Discipleship in Action

CHIP: Thanks, Dave. If you've listened to Living on the Edge for a very long time, you've heard us talk about Christians really living like Christians. For years, we've been passionate about equipping believers to move beyond the basics and truly embody the life Jesus modeled. We believe that discipleship isn't just a program, it's a lifestyle. It's about following Jesus. It's about knowing him. It's about his life impacting every area of your life. I think it's so easy to make the Christian life a bunch of rules and it's about morality. When you walk with Jesus, your morality will change. But that isn't the focus.

The heartbeat of this ministry is believers not just hearing God's Word, but actually living it out. Today we're not just gonna talk about the concept of discipleship. We've gathered some powerful testimonies from individuals like you, and we've asked some of the Living on the Edge team if they would read them. I'm not going to teach today directly, but I'm gonna highlight some principles from these testimonies, and here's what you need to remember about testimonies.

In Revelation 12:11, it says, “They overcame Satan by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they love not their life, even unto death. There's something powerful about testimonies and so I want you to get to hear them, to be inspired by them, and then I hope you'll do what I did when I read them and listened. I want to be like some of these people. I want to obey God and trust God and experience him with the same kind of power that they have. So let's get started.

GREG: Hi my name is Greg and I’m on staff here at Living on the Edge and I’d like to share Mike’s story with you…. I first came across Living on the Edge when I was not a Christian. But I’ve since committed my life to Christ and listen every day on the App. I want you to know that God is working through your ministry. Personally, I was in a very dark place in my life, and God used you, Chip, and Living on the Edge to completely change my life. The teaching I listen to through the App has strengthened my faith and helped me build a better understanding of the Bible. It's almost as if God places lessons in front of me to help me understand and deal with the issues that I’m facing at that time. After I accepted Jesus, I had a very limited knowledge of godly principles. But through studying Romans 12, I've come to understand what it truly means to be a follower of Christ. Living on the Edge has been a tremendous blessing in my life! And after the Bible - the Chip Ingram App is my go-to resource!

EDEL: Hey this is Edel and I work on the International team here at Living on the Edge… and I wanted to share a testimony we received from a woman named Kathy…. Thank you Living on the Edge for all the work you do! I have listened to Chip on the radio for over 16 years as I'm getting ready for work each morning. I also use many of your resources too! Through the ups and downs of every day, this ministry has encouraged and challenged me to have a real relationship with Jesus, renew my mind daily, and, as Chip always says - keep pressing ahead. Also, I went through the "Real You" - and I've come to better understand my personality and how God desires to use me - which goes way beyond what I learned in church growing up. I so appreciate how real Chip is... He's so honest about his insecurities and struggles with pride and believing the lies that trip all of us up. Also, I am very grateful for Theresa and her bravery in sharing her story - Her testimony has been a great encouragement to me, too!

CHIP: Wow. Thank you so much Mike and Kathy for sharing your story. And actually I'll make sure my wife Theresa gets to hear that as well.

Isaiah 55 says, God's Word goes forth, and it always accomplishes exactly what he wants it to accomplish. It never returns void. And you know, we teach over a million people every week, and then there's over a million readers on YouVersion, and all kind of different places, but what we want to do, we want God's Word to go forth that's biblical, accurate, relevant, practical. With the goal of life change, with the goal of really meeting Jesus. And those two testimonies are just two of literally hundreds and hundreds that we receive all the time.

Wherever I go, it's just amazing these stories of how God uses his Word. And I would say to those of you that pray for and give to Living on the Edge, God's answering your prayers and He's using your gifts in a powerful, powerful way. Now, the next testimonies talk about that journey of transformation. How does it really work? What is it that we do at Living on the Edge in this core concept of discipling God's people? So take it away team.

KITTY: My name is Kitty and I’m on staff here at Living on the Edge, and I’d like to share an email we got from Billie, she writes… I have just finished Chip's Daily Discipleship series "Growing Deeper with God" - and before that, I went through "Discover Your True Self" from the book of Ephesians. I just wanted to write in and say thank you to Chip and everyone at Living on the Edge. God is working through this ministry in incredible ways! For most of my life, I've wrestled with feeling like I don't measure up. Like I keep trying to make time to read and study the Bible, but fail to be consistent. With Chip's help, I realized I was living for God's approval, and not from it. I cannot begin to describe the freedom I’m experiencing now in Christ. I have deep joy in reading His Word and hearing His voice. If not for the work of this ministry, I would have continued to struggle with that weight for the rest of my life. Thank you so much!

