This Can’t Be It: A Call Back to New Testament Christianity

Key takeaways

Modern Christianity often lacks the power and fervor of the early church.
Believers are encouraged to not just profess faith but to embody it through their actions.
Leaders are called to be exemplars of faith and to lead their communities towards boldness and mission.
The podcast highlights the importance of prayer, obedience, and a deep commitment to Jesus in living out New Testament Christianity.
Listeners are invited to actively participate in the revival of genuine discipleship and impactful ministry.

Summary

A Prophetic Call to Holistic Christianity

In this episode of the Cypher Makers podcast, Josh Howard urges listeners, especially leaders, to reflect on their faith lives and the widespread dissatisfaction among Christians. He proposes that this unrest may be the Holy Spirit's prompting towards a deeper, more meaningful expression of Christianity, one that transcends conventional comfort and superficial religiosity.

Critique of Modern Christianity

Josh critiques contemporary Christianity for resembling a culture-driven version of faith that would be unrecognizable to the apostles. He highlights the difference between activity in churches and the absence of the Holy Spirit's power, calling for a return to the fervor and practices of the early church.

Seven Distinctives of New Testament Christianity

Josh outlines seven key elements that represent a return to a New Testament style of living: 1. **Upper Room First Mentality**: Prioritize prayer and surrender before action. 2. **Daily Gospel Boldness**: Christians should proclaim the gospel courageously and frequently. 3. **Expecting Divine Power**: Believers should anticipate supernatural movements in their lives. 4. **Holiness Without Compromise**: A call for purity in lifestyle and leadership. 5. **Luke 10 Lifestyle**: Engaging in ministry with presence in local contexts. 6. **Disciple-making Multiplication**: Focus on making disciples who then make disciples. 7. **Joyful Abandonment**: Embracing a life entirely dedicated to Jesus.

Call to Leaders

Josh emphasizes the responsibility of leaders to lead by example in fostering a vibrant faith. If the leaders remain comfortable and passive, so will the followers. He implores leaders to actively model prayer, boldness, and discipleship, thereby producing genuine transformations in the lives around them.

A Collective Vow for a New Direction

In closing, Josh invites listeners to make a solemn vow to reject status quo Christianity and completely embrace a Jesus-centered way of life. This commitment includes re-engaging with prayer, obedience, mission, and the pursuit of holiness in every aspect of life.

Show notes

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/

Join us at the 2026 National Disciple Making Forum: https://discipleship.org/2026-national-disciple-making-forum/

In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, host Josh Howard issues a prophetic call to Christians, especially leaders, urging a return to a New Testament style of Christianity. Josh identifies widespread dissatisfaction among believers and interprets this as the Holy Spirit's urging toward a deeper, more authentic faith. He emphasizes that Jesus called his followers to a life marked by boldness, power, holiness, and mission, not one of comfort or superficial religiosity. Josh critiques modern Christianity for straying from the practices and fervor of the early church, and outlines seven distinctives of New Testament Christianity: fostering an upper room mentality, practicing gospel boldness, expecting divine power, maintaining uncompromised holiness, living a Luke 10 lifestyle, committing to disciple-making multiplication, and embracing joyful abandonment. He calls on leaders to lead by example, fostering real transformations that align with Jesus' life and teachings. Josh closes by urging listeners to make a collective vow to reject status quo Christianity and fully commit to this Jesus-centered way of life.