Doing God’s will is not always supposed to be fun or comfortable. Sometimes obedience means sacrifice and discomfort.

We have admiration for martyrs—people who die publicly because of their faith. We know their stories from the Bible and church history. But what about the kind of martyrdom that slowly draws the life from us, not in an execution, but from a daily choice of being poured out like a drink offering?

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Church planting can be painful. Adam Ramsay shares three things that church planters need to know about pain:

1. If pain is inevitable, self-pity is not an option.
2. If Jesus is my king, pain can be my servant.
3. If Jesus is with me, I can face anything.

Because pain in ministry is one of the unexpected tools God will use to shape you, gradually but increasingly, into the likeness of his Son.

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Let’s not forget that its the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, that will ultimately save us and not the strength of our faith.

When we wrestle with doubts, we should remind ourselves of this precious truth: it’s not the strength of our faith that ultimately matters, but the object of our faith.

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Did Jesus really preach in parables to confuse people? Steve Weaver shares why parables simultaneously reveal and conceal the truth about Christ, and why that leaves room for God’s intervention in a our salvation.

This teaching should also lead us to compassion for the lost. That we would weep for them as Jesus did and plead with them to come to Christ (as Jesus did). We should pray to God that the same God who opened our eyes would open their eyes to the gospel. This is their only hope. If we truly believed this, we would be people of prayer!

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Karl Vaters outlines five reasons to preach about the Bible, not just from the Bible.

1. People need to know “why” and not just “what”.

2. It’s an essential aspect to equipping believers.

3. It’s a defence against false teaching.

4. It’s an essential element against evangelism.

5. It will keep people more anchored in their faith.

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Phil Miglioratti breaks down the secret of great churches and communities with a Biblical formula.

The Great Commission plus the Great Commandment added to a Great Commitment, multiplied by Great Collaborations results in Great Communities.

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Three principles that can help you succeed when you fail.

1. Fail in the Place You’ll Eventually Succeed
2. Fail Around People Who Will Catch
3. Fail Knowing It (failure) Doesn’t Define You

And when you do fail at something, take heart; you’re not alone. Others in higher positions, who have succeeded, have also failed spectacularly. So try something new. Don’t be afraid or defined by that moment. Surround yourself with friends and family who support you. Be in Scripture and prayer. In the providence of God, there is a purpose in failing.

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Jeff Robinson shares why Jesus calls us to love him over our families — because the cost of following Jesus is worth more than anything in the world.

We may be scandalized by the “hate” speech, but I suspect in stumbling over Jesus’s plain talk, we can miss the real scandal of this text: There will be rivals warring for supremacy over the throne of our hearts, but our love for King Jesus must defeat every one.

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Karl Vaters reminds us that when sharing the gospel, being loud is not necessarily the same as being heard. Let’s strive to share the gospel by speaking gently, listening intently and by loving in an engaged way.

…the message of the gospel is far more often a lower case message of hope, peace and truth than an uppercase message of PANIC, ANGER and FURY…The voice of Jesus was more often quietly compelling than shockingly loud.

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If you have any questions, visit oneyearchallenge.org.