Should Every Christian be in a sSmall Group? Yep!

Every fall at my local church, we talk about the importance of being in a small group and we invite people to participate in them. This type of thing is happening all across the country, maybe even the world: the call for Christians to participate in small groups. But why is it important for every Christian should be in a small group? Here are three reasons:

Firstly, we should be in a small group is because we need to grow in our faith. Small groups are the place where we take what we learn on Sundays and put our Christianity to practice. In my small group, we share openly and ask questions of the text we’re studying along with the prepared questions. We discuss—often intensely—what the passage means or what issues it raises that we deal with in everyday life. This leads us to discuss the intersection of the Bible and daily life. Our discussions are often passionate and opinions are made known on a wide variety of issues. We bring the mess of our lives in and deal with it together (even with people who we might not know all that well at first). We do all of this because we love one another and want to spur one another onto love and good deeds.   Continue at Dave Jenkins

The Answer to Every Christian’s Identity Crisis

As believers in Jesus Christ it is easy to lose our bearings when we forget who we are. This is every Christian’s identity crisis. The answer is for us to recognize the false identities that have robbed us of our joy, peace, contentment, and security and replace them with what is already true of us because of being united with Christ by faith.

For the past year the Holy Spirit has been renewing my mind and refreshing my soul by directing my focus to portions of the Word of God that emphasize who I am in Christ.

The portion where my heart dwelt this morning is the first half of the book of Ephesians. 

The first three chapters of the apostle’s great theological treatise are filled with numerous realities that we need to consistently claim as already belonging to us. Along with me, reflect on these 42 truths:

1. I am a saint, a set-apart-one, set apart by God for God (1:1).
2. I am a child of God. God is my father (1:2)
3. I am a servant of God. Jesus is my Lord (1:2).
4. I am a recipient of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (1:3).
5. I am chosen by God in Christ (1:4).
6. I am predestined (1:5).
7. I am adopted as a son (1:5).    Continue at Paul Tautges

Growing in Grace & Knowledge

Knowledge and truth have fallen on hard times in contemporary American culture. We are distracted from thinking deeply about anything because we are too busy focusing on ourselves and our own entertainment. Sadly, this problem is not merely “out there” in the world. Overnight, contemporary churches have become entertainment centers and purveyors of self-centered spirituality. Encouraged by smiling television preachers to have our best life now, modern Christians have almost lost sight of Jesus and his saving work. We desperately need to follow the advice of the apostle Peter, who encouraged believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). R. C. Sproul joins the panel for this special edition of White Horse Inn recorded before a live audience in Orlando, Florida.

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I Have Been Crucified WITH Christ

George R. Krahn has been crucified!

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Loving Fellow Strugglers

Remember, not all counseling is specifically sin-related in a personal sense, but some certainly is. The love-motivated efforts of brothers and sisters in Christ to help one another overcome sin is the focus of this post.

While some of these sin-related counseling situations are initiated by counselees when they finally recognize they are trapped and cannot get out of sin’s bondage without help, other counseling relationships are initiated by biblical counselors as a result of observing foolish choices or sinful life patterns in brothers or sisters in Christ. Whether or not the ensnared brothers or sisters see that they are in bondage is not the issue. Love initiates the restoration of strugglers to a place of fellowship and blessing. William Goode, long-time pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Lafayette, Indiana and founder of Faith Baptist Counseling Ministry, compellingly writes that “to consider counseling an optional ministry is to withhold biblical love at the time it is needed most in the believer’s life—when he or she is in trouble … we must be about the business of restoring rather than ignoring such Christians … Believers will never become like Christ if they are not winning the battle against sin in their lives and investing themselves in the lives of others. And there can be no discipling if there is no plan to help the disciple who gets into trouble.”

