Living as a family on mission in community with others is a big shift—and a big commitment. It gets even trickier when you’re trying to start or transition a small group that originally formed for reasons other than discipleship and mission.
This week on the Everyday Disciple Podcast, we’re asking the honest question: Why is missional living so hard? We’ll unpack some of the common challenges and give you practical tips, hope, and encouragement for when things feel tough.
Sure, it might feel hard at first… (because it is!). But once you’ve experienced the beauty of gospel-centered community—living like a true spiritual family—there’s no going back to simply checking the church box on Sundays.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
The key differences between a traditional small group and a true missional community
How time, schedules, personal preferences, and priorities shape our ability to live this out
Why it’s crucial for married couples to be aligned in mission
What a sustainable, healthy pace looks like for long-term community life
The difference between introverts and extroverts is one of the most misunderstood aspects of personality. So many people get it wrong, leading to myths and assumptions that just don’t hold up.
In this episode of the Everyday Disciple Podcast, we’re setting the record straight. We’ll break down the biggest misconceptions and uncover how both introverts and extroverts play a vital role in living together as a family on mission.
The truth is, we all have moments when we crave solitude and quiet—Jesus certainly did. And at times, even the most introverted among us step into social settings and engage with others—just like Jesus often did. Understanding this balance is key to thriving together.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
How introversion has nothing to do with “being shy”
Why extroverts don’t always have to be the life of the party
How spouses that are on opposite ends of this can better understand each other
Ways culture has taught us to hide our self-love behind these distinctions
Why we need each other to be more fully like Jesus and make disciples
Are we hearing impaired when it comes to the voice of God? Could it be that what we believe and have labeled as relational, emotional, and spiritual problems are actually ‘hearing’ problems?
In this episode, Caesar shows us how to turn down the negative voices in our heads, dial in the authentic divine Voice, and listen intently. The voices you believe will determine the life you experience!
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
Ways to sort out all of the chatter coming your way each day.
Why the voices you listen to shape your own voice in the world.
How to apply the “Jesus filter” to everything you’re hearing.
Why listening prayer is so different from the ways we usually pray.
I have a love–hate relationship with my garden and flowerbeds. On one hand, I love when they are clean, planted, and blooming at all the right times each season.
On the other, because of the rains that are present throughout every season in Tacoma, where Tina and I have our family home, I have a non-stop battle to fight with weeds that remain the fastest growing and most robust plants I have. They even grow full speed ahead during the winter, when everything else is either dead or taking a break.
I was working on my garden out in front of my house one sunny afternoon, (yes, we do get sun in the Pacific Northwest too!), and as I pulled weeds and replaced them with bright, colorful flowers, something started to shift in me. My heart softened as my nails became caked with rich, black soil. I started feeling as if I was involved in a much grander project or purpose. It was as if I was connecting to the overarching restoration of all things that God has promised to do in our world.
Is my front garden a part of that?
In that moment, it sure seemed like it. The Spirit reminded me that this is how he works within me too, pulling one weed at a time and replacing it with something beautiful. I started to think of all the people I know with weeds and thorny, spiky parts of their personality and life. Maybe I was to be patient and willing to get my hands a little dirty helping to “beautify the garden” of their lives too?
One by one, people from the neighborhood started to notice what I was up to. “Wow! That is looking really beautiful. I just love petunias!” “I was wondering if you were ever going to get around to this project.”
Not the feedback I hoped for, but I’ll take it.
One of the workers from the Salvation Army next door who loves to give me gardening advice, ambled over and said, “This is looking really good. I think I’ll start taking my breaks over here in front of your house from now on.” My flowerbeds were becoming his own little Garden of Eden in the neighborhood. A simple hour or two of gardening had refreshed and re-created my attitude in some pretty profound ways.[clickToTweet tweet=”Maybe everything we work at has a Kingdom perspective if we take the time to notice.” quote=”Maybe everything we work at has a Kingdom perspective if we take the time to notice.”]
Maybe everything we work at is like this if we have that perspective and take the time to notice. There is possibility for redemption all around us.
So, if you’ve been putting off some actual weeding you need to do outside in your garden, or in the garden of your heart or others, the next best time to get started is now.
Evangelism has almost become a dirty word in our culture. Sadly, it’s not all that different in many churches. We either go all-in with enthusiasm only to find that most people aren’t interested, or we’ve quietly given up on it altogether. But what if we’re missing the heart of evangelism?
In this episode, we’ll define what true biblical evangelism is (and what it’s not) while uncovering the 7 worst evangelism mistakes Christians make today.
Even when we’re confident in our faith and what the Bible teaches, how we communicate and carry ourselves speaks volumes about who God is. God isn’t pushy—he’s patient. He’s gentle, loving, and always available. Our approach to evangelism should reflect that same heart.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
What the Bible actually teaches about evangelism.
Are all Christians called to be evangelists?
Why so many believers are looking for ways to “opt out” of evangelizing.
The 7 biggest evangelism mistakes today—and a better way forward.
Men’s and women’s ministries have been separated in the church for years. But the church is a family. And when we disciple together, as a family in community, we experience deeper discipleship in every area of life.
In this episode of the Everyday Disciple Podcast, Caesar is joined by his wife Tina, and their friend and fellow disciple-maker, Barb Terry. He gets their perspective on women and discipleship. Are there differences? We find out that the answer is both “yes” and “no”.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
Why the church has traditionally separated men and women.
The importance of women finding their “sisterhood” within community.
Can women be effectively discipled by men?
Why understanding our gospel identity leads to freedom for both women and men.
