The lack of spiritual vitality within the churches today is truly astonishing, but not surprising. When the Spirit is domesticated and relegated to a line on a creed, what else could occur but spiritual lethargy- This is part one of a brief series addressing this issue. I begin with the absolute necessity of Spirit-birthed regeneration.

Is Jesus precious to you- Many systems of theology present Jesus as a means to another end. And many Christians treat Jesus as distant relative, a very important relative, but distant nonetheless. It is a precious faith, meaning a faith that esteems Jesus as precious that produces joy unspeakable and full of glory. Anything less is nominalism and sterile, lifeless religion.

The greeting of Christ on that first Easter evening of -Peace be with you-- was not a casual greeting. It was a declaration that His death and resurrection had purchased for them the peace of the eschatological kingdom to be experienced in the present moment.

The Christian life is about moving from death to life, from hate to love, from misery to joy,and from fear to peace. This series teaches you the basis upon which peace is yours in Christ.

In this third lecture on spiritual formation, Rick Peterson addresses the basis for unity and maturity within the church, as well as the prevailing obstacles. The church is the venue for spiritual formation and must be itself a well-formed venue for it.

Many today have grown weary of the superficiality and emptiness within the local church. They love Christ and do find fellowship with some Christians, but they have decided to be done with the church as it functions in America. Here is an understanding exhortation to pray and stand strong in your discernment.

This is the second in a series addressing the serious need of recovering genuine spiritual formation in the church.

There is a near universal absence of genuine spiritual formation in the church today, meaning there is an absence of Christlikeness in believers. This message is the first in a series on this topic and includes a personal testimony as to how disastrous it is to live without such formation.

Recovering spiritual formation and genuine Christian spirituality for daily life.

The world has its version of Christ which is in truth an accommodation to worldly spiritual and cultural alliances. Jesus stood apart from the popular religious and cultural alliances of His day, and so must we as well.