114 | Discipleship Beyond The Checklist (Matt Thrift)

This week we chat with Pastor Matt Thrift about his new book, Follow, and the heart of discipleship. Matt shares his journey from Southern Baptist circles to finding a home in the Mennonite Brethren tradition, drawn by our mix of strong theology and practical love for others.

Matt explains that discipleship isn’t about checking boxes but developing a real, ongoing relationship with Jesus. We also discuss how churches can balance evangelism and discipleship without sacrificing one for the other. Matt reflects on personal challenges, like embracing rest and Sabbath, admitting how hard it can be to step away from busyness.

If you’ve ever struggled to keep spiritual practices like prayer and Bible reading from feeling routine, Matt offers some practical insights. He encourages us to see discipleship as a lifelong journey rather than something we can “finish.”

Learn more or buy Matt's book here.