Tag: Spiritual Formation
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The Old Man and the Flesh
by Robin Boisvert What actually changes when one becomes a Christian? Confusion about this is common, especially when we realize that we continue to struggle with sin and temptation even after conversion. Paul tells us in Galatians that we have a war that goes on within us after conversion: “For the desires of the flesh…
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Appropriating the Justifying Work of Christ
Only a fraction of the present body of professing Christians are solidly appropriating the justifying work of Christ in their lives. Many have so light an apprehension of God’s holiness and of the extent and guilt of their sin, that consciously they see little need for justification. Below the surface, however, they are deeply guilt-ridden…
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You Can Change
I started reading You Can Change by Tim Chester of The Crowded House. It is different from most books about transformation and personal growth because Chester roots everything in the dual truths of the Christian’s new identities and the power of the gospel. This video is Tim’s introduction and explanation of the book. Here is what a couple…
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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
In the Preface to Joe Thorn‘s book, Note to Self, Sam Storms penned a paragraph that strikes at the heart of the difference between those with a vital Chrisian faith, and those who show little if any hint of actually being a follower of Jesus Christ. Here is what Storms says about the functional place…
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Who Does What?
Reading Jerry Bridges’ book Discipline of Grace, especially chapter 6, prompted me to think about the importance of understanding “Who does What?” in our salvation. Here are a few observations that I hope will provide some clarification: Many are frustrated to unfortunate degree because they do not understand that sanctification is a process. Many are…
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The Great Omission
I’ve been reading Dallas Willard’s The Great Omission. This book is a compilation of essay’s Willard has written through the years. Most of those essays are available online. They are each able to stand alone, and all are worth the read. Why Bother With Discipleship? Who is Your Teacher? Looking Like Jesus The Key to…
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How Can I Be Sure I Would?
Steve Timmis of The Crowded House and co-author of the book Total Church posed the following questions and thoughts for reflection: How can I be sure I would lay down my life for sake of Jesus & the gospel? Perhaps I’ll be like Peter in his bravado and subsequent denial? Can’t ultimately be sure until…
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4 Keys to Cultivating Inner Peace
How can one cultivate genuine inner peace? Thomas a Kempis suggests embracing the following four attitudes and practices: Seek to do the will of others rather than your own. (Matthew 26.39; John 5.30; John 6.38) Always choose to have less rather than more. (1 Corinthians 10.24) Always seek the lowest place and consider others better…
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Spiritual Formation Beyond Decency
We must stop using the fact that we cannot earn grace (whether for justification of for sanctification) as an excuse for not energetically seekng to receive grace. Having been found by God, we then become seekers of ever-fuller life in him. Grace is opposes to earning, not effort. The realities of Christian spiritual formation are…
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Christ-likeness: The Purpose of God for His People
by John R.W. Stott I remember very vividly, some years ago, that the question which perplexed me as a younger Christian (and some of my friends as well) was this: what is God’s purpose for His people? Granted that we have been converted, granted that we have been saved and received new life in Jesus Christ,…
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My Spiritual EKG
“How are you doing, Spiritually?” That is an important question. The Great Physician, by both direct and indirect statements in his Word, repeatedly encourages us to examine our hearts. But while many may be aware that it ought to be our regular practice to take a Spiritual pulse, I suspect that relatively few know how to read…
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Counterfeit Gods
In his reletively recent book, Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller explains what a counterfeit god is and describes how to make one – as we are so prone to do: A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. And idol has such…
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Benefitting in the Benefactor
Sinclair Ferguson offers this wise insight about the gospel-centered life: “…we must never separate the benefits (regeneration, justification, sanctification) from the Benefactor (Jesus Christ). The Christians who are most focused on their own spirituality may give the impression of being the most spiritual … but from the New Testament’s point of view, those who have…
