Darkened Glass Reflections

Tag: spiritual growth

  • Renewal of the Mind by the Holy Spirit

    Renewal of the Mind by the Holy Spirit

    Before a disciple follows Christ, he is conformed to this world. He clings to worldly ideas about human nature, God, the universe, right and wrong, relationships, and virtually everything else that matters. A significant part of spiritual growth is renewal of the mind, as the Holy Spirit changes your thoughts and perspective. This leads to…

  • Lent: A Time of Renewal

    Lent is not just about fasting. It should not be a season for meaningless ritualized self-denial, but a time when we renew our dedication to Christ. This is a prime time for strengthening our devotion to Christ so that we can walk with him throughout the year.

  • Principles of Fasting

    Jesus expects His disciples to fast. In the passage at the top of this article, Jesus did not say, “If you fast.” He clearly said, “When you fast.” For a true disciple, the question is not whether you will fast or not. It is when and how you will fast.

  • Repentance: The Flip Side of Faith

    Spiritually, many Christians try to walk with a faith that lacks its flip side. When I became a Christian, I was told how I could be born again if I simply believe in Jesus Christ and accept his free gift of salvation. I could simply say a quick prayer and be guaranteed eternal life. Yet,…

  • Cheap Grace or Transforming Grace?

    German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer coined a phrase for such a distorted understanding of grace. He called it “cheap grace.” In his classic devotional, The Cost of Discipleship, he spoke of it as preaching “forgiveness without requiring repentance,” offering “communion without confession” and “absolution without contrition.”

  • New Year’s Day sermon

    This is a sermon and article I wrote several years ago, but the message is worth coming back to every year. I considered that the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, was referred to as the “Feast of Trumpets” in the Old Testament. Reflection on how trumpets were used in the Bible, especially the Old Testament,…

  • New Year’s Day: A Time for Change?

    “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the…