5AM with Dr. Randy Turpin | The Next Awakening Is Dawning!

5AM with Dr. Randy Turpin is a weekly 20-minute podcast exploring how Christians can live faithfully in our current moment—a time that feels like 5AM, when darkness still surrounds us, yet dawn is approaching. Drawing from decades of ministry experience and biblical insight, Dr. Turpin examines the tension of living in the "already but not yet" of God's Kingdom. Each episode provides practical wisdom for believers navigating between present challenges and coming hope. Join us weekly as we explore what it means to be "morning people" in a world that often feels dark.

GO TO PODCAST NOW

Fix Your Gaze on Jesus!

Behold the Son 

A Study of the Gospel of John, 3rd Edition 

By J. Randolph Turpin, D.Min. 

Behold the Son has been prepared as a resource for personal study and as a tool for teachers walking their students through a study of the Gospel of John. These pages contain the complete text of the Gospel According to John. The commentary in the footnotes features technical notes, cross references, sermon notes and the author's personal reflections. To further assist in the study, tables have been inserted providing a harmony of the Gospels in those places where such information might prove relevant and helpful.

Dr. Turpin declares this blessing over all who work through this study: "May you behold the Son of God with every turn of the page, with every word that you ponder, and with every prayer that you pray in response to the message of this amazing Gospel."

Paperback: 314 pages

ORDER HERE - Paperback Edition -- $18.95 

Published by Declaration Press

The 5 Essential Functions of the Church

Build a ministry focused on Kingdom priorities! That's what can happen when the five essentials of church ministry are kept in view. Join Dr. Randy Turpin on this ministry development journey. The course is free, and you can enroll HERE.

More Empowering Content for Leaders

Photo by Fox from Pexels

You are powerful when you allow Christ to be the center of your life. You truly are. My task is to help you tap into that potential.

Occasionally, I like to post a reminder of the multiple ways you can access the empowering content I have produced—content designed to facilitate and encourage your development in life, leadership and ministry.

Here is a simple list:

• Online School: Leadership Training Tracks
• Webcast: "10 Minutes with Dr. Randy Turpin"
• Podcast: "Kingdom Conversations"
• Blog
• Writing and Publishing Services
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Latest Book Release: "More of What Matters"

Why So Many Atheists?

Why are there so many agnostics and atheists?

If you have been transformed by God's grace, you may find it hard to comprehend how people cannot see the evidence of His existence. Perhaps many of them have not yet encountered someone with a convincing testimony of personal transformation. Perhaps the evidence is not yet apparent to them.

In this video presentation, "Living Proof," I draw attention to the life that believers have in the Spirit and how the fruit of this life is the proof that God is real.

The Practices and Symbols of Christmas

Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels

Christmas is upon us, and everywhere we turn we are met by the sights and sounds of this festive celebration.

As Christians, this is the time we choose to remember the birth of our Savior. For non-Christians, the season represents other things.

My purpose here is not to bash the secular side of Christmas; rather, I am making the simple point that December is filled with a mix of symbols and practices. Some Christians turn into a Scrooge when they run into an element of the season that cannot be found in the Bible. That's not me. Now, some things should probably be discarded, but not all of it.

We could talk about mistletoe, holly, reindeer with glowing red noses, decorated trees, candy canes, and presents, but let's just focus on Santa for the moment.

I know. The guy in the red suit is quite a departure from what Christmas is all about, but he is based on a real historical person—Saint Nicholas.

Nicholas was a bishop/pastor in a place called Myra. Having inherited a fortune from his father, he became a benevolent man noted for his good works. Miracles were even associated with him. Although parts of the story might be exaggerated, reportedly, three dead boys were raised back to life through his ministry. Eventually, Nicholas was imprisoned during the Diocletian persecutions.

Remembrance of Nicholas was preserved best in Holland, where he was remembered as Sint Nikolas or Sinter-Klaas. The celebration of his life on December 6th of each year had no connection with Christmas. His traditions (such as the tradition of gift-giving) were taken to New Amsterdam (now New York) by Dutch colonists in the 17th century.

