~ About Me ~

Biblical Scholar, Speaker, Minister, Writer

I’m so happy you’ve joined me at Grace-Filled Discipleship! My name is Lindsey, and this space is a place for you to connect, grow, and develop in your faith, discipleship practices, and spiritual growth.

Who Am I?

I’ve *just* crossed over the big 4-0 line, and when I’m not joining my husband in corralling our two daughters and our two dogs, I teach people how to engage the Bible in meaningful ways so they can grow in their faith and develop lasting and reproducible spiritual growth.

I’ve always felt like my calling has included an element of equipping people, and as an ENFJ (who also has ADHD – I know a thing or two about struggling with consistent routines!), I have explored that calling through several venues: teaching, ministry, homeschooling, and even being a Bible professor at a Christian university!

I love the different opportunities God has placed in my path, but I’ve found that each one has only been for a season (except that mom thing – it’s pretty much forever once you start it!).

We all have seasons of life,

and in those seasons,

our goals for our spiritual lives shift and change.

You have goals for your spiritual life, and I want to help you with those goals.

Maybe you want to understand how to study the Bible a little better, or get a better handle on Bible background.

Do you want to develop more consistency in your spiritual practices?

Maybe learn how to disciple others more effectively?

As an ordained minister, a New Testament scholar, and sister in Christ, my desire is to help you grow and develop into the person God has called you to be.

We may just travel the path of discipleship together for a brief time, but I hope that while you are here you find yourself encouraged and strengthened for the journey ahead!

Seasons of Change

We all face seasons of change in life, right?

I recently found myself at the end of a season.

As I was sitting in an empty classroom at the end of a semester, staring into the unknown of a path I wasn’t expecting, I had no clue what I was going to do next.

I knew God had called me to teach people how to understand the Bible better. I thought I had found the perfect platform to fulfill that calling, but now the door to that space was closing.

I felt like the rug had been yanked out from under me.

I could have crumbled, but it was because of my firm foundation in biblical truth, spiritual practices, and deep-rooted, grace-filled discipleship that I was able to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Even when I questioned how I would continued to fulfill God’s call on my life without that space…

Even when I felt lost, confused, and frankly, a bit “out-at-sea” …

Even when my prayers were full of questions like “God, what are You doing?”

I knew where to turn when I was confused.

I knew how to respond in faith when I couldn’t see the path in front of me.

I knew what spiritual disciplines would carry me through the valley I was walking through.

I didn’t have to have fear.

I knew I could trust in God’s plan, because I am confident in who God is and how God works –
even if I can’t see what He’s doing right now.

That's the fruit of grace-filled discipleship.

Discipleship isn’t just about a pretty Bible study journal, or a cute Instagram photo of your morning devotion.

Grace-filled discipleship

takes grit and determination to hold on to Jesus

no matter the cost.

I learned so many lessons during that season – and I’m continuing to learn lessons from that season and from many others I’ve walked through!

Are you walking through a difficult season and need encouragement and community to help you build consistent rhythms of spiritual practices?

Do you have a desire to disciple others but you’re not sure how to start?

Do you yearn to be discipled by someone but you don’t know how to find someone to disciple you?

Have you learned lessons in your walk with God that need to be shared with others, but you don’t know where or how to start?

Enter Grace-Filled Discipleship

I launched this platform as a place to help people like you grow deeper in their faith through consistent rhythms of spiritual practices.

At Grace-Filled Discipleship, one of our main goals is to connect with the Bible in new ways in order to grow deeper in faith and feel confident in discipling others.

The Triple Threat To Spiritual Growth

The three things that most people struggle the most with in spiritual growth and Bible study are

consistency,

confidence, and

accountability.

I’ve struggled with those things, too – and I have three and a half degrees which should mean I don’t have any of those struggles!

(With a bachelor’s in Youth Ministries, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master of Arts in Biblical studies, plus a dissertation in progress for a PhD in New Testament – you’d think I’d have it all together, right? Wrong. I’m human, too!)

The good news is, I’ve learned a lot through my experiences, gleaned some wisdom along the way, and picked up a thing or two from all those studies, and I want to share that knowledge with you!

I hope that while you’re here you are able to find all three of those things:

encouragement to be consistent in your spiritual practices,

confidence to study the Bible and understand it well, and

accountability for handling God’s word with faithfulness.

Along the way, I hope you’ll also find a community that helps you build accountability for faithfully transmitting God’s word to others and continuing in your own spiritual growth.

Discipleship: A Long Obedience

As author and pastor Eugene Peterson once said, discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction. Learning to walk that path with grace requires some help and good friends to walk alongside you.

I look forward to having you join us as we walk the Grace-Filled Discipleship path together!

Education & Credentials

PhD Candidate, Divinity (New Testament)

University of Aberdeen, UK

MA in Biblical Studies

Asbury Theological Seminary

MA in Theological Studies

Southeastern University

Core doctrines:

The Trinity

We believe in the Trinity – three divine members who are one God, co-equal in majesty and glory, inseparable and indivisible, yet with unique attributes and roles.

We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven & Earth,
In Jesus Christ, the Son Eternal, co-equal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life and died on a cross as a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity
In the Holy Spirit, co-equal with God the Father and Jesus the Son, who is sent by the Son to dwell in all believers, empowering them for holy living and uniting all Christians into the body of Christ

Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension & Return of Christ

We believe that Jesus was born to Mary of Nazareth, in the Roman province of Judea under the reign of Claudius. He ministered to Israel, preaching the arrival of the Kingdom of God & the need for repentance & performing many miracles.

He was tried unjustly and crucified on a cross. He died and was buried in a borrowed tomb on the eve of a Passover Sabbath. He rose again from the dead, was seen by witnesses, and ascended into Heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for his Church. His return is immanent and when he returns he will collect his Church and establish his reign.

Spirit-Empowerment

We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to compel those of us who are separated from God by our sin to accept the free gift of salvation through grace,

the empowerment for holy living through ongoing sanctification as we submit ourselves to the working of the Spirit in our lives and the will of God,

the baptism of the Spirit for empowerment for ministry, available to all believers, and resulting in the full gifts of the Spirit available to all believers as God ordains to distribute them

the ongoing work and visible fruit of the Spirit in a believer’s life as testimony to the work of Christ in that person’s life

Redemption & Renewal

God’s creation is good, but not perfect. Humans are created in God’s image, with the freedom to choose our own way.

We chose (and continue to choose) our own will over God’s will (sin), resulting in separation from God. Through Jesus’ willing sacrifice on the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are offered redemption, restored relationship with God, and ongoing renewal of our sinful natures.

Because of this redemption, we can live holy lives, have confidence in the ability to resist temptation, and stand firm in every trial.

Because of our restored relationship with God, we can approach his throne boldly with confidence that we are his dearly loved children and he desires our well-being.

“ My mission is to help people develop sustainable discipleship rhythms that lead to transformational opportunities for spiritual growth. ”

Lindsey Croston

Minister, Speaker, & Author

I want to thank you for your time and investment into my education! I graduated this past semester and am so thankful for your New Testament class! I learned so much about the Bible and will use what you taught me for the rest of my life!

Cassie

"Just want to say how much I have truly enjoyed this class. I have had a hard time with past online classes, but this one I can say I have learned a lot and grown closer to God."

Ryan

She did something few did that I soaked up, she called me intelligent and said I would do well in {further studies). With both investing words like this and being kind enough and actually caring enough to call me out it is easy to say that Prof. Croston was one of the most influential figures in my education. It modeled the kind of ministry that I wish to do. I do not know if she saw the need, but she fulfilled the need in the most profound manner.

S. Smith