I believe faith should wake us up
I’m Tyler Kaufmann. I am a pastor, writer, teacher, and lifelong student of what it means to become fully human in the way of Jesus.
Much of my work begins with the simple conviction that Christianity was never meant to be a collection of ideas we agree with. It is a way of life that slowly forms us into people capable of greater love, courage, generosity, joy, and grace.
That is what I preach about. It is what I write about. And, imperfectly, it is what I am trying to practice with my own life.
A pastor who became a writer.
For years, my primary place for working out ideas has been the local church. Week after week, I have had the privilege of opening Scripture with ordinary people navigating work, relationships, grief, parenting, uncertainty, hope, and all the strange beauty of being alive.
Somewhere along the way, journal entries became sermons, sermons became studies. Studies became devotionals. And… devotionals became books.
What began as resources created for the people immediately in front of me started finding their way into other churches and communities. That convinced me there was value in creating a place where those ideas could travel farther.
The questions that keep me interested:
How does Scripture become something we live rather than merely understand?
What does Jesus mean by abundant life?
How do grace, joy, generosity, reconciliation, and courage actually reshape a human being?
How can the church help people become more fully alive, and help bring more life to the world around them?
Tyler Kaufmann is a United Methodist pastor, writer, and teacher serving in the Kansas City area. His work explores Scripture, Christian formation, and the everyday practices through which grace is fleshed out in human lives.
He is the author of Origin Story: How the Bible’s Rhythm Leads Us to Jesus, The Joy-Filled Life, Charting the Course, and The Orchard of Grace. His books and resources grew from ministry in the local church and are designed to be used not simply for reading, but for reflection, conversation, and practice. He doesn’t want people to simply know about Jesus, but to actually know Jesus—the one who can set them free to be alive.
When he isn't preaching or writing, Tyler is usually reading, running, traveling, or seeking a new adventure with his son.
A little more about me:
What Matters Most is Where the Work Leads
I make these things, because I believe ideas matter most when they energize other’s lives.
So whether you came here through a sermon, a book, a church study, or simple curiosity, I hope something you find here helps you pay attention to what God is already doing and take another step toward the person you are awakening to be.