<![CDATA[The Brookside Institute - Blog]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:41:26 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[10 Recommendations for Churches That Care about Theological Education]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:10:25 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/10-recommendations-for-churches-that-care-about-theological-education

INTRODUCTION 

Recently I ran across an article by Dr. Anthony Bradley, reflecting on the closure of another evangelical college—diagnosing root issues and offering ways forward. [1] Articles like this continue to multiply as more and more Christian schools of higher education either shut their doors or make significant pivots for any number of reasons. I have been close to this myself—as the Christian college where I attended and gladly taught as an adjunct closed its doors, and the notable seminary I attended and where I gladly teach as a part-time instructor has made its own pivots as it navigates the the cultural/economic/institutional/ecclesial/whatever-else waters we’re in.

I appreciated how Bradley framed his suggestions regarding a way forward for institutions of higher education as “Ten Recommendations” for what Christian colleges must do in light of current realities.

​What I’d like to do here is piggy-back on that idea of “Ten Recommendations”—but instead of recommendations for Christian colleges I’d like to offer Ten Recommendations for churches that want to be part of the solution for theological education and theological formation moving forward. As a pastor of 20+ years who cares deeply about the local church, and an adjunct professor for 6+ years who cares deeply about theological formation and higher education, I want to humbly step into the conversation.
As has been noted, the decline in institutions of higher learning is an opportunity for the church—nudging (forcing?) the church to revisit and reclaim an educational emphasis that has historically always been part of healthy ecclesial cultures. [2] But here’s where care is needed. Yes, this is an opportunity for the church. But this opportunity must not be approached as a take-over or a simple replacement of the academy. Care must be taken so that addressing this issue does not lead to an over-correction creating its own imbalance. This is an opportunity for the church and the academy to re-learn what partnership looks like, for all sides to listen well (and long, and slowly) to each other, discover what both offer, and map out a faithful-and-fruitful way forward that serves what God is doing to advance the mission Jesus gave us in the power of the Spirit: making disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).
​
My intent and prayer is that these brief recommendations add some light to an important conversation and offer parameters by which the conversation can continue constructively.

