3 Reasons You Need A Strategy For Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth doesn’t just happen.

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You and I need a strategy for spiritual growth. But some Christians act like planning, strategizing and systems are ungodly. They seem to think that if we’re led by the Spirit, there will be no plan or system. We’ll just “flow in the Spirit” without any thought to where we’re going and how we’ll get there.

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Indeed, the Bible says the Spirit is like a wind, and we don’t know where it’s going:

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 NIV)

What’s misunderstood is that Jesus was not saying we shouldn’t have strategies and plans. He was saying that we should allow planning to be Spirit-directed. Then we must also allow the Spirit to alter our plans when He desires.

But since many don’t plan, what often seems to happen is people don’t mature in their faith. This is a problem needing to be overcome and described by another depiction of wind: “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14 NIV)

Here are 3 reasons you and I need a strategy for spiritual growth:

1. Strategies answer the question: what’s next?

In most of life, we have strategies that have been clearly laid out to tell us what to do next in order to achieve our aims:

• In school, we know what is next through the tests, grades, assignments, deadlines, and graduations.

• At work, we have what’s next clearly designed for us.

• In athletics, we have coaches to give us guidance for the steps to take for a winning strategy.

Likewise, we need to know what is next for spiritual growth. If not, we’ll flounder.

Carolyn’s and my good friend Lisa Sales was led to Christ by a fellow student in college she had never met. He was given an assignment to share The Four Spiritual Laws booklet with a student before the next day.

So late in the evening, in order to complete the next step in the strategy, he asked Lisa if he could share the 4 Laws with her. When she learned that God loved her, tears flowed. She prayed to receive Christ and today is a partner, along with her husband Carlos, in a ministry called Reaching the Hungry.

A wonderful conversion happened because Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) had a strategy for “what’s next!”

2. Strategies give us motivation.

As illustrated in the story of Lisa, strategies for spiritual growth also keep us motivated. If we don’t know what’s next, we can easily lose motivation to make progress.

When a person becomes a Christian, often they’re simply told something like this:

• Go to church

• Read your Bible

• Pray

• Give

• Serve

These are great spiritual disciplines, and certainly God’s will for every believer. But some kind of strategy is needed to go with them, or else there is little motivation. When we have a Bible reading strategy, a prayer plan, a giving strategy and a plan to discover and use our spiritual gifts, we have increased motivation.

Earlier in my Christian life, I remember the thought of praying for 5 or 10 minutes seemed daunting. What would I say? What was I supposed to do? I tried, but would quickly run out of things to say.

But after receiving some training in prayer, I now have no problem praying for more extended times, oftentimes for hours. I wrote about this process in my free eBook 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth.

You can get it free when you subscribe to my email updates HERE.

3. Strategies are easily reproducible.

McDonald’s hamburgers are known around the world. Why? Because Ray Kroc saw the success of the McDonald brothers’ strategies and that they could be multiplied in many other locations with an ever-greater effect and financial profit.

The McDonald brothers (Richard and Maurice) founded McDonald’s, but later sold their name and portion of the business to Kroc who built the McDonald’s empire. It could have been the McDonald brothers who developed the  business. But apparently they didn’t have the vision to reproduce in multiple locations resulting in a faulous return.

Whether you like McDonald’s hamburgers or not isn’t the point. The point is that strategies are reproducible and if utilized, can result in remarkable returns for the Kingdom.

What’s needed in the Christian community is to discover strategies for disciple-making and then begin to reproduce them in making disciples of others.

Jesus’ commanded: “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21 KJV) Jesus reproduced Himself in the Disciples and then expected them to reproduce in others through the strategies He had used.

Knowing the importance of having a strategy for spiritual growth is why we’re creating Discipleship Journeys with Jesus. Please go to our website HERE to learn about us. Subscribe to our updates to keep in touch with developments of our materials (strategies) for spiritual growth by clicking HERE.

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What do you think? Are these good reasons to have a strategy for spiritual growth? Are there other reasons why you need a strategy for spiritual growth?

Your thoughts are welcome! Please leave your comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• The Goal of the Great Commission is Disciples

• Podcast: What’s the value of 1 to 1 discipleship?

• The Power of Mentoring

• Video – the Great Commission is for ALL Christians

• How to Rely More on the Spirit for Life and Ministry

• Podcast: Is it necessary to pray to be filled with the Spirit?

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3 Ways To Win When You’re Sidelined

When cast aside, we can still overcome.

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When I was sidelined in Jr. Hi School in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, it was a most humiliating experience. In 7th grade, I was a wiry 13-year-old. I decided to play (American) football for our school. The coach had a “no cuts” policy, so everyone stayed on the team. But I had never played organized football before. Everybody else seemed to know what to do. I had no clue.

