KCU Podcast
Discover how to live as everyday disciple-makers in Kansas City and beyond. Through real stories, practical tools, and inspiring conversations, we equip you to Get to Know KCU, Train as Missionaries, and Multiply Disciple-Makers. Join us as we explore what it means to bring the beauty, justice, and Good News of Jesus to where you live, work, learn, and play.
Formed by the Gospel
In this episode, Cory and Brian move into the next phase of the disciple-maker pathway and explore Planting the Gospel. Again, in this series, we looking at how we’re formed in each phase of the disciple-maker pathway, rather than tools we use on mission. We highlight the challenges of communicating the Gospel and making disciples, emphasizing the need for humility, patience, and a deep-rooted identity in Jesus.
Planting the Gospel - The 4G’s
In this episode, Brian focuses on what it means to “Gospel ourselves daily,” emphasizing the need for continual engagement with the gospel to address areas of unbelief. The discussion introduces the 'Four G's of Gospel Fluency', God is Great, God is Glorious, God is Good, and God is Gracious, as tools to help individuals internalize the gospel and transform their lives. Each characteristic of God is explored in relation to common struggles and the importance of surrendering to Jesus.
Planting the Gospel - Discovery Bible Study
In this episode, Dori Yuen offers a short training on Discovery Bible Studies (DBS), emphasizing its collaborative nature where participants learn from each other rather than having a single expert. The DBS method encourages accountability and practical application of biblical teachings through a structured format known as the 'Three Thirds' approach. Dori also shares valuable tips for facilitators to enhance group discussions and foster a supportive learning environment.
Planting the Gospel - The Story Diamond
In this episode, Breanna Wiebe discusses the concept of the 'dominant story' that shapes individuals' perceptions of God and the world. She introduces the 'story diamond' as a tool to understand the overarching narrative of the Bible, which consists of four movements: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus as the center of this story and encourages us to engage with the scriptures in a transformative way, both personally and within community.
Planting the Gospel - Gospel Conversations
In this episode, Haley Miller discusses the mission of Zero Hour Student Ministries to awaken high school students as disciple makers, emphasizing the need for gospel saturation in schools. She highlights the importance of building relationships through meaningful conversations and prayer, particularly in the context of Gen Z, who are often seen as a post-Christian generation. The discussion includes practical tools for engaging in gospel conversations, such as the 'FROG' method, which encourages students to ask good questions about friends, family, recreation, occupation, and goals. Real-life success stories illustrate the impact of these conversations in fostering deeper connections and spiritual openness among peers.
Planting the Gospel - Five Thresholds of Conversion
In this episode, Tomy Wilkerson shares insights on evangelism, particularly in the context of engaging with skeptics and those who are anti-Christian. He discusses the importance of understanding the different stages of a person's spiritual journey. He introduces the Five Thresholds of Conversion framework, which outlines the steps a skeptic may take towards faith, emphasizing the need for curiosity and genuine connection in evangelism. The conversation highlights the role of every believer in sharing their faith and the importance of building trust and rapport with seekers.
Planting the Gospel - Reproducible Gospel Language
In this episode, Rob Wegner discusses the significance of clear and reproducible gospel language within the context of microchurches. He emphasizes the centrality of the gospel in the life of believers, illustrating how it serves as a transformative power and a new operating system for engaging with life. Wegner introduces the concept of fractals in faith, suggesting that simplicity in the gospel can lead to profound understanding and disciple-making. He also shares insights on the 'saved wholes gospel' and the importance of integrating the gospel into all aspects of life.
Planting the Gospel - The Missionary Pathway
In this episode, we’re revisiting a video series we originally released with Exponential on how microchurches plant the gospel incarnationally in their context. We’ll walk through the heart of the gospel, why it’s the power of God for salvation, and how ordinary people can embody, demonstrate, and share it in everyday life. This series is framed by the Missionary Pathway, a five-phase framework for making disciples and seeing microchurches emerge, and focuses on the third phase: planting the gospel. You’ll also hear practical tools for sharing the good news in real conversations and everyday rhythms.
Shift 2: Think Disciple-Making Within Existing Networks
In this episode, Cory and Brian explore the concept of planting the gospel within existing networks of relationships rather than extracting individuals to “bring them to church.” Jesus gives us the model for this way of making disciples and the rest of the New Testament follows his pattern. We share a few practical strategies for engaging in disciple-making in this way and talk about some of the challenges to this way of living. If movement is what we’re longing for, we have to think about making disciples within already existing relational networks.
Navigating Gospel Conversations
In this episode, Cory McElvain and Cory Ozbun discuss the significance of gospel conversations and the tools available for effective disciple-making. We emphasize the importance of initiating spiritual discussions and the dynamics of casual, meaningful, and spiritual conversations, and we introduce the 'FROG' acrostic as a practical tool for engaging in deeper dialogues. We also cover the value of sharing personal stories and how to invite others to explore their spiritual questions in a natural and relational manner.