spirituality – Grace Evangelical Society

Don’t Complain About One Another (James 5:9)

April 28, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, one another, spirituality

C. S. Lewis once said, “Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others.” You don’t have to agree with Lewis’s eschatology to know that grumbling is ungodly. Sad to say, James had to warn his readers against it—providing us with another “one another” command: Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the

Should Christians Kiss One Another? (1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14)

April 14, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, ecclesiology, kiss, kissing, one another commands, spirituality

I grew up in a French city where it was customary to greet people with a double-cheeked kiss. At least, that was normal among my French relatives. Meanwhile, my British/English circles preferred a firm handshake or nod of the head—or, if they felt especially informal, a quick hug. I have been studying the many “one

Four Common-Sense Reasons Why Your Prayer Life is Weak

April 13, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Christian Life, James, Prayer, spirituality, wisdom

Being able to pray to the Living God is a fantastic privilege. But having a healthy prayer life can be hard to develop, maintain, and keep fresh over time. Prayer takes discipline. It also takes wisdom. And if you want wisdom for living the Christian life, read the Book of James. It is like the

From Haran to Moriah: Spiritual Growth Takes Time

January 6, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Abraham, spiritual growth, spirituality

I get frustrated at my lack of spiritual growth. But then I think of Abraham. In James 2, we read: Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

You Must Grow Up (Ephesians 4:11-24), Part 2

November 30, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Ephesians, spiritual maturity, spirituality

You must grow up. That’s what Paul told the Ephesians. They should not remain as spiritual children. The question is, how does that growth happen? As I explored in the last blog, Paul said that growth takes equipping. For example, that’s what pastor-teachers are for—not to do all the ministry themselves, but to equip the

You Must Grow Up (Ephesians 4:11-24), Part 1

November 27, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Discipleship, Ephesians, Local Church, spiritual disciples, spiritual theology, spirituality

Those of us who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s will remember one of the most famous jingles in retail history: I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys R Us kid; they got a million toys at Toys R us that I can play with We have idolized childhood, haven’t we? How often

Unlocked to Love

September 1, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Law and Gospel, spiritual theology, spirituality, Tullian Tchividjian

Many teachers avoid legalism in justification, only to endorse it (unintentionally?) in sanctification. That is, they present the Christian life as a series of commands for you to fulfill. Living the Christian life becomes an attempt to fulfill the same “to do” list that was completely inadequate to save you in the first place. These

Worrying at the Red Sea, Part 6 (Exodus 14:15-18)

August 12, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Exodus, spiritual theology, spirituality, worry, worrying

And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed

Worrying at the Red Sea, Part 5 (Exodus 14:13-15)

August 10, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Exodus, spiritual theology, spirituality, worry, worrying

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” And the Lord

Worrying at the Red Sea, Part 4 (Exodus 14:11-12)

August 6, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Red Sea, spiritual theology, spirituality, worry, worrying

Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve