A Picture of Growing in Christ, Part 6 - Let’s Get Practical

March 10, 2022 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments

Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement

In this series, I have been painting a picture of what a healthy, growing Christian looks like. At the center of spiritual health is the commitment to the ordinary means of grace offered in the weekly worship of the church. This habit is supplemented by personal commitments to the Word, prayer, and body fellowship throughout the week. So far, I have focused on the biblical grounds, or reasons, for these commitments. Before we consider the next level of commitment, let’s think about what these first commitments practically look like in a healthy, growing Christian’s life. 

A healthy, growing Christian is committed to the ordinary means of grace. A few weeks ago I wrote about the posture of reception that undergirds this commitment. This posture includes humility, longing, and diligent effort. These inward qualities may manifest themselves in different ways in different people. But let me highlight some ways a posture of reception may be seen in us. First, we would come to church on a Sunday morning expectant to receive grace through the worship, prayers, ministry of the Word, and communion. We go to church to receive grace, not to critique, evaluate, or judge. Second, we would prioritize in our schedules the weekly gathering of the church. This includes our habits of preparation on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. We would want to be prepared mentally and physically to engage with the means of grace. Even while on vacation, attending church on a Sunday morning would be a priority. Third, in line with our fourth membership vow, we would support the worship and work of the church to the best of our abilities. If we value Sunday morning worship, we would want to serve every person who comes into our doors, to the best of our abilities, to help them receive the maximum benefit of the worship service as well. This includes everything from a friendly, warm welcome to setting an example of engagement in worship to volunteering with children’s ministry. These are just three ways a commitment to the ordinary means of grace would manifest itself in our lives. 

What about a commitment to the Word throughout the week? A healthy, growing Christian is committed to living by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4). It is our daily spiritual bread. If you have been around Oak Hills for a while, you know that I am a huge proponent for daily Bible reading. The psalmist sets the example in 119:97, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” I like to ask the question, what conjunction should go between those two phrases: because or therefore? “Oh how I love your law because it is my meditation all the day,” or “Oh how I love your law therefore it is my meditation all the day”? The answer is both. The more we love God’s word, the more we will read and study and meditate on it. The more we meditate on God’s word, the more we will love it. It starts with a commitment to read it on a regular basis. There are dozens of Bible reading plans, not to mention dozens of apps for your phone to help you. Find one that interests you and fit it into your schedule. As you read, begin to take time to study, mediate on, and memorize Scripture. 

In addition to a personal commitment to be in the Word on a regular basis, I would encourage you to study God’s word with others. Not only do we benefit from the accountability, but we also gain more insight into God’s word from this interaction with others. The Bible studies and Sunday School classes we offer at Oak Hills can serve you in this way. Or you can make your own arrangements with one or two others for regular study of God’s word. Like I said a few weeks ago, we make time for that which we value. This commitment to being in the Word on a regular basis starts with valuing the Word of God in such a way that we are like the blessed person of Psalm 1, who “delights in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.” 

Next week we will talk about some practical ways we can be committed to prayer and body fellowship.

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