So, what am I saying? Honor the saintly bishop, but don't confuse that with the heart of what Christmas really means. Recognize that many of the popular symbols and practices of this season have nothing to do with Jesus, but don't become a Scrooge!

In all humility, we must acknowledge that we don't even have the religious side of Christmas exactly right. For instance, Jesus was born in the springtime—not December 25th. The Bethlehem "inn" was a guest room in a relative's house—not a first century version of Motel 6. The stable was likely an underground room in the back part of the same house—probably the cleanest area, because animals were outside that time of the year. The manger was made of stone—not wood, and the wise men arrived many months after Jesus was born—not on the night of His birth.

Don't worry about the details. The important thing is to come before Jesus with worship and adoration, and join in on the declaration that the angels made on the night of our Savior's birth: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:15, NIV).

May the month of December be filled with all of the joy that Jesus brings!

Thanksgiving—My Top Ten List

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! 

First, remember that this day is all about giving thanks to God. Second, it is also a good time to say “thank you” to others. What are you thanking God for? 

My Top Ten List: 

1. life in Jesus, 
2. my wife, 
3. our five children—plus son-in-law and future son-in-law, 
4. our four grandchildren, 
5. our extended family, 
6. our church, 
7. my friends & mentors, 
8. our community & nation, 
9. God’s provision & prosperity, and 
10. many answered prayers & God-given opportunities.

In the Name of Jesus

"In the Name of Jesus."

We hear that phrase frequently in Christian circles. It's in some of our songs. It's how we close our prayers, and it's the tag we use on almost anything that needs to sound spiritually authoritative.

But what do we really mean when we say, sing or proclaim, "In the name of Jesus"?

The Power of Blessing

Your words are more powerful than you realize.

With your words you can change the trajectory of another person's life! That is both a positive and a negative reality.

Learn more in my recent 10-minute YouTube webcast, entitled, "The Power of Blessing."

Don't Be Yourself?

"Well, this is just me. Get used to it."

Have you ever heard someone say something like that? Maybe you have even said it!

Sometimes those words are spoken when a person is trying to justify their personal deficiencies. They think that they are stuck with certain personality traits and are incapable of changing.

You do not have to stay the same. You do not have to settle for life as you know it today. Personal transformation is really possible. There is a way for you to become a better version of you.

Learn more in this week’s “10 Minutes with Dr. Randy Turpin.” 

Revisiting Our Evangelistic Mandate

Sunrise over Nashville
Alycia Janelle Art

"To Make Christ Known"

What is the Christian church supposed to be doing? 

A few years ago while trying to draft a purpose statement for the church I was pastoring, I found it difficult to not “borrow” the famous slogan of Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators:  “To know Christ and to make Him known.”

Who could possibly improve upon those words?  I still think that Trotman’s statement profoundly summarizes the two greatest priorities of the Christian life:

1. Knowing Christ intimately and 
2. Making Him known to a world that does not yet know Him.

When we get to know Jesus deeply, we cannot help but become overwhelmed with His heart for people—especially those who do not yet know Him. The mandate to “go into all the world,” to “preach the Gospel,” and to “make disciples” becomes a purpose that we gladly embrace. 

How can the church practically live out Christ’s heart for the world?  The answer is found in three key actions. 

International festival in Redding, CA
Photo by Alycia Janelle

1.  Preach the Gospel

Jesus said to “preach the Gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).  Why preach?  

The Apostle Paul taught that people cannot believe in Jesus if they do not hear about Him, and the only way they can hear about Him is for someone to tell them, or preach to them (Romans 10:14).

Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 1:21, the Apostle states that “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”  The spoken communication of divine truth will always have the power to persuade men’s hearts toward Christ. 

Evangelistic preaching will never be obsolete; it exposes the condition of the heart and introduces saving grace. Those who truly hear the Gospel become convinced of their need for Jesus. However, while evangelistic preaching does address the need of fallen humanity, ultimately it should not be "man-centered."

Why the concern over "man-centeredness"? Here is the point: evangelism is more about exalting Christ than it is about improving the human condition. Of course, we are supposed to be concerned about the human soul, but love for the lost is only part of what motivates us to reach them. 

