Discipleship Resources

Leadership is Discipleship 2026 (Korean)

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:21:26 GMT

2026년 리더십저널 주제는 기독교 애국주의다. 이 저널은 사회·정치적 변화 속에서 기독교인이 분별하고 지향해야 할 방향을 숙고하며, 교회가 포용과 정의, 평화의 길로 나아가기를 기대한다. 이를 위해 기독교 애국주의가 민주주의의 다양성과 포용성을 위협하는지, 인종차별과 파시즘적 정서, 배타성과 폭력성에 어떻게 연결되는지를 묻고, 종교와 정치의 불합리한 결합에서 반복되는 차별과 혐오, 배제의 메커니즘을 어떻게 극복할 수 있는지 탐구한다. 한국의 역사적 맥락에서 기독교 애국주의는 해방과 전쟁, 분단을 거치며 ‘영광과 수치’의 이중적 궤적을 남겼으며, 보수와 진보, 반공과 이념적 대립의 뿌리를 교회가 어떻게 성찰하고 극복할 수 있는지를 짚는다. 나아가 기독교 애국주의가 어떻게 가능하며 어떤 모습이어야 하는지, 신앙의 정치적 표현과 교회의 정치화가 신앙과 시민성, 종교와 공공성 사이의 긴장을 어떻게 균형 지을 수 있는지를 논한다.

By Water and the Spirit, Revised Study Guide

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:07:11 GMT

What does it mean to belong to God through baptism? This practical study guide for By Water and the Spirit explores The United Methodist Church's official teaching on baptism and aims to equip individuals and groups to grow in lifelong discipleship by bringing clarity to common questions about how United Methodists understand and practice baptism.

In this companion resource, Mark Stamm, a leading expert on interpreting the Church's teaching, expands on the work of the late Gayle Carlton Felton and invites individuals and groups to engage deeply with the meaning, practice, and lifelong significance of baptism.

Specifically designed to be a document for practical use rather than a presentation of abstract theology, the guide is organized into six teaching sessions. Each session contains three types of material: the original text of By Water and the Spirit approved by the General Conference, commentary on that text, and suggestions for how to teach about it.

Designed for use in congregations and classrooms alike, this study edition includes:

The full official text of By Water and the Spirit
Accessible commentary to illuminate key themes and theological insights
Practical teaching guidance for pastors, small group leaders, and educators
Six structured sessions for group study or personal reflection

Ideal for new member classes, confirmation, small groups, and leadership development; this resource serves as both a teaching tool and a spiritual invitation.

More than a study, this is an opportunity to reclaim baptism as a living reality—one that shapes our identity, grounds our faith, and calls us into a life of discipleship and ministry.

Rediscover the grace given in water and through the Spirit along with what it means to live as Christ's own, today and always.

This study guide includes the full text of By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism, adopted by the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.

The Africana Worship Book

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:52:38 GMT

Available February 2027; Preorder Now!

A vibrant new collection of worship resources from a new generation of Black voices.

For generations, the Black church has been a place where people gather to pray, sing, testify, proclaim God's Word, and find strength for the journey. It is a place of worship, witness, creativity, and community—a place where faith is renewed and God's people are equipped for the work of ministry in the world.

Now, ten years after the publication of the last volume in the acclaimed Africana Worship Book series, editors Safiyah Fosua and Cheryl LaTanya Walker return with a powerful new collection shaped by the voices of emerging Black creatives from across the Africana tradition.

Written by clergy, lay leaders, musicians, poets, and worship leaders, The Africana Worship Book: Liturgical Resources from Black Creatives offers fresh and compelling worship resources that speak to the realities, hopes, challenges, and celebrations of the church today. Through prayers, spoken word, calls to worship, litanies, and dramatic readings, these contributors draw from the rich traditions of the Black church while creating liturgies for a new generation.

Designed for pastors, worship leaders, musicians, liturgists, and congregations of every background, this volume provides a robust collection of resources for leading meaningful, relevant, and transformative worship.

