Spiritual Growth

December 5, 2013 by kevinstilley

Spiritual Growth Book Recommendations

In the book Teknon and the Champion Warriors, Brent Sapp recommends the following books on Spiritual Growth. What do you think of his recommendations? What would you add?

Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby and Claude King
The Disciplines of a Godly Man, by R. Kent Hughes
Ecclesiastes audio series by Tommy Nelson
A Godward Life, by John Piper
A Godward Life Book Two, by John Piper
How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth, by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis
Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, by Charles Swindoll

January 6, 2011 by kevinstilley

Experiencing True Life

As the New Testament book of 1 Timothy draws to a close Paul tells Timothy that just as there are ideas that are falsely called knowledge, there are people who seem to be “experiencing Life” when it is really nothing more than a masquerade. Paul wants Timothy and those in his church to “take hold of that life that is truly life” (1Timothy 6:19). To that end he asks them to consider the content of the letter, lay it alongside their own lives, and use it as a tool for self-evaluation.

Have you gone through a similar process of self-evaluation. Are you truly experiencing Life, or are you simply going through the motions?

What does it mean to Experience Life?

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1. True life is LIFE IN CHRIST.

A. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal savior?

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

B. Are you walking in Christ?

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. (Colossians 2:6)

2. True life is Life With Others

A. Jesus intended his followers to live in community.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35

B. Life with others means more than being social, it builds upon a mutual relationship with Christ.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)

3. True life is Life Expressed

A. Jesus did not want his disciples to withdraw from the world, but instead to express their new life in the midst of the world.

B. Jesus gave his followers a commission that they are to express their lives in such a way that non-believers take notice and to tell them about what it means to Experience Life.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mathew 28:19-20)

Do you think you are experiencing true life? If not, what would it take to do so?

Are you growing in your relationship with Christ? Are you surrendering to His instruction?

Are you connected in authentic, loving, transformational relationships?

Are you honoring God with all that has been given to you?

Are you taking the message of Christ’s love to a world in need of love?

Are you helping to meet the physical needs of others?

Are you engaged in the life of the church or simply showing up?

June 30, 2009 by kevinstilley

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Recent research conducted by the Barna Group found that religious leaders struggle when asked to describe what it means to be spiritually mature. How can one facilitate the spiritual growth of those within one’s sphere of influence if one cannot even describe the goal towards which we aspire?

Understanding spiritual maturity really isn’t that difficult. In Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney describes the object of our struggle as godliness – and the Biblical injunction to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness as leading to naturally expressing Christ’s character through our own personality. Simple, and clear.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life was written by Donald Whitney while he was serving as a local church pastor. He served twenty-four years in local church ministry before becoming a professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His work displays the heart of a pastor and the head of a professor. His concern for those in his care and his desire for the spiritual growth of the readers of this book is evident on every page.

Whitney leads his readers in examining the following disciplines; Scripture reading, Scripture meditation, Scripture application, prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, stewardship, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, and learning. The loving presentation, practical orientation, and solid Biblical foundation make this a book worth reading. In fact, J.I. Packer recommended that the book be read three times by each of its readers.

There are a few times along the way where I think Whitney extrapolates beyond the text of Scripture in ways with which I am not comfortable. Nevertheless, I add my voice to Packer’s in suggesting that this is a book that will benefit those who would discipline themselves for the purpose of godliness.

__________

* There is also a Study Guide available for this book for use in small group and individual study.

__________

Mature Christianity – Select Quotes

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.
~ C.S. Lewis