Can Jesus Help Me?
This is a question that many ask when faced with an uncontrollable situation.
The great news is that Jesus is greater than our greatest problems.
In this sermon Chase looks at the account of Jesus walking on the water to understand that Jesus can control the uncontrollable.
This is week 1 of 2 in the series “In the Middle of the Storm”
Writer, Pastor
“‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.’ ‘Someone did touch me,’ said Jesus. ‘I know that power has gone out from me.’”
Have you ever wondered if Jesus is approachable? Does the God of all creation have time to focus on one of His created people?
Jesus was on His way to heal a twelve year old girl when the crowds began to rush Him. With people surrounding him, one woman made her way through the crowd. She was trying to reach Jesus, but could only get as close to reach out and touch his robe. Instantly, she was healed of her uncontrolled bleeding that plagued her for twelve years.
Jesus was heading to an important appointment – healing a sick teenage girl. While Jesus was focused on an important task, he stopped, turned to find the woman who was searching for Him, and ministered to her. His to-do list did not keep Jesus from ministering to someone who was in need. Jesus stopped walking so that this woman would begin walking with God. Once He ministered to the woman, He continued to heal the teenage girl.
This passage shows us two truths: one about how Jesus interacts with humanity and one about how we are to interact with others. First, Jesus is approachable, humble, and ready to meet you where you are. He is not too busy to see you. In fact, He is actively pursuing you. God’s Word makes it clear that, through the Holy Spirit, we can approach the throne of God with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).
Second, we must be approachable to those who are in need. The busyness of life cannot keep us from slowing down to meet people where they are at. The child pulling at your jacket for your attention, the friend who sent you a text message, or the parent who stops you at the grocery store to chat are examples of people who are asking for your attention and to be seen. Don’t view these as distractions from your to-do list or schedule but as opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus with your words and actions.
Live It:
Writer, Pastor
“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Are you an impatient person who likes having access to things in an instant?
We love having … but want to give little work and effort.
Somewhere along the way this mentality has skewed the way that we view our spiritual growth.
It is naive to think that growth of any kind can happen with little effort.
There have been plenty of times in my own life where I disengaged from God’s Word because I was over-engaged in other areas of life.
I felt like I couldn’t spend a ton of time in the Bible so I opted to dive into devotion books instead to get an instant dose of Bible content to sustain me as I went back into my busy schedule.
The problem? I spent more time reading other people’s thoughts about the Bible than I did actually reading the Bible.
The busyness of life can interfere with your spiritual growth. Practices, schoolwork, family time, and work demand your attention like a toddler who wants more gummy snacks.
As our schedules fill up with more to-dos, we can fail to prioritize the things that will fill us up. A full schedule can leave you feeling empty.
Bible study is one of the first things to fall through the cracks when our schedules become busy.
This happens to all of us.
The result: Our spiritual passions begin to burn out.
In a 2014 study by Lifway Research they found that 81% of church goers read the Bible less than once per week.
Less than once per week.
I don’t want you to over look this stat. 81% of the people who regularly attend church read their Bibles less than once per week.
Bible engagement is one of the primary spiritual disciplines that help us grow in our faith.
“Bible engagement is the number one spiritual discipline. It is number one because it impacts every other discipline. More than just “read your Bible more!”, Bible engagement is about applying what you’ve read to your daily life.”
Robby Gallaty
In a hope to spark some spiritual growth the church has encouraged people to grow in their spiritual lives by reading devotion books.
Devotion books are written by Christian leaders to encourage Jesus followers and to explain biblical passages in a conversational manner.
[READ: How To Study The Bible: 4 Tips For New Believers]
Devotion books are great tools for spiritual growth, but used incorrectly, will kill your spiritual growth.
How?
There is no replacement for the Word of God.
The biblical authors wrote about the importance of learning from God’s Word and learning from teachers of God’s Word.
In Colossians 3:16 Paul wrote:
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16
In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul instructed Timothy to:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
There is a necessity to be taught by Christian leaders and to engage with the Bible for yourself.
In today’s culture many Christians believe that streaming a sermon, listening to a 3-minute devotional podcast, or picking up a devotion book is enough to help them grow spiritually.
It isn’t.
Devotional content, sermons, and podcasts are supplemental. They are meant to be added to your daily discipline of Bible engagement.
Just like a vitamin, you can’t live on devotional content alone – you need a meal each day.
Jesus said it this way:
It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
Matthew 4:4
Reading a devotion book gives you a false sense of spending time in God’s Word. Sure, there are a few Bible verses sprinkled into the devotion book, but what you are describing is more of a book study than a Bible study.
Nothing can replace the time you need to spend with Jesus by learning from the words of God, praying, and studying.
Failing to engage in the Bible is a recipe for never owning your own faith.
Surface-level Bible study develops surface-level Christians. It is impossible to dive deep into the Bible without opening up a copy of it.
If a devotion book inspires you to dive into God’s Word for yourself, then that book has fulfilled its purpose.