Galatians 6:1–5 provides such a plan. Take some time to meditate on this passage of Scripture and its implications for loving one-another ministry. If you are part of a small group then dedicate one of your meeting times to discussing this Scripture and its implications for Christian community.  Continue at Paul Tautges

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 19

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8
Part 9 || Part 10 || Part 11 || Part 12 || Part 13 || Part 14 || Part 15 || Part 16
Part 17 || Part 18

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: When someone finds and eats the cookie you thought you hid well, you don’t pout, much.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You don’t use theological language “clubishly”- either to beat or exclude people.

A sign you’re growing in grace: Because it matters so much to your Father, you care for widows and orphans. James 1:27

A sign you’re growing in grace: Theological gamesmanship has given over to kingdom statesmanship. You wash more feet.

A sign you’re growing in grace: Having a good heart means much more than sounding real smart. Humility is trumping hubris. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 18

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8
Part 9 || Part 10 || Part 11 || Part 12 || Part 13 || Part 14 || Part 15 || Part 16
Part 17

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: You remain humble & grateful when God uses someone more powerfully than you in your city.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You can spot heresies quicker than ever, but you’re also less arrogant than ever.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You still get feelings of disdain, but you don’t show or speak with as much contempt.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You fully enjoy Christian liberty & you fully enjoy limiting your freedom out of love.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You’ll work hard today at your MAIN work: Believing in Jesus, the sent One. Jn. 6:29  

Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 17

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8
Part 9 || Part 10 || Part 11 || Part 12 || Part 13 || Part 14 || Part 15 || Part 16

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: You know that the path of righteousness will ALWAYS lead to Jesus, our perfect righteousness.

A sign you’re growing in grace: The love of Jesus is compelling you to be more generous with your time, talent & treasure.

A sign you’re growing in grace: The demands of the love of God are becoming more obvious to you… and welcomed.

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 16

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8
Part 9 || Part 10 || Part 11 || Part 12 || Part 13 || Part 14 || Part 15

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: You exercise wisdom & care when sharing prayer requests about your spouse & children.

A sign you’re growing in grace: It doesn’t take you as long to humble yourself before your spouse and kids.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You’re learning the difference between worshipping God and listening to worship music.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You’re more likely to drink motor than to nurse a grudge or fertilize roots of bitterness.

Affections and the Christian Life

I’m not sure, but I suppose a number of you have been following the intra- Gospel-Coalition exchange between Kevin DeYoung and Tullian Tchividjian regarding the Gospel, its relationship to sanctification, and what place there is for the believer’s effort, if there’s any place at all. As may be expected, blogger-extraordinaire Justin Taylor has provided a helpful roundup and summary of the interaction, as well as some helpful additions to the discussion from Bavinck and Berkouwer via Dane Ortlund, and from J. I. Packer. Since those posts, Tullian has responded once more, and also has posted an open letter from Elyse Pitzpatrick to Mr. Grace-Loving Antinomian.

As I’m sure will be much to your delight, I’m not planning on writing a thesis that thoughtfully engages each of the well-reasoned points from every one of those posts. Neither do I have any illusions of settling the matter once and for all, though to be honest I’m not sure there’s much to be settled, as I’m unable to discern a whole lot of disagreement between Kevin and Tullian. But the exchange has indeed been helpful, as it’s forced those reading to consider afresh what Scripture has to say about how the believer grows in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2Pet 3:18), becoming increasingly conformed to His image (Rom 8:29; 2Cor 3:18). And we need to think about that, because that’s where we all live. Our sanctification is the will of God for us (1Thess 4:3), and so it’s important that we know (a) if we have any part of that at all, and, if we do, (b) how we go about pursuing our sanctification in ways that are honoring to God and that magnify the sufficiency of Christ. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 15

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: You choose to risk things for Jesus rather than rust in the comfort zone of your unbelief.

A sign you’re growing in grace: When you’re dining with gospelicious friends, you enjoy the fellowship more than the food.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You provoke more people to love and good deeds than those you simply provoke.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You’re into “pant-theology, panting for more of the living water Jesus freely gives to all.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You worship created things much less but see God’s majesty in all of creation much more.

