Category: Key Growth Posts

relationships, couple

12 Keys To Tackling Relationship Difficulties – Part 1

Posted on by

The purpose of this post is to learn how to deal with difficulties in relationships according to scripture, understand the root attitudes needed to tackle difficulties, and allow the difficulties to transform us into the new Christformed person God is making us. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love others. This is the foundation and end of spiritual growth, spiritual formation and spiritual theology. So relationships are the most important element of Christianity! This means we should learn to master relationships and how to love people. Thus, relationship difficulties are our biggest testing ground and our biggest growth opportunity. This post looks at keys to dealing with the difficulties we have in relationships. Part 2 of this post is found here. KEY ONE: Know your weaknesses. We all have relationship weaknesses. If we can be honest about them we will be able Continue Reading →

Am I Trying Too Much Or Too Little To Be Christlike?

Posted on by

PURPOSE: The purpose of this post is to help you get into the right level of cooperation with the Holy Spirit. It is to help you be aware of how you are exercising your willpower to become more Christlike. One question I ask myself fairly regularly is whether I am trying to hard to grow spiritually or whether I am not trying hard enough. In other words, am I doing my part according to scripture? Am I crowding out the Spirit by trying to do too much on my own, or on the other hand, am I not activating my will and thus expecting God to change me without my cooperation? Am I erring on one side or the other: too willful or not willful enough? I have erred on both sides in my life, and I still have to adjust regularly. This is an important question because it can Continue Reading →

Why Do Christians Have Dry Times or Dark Nights?

Posted on by

The last two posts looked at stages of growth, both repeating and non-repeating. One of the stages we mentioned was dark nights, which is the topic of this post. This may apply to you or it might help you guide someone else through a dark time, so this should equip you to be a better servant for the Body of Christ. Most Christians go through one or more periods in their life when God seems absent. We use different terms for this such as dryness, dark night, desolation, desert time, or wilderness time. Even great Christians in history we admire go through such times. For example, Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis, Mother Teresa, and Oswald Chambers. Bruce Demarest mentions the last three in his book Seasons of the Soul, which I highly recommend, beginning on p. 84. He also discusses desolation in general which is very helpful. (There is a link to Continue Reading →

fivefold way stages of growth

What Stage of Growth Are You In?

Posted on by

Many have found it very helpful to understand the different stages of growth that Christians go through. Here are some of the reasons we might find it helpful: Understand where we are spiritually and where we need to go. Realize it is ok to be where we are; it is normal and others are there too. Know what experiences, emotions, and thoughts are normal for your situation. Know what attitudes, scripture, and practices are best for your situation. Not resist or escape the stage we are in, but rather let God flow. Not become overly attached to the stage we are in. Realize that we are not in or out of the “good Christian” box. Rather, are we staying on the road to maturity. This helps avoid legalism. Understand how to guide others who want to grow. Be more understanding of what others may have been through, or are going through Continue Reading →

Church Bashing Part 2: Positives in the American Church

Posted on by

  Last week the topic was church bashing. (Last week’s post.) This week continues the topic with an emphasis on the American church today. Criticizing the American church has become very popular in the last few years. This post looks at some issues surrounding this trend. Following is an example of the criticism of American Christianity from a recent popular blog: “The connection economy is an arena where the church — the body of Christ — should be leading. But it’s not. The world has blown past it. In the connection economy, building connections with like-minded people is valued higher than acquiring “stuff.” For instance, suppose I handed you $2,000 to spend on whatever you wanted. Your mind may default to a new refrigerator. Or that curved HD TV you’ve been eyeing at Best Buy. Or a new set of golf clubs. Or those rare coins for your coin collection. Or you Continue Reading →