Inside you'll find:

Meditations for Gathering
Calls to Worship
Choral Readings
Prayers and Litanies
Responses to the Word
Spoken Word and Drama
Liturgies for Special Days and Seasons
Scripture Index

Rooted in the wisdom of the Black church and alive with the creativity of today's emerging leaders, The Africana Worship Book is an essential resource for congregations seeking worship that is authentic, inspiring, and responsive to the needs of our time.

Living Our Beliefs, Third Edition

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:50:21 GMT

Available May 2027; Preorder Now!

What does it mean to be a United Methodist today?

In a season of profound change for both the church and society, how can United Methodist faith continue to shape our lives, our congregations, and our witness in the world?

Since Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way was last updated in 2009, both The United Methodist Church and the wider culture have changed dramatically. In a society where religion no longer occupies a central place in public life, churches are called to articulate their identity, beliefs, mission, and witness with greater clarity than ever before.

In this newly revised edition of his classic guide, Bishop Kenneth L. Carder offers a clear, accessible introduction to United Methodist doctrine, theology, and practices that shape Christian discipleship. Drawing on the writings of John and Charles Wesley, insights from leading scholars, the liturgical resources of The United Methodist Hymnal, and other foundational sources, Carder identifies and clarifies United Methodist beliefs and their relevance for living as disciples of Jesus Christ, both individually and in community.

More than an introduction to Methodist doctrine, Living Our Beliefs demonstrates that theology is never merely something we affirm. It is something we live. As Carder reminds us, "Beliefs are to be lived; doctrine is to be practiced."

Whether you're preparing for confirmation, joining a United Methodist congregation, leading a small group, or seeking a deeper understanding of Wesleyan faith, Living Our Beliefs invites readers to discover how Methodist beliefs can shape lives, strengthen congregations, and transform communities.

"This revised edition is essential reading for every congregation seeking to move beyond institutional maintenance toward the transformative discipleship that has always been the Methodist way." —Rev. Dr. Laceye C. Warner, Professor of the Practice of Church Ministry and Methodist Studies and Associate Dean for Wesleyan Engagement, Duke Divinity School

Simple Leadership

Mon, 04 May 2026 13:02:30 GMT

This comprehensive leader's guide contains five two-hour teaching sessions designed for the Lay Servant Ministries course "Mission Possible 3: Lay Servants Leading and Governing Congregations with Simplified Accountable Structure." Through Simple Accountable Governance, clergy and laity are set free to lead with full accountability to Jesus' Great Commission and the Charge Conference of the congregation. This advanced course with a leader's guide by Kay Kotan and Blake Bradford, co-authors of Impact: Reclaiming the Call of Lay Ministry, adapts the rich insights of their books, Mission Possible 3: A Simple Structure for Missional Effectiveness and Mission Possible for the Small Church, into a new 10-hour advanced course that emphasizes lay leadership structured for maximum missional impact.

The Bible Through the Eyes of John Wesley

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:38:36 GMT

Available November 2026; Preorder Now!

Explore the Bible from beginning to end with 52 weekly studies informed by Wesleyan theology and tradition.

The Bible Through the Eyes of John Wesley is the fruit of the author's missional work in churches across Latin America and the United States. The individual studies are designed to provide instruction both for those new to the faith and for those with greater knowledge or maturity who wish to deepen their study of scripture through the lenses of Wesleyan heritage, theology, and foundational doctrines—essential tools for nurturing Christian discipleship in the Wesleyan tradition.

Written by Rev. Dr. Philip Wingeier-Rayo, a leading Wesleyan scholar in The United Methodist Church, these studies provide the reader with a brief introduction to the life of John Wesley and the origins of the Wesleyan movement in England in the eighteenth century. Following an overview of the origins of the Wesleyan revival, the book is broken into two parts: "The Old Testament and the Law" and "the New Testament and Grace." The first part traces the books of the Old Testament in chronological order, starting with the Book of Genesis, and the second part covers the Wesley way of salvation from Creation, the Fall, prevenient grace, convincing grace, repentance, new birth, justification by faith and sanctification.