The primary motive for evangelism is love for Christ. In other words, we reach out to the lost because Christ deserves to be honored, praised, and exalted through the lives of those people. Think about it. Evangelistic preaching is Christ-centered. 

Effective evangelistic preaching does not assume that people know how to become Christians. When speaking to an unsaved audience, the preacher would do well to steer away from saying things like, “As you know…,” or “You have heard the story of…,” because more likely than not, they don’t know, and they haven’t heard the story. The preacher needs to tell them, using terms that the unchurched person can understand.

Altar call in Europe
Photo by Alycia Janelle

Effective evangelistic preaching also provides an opportunity for response, such as through an altar call. Some pastors feel that once the message is preached, the people should respond after they walk out the door, living out the truth of the Word in their daily walk. From their point of view, altar calls are not necessary—perhaps even a distraction. They argue that an emotional “catharsis” at the altar is not what people really need. 

My counter-argument would be that much more than “catharsis” experiences occur in the altar. The altar call is a time for God-encounter. The altar call provides the focused setting in which God Himself can transform lives in remarkable ways. Besides, how can we be sure that unsaved people will know how to make the needed application of the Gospel message after they walk out the door?  Providing regular opportunities in the worship service for the unsaved to respond to the Gospel in a clearly defined manner makes a lot of sense.

Some question the effectiveness of evangelistic preaching in the context of a church worship service.  Aren’t most of those in attendance already saved? Perhaps that is true. However, when I was pastoring, I found that whenever I started preaching more evangelistic sermons, church members started inviting more unsaved friends to church. The result was that more seekers visited the church, resulting in more people coming to faith in Christ.

Others object to a regular evangelistic emphasis in church services stating that the Sunday morning gathering is a time for discipling believers. That argument is understandable; however, it cannot excuse a church from its evangelistic mission. If a church has two or more services on a Sunday, perhaps one of them could be designated as a regular evangelistic service.

Introducing people to Christ through the ministry of preaching in the church context is beneficial in that it immediately familiarizes seekers and new believers with the environment in which they will be nurtured. They experience the “new birth” in the presence of their new spiritual family.

While the ministry of preaching deserves the attention given here, its limitations as an evangelistic method should also be noted. Evangelistic preaching requires unsaved hearers to be present. Bringing the preacher and the unsaved hearers together is a matter that often requires a great deal of creativity and planning on the part of the church. Preaching works best when used in conjunction with other evangelistic methods.

Preaching is also limited in that many people will never accept an invitation to listen to a preacher.  “Personal evangelists” and non-confrontational methods are needed. 

Bill Johnson praying before teaching
Photo by Alycia Janelle

2.  Make Disciples

Jesus said to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:10).  I once thought that this part of the Great Commission meant that we were first supposed to get people saved, and then we were to take them through a process called “discipleship” in hopes that they would one day become an authentic disciple.

           

A careful examination of verse 10 reveals something a little different. Discipleship involves the ministry of teaching, and a disciple is made at the point when a person chooses to submit his or her life to that which is being taught—in other words, at the point of conversion.  From this point of view, the process of discipleship or teaching starts prior to conversion. Many people who come to faith in Christ do so because they have already become convinced of a number of foundational aspects or truths of the Christian faith.     

Can the ministry of teaching be used as an evangelistic method? The above interpretation of Matthew 28:10 suggests that it can. What are the implications for the teaching and discipleship ministries of the church? Rather than viewing discipleship ministries as exclusively post-conversion functions designed for the saints, perhaps creative ways need to be sought to include unsaved people in the discipleship processes of the church.

One ministry that effectively integrates discipleship and evangelism is the Alpha Course, a ministry that began among Spirit-filled Anglicans in England in the 1990s.  Alpha is a relational approach to establishing new believers.  It provides a ten-week opportunity to explore the validity and relevance of the Christian faith.  The course includes a practical introduction to the basics of Christianity centered around a meal, a talk, and small-group discussion.

Evangelistic art outreach
Photo by Alycia Janelle

3.  Go into Every Man’s World

Over the years, Oral Roberts University frequently paraphrased “Go into all the world” (Mark 16:15) as “Go into every man’s world.” The global aspect of the Great Commission should always be a priority; however, the “every man’s world” perspective is very important as well. Neighbors living on the same city block can be living in different worlds socially and culturally. How can the barriers be crossed to connect with “every man” in his or her world?