WHAT CHURCHES THAT CARE ABOUT THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION MUST DO: 10 RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. Adopt and embed the value of theological formation throughout your church. Theological formation and the value theology offers isn’t relegated to one ministry team or one department of the church (even if it might be up to one department primarily to program for adult education). Does your elder or governing board feel the importance of theological formation—both for themselves and the church body? Do all ministry leaders feel the foundational role that theology plays for practical ministry? Are there identifiable ways (whether overt or more subtle) that core theological truths shape and influence teaching content, ministry decisions, and your church’s programming? [3]
  2. Start where you can. (But be intentional with where you place your first steps.) I’m confident that there are manageable things most churches can start doing this coming quarter or this coming semester that intentionally builds into the value of theological education. You don’t have to have all the answers before you start addressing the problem. Where you start may not be where you finish. (It probably won’t be.) So start small and start somewhere. The only caveat: Don’t be so quick-to-act that you’re irresponsible or careless. Where you start may not be where you finish, but where you start will set a certain trajectory.
  3. Prioritize discipleship and development. Theological education is not an end-in-itself. Christian higher education is about more than rigorous grasp of certain concepts, facts, etc. that pertain to the specific discipline (though it is not less than this!). Christian higher education should keep a larger vision in mind—namely that of conformity to Christ--and it must do this explicitly. This larger vision of conformity of Christ moves the teacher and the student further along in the direction of commitment to God, communion with God, community with each other, character formation, transformation of conduct, and an engagement with the commission Christ gives His followers. [4]
  4. Explicitly connect theological education with ministry practice. (And vice versa.) Theological education should not happen in a vacuum. A vision of Christian theological education must recruit teachers who are deeply embedded in the life of their local church. (And not just as teachers, either, but as those who are involved in other areas of church life both to receive and to contribute). Students should be engaged in practical ministry such that their learning becomes a foundation on which they can build application, or the classroom environment becomes a laboratory where they can explore questions that have emerged in the trenches of ministry.
  5. Maximize relationships. It’s not new news that people can consume content through any variety of media (earbuds in while you’re shopping, YouTube videos available on every topic, etc.). This availability of consumable content applies equally to theological content. Some of this content is an amazing resource, making theological resources available in ways that serve the church. Some of this content is cringe, as anyone with a microphone and a camera can create a channel—regardless of theological training, church affiliation, or orthodoxy of belief. Wading through our content-heavy reality is where relationships and community must be a feature of churches that care about theological education. These relationships help us digest content as we process it ourselves. We learn to articulate our own convictions (rather than just parrot the beliefs of others) in community. Ideally, the teacher should not just be a “talking head” but an exemplar and mentor. Everyone involved should value listening and learning, and sharing expertise in a posture of care and humility.
  6. Champion the call to vocational ministry and high-commitment volunteerism. God is still calling people to serve the church Jesus is building in both vocational and volunteer ways. A healthy church is characterized not by hoarded leadership but by multiplied influence, where every member feels a healthy responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the church body (Eph 4:11-16). [5] Churches must double-down on this calling to participation and commitment. One application of this point is that local churches and denominational leaders must give careful thought to their leadership pipeline, perhaps using Michael Bird’s suggested steps for raising up new ministers as a framework or starting point within their own context. The four steps Bird offers are as follows: “identify prospects,” “affirm and encourage,” “grant opportunities,” and “provide mentoring.” [6]
  7. Partner with an institution of higher learning. The key word here is partner. Churches should not completely outsource theological education in such a way that they lose a voice in the relationship between local church and seminary/Bible college. But neither should churches circumvent and thereby short-circuit the needed, legitimate benefits institutions of higher eduction can offer. [7] From my perspective, re-imagining the partnership between local church and seminary/Bible college for the 21st century is one of the key pressing issues of this larger conversation about theological formation. The local church and seminary/Bible college must learn that the theological education of the church is not a tug-of-war (a zero-sum game where we’re competing with each other) but a three-legged race (where we are bound to each other and must communicate well to advance together).
  8. Feel it in your church budget and on your church calendar. The obvious must be stated: Theological formation won’t happen without a commitment to theological formation. And what are key ways to show commitment? Money and time. I’m not calling for a careless spending of dollars and days here—this commitment must be responsibly considered and carefully stewarded. But as decisions are made that are responsibly considered, the fact of the matter is that a commitment to theological education needs to be resourced—it will impact your budget and it should show up on your calendar. Don’t get scared away, however, and don’t imagine that only the churches with the biggest budgets and the most flexible calendars can do this. I’m convinced that even a modest commitment in terms of time and money will see significant dividends. There are many ways this can happen. In terms of budget, this could mean a staff position that helps champion theological education for your church, strategic giving to an institution of higher education, resourcing a regional conference with other churches to bring in an expert teacher, a small scholarship fund for students to pursue a degree, or more. In terms of calendar, this could mean finding time in select meetings to provide theological equipping and sharpening (e.g. elder meetings or staff meetings), it could mean setting aside a weekend for a conference with an expert teacher, an evening during the week to read through a systematic theology with others in the church, or more. The ideas are many and must be contextually considered. Let’s not forget the larger point, however: Theological formation won’t happen without a commitment to theological formation.
  9. Have a definition of success that provides clarity, direction, and standards. The simple fact of offering theological education of some sort in your local church is not the goal. If orchestrated poorly, theological education can carry danger—such as arrogance, division, and misplaced emphasis. Theological education must not choke out other important aspects of a local church’s ministry programming. Avoiding these pitfalls requires a clear statement of the goal of theological education in your church, and then measurable standards that provide accountability and a gauge of whether you’re moving in the direction of your goal or are drifting from it.
  10. Take the long view. Slow and steady wins the race. This conversation around theological education requires institutional leadership (including both the local church and institutions of higher education, see point 7)—wisdom and strategy that is looking to make a positive difference in theological formation not just now, but that is also looking to sustain the positive difference decades down the road. The future of theological education in the church requires compelling conviction, real partnership, wise strategy, systems that are both intentional and nimble, contextual sensitivity, and discerning decision-making (surely along with many other things). None of this happens quickly. So yes, let’s start where we can (see point 2). And then let’s commit to taking the long view—trusting our sovereign God to bear fruit in our faithfulness, always learning as we go, and staying firmly committed to teaching foundational truths in a formative way, for the future of the church.

