Snippet: Do You Want Spiritual Growth?

Snip·pet | ˈsnipit | noun a small piece or brief extract.

Here’s one on making disciples from “Deliberate Discipleship in a Frantic World,” an article by John Biegel and Kevin Kompelien (our denomination’s president):

“While the world continues its frantic, avalanche-like bid for peoples’ attention through breaking-news chyrons and relentless notifications, constantly moving from one supposedly urgent issue to another, we need a patient commitment to practices as a church that root and form people in the gospel over the long haul. We need more glacier-like ministry.  

“And so perhaps the way for us to best engage in this war, in the Spirit’s power, is what has been called the ordinary means of grace: the regular preaching of the Word, corporate worship, prayer, fellowship, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, things that have characterized the Church since its inception. What appears ordinary to us is actually quite extraordinary, because it's how God, in His grace, has appointed to make and mature disciples of Jesus.”  

Do you want to grow in your relationship with God?

Are you concerned with the spiritual formation of the next generation?

Yes to both?

Then don’t neglect to participate in “the regular preaching of the Word, corporate worship, prayer, fellowship, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper” that “root and form people to the gospel over the long haul.”

If asked about our strategy for disciple-making, I wonder how many of us pastors would begin here, with the “ordinary means of grace”?

And how about non-pastors, if asked how they grow their faith or pursue spiritual form as a family, would begin here?

This is not all that goes into spiritual formation, but I do believe it is the foundation for all the other ways we grow, including growth through serving, personal Bible reading and reflection, participating in ministries of compassion and justice, sharing our faith, etc.).

Photo by Josue Michel on Unsplash

2 Peter Summer Reading Plan

We’ve launched a new summer series on 2 Peter we’re calling “Dying Words.” To better prepare for each sermon, follow the daily reading plan. You can download the plan here (https://bit.ly/3GNLPIi). See why you might want to consider this below.

Besides getting more out of the sermons, this can help build a daily Bible reading and reflection habit.

Joe Carter writes about a recent survey by the American Bible Society:

“26 million Americans reduced or stopped their interaction with Scripture in the past year. …The survey team also looked at a subcategory of the “Scripture Engaged.” They defined “scripture engagement” as consistent interaction with the Bible that shapes people’s choices and transforms their relationships with God, self, and others. Only 19 percent of American adults qualify as Scripture Engaged.”

This is significant because study after study finds that Bible engagement is one of the most important personal spiritual practices (if not the most important) for spiritual growth.

James Clear, who wrote Atomic Habits, makes a powerful case for starting small (really small) when establishing a new habit. People regularly sabotage their efforts by starting too big. 2 Peter is a small letter with a big message. It’s perfect for starting small in establishing a Bible reading and reflection habit.