Spiritual Maturity

Electric vehicles have become more popular in recent years. There are many kinds of electric cars, but only three major types: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric. Plug-in hybrid and all-electric …

We are each building a life. We’re building on a foundation. We each get to choose what that foundation is and at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, …

Angel and I have a nineteen-year-old and a seventeen-year-old. On the precipice of empty-nesting, I’ve been reflecting upon what has worked and what hasn’t worked as I have tried to …

Many people tell me that they want wisdom for decisions, as a lot of people are making really big decisions in life. We’ve all heard of the great resignation, as …

Michael J. Kruger’s book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021) is a wonderful resource for high school or college students preparing to live …

  Christianity is a faith of relationships. This means that we were created to be with one another. From the beginning of creation when God saw that the first man, …

“He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). All who come to God in faith …

Dear Roger, I’m a new Christian, and I have been reading in the Bible about the crowns, treasures, and rewards that Jesus will give to Christians who live God-honoring lives …

Dear Roger, I believe I’m in a spiritual battle right now. What are some things that I need to keep in mind when I’m fighting Satan? Sincerely, Paul Dear Paul, …

  www.ocbfchurch.com. www.tonyevans.com.

Enoch learned to have heaven on earth, so it was an easy transition when God decided to take him right up to heaven. Transitioning to the eternal in death is …

Drs. Roger Barrier and Chet Weld discuss why anxiety and stress are produced by misplaced priorities and worldliness. Get back to the basics.  

THE TRAITS OF A SPIRITUAL CHILD Read: I John 2:12-14 Their sins have been forgiven and they are just coming to know God (I John 2:12-13) The word “know” in …

  Almost every spiritual conflict is fought on a specific battlefield. This is because the Enemy, Satan, only has access to a specific area of our lives where we might …

Humility is not thinking less of yourself or having low self-esteem, it is thinking of yourself less, by thinking of others and God more. As the Spirit of God dwells …

A very wealthy gentleman offered a poor young boy the opportunity to earn some extra money by watching over his home while he and his family went away for a …

Dear Roger,   While I was reading through the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11, the author challenged our faith by describing Moses’ renunciation of the treasures of Egypt in …

Do you ever wish you knew how to make decisions that would help you reach your goals? What if becoming the person you want to be starts before you make …

We live at the intersection of two theologies, two realities. The faithfulness of God is pursuing from the past—SO FAR SO GOD. And the sovereignty of God is setting us …

Dear Roger, I was just reading Romans 12:1-2, where Paul says that total devotion to Jesus Christ is our spiritual worship. I sensed that Paul was talking about a level …

One of my favorite authors, Donald Grey Barnhouse, said, “Love that reaches up is adoration. Love that reaches out is affection. But love that stoops is grace.” Philippians 2:5-11 deals …

Dear Roger,   Please help me understand God’s purpose for my life. It seems that all of us at one time or another ask the question, “Why am I here?” …

 KNOWING GOD FROM THE INSIDE OUT Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:14-19; Colossians 1:9-12   Imagine before we had the Bible, how would we know what God is like. Imagine you lived on …

“I have fought long and hard for my Lord, and through it all I have kept true to him. And now the time has come for me to stop fighting …

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they that build it labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1 KJV “Unless the Lord builds” is a conditional clause. If God doesn’t lay the foundation, …

What plan do you have for your spiritual life? Where do you want to go spiritually? And how are you going to get there? My hunch is that most of …

Introduction Some people have a compulsion to hoard things like collectibles, sentimental items or even garbage. When someone accumulates garbage, that waste attracts insects and rodents, making a bad situation …

Introduction Whenever a teacher in school gave you a test, they never had much to say during the test. The teacher had nothing to say because the test was designed …

By now you have discovered that we who are Christians are surrounded! There seems to always be more who are against us than who are for us. We face the …

Getting The Lay of The Land “The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel…and the …

I never would have believed God could use me! I didn’t grow up in church. In fact, I was an atheist as a young man. I stumbled into a midweek …

SO I SAY, WALK BY THE SPIRIT, AND YOU WILL NOT GRATIFY THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH. GALATIANS 5:16 One of the most dangerous heresies that confronted the Early Church …

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. . . . Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may …

Let’s do a little Bible study together through I John 3:19-4:4. First, let’s look at our passage. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure …

The days of being buried in the church where you were baptized and married are long gone for most. Ours is the age of the McChurch. There are realities embedded …

To call someone a fool is serious business. Jesus warned against it in the Sermon on the Mount: “Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew …

I love to run—with friends, alone, on a trail, anytime, anywhere. I love the challenge and the press of reaching new milestones and levels of exertion, so I know what …

God’s truth must quicken your heart, be obeyed and take root in every part of your life. www.tonyevans.org.

“Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God” (Eph. 6:10-11). Spiritual victory is not passive; it involves the discipline of …

If you have ever tried to walk straight while aboard a ship being tossed by the ocean’s waves, you know how hard that is. The motion around you challenges the …

Yellowed and shriveled up, the sight before me was inconceivable. The cactus looked dead but was flush with flowers. Gently and carefully my coworker moved around the thorns to pick …

The instructions were simple, but I was struggling to actually believe them. “Make sure you transplant the cactus and succulents with dry soil.” Really? These directions confused me because before …

Introduction Certain things hopefully come with age as we grow and mature: more understanding, more wisdom, more responsibility and more expectations. Parents recognize this as they approach their children in …

Introduction Believers should seek to get spiritual clarity through prayer as they listen for God to speak to them. Because of spiritual warfare, we should prioritize our need to hear …

Hebrews 12:27 moment—everything that can be shaken will be shaken. God is shaking false securities and false identities, false assumptions, and false narratives, false idols, and false ideologies. But we …

“He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control], But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].” Proverbs 14:29 …

Revive Our Hearts Day 1: What You’ll Find Between the Covers We’re so glad you have taken the challenge to read the Bible daily for the next thirty days. It’s …

Gideon doubted God’s charge to deliver Israel, but we learn how God made him into a judge, a warrior, and a man of faith. Preached at Chase Oak Church. Plano, …

Paul, in his first epistle to the Thessalonians, clarified further what the concept of “being ready for the coming of the Lord” is all about. He used the same analogy-being …

How well does Jesus know me? Well enough for me to trust Him with my life? The answer is “yes.” In the following verses we will learn that Jesus knows …

Satan has a trap. He wants us to think the word “idol” doesn’t apply to us. However, because sin affects everyone, so does idolatry. As Pastor Evans mentioned, “idolatry is …

Recently, someone asked me if I was familiar with John 14:12 where Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I …

As a celebration for our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary my husband, Gary and I saved, sacrificed, and trained to carry backpacks across Italy on a Eurail Pass.  Now, that Gary has …

Dear Roger,  I’m puzzled. When Jesus said that we are to take up our cross and follow Him, what did He mean? What is the cross, and what does it …

  Dear Roger, How young can you be to ask Jesus to be your Savior? Can a 3 or 4 year old truly believe? Sincerely, Liz   Dear Roger, What …

Dear Roger, All over the world, wars, persecution, plagues and famine are everywhere. People seem frightened, frustrated and angry. I know that we are continuing to face an uphill battle. …

This morning, I’m reflecting on the fact that I’m going to die soon. I don’t know how soon. I don’t know whether I’ll live to be 90 or just have …

Denial is a concept found in virtually every major religion. Various ideas on the practice of self-denial can be found in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and other religious and philosophical …

“Heavenly places” means the “spiritual realm.” When you are under assault, when your life is being shattered, when you are trying to be in the will of God, you have …

Have you watched the pages of the calendar flip by or listened to the tick-tock of the clock counting out the hours year after year, wondering where God is in …

One of the callers on the Intentional Living program said, “I’m a single mom. I’m feeling overwhelmed with life. I’m trying to go to work. I’m trying to raise my kids.” And …

  Dear Roger, We hear a lot about God the father and Jesus the Son but we seldom hear anything about God the Holy Spirit. The subject of the Holy …

Years ago, on the advice of an older and wiser Christian, I began trying to pray through the Psalms once every month. Don’t be too impressed—I seldom make it through …

Part one from the series on biblical interpretation from Tom Terry and Dr. Steve Posey discusses the importance of accurate biblical interpretation and the tools you need to understand God’s …

https://youtu.be/eOGwN-ojAG0

https://youtu.be/jNzyij0DQnM

In Genesis 32:24-32 we find the story of Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebecca and the twin brother of Esau.  After deceiving his brother, Esau, out of his birthright (Genesis 27), …

