How to Obey all Jesus Commanded (feat. Jeff Duerler)

Get early access to all of the 2025 RENEW Gathering Breakout Tracks: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ 

Visit RENEW.org for great resources on Disciple Making and Theology. 

Today’s episode will help us understand how to holistically follow all of Jesus' commands, ensuring a balanced approach in personal discipleship and church community life.

The episode revolves around understanding how thoroughly and holistically believers and church communities are adhering to the commands of Jesus. The speaker initiates the discussion by posing several reflective questions, emphasizing the potential neglect of specific commands either individually or within church groups. He highlights the Great Commission, which instructs disciples to obey all of Jesus' teachings, not selectively.

A significant portion of the talk explores Jeff's sabbatical experiences, including his exploration of different Christian traditions such as the Jesuits, Desert Fathers and Mothers, and other historical church movements. These observations lead him to identify strengths and weaknesses in various church eras, such as the evangelical zeal of the early church and the doctrinal clarity but occasional superficial faith in later periods.

Jeff advocates for a balanced approach to following Jesus' commands, cautioning against the common tendency to focus on preferred teachings while ignoring others. He stresses the importance of maintaining a holistic discipleship that includes personal spiritual practices, community life, and mission work.

Practical implications for churches and individuals include reading the Gospels continuously, journaling to enhance obedience, focusing on the application of teachings rather than mere accumulation of knowledge, and consistently seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. Church programming should prioritize biblical exposition of the Gospels and foster a culture of obedience and testimony sharing.

The episode concludes with suggestions for churches to evaluate their practices and leadership structures. A collaborative team approach informed by Ephesians 4:11-16 can help ensure a balanced ministry. Churches should develop new metrics to measure success in spiritual growth holistically, rather than simply numerical growth or attendance.

Finally, Jeff encourages listeners to stay vigilant about their devotion to Jesus' teachings and praises the potential for varied expressions of obedience across different times, cultures, and communities. He invites feedback and ongoing conversation on achieving comprehensive obedience to Jesus' commands in both individual and church life.