Here is the shock: God is not glorified by us just reading the Bible. And we don’t necessarily grow or get helped just by reading the Bible. The devil knows the Bible – and he isn’t growing as a Christian!
Read moreFunctional Atheism
There will be a subset of people on the plateau who are functionally atheist. I don't mean that they aren't believers (although they may be), but that the gospel is currently making no discernable impact over their day to day lives. They don't think about it, don't pray and don't seek to bring God glory in the warp and weft of life. They compartmentalise "the Christian bit" into an hour on Sunday. Therefore their approach to life is functionally no different to a non-believer.
Read morePlateaux
My need is to remember that there are real Christians who don't know how to read the Bible or to develop an increasing hunger for God. That's not their fault if they don't know how. It is the responsibility of leaders to help people see they are on a plateau and given them practical strategies for getting off it.
Read moreSpiritually Alive
A few posts back I said it was useful to ask Christian leaders what books had most influenced them and how they conduct their personal devotions so that their hearts stay hot for the Lord.
Phil Whitall, quite reasonably, asked me to asnwer those questions, which I did in a followup comment.
However I thought it would be great to get any other leaders who are reading this to comment and share. How is it for you? Anyone like to help with putting together a good number of posts on the things that help us grow in the Lord? Add a comment to this post.
How to Grow Spiritually
The question "what is God doing in your life at the moment?" has come to be seen in too many circles as a little bit super-spiritual. A bit too touchy-feely. Or a bit too personal and embarrassing (after all, what if the person can't think of anything - it could look like I am suggesting their Christian walk is inadequate by asking the question).
If fact this question should be the commonest of common currency among us. Lets recover a deep desire to see God at work every day in each other's lives.
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