Everything visible and physical is preceded by something invisible and spiritual. The consequences we are dealing with in our lives, in our homes, in our culture, we are dealing with …

Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He lived and interacted with others at the speed of walking. He had time for people. He was relaxed. However, for most …

Author Larry Stockstill penned this prayer guide as a chapter in Praying for a Christ Awakening by Dr. David Ferguson.

https://youtu.be/XBID9zmq-x0

It is of the utmost importance that believers understand the spiritual authority they possess.  In Ephesians, Paul prayed that the believers would grasp the depth and breadth of their authority …

“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” Proverbs 18:24. MSG   I hired Gary Shrader over the telephone. I was 26. Gary was 24, green and …

Before Christ we are wired to consume. When we meet Christ we are wired to serve. We have been gifted to make a contribution vs. constantly consuming. The eternal consequences …

Dear Roger, I’m not even sure how to ask this question. I am terribly discouraged. I am so overwhelmed with what is happening in the world. I’ve prayed and prayed, …

Pastor John Beeson describes why a local pastor and a local congregation is key to your spiritual growth and well-being: “You have access to the best pastors in America. You …

John Piper teaches a powerful lesson on God’s conditions for answering your prayers. Here’s how to pray more powerfully! “God never ignores his children. He is never too busy. Never …

In the Bible, Jesus tells us a story about two men who built their houses on two very different foundations. While one was built upon the sand with little difficulty, …

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37 We all know that community is important for mental health, but …

In the beginning, the earth was formless and void, but that did not deter the Almighty. He looked into the fathomless depth of its darkness and concluded, “All it needs …

Why is church attendance declining? Why are churches failing? Carey Nieuwhof reveals the hearts of many Christians today. He writes:  SPIRITUALITY HAS BECOME AN INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT First, spirituality is increasingly seen …

My Daddy was an extrovert. He never met a stranger. Dad, a consummate salesman, built a successful construction company from the ground up. Pop was a joiner! He served as …

Sarah is my favorite woman in the Bible. Flawed but faithful, she inspires me to finish my race well. Although I stumble and struggle along the way, I know I will …

Max Lucado teaches that God never gave us leftovers. He gave us His best! “Suppose I were to drop by your house holding a foil-covered saucer. “Hello, friend,” I say. …

Dear Roger, I’ve always wondered what Jesus meant in the Gospel of Luke about taking up our cross and following him. Just what is this cross and how do we …

Do you really know Jesus or simply know of Him? Is He a celebrity crush or Lord of your life? Lisa Bevere writes her observations: “Has there been a person …

I have two sets of parents. Both couples were wed during the Jurassic period (not really). Both were married almost 60 years. I watched each twosome grow old together. One …

How can God use stress in our lives to produce good. How can it conform us to the image of Christ. Randy Alcorn writes: 1. God uses stress to get …

“How do you know the will of God?”  At every Campus Crusade Christmas Conference that was the title of the workshop that always drew standing room numbers.  Because every Christian has wondered …

Many Christians ask me, “Am I sinning if I’m not happy as a Christian?” In answering this question, I’m assuming two things of readers: Happiness and joy are synonyms, and …

Has there been a person in your life you thought you knew, but you really didn’t? Could that person be Jesus? Stay with me as we explore this pivotal question! …

How do you truly live a life filled with the Holy Spirit? Paul teaches to speak truth, make melody, always be grateful and yield in obedience. Preached at Chase Oaks …

Dear Roger, It seems like many people use the phrase, “Don’t judge me,” to justify any sort of behavior. In Matthew 7:1-2 Jesus says, “Do not judge or you too will be …

Dear Roger,   I’ve been doing some studying about our right and left brains and I find it fascinating. I did not find much about the implications of spirituality and …

#1 Thinking of Prayer as a Way to Manipulate God We’ve all done it.  Prayed a certain prayer and then when things don’t turn out the way we want them …

How do we stay emotionally and physically healthy with toxic people around us? Dr. Caroline Leaf writes: “Let’s face it: people can be too much at times. In fact, occasionally …

