#130: John Basie: A 360° approach to Discipleship in a Post-Christian Era
John and Tony discuss his latest resource Know. Be. Live. It offers a holistic 360-degree approach to discipleship in a post-Christian era. It combines expert thought on faith and culture to equip Christ-following parents of teenagers, college students, campus ministers, and pastors.
Basically, if you know anyone in the next generation you need to listen to this conversation!
Read the FULL TRANSCRIPTS here.
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EP. 130
Tony: [00:00:00] Hey everybody. Welcome back to the Reclamation Podcast, where our goal is to help you reclaim good practices for faith and life. I'm Tony. And today is episode one 30 of the podcast where I sit down with author speaker and generational guru. John basing. Now John has a brand new resource out called no live.
And I think what you're going to find in our conversation today is that we dive deep in the idea of leadership capacities for generations. What does it mean to reach the next generation and how do we wrap it all up? Nice and neat. In our faith. He's part of a nonprofit called impact 360. We talk about that.
We talk about college aged kids. We talk about what it's like to be a professor in college these days. I think you're going to love this conversation and Hey, if you do love it, do me a favor. Hit that subscribe button, wherever you listen to [00:01:00] podcasts, you can do it on iTunes. You can do it on Spotify. You can do it pretty much anywhere.
And subscribe. I use an app called overcast, which I love actually listen to most of my podcasts at 1.5 speed. But. All that to say, if you subscribe, it's the best way to make sure that you don't miss any future content coming from the reclamation podcast. And I can begin to share with you some of the incredible things that we are doing with spirit in.
One of which is a conference. That's right. We'll be at a conference coming up this March, the spirit and truth conference. I would love to give you a discount code. So if you go to spirit and truth.life and then click on the conference button, once you sign up, if you put reclamation in there, we're going to save you.
10% on your registration fees here in Dayton, Ohio, 10% spirit and truth conference. We've got some incredible speakers coming [00:02:00] guys like Kevin Watson and so many more Marion Hayes. I'll be there. Of course, Matt Reynolds, Maggie Omer. So many great speakers that you need to hear. This is what it means to be a part of a network we're connecting with like-minded individuals helping renew the local church.
So, Hey, come hang out with us in Dayton. The third week of March, you don't want to miss it spirit and truth conference now without any further ado. Here's my conversation with John Basie. After the podcast. I'm excited today to have author, speaker and researcher, John Basey with us. John. Thanks so much for being here today.
John: It's great to be here, Tony. Thanks for having me.
Tony: And today we're going to talk about one of my favorite discussions in the world. We're going to talk about discipleship and specifically your brand new resource know, be live a 360 approach to discipleship in a post-Christian era. And so I wanted to start by asking you to give us a word, your, your working [00:03:00] definition of the word discipleship.
John: Yeah, this is this is one of the central questions. Isn't it? When we talk about. Not just church life, but, but life for believers in general discipleship, we would say at impact 360 Institute is apprenticeship unto Jesus. We are his apprentices and some, some in the Christian tradition have referred to discipleship in this way.
We think it's helpful. We don't think it's the only way to describe discipleship, but we do think discipleship unto Jesus is, is not so dissimilar to an apprentice who might say working alongside a carb master carpenter learning how to do what he does and the way he does it. Or some other trade perhaps.
If you had an apprentice [00:04:00] there in the studio teaching her or him how to do what you do you would in effect be discipling that young person to do what you do and the most excellent way that you've learned how to do.
Tony: Now this is obviously, you know, Matthew 28, the great commission is one of the primary texts that we use when we talk about making disciples go there for, and make disciples of all nations. But for most Christians, what I, what I've found is that we've never been discipled. So I'm guess I'm curious, John, where you discipled as a young man or currently being discipled.
What's that look like in your life?
John: Yes, I was I was fortunate and very thankful to grow up in a, in a Christian home. My father is a retired minister. He's been a minister for as long as I can remember. And so with my parents, my [00:05:00] mother and my father, they discipled me in their home from there. I can remember really.
Getting the sense that I'm, I was beginning to own my faith as a result of deep community and a discipleship process that happened in our churches, youth groups starting in 11th grade. And that was, that was an energizing thing for me. And I started to realize there's much more to this, this discipleship thing than just praying a prayer and.
