Family Chapel

The practice of generosity is faithfully stewarding God's resources for God's purposes. Generosity is so important because it frees us from the love of money, which actually enslaves us and keeps us from truly loving God or loving our neighbors. We can practice generosity as we give thanks to God, wisely budget our finances, and joyfully contribute to the work that God does through the local church.

The practice of community is sharing life together as brothers and sisters in the family of God. As a practice, community is never just found, but it is always built. As such, the practice of community forms us to become people of commitment. We can aim to build community together especially through exercising hospitality and pursuing reconciliation.

The practice of community is sharing life together as brothers and sisters in the family of God. As a practice, community is never just found, but it is always built. As such, the practice of community forms us to become people of commitment. We can aim to build community together especially through exercising hospitality and pursuing reconciliation.

The spiritual formation of Scripture is to know God and to obey his word. It is relationship building but one that is focused on trust and surrender. In committing to his word, we are like the house built on a solid foundation able to withstand the harshness of life. But one who is not formed by Scripture is one who is set up to fall.

Solitude is intentionally setting aside time and space to be alone with God. We encounter God in our practice of solitude. But that’s not the only thing we encounter. In solitude, we also encounter ourselves as well as our enemies (the world, the flesh, and the devil). But it is our encounter with God that is deeply formative and allows us to honestly encounter ourselves and to victoriously encounter our enemies.

Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food for a set period of time in order to more intentionally focus on God. In our day and culture, we tend to see fasting as something only "serious" Christians do (at best) or as a legalistic asceticism (at worst) - and so, by in large, we tend to ignore this practice altogether. And yet, Jesus assumed that his disciples would fast. The practice of fasting has many formative effects on us, but two major ones are the formation of holiness through self-control and the formation of a deeper hunger for the things of God. As embodied humans, when we actively deny the impulses of our stomach's appetites, we grow in our ability to say 'no' to sinful desires and to say 'yes' to the things of God.

At the heart of prayer is enjoying communion with God as our heavenly Father. More than focusing on the "how to" of prayer, we need to focus on the "who to" of prayer because what we most need in prayer is never what we are praying for, but it is always who we are praying to. Thankfully, what God most delights to give us in prayer is Himself! As such, prayer is deeply formative for us as we enter into that space of being fully known and fully loved by God because of the finished work of Christ. We grow as confident children of God.

At the heart of prayer is enjoying communion with God as our heavenly Father. More than focusing on the "how to" of prayer, we need to focus on the "who to" of prayer because what we most need in prayer is never what we are praying for, but it is always who we are praying to. Thankfully, what God most delights to give us in prayer is Himself! As such, prayer is deeply formative for us as we enter into that space of being fully known and fully loved by God because of the finished work of Christ. We grow as confident children of God.

Excited to start a new series called "Formation" where we will go over several different means of grace and disciplines that God has given to us for spiritual growth and formation. This Sunday, I will kick off the series with Sabbath. This is essential for all of our restless souls, especially with our tendencies to overwork or underwork in many ways. In essence, Sabbath is more than just "rest". It is a means of reinforcing trust, surrender, celebration, and remembrance. But the main goal of a regular sabbath rest is to establish the true inner rest that we all need and that is only found in the person of Jesus Christ. And lastly, we will look at some practical ways that we may practice sabbath rest and establish healthy rhythms.