The most important influence to my pastoral counseling is from David Powlison. Powlison was a professor at the seminary my wife Angel graduated from and has had an indelible impact …

God wants to bless every relationship you have! In John 15:13 Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Deborah Haddix …

What do you want out of your Christian experience? If you’re like most people you might answer that you are looking for peace, strength during difficulties, or even some level …

Is it biblical to pray for yourself? Jesus did! His prayer in John 17:1-5 gives us a model for how we should pray for ourselves. Drew Anderson writes: Jesus starts …

In an age where everyone is looking for alternatives to gathering together, here are 10 things that—helpful as they may be in some respect—aren’t church. If it gets a bit …

Have you ever considered the words of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who, when told by Moses to let Israel go, responded, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his …

Have you ever considered the words of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who, when told by Moses to let Israel go, responded, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his …

Paul teaches in Galatians 5:24 through 6:10 that true spirituality is manifested in a loving concern for others. The crucified life is a life of love and self-sacrifice. Help those …

What myths do you believe about money? If we follow God’s plan, He’ll do more through us together than we could ever do on our own. Message entitled, “Camels and …

“How easy is it for you to handle the stressors of life today? How hard are simple decisions?” A few months back, Josh Reich, pastor at Revolution Church and author …

Scripture says that the Lord left nations in the promised land “to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan); only …

Recently, my loving husband had surgery to remove a brain tumor.  When we learned of the tumor, some doctors were moving fast and some painfully slow.  I experienced two prayer …

“My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you …

Have you ever run away from something, and I don’t mean something that might threaten your life?  I mean, has there been a time in your life when you ran …

Sometimes, saying “I’ll pray for you” is just the Christian equivalent of ending a date by saying “I’ll give you a call.” It shouldn’t be, in a dating situation you …

We must declare war on the version of ourselves we don’t like, we are encouraged to be intentional with our thoughts. Negative thinking cannot lead to a positive life. Preached …

Yesterday, I had the privilege of preaching a funeral for the grandmother of a former elder of the church, a man I count as a Barnabas to me, and a …

Lysa encourages us to persevere when life gets hard:  “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of …

A lot can happen in a year. In Genesis 18, God visits Abraham. While sitting at the entrance of his tent, Abraham notices three men standing before him by the …

What is it in my own life that I need to change or should change?   Change starts by first taking 100 percent responsibility for our thoughts, actions and attitudes.  It …

“Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14  NIV Margaret Feinberg explains why waiting in God’s presence is key to …

Dear Roger, A man in our small group mentioned the seven deadly sins. I’ve heard about them but I’m wondering just which sins they are. Why are they more deadly …

“Count it all joy when you encounter various trials…”  James 1:2  The day had arrived. It was beyond sad. It was solemn, and it was heavy. Without hesitation we were …

You simply cannot go wrong when praying Scripture. To be honest, as I look back over my life of prayer I must admit there have been times when I simply …

No matter how long you’ve been in leadership, it still hurts when people leave your church. It’s somewhat easy to understand people leaving when things are going poorly— when there’s …

The older I get the more intense I feel about this. I think we do things backwards in the Christian church. We do these amazing things for God when we’re …

  Talk to any church leader, and they’ll tell you it feels more challenging than ever to get people to come to church on a Sunday. Even in growing churches …

Is everyone equal in heaven? What does the Bible teach? All people are equal in worth, but they differ in gifting and performance. God is the creator of diversity, and …

Crossroads Birth: “The rich and the poor have a common bond, the Lord is the maker of them all.” (Prov. 22:2) Authority: “The eye that mocks a father and scorns …

Almost everyone tries to develop new habits and make improvements at the beginning of a new year. But by the time March rolls around, most of the diets have crashed …

I wonder if out of reverence for Jesus being divine, we sometimes dismiss his disciple-making practices and think, Well, that’s because it’s Jesus; he’s God. Of course he’s the best people-developer …

Dear Roger, Is there any one thing that I’m not doing now that might transform my prayer life? Sincerely, Brooke Dear Brooke, SEE ALSO: When You Pray for Your Children with …

Dear Roger, How do I know if God is speaking to me? Sincerely, Tom During the worship service, a woman whispered quietly to Julie: “I have a word from the …

