Making Disciples: The Mission & its Methods (Part 1)

On this special edition of the White Horse Inn recorded before a live audience at the Desiring God conference in Minneapolis, the hosts continue their discussion of the marks and mission of the Church based on the words of the Great Commission, and also take questions from the audience.

It was a brisk November evening in 2022. Winter’s chill had settled in, wrapping the world in clouds that promised a cold night ahead. But the air was filled with the laughter of children clutching bright plastic shovels, their excitement lighting up the gathering.

In a recent church small group, in which I was the youngest participant by several decades, I witnessed a surprising display of emotion. Older women—saints in the church who have nurtured and fed me literally and spiritually—tearfully sharing painful memories from their middle school years.

When orthodoxy is quietly displaced, institutions may continue to function administratively, yet they no longer recognize their purpose. They become like cathedrals built without load-bearing walls: they may stand for a time, but their structural integrity is already compromised.

In 2022, Ligonier and Lifeway published “The State of Theology,” where Evangelicals were surveyed about various theological claims. The results were startling to say the least. For example, 55% of surveyed Evangelicals agreed that “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.” […]