Category: Spiritual Growth

  • The Dangerous Power of Vulnerability

    I don’t believe Jesus Christ unleashed the church on a dying world to work together as emotionally isolated and lonely souls bottling up our hurts and struggles. That just seems so counterintuitive. But then again, vulnerability indicates weakness, and weakness isn’t good. Right? Being vulnerable is a risky necessity to building trust with other believers…

  • When Jesus Shows Up…

    When Jesus shows up, things change. That’s what happened at the Temple. And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written,”My house shall be called a house of prayer,”…

  • It Started Well…

    It started so well that it is hard to understand how it came to this. One day people were calling Him a king and a few days later they were content to send Him to the executioner. What a week Jesus had. When he first entered the city, He was welcomed with cheers and praise:…

  • My Priorities | #ThrowbackThursday

    Spiritual Growth doesn’t happen all on it’s own. It requires some priorities followed by some discipline. I’ve written on my own personal priorities in the past, and I’m re-posting them again. Spiritual growth is marked by consistency and discipline, but having the right priorities is essential. Discipline without the right priorities can lead to legalism, where we…

  • You Can Lead The Way

    Consider What You Bring to the Table Isolation is not the goal of a Christian. Our faith is intended to be lived out in community with others. We are not lone monks hiding from the rest of the world, but a community of Christ followers that encourage and inspire others to be Disciples of Jesus. We…

  • Some Resolutions

    You went back to work today and realized you never made any New Year’s Resolutions. You’ve listened to the coworkers who dropped money on gym memberships they won’t use, you heard big talk about diets when you know they’re going to hit Mighty Taco or Chik-fil-A next Tuesday, but still you’re wondering if you should have…

  • Stay Bitter? This Happens

    If you never forgive, and wish only for others to “get what they deserve” you will be just like Jonah. Jonah lives on through history in a very short story in the Bible as the example of how terrible and destructive bitterness can be, and how God will still accomplish his purposes without you while…

  • Cling To What You Do Know

    The following is part of an ongoing crowdsourced sermon I’ve been developing using my own life experiences and the feedback of others on Facebook and twitter. It’s all about what to do when we have no answers. The introduction can be found here. It is entirely possible that you may not get all the answers…

  • You Better Say It Now…

    The following is the introduction from a sermon I’ve pieced together but have not yet preached. Therefore, it will hopefully raise thoughts and questions inside you even while not being the complete sermon. I’d love to hear your feedback on the intro and what thoughts, questions, emotions, or needs it brings to your mind. But…

  • It Doesn’t Always Make Sense…

    I recently started a new reading plan on my phone’s YouVersion app (which I highly recommend). While reading about Moses in Exodus, a familiar story stood out to me: “Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under…