Each individual Bible study includes:

A Bible passage and key Bible verse to the topic of study
A brief introduction
A lesson with observations from Wesley's writings (Bible commentaries, sermons, letters, journal, or other treatises)
Questions for group discussion
A closing prayer

The Bible Through the Eyes of John Wesley will help to deepen and challenge the faith of both new believers and mature Christians and serve as a helpful instrument of evangelism and discipleship for both leaders and participants in the Wesleyan way of salvation.

By Water and the Spirit, Revised Study Guide

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:33:07 GMT

Designed for use in congregations and classrooms alike, this study edition includes:

The full official text of By Water and the Spirit
Accessible commentary to illuminate key themes and theological insights
Practical teaching guidance for pastors, small group leaders, and educators
Six structured sessions for group study or personal reflection

Ideal for new member classes, confirmation, small groups, and leadership development; this resource serves as both a teaching tool and a spiritual invitation.

More than a study, this is an opportunity to reclaim baptism as a living reality—one that shapes our identity, grounds our faith, and calls us into a life of discipleship and ministry.

Rediscover the grace given in water and through the Spirit along with what it means to live as Christ's own, today and always.

This study guide includes the full text of By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism, adopted by the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Exploración de una cultura del cuidado en la congregación

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:11:24 GMT

Esta guía completa para líderes contiene seis sesiones de enseñanza de 90 minutos, diseñadas para el curso de Ministerios de Líderes Laicos Exploración de una cultura del cuidado en la congregación. Basado en el libro The Caring Congregation (La congragación que cuida) de Karen Lampe, este recurso equipa a los ministros laicos con habilidades prácticas para el ministerio de cuidado pastoral. Los participantes aprenderán técnicas de escucha profunda para establecer conexiones significativas, cómo brindar cuidado durante tiempos de pérdida y crisis, cómo mantener límites saludables en las relaciones que implican el cuidado y cómo comprender las diferencias culturales en los enfoques del ministerio del cuidado.

Exploring a Culture of Care for a Caring Congregation: Leader’s Guide

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:26:48 GMT

This comprehensive leader's guide contains six 90-minute teaching sessions designed for the Lay Servant Ministries course "Exploring a Culture of Care for a Caring Congregation." Based on Karen Lampe's book The Caring Congregation, this resource equips lay servant ministers with practical skills for pastoral care ministry. Participants will learn deep listening techniques for meaningful connections, how to provide care during times of loss and crisis, how to maintain healthy boundaries in caring relationships, and how to understand cultural differences in care ministry approaches.

Leadership is Discipleship 2025 (Korean)

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 19:32:35 GMT

2025년 리더십저널 주제는 리셋이다. 다음 질문으로부터 리셋의 여정을 함께 시작하기를 바란다. 예수의 리더십은 우리에게 무엇을 리셋하라고 하는가? 감리교 운동이 대중들에게 흡인력을 가질 수 있었던 이유는 무엇이고, 리셋해야 할 요소는 무엇인가? 기독교의 어떤 특성이 대중에게 자신의 신학적 지향을 효과적으로 전달할 수 있었을까? 오늘의 기독교가 편협한 자기중심적 경계를 벗어날 길은 무엇인가? 믿음을 재정비하고, 식었던 선교적인 열정을 회복하고, 강한 연대와 신뢰를 회복하고 미래적인 교회를 위해서 무엇을 해야 하는가? 어떻게 창조를 이끌고, 섬김을 실천하며, 낮은 곳으로 향하는 리더십을 실천할 수 있을까? 신의 이름으로 타인을 압도하는 과오는 무엇이고 진정한 환대와 선교는 어떻게 이룰 수 있을까? 리미널리티 시대를 살고 있는 우리는 미래 교회의 모습을 어떻게 전망할 수 있을까? 어떻게 진정성, 완전성, 창의성을 들어내는가?

The Sacraments

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:59:34 GMT

This PDF leader's guide is designed to lead the Lay Servant Ministries course covering the sacraments. This course is based on the books By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism and This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion both written by Gayle Carlton Fenton. The leader guide contains lesson plans for ten hour-long sessions to help lay servant ministers learn more about the theology of baptism and communion, how these sacraments relate to their communities, and how to help their communities more fully embrace the meaning behind these sacraments. The leader guide also contains handouts and printable resources for the Lay Servant Ministries course.

