Have you ever noticed that funerals and celebrations of life often paint a portrait of perfection, almost saintlike? Here’s a different way of thinking about sainthood.
Collection of Blog Posts - Small Groups, Bible Study, Community, and Transformation
Welcome to the Working to Live Differently blog on finding, becoming, and living in Christian community. My goal is to show how to encourage personal and community growth through a process that looks like this:
- share honestly with yourself, God, and other people
- connect with God and people
- build and become part of a group with a sense of belonging
- learn and grow through Bible study and Bible doing
- inspire others and be inspired
- share your experiences (successes and failures) to continue the process of connecting, belonging, and growing
Blog posts include how-to articles and reflections on leading small groups, developing friendships, building community, studying the Bible, and achieving personal and group goals. I also write on developing physical endurance, which I believe offers insights into spiritual endurance and perseverance while giving us a way to connect with people, God, and ourselves.
“When Did We See You?” Thoughts On Noticing and Responding
Jesus calls us to take care of our brothers and sisters when they’re hungry and thirsty or have other needs. If taking care of others doesn’t happen reflexively, here’s how Jesus’s love can flow through me more naturally.
Grace and Generosity Aren’t Fair and That’s Good
Practical understanding of grace means accepting generosity, even when it seems or looks unfair.
How I Learned to Offer More, Especially When Not Asked
In Luke 6, Jesus says we should give people what they ask for and if someone takes without asking, we should offer more. This statement seems odd, as if we should reward someone for bad behavior. Here’s how this command can unfold in real life.
Nothing to Prove Book Review
Nothing to Prove by Jennie Allen encourages Christians to embrace that we’re not enough but God is. The book is filled with stories from Jennie’s life, including struggles and insights from leading IF:Gathering. Its experience guides contain activities to illustrate how concepts work in real life.
What to Do When You Are Stuck: Lessons from Jesus and the Lame Man
Are you stuck? Are you hardworking but unproductive? You’re not alone. Consider how a turnaround might feel and what it will look like.