Kirjahaku

Put Yourself in the Path of God's Grace This study guide is designed to help you connect more deeply with the three crucial power sources for the Christian life: hearing God's voice (in the Bible), having his ear (in prayer), and belonging to his body (in the fellowship of the church). Created as a supplement to the book Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis, and intended for individual and small-group study alike, this 31-day resource includes relevant Scripture readings, discussion questions tied to specific sections of the book, and prompts for applying each lesson to your everyday life. Rehearsing and reiterating key practices outlined in Habits of Grace, this study guide will equip you to stay focused on the gospel as you cultivate your own specific life-transforming habits aimed at keeping you connected to the grace of God in Jesus.

Hear his voice. Have his ear. Belong to his body. Three seemingly unremarkable principles shape and strengthen the Christian life: listening to God's voice, speaking to him in prayer, and joining together with his people as the church.

David Mathis Examines the Qualifications and Calling of Church Leaders for a New Generation of Congregants and Leaders We live in an age increasingly cynical about leadership—some of it for good reason, much of it simply the mood of our times. Still, the risen Christ continues the counter-cultural work he’s done for two millennia: he appoints leaders in his church—not as a burden, but as a gift to his people. “He gave . . . the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:11–12). What is the nature, calling, and work of local church leadership? Pastor and seminary professor David Mathis considers the elder qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 not only as prerequisites but as daily necessities to carry out joyfully. This accessible guide aims to serve current and aspiring pastors and elders, as well as church members who want to know the expectations for their leaders and how to pray for them. From the words of Christ to Peter and Paul and Hebrews, the New Testament casts a vision for church leaders that is good news to churches and leaders alike: joyful workers for the joy of their people. Great Training for Current and Aspiring Pastors and Elders: Expands on the nature and work of local church leadership through the framework of its qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Titus 1:5–9, and other passages Useful for the Whole Church: Aims to help full-time pastors, lay elders, deacons, and seminary students, as well as church members eager to explore the true nature of leadership in the church and to pray intentionally for their own pastors Explains 15 Virtues Church Leaders Should Pursue: Mathis shares Spirit-given competencies that Christian leaders can draw upon week in and week out to do the work to which Christ has called them

A Pastor Looks at Physical Exercise and Its Potential to Serve Spiritual Life and Joy We live in an age dominated by screens. For many, life is sedentary, and it’s become increasingly difficult to prioritize physical activity. Quietly conformed to this new normal, they feel sluggish and unmotivated. Others, however, have become entangled in a fitness culture that prioritizes the self, fuels pride, and coddles idolatry. Is it possible to make exercise holy? A Little Theology of Exercise explores how stewarding our bodies can serve the soul, honor God, and bless others. Combining biblical texts with practical guidance, pastor and author David Mathis encourages readers to embrace modest exercise as a way to deepen their knowledge and enjoyment of Christ and then reflect his love in the world. By placing Christ at the center of physical training, readers will discover a greater joy in exercise and an even deeper joy in their relationship with God. Christ Centered: Demonstrates how effective body stewardship serves the soul, fostering the ability to know and enjoy Christ better Balanced: Helps readers embrace new healthy habits while navigating the challenges of sub-Christian motivations Timely: In our sedentary age, this resource spurs physical movement and aims to enrich spiritual joy Written by David Mathis: Bestselling author of Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines

Our God is lavish in his grace. He's free to liberally dispense his goodness without the least bit of cooperation or preparation on our part, and often he does. But he also has regular channels through which he pours out his favor. These are sometimes called "spiritual disciplines" or "means of grace." We as Christians can routinely avail ourselves of these revealed paths of blessing, positioning ourselves to go on getting as God keeps on giving. His regular channels of grace are his voice, his ear, and his body--the Bible, prayer, and fellowship. The greatest grace along these paths is knowing and enjoying Jesus himself. HEARING GOD'S VOICE The fundamental means of God's ongoing grace, through his Spirit, in the life of the Christian and the life of the church is God's self-expression in his Word, in the gospel, perfectly kept for us and on display in all its textures, riches, and hues in the external written word of the Scriptures. The Bible is for us. The whole Bible is for the whole church. There's simply no replacement for finding a regular time and place, blocking out distractions, and letting your mind and heart be led and captured and thrilled by God himself communicating through his objective written words. As you read, learn to linger over a text, whether seeking to better understand it ("study"), or to emotionally glory in that understanding ("meditation"), or to memorize a portion to help renew your mind throughout the day. As we understand and engage with Scripture's meaning, we refocus our souls for living out our day. We increasingly "have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) as we're conformed to his image. HAVING GOD'S EAR As we go deep in God's revelation, taking it into our very souls and being changed by his truth, we respond to him in prayer. God not only bids us hear his voice; he wants to hear ours. Prayer, for the Christian, is not merely talking to God, but responding to the One who has initiated toward us. He has spoken first. This is not a conversation we start, but a relationship into which we've been drawn. Prayer makes its requests of God, but is not content to only receive from God. Prayer must have him. Prayer is ultimately about having more of God. Private prayer shows who we really are spiritually. It's essential in healing the many places we find ourselves broken, needy, lacking, and rebellious. Prayer changes hearts like nothing else. It's for all of life, and especially for our life together in community. Praying together adds power to the request, but also means more glory for the Giver when he answers. BELONGING TO HIS BODY We were made to worship Jesus together. Corporate worship is the single most important means of grace and our greatest weapon in the fight for joy. More than any other means, corporate worship combines all three principles of God's ongoing grace: his word, prayer, and fellowship. In corporate worship, our focus together is the crucified and risen Christ and the incomparable excellencies of his person and work. We experience the secret of worship--the joy of self-forgetfulness--as we become preoccupied together with Jesus and his manifold perfections. In our gatherings for corporate worship, hearing the fresh preaching of the gospel from the Scriptures is the climactic grace. It's that moment among the assembled church when God speaks most clearly and completely. In faithful Christian preaching, we not only hear about Jesus, but we meet him. The act of preaching itself is a picture of the gospel. As the preacher stands behind the Book, doing his level best to reveal Jesus afresh to his people, our Lord is put on display. When we listen, we realize that what we need is not some boost from a trusted fellow to get us over the wall, but the rescue of the Savior for the utterly helpless. And so Jesus was sent not only to die as the remedy, but to preach (Luke 4:43). Jesus himself is the person the Scriptures most often refer to as preaching. Jesus was the ultimate preacher, but after his ascension, the preaching doesn't disappear. When we turn to Acts in the Bible, preaching is alive and well as ever. The preaching of the Groom Jesus] extends into the life of the church. GRACE WILD AND FREE In considering these means of grace and the habits that help us go on receiving God's grace in our lives, this much must be made clear: These things are never about earning God's favor. God's grace is unmeasured, boundless, wild--and free. Because of it, we're enabled to repent of our sins and to believe God's promises. It is grace to be forgiven of sinful acts and grace to be supplied the heart for righteous ones. It is grace that we are increasingly "conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29), and grace that he doesn't leave us in the misery of our sin but pledges to bring to completion the good work he has begun in us (Philippians 1:6). This flood of God's favor brings us his forgiveness and our adoption as his children. It starts us on the path of grace-empowered effort and initiative. Have you taken the first step on this journey?