Posts Tagged ‘Maturity’
Disciplined by Faith: Part 2
In Part 1, I described two inadequate responses to spiritual dryness and practical crisis. First, many turn to worldly methods of addressing their problems or of drowning their sorrows. Second and more importantly for my purposes, many submit to the tyranny of the urgent. Their Christian life is defined by urgent concerns and finding answers…
Read MoreParenting Toward Maturity
Parenting cannot be delegated. God is clear in both the Old and New Testaments that parents are responsible to raise their children in such a way that points their attentions and affections towards the one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:4). This truth cannot be denied, nor can it lawfully be ignored. This…
Read MoreGrowing Toward Maturity
Many elements helped contribute to the immaturity that is evident in the American church today. The accommodation with pop culture, an infatuation with self, an overemphasis on “reaching the youth,” and the adoption of a consumeristic mindset when it comes to the local church are just a few key aspects that have led to where…
Read MoreImmaturity in American Evangelical Churches
Has it struck you in recent years that there seems to be a growing trend of spiritual immaturity in churches today? I know that is a rather broad-brush stroke, but I just want to pose this idea for consideration from a few angles. Immature Beliefs Consider the various views about God: God is the “big…
Read More“But they should know better!”
A Lesson in Maturity and Patience In Philippians 3:15, after a lengthy treatment discussing the supreme importance of following Jesus Christ, Paul writes, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” (ESV) During sermon preparation on this passage, I…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Full Scope of Your Calling
In a long, extended sentence, Paul demonstrated how to pray for other believers (Eph 1:15-21). First, he thanked God for those believers who came to mind. He did this “continually,” which means that whenever they came to mind, he prayed for them; and whenever he prayed for them, he did so with an underlying gratefulness…
Read MoreSpiritual Maturity
Be ye therefore perfect… (Matthew 5:48). Let us therefore, as many as be perfect… (Philippians 3:15). But let patience have her perfect work, that YE MAY BE PERFECT… (James 1:4). We can translate the word for perfect as complete or mature. The context of Philippians 3:15 relates to becoming like Christ. It indicates that it…
Read MorePromoting Sobriety in a Culture of Fun
Don Johnson In the 2012 Introduction to Ken Myers’ book, All God’s Children & Blue Suede Shoes, he discusses some of the propositions his book contains. I was struck by this remark about pop culture, wherein he begins with a quote from the first printing of his book, made in 1989:
Read MoreHow to Listen to Preaching
Scott Williquette As a pastor, I teach and preach from God’s Word numerous times weekly. Each time I stand before my people I pray that the Lord will give them listening ears and humble, teachable spirits. But when Christians listen to preaching, or for that matter read Christian books, they must possess not just a…
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