Leader || Preacher || Teacher
I recently saw someone comment on a social media post about God being the cause of our wonder. Someone commented, “The church of Christ could use some mysticism.” Followed by someone else who said, “…I believe an exercise in caution is worth consideration.” This is a common posture towards the Spirit, caution. But I believe we must take a new posture; conviction and courage.
Continue reading “The Holy Spirit: Conviction & Courage > Caution”
Ruth Haley Barton opens chapter seven of her book Sacred Rhythms with a quote by Ernest Larkin. He says, “Discernment in its fullness takes a practiced heart, fine-tuned to hear the word of God and the single-mindedness to follow that word in love. It is truly a gift from God, but not one dropped from the skies fully formed. It is a gift cultivated by a prayerful life and the search for self-knowledge.”
Continue reading “Where am I Going? And How to Know if God is Leading”
(This post is based off content originally posted at thepalmerperspective.com.)
Look at these headlines:
Because of those type of sinister events our minds tend to be suspicious when we hear someone say, “God spoke to me.”
We are groomed to be that way.
Let’s be clear, if God speaks to you he will not ask you to harm someone else.
Also, I know with that statement that there is an assumption that God speaks to His people. Know this, you do not need to hear an audible voice from God to hear him speak. I believe that all followers of Christ want to experience God in profound ways. I also believe that most people want to be able to discern events, and the times, and what they should do with their lives. I think this is generally true, whether they believe in the same version of God as you do or not; whether they hear an audible voice from God or not. Continue reading “5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 3 (Repost)”
(This content was originally posted at thepalmerperspective.com.)
Last week I shared with you 2 of the 5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit. Today I reveal one more truth test that will help you in understanding whether or not you are being led by God’s Spirit or something else.
“Great job today.”
“Wonderful sermon.”
“You are just what this church needed.”
I just completed my first year of ministry at the Littleton Church of Christ so I still get compliments (But really, the Littleton Church is very encouraging and way more supportive than I deserve). I have found that I receive compliments best when I simply say “thank you” and then thank God in their presence for His gift of encouragement through His church.
Continue reading “5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 2 (Repost)”
(This content was originally posted at thepalmerperspective.com.)
The Holy Spirit has been described by ancient Celtic Christians as the Wild Goose. He is not bound to our experiences of him nor can we try to tame him by putting him into our theological cages. The wild is scary. Most people arguably prefer a God who is predictable. “God’s got nothing up-his-sleeve.” He won’t suddenly urge us to do something that stretches our faith, will he? Ok, so just for fun, say that He does. How do we know that God’s Spirit is calling us into a new adventure or whether or not the path that I am choosing to take is on course with His path? If there is such an idea as “discerning the Spirit” how can I understand if my urging or calling from God is really from Him or something (the something is what really scares us, spooky right?) or someone else?
Continue reading “5 Truth Tests for Discerning the Spirit – Part 1 (Repost)”
(This content was originally posted at coreytrevathan.com).
Understanding the Spirit’s leading in your life can feel intimidating. You may also believe that it is an impossible task. There are many people you may feel have gotten it wrong and maybe you could say the same for yourself. We all have been apprehensive to follow through with “urgings” in our life to do certain things because we are uncertain as to their source. Is this God stirring something inside of me or just indigestion?
Continue reading “3 Principles for Understanding the Spirit (Repost)”
After becoming a follower of Christ I was discipled to believe that the most essential elements in understanding the word of God was logic and common sense. A “plain reading” of the scripture would allow all people to come to the same conclusions and opinions. Any literate person on the planet could open the word of God and understand it. If they read it plainly they would come to the same “truths” as our tribe concerning how we do worship and the steps to salvation. People who discovered different “truths” were making a conscious effort to deny the plain truths found in God’s word. It was that black and white.