Yes to Dwelling – What does that Mean?

Our mission is anchored in Colossians 3:16, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Dwell. I started Dwelling Richly because I saw a lot of people doing “church”, doing “bible study”, doing this Christian life and even I could get caught up in the “well, I checked that (Sunday church, study, etc.) off my list” mindset. When I shifted from doing to dwelling, everything changed. That’s the mission…to write and teach with that in mind…to help others enthusiastically and intentionally let the Word of Christ dwell in them richly.

We also want to close the gap between personal growth and disciple-making.

Many Bible studies end with, “Here is what you learned.” Instead we ask,

How will you live this?
How will you explain it?
How will this truth strengthen you when life becomes difficult?
How could you help another person understand it?
How might this passage equip you to share the gospel, defend your faith, pray, serve your church, or walk faithfully with someone who is struggling?

We want Scripture to dwell in us richly and then overflow into the lives around us.

Dwelling Richly is not being built around going viral, producing endless material, or gathering an audience around a personality. It is being built around biblical depth, relational discipleship, and multiplication.

Someone participates in a Bible study and learns to read Scripture more carefully. That person gains confidence, finds her voice, and begins encouraging a friend. A participant becomes a mentor. A mentor becomes a leader. A small gathering becomes a place where someone hears the gospel, asks an honest question, or realizes for the first time that she can open God’s Word for herself. That is the fruit.

The videos, studies, devotionals, workshops, podcast episodes, events, and online resources are not the final goal. They are tools that help move people toward something deeper:

Knowing God. Loving His Word. Living faithfully. Helping others do the same.

When someone supports Dwelling Richly, they are saying yes to:

Scripture-first discipleship.
Helping people move beyond inspirational snippets and learn to understand the Bible faithfully, in context, with God at the center.

Accessible biblical resources.
Creating thoughtful studies, devotionals, teaching, and training that are substantial without being intimidating and welcoming enough that people can “come done or not done.”

Ordinary believers becoming disciple-makers.
Equipping people who may never hold a ministry title to pray with someone, study Scripture together, encourage a younger believer, and walk faithfully alongside another person.

Relationships, not merely reach.
Valuing the one person sitting across the table with an open Bible as much as the number of views, downloads, or followers online.

A multiplying ministry.
Training mentors, hosts, teachers, and leaders so the work does not end with one study group or depend entirely on one person.

Room for people to encounter God’s Word.
Supporting gatherings, workshops, retreats, Bible studies, online groups, teaching resources, and outreach opportunities where believers can grow and others can hear the gospel.

I use social media, make videos, write blog posts. We have a podcast and online resources. Those things allow the ministry to reach people I may never meet in person, and I am grateful for that.

Still, the goal is not simply to collect views, followers, or downloads. We care about what happens after someone watches.

Does she open her Bible?
Does he understand God more clearly?
Does someone pray with a friend?
Does a believer finally feel confident enough to invite another person to study Scripture?
Does a group become a place where someone can ask a hard question without feeling embarrassed?
Does someone hear the gospel?

Numbers can help us understand whether resources are reaching people, but they cannot tell the entire story. Sometimes the most meaningful fruit looks like two people sitting at a kitchen table with open Bibles. There may be no camera, no stage, and no impressive statistic attached to that moment. But that is where discipleship often happens.

There are several ways you can join us.

You can pray for wisdom, humility, faithfulness, and clear direction. You can share the resources with someone who may need them.

Read the email newsletters and share with others. I send out a monthly-ish newsletter with updates and encouragement. Reading that and sharing it is a simple way to help and it costs nothing but a couple clicks.

And you can give – A one-time gift helps meet immediate needs. Monthly support helps us plan responsibly and continue developing resources, training disciple-makers, and saying yes when new opportunities arise.

I am deeply thankful for the people who supported Dwelling Richly even before we received the determination letter. You gave because you believed in the mission before there was an official piece of paper confirming our nonprofit status. That humbles me more than I can express.

And whether your part is praying, sharing, serving, giving, or simply opening your Bible and inviting someone to join you, thank you.

We are helping people love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength and helping believers let the Word of Christ dwell in them richly.