Realizing I have the fire insurance, so to speak to get into heaven. And then from there in college, there were some mentors, some key mentors in college graduate school. Who discipled me further as I drew closer to Christ got married in 1997. My wife of nearly 25 years now. And I have, have had [00:06:00] mentors who have discipled us even now.
And we look, we look to those people. So that's, that's a really important thing that I I'm glad that you brought.
Tony: I do think it's one of the, we always talk about here at the church and and, and a lot of my work that disciple-making, it has to be intentional. It has to be relational and it has to be reproduced. Right. And those are, those are kind of the three characteristics of a good disciple-making relationship.
And that, that matches up really well with your apprenticeship, because it's more than just teaching someone the trade, but it's teaching someone how to do the trade on their own. I think that feels like a very important distinguish. Distinction when we're talking about disciple-making when you think about your mentors that have poured into you, is there anything that you've picked up from them that you still do today, or like when you think about your daily disciplines, what you're like, what can you attribute to the people who have poured into you over the years?
John: Yes. This is a great [00:07:00] question and it gets to the heart of this book. Nobody live and. What I would say, Tony is the, the, the mentors, the, the people who are farther along in their faith journey than what I am, have learned, how to live their life holistically honoring Christ. They, they have learned over the course of their journey with Jesus.
That discipleship is not just something we do in church on Sunday and Wednesday night or at, at the men's breakfast. It's not parsed out like that. It is living life holistically as unto him, which is why the book is titled no B [00:08:00] and lists. These are aspects of who we are as image bearers of God.
And so that's what I would say is the best mentors that I've had are ones who have lived holistically as unto Christ.
Tony: Now much of your research is centered around gen Z. And I have two questions that I want to ask you. The first one is, is can you give us some parameters on who gen Z is? And then the second one is how does one get called to ministry to a particular generation? I'm curious how this call manifested itself in your life.
Sure.
John: Yeah, accordingly, according to the Barna studies that, that we have used, and, and this has been something that's been a real blessing for us. My, my good friend and colleague Jonathan Morrow has led our team here at the Institute to partner with the Barna [00:09:00] organization to produce. Groundbreaking research on gen Z and specifically the way that they think about faith.
The first study came out in 2018. We just had another one come out earlier this year, a followup study, and so different sociologists and researchers might. Mike consider gen Z differently from just in terms of the window of time, but what we the way, the way that we think about gen Z, they, they really, most of them were born anywhere from.
From 1999 to 2015. And that's, that's the, the Barna research that that we, that we tend to use. So 1999 to 2015 is that window of time. And how do we get called to this, this kind of ministry with gen Z? Well, I was called as I look back on it now. Back in [00:10:00] 1997, this is a year after I graduated college in South Carolina.
I realized, you know, I think I'm, I'm not sure what exactly this is going to look like, but I'm pretty sure that the Lord is calling me to walk alongside other believers in some form or fashion. Regardless of, of their age and generation. And so that set me on a course in graduate school and did masters PhD and became a professor and administrator.
And as you would know, Tony, the, those of us who work in, in the higher ed industry, We age, but the freshmen, they stay the same age every year, every year they come in and they're 17 or 18. And, and that's how it works. And so first I was working with millennials and now they've pretty much aged out and they're in the [00:11:00] workforce.
Gen Z. They are the generation now that is dominating higher education. And. That's not to say that there aren't adult learners as well. There certainly are. And many of them, but in terms of traditional residential based higher education, it's definitely gen Z. And so that's where we find our calling.
That's what our Institute is is up to right now. Our, our mission is to cultivate leaders who follow Jesus. That's the Institute's mission and we are thrilled to welcome. Gen Z years every year, who, who are part of our gap year are, are a year long fellows program, biblical worldview and servant leadership.
Our masters, our two-year accredited master's program in leadership that also has a, a spiritual formation track. And some really fantastic summer [00:12:00] programs in worldview and leadership as well. So right now, gen Z is the population that is, is coming to us. They are the apprentices who are seeking to be like Jesus.
And we're privileged to serve them.
