Progress To A Transformed Christian Life
I went with my daughter to visit two colleges this weekend. It was interesting to hear the words, ideas, and terms that these individual cultures presented. The sloganeering that happens in places like a college campus works well on brochures and billboards but do these people even know what they are really saying and do... Continue Reading →
Yesterday in my own church, a visiting retired missionary told the story of a missionary he knew that was hampered in his own efforts to disciple believers because he said that he was never discipled himself. Discipleship is simply learning to do the things that Jesus said to do. American church culture has created a... Continue Reading →
One of the things mentioned last week was that our primary orientation as a follower of Christ is as a student. Some form of the word disciple, learner, student, or apprentice is used 264 times in the New Testament while the term Christian is only used three times. Scripture tells us that the people... Continue Reading →
Monday, I mentioned the importance of remembering the good news of Jesus. Today, I would like to tell you the dangerous ramifications of forgetting Jesus. You have no power except your own. Many years ago, I was the sole breadwinner for a young family of three. I was trying to finish a graduate degree and... Continue Reading →
In one of the readings for the Apprentice Experience, James Bryan Smith quotes St. Augustine and this fascinating concept, "good things peculiar to the good." Basically, there is a treasure of goodness found in God and with God that Christians experience that those outside of this faith know nothing about. The idea being that nonbelievers... Continue Reading →
Growing Up doesn't have to be hard. If you take yourself off the throne of your own life and place Christ there and then you seek the guidance and teaching of Christ inside you, then you are on your way. Those two things will take care of 70 percent of your growth and seem relatively... Continue Reading →
Over the past few weeks, we have discussed each aspect of the Triangle of Transformation except for one - Adopting the Narratives of Jesus. James Bryan Smith has brilliantly determined the best way to understand the nature of God is to let his son tell us. Jesus even tells us as much when he says... Continue Reading →
One of the things I had to learn after I made Christ the center of my life, was that my transformation and growth was not up to me. If I was to Grow Up, it would be through Christ working inside of me to accomplish what I can't accomplish on my own. Scripture says, "I... Continue Reading →
Each week, I will be providing a glimpse into the discipleship training program that I have just started. This is a way for me to show you what I am learning and also allow you to progress along with me. For more information, I encourage you to read this. Also, if you like what you... Continue Reading →
For a 20-year old who needs and wants to grow up in the normal societal sense, they must take on more responsibility and become less dependent on others (parents, teachers, friends, siblings) to manage their life and make progress toward adulthood. They need to have a healthy mixture of independence and a sense of responsibility.... Continue Reading →
Grow Up Blog 