A sign you’re growing in grace: From celery strings to the strings of a great quartet, you find God’s glory everywhere. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 13

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8

Part 9 || Part 10 || Part 11 || Part 12

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: A commitment to “faith expressing itself in love” is altering your attitude & actions.

A sign you’re growing in grace: “In step with the truth of the gospel” (Gal.2:14) is how you want to live your whole life.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You give and receive better eye contact, as a means of loving well.

A sign you’re growing in grace: Names matter to you so you work to remember them & are careful what you call people. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 11

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8
Part 9 || Part 10

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: There are a few people in your life who can ask you anything, and you’ll be honest.

A sign you’re growing in grace: In your hierarchy of values, validation by grit got “smoked” by justification by faith.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You know that every time the Holy Spirit makes you cry “Uncle!”, it’s so you’ll cry Abba. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 10

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: When telling your story, you end up talking about Jesus more than you.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You long for your heart to come more fully alive to the love of Jesus.

A sign you’re growing in grace: When you quote Paul, “The Son of God loved ME…”, it still astonishes & humbles you.

A sign you’re growing in grace: When the gospel wounds you, in time, it’s welcomed as a kiss from Jesus.

A sign you’re growing in grace: Spiritual disciplines are a delight, not a duty, drudgery or a drag.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You know EXACTLY what broken cisterns you’ll reach for when the living water of Jesus isn’t enough. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 9

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: You park your conscience under God’s grace & when it drifts towards law, you yank it back.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You don’t guilt very easily, either as victim or agent.

A sign you’re growing in grace: No matter what anyone says about you, you realize the cross is your greatest critic & cure. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 8

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: There are things you no longer do only because of your love for Jesus.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You want to trust again more than you want to stay stuck in your hurt.

A sign you’re growing in grace: The older you get the more you remember stuff your parents actually did right. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace, Part 7

Your weekly installment of 20 grace tweets from Scotty Smith:

A sign you’re growing in grace: You don’t feel the need to pose and pretend as often or as much.

A sign you’re growing in grace: The main work you’ll be about the rest of your life is believing in Jesus – John 6:29.

A sign you’re growing in grace: You don’t appeal to the sovereignty of God as an excuse for your being lazy or foolish. Keep Reading...

Signs You Are Growing in Grace

There are a handful of folks on Twitter whose updates I happen to “favorite” all the time, and one of them is Scotty Smith.  About a month ago, he did a little series on “signs you’re growing in grace.”  I’ve compiled them here for your benefit.  I love how practical and earthy they are.  The gospel goes everywhere.

A sign you’re growing in grace is less bombast about not being a legalist & more humility because you “get” the gospel.

A sign you’re growing in grace is less theological arrogance & greater appreciation for diversity in the Body of Christ. Read the rest HERE

Growing in Humility and Grace in 2011

How do we identify if we are humble people? What are some characteristics of humility that can serve to aid us in our growth and seeking after Christ?
 
A humble person never forgets God’s saving grace.

A humble person is focused on Christ alone for his righteous standing before God.

A humble person never thinks any good work for Christ is too menial, and beneath them.
 
A humble heart is eager to serve in light of God’s grace. A humble heart will submit to every truth of God that is made known to it. Three things incline a humble heart to God’s service: 
1) Divine love to them in Jesus; 
2) Divine presence with them; and 
3) Divine Glory as their chief end.

A humble soul is always dependent upon Jesus and His grace.

A humble heart is heavenly-minded.

Would you characterize yourself as a humble person by God's grace? Seek Christ.

We have been taught a few of the attributes of a truly humble person, soul, and heart.

How does a humble person grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus?


Meditate upon God’s goodness and grace to you in Jesus.
 
Meditate upon the cross and the exaltation of Jesus.

Meditate on your own sinful heart and propensity to evil.
 
Don’t think too highly of your works for God.

Acknowledge your indebtedness to God in prosperity and adversity.

We are always recipients of God’s grace and gifts.
 
Let both your head and your heart love God.
 
Be a conqueror of pride and other sins in Jesus alone. Read the whole article HERE

Why We Must Pursue Holiness