5 Growth Challenges

300819410_8dfff801d5_m Are you looking to grow deeper in your relationship with God?  The challenges below are a great place to start.

1. Proverbs Challenge… Read a chapter of Proverbs each day.  Read Proverbs chapter 7 on the 7th of the month; chapter 8 on the 8th of the month and so on.  Our pastor Chris Aiken does a daily blog commenting on one chapter of scripture and a daily take away from the book of Proverbs.

2. Journal Challenge… Take the Bible reading one step further and keep a journal that you can record your thoughts in.  I like to ask myself two questions after I have read and prayed thought the scripture: 1. What does this say about God? 2. How will I respond?

3. My Story Challenge… Write out the story of how you became a Christ follower in 100 words or less and let me review it. Try use every day language and avoid words that are church specific.  Highlight three things:

  1. Life before you met Christ.
  2. How you met Christ.
  3. How your life is different now.

You can see a version of mine in the “About Me” section of “Meet Jonathan.”  After it has been reviewed take the opportunity to tell others your story and get their input.  Post it on your facebook and myspace profiles.

4. Teach others challenge… I encourage our students to take notes on the Sunday Morning sermon and the Wednesday night message.  Study their notes and then either through intentional study (like an established Bible study) or in regular conversation (“guess what I learned this week”) share what they have learned in a way that teaches others.

5. Accountability Challenge… I challenge our kids to encourage one another with what they have been learning and doing in smaller groups.  I do this by sending out a mass text each asking for prayer requests from those who subscribe and sharing a verse that stuck out to me that day from my daily bible reading (usually from Proverbs since that is one of the challenges).

Resources on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

15813429181 Since hearing about the upcoming Disciple Now at Calvary, many of you have been asking, “What is Biblical Manhood and Womanhood?” and “Where do I find resources on this stuff?”  Here are just a few things that have come across my radar in the last ten years.

A great place to start is John Piper’s book “What’s the Difference? it was written as an introduction to a much larger volume entitled, “Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.”  You can download a free copy (PDF) of the book here.

There is also an official website for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood that is full of free information.  Make sure you check out the resources page.

Boundless a webzine published by focus on the family has compiled a little book out of various articles they have posted over the years entitled, “Guys Guide to Marrying Well.

Of course there is also Men’s Fraternity that was started by Robert Lewis.  Lewis has also written a book for women entitled, “The New Eve.

Specifically for the teenager’s, the Rebellution has a great compilation of resources on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. While you are there check out there blog and their incredible book “Do Hard Things.”

As you will note, each one of these resources is in and of itself a treasure trove of information concerning biblical Manhood and Womanhood.  There are several other great resources out there, but this should be more than enough to get the conversation and thought process started.

Your Partner in the Gospel,

PJ