“Discernment” can be one of those specialized religious words that we don’t use very much, but the concept of discernment is one used rather often in the Bible. What is discernment, why does it matter, and how can we develop it?
(This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 30, 2024.)
One way to think about Christian growth is through the lens of spirituality. To grow is to become “more spiritual” but what exactly does it mean to be spiritual? How can someone deepen their spirituality?
(Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 26, 2024. The outline for this series was adapted from Deeper by Dane Ortlund.)
Breathing is an essential part of life, but one that we can get better at. Athletes training for endurance learn to breathe deeper, and their bodies learn to process the oxygen more efficiently. Two spiritual disciplines serve as breathing for the Christian – Bible reading and prayer. How can we learn to breathe deeper, and thus grow?
(Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 19, 2024. The outline for this series was adapted from Deeper by Dane Ortlund.)
We have probably all heard the expression “no pain, no gain.” This is not just a term for athletes and weightlifters, but simply expresses an important concept for Spiritual growth. What kind of pain is necessary for Christian growth, and what does that mean for how we think about the suffering of life?
(Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 5, 2024. The outline for this series was adapted from Deeper by Dane Ortlund.)
Confession is a vital part of Christian growth, but it can be easy to emphasize confession to God at the expense of the importance of confessing to other Christians. How can we grow in the discipline of confession, and what does it do for us?
(Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 28, 2024. The outline for this series was adapted from Deeper, by Dane Ortlund.)
When did you become united with Christ? Unity, as a subject of Christian growth, exemplifies the idea that growth is about become more of what we already are in Christ. How can we deepen our unity with him?
(Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 7, 2024. The outline for this series was adapted from Deeper, by Dan Orlund.)
It might seem odd to talk about despair and grief in a study of Christian growth, but growth requires a catalyst, a motivator. For the Christian, when we lose or ignore the despair caused by our sin, we lose one of the engines of growth.
(Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 17, 2024. The outline of this series was adapted from the book Deeper by Dan Orlund.)
Christian growth never happens independently from Christ. Why is that, and what attributes, qualities, and works of Jesus directly and indirectly contribute to our growth?
(Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 10, 2024. The outline for this series was adapted from the book Deeper, by Dan Orlund.)
How do Christians grow? It is a question that can elicit despair, confusion, arrogance, or cynicism, depending on how we think our spiritual walk is progressing (or not progressing). Why is growth so important, and how should we even define growth?
(Preaching on growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 3, 2024. Much of the outline for this series is adapted from Dane C. Ortlund’s book “Deeper”.)
The story of Esther has three crescendos, the first of which is when Esther risks the wrath of the king. Why did Esther need to approach the king, and what in her life built up to this moment?
(Preaching through Esther. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November 19, 2023.)
Watts in the Word 