Thanks to all the
subscribers to this “Serving and Sharing” blog who responded to my question! I
asked, “How can we avoid – or recover from – a stale, dry, and weak spiritual
life? What works for you that may help others of us? What does the Word of God
tell us about refreshment? I’d like your ideas for ways that Christians might
refresh their faith or even prevent it from becoming stale.”
Jesus often slipped
away to the mountain to pray alone, and He instructed His disciples to “Come
away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while” (Mk 1:35; Lk 5:15-16; 6:12;
22:39-46; Mk 6:30-32).
The video of the sermon
I presented after hearing from you is available here:
Refreshing Your Faith - Cory Collins
Though I did not have
time to share all the responses in that message, all of them are included in two
posts, this one and the other one with the same title. I have edited several,
partly for clarity and partly for anonymity.
• Every morning I say to myself, ”What if this is the
last day of my life?” And I feel that helps me stay grounded in fellowship with
God the holy trinity. I hope it does.
• I find getting involved in a new in-depth Bible study
(KSBS* classes, different Bible class, online Bible study), challenging myself
to dig deep in a particular book of the Bible that I’m not as familiar with /
or haven’t studied in a while. Reading Psalms and personalizing it, and/or
reading the gospels at the same time in as close to chronological order as I
can get. Keeping a prayer journal, especially noting the various ways and means
God answers every prayer. Also, preparing Bible lessons to share with others is
a great way to freshen my faith, you can’t teach what you don’t learn and
practice. *KSBS – Keller School of Biblical Studies
• Take a mission trip. If you can’t take one, help
fund one. Pray for one. Write a missionary an encouraging letter. Make a
list of people who need a visit. Get a partner and see them one by one. Audit a
course at a Christian university. Read a biblically-based book. Start a prayer
journal. Start your own quiet encouragement ministry. Commit to one encouraging
act toward another believer each day. Give yourself permission to go beyond one
per day. Make a list of the 10 most encouraging people you know. Take each to
lunch or do something to spend a bit of time with each of them. Help someone.
Doesn’t matter at what level. Just help someone who needs help.
I like listening to old gospel quartet music while I
research church history and think on how hard it must have been for those who
sacrificed so much in the past.
• Here’s what seems to work for me – teaching. I’m on the
teaching rotation at ___ church, and I teach adults classes as well as a class
for those who are either non-Christians or those new to faith. Teaching
keeps me in the Word. Honestly, when I don’t teach, I tend to get lazy in
my quite times. Teaching keeps me engaged in God’s word and
continues to challenge me in my Christian growth. However, I do know that most
Christians do not feel qualified to teach (that’s another sermon; teaching has
many, many faces). To broaden the teaching scope, I would expand this
thought to “serving” others. Serving others gets us out of ourselves and
into the lives of others. It takes the focus off of me and places it on
someone else, and for most, that feels really good and gives the sense of
purpose. Eph. 2:1-10 provides wonderful encouragement on the mercy, grace
and riches of God, reminding us we were “created for good works”.
• There
are several ways that I try to keep a fresh faith: regular Bible reading and
study, fellowship with other Christians, and working in various church events,
such as leading in Bible camps and youth activities. However, the most
effective way to keep a constant faith is prayer. My faith is never stronger
than when my prayer life is at its best. Prayer keeps me in tune with God
directly, and puts my faith in Him above all else.
•
Have Bible studies
with other Christians so we can be strengthened by the Word and each other.
Being involved in evangelism. Seeing others being transformed by the gospel is
the biggest one in my opinion.
• I
have found that teaching 6 months on and 6 months off (to study) works very
well. Going on mission trips with other members will inspire growth and also
cause you to count your blessings.
• I
take Sunset classes for credit to ensure I’m in the word deeply, always
learning and growing. I grow tremendously from men who mentor me and men whom I
am now mentoring. These relationships include personal evangelism studies with
friends, coworkers, and neighbors; men from support groups; and men from
church. The power for me comes from fostering deep, transparent relationships
that go beyond the small talk, sports, and politics to our most intense
struggles. Being in the trenches of the battle ensures I am always being
stretched and maintain awareness of the reality of the spiritual warfare all
around us. I seek out people who have specialized knowledge like Christian
counselors, successful evangelists, and worship leaders and glean whatever I
can from conversations with them. I take advantage of intensive training
opportunities like Singing Schools and hymn writing workshops to grow in skill
and ministry.
• When
I get “Spiritually Dry” I do a study of the miracles and parables of Jesus. I
also read Philippians to pep me up.
• Two
things — I sing hymns and other Christian songs. I have difficulty memorizing
Scripture locations but can sing practically any song a leader might select
without needing a book. It encourages me to really know and think about the
words. Also, I often think about Christians in North Korea. The nature of the
country fascinates me (in a sad way), and makes me “get with it,” realize how
good I’ve got it and how much has been given so much is required.
• Truly
the Word, read it, calms my soul and refreshes it at the same time. I am
so thankful for the Bible and how it has everything I need for life.
• 1.
It takes conscious effort. I get so caught up in day-to-day work that it’s
quite easy to lose perspective. That’s why going to worship is so important. It’s
why being conscious of the significance of communion is so important. 2. Read
the Bible. It’s amazing what’s there when I dive in. 3. Pick your friends
carefully. Solid Christian friendships will feed the soul. 4. Don’t forget to
pray. It is probably the most refreshing thing I do. 5. Get out in nature. I
spend too much time cooped up inside at my desk. But when I get out in Percy
Warner Park and take a walk, the evidence and beauty of God is all around. Those
are just some simple thoughts that came to mind. I hope it helps.
• I
keep a constant response of thanksgiving to God for various wonderful ways He
has blessed me - for the beautiful morning, the gorgeous colorful plants I have
growing on my patio, the beautiful butterflies that have been drawn to my
yellow flowers. And I thank God continually for the answers to prayer I have
received - that my sons love God, love their families, and are using the
talents He has given them in their church congregations. If I receive a prayer
request, I immediately go to God in prayer for that person or for a family. I
praise God continually for the blessings my families bring me. --- When my
oldest son was 4 or 5, one of our dogs got out and couldn’t be found. My son and
I prayed that God would help us find Marty. Afterwards I prayed to God that his
answer would be “yes,” that Marty would be found and that would help build my
child’s faith and love for God. Two weeks later, some men mowing the fields
north of Addison Airport in Dallas found Marty in that field, a long way from
home. They responded to the ad we had placed in the newspaper, and we got
Marty back. He was hurt but was taken to the vet, and he recovered. We all
praised and thanked God for His answer to our prayers. I am so very thankful
for the strong faith my sons have in God, and for the faith they are instilling
in their children, my wonderful grandchildren. --- I try to have Bible
reading and continued thanksgiving to God. These are essential to keeping me
focused on God and my faith. Looking for ways to help others and/or encourage
others.
• One
of the best ways to keep faith from growing stale and to stay alive in the Lord
is through teaching the Good News to others. There are few experiences more
satisfying, more invigorating, than to be a part of someone’s conversion, to
look anew at the faith through the eyes of someone who is just now discovering
it. Being on the front line of the gospel keeps us sharp spiritually, helps us
deal with the real-life issues that others are facing, and helps us to give the
proper value to the precious blood which purchased our salvation at so great a
cost.
To be continued in Refreshing
Your Faith – “Survey Says!" Part 2.
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