I. What does God value? God is a peace-loving God who values PEACEFUL RELATIONSHIPS. The wisdom sayings of Proverbs show us that God values peaceful relationships. God’s love for peace reflects the mutual love, respect, and communion that exists within the Holy Trinity. Hear this strong statement from the pen of Solomon: “The LORD hates … Continue reading Pursuing Peaceful Relationships
humility
Prayer of Confession of Sin – Philippians 2:1-11
Holy and gracious Father, You have a most scandalous way of rescuing proud people: The One who possesses real authority to assert His rights lays them aside to humbly serve and die for us. We beseech Your forgiveness for our pride which has destroyed our ability to truly love and care for others. We confess … Continue reading Prayer of Confession of Sin – Philippians 2:1-11
The Major Markers of Spiritual Progress
Have you ever wondered what does it really look like to make spiritual progress in your journey? What kind of Christians does the Holy Spirit want to develop? Christians whose lives display the following seven features: Doxology, the habit taught and modeled by Paul of constantly praising God and giving him thanks; Humility, the downward … Continue reading The Major Markers of Spiritual Progress
Jesus’ Beatitudes & the Virtue of Humility
Of all the virtues Christ commended in the Beatitudes, it is significant that the first is humility, being 'poor in spirit' (Matthew 5:3). The virtue of humility (the blessed gift of self-forgetfulness) underlies all the others: You cannot mourn (5:4) without appreciating how insufficient you are to handle life in your own strength. That is … Continue reading Jesus’ Beatitudes & the Virtue of Humility
Cultivating a Healthy Marriage – Clothed with Humility
During your early years of marriage, you will discover that developing a good marriage is a lot like cultivating a garden (recall Tim Keller’s talk on “Cultivating a Healthy Marriage"). A garden takes a lot of work and it costs more than you figured, it is messier than you anticipated, and it requires greater determination … Continue reading Cultivating a Healthy Marriage – Clothed with Humility
The Power of the Word of God in a Young Pastor’s Life
J.I. Packer, as a young pastor, found himself “marginalized, isolated and required to work on unfulfilling and flawed agendas, in a manner that made him think of the Israelites having to make bricks for Pharaoh.” He claims to have lived “like Moses in Midian, with frustration in [his] heart, wondering what God could possibly be … Continue reading The Power of the Word of God in a Young Pastor’s Life
A Family for Others from Philippians 2
What does it look like to live as a family for others? As THE MAN for others, Jesus saved us rather than Himself at the cross and, “every time we reflect on the cross, Christ seems to be saying to us, ‘I am here for you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse … Continue reading A Family for Others from Philippians 2
Three Avenues of Spiritual Attack and What To Do About Them
Our church is under spiritual attack. In fact, all churches are under attack. Every single believer in Christ is engaged in a constant, inescapable battle against spiritual degeneracy in three forms: Our unbelief of God’s word, our lack of forgiveness of others, and our unhumbled pride in what we are and have done. So, I … Continue reading Three Avenues of Spiritual Attack and What To Do About Them
Growing in Humility
In one of his ordination charges given while Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey offered some wise and practical advice on how to grow in humility: First, thank God, often and always... Thank God, carefully and wonderingly, for your continuing privileges and for every experience of his goodness. Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does … Continue reading Growing in Humility
A Man for Others in Radical Humility
J.I. .Packer highlights the spiritual battle we all face: "We are all engaged in a constant, inescapable battle against spiritual degeneracy in four forms: Our unhumbled pride, our unbelief of God’s word, our lack of forgiveness of others, and our aversion to taking risks. All these forms of spiritual degeneration banish true spiritual joy..." … Continue reading A Man for Others in Radical Humility
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