CONCLUSION 

To restate: My intent and prayer is that these brief recommendations add some light to an important conversation, and offer parameters by which the conversation can continue constructively. I hope this recommendations spark more discussion and lead to action steps you can take in your context. I am confident they can.

I can speak with confidence because I’ve seen how these priorities have taken shape in the life of one local church— the church where I serve. As I have served alongside teams of ministry staff and volunteers to apply these recommendations in our context, I’ve seen tangible ways every one of these recommendations can move forward—both in informal ways and more formally. (Our most formal current programs advancing these recommendations include Brookside Church’s Theology Training that happens in partnership with Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, our 4D Church Leadership Program for residents and interns, and a series of classes we offer periodically that are part of The Brookside Institute.)
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To be sure: We don’t do any of this perfectly. (Read that last sentence again, to make sure it’s clear.) While these recommendations help define our direction in terms of theological formation, some remain more aspirational than others. We’re taking the long view ourselves. But it’s so worth it, and I invite you to join us in caring deeply about thinking intentionally about theological education in the church: foundational truth in a formative way, for the future of the church.

NOTES

[1] Anthony B. Bradley, “I Watched an Evangelical College Die from the Inside,” posted at Substack on June 2, 2026. Available at https://anthonybbradley.substack.com/p/the-evangelical-college-era-is-over, accessed July 10, 2026.

[2] John Stonestreet and Timothy D. Padgett, “Colleges Closing and the Church’s Opportunity,” posted at Breakpoint on November 18, 2025. Available at https://colsoncenter.org/breakpoint/colleges-closing-and-the-churchs-opportunity, accessed July 13, 2026.

[3] See also Tim Wiebe, “The ‘Why?’ and ‘How?’ of Theological Education in the Local Church,” posted at the Center for Transformational Churches. Available at https://transformationalchurches.org/2024/11/18/the-why-and-how-of-theological-education-in-the-local-church, accessed July 13, 2026.

[4] For more on this picture of Christian discipleship, see especially Tim Wiebe, “A Brief Introduction to 6C Discipleship,” pp. 19-27 in What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus? A Clear, Biblical Picture of Discipleship, published by the author, 2024.

[5] This is not to say leadership roles are unimportant. It is to stress that leadership should serve in an others-centered manner and deeply value equipping others.
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[6] Michael F. Bird, “Where Have the Timothy’s Gone? 4 Ways to Address the Minister Drought,” posted at Logos on July 25, 2025. Available at https://www.logos.com/grow/hall-addressing-minister-drought/, accessed July 13, 2026.

[7] See Michael A. G. Haykin, “On the Closure of Seminaries and Colleges and the Need for Theological Education," posted at Historia Ecclesiastica on August 2, 2025. Available at https://michaelazadaghaykin.substack.com/p/on-the-closure-of-seminaries-and, accessed July 6, 2026.
]]><![CDATA[Brookside Church's 4D Church Leadership Program for Residents and Interns]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:41:40 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/brookside-churchs-4d-church-leadership-program-for-residents-and-interns

The Need

“Barna reports that today, only one in seven pastors is under 40, with 25 percent of current pastors planning to retire by 2030. This trend poses a significant threat to the continuity of leadership within the church.” [1] And there’s not a lot of backfill. Trends indicate that fewer young people are pursuing vocational ministry. [2] In a recent Substack article, one Evangelical professor reflects on the reality that we’re failing to form ministry leaders and says we “have a broken pipeline at every stage.” [3] For this pipeline to be reimagined and restored, any path forward must involve the church and it will demand intentional effort. [4] 

However you look at it, there is a pressing issue that demands attention. 

Enter: 4D

This is where Brookside Church's 4D Church Leadership Program for Residents and Interns steps in. 

So what is 4D? The four Ds in “4D” stand for Disciple, Discover, Develop, and Deploy—values that shape how we approach and design the program. 4D is an 11-month program beginning in August that we have for residents and interns at Brookside. We build into those who are involved in three key ways: (1) We offer practical ministry experience in a specific ministry area (we have 9-10 to choose from). (2) We offer ministry coaching from seasoned leaders. And (3) we offer biblical and theological training, with the option of a 12-hour graduate level certificate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) in partnership with TEDS, for 4Ders who are interested in that. 

