Let's look at two more terms that are often misunderstood - Spiritual Disciplines and the Holy Spirit. Spiritual Disciplines - If you don't have a grasp of the concept of Grace then Spiritual Disciplines will seem like a set of legalistic requirements that if you are not practicing indicate your poor faith and lack of... Continue Reading →
Christian Life Hacker 101: Learning Another Language
When my wife and I worked at an inner city ministry I tried to be conscious of avoiding "church speak". I wanted to express the gospel but do it in a way that didn't sound like I was completely unaware that many of the people we encountered had never set foot in a church before.... Continue Reading →
Eliminate to Illuminate
If I am not careful, my stack of books to be read can grow by the day. I have never met an interesting website that I didn't want to subscribe to. If I enjoy a blog or writer I am never satisfied with reading just a few things by them, I have to read their... Continue Reading →
Why Christian Spiritual Growth Matters.
Sometimes I wonder if what I am doing on this blog and in classes I teach on discipleship is mistaken. I ask myself if I am being too focused on self and am encouraging people to abandon global pursuits for personal pursuits that potentially have little meaning. Is my emphasis on personal spiritual growth just... Continue Reading →
Discovering Spiritual Activities That Work Best For You
In the last post, I explained that cookie-cutter advice for growing spiritually was ineffective. Today, I want to give some examples of activities that fit individual personalities. Perhaps you can relate to one or more of the following types of people. If you are the type of person who gets more out of the worship... Continue Reading →
Why Most Prescriptions For Spiritual Growth Fail
In this short clip from John Ortberg, the case is made that God never works on two people the same way. Ortberg says that our growth in Christ will never look the same as someone else's. Then why are the prescriptions for spiritual growth so standard? Let's say that I am trying to become more... Continue Reading →
Spiritual Enrichment Workout: Recap
So we have the four elements to our workout: 1. Warm-up - Fixed-Hour Prayer (3 minutes) 2. Core - Scripture reading (4-5 minutes) 3. Strength - Prayer (3-5 minutes) 4. Cardio - Devotional reading (1-2 minutes) I have placed the estimated time it takes to go through each element in parenthesis. On most days this... Continue Reading →
Spiritual Enrichment Workout: Cardio
Some of the benefits of a real cardio workout are increased energy, lowered stress levels, and better sleep. In other words, positive side effects that carry on throughout the day. My spiritual version of cardio is also designed to benefit you throughout the day and not just during your Workout. I take a daily devotional... Continue Reading →
“Quiet Time” Has Got To Go
I have a confession to make. I don’t have a quiet time. That’s right, the standard for evangelical spiritual growth is not in my vocabulary. Not because I dislike the idea of having a time of the day set aside for being quiet but because the term “quiet time” has turned into something powerless and... Continue Reading →
What I Had To Learn
Here is an excerpt from the About page. I encourage you to read the entire thing so that you can understand where I am coming from and what we can hope to accomplish together: Coming down from the spiritual mountain top was necessary and the only way to truly grow into this new life that... Continue Reading →
Grow Up Blog 