Tony: Yeah, I think it's, I think it's so important. And the work that you guys are doing at the Institute looks actually, I was like, man, I wonder at 41, am I, is it too late for me to get in? Cause there's just, it looks awesome. And I know, man, that'd be a lot of fun to a lot of fun to go.
And what, what incredible resources, you know, I'm curious. I'm curious as, as you as you so appropriately said, you know, you're, you're aging, but the freshmen don't right. And, and what an interesting view from being in higher education for as long as you have, w what have you learned about God and, and the world as you've seen generation after generation come sit in your class, and you're not that old, so it's not, I'm [00:13:00] not talking like 60 years of higher ed here, but like, But like, I would imagine there are some realizations every year about who's coming in next.
I'm curious if you could share any of those with us. Absolutely.
John: I can remember sitting, not sitting. Actually I was standing in the front of the class. It was 2006 or 2007. Here, here at the Institute, this, this was in our first or second year of our accredited what we call our fellows program now and thinking, you know, okay.
So I'm called to a teaching ministry with millennials. At that time millennials they, they were the generation coming through and starting, starting their education, finishing their education in some cases but realizing as we get to 2010, 12 [00:14:00] and then, and then now finally to today, okay. Gen Z, yours are different in some key ways.
One of the key ways is they are digital natives. And you've probably talked to some other guests about this. They, most of them don't remember a time when their parents didn't have mobile devices and I, I cannot overemphasize how much that has radically changed, not just the classroom, but discipleship in general.
When a young person who claims to follow Christ is constantly being followed around by all kinds of messages because of the phone that they're carrying the notifications, the calls from whomever, not just home. Some of them come from home, [00:15:00] but from friends and it's really not even the calls, it's the texting.
Right. And the constant bombardment from this technology that on its own, as a tool of course can be used for amazing things. I mean, we're having this interview today because of incredible technology. And w in this case I would, I would say we're stewarding the technology. Well, well, this is one of the key questions for those who seek to disciple gen Z.
And that is how do we disciple a generation that is so deeply steeped in a virtual reality. And, and this is, this is just a. We're all learning as we go. I wouldn't say by any means that I or anyone at our Institute has fully figured this out. This [00:16:00] is why we commissioned the Barna group to help us with, with the research.
What does it look like to disciple this generation? Given the technology that, that they have imbibed really since birth. Yeah.
Tony: It's such an interesting idea. And, and it seems like it seems like the infiltration of technology, like the access to it has gotten so much earlier too. And we, we actually had George Barna himself on the podcast, and I know he's not with the Barner group anymore, but I think he was episode one 14.
And one of the things that he said is that most of our worldview is already formed by 13. And so I'm curious as you're bringing gen Z into the as you're bringing gen Z into the, the Institute and you're shaping and you're giving them some challenging ideas, what worldview are they bringing in with them?
And, [00:17:00] and how hard or easy is it to shift that to a biblical worldview?
John: That's right. That's right. It's a great question. Our answer to that here, Tony might be a little different from someone who's working, say at a state university, perhaps even a traditional Christian college that allows non-believing students to enroll.
And there are some fantastic Christian colleges out there who have a tremendous ministry because their enrollment model is that way. Many. Many non-believing students come to Christ because of faithful believers and disciplers on those campuses. And the same for state universities and the campus ministries and so forth.
But to answer your question it, what I would say is
Okay, so this is the part where you [00:18:00] might want to edit. Remind me, remind me the question.
Tony: What worldview are they bringing in and what what w how hard or easy is it to shifted?
John: I got off on a tangent. I apologize.
Tony: So, so the, the world's question to that doesn't make it easier. Yeah.
John: The worldview that they're bringing with them to the Institute for the most part is, is is a fairly biblically centered worldview because of our own enrollment model.
And, and we, we will only allow followers of Jesus to come to our program. Not because we think there's no value for nonbelievers, but because we want for all of our students to start. At a certain level and, and w we need to be certain that they have all committed themselves to Christ. Even if they're [00:19:00] somewhat younger believers.
Now, the deeper question I think there is okay, how biblical really is their worldview. And that would be a fair question to ask the Barner research indicates that only 4%. Only 4% of gen Z holds to a truly biblical worldview. And there are certain parameters around the definition of biblical worldview that that helped to shape that result.
