Welcome to Disciple Dojo!

An Online Source for Straight-forward Biblical Teaching, Training, and Equipping!

Hi everyone!  My name is James-Michael Smith and I want to thank you for checking out my site.  I have a passion to see the gap bridged between top-notch Biblical scholarship and the Body of Christ as a whole…from the academy to the pews, so to speak!

In order to help accomplish this, I have released a number of teaching DVDs and Audio resources designed to help even the newest follower of Jesus go deeper in their understanding of Scripture.  I also regularly teach short-term Biblical courses and seminars aimed at anyone with a hunger for truth and a desire to grow in their faith.  Feel free to browse my online library of articles, view some of my teaching videos, and listen to (and subscribe to!) some of my longer versions via my podcast.  If you like what you find I’d encourage you to consider buying some of my Teaching resources for yourself, your small group, your friends, or a family member.

(Psst! You can also book me to come speak or teach at your church, ministry, school or small group!)

What’s up with the name “Disciple Dojo”??

Great question!  Anyone who knows me knows that one of my lifelong passions has been studying the martial arts. And the place where you study and train in martial arts is a Dojo. Christian Discipleship is similar to martial arts training (if you don’t believe me, just ask Paul–he says so himself in his letter to Christians in ancient Corinth [1Cor. 9:26-27]!). We have a Sensei (teacher): Jesus. We have a katana (sword): Scripture. This site, then, is intended as a virtual Dojo–where students of the Master can be sharpened, challenged, equipped and encouraged as they continue to become more and more like the One they serve…minus the scrapes and bruises!

So who is this JM guy and what are his credentials?

James-Michael Smith (M.Div, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is a Bible teacher, speaker and author who writes as the national Methodist Examiner for Examiner.com.  He teaches seminars and short-term Biblical Studies, Christian Thought and Theology courses in local churches and ministries.  He is also an occasional speaker at CharlotteONE:, a citywide worship gathering of young adults in the metro Charlotte area.

James-Michael is the kind of bible scholar I like: solid in his evangelical commitments and yet willing to challenge some evangelical pre-suppositions. We need more like him as biblical scholarship moves ahead into the 21st Century.

Talbot Davis – Senior Pastor, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church

For a more detailed look at JM’s doctrinal beliefs, click here.