Faithfulness Is Usually Not Flashy Scripture (ESV) “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2 Faithfulness is not usually the part people clap for. It is quiet. Repeated. Sometimes boring. Sometimes costly. Often unnoticed. It looks like showing up again, telling the truth again, returning again, forgiving again,…
Dependence Has to Become Practice Scripture (ESV) “Abide in me, and I in you… apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:4–5 Earlier in this journey, dependence meant facing the truth that God is the source and you are not. That was foundational. You had to stop trying to be God. You had…
Reverence Has to Leave the Sanctuary Scripture (ESV) “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23 Earlier, reverence meant putting weight back where it belongs. We needed that. We needed to remember that God is not light, casual, useful, or manageable. He is the Lord, and the…
Holiness Is Not Weirdness Scripture (ESV) “…as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” — 1 Peter 1:15 Holiness has been made strange in a lot of people’s minds. Some hear the word and think it means being stiff, distant, awkward, overly religious, or disconnected from real life….
Purity Is Not Image Management Scripture (ESV) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 Purity gets reduced fast. People hear the word and usually think about outward behavior, especially sexual behavior. That matters, but purity is bigger than one category. Purity has to do with the whole heart…
Renewal Is Not Rebranding Yourself Scripture (ESV) “…be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” — Romans 12:2 Renewal sounds nice until you realize what actually has to be renewed. It is not just your mood. It is not just your energy. It is not just needing a break, a reset, or a cleaner schedule….
Confession Is Agreement With God Scripture (ESV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 Confession is not just admitting you messed up. People admit they messed up all the time and still never really confess. They…
Scripture Is Not Background Noise Scripture (ESV) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105 Scripture can become familiar in a dangerous way. You hear it enough, quote it enough, read it enough, and if you are not careful, it starts becoming background noise. Still true….
Prayer Is Where You Stop Pretending Scripture (ESV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” — Philippians 4:6 Prayer gets talked about so much that we can forget how exposing it really is. Real prayer is not religious decoration….
Worship Is What Your Life Is Already Doing Scripture (ESV) “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice…” — Romans 12:1 Worship is bigger than singing. Singing matters, but if worship only starts when the music starts, then we have made it way too…
