Learning How to Bear with Unbearable Team Members
Jesus chose disciples with clashing backgrounds to teach unity through diversity. Following Him means bearing with one another, not just forgiving but growing together.
Colossians
Distinctive Discipleship (Berea)
Colossians 1:27-29 – We often minimize Christianity to a momentary decision, but if we are following Jesus, we should still be moving. A disciple of Jesus continues to pursue thorough spiritual maturity.
Creating a Discipleship Plan
Generalized approaches can never adequately address distinct disciples. We cannot depend upon widespread methods hoping to address the specific needs of everyone.
Personal Growth: From Decisions to Disciples
Colossians 1:27-29 – We often minimize Christianity to a momentary decision, but if we are following Jesus, we should still be moving. A disciple of Jesus continues to pursue thorough spiritual maturity.
Three Essential Steps for Evangelism
Knowing about world religions is helpful, but evangelism must take place if that information is to see transformation in the life of another. Consider these three biblical steps to evangelize someone of a different faith.
Christ Can’t Be Part of Your Life
Christian college students cannot afford to isolate Jesus into certain components of their lives. If Jesus is Lord, you cannot tell Him to sit out in particular areas.
Created By Him and For Him
We were made by God, and we were made for God. Whenever we forget that truth, we find ourselves in all types of trouble.
Growth Is Gradual
We can only fully mature in Christ by acknowledging the work that still needs to be done. As we observe the rough edges of our spiritual conditions, we can work with Christ’s power to see progress in the most critical areas of our lives.
Unavoidable Afflictions and Undeniable Opportunities
We can endure sufferings better if we know there is a redeemable purpose among them. If we consider how our perseverance through trials could encourage others going through similar situations, we find the hope needed to go forward.
Suffering Is Necessary for Sanctification
No one seeks to experience suffering, yet many of us could testify that it was necessary for our personal sanctification. As we struggle through life, we see that the trials we experience drive us to need spiritual growth.
Jesus Loves Us This I Know
Jesus loves me, this I know, but the Bible tells me that He loves us so. The widespread form of His love teaches something important about His heart and our need for one another.
How to Pray When Life Has Worn You Out
Life is challenging enough even with God in one’s life; it is hard to imagine navigating this world without Him. To endure the suffering of this life, we must pray for God to give us the strength required to persevere.
Earnest Excellence
If we do something well, we ought to do it not to be flashy, but because we want to be faithful to whatever God has called us to do. We are working for Jesus on behalf of the people for whom He died, so we should give our absolute best.
The Change I’m Praying for in Me
While I have many prayer requests to share, the consistent prayer need is my own spiritual growth. Instead of trying to work in my own strength, I would be wise to admit to God, through prayer, how much I need His help.
The Oversight Hindering Your Spiritual Growth
Many Christians feel great discouragement by the lack of spiritual progress in their lives. While we can gripe about the pace, regret the past, and disagree about the process, are we praying about our growth?
Developing Godly Ambition
While we have plenty of examples of ambitious people eager to succeed for all the wrong reasons, that shouldn’t discourage you from being ambitious for godly motivations. Desiring to make your life count for God is as noble a motivator as possible.
Why Are My Prayers Inconsistent?
If your prayer life consistency is based on how you feel, you will only connect with God when you are desperate. But that’s not healthy. We need something more. We need to have an established connection with God that endures through all times.
Unrestricted Access
We often compartmentalize our lives. We have a section for faith. We have another area reserved for our family. We sort our hobbies over here and our entertainment over there. But what if our lives are not meant to be made up of isolated components?
4 Things All Employees Need from Their Bosses
Many people grow weary of a leader not due to a character flaw but a competency flaw. If you are a supervisor to anyone, I would ask that you consider what could be done through your church if you took this aspect of your job seriously.
Distinctive Discipleship
If every Christian is in a unique place surrounded by specific challenges, why do we think that a widespread approach will work for every single one of us? Let me help you design a personal plan for spiritual maturity.
Regathering Your Voices
I’m about to encourage you to do something that you may think is odd or reserved for a particular elite. I want to encourage you to gather your family together and sing. Make it a priority to declare God’s goodness alongside each other and do it outloud.
Making a Spiritual Growth Plan for 2021
You will not grow by accident. To have the blessed life that Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount, we must follow Him on the path of discipleship. We must keep growing.
Help for the Uniquely Stagnate Christian
If you feel like you are stuck in your Christian walk, then it is time to start moving again. The solution for spiritual stagnation is distinctive discipleship.