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When our first game rolled around, I was scared that the coach would put me in the game. The problem was, I didn’t have know what I would do if I was in the game. It would have been a disaster. He never did put me in the game—I was sidelined from the start.

To make matters worse, my father came and watched the entire game. Afterwards he lamented that I never got in the game. I never admitted how relieved I was that I didn’t!

Other times I’ve been sidelined in other ways and for other reasons. Sometimes it has been awful. I wanted desperately to be in the game, but wasn’t allowed. Perhaps you have had similar experiences. It might be an illness, a family challenge, a decision at work, or something else that keeps us sidelined.

Recently while studying the life of the Apostle Paul, I thought about how he was sidelined by unjust imprisonment for years and what he did to make the best of it.

Here are 3 ways to win when you’re sidelined:

1. Refuse resentment.

Because of his witness for Jesus, the Apostle Paul was in prison in Caesarea Maritima for two years (Acts 24:27). After that he was transported by ship as a prisoner to Rome—a journey of many months. And then he was a prisoner in Rome for another two years (Acts 28:30-31).

During his imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote about how he witnessed to everyone he could, including the prison guards (Acts 28:30-31; Philippians 1:12-14). He penned the letters of Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, and the personal letter of Philemon. In each of these letters, Paul stated that he was actually a prisoner of Christ and for His glory (see Philemon 1:9; Ephesians 3:1; Philippians 1:13; Colossians 4:18).

For example, in Ephesians 3:1b he wrote “I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .” (NLT)

If you’re sidelined, remember that God is still in control. God even takes mistreatment such as Paul’s, and turns it to good. Therefore, like Paul, we must refuse resentment.

If we resent our situation, we only make the situation worse. Had Paul despised and loathed his imprisonment, he could not have accomplished the works he did in prison, which we’ll consider next.

2. Remain faithful.

No matter how we’re sidelined, we must remain faithful to serve God in our situation. This is what Paul did and as a result, his imprisonment was perhaps the most productive time of his life. Why? Because the books of the Bible Paul wrote while in prison, over the centuries, have touched far more people than Paul ministered to personally while he was alive.

Furthermore, Paul wrote about his imprisonment in Rome:

Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News; so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ; and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.” (Philippians 1:12–14)

So many people were blessed by Paul’s witness while imprisoned. Regarding his stay for two years in Caesarea Maritima, we read that Paul was often visited by the Roman governor Felix and witnessed to him and his wife personally (Acts 24:23-27).

Paul remained faithful despite being sidelined. The same should be true of you and me. Let’s be faithful when sidelined. It is quite possible, that in the end, we too will determine that the period when we were sidelined was one of the most valuable and productive times of our lives.

3. Rejoice always.

Paul continued to rejoice, even when sidelined for years. His most joyful writing was in his letter to the Philippians, which he wrote while imprisoned in Rome. Over and over Paul wrote about the joy he had, despite being sidelined (Philippians 1:4, 18, 25–26; 2:2; 3:1; 4:1, 4, 10).

In Philippians 4:4 he gives this command, “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, ‘Rejoice!’”

Paul definitely practiced what he preached. He had genuine joy, even while imprisoned.

But how could he have joy while chained to a Roman guard on trial for his life? In a nutshell, he had joy because through the power of the Holy Spirit he chose joy. He found reasons to rejoice and be thankful in the midst of his sidelining and difficult circumstances.

Some time ago a book was written titled, Happiness is a Choice. I can attest to the truth of its title: joy is a choice I make each day. Sure, sometimes it is exceedingly difficult. But it beats the alternatives: discouragement, dejection and sorrow.

When I am sidelined or face other challenges, I give myself some space to grieve, which is healthy. Then, I choose to rejoice, no matter what, even in the midst of my challenges. And when I rejoice, my rejoicing results in joy.

In summary, when we’re sidelined, respond in these three great ways:

• Refuse resentment.

• Remain faithful.

• Rejoice always.

How have you responded when sidelined?

Your thoughts are welcome! Please leave your comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• How to Grow Through a Season of Loss 

• How to Overcome the Agony of Discouragement and Find Hope Again

• Four Steps to Climb Out of a Pit of Depression

• How to Handle the Death of a Loved One

• How to Renew Your Mind and Think More Positively

• Having Just One Person to Please Brings Peace

• How to be Smarter About Failure in Life

• Seven Ways to Pray When Suffering

• Can a Christian take medications to help brain chemistry? (Podcast)

• Is it OK to be angry with God? (Podcast)

• Why Aren’t My Prayers Answered? (Podcast)

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

How To Receive Biblical Correction And Guidance

It’s hard to do.

