Leading By Following: Episode 4: Pastor Jonathan Ruth

Leading By Following: Episode 4: Pastor Jonathan Ruth

In Episode 4 of Leading By Following, Pastor Jody talks to Jonathan Ruth, Discipleship Pastor at Chapin Christian. What does it really mean to make disciples? Discipleship is not a church program or a weekend event. It is a daily way of life rooted in following Jesus closely enough that others can follow you. In this Podcast, we explore what it looks like to lead by following, covering topics that every believer and church leader needs to hear. Whether you are a small group leader, a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, or simply someone who wants to grow in your faith and help others do the same, this message speaks directly to where you are. If you have been feeling the nudge to reach out to someone, to invite a neighbor to church, or to step into a deeper community of faith, this message is for you. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. The most powerful thing you can do for someone's eternity is to show up in their ordinary life with the love of Christ. To learn more, visit: https://jodyflowers843.org/ [https://jodyflowers843.org/]

Shaking The Gates | June 21, 2026

Shaking the Gates is our weekly online prayer gathering. Join Pastor Jody Sunday nights at 7:30. We invite you to engage with other Gateshakers in the text chat. The name “Shaking the Gates” comes from John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, he said: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.” Watch here: https://chapinccc.org/shaking-the-gates/ [https://chapinccc.org/shaking-the-gates/]

This is My Song: Week 3: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

We live in one of the most distracted moments in human history, and where our attention goes, our direction follows. Most people do not drift from Jesus intentionally. They simply give their gaze to something else, and whatever holds our attention begins to shape us. Hebrews 12 calls us to lay aside every hindrance and fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Some of those hindrances are not even sinful things. They are simply good things that are out of order, filling us up so that we miss the feast God has prepared. Second Corinthians 3 reminds us that as we behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, the Holy Spirit transforms us from one degree of glory to another. Transformation is not instant, and it does not require performance or perfection. It simply requires a persistent, daily turning of our eyes toward Jesus. Resources:  Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/This-is-My-Song_-Week-3_-Turn-Your-Eyes-Upon-Jesus-Discussion-Guide.pdf [https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/This-is-My-Song_-Week-3_-Turn-Your-Eyes-Upon-Jesus-Discussion-Guide.pdf]  5-Day Devotional: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/This-is-My-Song_-Week-3_-Turn-Your-Eyes-Upon-Jesus-5-Day.pdf [https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/This-is-My-Song_-Week-3_-Turn-Your-Eyes-Upon-Jesus-5-Day.pdf]

Shaking The Gates | June 14, 2026

Shaking the Gates is our weekly online prayer gathering. Join Pastor Jody Sunday nights at 7:30. We invite you to engage with other Gateshakers in the text chat. The name “Shaking the Gates” comes from John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, he said: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.” Watch here: https://chapinccc.org/shaking-the-gates/ [https://chapinccc.org/shaking-the-gates/]

This Is My Song: Week 2: Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me

In a world obsessed with identity, we often build our sense of self on temporary things like career, relationships, or achievements. This performance-based identity leads to exhaustion and crisis when these things inevitably fail. Paul's words in Galatians 2:20 reveal a profound truth: our old self has been crucified with Christ, and He now lives in us. This means our identity is not something we manufacture through performance, but something we receive as a gift. When we understand that Christ lives within us, we can live ordinary life with extraordinary presence, finding freedom from the burden of self-salvation and the exhausting cycle of earning our worth. Resources: 5-Day Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/This-Is-My-Song_-Week-2_-5-Day-Guide.pdf [https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/This-Is-My-Song_-Week-2_-5-Day-Guide.pdf] Small Group Discussion Guide: https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/This-Is-My-Song_-Week-2_-Discussion-Guide.pdf [https://chapinccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/This-Is-My-Song_-Week-2_-Discussion-Guide.pdf]