CHIP: Well, Billie, thank you so much for sharing your story and what a great reminder for all of us. Did you hear what she said? I have learned to live from God's approval, not for His approval. I still struggle with this. The Christian life is just a transaction. It's checking a box, it's trying hard and never feeling like you measure up unless you understand grace, unless you understand you're already loved.

And once Billie did that, then her time with God, her reading of Scripture, her developing some of those habits. It wasn’t about, getting God to love her, it was about recognizing she was already loved. I never tire of reading and listening to testimonies that remind me of truth that I know, but I need to hear it again.

ERIN: Hey there, this is Erin and I’m on staff with Ministry Partners team here at Living on the Edge, and I wanted to read a touching testimony we got from Will…. I grew up in the church, and I always thought Christianity was just another religion - nothing really unique or special from what others believe. To me, everyone was doing certain things or acting 'right' to get on God's good side. I didn't think I could ever live up to that standard. I spent more than 20 years chasing happiness and security in a bunch of things that didn't deliver and brought a lot of anxiety. So I began to do some 'soul searching,' and that's where God started to pursue me. I came across Living on the Edge in my car. And one night, as I listened to Chip, God suddenly became all too real to me. I got to know His heart. He didn't need anything from me. He just wanted a relationship with me! Chip explained that God had wanted that since the Fall in the Garden. And His love continued pursuing us by sacrificing His son, Jesus, who paved the way for all of us to be reconciled to our loving Heavenly Father. When I heard all of that, I broke down in tears right there in my car, and I had to pull over. On the side of the road, I surrendered my life to Jesus, confessed my sin, and decided to make Him the number one priority. My new life with Jesus has been incredible but not easy. And I am eternally grateful for the ways God used Living on the Edge to call me back to Him, and I have been a faithful supporter of this ministry ever since.

CHIP: Will thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m always amazed at the unusual ways that God uses Living on the Edge to take people from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.

You know that last line of Psalm 23, “Goodness and Mercy will follow us all the days of our life.” Jesus, in John 4, he says to this woman at the well, The Father is seeking, literally He's pursuing those who would worship him in spirit and in truth. God is pursuing us. He’s longing for people.

And as we get the broadcast on radio and on apps and in every way possible, the Spirit of God takes the Word of God in individual's lives, and He transforms them. And we get to be a part of that. And those of you who pray are a part of that, and those of you who give are a part of it. I don't think there's anything more exciting than watching a life being transformed.

And then one of the areas that I find that, people need the most help in is guidance or direction. I don't know how many emails that we'll talk about, ‘I need God's will for my money or for one of my kids’ or ‘what school should they go to.’ God speaks by His Spirit through his Word to guide and direct our lives. And some of the most encouraging testimonies are about how God uses Living on the Edge to be his instrument to give guidance and direction.

STEVE: Hi, my name is Steve and I work on the Living on the Edge team and I wanna share a quick story we received from Chad…. I found Chip on Sirius XM during my long commute to work each day. I’m really enjoying my time in God's Word. I've learned so much with Chip as he's turned a meaningless drive to work, into something of continuous wisdom. And because I listen every day, that led me to discover - Daily Discipleship with Chip - which has elevated my time in The Bible to another level - I did not even know was possible. I'm so excited to see what God has next for me. I pray for continued blessings on Chip Ingram and Living on the Edge! Your impact on my life is greater than you'll ever know!

TAYLOR: Hey this is Taylor and I work on the Ministry Partner team here at Living on the Edge… and I’m excited to share a powerful testimony from a young woman named Natalie…. I discovered Living on the Edge when I moved to North Carolina for college over 10 years ago. Being raised in the church, I would listen to music stations like TheLightFM or HisRadio, but it wasn't until I went out on my own that I started listening to sermons, too! Chip has been one of my favorite pastors to listen to - He's always sounded like a wise dad, giving practical, biblical advice. There's always been something in his voice that has made me feel like I could trust him. While Chip and this ministry are dear to me, it was actually a simple phone call from someone on the Living on the Edge team that truly impacted me and my family. As I grew in my career and could give back to the ministry, a sweet woman named Robin called me to thank me for my donation. Little did I know that this beautiful soul would become a longtime friend and prayer warrior to me and my family. For years, Robin and I connected through monthly donations. She listened and prayed with me through life's ups and downs, and her calls were a constant reminder of God's love. I have been so blessed by Chip and the Living on the Edge team, and while I'm blown away by how they’re changing the world - I will be forever grateful for the ways Robin has changed my world.

