 2:18-23

Further Reading/ Listening/ Watching:

• The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith: a book by Trevin Wax
• How Should We Then Live?: a book By Francis Schaeffer
• The Weight of Glory: Why I’m Not a Pacifist: a book by C.S. Lewis 
• How to Reach the West Again: Six Essential Elements of a Missionary Encounter: a book by Timothy Keller
• Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions: a book by David VanDrunen
• The Common Gaze: Surveillance and the Common Good: a book by Eric Stoddart
• What Is Deconstruction?: a YouTube video from Meredith Knox and Lee McDerment 
• Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution: a book by Carl Trueman

This week on Develop in the Dark, Brad and Trevor continue their conversation on the beauty of the Church with a sweeping overview of Church history. Why is church history important for those growing in their faith? What are the big moments of church history that affect us today? How can we apply the lessons of history today?  

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Acts 

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• History of the Christian Church - podcast from Lance Ralston of Communio Sanctorium
• Church History in Plain Language - Bruce L. Shelley
• Christianity: The Biography: 2000 Years of Global History - by Ian J. Shaw
• The Story of Christianity, Volume I: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation - Justo L. Gonzalez
• The Story of Christianity, Volume II: The Reformation to the Present Day - Justo L. Gonzalez
• Readings in World Christian History, Volume 1: Early Christianity to 1453 - Andrea Stark and John Coakley (primary source readings)

This week on Develop in the Dark, Brad and Trevor talk about church government. How does leadership structure help the church flourish? Today’s conversation delves into church organizational models, the church polity of NewSpring, and how an elder or pastor’s personal life overflows into the leadership of the church. 

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Acts 6
• Ephesians 1:22
• Colossians 1:18
• Ezekiel 34:23
• 1 Timothy 3
• Titus 3
• 1 Peter 5

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• Systematic Theology: a book by Wayne Grudem 
• The Organization of the Church: an article by Benjamin Merkle
• Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: a book by Ruth Haley Barton
• Pursuing God’s Will Together: a book by Ruth Haley Barton

In today’s episode, Brad and Trevor discuss the importance of gathering as a church. Why do we gather? What are we supposed to do when we gather? Are weekly gatherings for discipleship of believers or for reaching unbelievers? 

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Matthew 18:20
• Acts 2:42-47
• Hebrews 10:23-25
• 1 John 4:12

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• The Worship Architect: a book by Constance Cherry
• Church: Living Faithfully as the People of God: a book by A.W. Tozer
• Life Together: a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Six Reasons People Stop Coming to Church: an article by NewSpring

Here are the Marks of a church we discussed: 

• Jesus 
• Biblical Teaching
• The Gathering
• Ordinances (Baptism and Lord’s Supper)
• Biblical leadership
• Church discipline
• Discipleship and mission
• Unity and fellowship

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Matthew 28:19-20
• Mark 9:40
• John 13:34-35, 15:7
• Ephesians 5:18-20
• Colossians 3:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 4:20, 5:6-7, 11:17-34, 12-13
• 2 Corinthians 8-9
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:11
• 1 Timothy 3:1-13
• Titus 1:9

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• The Church: The Gospel Made Visible - Mark Dever
• Systematic Theology - Wayne Grudem 
• The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God - a book by G.K. Beale
• The Challenge of Acts: Rediscovering What the Church Was and Is - a book by N.T. Wright

In today’s episode, Brad and Trevor discuss how the Bible uses the rich metaphors of bride, body, temple, and family to describe the Church. The metaphors help us understand what it means to be the people of God. 

Relevant Bible Verses:

• 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 12
• Colossians 1:15-18 
• Ephesians 5:25-31
• 1 Peter 2:4-5
• Revelation 19:7, 21:2, 21:9, 22:17

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• What Does It Mean for Us To Be the Temple of God? - an article by Bible Project
• The Bride of Christ - a 10-part teaching series by R.C. Sproul
• God’s Global Family - a podcast episode from Bible Project 
• The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God - G.K. Beale

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Luke 4:16-21
• Matthew 16:13-20
• Matthew 22:34-40 
• Matthew 28:18-20
• Acts 2:42-46

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• Summary of Isaiah 61: a video from Bible Project
• The Gospel according to Matthew: The Pillar New Testament Commentary: a book by Leon Morris
• Knowing Jesus as King: A 10-Session Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew : a study by Tara Leigh Cobble
• What is the Church?: an article from The Gospel Coalition
• The Great Commission in the Old Testament: an article by Michael Morales for Ligonier Ministries
• The Challenge of Acts: Rediscovering What the Church Was and Is: a book by N.T. Wright

Relevant Bible verses:

• Matthew 9:37-38
• Matthew 28:18-20
• Mark 16:15
• John 4:39
• Acts 1:8
• Romans 10:17
• 1 Peter 3:15

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• 10 Who Changed the World - a book by Danny Akin
• How to Talk about Jesus (Without Being That Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World - a book by Sam Chan
• Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies - a book by Hillary Morgan Ferrer
• The Soul Winner - a book by C.H. Spurgeon
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism - a book by Tim Keller

Relevant Bible verses:

• Proverbs 11:25
• Matthew 20:28
• Luke 8:1-3
• John 2:1-11
• John 13:1-20
• 1 Corinthians 12:7
• Philippians 2:1-11
• James 2:14-26
• 1 Peter 4:10 

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• Why Serving in the Church is So Important - an article from NewSpring Church
• Be Diligent: Serving Others as You Walk with the Master Servant - A commentary on the book of Mark by Warren Weirsbe
• Real Life - a 6-session bible study on RightNow media from Akshay Rajkumar 
• The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling - a book by John Stott
• Lead like Christ: Reflecting the Qualities and Character of Christ in Your Ministry - a book by A.W. Tozer

Relevant Bible verses:

• 1 Corinthians 13:12
• Hebrews 7:27
• 1 John 1:8–10
• James 5:16

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• The Truth about Confession and Repentance - an article by NewSpring Church
• How to Respond When Someone Confesses - an article from NewSpring Church 
• Freedom in Christ - a video course from Steve Goss 
• What is Repentance? - a book by R.C. Sproul
• Repentance: What it Means to Repent and Why We Must Do So - a book by J.C. Ryle
• The Confessions of St. Augustine - a reflection by St. Augustine
• Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners - a book by Dane Ortlund
• A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society - a book by Eugene Peterson

Relevant Bible verses:

• Genesis 1:1
• Genesis 1:26-30
• Genesis 4:1-7
• Genesis 14:17-24
• Genesis 28:20-22
• Leviticus 27:30–34
• Numbers 10:35-39
• 1 Chronicles 29:14-17
• Psalm 24:1
• Malachi 3:6-10
• Matthew 23:23
• 2 Corinthians 8:7

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• Go to newspring.cc/finances for practical resources on financial stewardship. 
• The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries – a book Rodney Stark
• Kingdom Stewardship – a book by Tony Evans
• The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving – a book by Randy Alcorn
• Every Good Gift – a book by Ann Voskamp

Today, Brad and Trevor discuss the spiritual discipline of gathering as a church. What is the church? Why does it matter? Does a Christian have to gather in person to be part of the Church? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Matthew 16:18
• Acts 2:42-47
• Hebrews 10:19-25 
• 1 Peter 2:4-5
• 1 Corinthians 12

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• The Worship Architect, 2nd Edition : A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services – a book by Constance Cherry
• The Church: Living Faithfully as the People of God – a book by A.W. Tozer
• The Centrality of the Church: Practicing the Ways of God with the People of God – a book by Tony Evans
• Church History in Plain Language and accompanying workbook – by Bruce Shelley
• Sacramental Discourses – a collection of sermons on the Lord’s Supper by Puritan John Owen
• What is the Lord’s Supper? – a book by R.C. Sproul
• Sermons on the Lord’s Supper – a collection of sermons on the Lord’s Supper by C.H. Spurgeon

Relevant Bible verses:

• Genesis 2:1-3 
• Exodus 16:23 
• Exodus 20:8 
• Exodus 23: 10-12 
• Exodus 31:12-17 
• Deuteronomy 5:15
• Psalm 92 
• Isaiah 56 
• Matthew 11:28-30
• Matthew 12:1-8 
• Colossians 2:16-17
• Hebrews 3-4
• Revelation 14:11-13

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms – Justin Earley
• The Unhurried Life – a book by Alan Fadling
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry – a book by John Mark Comer
• Sabbath– a short video by Bible Project
• Deeper and Gentle and Lowly – books by Dan Ortland
• Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work a book by Tim Keller
• Work as Worship - a video study series on RightNow Media by Nona Jones
• Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human – a book by John Mark Comer

Relevant Bible verses:

• Psalm 46:10
• Psalm 23
• Lamentations 3:22-28
• Luke 5:16
• Mark 1:12-13
• Matthew 14:13

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• The Way of the Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers - a book by Henri J.M. Nouwen
• Celebration of Discipline - a book by Richard Foster
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - a book by John Mark Comer
• The Unhurried Life - a book by Alan Fadling
• Thoughts in Solitude - a book by Thomas Merton
• Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community - a book by Deitrich Bonhoeffer

Relevant Bible verses:

• James 4:8
• 2 Chronicles 16:9
• John 4:34
• Isaiah 55:1-2
• John 6:25-35
• Philippians 3:17-21
• John 1:4, 3:16, 5:24, 6:35, 8:12, 10:10, 11:25, 14:6, 17:3, 20:31
• Revelation 21:4
• Luke 10:9, 17:20-21
• Acts 13:2-3, Acts 14:23

A partial list of fasts in the Bible: 

• When seeking God’s direction on important decisions (Acts 13:2-3, Acts 14:23)
• As an act of whole-hearted devotion to the Lord (Luke 2:37)
• To gain ministry effectiveness and power (Matthew 17:21)
• When experiencing spiritual warfare (Matthew 4:2)
• When grieving over sin and leading people to repentance (Psalm 35:13, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1, Daniel 10:2-3, and Jonah 3:5-9)
• When meeting with God (Deuteronomy 9:9, 1 Kings 19)
• In the face of impending calamity (2 Chronicles 20:1-12, Esther 4:3)
• To experience a spiritual breakthrough (Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3, Esther 4:16)

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis
• Sermon Series on Fasting by John Mark Comer
• Fasting Resources from Church of the Highlands
• Fasting: The Key to Spiritual Victory - a video series by Tony Evans
• NewSpring Resources on Fasting
• Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer - a book by John Piper

Relevant Bible verses:

• Exodus 33:7-11, Hebrews 8:5
• The Gates - Psalm 100
• The Brazen Altar - Hebrews 10:1-18, 1 Peter 2:24
• The Laver - John 13:9
• The Lampstand - Hebrews 9:2, 1 Peter 2:9
• The Altar of Incense - Ps. 141:2
• The Bread of Presence - Exodus 16, John 6
• The Holy of Holies - Matthew 27:50-51, Hebrews 9:7

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• The Primacy of Prayer - a sermon by Tim Keller
• Power Through Prayer - a free book by E.M. Bounds
• Prayer - a book by Richard Foster
• Prayer - a book by Timothy Keller
• Creative Prayer - a devotional classic by Brigid Emily Herman
• Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home a book by Richard Foster
• Tabernacle Prayer Guide from Highlands Church

Relevant Bible verses:

• Matthew 6:5-15 (The Lord’s Prayer)
• John 15:15
• Ephesians 6:10-20
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
• James 5:13-18

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• The Primacy of Prayer - a sermon by Tim Keller
• When You Pray: A Study of Six Prayers in the Bible - a book by Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry, Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Jada Edwards, and Kristi McLelland
• The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer
• Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible - a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God - a book by Tim Keller
• Going Higher with God in Prayer: Cultivating a Lifelong Dialogue - audiobook by A.Z. Tozer
• The Practice of Prayer - a video series on RightNow by John Mark Comer
• The Efficacy of Prayer - an essay by C.S. Lewis 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Psalm 1
• Psalm 19:7-11
• Psalm 119:11
• John 5:39-40
• John 8:31-47
• John 10:4
• John 10:16
• John 10:27
• John 17:17
• Romans 12:1-2
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• Bible reading plans
• The Daily - NewSpring app
• Hearing God by Dallas Willard
• Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds - Jen Wilkin

Relevant Bible verses:

• Philippians 2:12-13
• Ephesians 4:20-24
• Ephesians 5:1

For further reading/listening/watching:

• The Common Rule by Justin Earley
• Dallas’ personal daily practices - Dallas Willard

Relevant Bible verses:

• 1 Timothy 4:7-10
• 1 Corinthians 11:1
• Hebrews 12:11-13
• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard
• Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Donald Whitney
• Habits of Grace - a free downloadable book on Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis
• The Cross of Christ - John Stott

In today’s episode, Brad and Trevor talk about the essential elements that produce spiritual growth. The Dallas Willard Triangle has proven to be an effective tool to help demystify the process of growth. What is a spiritual discipline? How do we partner with the Holy Spirit in our growth? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• Galatians 6:9

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard (The Triangle is from this book!)
• Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
• Soul Keeping by John Ortberg
• A Long Obedience In The Same Direction - Eugene Peterson

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Mark 1:35-39
• Proverbs 13:20
• Proverbs 27:17 

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• The Great Omission by Dallas Willard
• Ordering Your Private World by Gordon McDonald
• Intimacy With God - A Sermon by Tony Evans

In this bonus episode, Brad and Trevor discuss Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King. What does Messiah mean? How do these roles or offices help define the role Jesus came to fulfill? How do the concepts of prophet, priest, and king tie the Old Testament to the New? What application does this have for us in our everyday relationship with God? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• John 4:25
• Luke 4:18
• Matthew 24-25
• Genesis 14:17-24
• Psalm 110
• Hebrews 7-9
• 2 Samuel 7
• Matthew 2:1-12
• Revelation 19:16
• 1 John 2:20

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• The Offices of Christ - an article by Barry Cooper
• Jesus: King, Prophet, Priest - a sermon by Alistair Begg
• Jesus, the Royal Priest - a 6-minute video by Bible Project
• The Royal Priesthood - a 5-minute video by Bible Project
• Prophet, Priest, and King: The Roles of Christ in the Bible and Our Roles Today - a book by Richard Belcher
• King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus - a book by Tim Keller

In this bonus episode, Brad and Trevor wrestle with the theology of war. What is the theory of Just War? How does the Imago Dei and “turn the other cheek” apply in our lives today? Should Christians be pacifists? What role should Christians play in restraining evil or protecting the innocent? What is the role of civil government?

Relevant Bible verses:

• Genesis 1:26-27
• Genesis 9:5-6
• Proverbs 24:11-12
• Matthew 5:9
• Matthew 5:38-48
• Matthew 22:15-22
• Matthew 26:52
• Luke 22:35-38
• John 18:10-11
• Romans 12:9-21
• Romans 13:1-7
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15
• 1 Peter 2:13-25
• Revelation 19:11-15

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• War, Peace, and Violence: Four Christian Views - a book edited by Paul Copan
• Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy - a book by Eric Metaxas
• Why I Am Not A Pacifist - an audio essay by C.S. Lewis
• Contra Faustum Manichaeum (Book XXII sections 69–76) - Treatise by St. Augustine
• Did Jesus Teach Pacifism? - an article by Matt Perman for Desiring God
• Fight: A Christian Case for Nonviolence - a book by Preston Sprinkle
• A Case for Christocentric Nonviolence - an article by Preston Sprinkle
• On Non-Violence/ History & Just War - a conversation with John Mark Comer, Preston Sprinkle and others.

Brad and Trevor overview the doctrine of end times. What does the future hold for the believer? What are the essentials and non-essentials for Christians to believe? How do our beliefs about the future affect the present? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Matthew 24-25
• Mark 13:19-20, 24-27
• Acts 1:9-11
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• Revelation 20:1-3
• Verses with “Parousia” - Matthew 24:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 8; James 5:7–8; 2 Peter 3:4, 12; 1 John 2:28
• “The Day” or “Day of the Lord” - Rom. 13:12; 1 Cor. 3:13; Heb. 10:25, Phil. 1:10; 2:16, 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Thes. 2:2, 1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14, Phil. 1:6, 1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Pet. 3:12

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “Apocalyptic Literature” - a video from Bible Project.
• “How to Read Revelation” - a video from Bible Project.
• “A Night of Eschatology” - a video from Desiring God.
• “Look Up: Awaiting the Rapture and our Final Redemption” - a book by Jimmy Evans
• “Surprised by Hope” - a book by N.T. Wright.
• “Dispensationalism” - a book by Charles Ryrie
• “The Restoration of All Things” - a book by Sam Storms
• “The Last Days According to Jesus” - a video series on RightNow by R.C. Sproul

Brad and Trevor discuss the doctrine of the church. How does the Bible describe the Church and her mission? What is the purpose of the Church and why is the Church still beautiful? Is the Church worth it? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Matthew 16:18
• Ephesians 4:11-16
• 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10
• Hebrews 10:24-25
• 1 Corinthians 3:9-17
• Acts 2:42-47
• Colossians 3:15
• Ephesians 2:19-20
• Ephesians 5:25-26
• 1 Peter 5:1-5

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “Letters to the Church” - an audio book by Francis Chan
• “Life Together” - a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• “Communio Sanctorum” - a Church history podcast by Lance Ralston
• “Mentor Like Jesus: His Radical Approach to Building the Church” - a book by Regi Campbell
• “A Place to Belong” - an audio book by Megan Hill
• “Church: Why Bother?” - a book by Philip Yancy

Brad and Trevor discuss the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit and what does the Holy Spirit do? What does it mean to worship in Spirit and truth? Why is the Holy Spirit controversial? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Psalm 16:11
• Luke 1:41, Luke 1:67, Luke 4:1
• John 14:26, John 16:13
• Acts 4:8, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:3-5, Acts 7:55, Acts 9:17, Acts 11:24, Acts 13:9, Acts 13:52
• Rom. 8:5-11, Romans 8:26-27, Romans 15:13
• 1 Cor. 2:10-13, 1 Cor. 12:13
• 2 Cor. 3:17
• Galatians 5:16-26
• Ephesians 3:19, 4:21-24, 5:18

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “The Unseen Realm” - an audio book Michael Heisler
• “The Helper: Unfolding the Work of the Holy Spirit” - a sermon by Tony Evans
• “Practicing the Power: Welcoming the Gifts of the Holy Spirit” - a book by Sam Storms
• “Why I am a Continuationist” - an article by Sam Storms
• “Forgotten God” - a book by Francis Chan

Brad and Trevor discuss the doctrine of heaven and hell. What will heaven be like? Will all people go there? Is hell a real place? What does Jesus say about hell? How could a loving God send people to hell? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Isaiah 33:14
• Isaiah 66:22–24
• Jeremiah 7:31–34
• Matthew 5:30
• Matthew 10:28
• Matthew 13:50
• Matthew 23:33
• Matthew 25:41-46
• Romans 2:3-8
• 1 Thessalonians 1:5-12
• Revelation 14:11
• Revelation 20:10
• Revelation 21:8 

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “Four Views on Hell” - a collection of essays edited by Preston Sprinkle
• “Eternity” - a video series for Youth by Francis Chan on RightNowMedia
• “Heaven” - a book by Randy Alcorn
• “Holier than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him” - a book by Jackie Hill Perry
• “Angels” - a book by Michael Heiser
• “Hell: Isn’t the God of Christianity an Angry Judge?” - a sermon by Tim Keller on Gospel in Life Podcast

Today, Brad and Trevor talk more specifically about what Jesus accomplished in his death, burial, and resurrection. What has Jesus done to save us? What are the implications of Jesus’ death and resurrection for people already saved? What happens when we bring these truths into our center? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Isaiah 43:2
• Isaiah 52:7-10
• Luke 19:10
• John 3:16
• John 8:29
• John 17:4-5
• Romans 5:6-8
• Romans 5:19
• Ephesians. 2:4-5
• Colossians 1:21-22
• Hebrews 10:12-14
• Hebrews 10:19
• 1 John 1:7 

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “50 Reasons Jesus came to Die” - a free download by John Piper
• “The Good Gospel” - a video series on RightNowMedia by Jackie Hill Perry, Jamie Ivey, and Jennie Allen
• “The Gospel of God: Romans” - a book by R.C. Sproul
• “The Explicit Gospel” - a book by Matt Chandler
• “Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers” - a book by Dane Ortlund
• “Jesus Through the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord” - a book by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “The Gospel Series” - a video series by Bible Project on RightNowMedia

Today, Brad and Trevor talk more specifically about what Jesus accomplished in his death, burial, and resurrection. What has Jesus done to save us? What are the implications of Jesus’ death and resurrection for people already saved? What happens when we bring these truths into our center? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Isaiah 43:2
• Isaiah 52:7-10
• Luke 19:10
• John 3:16
• John 8:29
• John 17:4-5
• Romans 5:6-8
• Romans 5:19
• Ephesians. 2:4-5
• Colossians 1:21-22
• Hebrews 10:12-14
• Hebrews 10:19
• 1 John 1:7 

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “50 Reasons Jesus came to Die” - a free download by John Piper
• “The Good Gospel” - a video series on RightNow Media by Jackie Hill Perry, Jamie Ivey, and Jennie Allen
• “The Gospel of God: Romans” - a book by R.C. Sproul
• “The Explicit Gospel” - a book by Matt Chandler
• “Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers” - a book by Dane Ortlund
• “Jesus Through the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord” - a book by Rebecca McLaughlin
• “The Gospel Series” - a video series by Bible Project on RightNow Media

Salvation is more than a moment. In this episode, Brad and Trevor discuss what it means to be saved and how we can know for sure. What has God done to bring us to Himself? What does it mean that we are predestined, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified? What does it mean to believe and repent? How can we overcome our doubts? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Matthew 24:13
• Colossians 1:23
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• John 20:25
• Ephesians 1:4-5
• Romans 8:29-30
• Acts 4:27-28
• 2 Peter 2:10
• Romans 8:30
• Ephesians 2:1-6
• John 3:3
• John 3:16 - 18
• Romans 10:9-13
• Acts. 3:19
• John 1:12
• Hebrews 10:14
• 1 Corinthians 3:17-18

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “Assured” - A video series by J.D. Greear on RightNow
• “Assurance of Salvation” - A video series by R.C. Sproul on RightNow
• “Assurance: How to Know You Are a Christian” - a book by J.C. Ryle
• “The Assurance of Our Salvation” - a book by Martin Lloyd-Jones

In this episode, Brad and Trevor answer the question: “Am I a sinner or a saint?” What is the doctrine of sin? What does it mean to have a new identity in Christ? How does understanding our primary identity in Christ help us overcome our sin? 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Romans 5
• Hebrews 10:14
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• 1 John 1:5 - 2:1
• Colossians 2
• Romans 7
• 1 John 3:1-3

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “Identity Crisis” - video series on RightNowMedia by Paul David Tripp
• “The Faces of Sin” - a sermon series by Tim Keller
• “Identity Theft” - a book edited by Melissa Kruger
• “Being the Beloved” - a sermon by Henri Nouwen

In this episode, Brad and Trevor discuss the doctrine of Imago Dei. What is the doctrine? What are the implications to human dignity and value? Why is this doctrine so important for us today? Why do you matter?

Relevant Bible verses:

• Genesis 1:26-31, 5:1-3, 9:6
• Psalm 8
• Colossians 1:15

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• “The Weight of Glory” - a collection of essays by C.S. Lewis
• “Created in God’s Image”- a book by Anthony Hoekema
• “The Image of God in the Bible” - a video by BibleProject on RightNowMedia
• “Made in His Image” - a sermon by H.B. Charles Jr.