You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Colossians 4:7-18 You Can’t Make It On Your Own In Paul’s concluding remarks to the Colossians, he provides personal comments regarding specific ministry partners. Within these comments, Paul models the type of friends that a disciple will need to continue towards maturity. Why Mention These People? A commitment to Jesus is a commitment to His people. Our beliefs and our …
Weekly Wisdom [03.23.18]
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts [Jer. 15:16]. Book of the Week I am finishing up …
Make the Most of Every Evangelistic Opportunity
Colossians 4:2-6 Make the Most of Every Evangelistic Opportunity Instead of waiting for unbelievers to come to the church, the church is meant to go to the unbelievers out in the world. By making the most of every evangelistic opportunity, disciples engage in Kingdom work by the way they pray, walk, and talk. Pray for Opportunity (Col. 4:2-4) Be devoted …
Disciples in the Workplace
Colossians 3:22-4:1 Disciples in the Workplace A disciple can never clock out of Kingdom work. Even in the workplace, Christian bosses and workers must display a different level of intentionality and productivity for the sake of discipleship. Instructions for Employees (Col. 3:22) Since you claim to follow a faithful Savior, be a faithful worker. Four Types of Employees: Justified Rebel …
Disciples in the Home
Colossians 3:18-21 Disciples in the Home Authentic discipleship moves from the church and should eventually change the home. Disciples obey God’s commands for how families are to treat one another particularly in the relationship between husband and wife and between parent and child. Submissive Wives (Col. 3:18) Since men need significance, God calls wives to submit to their husbands. If …
Seeking Heaven While Still on Earth
Colossians 3:1-11 Seeking Heaven While Still on Earth While the place of heaven is our destination, the way of heaven should be our pursuit. As disciples, we are to put to death the deeds of this world and to put on the new self as we seek the things above. After Paul addresses the Colossians’ doctrinal integrity (1-2), he instructs their …
Three Dangerous Self-Made Religions
Colossians 2:16-23 Three Dangerous Self-Made Religions The Apostle Paul saw three dangerous heresies present in the church at Colossae and we experience them today. Biblical discipleship is sufficient and doesn’t need any alteration. When we are dissatisfied with the finished product of the gospel, we can easily become subtle heretics. As disciples, we must acknowledge the dangers of altering …
Disciples Have Deep Roots
Colossians 2:6-2:15 Disciples Have Deep Roots Satan will use deceitful doctrine to distract disciples from being established in the faith. Disciples must be rooted in Christ and established in biblical doctrine to persevere. Mature Growth (Col. 2:6-7) A disciple must have deep roots to experience mature growth. Walking with Christ is characterized by steady progress in discipleship. Biblical Doctrine (Col. 2:8-10) …
Disciples Don’t Quit Until They Reach Maturity
Colossians 1:24-2:5 Disciples Don’t Quit Until They Reach Maturity The goal of the Church is to present every disciple as complete in Christ. Working with the power God provides, we are to disciple one another with the goal of spiritual maturity. Christian suffering means that you are receiving the attacks that the world would give Jesus if He was still …
Jesus Holds All Things Together
Colossians 1:15-23 Jesus Holds All Things Together Not only were we created through Jesus, but we were also created for Jesus. As he holds all things together, even our spiritual growth is kept from shifting when it is placed in his hands. “What comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you.” …
Fully Pleasing to God
Colossians 1:9-14 Fully Pleasing to God As the gospel transforms us from the domain of darkness into saints standing in the light, our lives are meant to be fully pleasing to God. Disciples strive to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. Pray for Spiritual Wisdom (Col. 1:9) Knowledge is the content of truth, wisdom is the comprehension of …
Disciples Keep Growing
Colossians 1:1-8 Disciples Keep Growing Paul recognized the Colossian church as a group of disciples who had been changed and yet were still being changed by the gospel. As disciples, the gospel should be continually bearing fruit and increasing within us and through us. 9 Traits of Growing Disciples Disciples keep growing if: their faith is in Jesus – Faith …
2018[ish] Sermons
As I began to plan for the 2018 preaching calendar, I asked the church to pray that I would receive clear direction. I set aside Sept. 26th as a day to fast, pray, and study. My specific prayer was to receive a good portion of clarity regarding 2018, but we all know that God does exceedingly abundantly above all we …
The Problem with Christian Music
Leading worship is an honor. Leading worship beside the incredible people that I get to lead beside is even a greater honor. One of the things I have loved about this team is their commitment to musical excellence but also doctrinal integrity. Not only do they take what we lead seriously, but they have also worked so diligently studying the …
3 Tips to Sharing Your Faith
You don’t have to feel guilty anymore about the lack of sharing your faith. Here’s 3 easy steps.
Christ Was Never Meant to Be Part of Your Life
It has been so good to see our college students rolling back into town and getting back into connecting with the church. Can’t wait to reconnect in the days to come! As a college student, you will begin to understand the necessity of the Waffle House in your life. When you have procrastinated studying so long that you must find refuge …
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