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Jeff McLain

@jeffmclain.bsky.social
184 followers 87 following 296 posts

Lead A Quiet Life | Recovering a rooted Christian way of life through the Lord's Prayer, ancient habits, and simple Jesus communities. Dad · Writer · Pastor · Doctoral Student

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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The Lord’s Prayer isn’t merely something we say it is also a way Jesus taught us to live. I reviewed Brad Gray & Brad Nelson’s The Lord’s Prayer. www.jeffmclain.com/the-lords-pr...
jeffmclain.com
The Lord’s Prayer: A Review of Bringing Heaven Here
A reflection on Brad Gray and Brad Nelson’s Bringing Heaven Here, exploring how context and practice make the Lord's Prayer a way of life.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
“Abundance can breed amnesia. Poverty can lead to desperation.” - Brad Gray & Brad Nelson, Bringing Heaven Here
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The Phillies. I was ready to fire them all with little to no remorse, but they have me believing again. Postseason for the 5th straight season.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I’m increasingly convinced the church needs more than a better strategy for “fixing” the church. Discipleship, missiology, APEST, and new models can still reproduce the business-driven, platformed church they’re trying to repair. These worlds are full of coaches, book deals, and paid programs.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I’m convinced the danger of Evangelicalism today isn’t that we misunderstand Jesus. It’s that we refuse to understand him and then spend our mental energy finding ways to explain why we don’t have to do what he said.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Can a Bible be both free and trustworthy? I started researching that question after digging into the New English Translation—and I found more options than I expected. A blog post on @patheos.com www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
Can A Bible Be Both Free And Trustworthy?
Can a Bible Be Both Free and Trustworthy? Exploring eight accessible, open, and less copyright-restricted English Bible translations.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Our prayer begins with confessing and understanding God’s character. This is a prayerful confession to practice even in crisis. A blog post on @patheos.com. www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
Learning To Confess And Understand Our Father Even In Crisis
Our Father. In the middle of fear, uncertainty, and unanswered questions, learning to trust the character of the God who holds us.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
“Praying “Holy be your name” is how we stay centered and recalibrated for this new way of being in the world.” - Brad Gray & Brad Nelson
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
This series continues to be one that I enjoy. www.jeffmclain.com/reviewing-vo...
jeffmclain.com
Reviewing Volume XII of the ESV Expository Commentary (Hebrews – Revelation) - Jeff McLain
I am grateful to Crossway for sending me a copy of Volume XII of the ESV Expository Commentary to review. I don’t take the gift to review this commentary lightly.…
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Some of you may know that my wife suffered a seizure while working. She fractured her skull and temporal bone, damaged her ear canal, and sustained other significant injuries. After days in the hospital, she’s home. We’re grateful for the care of many friends, and we’re asking for continued prayers.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Perhaps the deeper question Jesus is asking isn’t simply, “If this is all that I have for you, are you okay with it?” Perhaps he is asking, “Am I enough for you?” A Lead a Quiet Life Blog post on @patheos.com www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
If This Is All That I Have For You (Proverbs 14:30)
Proverbs 14:30 calls us toward a tranquil heart. What if learning contentment begins by trusting that God is enough?
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The Pharisees knew scripture but missed the Messiah standing right in front of them. It's a warning for us: knowing the Bible doesn't guarantee we see Jesus. We can be experts in God's ways, yet still resist the God who speaks to us. #faith #scripture
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Jesus isn't just another figure; he's the singular path to the Father, offering ultimate meaning, purpose, and identity. His message draws a clear line. The exclusivity of his claims can't be dismissed simply because it's inconvenient. #faith #Jesus
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
This week in the Seven series, we look at John 8:12–20 and what it means to follow Jesus when the world feels dark, confusing, and uncertain. Watch the full sermon: youtu.be/SV_2wWC1FCk
youtu.be
Seven: I Am the Light of the World (John 8:12-20) | Jeff McLain
YouTube video by River Corner Church
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Prayer is not about finding God in spectacle, performance, or formulaic ways we have been taught to pray. The posture of prayer that Jesus gives us teaches us to recognize the Father in the secret and ordinary places, confidently trusting that even there, when we feel alone, we are seen (Mt 6:6).