What difference is 4D making? We launched 4D in 2019—so that means we are just now wrapping up our seventh cohort. To date, we’ve had 42 that have participated in 4D.  45% have taken next steps after 4D into either paid work at a church or further ministry education. We see the difference 4D is making at Brookside—not only through the meaningful contributions of the 4Ders themselves, but in people who have gone through 4D who served or are still serving on Brookside staff. We see the difference 4Ders are making as they serve beyond Brookside: at churches in the Omaha area and beyond. 

The Future Is Bright and Opportunity Remains

The future of 4D is as bright as ever. We have 9 involved in our upcoming cohort (so we’ll pass 50 total in the program next year!). Other churches are looking to us for help as they fill positions or build their own pipelines.

And the driving reason why we care about this isn't changing. 2 Timothy 2:2 still applies. We care deeply about the future of the church and get excited about it. We want to serve that future in the ways we can.
NOTES

[1] Noted in David Boerema, “Empty Pulpits Coming to a Church Near You,” Posted at EFCA.org on August 4, 2025. https://blogs.efca.org/posts/empty-pulpits-coming-to-a-church-near-you

[2] See again Boerma, "Empty Pulpits." From that article: “Many young people today see vocational ministry as a less-than-ideal career choice. They fear financial instability, the tremendous weight of responsibility of leading in the church and lack confidence in their calling.” See also Michael F. Bird, "Where Have the Timothy’s Gone? 4 Ways to Address the Minister Drought,” posted at Logos on July 25, 2025. Available at https://www.logos.com/grow/hall-addressing-minister-drought/ 

[3] Anthony B. Bradley, “I Watched an Evangelical College Die from the Inside,” Substack post on June 2, 2025, https://anthonybbradley.substack.com/p/the-evangelical-college-era-is-over

[4] See again Bradley, "I Watched an Evangelical College Die." See also John Stonestreet and Timothy D. Padgett, “Colleges Closing and the Church’s Opportunity, posted at the Colson Center on Nov 18, 2025, https://colsoncenter.org/breakpoint/colleges-closing-and-the-churchs-opportunity.



]]><![CDATA[What Are Satan's Schemes? Toward a Greater Understanding of Satan's Angle of Attack.]]>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 19:34:05 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/what-are-satans-schemes-toward-a-greater-understanding-of-satans-angle-of-attack
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"Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be in peril." This famous quote from Sun Tzu's Art of War carries qualified application for the Christian disciple: there is value in knowing something about our enemy, Satan. Biblical authors speak of Satan's schemes and knowing something about how he operates so we are not left defenseless or unaware (e.g. 2 Cor 2:11; Eph 6:11). 

To be sure, this "knowing something about" must happen within a larger context of Christian theology. This larger context of Christian theology reveals that a spiritual world exists that interacts with our world, yet cannot always be seen. Christian theology affirms that Satan is a created being; God is greater than Satan. (And it's not nor ever will be even close.) In fact, Christ has already defeated Satan through His death and resurrection (e.g. Col 2:15; Heb 2:14; 1 John 3:8). While the war has been decided, battles rage on (see 1 Pet 5:8). 

In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul clearly tells believers in Jesus Christ that we are to stand against Satan's schemes (v. 11). Knowing that Satan is real and his battle against God and His ways wages on, how does Satan try and come at us? What are his "schemes" that we're to stand against?

Here are four of Satan's schemes to stand against, in the power of the gospel.

Satan wants to trick our minds.

When Satan first appears in the Bible in Gen 3, he doesn’t come out guns a-blazing to Adam and Eve. He asks a question. "Did God actually say . . .?" (Gen 3:1, ESV). He gets Eve inside of her head to ask herself, "Wait, what did God say? Can I trust what God says? Can I trust that He's good?"

Satan continues to deceive and manipulate throughout Scripture. In John 8:44, Jesus calls the devil "the Father of lies." Paul warns about Satan deceiving our minds and leading us astray from a "sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Cor 11:3). The concern is distraction and idolatry.

