Jesus is the one who calls us ‘come follow me’. The call to be a disciple of Jesus demands a wholehearted, whole life response, which identifies Jesus Christ as Lord.
What would Jesus look like in your shoes and situation? From the very first disciples until now, Jesus has been shaping and forming disciples to follow him in every place. Seventy-two recognises the nature of being life-long followers of Jesus gets tough for all of us, in different seasons of life. We aim to be a community of like-minded Jesus followers and invite all who recognise the Lordship of Jesus Christ to share in our journey of mutual discovery and encouragement. We follow as individuals, but if you have a leadership role within the church you will want to do your very best to cultivate an environment in which other disciples can grow and thrive. Today, personal discipleship is the most crucial issue for the church across the UK and we are calling everyone to this priority.
Inspiring Discipleship Articles and Resources
Saying Yes To Life This Lent
Saying yes to life is the book commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury for Lent 2020, and written by Tearfund’s Director of Advocacy and Influencing, Dr Ruth Valerio. "Lent is a time for us to focus on Jesus’ death and resurrection, and our reconciliation and...
Twelve Steps Towards Freedom: Confession
COP25. Ring a bell? No? Well, I mentioned it in my last blog before Christmas. I know, I know. That’s an age away. Your attention might have been elsewhere - there was an election on after all. And things around churches get frantic in the run up to Christmas,...
Trust
As the general election approaches Boris Johnson has a problem: people don’t trust him. This is not a party-political point. All the leaders of the main parties are distrusted to some degree or other. As BBC deputy political editor John Pienaar has said, this is an...
Twelve Steps Towards Freedom: Deeper
You might have noticed, there’s a general election on. And I’ve been wondering; how long do promises made in the run-up to an elections last? A long as the Parliament? Perhaps a year? A few months? Up to when the doors of the polling stations close? A bit...
Realigning Your Heart
‘The season of Advent is given to us so that we can realign our compass to direct us on the right path’. When I read that in the introduction of John Sentamu’s ‘Wake up to Advent’, I knew I’d made a good choice to read this Advent. Advent is about preparation –...
A Journey in Missional Leadership: What’s Written Through The Rock?
“If you cut me in half you’ll find ‘Baptist’ written through me.” What a silly statement! I think if you cut me in half you’ll find a mess! However, if I was a stick of rock, I hope that you would find ‘mission’ written inside me. It’s important to know what your...
Twelve Steps towards Freedom – Conversion
I don’t know if you do this in your church, but when I was baptised, they gave me a Bible verse to encourage me. I have often wondered why the minister who baptised me was led to this verse. Maybe because he recognised in me a questioning and inquisitive mind – the...
Twelve Steps Towards Freedom – Powerless
I had been invited to speak at a men’s supper in a village close to where I was living in Milton Keynes. Linked to the local parish church, it included people from church and the wider community, some of whom worked in farming around the village. A small gathering...
Twelve Steps towards Freedom – Addicted
If you're standing, perhaps you had better sit down. Take a deep breath! This may come as a bit of a shock. I am an addict. Not an easy thing for a Christian leader to say. We are meant to be “hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright,...
Creating a Hinterland
What would you say to your younger self about some of the challenges and delights of ministry? In his latest book 'Letters to a Young Pastor' Ian Stackhouse returns to the art of letter writing, to capture and share something of what God has shown him over the last...