In this podcast episode, Hope's Associate Pastors reflect on their congregation's Bible reading plan, having completed Genesis and started Exodus. They discuss how reading through Genesis reveals God's incredible mercy and patience with broken people, noting that the heroes of faith were "mildly screw ups" whom God used for great things. The conversation shifts to personal testimonies as Pastor Meyers shares his journey from physical therapy to ministry, describing how God's call became undeniable during a quiet moment in his clinic.

The discussion centers around the "3C's" of discipleship that their church has been teaching: commitment to Christ, connection to His followers, and contribution to His mission. The pastors share how their upbringing in families that prioritized ministry and opened their homes to missionaries and church leaders shaped their understanding of faithful living. They emphasize that while not everyone is called to vocational ministry, the same three principles apply to all believers. The episode concludes with reflections on how genuine connection with other believers is essential for spiritual growth and victory over temptation, noting that simply attending church is different from being truly plugged in and connected to the community.

Pastor Brian wrapped up the Becoming a 3C Disciple series by presenting a framework for spiritual growth built around three key areas. The three C's include commitment to Jesus (knowing Him personally and being transformed by His lordship), connection to Jesus' followers (building intentional relationships within the church community), and contribution to Jesus' mission (serving as both servant and ambassador).

The sermon featured powerful testimonies from Rich and Lynndale Hardeman, who shared their journey from salvation through pastoral ministry; Aaron and Elizabeth McWilliams, who demonstrated how connecting with others changes across different life stages; and Jared and Anna Jeffries, who showed how contribution often begins with small steps of obedience. Pastor Brian explained that these three areas integrate to produce a fourth outcome: becoming a humble leader who follows Jesus' example of servant leadership. He concluded by challenging the congregation to consider their next steps in each area, emphasizing that this framework provides clarity, alignment, and scalability across all life stages.

Pastor Matt's Ministry Mentor Podcast: https://mattsturdevant.com/podcasts/

In this podcast discussion about Hope Church's "Becoming a 3C Disciple" series, Pastors Matt, Brian, Jeremy, and Luke explore what it means to live as committed, connected, and contributing followers of Jesus. They address the challenge of building adult friendships, noting that proximity, timing, and energy are essential for deep relationships - with research showing it takes 74 hours to become casual friends and over 200 hours for close friendships. The discussion emphasizes that Christians don't just attend church but belong to the body of Christ, shaped through relationships where "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17). They explore spiritual gifts extensively, explaining that every believer receives at least one spiritual gift at salvation to serve others and glorify God. The conversation includes practical advice about discovering gifts through service, the importance of "doing life together," and the reality that all Christians are called to be servant ambassadors wherever they "live, work, parent, and play."