<![CDATA[Closer Than You Think: The Academy]]>https://www.ctyt.net/s/the-academyhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TmyP!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0dc31245-deb4-486c-ba2f-e25058c8c090_500x500.pngCloser Than You Think: The Academyhttps://www.ctyt.net/s/the-academySubstackTue, 14 Apr 2026 08:08:14 GMT<![CDATA[Magnify the Power (Part 7)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-7https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-7Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:02:33 GMTIn this final episode of this series, we slow down to reflect on what we have learned. This session gives you an opportunity to explore and discuss questions related to the prior learning.

I want to thank you for joining me in this course. Please take a moment to share feedback with me. I hope and pray this experience has been helpful.

Remember, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

Copy of Lesson 7 Notes

Guess what? The number on the notes handout actually matches the session number for this episode/lesson. See, I got it worked out eventually.

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]]><![CDATA[Magnify the Power (Part 6)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-6https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-6Sat, 12 Jul 2025 13:02:51 GMTIn this lesson, we focus on the evidence, or proof, of our Christian witness as we engage our second important mindset shift, which is related to Christian character. In our last module, we explored the shift from Gifts--> Fruit in our understanding of Christian character and witness.

Now, we focus on the next important shift: DOING --> BEING, to help us understand the Spirit's work in our lives from a different perspective. This module is one of the most important in the course and the entire series. We will relearn how God is the initiator and deliverer of all spiritual growth in our lives.

In addition to listening to the lesson, you may also access these videos. (Reminder: Go by the title and content of the notes handout, not the number in the corner.)

Copy of Lesson 6 Notes

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]]><![CDATA[Magnify the Power (Part 5)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-5https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-5Sat, 28 Jun 2025 13:01:48 GMTIn this lesson, we focus on the evidence, or proof, of our Christian witness as we engage our second important mindset shift, which is related to Christian character. Talent is a poor indicator of someone's faith yet the Church has held up spiritual gifts as the evidence of Christian character far too often. Jesus was very clear that His followers would be known by their fruit, by their love. Returning to this perspective will help our children immensely.

In addition to listening to the lesson, you may also access these videos.

Join us as we explore the shift from Gifts to FRUIT.

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]]><![CDATA[Magnify the Power (Part 4)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-4https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-4Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:06:15 GMTIn this lesson, we focus on the nature and idea of CHURCH as we engage our first important mindset shift. We have misled people into thinking God is at a location or event we call "church" when He is actually not confined to our time and space limitations. We need to replace the concept of church as an activity with the reality of church as an identity to relieve our children from so many religious pressures and bad theology.

In addition to listening to the lesson, you may also access these videos.

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]]><![CDATA[Magnify the Power (Part 3)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-3https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-3Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:30:23 GMTThis lesson is an opportunity to reflect, discuss, and apply our new learning related to the Four Core Practices. There is emphasis on how we help our children and youth shape their spiritual journey in healthy ways. Here is the link to a one-page version of the core practices mentioned in this episode.

You can listen to this episode and/or review the video segments below. I have also included a 3-part podcast series about my personal experience with baptism from a parent’s perspective. I share about my daughters’ baptisms and the meaning behind them.

SERIES: THE MEANING OF BAPTISM

EPISODE 1 EPISODE 2 EPISODE 3

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]]><![CDATA[Magnify the Power (Part 2)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-2https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-2Tue, 27 May 2025 10:55:50 GMTThis is the next lesson of the Magnify the Power course in the “Overcoming Bad Christianity” series. The courses and lessons are best taken in order.

This lesson introduces the “Four Core Practices” of Christianity, illustrating we can make everything much simpler.

You can listen to this episode and/or review the video segments below.

Print/Download Lesson 2 Notes

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]]><![CDATA[Magnify the Power (Part 1)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-1https://www.ctyt.net/p/magnify-the-power-part-1Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:39:38 GMTThis is the second main course in the “Overcoming Bad Christianity” series. This course is called Magnify the Power.

This particular course is best taken after the first course, Simplify the Path. That course is designed to move us out of religion and clear the debris from our path so we can embrace a simpler, freer relationship with God. It lays down very critical and foundational elements about Christianity and following Jesus, so I recommend starting there if you have not already taken it.

This course builds on that foundation by showing us how we can magnify God's power through our interactions with others. We will look more closely at how spiritual growth happens, healthy faith communities' benefits and practices, and the implications for our children and grandchildren. This course will combine knowledge and practice and give you tips and strategies you can apply right away.

You can listen to this episode and/or review the video segments below.

Print/Download Lesson 1 Notes

NOTE: This is an older video. Some of the details may not still apply and you can disregard the calendar referenced for session dates now that the whole course is asynchronous.

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]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 10)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-10https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-10Sun, 09 Feb 2025 13:04:44 GMTWelcome to the final lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode and/or review the video segments below.

