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When I started following Jesus, I had no idea what I was doing. Not knowing how to nurture this newfound relationship on my own, I made it a priority to learn from others. Along the way, I asked questions that were semi-embarrassing, and I mispronounced my fair share of words.
That journey of spiritual growth was reinforced by scriptures like this:
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:5-7
Once I grasped the significance and influence of Jesus in my life, that original curiosity began to blossom into a deeper understanding of how my faith is impacting my relationships. I tend to group my spheres of relationships into four categories: family, friends, colleagues, and Jesus—mostly for the sake of making sure I am investing in each circle. Always searching for ways to grow in these four critical relationship groups in my life, I turn to conversations, debates (healthy ones) and resources to cultivate those critical relationships. One of the many resources I’ve turned to over the years is RightNow Media. The largest library of on-demand Bible study videos everywhere, it has over 14,000 videos, studies, conversations and perspectives on faith.
Since it can be a little overwhelming to get started, I’m sharing my top five resources that are helping me grow in my relationships with Jesus, my family, my friends, and colleagues.
1. “Psalm 119” with Matt Chandler. The description sums it up perfectly:
Even the most mature believers face dark nights of the soul. During those times, God feels distant, His Word dry, and the vibrant intimacy we knew before seems absent leaving us wondering, “Where is the Lord in this?” In Psalm 119, pastor Matt Chandler aims to introduce viewers to the words of King David who experienced similar seasons of life. Serving as the anchor for the study, Psalm 119 demonstrates the power of God’s Word in the lives of believers and its ability to provide a warm blanket for the soul.
2. “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” with Patrick Lencioni. Can we just agree that he is brilliant? Using fresh case studies and compelling illustrations from his own career, Patrick shows how functional teams need more than the right people. I think it is so fascinating to see how people interact, how culture is formed and how we lead through it.
3. “A Lifelong Love” with Gary Thomas. I have three daughters. I need all the help there is out there! In all seriousness, my wife Jenny and I love our lives, but we always need to fight the temptation to settle or coast in our relationship. We are just starting to dive into a study together. It will probably be at 10 p.m. after the house is semi-set for the next day, but I cannot wait to make the daily choice to grow closer to my wife through this study.
4. “Whisper” with Mark Batterson. While watching the trailer I got sucked in by one line: “When you lean into God, you don’t just hear his voice; you hear his heart.” This 4-session series explains what it means for Christians to discern the voice of God in our lives.
5. “Read Scripture Series” with Tim Mackie. I wish I watched this video series as a kid when I didn’t know the Bible. This series has a video for every book of the Bible that outlines its literary design and main ideas, showing you how it fits into the entire biblical story.
Make Your Own Top 5
To make your goals obtainable, list out the five resources you want to dive into over a certain time period. Maybe think of how each resource can benefit a certain relational sphere in your life.
Get Started
As a part of Kensington Church, you have free access to RightNow Media and its library of more than 14,000 video Bible studies. You can watch on your own, with your kids, or as a group. Catapult your spiritual growth at https://kensingtonchurch.org/rightnow-media/.
-Justin Warns, Central Discipleship Director