It's it's it's a pretty narrow set. This would exclude. Those who have, have pretty much hitched their wagon to progressive Christianity and might say things like, well, yeah, sure. I, I love Jesus, but he's not the only way. Well, we would say no, that's, that's not a biblical [00:20:00] worldview on, on our definition and on the definition that that Barna uses in the research, Jesus is the only way.
And when you get that specific. It, it narrows down to 4% and there are other questions, you know, Jesus makes a difference in my everyday life and other other items th the way I think act behave on a daily basis makes, makes a difference because of my relationship to Christ ethics are in no small part attached to.
My relationship to Jesus and, and morality is, is affected because of the relationship I have with him. All of those things are, are a part of, of what goes into that definition. So, so when we get that specific, what I would say we've noticed over the years is that. Are our students [00:21:00] love Jesus and there is no, but to that part of it, I would say, and we have to help them recognize that that the culture has also affected the way they think about their own relationship with him.
In some cases they've grown up in churches. They're surrounded by believers who, who love Jesus, but, but the church has not taught them how to cultivate the life of the mind, for example. Good thinking, how do we think well about what's happening in the culture? And before we even do that, how do we think well about God's special revelation that he's given to us, the Bible.
And, and is it true from cover to cover. And does God really mean what he says in the scriptures? Can I have confidence that what he says in the scriptures is [00:22:00] true? Does God lead me in my life? And so I'll tell you, Tony, one of the things that we find year after year, And it's more true now than when we started the Institute.
In 2006, we have to help young Christ's followers understand that relativism is not true moral relativism. If we hold to a truly biblical worldview. That excludes by definition, moral relativism. The idea that right and wrong are determined by a certain context or a certain culture. Or even a more pernicious view than that would be a moral subjectivism.
It is the terms, morals or deter determined solely by me as an [00:23:00] individual.
Tony: And so, yeah, that's that whole idea about like, I'm living my truth. Yeah. When you know, my, my truth or, you know, I, I don't feel like that's there's anything wrong, you know, it becomes, there is no right or wrong. Right. It's, what's all subjective, right.
John: That's right. That's right. And, and in the book we have a chapter on, on postmodernism. Two of our, two of our own team members edit Dana did a fantastic job of talking about the effects. Of post-modern culture and thinking on the life of the mind and gen Z in particular. And they talk about that very thing where you know, we hear people stayed all the time and they're not always even members of gen Z.
Sometimes, sometimes they are members of, of gen X. You know, they'll say you do you write w whatever, whatever works for you. And we, we hear young people saying all the time, things like what you just meant. [00:24:00] Well, th this is, this is my truth. And I was watching a video on, on Facebook just the other day of a young lady who was, who was talking about something.
And she said that very phrase, this is my truth. And maybe some of you guys can identify with it. So I would say Tony, that that is one of the key things that we're, we're keeping track of. And we're just as, as we move into the future with culture such as it is a political instability, cultural instability.
There is no question that a secular culture wants us to grab onto a moral view of morality. That is, that is relativistic to its core, such that there is no such thing as objective.
Tony: So, you know, the, the [00:25:00] reality is a lot of people who are listening to this podcast will be in that millennial. Gen X generation, right? There's I'm probably not hitting that gen Z target audience. Very hard. I know that I do have a couple of kids from fellowship of Christian athletes who, who I've worked with over the years who listened and I'm super thankful for them.
But for the most part, we're talking to people who are going to be disciplers to this generation, this gen Z. Right. So I'm wondering, can you take us through kind of a macro look of. You know, no B live is an and because I think what you've done is you've created a very loose, but very intentional framework for disciple-making.
That would be a valuable place to start. If anyone wants to think about how to approach gen
John: Z. Yes. This is a great question. And I'm glad you, you said what you did about your audience. For the most part gen X-ers are the parents of gen [00:26:00] Z. And so for, for any of your listeners out there who are your age?
My age, I'm 47. I have three kids who are gen Z years. This certainly is applicable. And for millennials your kids may not, may not be. Be quite there. In fact, they're talking now about what's, what's the name of generation alpha. That's all they can come up with at the moment. What's the generation that comes after.
