Fertilizer for your Spiritual Life

September 18th, 2009personal growth, transformation 8 Comments

Hey Friends,

If you have ever tried to grow any type of plant or garden you know how  hard it can be. I have met some people with a green thumb, but many more have a brown thumb. Many people can’t even keep a plastic plant going. As I have tried my hand at growing stuff and learned of the difficulty, I have found a great aid. It is fertilizer. No matter what you are trying to grow, fertilizer helps. From manure to miracle grow it is awesome.

God has given us some fertilizers to help us in our spiritual growth. One we will deal with this weekend at FPC is Transformational Teaching. Jesus said in John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life…” Notice the Lord links belief to obedience. This may be a subtle difference in today’s church culture, but it is huge regarding our growth. Today we link belief with belief. That is, we can learn the Bible and not do what the Bible says, and think that is O.K. Where did that come from? Jesus is linked to transformational teaching. Not just information and inspiration, but transformation. We are talking about life change! That is why He came.

What are you doing to fertilize your spiritual growth? Well, you are reading this blog so you are doing something – and you care! What else do you do to cultivate life-changing teaching?  Let me list some ideas for your consideration:

  1. Attending weekend worship and applying it to your life
  2. Bible self-study
  3. Books,  CDs, conferences, radio, TV and others
  4. Podcasts: many are free but just be careful who you listen to – the waters are full of  sharks
  5. Being involved in a small group and application of  what is taught

There is much fertilizer yet few who use it. The Bible says, “In the last days there will be a dearth of hearing.” We have a lot of teaching, but what about hearing and changing? You be the judge of the Miracle Grow you will  use.

Yours to count on,

Pastor

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8 Responses to “Fertilizer for your Spiritual Life”

  1. September 18th, 2009 at 10:41 am
    Patty Walden :-) Says:

    Thank you Pastor Chris!!! The alignment is going to be awesome!!! Our small group had a great study last night, so glad we(Faith Promise) have such visionaries as leaders!!

    Keep it coming…we are listening and hopefully applying!! :D

  2. September 20th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
    Ralph Maylott Says:

    I would love to see a list of the pastors/teachers that are on the web that the staff consider to be biblically sound and that they listen to regularly.

  3. September 20th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
    Rob Compton Says:

    You are what you eat! Good stuff…I will have to check this one out online. Check out Forgotten God by Francis Chan. A great new book about the Holy Spirit.

  4. September 20th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
    Chris S Says:

    Pastor, Awesome message this week. Thanks for the list of books from the staff. One book that has transformed my life and marriage, is “Every Man’s Battle”. I recommend it HIGHLY to any man. They even have a study guide for it!!

    Something I see with “tickling of the ears”, people within churches and groups all over the world often use fertilizers. However, often times, I have noticed the fertilizers they are using come straight from a farm animal. It is for this reason, among others, I am glad to be a Theophilus of Jesus Christ, through the leadership of Faith Promise.

    Thanks to you and the staff for constantly challenging us to experience God in a deeper and better way.

    Love ya!

  5. September 20th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
    Dee Says:

    Pastor
    I am confused here I have been reading your blog for about a month and I have noticed that you twitter and the twitter today you put “Amazing what happens when God shows up. Exciting Times.” I would think it would be more the other way amazing what happens when We Show up with our baskets full to lay at the feet of our Lord. We never have to worry about him showing up He Will Always be there in a Big way no matter what.It just totally confuses me that you would saying “Amazing what happens when God Shows up” I am not sure if you are meaning that literally or meaning something else when you say that. If you are meaning that literally can you give me scripture that refers to what you are meaning.

  6. September 21st, 2009 at 4:33 pm
    Mary Emerson Says:

    Dear Pastor…Great sermon on Sunday and I appreciate the strong prompting to know and understand our God and His word. Part of my personal growth plan this year was to read a book a month, so the recommended reading list from the FPC staff put together was something I wanted to look at. I remember you saying during the sermon, to be careful what is out there and if you ask someone about an author…and the blood drains from their face…you probably should stay away from that author’s reading. So when I saw A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian D. McLaren on the list, I have to admit I was surprised.

    I know we are a church that wants to meet people where they are at, but allow them to come as they are, however you speak strongly that we don’t want them to stay the same way they came in. You encourage spiritual transformation, not compromise and I believe that this book is not what we are doing at Faith Promise and could lead some people to wrong conclusions.

    McLaren’s purpose throughout the book is clear. He replaces the orthodox view of salvation through Christ alone by faith alone with an eccentric mix of theological elements pieced together from main denominations and even many different religions. He is quoted from his book that his gospel is one “where Christianity and the cause of Christ might not necessarily go together.” Indeed, the author seems to be proud of that fact that he is distancing himself from traditional Christianity and presenting “a generous third way beyond the conservative and liberal versions of Christianity so dominant in the Western world.”

    Please hear my heart; I’m not here to stir controversy, just protection from the “sharks” out there. I love being part of the Faith Promise Church family and agree with mission statement and the direction to be culturally relevant, but we are not part of the emergent church. Don’t you agree?

  7. September 21st, 2009 at 6:04 pm
    Margaret Pina Says:

    I was a first time visitor to FP on Sunday, Sept 20. Your message was good, with great illustrations. You gave a warning of false doctrines and false teachers, yet promote certain “must reads”. I was literally waiting for lightning to strike.I have to agree with Mary Emerson concerning Mc Laren. I believe he brings confusion and is divisive to the church. His message is full of unsound doctrine. I would not embrace his writings, or directives, such as observing Ramadan.

  8. September 21st, 2009 at 9:40 pm
    Dee Says:

    I too do not want to stir controversy I just am trying to be very careful about where I will choose to worship I do not want to get mixed up in the wrong thing is why I asked my previous question about what you meant by God showing up on your twitter. You have said it before on your twitter and I just am not understanding what you are meaning by that. I always have believed he is always there and we need to show up. Can you please explain what you are meaning by this? I am sorry if this is annoying buy I have seen too many sharks and am leary is why I check out as much as I can to be sure no surprises when I come.

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