​Revelation 12:10 calls the devil the "accuser" (see also Zech 3:1). What does this accusation sound like? Perhaps it sounds like this: "God can't love you. Just think about what you've done." Or maybe it sounds like this: "You've blown it too many times. God is past tired of your confession. You might as well give in or give up." Recently I watched the super-popular Netflix show K-Pop Demon Hunters. This scheme of the Enemy to get inside our heads and trick our minds — to accuse — is one thing the movie portrays powerfully.

Satan is trying to trick our minds.

Are there ways he's working to trick your mind? What lies are you tempted to believe? What voices have primary authority in your life? What gospel-forgetting accusations against yourself are you falling prey to? ​​

Satan wants to tempt us away.

Satan wants us to believe sin is cute not catastrophic. He tempts us to believe small sin isn’t a big deal. He steps in when walking away seems easier than working on it in a marriage.

We see this in the ways Satan tempts Jesus in Matthew 4. In Matthew 4:3 Satan is specifically called "the tempter"! He offers Jesus what seem like really great things. Only they would completely pull Jesus away from His divine mission. Satan's temptations against us work in a similar way — offering us quick pleasure or short-sighted good, only to derail us from trusting God and experiencing the full life He has for us. 

One more comment on Satan's work of temptation: After Jesus overcomes Satan's threefold temptation, Luke 4:13 tells us that the devil departed from Jesus "until an opportune time." In other words, Satan would keep looking for a way in. Satan's patience and determination is not long-suffering nor is it fueled by good; Satan's patience and determination is driven by a desire to corrupt.

Satan remains determined still today, looking for an "opportune time" to come at you with temptation. Don't toy with sin. Don't let your defenses down. 

Where would Satan try and tempt you away? What temptations are pulling you away from a life that honors God? What sins and distractions have become dominant in your life? ​​

Satan wants to tear us apart.

A cursory reading of the New Testament makes it clear that unity is deeply valued among God's people (e.g., John 17; Eph 4:1-6; Phil 2:1-2). God loves unity. Satan hates the things God loves. Satan is threatened by unity. Therefore Satan hates unity. He loves division. 

Satan would love nothing more than to sow division. To get you to suspect the actions of others — assuming the worst in them. To get you to refuse to forgive someone. To spread gossip.

This comes out explicitly in the New Testament when Paul spotlights Satan's work. In a context focusing on the new life of Christian community, the apostle Paul warns against unresolved anger in the community, "and give no opportunity to the devil" (Eph 4:27) To make it clear: unresolved anger in the community is what gives the devil an opportunity most directly in Ephesians 4:27. In 2 Corinthians 2, after encouraging the community at Corinth toward the reconciliation of a repentant sinner, Paul drives home the importance of forgiveness: "so that we would not be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs" (2 Cor 2:11). Unforgiveness is the community — a resistance toward reconciliation — is one of Satan's designs. 

Where is Satan working to tear you apart from other believers? Is busyness keeping you from Christian community? Is anger against others giving the devil a foothold? What about gossip? Lack of forgiveness?

Satan wants to trip us up.

This is the catch-all category. However he can do it, Satan wants to distract you from God and take you out of the game. Get you off mission. 1 Peter 5:8 says it powerfully: "​Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Where is Satan trying to trip you up? Causing discouragement and self-doubt as he seeks to devour? Making you second-guess the truth of Christ, making you wonder if following Jesus is really worth it? Tempting you to throw in the towel, to give in and give up? Tempting you to throw in the towel, give in and give up?

As disciples of Jesus, there is great value in knowing something of our enemy, the devil. This knowledge helps us stand against his schemes. And that starts with knowing what his angle of attack is in our lives. The good news is, we're also given the full armor of God, an armor that is created by and coated in the gospel (see Eph 6:14-18).

​Satan's schemes don't need to scare us away, but remind us daily — again and again — to stand in the good news of the gospel, so that "having done all, to stand" (Eph 6:13) by the grace and work of the one Christ Jesus has already "done all" for us. 

You may also be interested in . . . 

]]><![CDATA[Fall 2024 Theology Training: Everything You Need to Know in Advance]]>Mon, 19 Aug 2024 14:23:14 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/fall-2024-theology-training-everything-you-need-to-know-in-advance
Fall 2024 Theology Training begins late August! Woo hoo! 

