Spiritual Growth / Sanctification and Growth

  • When Anger Destroys

    1 Samuel 25

    Uncontrolled anger is not merely a vice that can be overlooked. Instead, it can destroy lives, and we all know people who have impacted their futures for ill because they could not control their tempers. Sin always creates damage in ...Read More

  • Be Angry, Do Not Sin

    Ephesians 4:25–32

    It is easy for us to think we are being righteously angry when we are really just manifesting unjust ire. It is also easy for us to get so wrapped up in a righteous cause that we forget to pray ...Read More

  • Getting Angry at our Enemies

    Proverbs 25:21–22

    When Scripture speaks of doing good to our enemies, it is focusing on the common, everyday interactions that we have with other people. This teaching is less applicable in cases of physical violence or wars between nations, although even seeking ...Read More

  • Submitting to Earthly Authorities

    Romans 13:1–7

    Those who are under the authority of others are not allowed to wait for perfect leadership before they honor their supervisors, parents, church elders, and other leaders. Insofar as our leaders do not command us to do something God forbids ...Read More

  • The Fourth Commandment

    Deuteronomy 5:12–15

    In one sense, all of life is worship (1 Cor. 10:31). At the same time, however, it is fitting that we set aside time to gather with God’s people to remember His salvation and to thank Him for ...Read More

  • Honoring God’s Holy Name

    Isaiah 8:13

    Fundamentally, revering God as holy means trusting His promises and obeying His commandments. In other words, we must recognize first that He is holy and that we are unholy, and we must rest only in His Son, Christ Jesus, in ...Read More

  • The Third Commandment

    Deuteronomy 5:11

    In a culture such as ours, we easily fall into the trap of speaking of God irreverently. Even preachers can sometimes fail to give the Lord due reverence in their preaching and teaching, which is why they must take care ...Read More

  • The Second Commandment

    Deuteronomy 5:8–10

    As finite beings who still suffer the presence of sin, we cannot bear to see God face to face. Such a vision will be our privilege when we are glorified (1 Cor. 13:12), but until then we have to ...Read More

  • Idolatry Defined

    Philippians 3:19

    Anything or anyone can become an idol in our lives because whatever we love more than the Lord is, by definition, an idol. Because our hearts are idol factories, as John Calvin taught us, we are all continually tempted to ...Read More

  • Loving God by Loving Christ

    Matthew 10:37–39

    Adherents of other religions may do many good deeds in the name of God. They may even think that they are praying to Him when they beseech the Creator. But in doing all these things, they are really committing idolatry ...Read More

  • Wholehearted Love and Service

    Deuteronomy 10:12

    The Westminster Shorter Catechism tells us that man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Yet to glorify and enjoy Him, we must know Him as He is in His holiness, sovereignty, and love. We must ...Read More

  • Love for God and Neighbor

    Matthew 22:34–40

    Love of God and love of neighbor are connected. We cannot love God rightly if we do not love our neighbors, especially our fellow Christians, and we cannot love our neighbors rightly if we do not love God (1 John ...Read More

  • The Law of God

    Exodus 20:1–17

    In recent years, there has been a lot of controversy in the United States as to the placement of the Ten Commandments in public. In all of this rancor, however, we should never forget that the commandments should first be ...Read More

  • Guided by the law

    Matthew 15:1–9

    Under the old covenant, the covenant community was enslaved to sin and, therefore, burdened by God’s law. In contrast, we live under the new covenant, the era in which God has poured out His Holy Spirit abundantly. If we ...Read More

  • Faith and the Law

    Hebrews 11:6

    We have a duty to do what is good, which means that we have a duty to do the right things for the right reasons. Although we should do right even when we are not motivated by faith and God ...Read More