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Gospel Centered Discipleship
Resources that make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus
Gospel-Centered Discipleship exists for pastors, ministry leaders, everyday disciples, and writers who take discipleship seriously.
We produce theologically grounded, practically useful resources for the long work of making, maturing, and multiplying disciples of Jesus. Whoever you are and whatever your role, there's something here for you.
Looking in the face of our Savior transforms us from fractured mirrors to whole, clean reflections.
Tim Shorey, one of our staff writers, is journaling through his struggle with stage 4 cancer. In this entry, God is always doing more than we can perceive from the outside.
Have you poured your heart, identity, and affections into something that can be threatened by the moths, by the rust of the earth, by thieves who break in and steal?
Building spiritual disciplines is not something that happens naturally, especially in low-structure seasons. It’s something we have to choose every day.
God has not asked me to trust him because I understand what he is up to; he's asked me to trust him because he's trustworthy and good.
BOOK EXCERPTS
In this excerpt of Christ and His Bride, author Julia B. Higgins lays an introduction for how both man and woman were created to tell us somthing about Jesus.
Gospel-Centered Discipleship is excited to announce the launch of our latest book: Pause to Reset: a Forty-Day Journey from Chaos to Calm by Rusty McKie.
In this excerpt of The Restoration of All Things, author Benjamin Vrbicek explains why he started writing about something so controversial as the end times and the return of Christ.
In this excerpt of Life in Devotion, author Ana Ávila shows readers how we have not been made to live life alone but we are made for relationships.
In this excerpt of Reaching Generation Alpha, authors Shane Pruitt and Shelly Melia show how disciple makers can help the upcoming generations build a biblical worldview despite the challenges.
In this excerpt of Created to Play, author Brianna Lambert shows readers that God created us to delight in play in a way that directs us to his worth.
In this excerpt of The Hope of the Resurrection, author Patrick Schreiner shows how the resurrection of Jesus provided the church concrete hope for the Christian and the church community.
In this excerpt of The Way of Repentance, author Chris Brauns shows readers how the repentance on display in the Parable of the Prodigal Son is so wonderful becasue it reveals to us the heart of the Father.
In this excerpt of The Pursuit of Holy Leisure, author Cara Ray shows readers how holy leisure is “not a call to abandon discipline, but to reorient it.”
In this excerpt of Set Apart For More, author Tasha Calvert shows readers how we were always set apart for life in community.
In this excerpt from If Only We Could See, author Jennifer Trafton gives readers a view into the life and faith of Lilas Trotter.
In this excerpt from Very Good, author Jen Oshman shows readers the face of the famous Proverbs 31 woman and how, in her, we ought to see the embodiment of a wise life lived in the fear of the Lord.
GCD BOOKS
Every established church was first a church plant.
By planting churches, we have the privilege of being part of God’s sovereign work in the world. God’s redemptive plan has always involved having a people for himself. Our cities desperately need theologically sound, missionally effective, multiplying churches planted. For this to happen, we must develop faithful and effective church planters. The better equipped planters we send out, the more missionally impactful churches we’ll plant.
Dr. Tony Merida explores nine essentials for church planters to be faithful and effective in engaging their cities with the gospel, making disciples of Jesus Christ, and planting gospel-centered churches. Whether you’re an aspiring planter, a sending church, a seasoned pastor, a member of a planting team, or someone leveraging your time, talents, and treasures for the kingdom of God, this book will inform and inspire as you grow in your affections for Christ and in your effectiveness in ministry.
Endorsements
“As you and your church help equip church planters . . . this book will be an essential resource!”
Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board
“Tony Merida not only provides you with practical tools, he reminds you to pursue Christ.”
Courtney Doctor, Director of Women’s Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition, Bible teacher and author
“This book is an invaluable resource for equipping the next generation of church planters to be theologically sound, spiritually robust, and relationally healthy.”
Walter R. Strickland II, PhD. Teaching Pastor Imago Dei Church, Theology Professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Every church planter and every partner for church planting will be served well by Tony’s work.”
Adam Bailie, Senior Lead Pastor, Christ Church
About the Author
Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, NC, and is the vice president of Planter Development for Send Network. Tony has written several books including, The Christ-Centered Expositor, Love Your Church, and multiple volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series.
Purchase includes the .epub edition of the book.
What if your church could be a place where everyone is mobilized to lead and serve?
The Nehemiah Way is a thoughtful guide for pastors and lay leaders seeking to mobilize their congregations for meaningful ministry. Drawing on the wisdom of Nehemiah’s story, this book blends biblical insight with practical strategies to inspire collaboration, foster leadership, and build a thriving church community.
