We’ve collected some resources to help Christians and others who seek to grow spiritually.
The Spiritual Growth series is the last section, but first, we must deal with THE most important thing – a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Without this, the best growth will be purely by your own efforts and will not be blessed eternally by God. Those without Christ will be like chaff blown away by the wind or taken to be burned (Psalm 35:5; Matthew 25:41, Psalm 1:4).
In Matthew 11:28-30, we see Jesus’ unique invitation, “Come to Me…Take My yoke upon you…and you shall find rest...”
Isn’t it interesting a yoke implies both having someone to guide and direct us in efforts for a master but when we work for Christ, we experience rest?
Since salvation is purely by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), what is the working under a yoke about?
For that answer, I suggest you visit “Spiritual Growth: Finding God’s Will” – it is something that too many Christians either ignore, underemphasize, or just don’t know. It is both convicting and freeing – one of the beautiful paradoxes of Christianity.
How to be Saved:
God Has a Gift for You – American Family Association’s written and video explanation of the gospel can be found HERE.
Peace with God – a Billy Graham Evangelical Association ministry with written and video explanations of the gospel and live chat. The name tells you what every sinner needs when confronted by the holy God: Peace with God.
Need Him Global Ministries – They offer a written explanation of the gospel and live online chat. You may also call 1-888-Need-Him (1-888-633-3446).
The Bible and Prayer
The God Who Speaks – This resource is currently free for a limited time. Go HERE. This is a DVD or streaming resource. Clarity about the authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of God’s Word solves many problems we face today and in the future.
Exploring the Word – Bert Harper and Alex McFarland help provide an understanding of the core principles of the Christian faith. They answer questions sent in by email or live. They can be heard on weekdays on various radio stations across America, one of the many app downloads, or on past episodes HERE.
Praying through the Bible – American Family Association’s free link allows you to pray through the Bible in approximately three years. It lists the daily Scripture you can read and then each prayer is based on that Scripture.
Seven Ways to Use the Word of God daily: See the blog by Pastor Joseph Parker, “A Skilled Warrior and His Sword” for the seven ways we can more easily incorporate the Word into our lives.
Faith Blogs
The Stand’s Faith blog section – This is the ongoing collection of blogs updated regularly. If you find an author you enjoy, just click the picture or name underneath to see all the blogs they have written across a wide variety of topics.
You can explore all the possibilities HERE, but these are just three relevant blogs from just one month in the "Faith" section from February 2022:
- “Joe’s Interview About Spiritual Maturity” by Dr. Joe McKeever
- “Repentance” by Dr. Matt Ayars
- “Have You Gone Too Far?” by Dr. Ray Rooney
Family Blogs
The Stand’s Family blog section – This is the ongoing collection of blogs updated regularly. If you find an author you enjoy, just click the picture or name underneath to see all the blogs they have written across a wide variety of topics.
You can explore all the possibilities HERE, but these are just three relevant blogs from just one month in the "Family" section from February 2022:
- “Children Who Read the Word of God” by Joseph Parker
- “A Prayer of Protection for Husbands” by Hannah Meador
- “What I Want to Pass Down” by Wil Addison
Engage Blogs
The Stand’s Engage blog section – This is the ongoing collection of blogs updated regularly. They focus on articles relevant to all Christians with an emphasis for Christians in their teens and 20s. If you find an author you enjoy, just click the picture or name underneath to see all the blogs they have written across a wide variety of topics.
You can explore all the possibilities HERE, but these are just three relevant blogs from just one month in the "Engage" section from February 2022:
- “Don’t Separate Yourself From the Church” by Jordan Chamblee
- “What To Do When Faced with Uncertainty” by Hannah Meador
- “There But for the Grace of God Go I” by Chris Woodward
American Family Association’s Other Resources
AFA offers many free resources including those on American Family Radio. If you don’t happen to have one of the radio stations that broadcast these, consider downloading the free app found for many devices HERE. By going to the lineup you can see various preaching and other help in our Christian walk and growth.
Lennae Patrick, Director of the AFA Resource Center, had to think awhile to answer my question of “What would be the top 3 resources you would recommend for Christians who are seeking to grow from the many we have available for purchase?”
The good news is one is free for a limited time and the others are relatively inexpensive. She recommended:
- The God Who Speaks – This resource is currently free for a limited time. Go HERE. This is a DVD or streaming resource. Clarity about the authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of God’s Word solves many problems we face today and in the future.
- Intro to God’s Revelation by Dr. Richard Howe is a six-week curriculum originally designed for Sunday school and small groups. His goal is how God reveals himself with general and special revelation with the history of the Bible. Finally, he addresses how to interpret the Bible in order to apply it to ourselves.
- 100 Bible Questions and Answers by Alex McFarland and Bert Harper is a book of the most common questions they have received over ten years on Exploring the Word. Billed as “Straightforward answers to the toughest Bible questions,” this book can help every Christian grow in knowledge and faith about our wonderful God and His Word.
Spiritual Fitness/Spiritual Growth Series:
God is faithful, Jesus' prayer in John 17:17 continues, and I pray for me (and you) that we all have the wisdom (James 1:5) we need and the courage to act in the most loving way possible that glorifies God so we can be His light and salt for the world. While God put this on my heart to start the series, I know it is not mine. I pray others would write in this series too.
The picture used for the series alludes to John 15:1-17. Jesus, as the sustainer of the world (Hebrews 1:1 – 2:8), describes Himself as the true vine and us as branches. God is described as a vinedresser. Not all branches receive the same treatment. This should be a wake-up call for all of us to grow in love and obedience to God so we may yield fruit.
Our growth is a necessary part as Christians that too many of us have been ignorant about or negligent in doing. See the third blog down or HERE for more explanation of how our spiritual growth connects with sanctification, salvation, and doing God's will. It shook my world in a positive way, as I hope it does yours too.
- "Spiritual Fitness: The Crux" – Seeking God and His will shows you value your soul.
- "Spiritual Fitness: The Lord’s Prayer" – When God gets the glory, the Lord's Prayer can show us how much He cares.
- "Spiritual Growth: Finding God’s Will" – Finding God's will isn't always as hard as some think it is. (Editor's Note: The series was renamed "Spiritual Growth.")
- "Spiritual Growth: Work From the Soul" – I have never regretted obeying God; I have regretted not obeying Him sooner.
- "Spiritual Growth: Let Jesus Intercede" – Christ's intercession continues after our salvation until the time we're fully sanctified.
- "Spiritual Growth: Work From the Soul, Part II" – Mediocrity. It's not a good look for a Christian whether it's the world or Jesus looking at you.
- "Spiritual Growth: Work From the Soul, Part III" – We are here to be worshipers first and workers only second," according to A.W. Tozer.
- "Spiritual Growth: False Insurance vs. Blessed Assurance" – God doesn't want us to deceive ourselves, so He offers help to those willing to listen.
- "Spiritual Growth: Work From the Soul, Part IV" – Letting the Bible guide and define success, work, and all you do requires diligent obedience.
- "Spiritual Growth: Grow Where You're Planted" – God wants us to grow even if we aren't always comfortable with it. Learn the difference between contentment and complacency to better serve God and others.
