How the Bible Guided Me at a Crossroads
Jeffrey A. Metzger shares seven biblical principles for discerning God’s direction when life presents two good choices and the path forward is unclear.
Discipleship & Spiritual Formation
Discipleship & Spiritual Formation focuses on becoming more like Jesus through lifelong growth in faith, character, and obedience. Explore Bible-based articles on following Christ, spiritual disciplines, prayer, Scripture reading, community, and the habits that shape a mature disciple. You’ll find practical guidance for mentoring, accountability, repentance, perseverance, and cultivating a gospel-centered life in every season. Whether you’re learning the basics of discipleship or helping others grow, these resources equip you to form disciples who love God, love people, and live on mission.
February 22, 2011
Romanced by His Words
Janet McMahon reflects on her lifelong love of books and Scripture, describing how God’s Word has comforted, pruned, challenged, and sustained her through every season of life.
February 14, 2011
Breathing Space in the Spiritual Journey
Jan Johnson reflects on journaling as a spiritual discipline that helps believers pray honestly, listen for God’s voice, record spiritual growth, and find rest in God’s presence.
February 13, 2011
Abide in My Word
Brandon Smith reflects on abiding in Jesus’ words, showing how intentional time in Scripture forms disciples over time and changes their condition in Christ.
Reading Scripture with Patience
Mandy Smith reflects on how slowing down with Scripture can help God’s Word dwell deeply, intersect with daily life, and transform a busy heart.
Choosing What You Remember
Brian Giese reflects on the spiritual value of intentional memorization, especially Scripture memory, and explains how regular review can strengthen faith, ministry, and daily Christian living.
January 7, 2011
God’s Word the Life Shaper
Marshall Hayden reflects on how Scripture confirmed, instructed, and shaped his life, centering on John 10:10 and the promise of abundant life in Christ.
November 3, 2010
From the Served to the Servant
Chuck Booher explains how Crossroads Christian Church’s Basic Training program helps new believers grow through Scripture, accountability, community, and hands-on service across the church.
Read a Book!
Matt Proctor encourages Christians to embrace reading as a spiritual discipline, showing how devotional, practical, theological, and biographical books can shape faith and strengthen discipleship.
September 2, 2010
Growing Like Jesus (Intro)
Christian Standard introduces eight essays from contributors and Publishing Committee members reflecting on what has helped them grow intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: The Bad Bounce
Jim Tune reflects on spiritual growth, the weakness of the human heart, and the Christian leader’s need to press toward the cross rather than settle for image management or despair.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Wisdom You Can Touch
By Eddie Lowen (Eddie Lowen was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Lowen, a member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee, is senior minister with West Side Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois.) ___________________ A television commercial for cars.com depicted a fictional young genius named David Abernathy during several phases of his life. In the first scene, as a newborn, David shocked the obstetrician who de- livered him by reaching up to shake hands with him! As a preschooler, David amazed his parents by using graphs and PowerPoint slides to successfully negotiate a later bedtime.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Wisdom from Fellow Travelers
Jennifer Taylor reflects on how God uses trusted friends, difficult people, and honest conversations to help believers grow in wisdom, courage, patience, and spiritual maturity.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Sight and Insight
Pat Magness reflects on a vision problem, high blood pressure, and the spiritual lesson of caring for the body as part of growing in wisdom, stature, and trust in God.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Hearing God Through People
Glen Elliott reflects on how a friend’s hard truth helped him confront his need for affirmation and experience deeper spiritual growth, marriage renewal, and security in God’s favor.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Learning to Obey
By Becky Ahlberg (Becky Ahlberg was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Ahlberg is minister of worship and neighborhood engagement at First Christian Church, Anaheim, California. She serves as a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor.) __________________ The story of Jesus at the temple at age 12 has always fascinated me, but it”s the line just before our “grew in wisdom and stature” assignment that really hits home with me: “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them” (emphasis mine). Many things have led to my own growth
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: No Pain, No Gain
LeRoy Lawson reflects on how grief, loss, and suffering have shaped his spiritual growth, offering a candid testimony that pain often teaches what success cannot.
August 25, 2010
Life in All Its Fullness
Michael Mack reflects on Matthew 11:28-30, showing how spiritual leaders experience the abundant life by coming to Jesus, surrendering to his yoke, and learning from him.
I Was the Big, Dead Tree
Tim Harlow reflects on burnout, Elijah, Sabbath, and stillness, showing how even fruitful ministry can become spiritually dangerous when leaders begin running ahead of God.
NACC Beyond Beyond the Misguided Spiritual Disciplines
Brian Jones challenges guilt-driven approaches to spiritual disciplines, arguing that God often forms disciples through suffering, rebuke, silence, service, and corporate worship.
