Every week, while I am in front of the Church, I look out and see three groups of people. 

One group is engaged. I love those people. They have their Bibles in print, or they follow along with their digital version. Sometimes they have notebooks. Often, they lean forward and listen.

Another group is distracted and frequently disinterested. The topic may not apply to them. They may stare out the window or at their phone. I use every tactic in my arsenal to get their attention because I know they are listening, but I am not connecting.

The final group is already asleep, or I watch them slowly nodding off. Most of the time, I recognize that it is not my fault. Late nights, long weeks, and physical exhaustion take over, and no matter what I say, I will lose them. 

Every week, I work and write the best sermon I am able. I take my sermon preparation very seriously. I pray, read, write, edit, and pray again. I utilize all the tools at my disposal to make the topic relevant and present it in an engaging style. I practice on Saturday night and Sunday morning, doing everything in my power to convey a message that connects.

Then I stand up and people sleep. Every. Single. Week.

I have come to realize that there is very little I can do about it. I am unable to force people to listen. While I strive to present the best sermon possible, I cannot make people hear what I am saying. Part of growing as a believer is not just having the best preachers and teachers, but also having a desire to learn from them. I cannot give anyone that desire.

This Sunday I will preach. Whether you find it helpful to your spiritual journey is up to you. You can engage or you can sleep, the choice is yours.

We need to be clear about why we are serving as part of a Church.  

Some people serve to use their gifts to the glory of God.

Others serve because they have a gift and enjoy using it.

Both groups are part of the Church, and most of the time, I cannot tell the difference by watching. Deciding on your motivation requires some soul-searching and prayer. Ultimately, it is between you and God, but it is an important question to consider.

One leads people to praise God, and the other to praise you.

Following Jesus isn’t easy.

There are moments when life tries to push us off course. Doubts creep in. People disappoint us. Culture pulls in the opposite direction. But as followers of Jesus, we have made a decision: we will not be deterred.

Nothing will stop us from growing in our faith. Not setbacks. Not opposition. Not even our failures. Jesus called us to take up our cross daily and follow Him no matter what comes our way.

We keep our eyes fixed on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We move forward, step by step, day by day, knowing that every small act of obedience matters. No matter how hard the narrow road becomes, we are not turning back.

Let trials and struggles come. We are undeterred. We know who walks beside us. And we know where we’re headed.

As followers of Jesus, we’ve all encountered people in our faith circles who appear less committed or engaged. Jesus refers to these people in the book of Revelation as “lukewarm.” Those people who attend church but avoid deeper commitment, or those who haven’t yet rooted their lives in God’s Word. It can be discouraging, especially when we long to see spiritual growth in our friends and family.

The reality is that each person’s relationship with God unfolds uniquely. While some believers establish strong roots quickly and consistently bear spiritual fruit, others require more time, patience, and genuine friendship to flourish. Instead of allowing frustration to take hold, God invites us to respond with compassion, understanding, and kindness.

When we choose grace over judgment, we reflect the patience Jesus showed to His disciples when they misunderstood or doubted Him. Sometimes, our genuine care and consistent faithfulness provide just the encouragement someone needs to take their next step.

Let’s commit to praying for these fellow believers, welcoming them warmly, sharing our own stories of growth, and demonstrating the profound joy we’ve discovered in Christ. We might be amazed by what God accomplishes when we choose to love deeply, meeting others exactly where they are in their journey.

Every time I walk a family through funeral planning. My mind is struck by how enlightening this time can be for people.

A funeral service has a unique way of cutting through the noise of our daily lives. As we sit surrounded by grieving family and friends, we are confronted with the undeniable reality of our mortality. The life of the person we’re mourning, once vibrant and full of activity, is now over.

And in that space, a profound shift occurs. The things we once thought were so crucial suddenly lose their luster. The size of the deceased’s home, the brand of their clothes, the items they collected, and the trophies achieved are utterly meaningless in the face of eternity.

Listen closely to any eulogy, and you’ll notice what’s missing. No one celebrates how much someone owned or earned. Instead, we honor their compassion, integrity, generosity, and the relationships they nurtured. We speak of lives touched, communities served, and love freely given.

A funeral, while deeply painful, can serve as a powerful and necessary reset. It forces us to pause and evaluate our own lives. Are we chasing after fleeting treasures that will one day turn to dust? Or are we investing in things that will last for eternity?

In the end, it’s not about what we had, but who we were and whose we are.

Most people who embrace faith share a common desire: they want their lives to reflect God’s purpose. They long to see genuine transformation in their thoughts and actions, becoming the kind of spouse, parent, colleague, friend, and Christian that honors the Lord.

If this resonates with you, I offer one simple piece of advice: focus on the small things. Profound transformation happens not through grand gestures, but through consistently choosing small acts of faithfulness.

Read one chapter of your Bible a day. Spend a couple of minutes in prayer each day. Allow someone in front of you in traffic with joy. Sit at the front of a Church program so that latecomers can have a seat at the back. Open the door for someone else. Pick up a piece of trash whenever you think, “someone should do something about that.”

These small actions serve as training for your heart and mind, gradually reorienting you toward God and others. They’re like spiritual exercises that strengthen your capacity for love and service.

When I observe someone engaging in these quiet acts of faithfulness, I recognize the evidence of God’s work in the hidden places of their life. Conversely, when these opportunities are consistently overlooked, it often signals a heart that remains closed to growth.

The beauty lies not in the size of the action, but in the faithfulness behind it. Small steps, taken consistently, create the pathway for God’s transforming work in our lives.

One of the most freeing realizations in the Christian life is this: your spiritual journey with God is uniquely yours.

It’s easy to look at others, such as pastors, mentors, friends, or even online influencers, and assume your walk with God should resemble theirs. Maybe they wake up at 5 a.m. to read Scripture, or they seem to have an unshakable prayer routine, or they’ve had dramatic conversion moments. You might feel like you’re behind, out of step, or even failing.

But your story with God was never meant to be a copy-and-paste experience.

God knows your background. He knows the wounds you carry, the culture you grew up in, the personality He gave you, and the journey you’ve already walked. All those shape how He speaks to you, leads you, and forms you more into the image of Christ.

Yes, we share the same Savior and the same Gospel. But how God meets us, teaches us, and refines us will look different for each of us.

Some grow through stillness. Others through action. Some walk through years of silence before a breakthrough. Others feel God’s nearness from the beginning. Some stumble often. Some walk steadily. But every path is sacred if it’s drawing us closer to God.

Don’t despise your path. Don’t rush it or compare it. Walk it faithfully. God is writing a story in you that’s like no one else’s, and it’s beautiful.

Helping others is at the heart of Christian love. But what if our good intentions don’t actually help?

Recently, a group of kind-hearted people offered to assist me with a project. Their willingness to serve was genuine and deeply appreciated. The problem wasn’t their heart; it was the approach. Instead of asking what I needed, they jumped in with how they thought they could help.

It reminded me of an important truth: Helping isn’t about what makes us feel useful; instead, it’s about what benefits the other person. Sometimes the best thing we can say is, “Tell me what you need,” and then do that without adding or altering the plan.

Serving others like Jesus means humility, patience, and the willingness to follow, not just lead. Let’s be people who not only offer help but do it well.

Never underestimate the value of doing small things for others.

Buy a coworker their favorite drink.

Send a text to a random contact and let them know you’re praying for them today.

Offer to take a picture for the couple trying to get a selfie.

Smile.

Offer an encouraging word to an elementary student.

Give a special treat to someone, like Starbucks or Crumbl, just because you can.

There are a thousand thoughtful things you can do if you open your eyes to the people around you.

You will never know the amount of joy you bring to someone with small, thoughtful actions. I know this is true because of how these things have affected me. And you know I am right.

Growth leaves evidence. When a child grows taller, the pencil marks on the bedroom doorframe tell the story. When someone builds muscle, the mirror reflects the change. When a student is gaining knowledge, test scores reveal their progress.

The same principle applies to spiritual development.

Yet many believers measure their spiritual growth solely by their feelings. While emotions matter, they don’t tell the complete story. True growth, whether physical or spiritual, produces tangible evidence.

Consider this: if your relationship with God is genuinely deepening over time, that growth should manifest in observable ways.

Look for these markers: Has your engagement with Scripture increased? Are you applying biblical principles more consistently in daily decisions? Do you find yourself naturally serving others without being asked? Has your generosity with time, resources, and grace expanded? Are your relationships with fellow believers becoming more authentic and supportive?

Here’s the crucial insight: we often give ourselves credit for good intentions while judging others solely by their actions. But authentic spiritual maturity bridges this gap. When our hearts truly change, our actions follow. The transformation becomes visible not just to us, but to those around us.
Real spiritual growth isn’t just something you feel; it’s something others can witness and experience through your life.