Welcome To TYM!

I‘ve been a pastor for the last 25 years, and of all the messages I’ve given over the years, there’s one topic that I keep coming back to, and it’s why I’ve launched Train Yourself Ministry.

I think one thing that needs to be shored up in the faith-walk of many a follower of Christ is a commitment to growing in personal and spiritual discipline. I say that because as I look around the church I see way too many believers whose Bibles are gathering dust, who give in too easily to things like porn, who can’t name one friend of another skin color, and the moment culture comes and bullies them about something, they cave in.

TYM zeroes in on the sanctification side of faith. Though all is of grace, grace demands a response, or it can be received in vain (2

Cor.6:1). Though faith alone saves us, real faith produces works, or it is dead (Eph.2:8-10, James 2:26).

Though this can be a fine needle to thread at times, Train Yourself Ministry exists to raise up what we call Grace-bred, Word-fed, Spirit-led men and women of discipline. Perhaps that sounds unappealing, but can I let you in on a little secret? A life of discipline – where you let Jesus train you to be godly – is one of the surest ways to freedom and joy that I know.

How can we help you? We have three primary areas of focus, and provide new content weekly for each area (see below). And I would love to come and share with you at your church or conference.

GROWTH THROUGH TRAINING

Our ministry draws its name from 1 Timothy 4:7 which says, “Train yourself for godliness.” Training is a prominent theme in Scripture and a key part of our discipleship (Luke 6:40, 2 Tim.3:16-17, Titus 2:11-12).

Though the work of our growth is Christ’s from start to finish (Phil.1:6), in between the Lord’s bookends of grace is a very real effort that he asks from us (Phil.2:12-13, 3:12-14). Too many who misconstrue what it means to let go and let God, end up letting go of growth in Christ as well.

“All discipline seems painful…but later yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb.12:11)

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

The premise behind our ministry is that for a Christian to be trained, then he or she must allow Jesus to do the training. At the end of the day, it’s not principles that will bring us to freedom, but a living, resurrected Person, who promised we could enjoy a relationship with him as a birthright of our faith.

There nothing mystical about how we grow in this relationship. We do it by attending to the classical disciplines of Bible study, prayer, fellowship, worship and a cluster of other practices.

Each generation needs a fresh introduction on how to grow in these areas, and TYM is committed to providing this training through our speaking, books and blogs.

CULTURAL APOLOGETICS

We’ve done a decent job with theological apologetics. But most people aren’t rejecting the faith today because they can’t piece together biblical inspiration. They’re staying away because they think we hate gays, or are racists, or are heartless when it comes to immigration, or are in the back-pockets of the Republican party.

The first Christians were masters of “cultural apologetics”. They knew how to explain why the Christian worldview surpassed anything that the Greek and Roman pagans offered. Now as our culture reverts back to a variety of pagan ideas (particularly in regards to sexuality), it’s time to relearn this classic discipline.

1-Minute Training Tip Podcast

5 Reasons For Sexual Discipline

The Spark – A Devotion To Build Your Faith

Philip’s Evangelism Tip #2: Look For Open Doors

Culture Spy – A Blog To Stretch Your Faith

7 Reasons Your Church Needs To Study Sexual Ethics NOW

“Self-respect is the fruit of discipline. The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.”

Abraham J. Heschel

“Winners embrace hard work…Losers see it as punishment. That is the difference.”

Lou Holtz

“Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing.”

John Maxwell

“A mistake repeated more than once is a decision.”

Paulo Coelho

“I must take care above all that I cultivate communion with Christ, for though that can never be the basis of my peace – mark that – yet it will be the channel of it.”

Charles Spurgeon

“Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.”

John Wooden

“The way to avoid evil is not by maiming our passions, but by compelling them to yield their vigor to our moral nature. Thus they become, as in the ancient fable, the harnessed steeds which bear the chariot of the sun.”

Henry Ward Beecher

“The first and best victory is to conquer yourself. To be conquered by self is of all things the most shameful.”

Plato

“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable, procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.”

George Washington

“The one quality which sets one man apart from another – the key which lifts one to every aspiration while others are caught up in the mire of mediocrity, is not talent, nor formal education, nor intellectual brightness – is self-discipline.”

Theodore Roosevelt