In worship we discussed keystone habits that effect other areas of our lives. These are the foundational disciplines that set the tone for our continued growth. In this week’s GPS Guide you will be invited to try different exercises that could be used as foundational disciplines to spiritual growth. These disciplines will be centered around activities that could be repeated daily or on a consistent basis. Read more…
Grow, Pray & Study Guide: Next Level Living, Week 3
Our hope at River City is that you grow daily in your walk with God! One way to do that is to spend time with God every day. This Grow, Pray and Study Guide (GPS) is just one easy way to connect with God on a daily basis.
Written by Rev. Brandon McGinnis
Monday
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Philippi. You can almost hear his genuine care and affection for this church he helped start. He shares with them that they can “make his joy complete by being like-minded, being one in spirit and mind”. Being a parent of two children I understand these sentiments. I want my children to be together in all things. I hate when they fight, bicker, wrestle over toys, or claim that things are not fair. Here again in this scripture Paul is pleading and reminding this small close group of believers that they are in fact united, and now they should start acting like it. Read more…
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Grow, Pray & Study Guide: Next Level Living, Week 2
Our hope at River City is that you grow daily in your walk with God! One way to do that is to spend time with God every day. This Grow, Pray and Study Guide (GPS) is just one easy way to connect with God on a daily basis.
This week our GPS guide is a little bit different. We will be working our way through Matthew 5 and also some of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. If you have never worked the steps in your life they can be life changing even if you have never had a drink in your life. A true self-examination is a powerful way to grow in your walk with Christ! Some of the steps will be combined into one day because 5 does not equal 12. Here is a link to the 12 Steps. Read more…
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Three Simple Ways to Exercise Your Faith in 2017
Well, we are a few days in to 2017! How are those New Year’s Resolutions going? I hope they are going well, but I also know that the next couple weeks are critical for them to make it past the January threshold. Whatever your goals are I hope that they possess two qualities: consistency and simplicity. I think these qualities are essential for lasting results. Consistency leads to goals becoming our new adopted lifestyle and simplicity helps us to stay focused. When it comes to your New Years Resolutions remember your new year’s KISS: Keep it Simple Stupid is the best advice I ever received!
Simplicity and consistency are also important in our walks with God. I truly hope that you have set some goals for 2017 in your spiritual life. I also hope that God is a part of every goal that you set because God needs to be central in every area of our life. If you would like to grow in your walk with God in 2017, I offer you three simple steps that if you do them consistently (daily) I know it will produce long lasting results.
Pray Daily
Earth shattering stuff right? This might not be a new suggestion, but I’m amazed at how many Christians I talk to that tell me they don’t have a daily time of prayer with God. It normally is because they don’t know what to do or where to start. I always encourage people to just start somewhere by adjusting something you already do in your daily routine. For example, if you drive to work and listen to the radio, spend the commercial time in prayer with God. If you like to journal then write out your prayer requests and keep track of them. If you work out, dedicate a set or so to prayer. One set could be asking God to work in an area of your life. Another set could be listening for God’s response. If we want to be close to God we need to consistently communicate.
Read the Bible Daily
I know…I just blew your mind with that one! The Bible is a book that is alive in the Christians’ life if we decide to actually open the book and read! Doing this consistently allows the scriptures to speak to us in times of need. Again the question is “where do I start?” I’d encourage you to start with reading a chapter from the book of Psalm and Proverbs. Did you know that there are thirty-one chapters in the book of Proverbs? Did you know that a lot of months have thirty-one days? That is a Proverb a day! Once you get this habit down add a chapter from another book of the Bible that you want to read. If you are new to the Bible I’d suggest the book of John. Don’t read Leviticus or Numbers just yet….
Serve someone daily.
What we experience in our prayer and bible study times with God needs to overflow into our interactions with others. God offers you opportunities to care for the people around you. Do you take those opportunities? I’d challenge you to look for ways that you can serve your family, coworkers and even people you don’t know. Your faith comes alive as you serve consistently.
I’m sorry if this post didn’t blow your mind, but lets be honest: Going to the gym or living on a budget isn’t that mind blowing either. Small acts done consistently over time produce amazing results! A great resource of consistency is the book The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.
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Grow, Pray & Study Guide: Next Level Living, Week 1
Our hope at River City is that you grow daily in your walk with God! One way to do that is to spend time with God every day. This Grow, Pray and Study Guide (GPS) is just one easy way to connect with God on a daily basis.
Monday: Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes are a reverse of the value systems that people have had throughout history. In many cases people feel blessed based off what has happened to them in the past or present. Jesus is saying that you are “blessed” because what will happen to you. Read more…
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