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The world sells a lot of success, but Jesus challenges us to look for the right prize. It’s about reorienting ourselves toward Him, not chasing worldly gains. Link to full video in bio.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Focusing on our mission through prayer and scripture reminds us what eternal life is. Let's live out this commitment, not pursuing fleeting things.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Two tables are set: one offers worldly success, comfort, and pleasure, promising satisfaction. The other, Jesus, offers himself – the bread of life. The choice shapes our appetites and sustains our lives. He declares, "I am that bread," where the gift and the giver are one. #faith #life
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
A prayer that we are told 'Pray, then, in this way' is not a secret formula for manipulating God into giving us what we want, but I also do not believe it is optional nor just a suggestion for those of us who want to learn and stay rooted in the way of life that Jesus calls us to.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
"I am a work in prog-mess" - Ted Lasso
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
The day didn’t start great. A few issues with my diabetes and a repair that needs to be taken care of. But I’m not going to let any of that get in the way. It’s Daddy-Daughter Date Day. That’s what matters.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
A quiet life isn’t failure—it’s resistance.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
We are stewards living in our Father’s world. Knowing and confessing this should change the way we live. A new blog post on @patheos.com . www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
The Earth Is The Lord’s: Learning To Live As Stewards
What if everything we have is a gift entrusted to us by God? Psalm 24 invites us to rethink ownership, stewardship, and the way we live.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
I love when people say “yes” to Jesus. There is something otherworldly about sitting with someone as they confess with their mouth and believe in their heart. It is a holy moment. Today, I gratefully saw another life called by grace. I’m always here if you want to talk.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
“People first have to be made ready to do good works by being born anew. Only then, would they be capable of doing good works… doing good works doesn’t make anyone good.” - Martin Luther, (By Faith Alone)
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
There are passages of Scripture we return to again and again. Sometimes we read them. Sometimes, if we're paying attention, they begin reading us. A Lead a Quiet Life Blog on Patheos Evangelical. www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
When Psalm 23 Began Reading Me
What if Psalm 23 isn't just meant to be read, but to read you? A reflection on discernment, surrender, and the Shepherd's gentle guidance.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
We got to pray just to make it today.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
“We are old fools. The more educated and intelligent we become, the less we know and understand. We must preach this message again and again so that all of us may be satisfied and filled with its teaching.” - Martin Luther, Faith Alone (John 8:36)
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Sometimes life starts piling up. There will always be another task waiting. But I’m learning that rediscovering a sense of play is just as important. After work we stopped for dinner, grabbed a coffee, and wandered through the park while the kids laughed and played. Take the scenic route.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Gratitude isn't pretending everything is okay. It's learning to take every thought and moment captive and turn it toward grateful worship. A blog post on @patheos.com
patheos.com
Taking Every Thought Captive: Learning Gratitude
Taking every thought captive means more than resisting sin—it means transforming our thoughts into gratitude and worship.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
The kingdom of this world is built on returns and roles. The Kingdom of God is built on giving as freely as we have received. (Matthew 10:8)
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
The kingdom of this world is built on returns and roles. The Kingdom of God is built on giving as freely as we have received. (Matthew 10:8)
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
The Lord’s Prayer is an ancient practice that is confessional, reorders our priorities, provides a theological trellis, roots us in the way of Jesus, and connects us to the global and historic Church. I write about the Lord’s Prayer and recovering a rooted Christian way of life at JeffMcLain.com.
jeffmclain.com
Jeff McLain
Exploring the Lord’s Prayer for Spiritual Formation and Simple Faith
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
“Our sins are forgiven at the cross, yet we sometimes do not deal adequately with sin’s effects in our lives. We need to allow the reality of the cross and the truth of the scripture to expose the lies we believe.” - John Wimber (1993)
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
God's invitation to Sabbath is more than a command—it's a harbor for weary souls. Sometimes we need longer seasons of stillness to be restored. A blog post on @patheos.com www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
Port Of Call: Sometimes We Need More Than A Weekly Sabbath
God's invitation to Sabbath is more than a command—it's a harbor for souls. Sometimes we need longer seasons of stillness to be restored.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
“I’m all for the pulpit, but the real power of the gospel is released as ordinary, Spirit-filled people multiply the gospel wherever they go, into every part of their communities.” - J.D. Greear
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Psalm 23 is more than a funeral psalm. It is a poem for pilgrims, a portable theology meant to be carried in the heart. www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq... A Blog Post on @patheos.com.
