We need to hear His call. Christ calls us to take up the cross and deny ourselves; this is extreme discipleship, a call that is to cancel out our will so we can submit to His.
Spiritual Formation is about Following Christ! Part 2
Our faith cannot just be academic, an idea, or even just a hope; it has to be real. We must have more in our spiritual arsenal than just belief.
We Are To Have the Attitude of Christ! Part 1
Are you chasing your desires or our Lord? The answer to this question will determine what direction in life you go as well as if
We Are To Have the Attitude of Christ! Part 2
Does Love cover you? Do you use it to cover others? We are to be fueled and empowered by love in all situations. Christian love is...
We need to hear His call. Christ calls us to take up the cross and deny ourselves; this is extreme discipleship, a call that is to cancel out our will so we can submit to His. When we confess Christ as our Savior, it means He is our Lord. We are to surrender to His direction, call, and purpose. When we claim to be His, we need to commit and follow, leaving behind all that hinders and causes us to go astray. This goes against our will and our culture that says, you are number one, and you deserve whatever you want. But, usually what we want is not what is best. Yes, we deserve better; and better is to be in Christ and to follow His ways. When we deny ourselves, we are liberating ourselves from misdirected ways to His way, from temporary, skewed fun to eternal wonder.
Introduction to Spiritual Formation In the next nine studies we will be taking a look at the causes and motivations that block our spiritual growth.
What Blocks us from Jesus Christ?
This subject is often called “Christian Formation” or “Spiritual Formation,” or the “Ecology of Faith Development.”
Barriers to Knowing Christ Part 1
The first encounter we will look at is in John 3: 1-21. This passage contains the quintessential slogan to what it means to be an Evangelical Christian.
Barriers to Knowing Christ Part 2
Jesus is telling us that a new birth is absolutely essential to enter the Kingdom of God.
Barriers to Growing in Christ Part 1
What Blocks us from increasing our trust and faith in Jesus Christ?
Barriers to Growing in Christ Part 2
Jesus is directing us to look around and consider all the opportunities He has provided. What stops us?
Barriers to Growing in Christ Part 3
If you lack peace and joy in your life, it is usually because you lack growth and have forsaken your time in Him for the rough road of following yourself and being lost in life.
Barriers to Following Christ Part 1
Do you want to be healed? How can someone not want to be healed?
Barriers to Following Christ Part 2
Jesus wants us to walk, that is, to grow in our faith with the goals of heartfelt worship and devotion that are contagious to others. He wants us to have a Christ-centered life, not a self-centered life.
Barriers to Following Christ Part 3
Righteous determination requires persistence in order to overcome barriers that hold us back—those that can be overcome by more effort, right thinking, clear goals, and...
Barriers to Following Christ Part 4
We must have more in our spiritual arsenal than just belief. We must have more in order to grow in Him and make our faith and relationships work.
The Key to grow in Christ:
The Essential Gratitude Part 1
Gratitude is perhaps the essential attitude that fuels our faith and builds our Christian formation!
The Essential Gratitude Part 2
When we fully recognize our dependence on Christ, and fully feel the love and acceptance we have from Him, then our spiritual walk will increase.
Many people go to church and claim to be Christians. But, when it comes down to it, many are not living in the Spirit. Their faith is based on their identity—that they go to church—not that Christ has a hold on their lives...
It is the same with our spiritual formation. We receive Christ into our lives, but that is not the end of the matter. Rather, it is only the beginning!
How our Attitude needs to be like Christ
Do you like to complain? How does God feel about that? He clearly asks us to do not, as in do not be complaining. Don’t criticize, find fault, be irritable or...
Seeking Wisdom to Deal with Life!
Are you relying on yourself or God? How wholeheartedly really are you seeking after God? Perhaps what you need is...
We have to take the initiative in our spiritual formation. We must reach out and accept His Hand; allow Him lead you out.
How is our Faith to be Built?
The Foundation of our Christian Faith Part 1
Avoiding the Life of Perfidy, a fun word to say, but in its tangible function, it is heinous, especially in a Christian’s life or in a church.
The Foundation of our Christian Faith Part 2
God hates compromise and lack of faith! He wants us, as committed Christians, to place Him first and be proactive...
The Foundation of our Christian Faith Part 3
Is Christ Your Church’s Living Stone?
The Foundation of our Christian Faith Part 4
When we are not properly lined up with His Cornerstone, we are betraying our Lord.
The Foundation of our Christian Faith Part 5
The Slippery Slope The slope upon which we slip into a Church of Perfidy is the hill of compromise, where we weaken our beliefs and doctrines, and fail to love.
The Foundation of our Christian Faith Part 6
How is your spiritual growth going? Really? You are being healthy in your Spiritual Formation if there is an attitude of being a follower and a servant of Christ, His will is before yours...
What we give back to our Lord
Real authentic Christianity is formed in the crucible of our Spiritual Formation. It is our response to who and what Christ has done.
So, what can I do? Give Him the gifts, all of them, repentance, faith, mind, heart, witness, all from your real authentic Christianity...
How can we be Motivated?
What would a glimpse of heaven do to and for you?
We are chosen and given our new birth! We live in hope! As Christians, we have God’s abundant mercy, hope, and assurance so we can praise God for His grace and salvation!
God’s most abundant mercy, love, and grace, given to us, without merit, before the foundations of matter and time.
Fullness for a Christian is first seeking Christ and His work in you, so you are pursuing righteousness and all that is good, as...
What it takes to Grow in Christ
Jesus often taught His disciples about the importance of perseverance, faith, and humility in prayer...
This model of prayer (as all models must be) places the emphasis on God and His glory, not on us!
Fasting that Delights God Part 1
Fasting is important, but Jesus sternly warns of abusing it by using it for a show and tell game to draw attention to oneself, thus missing the real purpose, that of drawing close to God...
Fasting that Delights God Part 2
Downloadable Spiritual Formation Curriculum PDF Files|
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