Whether you’re facing obstacles, developing leaders, or striving to unify your church around a common mission, The Nehemiah Way offers practical tools to support your journey. With a focus on collaboration and purpose, this book helps you envision a thriving, united church making a lasting gospel impact.
Endorsements
“A much-needed perspective on the unstoppable force of God’s people when they are focused, prepared, and prayed up for the mission of God.”
Brad House, pastor and author
“This is a masterfully concise book for any church leader asking the question of how to empower their people to lead.”
Ronnie Martin, pastor and author
“To say this is simply a leadership book would be to grossly underestimate its ability to connect with nearly everyone in your church.”
Shelby Abbott, author, speaker, and campus minister
About the Authors
Dr. John H. Wilson (PhD, MBA) is a professor and consultant who specializes in exegetical leadership and entrepreneurship. He is the founder of Strategic Collisions International, LLC, and a lay leader at Brandywine Grace Church, serving as a worship leader. He lives with his wife, Jenn, and their three children in Chester County, PA.
Amy Lynch is a professional writer and the founder of Fernling Press and Fernling Creative LLC, specializing in professional nonfiction. A lay leader at Brandywine Grace Church, Amy serves on the Creative and Communications Teams. She lives in Chester County, PA, with her husband Kenny and their four children.
“I will build my church,” Jesus said. “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The ministry of Gospel-Centered Discipleship “exists to cultivate writers and resources that make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus.” Broken but Beautiful is a collection of some of our best writers and our best resources celebrating the local church.
If you’ve been around the church for any length of time, you’ve probably experienced hurt, whether from leaders or fellow members. We understand; most of us have scars too. But the local church is the bride of Christ and God’s plan to bless the world. These eclectic essays highlight many of those blessings, from how local churches have faithfully cared for the children of divorced parents to the many ways the body of Christ lifts our eyes from our morbid introspection—all while highlighting the wonderful truth that, through all the sin and sorrow, Jesus continues to build his church.
Broken but Beautiful is edited by Benjamin Vrbicek and has contributions from many of the Gospel-Centered Discipleship staff writers and editors, as well as other writing partners of the ministry. Contributions are included from Rob Bentz, Lara d’Entremont, Timarie Friesen, Brianna Lambert, Chrys Jones, Erin Jones, Glenna Marshall, Timothy M. Shorey, Tom Sugimura, James Williams, Jeremy Writebol, and others.
About the Editor
Benjamin Vrbicek is the lead pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and previously served as the managing editor for Gospel-Centered Discipleship.
download includes .epub file
POPULAR ARTICLES
I’m slowly learning to view my need as a beautiful way to invite others to stand in awe of the one true God.
To pray, reflect, and suffer as a true theologian is only possible for a redeemed human made in the image of God in covenant relation with him.
Fruitfulness in old age isn’t about staying busy, it’s about bearing witness.
STAFF ARTICLES
In this excerpt from Free to Weep, author Brittany Allen reminds readers of the comforting truth that God is not afraid of our tears. He walks with us and in Christ has wept over the suffering we experience as well.
Those who look to him in faith will find a fountain of forgiveness waiting for them.
God’s holiness is not weak; it is consuming. It is transforming. If we are holy as he is holy, we will do more than separate ourselves from sin; we will become conduits for his transforming holiness.
Life moves fast. But your soul wasn’t made for constant motion.
Amid nonstop demands, distractions, and the pressure to keep up, it’s all too easy to disconnect from God, others, and the life you truly want. Pause to Reset is a forty-day journey that helps you slow down, experience God’s love, and rediscover the peace that comes from being rooted in him. Through Scripture, guided prayers, and thoughtful questions, Rusty McKie creates an unhurried space for you to step out of chaos and into a more grounded life with Jesus. Because sometimes what you need most is to stop long enough to remember who you are and whose you are.
So, if you’re ready, let’s pause to reset.
Endorsements
“An invitation to step out of striving and into a more grounded, grace-filled, and attentive way of being.”
Chuck DeGroat, author, speaker, consultant, pastor, therapist, professor at Western Theological Seminary, and a faculty member of the Soul Care Institute
“Wisdom for some of the most vexing emotional and spiritual challenges we face.”
Jonathan D. Holmes, Executive Director of CCEF and Founder Emeritus of Fieldstone Counseling
About the Author
Rusty McKie, founder of Steadfast Ministries, is a trained Spiritual Director and Somatic Coach. Alongside Pause to Reset he has written Sabbaticals and The Art of Stability. He serves as the men’s director of CrossPointe Church in Altamonte Springs, Florida, where he developed ManSchool. Find more of his work at steadfastmin.com.
For paperback copies please visit Amazon.com