Maybe the content is so interesting that you find yourself opening your Bible to read the verses before and after the one listed in your daily devotional reading. Maybe your devotional walks through a specific method of Bible study so that you learn the tools you need to take your own Bible study deeper. If so, great!
But devotionals are limited in their ability to transform you — God’s Word isn’t.
Our ultimate trust is in the Word of God, not in the words of humans.
Devotionals are written by fallible, sinful people, God’s Word isn’t.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Devotionals may contain inspirational and motivational content, but they lack the power to divide soul and spirit, as Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God’s Word can.
If you are looking for a way to access God’s power, learn His will for your life, or grow closer to the Lord, then you have to go to God’s Word first and most.
That is one of the reasons I created a Bible reading journal along with my new book Doer. My aim is to help people apply the Bible to their lives but I know that can’t happen unless people know how to read the Bible.
Read It. Live It. is a 260-Day Bible Study Journal that walks you through each chapter in the New Testament to help you read, study, and apply God’s Word.
Check out Read It. Live It. and Doer below for special pre-order discounts.
Look for them both to launch on Amazon on March 26, 2019!
Writer, Pastor
Your spiritual growth begins once you become a Christian. But how should you grow spiritually? In this post I’ve listed some of the best books on spiritual growth that I have come across in my studies.
Richard Foster observed,
Spiritual growth is a process called sanctification. Sanctification is being made into the likeness of Jesus. This process is a cooperative work between a Christian and the Holy Spirit that makes you more like Jesus.
“The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deeper people.”
Richard Foster
The Bible instructs all Christians to grow spiritually but each Christian matures at different paces. Jesus desires for His followers to be deeply rooted in their faith.
Below are a few resources I have used in the past to deepen my own spiritual growth. I wanted to pass them along to you. I don’t have any affiliate links in this post – I simply believe in the effectiveness of these resources to encourage Christians to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Here are a few books that I highly recommend so you can gain a deeper understanding of spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, and how to study God’s Word.
A few reminders:
[Read: Which Bible Plan Is Best For Me?]
Books About Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life – Donald Whitney
Drawn from a rich heritage, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life will guide you through a carefully selected array of disciplines. By illustrating why the disciplines are important, showing how each one will help you grow in godliness, and offering practical suggestions for cultivating them, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life will provide you with a refreshing opportunity to become more like Christ and grow in character and maturity.
Celebration of Disciplines – Richard Foster
Dividing the Disciplines into three movements of the Spirit, Foster shows how each of these areas contribute to a balanced spiritual life. The inward Disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study offer avenues of personal examination and change. The outward Disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service help prepare us to make the world a better place. The corporate Disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration bring us nearer to one another and to God.
Ten Questions To Diagnose Your Spiritual Health – Donald Whitney
Are you spiritually healthy or just spiritually busy?
This book’s 10 probing questions will help you look beyond your spiritual activity to assess the true state of your spiritual health and help you on your journey of spiritual transformation. See how the spiritual disciplines―including prayer, worship, and meditation―can take your spiritual health from fair to excellent.
Books About Reading The Bible
How To Read The Bible For All It’s Worth – Gordon Fee
Understanding the Bible isn’t for the few, the gifted, the scholarly. The Bible is accessible. It’s meant to be read and comprehended by everyone from armchair readers to seminary students. A few essential insights into the Bible can clear up a lot of misconceptions and help you grasp the meaning of Scripture and its application to your twenty-first-century life.
Reading The Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture – John Piper
Best-selling author John Piper teaches us how to read the Bible in light of its unique ability to reveal God’s glory in a way that informs our minds, transforms our hearts, and ignites our love.
How To Study Your Bible: Discovering The Life-Changing Approach To God’s Word – Kay Arthur
Now you can cultivate the inductive skills of observation, interpretation, and application and become an active participant in God’s Word. In 15 easy-to-understand chapters, the authors present a systematic approach that includes key words, context studies, comparison and contrasts, topical studies, and more.
This life-changing way of understanding and exploring Scripture reveals the Bible’s message and helps you live boldly and confidently in God’s truths
Devotional Books
New Morning Mercies – Paul David Tripp
365 Daily Gospel Devotionals to lead you to the cross of Jesus.
With Foundations, you can read through all 66 of the miraculous books of the Bible in one year, while still having the flexibility of reading 5 days per week. Along with supplementary devotional content each day, you can experience the miracle of reading and responding to the entirety of God’s Word. By using the H.E.A.R. journaling method, you will be guided through Highlighting, Explaining, Applying, and Responding to passages, allowing for practical application throughout the year-long plan.
Looking for a devotion book that your entire family can walk through in 2019? Foundations by Robby and Kandi Gallaty covers all 260 chapters in the New Testament to help busy believers dive deep into the Bible. They have three books: one for adults, one for students, and one for kids.
Check out the devotions on Amazon: http://a.co/d/6Snx4rT
Watch the video below or search through other content on YouTube or Chase’s Facebook Page.
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