patheos.com
Psalm 23: A Poem For The Pilgrimage
Psalm 23 is more than a funeral psalm. Discover how this familiar passage becomes a poem for pilgrims and a reminder of God's faithful care.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
“...the one whom you need to shepherd you neither needs you nor needs to be shepherded himself as he gives himself to shepherd you. He shepherds you from his eternally undiminishing fullness, and he is never the poorer for it.” The Lord is my shepherd. David Gibson, The Lord of Psalm 23
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
What if the issue isn't how much we own, but whether our possessions own us? My thoughts on The 100 Thing Challenge. www.jeffmclain.com/you-dont-nee...
jeffmclain.com
You Don't Need 100 Things to Learn from The 100 Things Challenge
A reflection on The 100 Thing Challenge and what it taught me about stewardship, consumerism, contentment, and owning less.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Reading The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno challenged me to ask a better question: Can I own things without being owned by them? A blog post on @patheos.com. www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
Owning Things Without Being Owned : The 100 Thing Challenge
Can we own things without being owned by them? Reflections on Dave Bruno's The 100 Thing Challenge and the pursuit of enough.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Preaching is dirt talking to dirt about God. That one line reshuffled everything. Exploring what the Compelling Preaching Cohort taught me. A Blog Post on @patheos.com www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
Dirt Talking To Dirt About God
A preacher is just dirt talking to dirt about God. That reframing changes everything about how we preach, prepare, and stay formed along the way.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Psalm 23 is portable theology. It is a companion for the journey through life. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVx6...
youtube.com
Psalm 23: A Poem for the Pilgrimage | Pastor Jeff McLain
YouTube video by River Corner Church
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Productivity and busyness have become a badge of honor in both our culture and our churches. Yet Paul tells Christians to make it their ambition to lead a quiet life. What if we become ambitious for stillness? A blog post on @patheos.com. www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
What Does “Lead A Quiet Life” Mean In 1 Thessalonians 4:11?
Discover what “lead a quiet life” means in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and how Paul’s call challenges busyness, striving, and excess.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
My statement. Be present as a dad, play hard, lead a quiet but questionable life.* Questionably different from expected. The life one questions why it is different.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
What if the guidance you're looking for today is something God already spoke years ago? Recently, I rediscovered a poem I first heard in elementary school. Sometimes God leads us forward by bringing us back to forgotten nudges. A blog post on @patheos.com www.patheos.com/blogs/leadaq...
patheos.com
Remembering The Nudge: Revisit The Place God First Spoke
What if the guidance you need today is something God already spoke years ago? Revisiting forgotten whispers and callings.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
You become what you repeatedly keep before you. That's Paul's warning—and his invitation—in 1 Timothy 6. Sincere Faith: Keeping the Main Thing Before Us. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FajO...
youtube.com
Sincere Faith: Keep the Main Thing Before You (1 Timothy 6) (Jeff McLain)
YouTube video by River Corner Church
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Psalm 84 is one of my favorite Psalms. It was my meditation this morning. This line stood out to me. I once identified as a spiritual pilgrim. A few years ago, I reflected on this. Maybe that is who we are all to be.
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
How old were you when you first heard God? I asked myself this. I believe I was in third grade. Our Children’s leader read a poem. “I stand by the door” by Sam Shoemaker. I had forgotten most of it. Except these words, “I stand by the door. I neither go to far in, nor stay to far out...”
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Jeff McLain @jeffmclain.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
I walked by this sign yesterday. I didn’t even think about it. I walked by today and it stopped me. It felt like God was whispering. Maybe Holy Spirit is saying this to all of us.
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