Congratulations! You have completed the first course. I would love it if you would share feedback with me in the comments. In this lesson, we will summarize what we learned from this foundational course and bring it all home.

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]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 9)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-9https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-9Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:39:52 GMTWelcome to the next lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode and/or review the video segments below.

It is time to examine the glue that holds all of the religious stressors together - SIN. We also explore the significance of the shift from Old Covenant to New Covenant thinking.

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]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 8)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-8https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-8Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:03:52 GMTWelcome to the next lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode and/or review the video segments below.

Too many Christians can't look in the mirror without feeling either great shame or shallow pride because of religious teachings about their sins, shortfalls, talents, and toughness. We have bought into a religious system based on transactions between God and us to earn His approval and love. In reality, God's love and our value are already permanently established and we are invited into a relationship of transformation.

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The two best ways to support my work are to subscribe to (and share) my Substack, and go to Amazon and post a positive review of my book here.

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But more than anything else, use whatever knowledge, inspiration, or resources you might find in any of my content to help others around you realize God is for them. Thank you so much!

]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 7)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-7https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-7Thu, 09 Jan 2025 12:59:56 GMTWelcome to the next lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode and/or review the video segments below.

This lesson dives into a passage of the New Testament, John 6.

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]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 6)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-6https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-6Thu, 02 Jan 2025 12:25:40 GMTHAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Here is the next lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode and/or review the video segments below.

We have been inundated with lists and laws and commands and rules that incorrectly define Christian responsibility. It is time to release ourselves and our children from religious duty and performance traps so we can enjoy freedom in Christ.

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]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 5.1 - An Example)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-51-an-examplehttps://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-51-an-exampleThu, 26 Dec 2024 12:19:57 GMTIn this bonus lesson, I offer a FREE preview to all subscribers of how to use the 411 method with Colossians 1:15-22.

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]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 5)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-5https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-5Thu, 19 Dec 2024 12:14:37 GMTHere is the fifth lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. The diagram below is referenced in this episode.

  1. Who was Jesus to you as a child? What was your understanding of Jesus in your first decade of life? How did you feel about Him? What did you believe about Him?

  1. Who was Jesus to you as a teeenager? During your adolescence, what was your understanding of Jesus? What feelings and thoughts did you have toward Him during that transformative decade of life?

  1. Who was Jesus to you as a young adult? What kinds of beliefs, thoughts, and feelings characterized this phase of your life as you likely set out on new education, career, and family endeavors?

  1. What were the similarities and differences of how you viewed God for each phase of life? How has your faith and understanding of God/Jesus changed over time? Throughout your life, what factors have affected the way you have answered the question, Who is Jesus to you? (We are all getting our impressions of Jesus from somewhere. It is time to explicitly name those influences.)

  1. WHO IS JESUS TO YOU...NOW? This is it. Fill your whiteboard. Don’t worry about who He might be to you tomorrow or who He was to you yesterday. Today, in this moment, who is Jesus to you?

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]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 4)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-4https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-4Fri, 13 Dec 2024 02:51:39 GMTHere is the fourth lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode or review the video segments below.

Downloadable Notes for this Lesson (make a copy)

REVIEW OF STEPS:

  1. Pick a book.

  2. Go to the first chapter.

  3. Read simply and humbly.

  4. Highlight/Circle/Underline any descriptions of Jesus.

  5. Write them down in a list.

As you repeat this activity with different books and review your lists, look for patterns.

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But more than anything else, use whatever knowledge, inspiration, or resources you might find in any of my content to help others around you realize God is for them. Thank you so much!

]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 3)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-3https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-3Thu, 05 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMTHere is the third lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode or review the video segments below.

Module 1.2 Video: What We Get Wrong About Christianity

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But more than anything else, use whatever knowledge, inspiration, or resources you might find in any of my content to help others around you realize God is for them. Thank you so much!

]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 2)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-2https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-2Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:39:00 GMTHere is the second lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode or review the video segments below.

Module 1.2 Video: What We Get Wrong About Christianity

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But more than anything else, use whatever knowledge, inspiration, or resources you might find in any of my content to help others around you realize God is for them. Thank you so much!

]]><![CDATA[Simplify the Path (Part 1 - Introduction)]]>https://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-1-introductionhttps://www.ctyt.net/p/simplify-the-path-part-1-introductionSun, 24 Nov 2024 14:34:40 GMTWelcome to the introductory lesson of the first course, “Simplify the Path,” which is part of our Overcoming Bad Christianity series. Please note that the audio and video formats of each lesson may differ.

You can listen to this episode or review the video segments below.

Pre-Intro Video: How Does Christianity Make You Feel? (YouTube)

Module 1.1 Video (YouTube)

Module 1.1 Video - The Big Reveal (YouTube)

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