Tony: It's not, it's not a very creative group.
John: That's right. That's right. So, so, but the millennials in your audience certainly are, are discipling gen Z. And so when we talk about no, be and live. These, this is the motto. It's, it's the motto of impact 360 Institute, but it's not just a motto. The board years ago was very intentional about making no B and live the spiritual transformation pillars [00:27:00] on which this Institute is built.
The Institute is not about a building. It's not about even the incredible programs that we have, but it's about the mission that we have moving forward, the mission to cultivate leaders who follow Jesus. And so when we talk about the know, for example here's what we mean by that. We talk about knowing Jesus more deeply, and we talk about growing in your understanding.
Of what God has revealed about reality and why Christianity is true. And so this is the part of discipleship that we would call intellectual discipleship. This is a couple of our authors in the book. Talk about how. The church for, for all of its good efforts in other areas in large part, that many churches haven't really hit the [00:28:00] bullseye in terms of intellectual discipleship.
Does Jesus care about the life of the mind? Do we believe Colassians that, that he is the center of all things? He himself holds all things together. And what does that mean for a disciple who wants to study? God's created order to understand how the second person of the Trinity Jesus Christ himself literally holds the universe together by the word of his power.
Is that something worth studying? We think it is, and it requires intellectual. It requires intellectual activity. We, we help our students understand that study itself is a spiritual discipline study is an act of worship unto God for the believer when I'm studying chemistry or when I'm studying [00:29:00] English literature.
If I truly believe that God is sovereign over every square inch. Of the created order. Then I will treat my study of these disciplines. Just as seriously as I treat my theological studies. Now I want to be careful as I say that a nuance that because certainly the Bible and theology there's something that I'm assuming there and that is that.
We have built enough of a solid biblical worldview that we can begin to see the other academic disciplines through the lens of scripture and sound theology. But intellectual discipleship is, is is, is what the, the no part of who we are is all about. The second part is, is B. And we talk about being transformed in our [00:30:00] character.
We want to be transformed in our character. And we want to discover our identity in Christ and our God given callings in authentic community. So this, this part of it is, is all about the heart and, and the way that desires are for. And Paul talks about this in his letter and in his letters, Jesus talks about desires and, and.
One of the, one of the people that has meant a lot to us over the years here at the Institute. He's, he's now in heaven with Jesus, but Dallas Willard, who, who was a professor of philosophy at the university of Southern California for years and years and years, wasn't only an intellectual philosophy professor, but he was one of the foremost experts in the world of spiritual formation.[00:31:00]
He and Richard Foster and, and others, and, and he, he talks about desire in, in many of his works and Even even before, long before Willer, we have church historians and, and church fathers, like Augustine talking about the way that we come to love the things that we love are we, are we, do we have the correct loves are the things that we love, the things that.
Christ would be not just pleased with, but are we loving things in a way that is consistent with the way that he designed us as image bearers, he designed us to love himself and in a fallen world in a sinful world. It's, it's an understatement. Isn't it to say that we get distracted sometimes sin as much more than a distraction.
It's, it's, [00:32:00] it's utter corruption at a minimum. It distracts us. And at worst it completely destroys us. And without the Lord's help w we find ourselves in a, in a serious downward spiral that, that we just, we can't get out of with w without his help. But, but that, that being, being transformed in our character, how do we come to love the right things is, is all about the B portion.
And so in this part of the book we're, we're talking about things that get at the heart things such as. John Stonestreet, for example, president of the Colson center for Christian worldview talks about this very thing that I've been sharing, how do we come to love the right things? And the, the great commandment love of God, love of neighbor.
He talks about that and how important it is to get those things in the right order. Have we ever thought as believers, what. [00:33:00] What love would look like if Jesus had said, love your neighbor first and then love God, how would that change things? But he didn't, he didn't put it in that order. Right. And he's actually referencing, he's referencing he's referencing the old Testament, right?
Love your God and then love your neighbor. And he's reaffirming. He's taking that and reaffirming. In his own day and he's saying, look, there is, there is a God out there and he has designed you in a certain way. He's designed you to love himself and because he's designed you to love himself, you are then set free to love others properly.
