Radical Discipleship: Jesus vs. Modern Christianity

Radical Discipleship: Rediscovering the Transformative Power of Following Jesus

What did Jesus Really mean when He said "Make Disciples"?

As I delved into researching the stark differences between first-century discipleship and our modern practices, I was struck by how far we've drifted from Jesus' original intent. In this podcast, I explore what it truly meant to be a disciple in Jesus' time and how we can recapture that radical, life-altering commitment today.

In first-century Israel, being a disciple of a rabbi was a high calling that required complete dedication. Disciples would leave everything behind—family, possessions, and their former way of life—to follow their rabbi closely, learning to imitate him in every way. The goal was not merely to acquire knowledge but to become a living embodiment of the rabbi's teachings and character.

Contrast this with today's discipleship, which often emphasizes comfort, personal fulfillment, and classroom-style learning over the sacrificial, relational transformation that Jesus modeled. We've traded the power of life-on-life mentorship for the convenience of curriculum-based programs. We've made disciple-making a compartmentalized activity rather than the all-encompassing lifestyle it was for the early church.

But Jesus' call to "make disciples" is as compelling and costly today as it was 2,000 years ago. It's a summons to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow him wholeheartedly. It's an invitation to be transformed from the inside out as we learn to imitate Jesus in every aspect of our lives.

The Stark Contrast of Discipleship

As I explored in the podcast, this kind of radical discipleship requires a paradigm shift:

1. From comfort to sacrifice: Following Jesus means being willing to suffer for his sake, seeing persecution as a privilege rather than a problem.

2. From information transfer to transformational lifestyle: Discipleship is about becoming like Jesus in our character, not just acquiring biblical knowledge.

3. From compartmentalized programs to integrated life-on-life mentorship: Disciple-making should be woven into the fabric of our daily lives, not relegated to a weekly class.

4. From clergy-driven ministry to empowering all believers: Every disciple is called to become a disciple-maker, sharing the gospel and mentoring others.

5. From institutional maintenance to missional focus: Our ultimate goal is not to build impressive churches but to equip and send out mature disciples to transform the world.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to nothing less than conformity to Christ—a lifelong journey of cross-carrying obedience and Spirit-empowered transformation. This is the heart of biblical discipleship, and it's what the church desperately needs to recover today.

I encourage you to explore the links provided in the show notes to dive deeper into this fascinating topic. May we have the courage to embrace the radical, costly call of Jesus to make disciples who make disciples, just as he originally intended. Let's recapture the transformative power of authentic discipleship together.

Stop Playing Games With Baby Faith - It's Time to Move Mountains

Unlocking Mountain-Moving Faith

We serve a big God who wants to do big things through His people. But too often, we get stuck playing small because we let doubt and unbelief creep in.

In my recent podcast "Speaking to Your Mountain," we dug into Mark 11 where Jesus tells His disciples to have faith in God and speak to their mountains. This isn't some name-it-and-claim-it nonsense either. Jesus is calling us to an authentic life of kingdom dominion and authority.

See, the world tries to manifest things through mental gymnastics and "laws of attraction." But we don't have to pour from an empty cup. We have the living God inside of us! When we nurture our relationship with the Lord and stay planted in His Word, mountain-moving faith becomes second nature.

But there's a catch - Jesus makes it crystal clear that unforgiveness will cut the power line. We can't expect to walk in supernatural authority while harboring offense, anger or resentment in our hearts. That's a non-negotiable for kingdom operatives.

I'm telling you, when we get this forgiveness piece down and anchor ourselves in the uncompromising truth of God's Word, we become unstoppable forces for the kingdom! 

Interview with Real Talk Interactive

I recently had the privilege of appearing on Real Talk Interactive with my brother Richard Dixon to unpack these very truths. You can check out our powerful conversation right here:

Real Talk Interactive

Richard is a true minister of the gospel who isn't afraid to go deep and stir up spiritual hunger. During the interview, we took an exhilarating dive into operating in bold, mountain-moving faith according to the fullness of our identity in Christ.

If you're not yet plugged into Real Talk Interactive, I'd strongly encourage you to tap into that well. Richard creates an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to rebuke, correct and instruct in a profound way. His ministry is all about provoking supernatural breakthrough by aligning our beliefs and expectations with our full inheritance as sons and daughters of the King.

No More Games! 

It's time to stop playing games with Elementary-level faith. Our God is looking for some sons and daughters who will go ALL IN and become powerful ambassadors of His supreme reign over every circumstance and situation. Who's ready to embrace the full weight of their kingdom identity?

Get locked and loaded in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6). Put on that robe of righteousness and wield the sword of the Spirit. Then watch how powerfully God can move through vessels who are willing to bring Heaven's culture into hostile territory through bold declarations of faith!

I'm all in. Who's joining me?

Discerning True Prophecy: Lessons from Biblical Examples and Failed Predictions

A Biblical Approach to Prophetic Discernment

As Christians with a deep interest in the prophetic realm, it can be all too easy to get swept up in the hype and speculation that often surrounds major celestial events or geopolitical shifts. From failed rapture predictions to sensational claims about the "Shemitah" cycle, the modern Church has far too often traded genuine spiritual insight for emotionally-charged narratives that appeal to our desire to know the future.

Conrad tackles this critical issue head-on, drawing a clear distinction between the characteristics of true biblical prophecy and the logical fallacies underlying so many contemporary prophetic claims. By examining examples like Gideon, Jeremiah, and Samuel, he provides a robust framework for developing the spiritual discernment needed to navigate this complex landscape.

One of the key lessons Conrad emphasizes is the importance of avoiding the trap of "prophecy by hindsight." Far too often, self-proclaimed prophets engage in a kind of reverse engineering, cherry-picking historical events to fit a predetermined narrative about the future. This Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy, as it's known, creates the illusion of accuracy while shielding the prophet from any real accountability.

In contrast, genuine prophetic words in Scripture are consistently accompanied by clear divine validation and confirmations that bolster the recipient's faith. Whether it's Gideon's fleece, Jeremiah's unexpected land purchase, or Samuel's corroborating vision, these biblical examples demonstrate how the Holy Spirit provides tangible assurance to those who hear His voice.

Of course, the temptation to get caught up in end-times speculation is ever-present, and Conrad doesn't shy away from addressing this issue as well. As he points out, an unhealthy preoccupation with the rapture, the tribulation, and other eschatological scenarios can actually distract us from the Great Commission that Christ has given to His Church. Instead of sitting back and waiting for the world to end, we are called to be salt and light, actively participating in the advancement of God's Kingdom.

For those seeking to cultivate a mature, biblical approach to the prophetic, this podcast episode is an essential listen. By learning to discern true prophecy from mere human speculation, we can avoid the pitfalls that have ensnared so many well-meaning believers, and instead focus our energy on the transformative work that the Holy Spirit desires to accomplish in and through us.

So why not carve out some time today to dive into this thought-provoking discussion? Your spiritual senses are sure to be sharpened, and you may even find yourself better equipped to navigate the prophetic landscape with wisdom and discernment.

Keywords:

Prophetic discernment, biblical prophecy, four blood moons,  false prophecies, end times speculation, Shemitah, rapture, Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy, Gideon, Jeremiah, Samuel, Great Commission, spiritual maturity, Christian living.