PLOW
PREPARING THE HEART TO RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT JESUS AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THE PURPOSE
PLOW contains resources to prepare the heart to receive the good news about Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
These simple, reproducible resources are designed to help disciples engage others where they are—awakening deeper questions, exploring the longings of the heart, and addressing obstacles that may stand in the way of hearing the good news.
PREPARING THE HEART
People come to the good news from different places.
These six areas can help us recognize where thoughtful conversation and helpful resources may prepare the heart to hear the message about Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
Awakening the deeper desires of the heart.
Recognizing our longing for love, beauty, belonging, fulfillment, and something beyond ourselves.
LONGING
Creating room for honest uncertainty.
Giving people freedom to question, wrestle, and explore what they believe and why.
DOUBT
Exploring what gives life significance.
Considering why we are here, what makes life meaningful, and whether our lives are part of a larger story.
MEANING
Addressing barriers to belief.
Taking seriously the intellectual, moral, cultural, and personal objections that can make Christianity difficult to consider.
OBJECTIONS
Examining what tells us who we are.
Recognizing the relationships, achievements, possessions, and ideals from which we seek our worth and significance.
IDENTITY
Asking what our lives are ultimately for.
Exploring whether life has an intended purpose beyond happiness, achievement, and survival.
PURPOSE
PLOW begins with the person—not the resource.
Listen first.
Seek to understand where the person is,
and choose resources that may help prepare the heart for the good news.
THE RESOURCES
Resources for preparing the heart
Original PLOW resources are currently in development.
In the meantime, the following programs, books, and videos have been selected as helpful tools for engaging people where they are and preparing the way for the good news.
PROGRAMS
ALPHA
Alpha provides a welcoming environment where people can explore questions about life and the Christian faith through a series of conversations, videos, and discussions.
A place to explore life, faith, and Jesus
BOOKS
WHY CHRISTIANITY MAKES SENSE
Gavin Ortlund
For someone beginning to wonder whether the longings of the human heart and the mysteries of the world around us might point beyond themselves to God.
LONGING · MEANING
COUNTERFEIT GODS
Timothy Keller
For someone beginning to recognize that the things we pursue for happiness, identity, security, and significance cannot bear the weight of our deepest desires.
IDENTITY · FULFILLMENT
MAKING SENSE OF GOD
Timothy Keller
For someone questioning whether our modern assumptions about freedom, happiness, identity, justice, and meaning can adequately explain human life.
MEANING · IDENTITY
THE REASON FOR GOD
Timothy Keller
For someone whose willingness to consider Christianity is hindered by intellectual questions or objections about God, faith, suffering, exclusivity, or belief.
DOUBT · OBJECTIONS
SURPRISED BY JOY
C.S. Lewis
For someone who has experienced a persistent longing for beauty, joy, or something beyond this world and has begun to wonder what that desire might be pointing toward.
LONGING · TRANSCENDANCE
VIDEOS
THE ACHE
A reflection on the deep human “ache” of longing and explains why Christianity uniquely speaks to the heart’s deepest desires.
Gavin Ortlund
YOUR IDOLS WILL ALWAYS BREAK YOUR HEART
A short introduction to the topic of why nothing in creation can fulfill our deepest longings — only the Creator can do that because we were made to know Him.
Timothy Keller
COUNTERFEIT GODS
“What the Bible teaches about salvation and Jesus won’t make any sense unless you understand what the Bible teaches about the human heart.” ~ Tim Keller
This video explores the topic of Counterfiet Gods. The good things we look to for meaning and purpose in life…other than God Himself.
Timothy Keller