Prayer creates space for us to slow down, listen, and attend to what God is doing in our lives. In this guided time of prayer, we will explore Jesus’ Parable of the Sower as a way to reflect on the condition of our hearts. As we pray through the different soils—hardened, shallow, cluttered, and healthy—we invite the Holy Spirit to soften what has become resistant, deepen what is fragile, and clear away anything that hinders spiritual growth. I hope this guide helps you encoun

Just as Jesus withdrew into the wilderness for 40 days to prepare for his public ministry, Lent offers us the opportunity to engage in...

In October 2018, just one month after Hill City Church launched, I took my family on a much-needed vacation to Australia. I was excited...

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Practicing the Way Pastor’s Conference hosted by Bridgetown Church. After our Monday staff...

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Earlier this Spring, I had the opportunity to lead a workshop at the Exponential regional roundtable in Boise on “Preaching as...

Every church wants to grow. Few know what to do when it happens. Our church has been in a season of growth over the last few years. Since...

When was the last time you cried? It seems like every day, there is a new tragedy to report. The world is full of pain, and our hearts...

I’ve noticed in recent years that Halloween has been added to the growing list of polarizing topics in Christian circles. Although I grew up in church, I don’t remember people taking too big of an issue with Halloween. Nowadays, it’s apparent each year on social media that Halloween creates problematic issues for many Christians. Some see it as a harmless holiday to dress up in costume and get to know neighbors. Others can’t get past the dark themes and focus on death. I unde

A couple of months ago, my friend Andrew Green approached me about a fundraising idea called “Run for RUJA.” Years ago, Andrew helped...

Have you ever wondered why we call it “Good Friday?” Isn’t Easter the good day of Holy Week? Friday seems more “dark” or “tragic” than...

Last year our church tried something different for Good Friday. Typically, we hold a worship gathering with music and a message. Instead,...

I remember sitting in church as a kid listening to my dad preach a sermon week after week. Over time, I worried that he would run out of...

This October, I visited the Philippines for the first time. While I was only there for two weeks, I visited churches and met many local...

I just finished reading How to Save the World: Disciplemaking Made Simple by Alice Matagora. The book is helpful for anyone who takes...

Our church has included a mixture of ages from day one. If you attend a Sunday worship gathering, you'll see plenty of gray hair, hear...

Katy Perry. Alice Cooper. Jessica Simpson. The Jonas Brothers. What do all these have in common? They are all pastor’s kids. Why do so...

Psalm 23 is one of the most famous passages of Scripture. You can find these poetic lines everywhere, from sermons to pop songs, tattoos...

The year was 1993, and my brother Andrew and I had the thickest bowl cuts you could imagine. Andrew was in kindergarten and had entered...