Skip to main content
SHARPER IRON
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
  • About
    • About Sharper Iron
    • Doctrinal Statement
    • Contact
    • Search
  • Forum
    • Forum Home
    • Comment Guidelines
    • Search
  • Account
    • Log in
    • Register

Discipleship

Simple Church Planting

By Forrest McPhail on Thu, 06/18/26
Image of hands planting a seedling

There is nothing simple about making disciples, and yet, making disciples should be done simply. Forming local churches from new disciples does not need to be an overly complicated affair.

In unreached areas, or among unreached people groups, to make disciples is to plant local churches. This is what Jesus communicated to us in the Great Commission:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)

Why Teaching Deep Theology Matters to Your Church

By Filings on Thu, 06/04/26
Body

“We often shy away from teaching new believers deep theology. But the church is called to disciple believers into theological depths.” - Lifeway

Pastoring the Pestering Conscience

By Filings on Tue, 06/02/26
Body

“I’ve met church members who are hard on themselves. Like radar that mistakes birds for bombers, their consciences hold them in a state of emergency. They live under the threat of God’s judgment. They apologize a lot. Some are hard on others, too. Like air traffic controllers with defective equipment, they cry danger when there is none. They accuse a lot.” - 9 Marks

From Credulity to Conviction: Helping Children Grow a Faith That Lasts

By Filings on Wed, 02/04/26
Body

“Children don’t remain credulous forever. Beliefs mature. When they do, they usually abandon beliefs in Santa, but they are far more likely to keep believing in Jesus. Our calling is to guide them from childlike credulity to mature conviction, helping them discard what’s false while rooting them deeply in the truth.” - CPPL

Why Bible Reading Plans Fail (and What We Can Do About It)

By Filings on Fri, 01/23/26
Body

“How can we lead our churches to find success in following Bible reading plans that help them spend time in God’s Word in a meaningful way?” - Lifeway

Teach People How to Read Their Bibles

By Filings on Thu, 01/22/26
Body

“A pastor isn’t responsible only to teach Scripture but also to help his people learn how to read the Bible for themselves. Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan share how pastors can encourage their congregations to engage deeply with God’s Word, meditate on how the Lord has revealed himself, and approach Scripture with obedience and joy.” - TGC

Concluding Our Analysis of Church-Planting/Disciple-Making Movements: Theology and Methods

By Micah Colbert on Wed, 12/17/25

Today’s analysis will be the final article in this series on Church-Planting and Disciple-Making Movements. The methods we’ve explored thus far espoused by movement leaders have significantly influenced major missions organizations such as the IMB, Cru, International Students Inc, and a host of others.

A Critical Analysis of Church-Planting/Disciple-Making Movements, Part 3: Prayer and the Person of Peace

By Micah Colbert on Tue, 12/09/25

This article is the third in this week’s series on Church-Planting and Disciple-Making Movements. It’s important to note that these movements are not inconsequential. The methods espoused by movement leaders have significantly influenced major missions organizations such as the IMB, Cru, International Students Inc, and a host of others.

A Critical Analysis of Church-Planting/Disciple-Making Movements, Part 2: Disciples Who Make Disciples

By Micah Colbert on Fri, 10/17/25

This article is the second in a series of articles on Church-Planting and Disciple-Making Movements. In our first article, we explored the history and core characteristics of these multiplying movements (MMs for shore). In today’s article, I’d like to overview and analyze the first main strategy that movement leaders emphasize.

A Critical Analysis of Church-Planting/Disciple-Making Movements, Part 1: Something New Under the Sun?

By Micah Colbert on Tue, 10/07/25

“There is no new thing under the sun,” the Preacher tersely stated (Ecclesiastes 1:9). However, between 1997-1998, missionaries David Garrison and David Watson began to speak of “something new” God was doing in the world through a ministry paradigm shift that would eventually become known as a Church Planting Movement. According to Jerry Trousdale, “Over the last 50 years, and especially since the turn of the 21st century, the Spirit of God has been birthing a new concept in the earth. Instead of addition, the Spirit of God is calling forth multiplication.

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • …
  • Next page
  • Last page
Image
Image of file drawer

Footer

  • About
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Forum

Since 2005

Image
2005 SI Logo Image