Spiritual Growth / Service

  • The Discipline of Serving by Donald Whitney

    FROM TABLETALK | June 2011

    Thus far this year in Tabletalk, I have focused on the gospel and the personal spiritual disciplines of the Christian life. the discipline of serving comes next, and I know Most other disciplines sound much more interesting. Meditation on Scripture …Read More

  • Served by God, Serving Man by David Mathis

    FROM TABLETALK | March 2009

    My dad hasn’t been to seminary. He has no formal theological training. Nobody pays him and Mom for their endless hours serving the church. But they could write an article on sacrificial service to the church. They’ve lived …Read More

  • Worthy of Work by Tim Dick

    FROM TABLETALK | March 2007

    Several years ago, my wife and I agreed to coordinate the Sunday evening children’s classes at our local church for the entire summer. Our church often asked for volunteers to do this or they would have to cancel …Read More

  • Rejoice with Trembling by John Piper

    FROM TABLETALK | February 2011

    “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Ps. 2:11–12 …Read More

  • Mercy Ministry by Elliot Grudem

    FROM TABLETALK | December 2010

    Christ has given His church deacons to lead the church in its ministries of mercy. Deacons serve those in the church by ministering to people in their times of need. Though deacons lead in this area, ministries of mercy are …Read More

  • Truly Reformed Theology by Burk Parsons

    FROM TABLETALK | December 2010

    It probably won’t surprise you to learn that no one has taught me more about the Bible and its theology than R.C. Sproul. And it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that no one has taught me more …Read More

  • A Woman Richly Blessed by Starr Meade

    FROM TABLETALK | December 2005

    Imagine a contemporary teenage girl who becomes convinced, without a doubt, that God especially favors her. She knows God will bless her richly, beyond what any other woman ever has known. What does she expect that to mean? Surely God …Read More

  • Don’t Retire; We Need You by Alex Chediak

    FROM TABLETALK | October 2009

    You may have heard that retirement can kill you. Men and women die of boredom, for lack of intellectual challenge, or from the deafening silence that can accompany a spouse’s death. Depressed saving accounts may represent another motivation to …Read More

  • True Greatness by Tom Ascol

    FROM TABLETALK | August 2008

    As Jesus approached His final week leading up to His crucifixion, He spoke plainly to His disciples about the events that were about to unfold in Jerusalem. He wanted them to know that the horrific things that would happen to …Read More

  • What the Needy Need by Richard Phillips

    FROM TABLETALK | April 2008

    Since we live in a fallen world, our greatest strengths have a way of giving birth to our greatest weaknesses. This is why some churches that emphasize a strong Bible-preaching pulpit are less vigorous in ministries of mercy. One inner …Read More

  • Trust and Obey by Kevin Struyk

    FROM TABLETALK | April 2008

    A few months ago, I had the privilege of watching my brother commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. It was a fascinating experience. After three months of rigorous training, my brother’s status changed from “enlisted …Read More

  • A Culture of Sacrifice by David Temples

    FROM TABLETALK | July 2011

    It was October 25, 2007, and the moon shone brightly over the rugged terrain of eastern Afghanistan. Elements of 1st Platoon, B Company (173rd Airborne Brigade), walked cautiously back to their outpost after completing their assigned mission. But unknown to …Read More

  • Christian Exiles by John Piper

    FROM TABLETALK | May 2011

    In a profound sense, this world is not our home. When we are away from our bodies we will be “at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). We are not to be “conformed to this age” (Rom. 12 …Read More

  • The Heresy of Self-Centeredness by John MacArthur

    FROM TABLETALK | March 2012

    Self-centeredness has no place in the church. That ought to go without saying. But from the dawn of the Apostolic era until today, self-love in all its forms has plagued the fellowship of the saints. A classic early example of …Read More

  • Self-Centeredness in the Family by Richard Phillips

    FROM TABLETALK | March 2012

    How can we be so self-centered if we are a Christian family?” This lament has been uttered in virtually every Christian home, and with good reason. Every family, non- Christian and believing, is afflicted with the corruption of sin. Just …Read More