CHIP: Wow. Thanks so much, Natalie, for being willing to share your journey. And I guess I take it as a real compliment that I sound like a wise dad. And what's also encouraging for me that many of you don't know is that we have a team of people at Living on the Edge that call and pray and listen and care. And we have a mantra that we live by: ministry first. And as we minister to people, we'll trust that whatever we need financially, the Lord will provide. But ministry always has to come first. We believe if we will do what God wants us to do. He knows what we need and He knows how to provide it.

CHRISTIAN: Hey this is Christian and I work on the I.T. Team at Living on the Edge, and I’d like to share an email from Naomi, she writes to us from Romania, she says… The resources your ministry sends out have been an absolute lifeline for me, as I've discovered them exactly when I've needed them. Especially, the 'Yes, You Really Can Change' discipleship series - it completely transformed my life. As someone who deeply cherishes God's Word and has journeyed through countless Bible studies, I've often struggled to find trustworthy Christian resources here in Romania that consistently guide me closer to God's heart. Your ministry has filled that void. It's like the resources were designed to speak directly to the longings of my heart for a deeper connection with God. Thank you for providing such valuable tools!

UADANI: Hello, this is Uadani and I work on the Audio Production team here at Living on the Edge, and here’s another international story, this time from Bianca…. Living on the Edge is a ministry that is so close to my heart. I thank God for the incredible work the Lord is doing in the many lives around the globe. And I'm deeply grateful for how Chip has impacted my life. I see Living on the Edge as the first significant influence in my life, like the first face on my personal Mount Rushmore. Since then, God has added other important influences: secondly, a close friendship with a coworker in the ministry; thirdly, the opportunity to connect with and serve a hybrid church in the U.S., even though I live far away in Denmark; and fourthly, studying God's Word with other women through the organization "Bible Study Fellowship." But the Lord is continuing to show me that while these four influences are great and helpful - they are not enough! He wants me to rely on Him above all else. I'm continually reminded to walk with Him daily. Thank you Chip for all you do!

CHIP: Thanks so much Naomi and Bianca. It's exciting to see God's Word go all around the world. And, over the last 15, 20 years or more, we have just said we wanna scatter the seed of God's Word wildly. And so, anybody who asks us, can we use this, can we use that? The answer's simple: Yes. Freely we've received and freely we give. And when I hear testimonies like this, it reminds me, our labor's not in vain. Most especially when I hear stories of people that are in very, very painful situations, and where God has intervened. Emotional healing, and God at work, are the next few testimonies, so lean back and give praise to God as you listen to these.

DAVIS: Hey my name is Davis and I work on the Living on the Edge team. I wanted to share this powerful story we gotten from Dustin. Dustin says… A few years ago, I survived a terrible motorcycle accident - walking away with only bruises... Praise God!! When I started to drive again, I began listening to Christian radio and I heard a lot of powerful testimonies. Hearing all of that sparked something in me, and I decided to give my life to Jesus. Living on the Edge was there, and Chip taught me what it meant to live like a Christian and take my relationship with Jesus to the next level. After that, I ended a 12-year relationship, and I began looking for a local church to get plugged into. Now, I even work on the church staff! I will forever be thankful for Chip and Living on the Edge!

MICHAEL: Hey this is Michael and I work on the Ministry Partnerships team here at Living on the Edge. And this testimony came to us from a woman named Amy…. I first connected with Living on the Edge when I was 24. Growing up Catholic, I didn't really understand how to have a personal relationship with the Lord. But in college, through friends and church, I experienced the Holy Spirit in a profound, intimate way, and it transformed my life. That's when I started asking, "How do I live this out? How do I really live for Christ?" I found the answer through Living on the Edge's material. I started listening to their podcast and reading books like “Balancing Life's Demands”, and “Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships.” My job is in psychology, and I started applying what I was learning to my work with trauma survivors. I also used the “Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships” material with high school students, and it was amazing to see the transformations, even though they had no idea that these practices were based on a Bible study. The impact on me personally has been tremendous, too. When I faced challenges, the material from “The Invisible War” gave me the context to understand and navigate spiritual warfare. Now, as a supervisor, I'm able to share these resources with others I work with, and I've seen the same transformation in them. Living on the Edge has been a vital part of my journey, and I'm grateful for how all of these resources have shaped my life and the lives of others.