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It is usually hard to receive biblical correction and guidance. While we should be happy and thankful to receive it, most usually aren’t. Why is that? Probably because of our pride and wounded ego. When a student at Talbot Seminary, I was interviewed by a reporter from our school newspaper. He wanted to learn and report on my time as an intern with speaker and author Josh McDowell.

But by the end of the interview he proclaimed, “You know what. You have a problem.” I didn’t want to hear what he had to say, because I was pretty sure he was telling me I was prideful and arrogant. He never ran the story. It was embarrassing.

A few years before that I was confronted about the way I was talking. I was saying “Hallelujah” in a flippant way. A fellow student confronted me with the fact that the word hallelujah is derived from two Hebrew words: praise and Yahweh or God. I was, in effect, using God’s name in vain and therefore breaking one of the 10 Commandments.

In both of these cases I was not happy to receive biblical correction. But in retrospect, both were doing me a service.

On the other hand, sometimes I’ve been confronted with accusations that were off-base and even unbiblical. Some people just want to cast aspersions, put others down or start an argument.

In a recent article, I shared about How to Share Biblical Correction and Guidance.

In this article, I’d like to share about the other side of the coin.

Here are three ways to receive biblical correction and guidance:

1. Be thankful for it.

As mentioned in my last article, for most people it is not pleasant to confront a friend. I never enjoy it. But in love I try to do as Scripture instructs and share Biblical correction when needed.

Because it’s not easy to do, when someone has the courage to lovingly confront us, we should be thankful.

“Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:6 NLT)

By being thankful, I mean being thankful BOTH inwardly and outwardly. Inwardly, I remind myself that a friend has done something to try to help me. Outwardly, I try to say something like, “Thank you for having the courage to share that with me. I will give it careful consideration.” Or, “I’m grateful that you would care enough to share that with me.”

Of course, sometimes anger flares up and my first response is not gratitude, it is frustration and righteous indignation. In those moments, I have to say a prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to help me control my emotions.

Early in ministry I was confronted by some of the people in our little church plant. I got mad and responded in anger. Later, when I talked with my mentor, Bob Logan, he helped me realize I had done the wrong thing. I swallowed my pride and apologized for my un-Christ-like behavior.

Unfortunately, when I apologized, the woman abruptly hung up the phone on me! I was surprised and hurt by such a rude response to my apology. Later I realized that her unkind response wasn’t my responsibility. As long as I did the right thing, I had done all I could do.

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18 ESV)

2. Pray over it.

Often our immediate response when we receive biblical correction is more emotional than rational. Like in the story above, we want to lash out in anger and frustration, rather than a careful and considerate response.

The answer is to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about the situation.

Sometimes I’ve said something like, “Thanks for your observation and challenge. I will pray over it and seek guidance from the Lord about what to do.”

Why pray about it?

First, because we need the Lord to soften our heart to receive biblical correction and guidance.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV)

Second, we should pray because we need wisdom from on high to know how to respond.

“And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” (1 Corinthians 2:12 NLT)

3. Mine the nuggets of gold from it.

Here’s what I believe: “In every criticism there is a nugget of gold that we can mine from it.”

“In every criticism there is a nugget of gold that we can mine from it.” | CLICK TO TWEET

We might think that a criticism is 100% unfounded and untrue. However, we can still mine some gold from it, even if the only nugget is to understand how we are misunderstood.

As a young pastor, I was accused of being unloving and uncaring. Ouch! I was flabbergasted. I felt the accusation was totally untrue. How could someone even suggest that?

But I came to realize that what they were telling me is that somehow I was not showing my love and care. I was perceived as unloving and uncaring. Therefore, my gold nugget was that I needed to show my love and care more. It was a helpful revelation.

I’m not suggesting that looking for a nugget in every criticism is easy. In fact, it is often very hard to receive unfounded criticism and find the gold nugget in it. The way we can do so is to humble ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” (1 Peter 5:6 ESV)

It is often helpful to consider what percentage of the criticism is true. I might say to myself, “I think that criticism is about half true, or 75% true, or only 10% true.” Then I thank God for whatever truth is in it and move on. I weigh the importance of the part that is true and seek to respond accordingly.

Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.” (Proverbs 25:11 NLT)

How have you responded when asked to receive biblical correction and guidance?

Your thoughts are welcome! Please leave your comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• How to Share Biblical Correction and Guidance

• How Can and Should a Christian Apologize?

• What is the Worst Sin in the World?

• How Reluctant Leaders Become Confident Achievers for God

• How to Find Confidence in a Critical World and Stay Humble

• 6 Strategies to Handle Insults Without Becoming a Doormat

• How the Curse of Comparison Crushes

• How to Conquer the Curse of Comparison

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth