Real Life Theology Podcast

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Corey Tremble challenges listeners to pursue courageous, Spirit-empowered discipleship that neither hides from the world nor surrenders biblical truth. He explains how expository teaching, intentional relationships, and Holy Spirit-led insulation—not isolation—equip churches to reach diverse communities without compromise. The episode offers practical encouragement to lead boldly, love authentically, and invest time in making disciples who make more disciples.

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Matt Proctor explores Revelation to answer the weary question, "Why am I doing this again?" He walks listeners through three powerful portraits of Jesus — a terrifying King (Revelation 1), a tender Lamb (Revelation 5), and a triumphant Warrior (Revelation 19) — to show why believers should persevere in gospel allegiance. Using personal stories, historical context, and pastoral encouragement, Proctor reminds us that Jesus’ holiness, love, and victory give purpose, courage, and hope in hardship.

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Mark Moore explores discipleship as allegiance, beginning with a powerful true story about abuse that illustrates how knowing the Bible isn’t enough. He explains why regular Bible engagement is the most important discipline for spiritual growth and walks through three biblical passages that reveal different dimensions of the Word. Mark Moore shares practical tools—like memorizing core verses—and emphasizes that true growth happens when believers both live the Word and speak it into others’ lives, leading to healing, transformation, and multiplication of faith.

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Reese Neyland shows that salvation means responding to Jesus' love with wholehearted pursuit, not relying on being "good enough." Using his own story of longing and the Gospel account of the rich young ruler, he explains that true faith is loving Jesus as much as He loves us — embracing grace, pursuing obedience, and caring for the lost. The episode challenges listeners to move from mere moral effort to gospel allegiance, reminding us that Jesus first loved and that our role is to love others into that relationship.

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Marcos Mercado joins the Real Life Theology Podcast to challenge listeners to surrender biases and comfort zones so they can embrace God’s call to make disciples among people who are different from them. Through personal stories and ministries with Spanish-speaking and West Indian communities—Marcos illustrates how embracing and engaging God’s calling leads to transformed lives and flourishing ministries.

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Joanne Kraft explains that faithful discipleship is learned through training and that churches should equip the women already in the seats to disciple younger women, using the Mary and Elizabeth example from Luke 1. She shares personal stories—from emergency response training to parenting—and urges pastors and leaders to recognize, encourage, and raise up Titus 2-style relationships so faith-filled lives are passed to the next generation.

In this episode of Real Life Theology podcast, Shodankeh Johnson shares powerful stories of how the Holy Spirit is transforming resistant communities through disciple-making and ordinary believers. From a West African chiefdom opening to the gospel after years of rejection to prisoners and former rebels becoming disciples, Johnson emphasizes that God uses unlikely people to bring abundant fruit when the church yields control to the Holy Spirit. He calls for a paradigm shift—from professional to ordinary, control to the Spirit, and knowledge to obedience—urging listeners to trust that with God all things are possible. Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Jim Putman explains how the church’s simple, biblical mission is to make disciples who make disciples through loving, transparent relationships that follow both Jesus’ teachings and methods. This episode explores discipleship lived out in relationship, the authority of Scripture, and the danger of empty progressivism or hollow fundamentalism—pointing listeners to a church that models and multiplies life-change.

Dave and Sydney Clayton challenge listeners to stop being ashamed of the gospel, unpacking Romans 1:16 and the evangelism guilt cycle that keeps Christians silent. They outline a path from clarity about God’s goodness, to Holy Spirit conviction about people’s need for Jesus, to supportive community that equips ordinary believers to share the good news boldly. Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ In this episode from the Renew Conference, Matthew Bates unpacks the true meaning of the gospel through Romans 1—challenging common assumptions and calling us back to the Bible’s royal announcement: Jesus is King. Too often, the gospel is reduced to a formula about personal salvation or forgiveness of sins. But Paul presents something far bigger. According to Romans 1:1–5, the gospel is the long-promised good news that:

Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Aligning Your Church for Disciple Making: Five Shifts, One Mission This session is on aligning churches around Jesus’ method of intentional, relational disciple making. They share personal ministry journeys and describe the challenge of shifting established, often attractional church systems toward obedience-based disciple making rooted in the Great Commission (Matthew 28) and maturity in Christ (Colossians 1). Using an iPhone vs. Android operating system metaphor, they argue disciple making can’t be added as a side program but must reshape the whole church. They present research findings that fewer than 5% of U.S. churches have a culture rooted in Jesus-style disciple making and outline four core practices seen in exemplary churches: convictional leadership, a contextual and reproducible model, high expectations, and cultural alignment. 00:00 Welcome & Why Disciple-Making Alignment Matters 04:03 Jeff Story: From Slogans to a Disciple-Making Culture 08:23 Paul: Leaving Membership Metrics for Making Disciples 13:24 Training Process Overview + The iPhone vs. Droid ‘Operating System’ Metaphor 18:59 State of Disciple-Making in North America + Jesus’ Intentional Relational Method 21:40 The Great Commission Explained: ‘Make Disciples’ and Obedience-Based Faith 27:09 Beyond ‘Evangelism’ vs ‘Discipleship’: One Mission—Salvation to Maturity 32:38 Bobby’s Journey: Coleman, Church Systems, Disciple Shift, and Renew’s Theology 41:07 Research Findings: Why Most Churches Aren’t Disciple-Making Churches 44:57 The 4 Core Practices: Convictional Leadership, Model, Expectations, Alignment 50:09 Why Revelation’s First 3 Chapters Matter Most (Jesus & the Churches) 52:38 Legacy Church Challenge: Shifting to a Discipleship Culture Without Blowing It Up 54:05 Defining a Disciple: Follow Jesus, Be Changed, Join the Mission 56:01 Personal Discipleship Story: Learning to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples 57:24 Why People Struggle to Disciple: The Baseball Analogy 01:00:15 Early Momentum & Staff Culture Change: Baptisms, Next Steps, Monday Stories 01:02:01 The Discipleship Mandate ‘Cumulative’: Jesus, Church, NT, Leaders, Gathering 01:11:43 Alignment Killers: Competing Agendas, Wrong Metrics, Instant-Result Expectations 01:13:36 10 Levers to Use (Not Demonize): Large Church, Sunday, Pulpit, Tradition, Doctrine 01:23:20 Five-Part Roadmap: Missional, Theological, Philosophical, Organizational, Relational 01:27:57 Break, Then Missional Alignment Deep Dive: Love God, Love People, Then Make Disciples 01:32:38 Avoiding Counterfeit Missions: Tradition, Buildings, and Other Substitutes 01:33:20 C.S. Lewis on the Church’s One Job: Make Disciples 01:34:12 Mission-Driven vs Member-Driven (and Keeping Jesus’ Mission Central) 01:35:04 Theological Alignment: Why Clarity Is Kindness 01:36:52 Beyond ‘Essentials/Non-Essentials’: A Better Doctrine Framework 01:42:29 A Replicable System for Teaching Core Doctrine (Catechism DNA) 01:44:35 Micro Groups & ‘Trust and Follow Jesus’: Simple, Proven, Reproducible 01:47:42 Philosophical Alignment: The Jesus Way—Intentional, Relational, Transformational 01:52:29 Organizational Alignment: Leading Change Without Blowing Up the Church 02:00:26 Relational Alignment: Love, Conflict, and the Messiness of Real Discipleship 02:11:31 Next Steps & Final Charge: Join the Alignment Training + Keep Making Disciples https://renew.org/ Check out the following from RENEW.org: Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/ Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/ Articles: https://renew.org/articles/ Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/ Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/ Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/ Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/ Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/ Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/ Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early. https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media! You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network Facebook: Renew.org Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ In this episode of the Real Life Theology Podcast, recorded during the 2025 RENEW Gathering Monday Night Session, leaders from Renew Creative explore why creatives are essential to disciple making in the local church—and how discipling artists helps the whole church slow down and savor what truly matters

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ In this episode of the Real Life Theology Podcast, recorded during the 2025 RENEW Gathering Monday Evening Session, we hear from Joseph, Director of Disciple Making Trainings with TCM International Institute, as he shares firsthand stories of disciple making across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and Ukraine

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ The episode features Carl and Alicia Williamson from Harding University discussing a training session on disciple-making called 'Multiplying Disciples on College Campuses and Beyond.' This session is on useful disciple-making tools accompanied by a Q&A.

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ The episode features Carl and Alicia Williamson from Harding University discussing a training session on disciple-making called 'Multiplying Disciples on College Campuses and Beyond.' This session is on a specific disciple-making process,

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ The episode features Carl and Alicia Williamson from Harding University discussing a training session on disciple-making called 'Multiplying Disciples on College Campuses and Beyond.' This session is on big-picture strategies. Carl, a Bible professor, and Alicia, a Bible faculty member, share their experiences in church planting and working with emerging adults. They emphasize the role of prayer, accountability, vision, and expectation (PAVE) in fostering a disciple-making movement. They recount various personal stories and examples of how these principles have led to the multiplication of disciple-making groups among students, ultimately inspiring transformational faith journeys. The script also includes a practical component where participants are encouraged to pray and reflect on God's role in their disciple-making efforts.

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ This episode of the Real Life Theology podcast, hosted by David Young, focuses on practical ways of making disciples with a sense of urgency. David emphasizes that disciple making requires genuine love for others and the willingness to invest in relationships. He uses personal anecdotes and examples from scripture to illustrate the importance of relational disciple making. Various strategies and methods, such as Discovery Bible Studies, are discussed to help individuals and churches cultivate a disciple-making culture. David also addresses challenges like disciple-making fatigue and suggests integrating discipleship into existing church activities. The podcast concludes with actionable steps, emphasizing prayer, intentionality, and leveraging current relationships to start discipling others effectively.

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ This episode features the 'Theological Thunderdome' session from the 2025 Renew gathering. Hosted by David Young, with several panelists. The discussion explores the radical ethics of the early church and their relevance today. They examine whether these ethics are reproducible in the modern era, touching upon issues like multi-ethnicity, care for the poor, non-violence, radical sexual ethics, and a pro-life stance. The panel also delves into the tension between living these ethics and participating in democratic governance, and the importance of humility in living out these values.

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ This episode of the Real Life Theology Podcast explores the crucial topic of family discipleship. Featuring contributions from Daniel McCoy, Mike Rozenboom, Caitlyn Rozenboom, and Jason Henderson, the discussion emphasizes the role of parents as primary disciplers and offers practical strategies for nurturing faith in children. Key points include creating intentional rhythms and routines, the importance of relational engagement, and forming meaningful connections. The episode also addresses the challenges posed by modern distractions and provides frameworks for answering tough questions children might have about faith. The overarching theme stresses the urgency and importance of embedding God's principles within the family setting.

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ This episode of the Real Life Theology podcast is part three of a series discussing the implementation and benefits of sermon-based small groups in church communities. Hosted by Josh, lead pastor, and his brother Andrew, the family pastor, the episode explores the challenges and transformations experienced in their youth ministry and how those lessons have been applied to adult small groups in their church. They emphasize the importance of active and empathetic listening in engaging with God's word and integrating small groups with sermon teachings. The discussion also covers practical strategies for managing small group dynamics, such as the use of seasons for group commitments, the role of apprenticeships in growing groups, and maintaining engagement despite busy family schedules. The episode concludes with a Q&A session addressing various aspects of small group management and their holistic approach to church discipleship.

Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ This episode of the Real Life Theology podcast, part two of a three-part series, divess into sermon-based small groups. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recasting the vision regularly, referring to it as the Nehemiah Principle, and highlights church attendance issues. Speakers TC and Ben share personal stories of transformation and faith, stressing the effectiveness of small groups in discipleship, modeled after Jesus’ methods. They discuss key aspects such as setting the pace, close proximity to group members, patience, and continuously pointing members to God's purpose. They also share practical advice on maintaining connection and fostering personal growth within small groups.

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In the final episode of the Real Life Theology podcast's four-part series on discipling people into emotional and spiritual health, the focus is on implementing change. The episode discusses practical steps for integrating emotional and spiritual health within church congregations. Key points include the importance of prayer, establishing a long-term vision, and the slow nature of transformational change, which can take 7-10 years. Real-life examples from Uganda illustrate the challenges and perseverance required. Various resources and books are recommended to aid in this journey. Emphasis is placed on patience, intentionality, and starting small to ensure meaningful impact. Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/

In this episode of the Real Life Theology podcast, part of a series on discipling people into emotional and spiritual health, the focus is on pathways to growth and healing. Key points include the importance of stage-appropriate transparency, understanding spiritual battles, identity in Christ, and the need for spiritual disciplines. The episode also delves into Marcus Warner's FISH acronym (Freedom, Identity, Spirit, and Heart-Focused Community), emphasizing the significance of freedom and identity for new believers. Additional topics cover supporting spiritual children, young adults, and the needs of spiritual parents and grandparents, alongside practical strategies for emotional well-being such as the real prayer method for healing trauma. The importance of humility, vulnerability, and ongoing emotional and spiritual growth is underscored throughout. Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/

In this episode of the Real Life Theology podcast, the discussion delves into the stages of spiritual and emotional maturity as part of a four-part series on discipling people into emotional and spiritual health. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding these stages: spiritual infants, children, young adults, parents, and grandparents. Key points include the necessity of emotional maturity for true spiritual growth, the identification of spiritual maturity through behavioral examples, and the essential role of guiding individuals through these stages. Additionally, the episode contrasts spiritual gifts with maturity, underscoring the difference between outward talents and true spiritual growth. For more insights and resources, join RENEW.org's Newsletter. Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early, and join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events. Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/

This is part one of a 4 part series on: Discipling People Into Emotional and Spiritual Health In this episode of the Real Life Theology podcast, host JP Robinson and Michelle Eagle kick off a four-part series on discipling people into emotional and spiritual health. They stress the importance of building mature disciples and differentiate between educational and disciple-making church models. The episode includes personal anecdotes, an explanation of emotional and spiritual maturity, and a spiritual assessment tool. Tune in to learn more about creating a Christ-centered community led by mature and emotionally healthy disciples. Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ and get our Premium podcast feed: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/. Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/