IS IT WRONG TO USE PROPS OR SHOW MOVIE CLIPS WHILE PREACHING? When we used to do the big Dare 2 Share conferences in arenas across the country, we used movie clips, sketches, props, humor, and all kinds of object lessons. But we also taught sound doctrine. Every conference tour revolved around a key passage of Scripture that we unpacked throughout the weekend. The illustrations weren't the message. They served the message. For example, on the Blaze Tour, we built the entire event around Isaiah 6:1-8. On Friday night, we preached on the glory of God and how the seraphim, literally the "burning ones," were ablaze because they lived in the presence of His holiness. In a similar way, we too are set ablaze when we spend time in the presence of our glorious God. Then on Saturday, we taught three sessions built around a simple phrase: STOP. DROP. ROLL. STOP! 
When you encounter Christ in all His glory, you must stop and recognize the depth of your sin before a holy God. We spent nearly 45 minutes unpacking our utter sinfulness before a perfectly righteous God. DROP! 
Once students saw their sin, they were ready to drop to their knees and receive God's forgiveness, just as Isaiah experienced cleansing when the seraph touched his lips with the atoning coal. In this session, we unpacked the finished work of Christ on the cross and how His grace transforms our lives. ROLL! 
Then we challenged teenagers to “roll up their sleeves” and join God's mission, just as Isaiah did when he responded, "Here am I. Send me!" During these sessions, we dug deep into Scripture. We explored biblical and historical background, and sometimes even insights into the original languages. But about every eight minutes, we'd use a prop, show a movie clip, tell a story, or perform an original sketch, often with humor, to reinforce the truth being taught. Was that watering down theology? Not even close. Thousands of teenagers stayed engaged from beginning to end of the weekend. They listened. They learned. They wrestled with God's Word. Then we trained them to clearly share the Gospel and mobilized them to go out and do it. We worked hard to keep thousands of distracted teenagers focused on the stage and locked into the message. By God's grace, it worked. I call it teaching sound truth in soundbites. Talk to almost anyone who attended a Dare 2 Share event as a teenager, and they'll tell you how deeply the teaching impacted them. Not because of a sketch. Not because of a movie clip. Not because of a prop. Because those tools helped drive biblical truth deep into their hearts. There are preachers today taking heat for using props, ladders, movie clips, or other creative teaching methods. Honestly, I have no problem with any of that. My question is this: Are you preaching the Word? I don't care if your sermon has a little sizzle as long as it has a lot of steak. Use your props. Show your clips. Tell your stories. Make people laugh. Help them lean in. Just make sure that when it's all said and done, you've faithfully preached the Word of God. "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: **Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

It’s interesting to me that, so far, 3 of the top 5 countries participating in the Day of Global Youth Evangelism are restricted countries (150). These are places where Christians could get martyred for sharing their faith but youth leaders are signing up by the thousands. The boldness of the persecuted church is unparalleled, humbling and amazing. DGYE.org

Off to Manchester then London to conspire with @messagetrust and the one and only @GalactusJack! Getting ready to learn, laugh, preach, train, mind the gap and start some holy kingdom trouble with my friends across the pond. Prayers appreciated!

I am grateful for my pastor @jt_english. He loves Jesus, preaches the Word and prioritizes the Gospel. Grateful to sit under his amazing preaching and leadership (when I’m not preaching on the road somewhere 😀). Who is the pastor you’re grateful for? #PastorAppreciationMonth

I am super grateful for an amazing board that governs the ministry of @Dare2Share.

I’m a big believer in Bible studies. We must master God’s Word and let it master us. But, I truly believe that many believers have used these Bible studies as a replacement for evangelism and disciple making. Many Christians will spend hours reading the Bible, exegeting it and answering questions in a workbook, but not take minutes to reach those around them for Christ. Let’s not just EXEGETE God’s Word, let’s EXECUTE God’s mission! “Do not merely listen to God’s Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

“Youth ministry is wrong because it is not in the Bible!” How many times have I heard this accusation? Countless. But these critics usually go to a church building for Sunday morning church (not in the Bible), hear their sermons from a senior pastor (that title is never mentioned in the Bible) and listen to Christian podcasts (not in the Bible.) Just because it’s “not in the Bible” doesn’t mean it’s bad or anti-Biblical. Otherwise we’d all still be meeting in house churches led by a group of elders. What matters is the abiding principle of New Testament ecclesiology being followed. Are we consistently gathering together to “encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:24) whether in a church building or a home church? Are we being shepherded by a group of godly elders (1 Timothy 3), not being pushed around by a one man “my way or thr highway” type of pulpit bully? Are the older men and women discipling the young people (Titus 2.) Whether this discipleship comes in the form of youth ministry or some other way doesn’t matter in the slightest. Youth ministry is NOT the problem. Most of the disciples were under the age of 20 (Matthew 17:24-27; Exodus 30:14) and Jesus, in a sense, was a kind of youth leader to them. He had one adult sponsor (Peter) and not much of a budget. But with that youth group he changed the world. The problem is not youth ministry. The problem is a youth ministry that is purely attractional, with no solid disciple-making, Gospel-advancing strategy driving it all. So haters, stop hating on #YouthMinistry. Instead, focus on making sure the philosophy, strategy and execution of youth ministry is Biblical and resulting in souls saved and disciples multiplied. Also make sure it includes playing dodgeball (you guessed it, not in the Bible 😂) Rant over.