Relevant Bible verses:

• Genesis 18:1, 18:9–22, 18:33, 22:11–18; 31:11
• Exodus 3:2–4, 23:20–22
• Joshua 6
• Judges 13:22
• Zech. 12:8
• Matthew 3:16-17
• Matthew 28:19
• Luke 1:35
• John 1:1-3
• John 1:18
• John 14:26
• John 15:26
• Acts 1:4
• Acts 2:33
• Acts 10:38
• Romans 1:3-4
• Romans 8:9
• 1 Corinthians 6:11
• Galatians 4:6
• Ephesians 2:18
• Hebrews 9:14
• 1 Peter 1:2

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• Athanasian Creed
• “Is Jesus Christ truth for the 21st century?” - A recording of John Stott
• “The Mystery of the Trinity” - a RightNow video series by R.C. Sproul
• “Delighting in the Trinity” - a book by Michael Reeves
• “The Thrill of Orthodoxy” - a book by Trevin Wax

Relevant Bible verses:

• John 3:16
• Acts 2:38
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• Romans 10:9-11
• 1 Timothy 3:14-16, 4:16

For further reading/listening/watching: 

• Book: The Thrill of Orthodoxy - Trevin Wax
• Book: Every Woman a Theologian by Phylicia Masonheimer
• Free book: Everyone’s a Theologian - RC Sproul
• Free video Series on RightNow Media: Foundations - RC Sproul
• Textbook: Systematic Theology - Wayne Grudem
• Book: 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know - Wayne Grudem

Relevant Bible verses:

• Psalm 19:1
• Romans 1:20
• Isaiah 6:3
• Acts 2:22-34
• Isaiah 55:8-9
• Psalm 50:12
• John 4:24
• Acts 7:48-49
• Isaiah 46:9-10
• Psalm 139:1-4, 15-16
• 1 John 3:20
• Matthew 10:29-30
• Numbers 23:19
• Hebrews 13:8
• James 1:17

For further study: 

• Book: Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith
• Book: How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture by Francis Schaeffer
• Textbook: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem 

Relevant Bible verses:

• Psalm 1
• Ephesians 4:11-16
• Matthew 7:24-27
• 2 Tim. 3:14-17
• Rom. 8:16
• 1 Cor. 2:10
• John 5:39

For further study: 

• App: The Daily on the NewSpring App | Join NewSpring’s daily prayer and reading plan
• App: YouVersion | Access multiple Bible translations and reading plans
• Book: What the Bible is All About by Henrietta Mears
• Book: Knowing God by J.I. Packer
• Textbook: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
• Book: The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel 
• Book: The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey 
• Book: Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland 
• Book: Who Is This Man? by John Ortberg

Relevant Bible verses:

• Romans 1:20
• Psalm 19
• John 1:1, 14
• John 1:18
• John 3:16, 36
• John 4:14
• John 6:35
• John 14:6
• John 18:37 

For further study: 

• Book: Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
• Book: The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism - Timothy Keller
• Video series on RightNow Media: The Gospel of John (Part One) - Tony Evans
• Video series on RightNow Media: The Gospel of John (Part Two) - Tony Evans

In Season one, Episode one, Brad Cooper, NewSpring Church’s Lead Pastor of Culture and Direction, and Trevor Cox, NewSpring Church’s Teaching Ministry Director, talk about the need to revive doctrine in the Church. Why is doctrine important to our development? What are the big movements that have influenced our current situation? Why is orthodoxy beautiful? What did R.C. Sproul mean when he said “Everyone is a theologian?”

Relevant Bible verses:

• 1 Timothy 4:6-16
• 1 Peter 3:15
• John 4:22
• Jeremiah 6:16

For further study:

• Book: The Thrill of Orthodoxy by Trevin Wax
• Book: Every Woman a Theologian by Phylicia Masonheimer
• Free book: Everyone’s a Theologian by RC Sproul 
• Free video series on RightNow Media: Foundations by R.C. Sproul
• Textbook: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
• Book: 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know by Wayne Grudem
• Book: How Should We Then Live? By Francis Schaeffer