Hi,

I have two updates to share with you today, and both of them are about something free and helpful...

#1:

After I turned in the Major Project for my D.Min., I knew it was headed for the academic graveyard.

Who reads a 150 page paper that has a chapter on Research Methodology?

Not me. Not anyone I know.

Probably the only people who read it were paid to do so. (Thank you Dr. Kim and Dr. Ott!)

But after starting Friends Following Jesus, I realized that people would probably read the same ideas if I turned them into a conversational Bible study.

So over the past three months, I've written 72 Bible studies. Together, they explain every significant finding from my doctoral research.

On the surface, it's a Bible study about discipleship. What does it mean that Jesus calls us his friends? What does it mean to follow Jesus together?

But at a deeper level, it's about what it means to be human, finding the purpose of our lives, and understanding what it looks like to thrive.

It's all included, for free, in the His Friends Bible study. You can sign up to get it here:

​https://friendsfollowingjesus.com/journeys/his-friends​

#2:

So, what's next?

Starting today, I'm publishing a new Bible study called "Jonah: The Unanswered Question."

As I've studied this book, I learned it only has forty-eight verses.

But in this compact narrative, Jonah leaves us with a question we'll never resolve.

It's a good return on investment. Forty-eight verses to get a question we can think about for the rest of our lives.

I also realized that we often think Jonah is about a giant fish. But that's missing the purpose for the porpoise.

If you'd like to join me as we go through the book together, you can sign up for The Daily, and get one study each day:

​https://friendsfollowingjesus.com/the-daily/subscribe​

It's another resource designed to start conversations with a friend or small group.

We're steadily growing—nearly 400 people are getting The Daily everyday. I'd be honored if you gave it a try and invited a friend to do it with you.

gratefully,

Carson

P.S. If you're a pastor, I'd love to talk. Just write back...