Skip to main content

Growing in Grace: A Self-Assessment - By Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
The Apostle Peter drew his second letter to a close with these wise and pastoral words: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). Beloved, this is an exhortation from an elder brother in Christ, and it’s also a command. The word “grow” is in the imperative mood which means that it’s a directive. Peter is saying to people he loves very much, “Forsake the fading pleasures of this world and make every effort to pursue Christ” (see 1 Peter 1:5-11).

Over the last few weeks we’ve looked at growing in Christ in a number of ways, discussing eight essential habits that create an atmosphere of growth in our lives. These habits do not, in themselves, cause us to grow in Christ, but they are tools and fertilizer in the hands of the God who does cause us to grow. We considered the Word of God, praise, prayer, fasting, giving, community life, evangelism, and mercy ministry. These disciplines are to help us in the quest to understand what our Father is asking of us and why, and in the effort to apply his wisdom to our lives by the grace and power of Christ. Those who hear and do the will of God will be blessed indeed.

For this week, I want to encourage you to search your heart before the Lord and discern the ways you need to grow at this time of your life. Use the Growing in Grace: A Self-Assessment found in the bulletin. Take some time to be alone with Jesus as you reflect. Pray, honestly fill out the assessment, and then ask the Lord which areas you should work on right now. I pray that the Lord will do a great work at Glory of Christ as we grow together in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I read and meditate on the Bible each day
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Agree
Strongly
Agree



I offer praise to God in song each day
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Agree
Strongly
Agree



I talk to God about many things each day
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Agree
Strongly
Agree



I regularly fast to seek the Lord and intensify my prayers
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Agree
Strongly
Agree


  
I daily offer my time, talent, and treasure to the Lord
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Agree
Strongly
Agree



I am fully engaged in the life of the body of Christ
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Agree
Strongly
Agree



I regularly share my faith with unbelievers
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Agree
Strongly
Agree



I regularly seek to touch needy people with the love of Christ
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Not
Sure
Agree
Strongly
Agree






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Secret of all Failure is our Failure in Secret Prayer

By
“We may be assured of this—the secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer” (12). So writes the anonymous author of the classic little book on prayer entitled, The Kneeling Christian (Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids: 1971). He means that the reason we so often fall into sin or live in discouragement or fail to bear fruit is because we do not cling to God in Christ above all things. We do not diligently seek him or lean on him or plead with him or draw on his strength. We give ourselves to busyness over communion with God and in this way we seek to accomplish in our flesh what can only be accomplished in the power of the Spirit.  Giving first place to what our dear author calls “secret prayer” is indeed a key to the Spirit-filled life but let’s be clear: prayer is not magic, rather, it’s a relationship. It’s not as if we simply have to file requests with God, being careful to use just the right words so that we can get him to respond as we wish. God is not a vending m
Post a Comment
Read more

Deacons - How They Serve and Strengthen the Church (Part 1)

By
  One of the next important priorities for GCF is to establish deacons in the life of the church. On March 14, 2021 we were able to establish an elder team. Currently, we have a team of four elders overseeing the congregation of GCF.  However, there is more work to be done. I have come to see that establishing an elder team was the bare minimum that needed to happen for GCF to survive. I believe GCF now needs to turn our attention to raising up a team of qualified and willing deacons to serve the congregation so that it will not only survive but thrive.   I would like to begin a series of blogs on deacons to help us understand who they are and what they do in the life of the church.  In this blog let me provide three reasons why I think deacons should be near our top priority.  Number 1: It is Biblical. Paul instructs Timothy to install elders who will help him pastor the church. For whatever reason, it seems the churches in our circles treat the installment of elders as non-negotiable
Post a Comment
Read more

Does the Doctrine Divide? by Patience Griswold

By Anonymous
“Oh, I try not to talk about doctrine. It’s so divisive.” This is a sentiment that I’ve heard expressed, as well as implied, on many occasions, and one that raises the question, does doctrine divide? In answering this question, we must keep in mind a very important truth and that is that everyone holds to some sort of doctrine . “Doctrine” is defined as “a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.” Regardless of whether or not someone publicly holds to a statement of beliefs from a particular church, every Christian, by definition, holds to a particular set of beliefs. As Carl Trueman observes in his book The Creedal Imperative ,       [W]hile Christianity cannot be reduced to doctrine, to mere teaching, it cannot be meaningfully separated from it, either. Even the most basic claims, such as “Jesus is Lord,” carry clear doctrinal content that needs to be explicated in a world where, as we have noted before, every heretic has his text and n
Post a Comment
Read more