@ bibledude . Jun 1

Most of us grew up hearing that we`re made "in the image of God" and picturing some kind of physical resemblance.

But that`s not really what it means.

My adopted kids don`t share my genetics. But anyone who spends five minutes with any of my kids can tell you who they belong to... biological or adopted.

That`s image-bearing. And it goes so much deeper than appearance.

When Genesis says we`re made in the image of God, it`s not describing what we look like. It`s describing who we belong to. It`s describing a relationship that`s been forming us since before we drew our first breath.

You bear the image of a God who existed in love before anything else did. Who formed you with intention and care. Who looks at you the way a parent looks at a child and says, "this one is mine."

That changes everything about how you see yourself.

#ampreaching #cfdiocese #episcopalchurch #episcopal #preachingdeacon

@ bibledude . May 29

Just a little preview of my sermon for Trinity Sunday this weekend at @stedwardsepiscopal.

This one might be one of my favorites that I`ve done in a while.

And I`ll be honest... it completely reframed a very core Scripture for me. I love it when my preaching changes how I think about things myself.

#ampreaching #trinitysunday #cfdiocese #episcopalchurch #episcopal

@ bibledude . May 27

Bruh... I can straight up TELL this kid that he should read his Bible, and he`ll shrug it of.

But then his dad and youth pastor (both me) vibe codes an app for our youth group`s Summer Bible Reading Challenge, and all of the sudden, he can`t put it down!

He reads a chapter, goes to the app to check it off, brags about how he`s going to overtake me on the leader board, and goes back in for another chapter.

And then he asked if he could just leave it all out so that it`s there for him to pick up where he left off in the morning.

I think I`m on to something...

📲 thedig.bibledude.life

And I discovered this when I got off the phone with another youth minister who`s launching it to his youth group tomorrow, and told me that it was just what he needed (for himself).

Hit me up if you use it too... I`d love to hear your story.

Crazy, though... I just thought I was putting together a simple tracker for my youth group. But it seems to be resonating at a much deeper level than I anticipated.

#thedigapp #biblechallenge #EYCmountdora #cfdioceseyouth #episcopalyouth

@ bibledude . May 26

I built an app for my youth group`s Summer Bible Reading Challenge.

📲 thedig.bibledude.life

Take on challenges, climb the leader board, and earn badges.

Totally free for users, youth ministers can subscribe and create groups for their youth groups for their own group leader board and "director dashboard" to monitor use.

Try it out, and let me know what you think and/or if you run into any issues.

#EYCmountdora #cfdioceseyouth #episcopalyouth #youthministry #biblechallenge

@ bibledude . May 24

I`m always grateful to serve as clergy alongside two of these guys, but truly honored to have been a small part of Dennis`s journey toward ordination.

It`s been great to watch him grow during his field work training at @stedwardsepiscopal, and I know that God willing and the people consenting, he`ll be a great deacon back at his home church.

Dennis is one of those guys that when he`s ordained, it`s really just a conformation of who he already is.

I will certainly celebrate the day he gets to put on that red stole and joins the Sacred Order of Deacons.

Until then, Dennis... Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!

#deacon #deaconlife #episcopal #episcopalchurch #cfdiocese

@ bibledude . May 17

Glad to have this in print (available on @amazon), and already working out the next one.

This is a curriculum I`ve developed for children and youth that uses stories of people throughout biblical and Christian history to explore how we find our identity in Christ, and what that means for how we live.

The kids have really enjoyed it, and I`m looking forward to building the next series (Sent by God) that I`ll be using this Fall.

#episcopalyouth #kidsmin #childrensministry #YouthMinistry #cfdioceseyouth