During this time of year we’re often asked to consider giving financially to many worthy organizations and ministries. I realize that Pathway Learning is just one of many. Giving can be difficult and sometimes scary because it means that we are choosing to have less. But it’s important for us to give. Here are five reasons why we should give that I hope you’ll find encouraging.

As Pathway Learning prepares for 2020, we’re reaffirming four core commitments that I would like to share with you. All four commitments are centered on glorifying God and advancing his kingdom on earth, through his church, by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These commitments can truly make a lasting difference in the lives of people, communities, and entire nations into the next generation.

As Pathway Learning prepares for 2020, we’re reaffirming four core commitments that I would like to share with you. All four commitments are centered on glorifying God and advancing his kingdom on earth, through his church, by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These commitments can truly make a lasting difference in the lives of people, communities, and entire nations into the next generation.

Make a bold, new, creative mistake, don't make this mistake. Don't make the mistake of not understanding the difference between a stated value and a core value. 

You visit a church and they've got the core values in the worship bulletin. They got the core values framed, but how do you know whether it really is a core value or a stated value?

Having looked at beliefs and having looked at behaviors, we're going to narrow in on the concept of values. Church planters often fail to understand the true underlying values of the church. Which as we'll see in this article, are often not the same as the churches stated articulated values.

We exist to help under-served church leaders develop churches that transform lives and communities worldwide. We're seeking more partners to invest in the next generation through Pathway Learning. Will you help church leaders develop churches that transform lives and communities?

Church planters need to be very clear not only on their beliefs, and the required beliefs of members and church leaders, but certain behaviors that are required, whether written or not. You don't have to be there very long before you find out these are the behaviors that are expected. The more clear you can be on the front end in terms of what behaviors are expected and what are not, the better it is for everybody.

Church leaders, whether you call them elders, whether you call them deacons, whether you call them ministry leaders, or group leaders, they all have certain things that they are expected to believe, and the sooner that you are crystal clear on what are the requirements, and what aren't the requirements, the better the church planter is.

A Gospel-Centered Church primarily focuses on proclaiming the Good News that God promises all who repent of their sin and trust in Christ a new record, a new heart, and a new world to come. This means a Gospel-Centered Church is one that places a top priority on the ministries of Good News for the lost or evangelism. Good News for the found or discipleship or spiritual formation. And Good News for the poor through ministries of mercy and justice.

The Church is the only institution in the world both designed and equipped by God for the spiritual, cultural and social renewal of all nations. God has ordained that His Kingdom come with transformational power into every sphere of life primarily through the Church. This why global Church planting is so important. 

The Good News of the Kingdom is not only that one day, when Jesus returns, God’s Kingdom is coming to earth to make all things new. The Good News is also that God’s Kingdom has already come to earth to make all things new through the resurrection and ascension of Christ.

Because justification is a one-time declaration of our forgiveness and acceptance by God through Jesus blood and righteousness, Christians often fail to understand why they need to obey God and confess their sins. If God has forgiven us through the blood of Christ and accepted us in the perfect righteousness of Christ, why do we need to keep obeying God’s law and confess our sins?

God takes pleasure in pouring out His blessings on those who will dare to align their life purpose more with His. This raises one of the most important and ancient questions of the ages: “What is God’s purpose for the world?” Jesus gives us a wonderful glimpse into God’s overarching purpose for the world when he taught his disciples how to pray.