One day Jesus told a parable about a man who scatters seed on the ground, then simply goes about his daily routine. Mysteriously, as he sleeps by night and rises by day, the seed sprouts and grows, even though “he himself does not know how” (Mk. 4:27). The Lord presented…
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Five Ways to Grow, Part 4: Grow Physically
The apostle John wrote to his friend Gaius, “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 Jn. 1:2 NKJV). Even though Gaius was doing fine spiritually, it seems he had some physical concerns. John’s realism about the subject shows…
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Five Ways to Grow, Part 3: Grow Relationally
One of the most unusual verses of the Bible is Luke 2:52: "Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." How could it be that He increased in favor with His neighbors in Nazareth? Was He imperfect in some way when He was younger?…
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Five Ways to Grow, Part 2: Grow Financially
“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise.” -Proverbs 6:6 Our focus in this series is on Christian growth. Previously we looked at the importance of growing morally, and now we add the valuable message that we should grow financially, too. The word “consider” in the…
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Five Ways to Grow, Part 1: Grow Morally
When children see the doctor for a check-up, one of the first things the medical staff does is measure their height and weight. If there is no growth, something is wrong, and a lack of growth is often an early indicator of a more serious health concern. As God’s children,…
