Jesus tells his believers to make disciples. That’s not a command just for clergy. Laity actually play the biggest part, but that important role requires leadership.

The Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church will host its first Laity Summit on March 21 in Kearney, Nebraska. In this episode, Todd talks with Shane Warta, conference coordinator for lay leadership, and David Teel, director of laity and spiritual leadership at Discipleship Ministries, who will serve as the keynote speaker for the event.

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In the second of two episodes exploring the concept of a culture of call, Todd talks with the Rev. Ashlee Alley Crawford, coordinator of clergy recruitment and development for the Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church.

In their discussion, Ashlee shares resources available to local churches, young adults and others to help them explore their call into ministry — whether that be pastoral ministry or as part of their secular vocation — and how everyday Christians can nurture their own calls as well as the calls of other people.

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Even smaller churches can make a big impact in the world for Christ. And there is an example tucked away in Madison, Kansas, about 22 miles south of Emporia, that serves as proof.

In his book “The Madison Effect,” Gary Robbins writes about how a church in a town of 700 people has helped 16 people enter into pastoral ministry. And they did it by paying attention, listening for the Holy Spirit and working in partnership between clergy and laity.

In this episode, Todd Seifert talks with Gary Robbins about why he wrote the book, some of the concepts he introduces and how Gary thinks churches can create a culture of call in their congregations.

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Some people feel lost. They don’t think they deserve love or respect or any consideration from God. They know sin has taken over their lives, but they don’t know what to do.

Jesus tells us through the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin that while we may be lost, He never stops searching for us. To Jesus, we are the valuable sheep that has wandered off. We are the highly valued coin that has been misplaced.

Through these parables, Jesus teaches that we are loved, we are highly desired, and we are of great value to God.

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Todd continues our exploration of what Jesus taught by using parables. In this episode, we look at the widely known parable of the Good Samaritan. Even if you don’t know the story, you probably know the term.

But what does it really mean? What was Jesus trying to teach us? And who, exactly, is our “neighbor”?

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In this episode, Todd mentions the Valley of Doves. Positioned between Jerusalem and Jericho, it is believed this may have been the setting Jesus had in mind for his story. The images below are from that area and may provide some further insight into the story shared by Jesus.

 

We start a series of Bible-teaching episodes on some of Jesus’ parables with a look at the Prodigal Son. This story teaches us many things and makes us ponder even more. But Todd shares in this reflection how the story of the younger son teaches that nobody is too far gone, too lost to find his or her way back to the God who yearns to see them appear over the horizon.

If you feel like your life is out of control, like there’s no way God would want anything to do with you because you feel you are just not worthy of a relationship with Christ, with your Creator, then you need to hear this story. It’s especially for you.

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As much as I love Santa Claus, Rudolph, Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree and the redemption of Ebeneezer Scrooge, Christmas really is about the arrival of the Christ child, the Savior for all humankind.

The story is told primarily in the books of Matthew and Luke. So we’re going to spend some time in this episode going through the entire story, in order, by merging those two books together. Told in seven acts — or seven mini-stories within the larger birth story — we’ll learn about how God paved the way for Jesus, remind ourselves of the familiar parts of the Christmas story, and learn a little bit more about Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and magi.

I hope you enjoy this telling of this precious, important story to our faith. Have a very merry Christmas!

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I’ve been fascinated with the concept of motive for as long as I can remember. I think it has something to do with all of the crime drama shows I watched as a kid and that I find so interesting even to this day.

So as we draw closer to Christmas, some people may wonder why God chose to send Jesus in this way at that time and for the purpose of saving humankind from sin. What was God’s motivation?

In this episode, we’ll look at John 3:16-19 to explore why God chose to send the Son, Jesus, to live among us, to teach us and, ultimately, to die for us. It can be summed up in a single, powerful word: love.

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In this Bible-teaching episode, Todd Seifert shares a reflection on John 1:1-18 and explains how the opening poetry of this gospel introduces Jesus as the light of the world.

Learn how the darkness in the shadows of life don’t have to be permanent, nor do they have to be scary, because Jesus will be the light to drown out the darkness amid many circumstances.

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Southwestern College — home of the Mound Builders — is tucked away in Winfield, Kansas, a small school in a small town southeast of Wichita. And tucked away on one corner of this secluded campus is the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship.

A quick glance reveals nothing grand. It’s a fine building, but it’s relatively small, with three or four office spaces, one larger hall space for gatherings.

It looks like nothing special.

But looks are deceiving. God said as much to the prophet Samuel when the man was looking for the next king of Israel.

Just as King David started off small in stature, this small institute has blossomed. In fact, some mighty big things regarding relationships with Christ happen because of what takes place here.

There may be grander buildings, but what happens inside these walls reaches right to the hearts of people to help them meet Jesus Christ and to get to know Him better.

At the centerpiece is the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship.

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