Leadership is Discipleship 2024 (Korean)

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 13:53:59 GMT

LID 2024 리더십저널은 ‘인공지능’을 다룬다. 물론 우리가 과학자나 기술자가 아니기에 인공지능 기술이 얼마나 발전하고 어떤 방향으로 갈지는 확정할 수 없다. 그러나 현재 상황과 예측할 수 있는 현실을 직시하며 인공지능 시대에 목사와 신학자로, 기독교학자와 교수로 인공지능 영역에 관한 이해와 전망, 이슈와 문제점, 직업과 노동, 인간 이해와 관계성, 윤리와 영성, 교육과 신학 관련 질문을 하고 방향을 제시할 수 있을 것이다. 인공지능이라는 한 주제 속에서, 좀 더 세밀한 부분, 곧 윤리, 문화, 인간론, 영성, 노동, 사회, 교육, 사역 등과 연계한 글이 많으니, 인공지능과 신학의 이해 폭을 넓히고 인공지능과 기독교의 만남으로 펼쳐질 미지의 세상에 길을 트고 방향을 제시해 나가기를 바란다.

Lanzar una nueva comunidad de adoración

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 16:35:33 GMT

«En una época en la que la religión organizada se asocia a menudo con un pensamiento obsoleto, una gran parte de la población ha renunciado a la iglesia. No creen que la iglesia pueda ofrecer algo interesante y relevante para ellos», escribe Paul Nixon. «Por lo tanto, ahora es necesario un trabajo mayor para construir la comunidad de adoración y cultivar la confianza antes de que la gente se comprometa con nosotros. En el mundo actual, las comunidades de adoración nuevas e innovadoras son más necesarias que nunca».

En el libro Lanzar una nueva comunidad de adoración, los autores Paul Nixon y Craig Gilbert junto con un equipo de otros catorce expertos en plantación de iglesias, ofrecen consejos valiosos a los líderes del ministerio — tanto al clero como a los laicos — para alcanzar a nuevas personas con el evangelio.

Lanzar nueva comunidad de adoración contiene 32 capítulos cortos que profundizan en los detalles más prácticos a los que se enfrentan los equipos de lanzamiento de comunidades de adoración hoy en día.

Los temas incluyen lo siguiente:

¿Por qué iniciar una nueva reunión?
Enfocarse en un grupo particular de personas
Desarrollar una cultura de invitación
Promover la diversidad étnica
Conectar bien en un mundo digital
Reunir a su equipo de lanzamiento
Ofrecer una hospitalidad de primera clase

Lanzar una nueva comunidad de adoración

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:09:44 GMT

Los temas incluyen lo siguiente:

¿Por qué iniciar una nueva reunión?
Enfocarse en un grupo particular de personas
Desarrollar una cultura de invitación
Promover la diversidad étnica
Conectar bien en un mundo digital
Reunir a su equipo de lanzamiento
Ofrecer una hospitalidad de primera clase

연합감리교회 설명서: 우리는 누구인가? A Manual of the United Methodist Church (Korean)

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:09:04 GMT

연합감리교회 설명서 - 연합감리교회를 설명하기 위해 만들어진 “우리는 누구인가?”는 연합감리교회의 아이덴티티와 독특성, 역사와 교리를 잘 설명해 줄 뿐만 아니라 연합감리교인으로서 이를 어떻게 적용하고 신앙생활 해야 하는지를 잘 안내해 준다. 또한, 교회 임원들이 감리교회의 정체성을 알고 교회 사역과 운영에 참여할 수 있도록 인도하고, 새 신자나 타 교단에서 신앙생활 했던 분들이 연합감리교회의 특성을 알고 연합감리교회에 더 잘 적응할 수 있도록 안내해 줄 것이다.

Loving People and Planet in God's Name

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:46:30 GMT

This PDF is the Leader's Guide for Loving People and Planet in God's Name. This Leader's Guide includes lesson plans for five two-hour sessions to help lay servant ministers learn more about climate justice, how to talk about climate justice using a biblical and theological framework, and how to work with their communities to do meaningful ministry around creation care. This advanced Lay Servant Ministries course is based on the book Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action.