This Theology Training is a great opportunity, and one that helps build & reinforce theological foundations for people in a way that will serve local churches. This page serves as sort of "collecting point" for info and promo regarding the upcoming class. (Follow the headings as you scroll.) You can also find out more at this Theology Training page, where you can also find registration links. 

Below, you'll find (1) a quick orientation to some of the features of this class, (2) a small series of short videos providing further explanation and excitement, and (3) a draft of the Fall 2024 syllabus. 

Got an any questions? Drop me an email at twiebe@brookside.net. 

Features of Theology Training You Don't Want to Miss

  • This class is intended to be accessible to people from many different churches. I put on my "TEDS Adjunct Professor" hat for this course, and while Brookside Church is the facility host for this, my genuine hope is that this course serves numerous evangelical churches in the greater Omaha area (Eastern Nebraska and Council Bluffs). 
  • This class is taught "live" and "local." While opportunities for online education abound, there's still something special and unique about an in-person community learning and interacting together. This Theology Training offers that. 
  • There are ways to be involved in either an unaccredited certificate or an accredited program through TEDS. However one is involved, these tracks keep us accountable to certain standards and demonstrate intentionality and credibility. (And TEDS' certificate program is so affordable — a great step into more education or a fuller master's degree.) 
  • Who is this Theology Training for? I talk with other church leaders who are considering this as a way to round out some education for their church staff or provide theological footing for elders. Certainly interested laypeople are encouraged to participate as well. If someone is motivated to learn and willing to dig in, we encourage them to check it out! 
  • See below for a draft of our Fall 2024 syllabus, if having this "behind the scenes" glimpse into things is helpful in any way. 

Videos Providing Further Explanation (and Excitement) 

Introduction & Orientation (00:01:00)

Why Theology Training Matters (00:01:26)

3 Min of Details (Format, Content, and Who Is This For?) (00:03:00)

Draft of 2024 Syllabus

I can't promise changes won't be made, but this'll give you a close glimpse of what to expect, how the class is laid out, and the intentionality you can expect. 
ST 5201 Syllabus - Fall 2024
File Size: 442 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Daniel 1: A Picture of Godly Resolve]]>Sat, 29 Jun 2024 17:17:27 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/daniel-1-a-picture-of-godly-resolveEarlier this month I preached on Daniel 1 in Brookside Church's short series on Daniel. To see that fuller series, click here. A number of people have asked that I make this sermon accessible a bit more broadly (beyond Brookside's website and YouTube channel — both great places by the way!) With that request in mind, see below for my sermon on Daniel 1 preached on June 9, 2024. I have included the following formats below: 
  • Video 
  • Audio
  • PDF of manuscript (unedited, but it'll give you a close approximation of what I say)
  • Skeleton outline of sermon

Sermon Video (Length: 38:37)

Sermon Audio (Length: 38:37)

Sermon Manuscript

Skeleton Outline of Sermon

I.     Introduction

II.    Body

       A.  The realities of exile (Daniel 1:1-7)

       B.  The response in exile (Daniel 1:8-14)

            1. Conviction

            2. Character

       C. The triumph over exile (Daniel 1:15-21)

            1. Daniel and friends pass the test and grow in influence

            2. The presence of God "behind the scenes" (some form of "God gave..." in vv. 2, 9, 17)

            3. Nebuchadnezzars disappears. Daniel remains. (v. 21)

            4. Jesus' triumph over exile 

III.   Conclusion 

]]><![CDATA[What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus? A Clear, Biblical Picture of Discipleship]]>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 17:23:49 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/what-does-it-mean-to-follow-jesus-a-clear-biblical-picture-of-discipleship
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In January 2024, I published ​What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus? A Clear, Biblical Picture of Discipleship. A few people have asked for a bit more info on the book, so I'm creating this post as a sort of "landing page" for book info, any video(s) I create related to it, etc. Scroll through the headings below and check it out. (And help spread the word!) 

Where Can I Find the Book? 

The best to find the book is on Amazon. It's available in print, Kindle, and Audible formats. Here's the direct link to the book on Amazon. 

What's the Book About? 

Here's the blurb from the back of the book, followed by an image of the Table of Contents:
"Follow me."