VEDA: Hi my name is Veda and I work on the Living on the Edge team. And I wanna share a quick story we received from Jessie. Jessie writes… Chip's series "Overcoming Emotions That Destroy" was incredibly helpful to me in one of my most trying times. God put this fantastic resource in front of me at just the right moment. This teaching is so biblically-sound and challenged me to rid my heart of deep anger or allow unforgiveness to fester, while I walked through this difficult trial. Because of how God transformed my life and the healing I've received by putting these techniques into practice, I've shared this impactful series with numerous people. I've even had one person commit their life to Jesus through this teaching! I look forward to using the resources this ministry creates to help even more believers in their faith journey! Thanks, Living on the Edge!

CHIP: These are very powerful stories, and they had something in common. Specific tools or resources we've developed thanks to your generosity that have made a difference in people's lives.

The other thing I heard about these stories, God changed their life and then what did they do? They're passing it on to others.

Our target is that we will help Christians live like Christians. But the bullseye of our target is that we get to help people and their life gets transformed and they catch the vision and they take tools that we have made and they begin to share it with others.

And so when you help us, create those kind of tools, you are making a difference as the ripples of discipleship go from one person to the next person, to the next person. And as we do that, I will tell you there's nothing better. There's no amount of likes or fame or money or anything that compares with being in the center of God's will and Him using you to love others.

CARLEE: Hi there, my name is Carlee and I work on the Living on the Edge team and I’d like to share Janet’s story with you…. I’m a nurse, and for a few years, I’ve felt God prompting me to start a Bible study for the other young moms I work with. But I've been afraid to take that step - it's crazy how powerful that fear of rejection is! But anyway, 3 months ago, a handful of co-workers and I were getting dinner, and I shyly threw out the idea of doing a Bible study... and ALL of them said Yes! It’s amazing how loudly God speaks sometimes! We are about to finish "True Spirituality" and how to be Romans 12 Christians... next we'll tackle "The Real God" study. I’ve been blessed beyond measure to have these sweet young women at my house to grow in faith and wisdom together.

DONNA: Hi this is Donna and I work on the Operations Team here at Living on the Edge… and this testimony came to us from a mom named Melissa…. I’m experiencing a wonderful season with my 3 boys: one is in 8th grade, the other a sophomore and the oldest is about to go off to college. I’m grateful he’s decided to go to a Christian school but it’s so hard to see him go. We’re trying to soak in all the time with him! But I’m so grateful for Chip’s teaching that I listen to daily – and now my boys are listening to the podcast too! My oldest came to me recently after listening to one of your series and said “Mom the narrow path to follow Jesus is even more narrow at a private school – sometimes it feels like no one else is on it but me!” Chip, I want you to know how valuable your resources and podcasts are to my family – because that narrow path is getting narrower for parents guiding their kids – and the kids are realizing what it really takes to follow Jesus wholeheartedly! Thank you from a mom and her boys.

CHIP: I love that story by Melissa 'cause it really, sums up what we're all about at Living on the Edge. We wanna help Christians live like Christians and that's just our terminology for discipleship and disciple making. And we have three very clear strategies.

The first is to disciple God's people teaching, training and tools. The second is equipping pastors and leaders. Because if you really want to disciple people, you go upstream. Who are the people that have the influence? Healthy pastors with disciple making resources and mindset, produce healthy churches. Healthy churches transform families, healthy families transform communities, and you get the idea. It's the way God made it to be. So we disciple God's people. We equip pastors and leaders.

And then third is reaching the next generation. Thanks for being with me. And by the way, we would love to hear your story. Why don't you write us a email or write a letter and tell us this is how God is working in your life.

And finally, if these stories inspire you and you want to be a part of seeing people's lives changed forever and ever and ever, can I encourage you to give to Living on the Edge. And there's never been a better time because every gift, as you've heard this month, will be matched dollar for dollar. Would you pray about that and then join the team? God bless you. And keep pressing ahead.