I believe in the Holy Spirit not the “Hokey Spirit.” The Spirit of God is always working to conform us into the image of Jesus, not into raving lunatics. The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit should work together in a beautiful harmony of love, power and order.

Speaking the truth is not a license to be a jerk.

I pray for B.O.B every day. Burden for the lost Opportunity to Gospelize Boldness to do it Yesterday BOB’s name was Hayes. He was fixing car windshields in the grocery store parking lot. 30 minutes later he said yes to Jesus. Pray for BOB daily, a prayer God loves to answer!

Embracing the prosperity gospel is like playing lotto for Christians. Rich people generally don’t play the lottery. Poor people do. Why? Because they’re looking for an easy win and a quick fix to their financial problems. I know because I was raised American poor. My ma, brother and I were raised in apartment complexes and trailer courts in the rough part of town. Sadly, as I became a teenager my ma started playing the lotto. Over the years she wasted tens of thousands of dollars on the lottery, trying to fix our financial problems. But it only increased them. Watching this broke my heart. In the same way, those preachers who preach the message that if you give $1000 (or whatever) to their ministry that you’ll get 100 fold return (or whatever) in financial blessing, are preaching a quick fix to the financial problems of mostly poor Christians. But it’s no fix at all. It’s a trap. I reject the prosperity gospel and you should too. Our “prosperity” as believers is rooted in the blessings of Ephesians chapter 1. Yes, “our God will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19.) But “our needs” are not “our greeds.” As it has been said before, “If the prosperity gospel was true, the prosperity preachers would be writing large checks faster than anyone so they could receive a 100 fold blessing.” But they are not because it is not true. It is every bit as much of a scam as the lottery. Christians, stop playing lotto with your money by giving it to prosperity gospel preachers. Instead, give generously and sacrificially to Ministries that get the job done and whose pastors are not seeking to become rich themselves. In the words of Jesus, store up your treasures in heaven, not on earth. “In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:3

Hey Gym bro: Make sure your soul is more “ripped” than your body because when you die it won’t matter how big your biceps are. “Physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Tim 4:8

Just got this book in the mail. It’s the memoir of my preaching hero @chuckswindoll. I can’t wait to read it and I hope you do too! A few weeks back I sent him a letter. I’m sure he gets thousands of these kinds of letters from all over the world so it’s kind of a long shot if he’ll ever read it. But I hope he does. Here’s a short portion of what I wrote to him, “Two preachers have impacted me more than anyone else on the planet when it comes to communicating God’s Word: a hillbilly preacher nicknamed “Yankee” and a radio preacher named “Chuck.” The reason I am writing this letter is simply to say thank you. Your once-in-a-generation style of preaching over the last four and a half decades has helped shape my spiritual life personally and has forged the way I preach and train teenagers publicly. Because of this reality, the countless teenagers around the world that we have been privileged to reach and disciple over the years have indirectly, but powerfully, been ministered to by you. Someday, on the other side of eternity, our Lord Jesus will peel back the curtain and allow you to see the ripple effects of you and your team at Insight for Living. So many lost people have been reached, so many believers have been strengthened, and so many preachers, like me, have been sharpened by you and your amazing ministry. One of my life goals was to meet you someday. I know that probably won’t happen on this side of eternity. But whether here or on the other side, I look forward to embracing you and saying, “Thank you” face to face. Until Every Teen Hears, Greg Stier Founder/Visionary, Dare 2 Share P.S. I am preaching at chapel for Dallas Theological Seminary on November 10th so I’m pretty excited about that!” Chuck lives in Dallas 😀 If you are looking for books to read or podcasts to listen to, check out Chuck Swindoll and Insight for Living. I truly believe he is the Charles Spurgeon of our generation. Than you Chuck Swindoll and crew for the impact you’ve had on my life. I can’t wait to dive into your memoir!

I love @DerwinLGray. He’s been a faithful friend for 20 years. We toured together @Dare2Share in the early 2000’s, long before he was a big name in ministry, and I got to know him off stage. He is the real deal. Holy, humble and hungry. A Jesus-loving, passionate servant of God.

Six months ago, my @X account was hacked. In an instant, years of conversations, connections, content, and nearly 20,000 followers were gone. Today, I'm grateful to be back. A huge thanks to @jbarzon7, @michaelo (Head of Safety at X), and everyone who prayed along the way. I view social media as both a pulpit and a roundtable: a place to proclaim God's truth and discuss it with others. I'll be sharing Biblical insights, evangelism strategies, leadership lessons, youth ministry ideas, and stories of God's work around the world. As well as trying to be funny from time to time 😀. Let's keep advancing the Gospel together. See you around. 🚀✝️

I firmly believe in a “one man rule” form of church government. This man and his vision for the church should have total authority over the congregation and elder board. He should be unquestioned in his decisions and direction. That man is the God/Man Jesus Christ. “…he is the head of the church…” Colossians 1:18