These are my notes from a sermon series I did through the gospel of Mark. It has not been proofed for spelling or grammatical errors. I present it to you as-is. Continue reading
Helping people experience God's truth
Tag: spiritual growth
Jesus has called us to follow Him, He has promised to make us more like Him and He has given us a purpose and a mission. All three of those are found in His statement, “Follow Me, and I will make you fish for people!” (Matthew 4:19). Continue reading
Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people” (Matthew 4:19, HCSB). Let’s review.
First of all, Jesus says, “Follow Me.” A disciple is someone who has made a decision to follow Christ. They thought it through, have repented (which means a change of mind) and surrendered their life to Jesus. This deals with the head (for more details on what it means to “follow me” see part 1 of this series).
Secondly, Jesus says, “I will make you.” A disciple is being changed by Jesus. As we follow Jesus He changes us internally. We gain a new heart that begins to desire new things. Our values begin to align up with God’s kingdom. Our motives and emotions are reflecting God’s values more and more. We become more other-centered rather than self-centered. There is a distinction about us that says we love God and love people. Jesus is making us and transforming us into His image. This deals with our heart. Continue reading
In reality, the only way out of a trial is through it. God never promised you a bypass, but He did promise to walk with you though your valley (Psalm 23). Your problem is an opportunity for three things. Continue reading
When problems and trials come your way, its important to remember that God can and will use those difficulties for your benefit and His glory. Here are three ways God uses your problems. Continue reading
You have a unique DESIGN given to you by God for a specific purpose. Your uniqueness includes a God-given desire, experiences, spiritual gift, individual style, growth, and natural abilities. Many believers are not aware their design is an indication of how God wants to use them in His kingdom. So, how do you discover your DESIGN? Continue reading
God never intended you to live the Christian life alone. Throughout the Bible we are given various “one another” statements to apply to our lives. These involve loving one another (1 Thess. 3:12), encouraging one another (1 Thess. 5:1), serving one another (1 Peter 4:10), forgiving one another (Eph. 4:31-32), accepting one another (Rom. 15:7), honoring one another (Rom. 12:10), motivating one another (Heb. 10:24), and praying for one another (James 5:16), to name a few. It’s impossible to apply these in isolation. One of the best places to experience Christ at work is in a Life Group (a small group of believers ranging from 4-20 in number, that usually meet in a home for prayer, study of God’s Word, and fellowship). How does being a part of a Life Group help you mature as a follower of Jesus? Continue reading
Whether you have been going to church for a long time or just started, there are easy and practical things you can do to get the most out of the worship service. Before I share those items with you, I know some will read this and say, “Going to church is not about what we can get out of it, but what we can give to God and to others.” That is true, however preparing yourself to receive from others and God is just as important as preparing yourself to give to others. Let’s stay balanced and away from extremes. Besides, getting the most out of the worship service should result in life transformation at some level and that’s partly what it’s about (Romans 12:1-2). How can you get the most of the worship service? Continue reading
The Bible teaches that there are five stages of spiritual growth and everyone is at one of the stages. Knowing the stages can help you grow personally, help others develop in their maturity, and assist churches in creating a strategic plan for discipleship. Below is a brief description of each stage. Continue reading
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