Category Archives: Spiritual Growth

My favorite parable from Jesus is the one about the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. Take thirty seconds (seriously, it’s only eight verses) and read it. In this parable, we see a widow knocking on the door of an unrighteous judge pleading for justice. The judge eventually gives in to what she asks for becauseContinue reading “The Widow and I”

As we begin the school year, we find ourselves getting into various routines: bedtime routines, homework routines, drop off and pick up routines. As we think about all that needs to be done daily, it’s important to establish spiritual routines with our families as well. These do not need to be extensive or complex. Just intentionallyContinue reading “Praying Over Our Kids”

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love.” – Galatians 5:13 This  blog post has given me the most trouble. I have struggled for weeks with exactly how to say things. But alas, all things areContinue reading “Know and Use Gifts”

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the oneContinue reading “Have You Looked in the Mirror Lately?”

“If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you haveContinue reading “But If Not”

We all agree it is important to spend time with God, and it is important to share your story or rather… His story. So, the next and logical step is to spend time with others. There is a different manner in which you spend time with other believers than unbelievers. However, it is important toContinue reading “Spend Time With Others”

This is a little bit out of order than the original post. I talked about spending time with God, spending time with others, and then sharing your story. However, we have to talk about sharing your story before we can discuss spending time with others. So the question is: what does it mean to shareContinue reading “Share Your Story”

As a Christian, it seems obvious that you should spend time with God. But what does that actually mean? How do you do it? How often should you do it? How do you develop the habits and skills and practices in order to actually spend time with God? It is enough to be in-dwelt withContinue reading “Spend Time With God”

I celebrated the big 40th birthday in May this year. Every birthday reminds me that my body is getting older, and I must care for it and steward it well (My younger staff members… AHEM! Nate Stevens, also remind me I’m getting a little older as well). I know the method, eat right and exercise.Continue reading “Eat Right and Exercise”

What does it mean to Fill Up and Live Out? If we are going to use this as our tag line for Student Ministry, then we should have a purpose for it. Better yet, how do we go about helping the students embody this statement, and why do we do it?  Ultimately, we are toContinue reading “Fill Up and Live Out”