Campus Ministry

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:42:28 GMT

This resource, written with the intention to support a new Lay Servant Ministries course, will give readers a general understanding of the developmental needs of the 18- to 26-year-old demographic in the United States; general categories of institutions of higher learning; basic structures for campus ministries and offices of spiritual and religious life on college or university campuses; a framework to discern how United Methodist congregations may be called to serve students in their local context; and tools to begin bridging the administrative structures at the institution of higher learning in question to gain appropriate access to students.

The approach of this text (and its companion PDF leader's guide, available separately) is fundamentally student-centered and contextual, placing the needs of students as the foundation of congregational discernment and institutional bridging to build and/or support a student ministry. (The scope of this text is limited to higher education in the United States, as models of higher education differ greatly in other regions of the world. This text also primarily targets the 18- to 26-year-old demographic, recognizing that many students in the United States may fall outside this age range.)

A Missionary Mindset

Tue, 24 May 2022 16:01:26 GMT

Doug Ruffle writes A Missionary Mindset using the timeless principles of E. Stanley Jones and transfers them for use today. Teaching us to approach the mission field as if we were from a different country and learning a new culture, a new way of communicating, and a new way to connect people to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

La evangelización transformadora

Fri, 20 May 2022 15:30:09 GMT

Debido a las tácticas más agresivas y de confrontación que escuchamos, el evangelismo ha desarrollado una mala connotación. Las puertas se cierran apresuradamente, las llamadas telefónicas terminan abruptamente y los correos electrónicos quedan sin respuesta.

Después de todo, ¿no es una tarea que debería realizar el pastor?

Tal vez sea el momento de reexaminar el modelo de evangelización de Juan Wesley como un ciclo completo y natural, en el que se trata de un punto de partida común en lugar de un final solitario.

El motivo central del evangelismo auténtico es: Habiendo recibido un mensaje que ha marcado la diferencia en nuestras vidas, deseamos compartir ese mensaje con otras personas con la esperanza de que también transforme sus vidas. Wesley modela un evangelismo que se extiende y da la bienvenida, invita y nutre, y habla tanto a la razón como al corazón.

«El evangelismo es relacional», escriben los autores. «Cómo nos relacionamos con Dios, que es capaz de transformarnos en seres nuevos. Cómo estamos en relación con nuestro prójimo, al que debemos amar como a nosotros mismos».

Como dice un crítico «Knight y Powe nos han dado un libro para relacionarse. Describen la profunda conexión entre los pensamientos de Juan Wesley, los himnos de Carlos Wesley, el pensamiento erudito sobre la evangelización y la comprensión bíblica del evangelio, todo ello en relación con las necesidades, preocupaciones y esperanzas de «la gente de a pie».

Aprenda por su cuenta o como grupo congregacional de este estudio práctico sobre cómo vivir una vida evangelística que demuestre el poder transformador de amar a Dios y al prójimo.

La evangelización transformadora. La manera wesleyana de compartir la fe: Guía para el liderato facilitador del curso, por Henry Knight III y F. Douglas Powe, también está disponible aquí.

For the Common Good

Fri, 20 May 2022 15:30:01 GMT

For the Common Good reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives each Christian one or more spiritual gifts to be used for the common good. It guides readers to discover their own particular gifts and learn to use their gifts to serve others.

Examining key passages in Paul's writings, author Christine Harman leads readers through a personal spiritual gift assessment. She names 20 distinct spiritual gifts—including discernment, compassion, and evangelism—and helps people explore scripture references on each one. After identifying their particular gifts, clergy and laypeople will learn how to apply them for the good of their church, community, and the world. This book is ideal for both group study and self-discovery. The book also includes suggestions for how to build a ministry team or assign people to committees based on the gifts of each individual.

This book is the text for a Lay Servant Ministries advanced course on spiritual gifts. It also can be used for a small-group study.

A Leader's Guide is available for this book.