Simple steps to build daily spiritual nourishment into your life for healthy, vibrant growth as Jesus' disciple.
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How to Grow
Many Christians say they want to grow in their spiritual life or get closer to God, but they don't know how or lack a plan. Growth in Christ can be as simple as following through with what we call the 2-3-2 plan. You will be amazed at how your spiritual life develops; it will seem almost miraculous!
Developing a Daily Habit
One of the goals of the 2-3-2 plan is to develop some healthy habits or spiritual disciplines you’ll practice daily. Most of us don’t like the word discipline, but just as brushing one’s teeth, taking a bath, exercise, and eating healthy food on a daily basis promotes physical health and growth, good daily spiritual disciplines promote a healthy relationship with God. Over time, you’ll find yourself building spiritual vibrancy, health and “muscle” which will enable you to rely more on the Lord, help you cope with life challenges and relate better to others. Looking back, you’ll see how you've grown and how you are better able to cope with life challenges because you were following God’s “owners manual” for life (the Bible), regularly seeking God’s help, and making better, wiser choices.
Growth Takes Time
Keep in mind that even though you may have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and now have a relationship with God, changing your thought patterns and learning to live consistently in this new way often takes a long time. One doesn’t just wake up one morning after years of inactivity and decide to compete in an Olympic marathon race that afternoon. That is why good, consistent, daily training and habits are needed. It takes time to replace a long history of bad habits with good ones. So be patient with yourself and others on the same journey.
The Quiet Time
One of the most important spiritual habits is a daily “quiet time” or “devotional” time.
Have you ever noticed two people in love? They just can't get enough time alone with each other! In the same way, God wants a love relationship with you. A daily quiet time is time you will schedule to meet with Him. Notice that we said schedule, because it is not going to happen by accident. You need to be very deliberate about this. To start, plan on setting aside 30 minutes every day for your devotional time. The amount of time is only a suggestion; don’t get fixated. Remember it is not a formula, but a relationship.
A Method to Consider:
Ask God when He would like you to meet with Him. Write down when you believe He would like you to have your appointment together. ___:___ to ____:____ AM/PM
2-3-2 What is That?
2: Means worship God by listening to TWO Christian worship music songs and/or singing praise to God. Check out some of the member's profiles here on TheNET. Many have uploaded lots of good worship music. Worship is important because God loves it! Worship sets our hearts and minds in tune with God. Remember it is all about a love relationship with Him! Don't skip this step!
3: Means read THREE chapters (or more) of the Bible. Tell God you love Him and ask Him to help you understand, learn from, and speak to you from His Word, the Bible.
If you wish, use this Daily Bible Reading Plan (this will be at least three chapters). The Daily Bible Reading Plan is a PDF file you read, save and print using Adobe Reader. If you don’t have Adobe Reader, you can download it free. You may print the reading plan for quick reference.
You can read the Bible online or use a printed copy. For English users, we recommend the New International Version or the New Living Translation because generally they are easier to read and understand.
Print out the Bible Reading Highlights Record (also a PDF file). Try to answer one or more of the eight questions listed at the top of the page. (You can print additional pages as necessary and keep all your devotional insights in a notebook or folder). You may also want to write what God is teaching you every day in your blog. That way other believers can benefit from what you are learning!
2: Means talk with God, thanking him; and asking him TWO questions about what you read, asking for help for others and yourself or about anything else as you would your closest friend.
OK, so have you scheduled your quiet time with God yet? God is waiting to meet with you!
Growing together with you!
LT
TheNET Coordinator
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Sharing Grace
LeAnn Rice
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Five years ago I took a spiritual gifts test and failed! Well, in my mind, I failed.
I had high hopes that the test would confirm that I have the spiritual gift of wisdom, discernment, evangelism or mercy. You know...a good, useful gift. A change-the-world kind of gift. I was crushed to discover that I do not possess any of what I perceived as "good" gifts.
Since I was sure I knew myself better than this silly test, I took it again. I ended up taking the spiritual gifts test five times! Sadly, each one confirmed that I was stuck with the frivolous gift of hospitality. Seriously? I wanted to be a wise sage and soul-winning evangelist, not a hostess!
Shortly after my testing marathon I read today's key verse. Reading it a second time, my eyes lingered over the words "whatever gift." It doesn't say, "Only those with the gift of leadership or evangelism go and serve." As I pondered this verse I realized that as a body of Christians we could not accomplish nearly as much if we all had the same gifts. I embraced my gift of hospitality and God showed me He could use my ability to create a fancy meal or decorate a beautiful table to make others feel special. I can administer God's grace through what I thought was fluff!
What gift(s) has God given you? If you haven't yet determined your spiritual gift(s), spend some time thinking about what you do well, what hidden talent you may have, and what you have a passion for. Ask your friends what they think your talents are.
Then ask God how you can use these gifts to share His grace with others. If you are a musician, consider playing at a local retirement center or soup kitchen. If you love to scrapbook, consider organizing memories for someone who is unable to do so. If you have great computer skills, consider helping women at a shelter put together resumes or teach computer skills to help them secure a job.
I have learned that my "frivolous" gift of hospitality is not so frivolous after all. Extending hospitality, simple or extravagant, is a tangible way to share God's love and His grace with family, friends, co-workers, and strangers. My prayer is that every day God will provide me with new opportunities to use the gifts He has bestowed upon me for His kingdom and for His glory.
Dear Lord, thank You that You have gifted each of us differently. Help me discover the gifts You have given me so I may use them to administer Your grace to everyone around me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
1 Corinthians 14 >> New American Standard Bible |
1Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? 7Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. 12So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
13Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Instruction for the Church
20Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21In the Law it is written, “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord. 22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
26What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 36Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?
37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
39Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.Welcome to
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