Will “every man” go to church on a Sunday morning to hear evangelistic preaching? Some men will, but not “every man.” While the scheduling of traditional methods such as revival services should be applauded, the question should still be asked, will “every man” attend these meetings? Again, some will, but not “every man.” To reach “every man,” the church needs to think and plan creatively and strategically. 

The planning of evangelistic events, both inside and outside of the church, is one way to strategize to reach the lost. Evangelistic events of multiple and varied types are often the answer to reaching people that would not otherwise be reached through traditional means. 

Why not conduct an evangelistic block party, alternative "Halloween" festivals (i.e., fall festivals), sidewalk evangelistic art activities, or outreach events at Thanksgiving and Christmas? Special days such as Mothers Day, Fathers Day, and Easter are good times to integrate an evangelistic emphasis as well. Baptisms, baby dedications, plays, concerts, and fellowship meals provide opportunities to invite a large number of unsaved relatives and friends.  Even conducting some of these functions in a location other than the church building may be a helpful innovation. 

A very effective way to move the church beyond its own walls is to conduct servant evangelism projects—projects geared to overwhelm the community with kindness. Christians should be encouraged to get involved in their communities, become outwardly focused, and help to serve both the felt and real needs of people through the love of Christ. 

It is time for the church to get beyond the “been there, done that” attitude regarding evangelism. The power of preaching and teaching is already resident within the church.  All that is usually needed in addition to these resources is a passion for Jesus that compels us to love people and a Spirit-directed strategy to connect with “every man” in his or her world. When we consider the great effort that Jesus made to get into every man’s world, it inspires us to do the same.

J. Randolph Turpin, D.Min.

"10 Minutes with Dr. Randy Turpin"

The next ten minutes could change the trajectory of your day, or even your life!

"10 Minutes with Dr. Randy Turpin" has just launched on YouTube! Each week, I'll be sharing a nugget of insight or wisdom to help you develop as a world changer.

I could say more about it, but why not see for yourself. Go to the introductory episode now. Subscribe. Click the bell icon for notifications. Like. Share. Let the adventure begin!

  

A Directory to World Changing Resources

Receive training and inspiration as a world changer (a.k.a., revivalist) anyplace and at anytime. Access 4 powerful resources right here through RandyTurpin.net:

Kingdom Conversations with Randy Turpin A weekly podcast. Podcast.RandyTurpin.net 10 Minutes with Dr. Randy Turpin A weekly YouTube webcast. YouTube.RandyTurpin.net Leadership Training Tracks An online "school." Tracks.RandyTurpin.net Tweets from Dr. Randy Turpin It's just what it sounds like: Twitter. Twitter.RandyTurpin.net

"Leadership Training Tracks" Now Launched!

I am excited to report that the "Leadership Training Tracks" platform has launched! Our first training track is entitled "Essentials for Spirit-Empowered Ministry." The video tells more. To preview or enroll in the course, go to http://tracks.randyturpin.net.

Empowerment for the Awakening

"God is not finished with America yet!"

Jesus Christ has been the central focus of my life for over forty-nine years. For thirty-six of those years, I have devoted my life to fulltime Christian service. I have served as pastor, educator, conference speaker, leadership consultant, administrator and publisher.

I am a revivalist. Since the early 1990s, I have held to the belief that God is not finished with America yet. Therefore, I am committed to the Spiritual Awakening of this nation. Nothing brings me greater satisfaction than empowering the rising generation of leaders to carry the life and power of God's kingdom into every sphere of influence.

My reach is now expanding through speaking engagements and consultation/coaching services. Frequent conference and workshop themes include the following:

• Leadership Development
• Prophetic Leadership
• Congregational Development
• Prayer Ministry Development ("Prayer Culture" Workshops)
• Equipping for Spirit-Empowered/Supernatural Ministry
• Cultivating Healthy Kingdom Relationships
• Publishing

Contact me:

• mail@randyturpin.net