Jesus's clear call in the first century changed lives and impacted society. Jesus is still calling people to follow Him today. Lives and communities continue to feel this influence and benefit from the difference Jesus makes both in and through His disciples.

But what does it mean to follow Jesus?

This book focuses on precisely this question, offering a framework for holistic discipleship that is at once deeply biblical, practical, and accessible.

Specifically, this book introduces a "6C picture" of discipleship that is rooted in Jesus's teaching and the rest of the New Testament. These 6Cs of holistic discipleship include (1) commitment, (2) communion with God, (3) community with others, (4) character, (5) conduct, and (6) commission.
​
Study/discussion questions are included at the end of each chapter.
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Brief Video (2 min) Speaking to Churches and Church Leaders

Who Is the Primary Audience?

This is a great resource for Christians who want to know more about what it means to follow Jesus, and for Christians or church leaders who are in discipling relationships with others — whether that be in small groups or smaller discipleship relationships. 

This can also be a resource for those exploring Christianity, providing a fuller picture of what following Jesus involves. 
]]><![CDATA[6 Books that Will Help You Get Into (and Get the Most Out of) the Bible]]>Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:25:39 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/6-books-that-will-help-you-get-into-and-get-the-most-out-of-the-bible
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One of our core values at Brookside Church is Biblical Authority — looking to the Bible for truth, direction, and inspiration. On Sunday mornings we preach from the Bible. Our small groups (all ages) are tethered to God's Word. We have been encouraging personal Bible reading for YEARS through our 365 Bible Reading Plan. The bottom line? We believe the Bible is uniquely authoritative as God's Word, and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training for right living (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

But we don't only care THAT people read God's Word. (Though of course we never want to minimize this either!) We also care HOW people read God's Word. Or stated another way, we want to help people get into the Bible in such a way that they get the most out of the Bible (in a way that is consistent with how the Bible itself wants to be read!).

Our goal is that our teaching models this and certain classes we offer facilitate this (think: Bible Basics). And we also want to point people toward helpful resources that contribute to this goal as well.

With that in mind, here are six resources I encourage others toward, when I hear they want help with understanding how to read the Bible on their own, or with interpreting certain kinds of Scripture, etc. I hope these help you get into God's Word, in such a way that God's Word gets into you! 

(Note: These are listed in no particular order. [Other than the Study Bibles at the beginning — start there if you don't have a study Bible yet.] Choose the one or two of these that you find more interesting, and dig in!)
A good Study Bible. There are lots of options out there! (My two personal favorites are either the ESV Study Bible or the NIV Zondervan Study Bible.) Helpful explanatory notes on the biblical text, lots of charts and diagrams, and valuable articles throughout [or at the end] make a good Study Bible a tremendous resource.
Journey Into God's Word: Your Guide to Understanding and Applying the Bible, 2nd ed., by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays
40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, 2nd ed., by Robert L. Plummer
Savoring Scripture: A Six-Step Guide to Studying the Bible, by Andrew Abernathy
Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God through Scripture, by Jonathan Pennington
Handbook for Personal Bible Study, 2nd ed., by William W. Klein

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]]><![CDATA[Graduate-level Theology Training is coming to Omaha!]]>Thu, 25 May 2023 02:15:29 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/graduate-level-theology-training-is-coming-to-omaha
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Graduate-level theological training is coming to Omaha! This training is local and it’s live — so this about more than just consuming content. You can participate in a way that forms you, builds community, and serves others. 
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Oh yeah — and you’ll see that this training is SO AFFORDABLE. (Which is of course always good!)
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Below you'll find a few brief videos orienting you to what's coming: 

  • an overview video introducing this training and the subsequent videos
  • a tutorial video explaining the accredited, graduate-level certificates that are offered through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 
  • a video explaining the unaccredited track that's available, if for whatever reason the accredited option isn't a fit for you
  • a video where I share my heart for this training, and the goals that I hope this serves

One more thing before you scroll to the videos: I've included the links here that I mention in the videos, so you have easy access to them: 


​Now, on to the videos: 

Introduction and overview video

Accredited certificates tutorial video

Unaccredited track tutorial video

The goals I hope this training serves

If you have questions, please reach out to Dr. Tim Wiebe at twiebe@brookside.net. 
]]><![CDATA[A Discipleship Pathway is Not a One-Lane Bridge]]>Thu, 02 Mar 2023 22:35:18 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/a-discipleship-pathway-is-not-a-one-lane-bridge
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I'm a big fan of discipleship pathways. It's good for churches to have intentional ways forward (e.g. programs, resources, etc.), helping people grow as disciples (and disciple-makers). I'm encouraged that I anecdotally hear more and more churches uses the language of "discipleship pathway." 