And it must be in that order. And John and his chapter talks about some things that can happen when our culture tries to convince us to [00:34:00] reverse that order, love people first and then love God. So that's just a sample of, of what we, we talk about in the book. And then finally, the live portion Tony, we this, this is where we, we say that the no in the beat.
They're absolutely fundamental to a life of discipleship, but we have to give those things legs and, and let them go somewhere and we have to do something with them, right. So we want to live a life of kingdom influence, live a life of kingdom inflows. And we unpack that by saying we live a life of spirit powered kingdom influence as we cultivate a servant's heart.
And certainly Jesus was the ultimate servant. And in this, in this part of the book we, we have various topics where [00:35:00] I, I have a chapter on, on calling and how to understand God's God's call. On our lives. It's only a single chapter. There's there's not enough space to cover such a comprehensive topic, but hopefully it's, it's, it's helpful.
Tony: It's fun. It's funny. As I was looking through the book, I was like, oh, you could have written 20 books with all these topics that you covered at any there's 13 chapters. I'm like, oh, there's 13 different books in here. But what you've really done is just created. Palatable sample size of the idea, right?
Like each chapter, like, Hey, here's an here's enough of content to get you started. But if God were to lead you, like, if you're really wrestling with your calling, this isn't necessarily a book about calling, but you could get started on discipling someone who's. Desire to figure out their calling. Right.
John: That's that's exactly right. And one of the great things about, about a volume like this, Tony, where, where it's an edited multi contributor volume is the reader can read [00:36:00] it straight through if, if he or she wants, or you can take it out of order chapters on their own and and their discrete chapters.
And they can make sense on their own without having to read other chapters. But just a little bit about how, how did we come up with these topics? The way, the way that we decided, the way that we decided, what topics to bring up and unpack was largely determined by the results of the Barna research itself.
So the 2018 study on gen Z. That we partnered with Barna. Again, my, my colleague Jonathan Morrow led that effort here at the Institute. We took a look at those results and asked ourselves, okay, what are the key areas in which this research has presented results that that could be [00:37:00] most helpful for those who are seeking to disciple?
Gen-Z. And that's how we came up with the vast majority of these chapters. And, and so we, we let the research itself guide the topics that, that we put into the book. So, so if the research is digging up questions, challenges. And opportunities for gen Z and saying, here's what we found through the research.
This book is designed to help take it to the next step, to be hopefully some some helpful solutions to those questions and, and challenges and opportunities that disciplers of gen Z might be might be open to you.
Tony: Yeah, I think that's, I think that's pretty brilliant, right? Like take the, take the parts of the world that, [00:38:00] that gen Z are struggling with the most.
Turn that into the tool. That's right. Turn that into the tool that we use to disciple them, which feels much like what Jesus did in his ministry. Right? Like, Hey you know, this is the, the woman who's about to get stoned story, right? Like it's her stones that are going to kill her, but it's also that she's going to say, be saved, you know, and that's that whole process there of redeeming the brokenness in the world.
And that just seems to match up really well. You know how Jesus did his ministry. Right. I mean that, I think that that goes together beautifully.
John: That's right. That's right.
Tony: Th there's so many good things in this resource. There's so many different voices contributors, some really, really intelligent people have obviously put in a lot of time and effort into this. As you, as you think about you know, like, man, what, what do you hope. Comes from this book. What do you hope? [00:39:00] You know, if, if one of our gen X-ers who are listening, or one of our millennials who are listening, they pick up this book at the end of reading it what's the desired outcome that you guys are praying for as it comes to this resource.
John: Yeah. That's a great question, Tony. And I would say the answer is it's similar. Too. If you'd asked the question around any if you'd ask the question with respect to any generation, it's, it's really the same. We want, we want the readers of this book to, to be more equipped to help young people be apprentices.
To our Lord and master Jesus Christ to be, to learn how to be like him and, and to mature in their faith and to love him with their [00:40:00] hearts, souls, and minds, and to love their neighbors as themselves. And, and, and that's true. What I just said, there is true for all believers, no matter what the age.