A young teenage boy died in a hotel room after an overdose of drugs. The partiers around him didn’t even know he was in trouble until it was too late. Sadly, …

Have you ever heard someone pray, “Satan, I bind you?” Or perhaps you may have uttered such a thing yourself? I’ve heard many people use phrases like this in their …

Dear Roger, I am a new Christian. I attend a weekly Bible study with men who have been Christians a long time. Someone mentioned about spiritual gifts but did not …

Dear Roger,   In our Bible study group last Thursday night, one of our ladies brought up the shrinking middle class in America. “It’s just not fair that the rich …

STOP: Trying to make it happen and get it done. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Ps. 37:7.   STOP: Focusing on yourself, your issues, your …

It is beautifully fitting that Christians gather for corporate worship every week. When we do, we give united expression to our truth-rooted knowledge of the triune God and our treasure-rooted …

Focus on being ungrateful. Compare what you have to people who have more. Pursue temporary possessions over eternal treasures. Develop and attitude of entitlement. Preached at LifeChurch.tv/open. Used by permission.

Any church leader who’s been in ministry for more than a few months has heard different variations of it:   “I’m looking for a church that meets my needs.” “What are …

Abraham’s faith is inspiring.  Chasing the grasslands of Canaan as a nomadic shepherd Abraham was free to survey the Promised Land his family would one day possess.  Catching each vista …

Dear Roger,   My friend and I got into a discussion about whether or not God would actually hurt or punish a Christian. I said, “No. He loves us too …

Learn to be curious, wise, discerning and well-rounded.

We overcome Satan’s schemes when we understand how he oppresses us and how we must defeat him. Here are some clear ways to recognize demonic oppression in your life and …

I believe that one day, my preaching of God’s Word will be called a hate crime. That day may come sooner than later. Look around. The way the U.S. is …

The church is God’s plan to change the world. The government is not the plan. Philanthropy isn’t. The church is. The church is God’s idea of how the Kingdom of …

A journey through grief is complex and confusing.  One way to gauge how well you are dealing with the loss, your grief and your grief emotions is to take an …

Why does Jesus call Pergamum’s church the place where Satan’s throne is?  Revelation 3:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the …

Racism isn’t just the presence of hatred-it’s the absence of love. How do we “neighbor” others? By recognizing our own prejudices, seeking to understand others, and by loving those different …

Here are scriptures to address Satan’s attacks on your mind.   Blasphemous Thoughts –2 Cor10:4-5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, …

Pastor Chan teaches that after the fall, God promises to restore the world to Himself. All of our lives should be lived in light of the new Heaven and Earth.

When Jesus was crucified, the curtain in the temple dividing the Holy of Holies from everything else, was ripped from top to bottom. God said, “That which divided us is …

An entire nation missed Christmas. All of Rome could have shared in the Savior’s birth, but they missed it. That first Christmas was set in a Roman scene. Herod, for …

Four great discoveries are revealed in Romans 6. We have evil natures and have committed sins against a Holy God. While we desire to do well, we always struggle with …

Christian Smith, professor of sociology at Notre Dame, wrote in the most recent Books and Culture a review of six books that deal with the new phenomenon of “adultolescence”—that is, …

  God is not just seeking worship, He is seeking worshippers. He longs for an intimate relationship with you!

We mature spiritually by processing through identifiable stages of development: children, young men and women and spiritual mothers and fathers.

Spiritual mothers and fathers do not see God as distant, inspecting or disappointed. They are intimate with God and have a right view of Him.

Spiritual maturity moves us steadily toward intimacy with God. The greatest tragedy is the Christian who refuses to grow up.

God is the source of all agape love, the essence of His character. Believers, indwelt with the Holy Spirit, have that same capacity.

Growth toward spiritual maturity is a journey into deeper intimacy with the Triune God that produces a reflection of Christ’s love to our near ones and to one another.

Spiritual warfare is part of every believer’s journey to spiritual maturity. As the Word of God dwells in us, Jesus empowers us to resist the enemy and exercise authority over …

The detestable nature of rebellion is contrasted with submission. Pride’s destructive nature is weighed against humility.

Many people presume the Christian life can be compartmentalized. Church is church and work is work. Such a philosophy is a dichotomy that leaves room for the Christian to compromise …