But I also want to paint the picture of a discipleship pathway as a four-lane road, rather than a one-lane bridge. Allow me to explain what I mean: 

A one-lane bridge is narrow and rigid. There's only one way forward, and it usually slows down traffic. There's only one way to get to your destination, whether you like bridges or not. When some people see a one-lane bridge, they do a U-turn and head the other direction. For "one-lane bridge" discipleship pathways, every next step along the path of discipleship (and every tool that's part of that next step) is planned out and mandated. I'm concerned that it can feel too rigid, and may even impede progress.

But gladly, there's another way. 
Instead of a one-lane bridge, think of a four-lane road. (Oh yeah — and imagine some toll booths, too. I'll get to that in a second.) On a four-lane road, you're all moving the same direction — but some people may go faster and some may need to go slower. (Which is OK.) Toll booths are common on many four lane roads. When you arrive at a toll, you can choose to take the "fast pass" lane and fly right through. Or ​you may slow down a bit because you pay by credit card or choose to pay by cash. Or maybe you want to avoid the tolls altogether, so you take a long way, ​but you are still moving in the direction of your destination. 

Sure, after the toll there's some merging going on as people shuffle into lanes again and it can feel a little discombobulated or messy. But that's OK. People are still moving in the same direction toward their destination, and they've been able to choose the lane / toll booth that fits what they need. 

"Four-lane roads with a toll booth" discipleship pathways still keep people going in the direction they need to be going. And that's the point of travel, after all (and ultimately, of discipleship pathways): The greater good is direction and destination, and the particular lane people choose to get there (or the toll booth option they select) is subordinate to the direction. To be sure, the lanes still matter — you can't drive on the shoulder or go off-roading — but there are a small number of good options, rather than a restrictive one as in the "one-lane bridge."

As churches construct discipleship pathways, then, a healthy approach is to think less in terms of "one-lane bridge" (i.e., everyone has to follow the exact same steps, etc.) and to think more in terms "four-lane road" — providing a small number of options (lane markers are still important! I'm not advocating for a crash derby...) that keeps traffic flowing and people making progress in the right direction: Christlikeness. 
And just to be abundantly clear: In this post I'm focusing on discipleship PATHWAYS and not discipleship itself. Discipleship itself is narrow — Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Narrow is the path that leads to eternal life (Matt 7:13-14). The point of this post is more practical: As people grow in Christlikeness and proceed in that direction as disciples, the practical tools and programs churches can use to facilitate that growth in Christlikeness should not be unnecessarily rigid or restrictive. 

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]]><![CDATA[Building a Biblical and Theological Library? Here Are (Another) 4 More Books to Add to the Shelves]]>Tue, 17 Jan 2023 22:10:14 GMThttps://www.thebrooksideinstitute.net/blog/building-a-biblical-and-theological-library-here-are-another-4-more-books-to-add-to-the-shelvesIn the past I've written a couple of short posts advocating the idea of building a biblical and theological "library" of books — a shelf (or shelves) with trusted books that can relied on to guide you in reading the Bible and navigating theological topics. (Click here and here to see the first two posts in what is now apparently a series!)

Some of these are books to read straight through; others are books to keep handy as reference books and turn to on an as-needed basis. All of them are worthwhile.

I'm still a fan of the books I recommended in the earlier posts — even as I now figure it's time to add a few more books to the list. If you're looking to slowly start building (or adding) to a biblical and theological library yourself, here are four books to add to the shelf:

Bible

40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible, 2nd ed. (Robert L. Plummer)

Theological Method

Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage (Gavin Ortlund)

Theology

50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding and Teaching Theology (Gregg R. Allison)

Theology

Christian Theology: The Biblical Story and Our Faith (Christopher W. Morgan, with Robert A. Peterson)

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