Right. And so the fact that this is focused on gen Z, w we're not making a case that Jen's discipling gen Z is more important than discipling other generations.
Tony: It's rather just who's up next.
John: It's it's, they're there. Who's up next. And because of the way that the world is different. We have to be asking ourselves as Christ followers who disciple them.
What does, what does discipleship right now in this post-Christian era look like? What are the timeless truths that we've always used in discipleship, but then what are some methods perhaps that. It might need to [00:41:00] change a little bit in order for gen Z to really understand what does it look like to follow our Lord and master Jesus Christ and become more like him over the course of a lifetime.
Tony: That's really good. That's really good. Okay. I have one more question for you. But before we do that, I know that my listeners are going to want to follow you and the Institute on the interwebs, what's the best way that they can get learn more about your ministry, where, where should they go to purchase the book and how can they support what God's doing through this platform?
Yes.
John: Thanks for asking. The best place to go to find out more about the Institute would be our website impact 360 that's impact three six, zero.org. And you'll find everything that you want to know about our Institute, our programs. There are some, there are lots of free resources on the website. There's a gen Z lab that you can [00:42:00] sign up for free and and get some, some really helpful videos.
And yeah. Tutorials really well done. As far as the book is concerned, any, any of the major booksellers online, Amazon Barnes and noble books, a million are the book is available there. No live.
Tony: Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Now what about you, if they want to learn more about you personally?
Any, any places online where you hang out publicly? It's okay.
John: I do, I do I don't have my own website anymore. I got a little too busy and had to, had to drop that. But if you'd like to connect with me, I'm on LinkedIn and you can just do a search for John Basey, B a S I E. And it'll pop right up.
Tony: Great. And we'll link to all that. And that we'll link to all that in the show notes. I'm on Facebook. Oh, great. Facebook as [00:43:00] well. We'll make a note there a last question. I always love to ask people. It's an advice question and you have to give yourself one piece of advice, but I get to pick the, the day that I, that you have to give it.
And so I would like to take you back to your very first day of teaching. Right. And you just spent your very first day teaching higher education. You've got this brand new group of freshmen standing right in front of you exhausting day I'm. Sure. And at the end of the day, if you could go back and give that younger version of John one piece of advice for the journey, he's about to go on.
What's the piece of advice.
John: Yeah. Great question.
I think what it would have to be Tony is I would say to that younger version of me, don't don't, over-prepare, [00:44:00] there's always, there's always an impulse on the part of, of professors too. Or I should say there there's usually, there's usually an impulse on the part of teachers, professors to over-prepare and thus thinking that the delivery of the information is the main thing that we're doing.
And over the years as I've grown in my teaching and understood more and more, and I certainly haven't arrived, but I do think the Lord has helped me in this regard as I've understood what intellectual discipleship really is. It is walking alongside students. It's not merely presenting information. It includes that, but too much of a focus on presenting information correctly.
Can become it can become a little bit of a distraction, sometimes a major distraction to building [00:45:00] relationships in the class. And if if a class of students senses that you want to walk alongside them they're going to learn far more than if you are just a really fantastic information presented.
The old adage, I guess, is as B, be a guide on the side, not a Sage on the stage. And, and that's the advice I would give to myself if I could do it if I could go back in time and do that.
Tony: That's so good, man. We, we covered a lot of ground today. I'm so appreciative of your work. I'm appreciative for gen Z and my son who will be.
The aforementioned alpha generation, he's 15 and a half. And man, I just know how important this work is. And I'm super thankful for your generosity today and all the work that you and your team are putting into that the next generation of making disciples. So, John, thank you so much.
John: Well, thank [00:46:00] you, Tony.
And I'm encouraged by your ministry and it's just an honor to be with you today.
Tony: Man. I love John's heart for the next generation. I love the way that he shows up for them. I love the perspective and I really think that his newest resource no be live is going to be something that you want to get your hands on.
So do me a favor, follow him up, hit him on socials. Let them know that you heard him here on the podcast. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you live. Leave a rating or review on iTunes. Those really do make a difference. And as always the highest compliment you can give us, share this episode with a friend.
Thank you guys so much for being part of our community. And remember, if you want to follow Jesus, you must be willing to move.
