Topic > Spiritual Growth
Always An Upgrade
When I’m about to leave the house, sometimes my wife, Martie, stops me and says, “You can’t go to the office dressed like that!” It’s usually something about the tie not matching the jacket or the color of the slacks being out of sync with the sport coat. Though being questioned about my fashion choices may feel like an affront to my good taste, I have realized that her correcting influence is always an upgrade.
Corine
A group of us were helping to put together packets of material at an Our Daily Bread event in Orlando last winter when Corine greeted us. It was mid-morning, and she was sure we must be hungry and thirsty.
Taking Root
A small area of my yard just couldn’t seem to get going. The grass always seemed sparse in that spot, no matter how well I watered it.
Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
Wisdom is the beauty of holiness. James says wisdom is reasonable; flexible; forgiving; peaceful; caring; given to friendly visits, small acts of courtesy, and kind words. It is humble, transparent, simple, gentle, and gracious to the core (James 3:17).
Earworms
They burrow. They bore in. They attach themselves inside your head. Earworms, a term once used exclusively for insects, is now the name for those unrelenting tunes that you can’t get out of your head. Songs like, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” the “Barney” song, or my personal nightmare: “It’s a Small World After All."
Miserable Success
In whatever a man does without God, he must fail miserably—or succeed more miserably,” wrote George MacDonald (1824–1905), a Scottish novelist, poet, and Christian minister. This intriguing statement is often cited by modern speakers and writers and appears in MacDonald’s book Unspoken Sermons.
An interesting conversation on a forgotten discipline
A good meal can satisfy our hunger, give us a break from the day, and tickle our taste buds. So why would someone choose to give up food for a period of time? Let's examine the practice and purpose of fasting.
How the Sermon on the Mount acts as our balance beam for the Christian life
High up on the beam, a gymnast must be careful to keep her balance. Any drastic shifts to the right or left can send her careening to the mat! Learn how to maintain biblical stability.
Discover what Jesus said about the practice and benefits of fasting
As we look at spiritual disciplines in the life of a follower of Christ, reading God’s Word and praying are essential. But should fasting be on that short list as well?
Let’s turn to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to find out what makes us “good”
What makes a follower of Christ a “good” person? Is it how long they pray? How well they serve? Let's turn to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to answer this probing question.
Wise Words
Now in my sixties, I reflect back on wise spiritual leaders who had a positive impact on my life. In Bible school, God used my Old Testament professor to make the Word come alive. My Greek teacher relentlessly employed high standards to goad my study of the New Testament.
Looking at whether our good works are for the reward people provide, or the praise only God can give
If our eyes are set on a particular prize, we’ll usually do whatever it takes to make it our own. A thoughtful study of the Sermon on the Mount continues.
Discover how the Ten Commandments point us in the direction of the Savior
If we see the law as a measuring stick, we’re bound to be discouraged. But if we view God’s commandments as a compass, we’ll be headed in the right direction! Get a fresh perspective on God’s law.
Why In The World Am I Here?
Many people are searching for answers to life’s issues—looking for fulfillment and finding frustration, emptiness, despair, and hopelessness. In this booklet, Kurt De Haan takes a look at life from a different point of view as he shares insight from the book of Ecclesiastes. Find answers to some of the deepest and most troubling questions and discover Solomon’s conclusion about the only way to live a truly fulfilling life.
