Dave Jordan: Winning the Battle of the Mind

Spiritual Disciplines Does Not Violate Grace

Practicing spiritual disciplines for personal growth does not violate grace. When we cling to the practical disciplines given in Scripture, we are growing "in the grace" of Christ (2 Pet 3:18). God promised to strengthen us "in the grace that is in Christ Jesus Tim 2:1), and the tools given to us for growth are a vital fulfillment of that promise. When we strive in the disciplines of His grace, it is an act of faith and humble obedience. Remember, the same God who despises legalism also commands diligent effort to experience growth (2 Pet 1:5). If we seek to grow apart from the means God has given, we will be striving in our own efforts, despite labeling it grace. You can't claim to revel in the glorious grace of God and reject the means by which He bestows that grace. When we detach ourselves from the disciplines God commanded and promised to bless, we are seeking sanctification on our terms. This, of course, will never work. Growth in grace happens only on God's terms.

Adapted from Free To Be Holy - The Liberating Grace of Walking by Faith by Jerry Wragg & Paul Shirley

Top 5 Books for 2025 so far

We are halfway through 2025, and it has been another good year for reading God-exalting material so here are my top 5 books of the year so far in no particular order:

Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God by Jonny Ardavanis

Cultivating Spiritual Growth: Striving for Maturity in Christ by Conrad Mbewe

Fight Like a Man: A Bold, Biblical Battle Plan for Personal Purity by Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne

The History and Theology of Calvinism by Curt Daniel

A Biblical Theology of Climate Change by Darrell Harrison and Virgil Walker

Book Review: A Heart Aflame for God by Matthew C Bingham

The Bible says we are to guard our heart (Proverbs 4:23), workout our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus (2 Peter 3:18), however there some Christians that might look at this and say it sound like we are trying to maintain our salvation because we can lose it.

We are saved by grace through faith, yet we are to make every effort to grow in our walk with Christ. There are some good materials out there that are helpful while others not so much. 

What about getting practical ideas from those who have gone before us, like the Puritans, that can assist us in growing spiritually. To help us grow in that grace of Christ 2 Peter 3:18 addresses. This is what Matthew Bingham addresses in his book, A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation.

Bingham looks at Puritan Piety for how modern Christians can grow in their faith not as a means to gain salvation but as a result of their salvation. Growing in grace is the proper response for all believers. Bingham addresses how the Puritans used scripture, meditation, and prayer as spiritual disciplines. 

One area I really appreciated from Bingham was the area of self-examination. Self-examination may seem like doubting your salvation to some, but it is really not. What Bingham is writing about is we need to examine ourselves to fight against the indwelling sin that is in us. We need to see where our blind spots are at times and that requires examining ourselves. The result of this should lead us to, as Bingham writes, confession, repentance, and a renewed sense of gospel assurance. 

There are some that think that spiritual disciplines are a more modern approach to grow in the faith. I am thankful that Bingham wrote this book showing how the Puritans grew in their faith and that spiritual disciplines are not a new concept. 

I received this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Out of Formation by Gary E Gilley

There is nothing to mature in your faith nor wanting to be disciplined in the faith. However, there are some practices that have crept into the church that have come from questionable source. Some have accepted them as Christian because it has the endorsement of popular Christian authors including those who preach. In his book, Out of Formation: The Infiltration of the Spiritual Formation Movement and Its Impact on Evangelicalism, Gary Gilley breaks down the modern Spiritual Formation movement and shows us true spiritual formation from the Word of God.

In the first part of the book, Gilley addresses the history of the modern Spiritual Formation movement and who supports it. He mentions that this movement focuses more on the individual's experience rather than the Biblical truth. It is more philosophical than Biblical. A lot of the "disciplines" from the modern Spiritual Formation movement are based on the teaching of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy which are not Christian dominations. Both of these religions teach mysticism. 

Gilley addresses the "disciplines" of the modern Spiritual Formation movement that have not Biblical support such as Contemplative Prayer and Lectio Divina. He even dives into what the charismatics and other religions believe about worship, prayer, and fasting. He also shares those in this movement believe that God speaks outside of the Bible and does not question it. Those involved in the modern Spiritual Formation movement have no discernment and they do not encourage it to their followers. 

In the second half of the book, Gilley into true discipline in the Christian life. Those are speaking to God in prayer. Laying our requests to Him while giving Him praise. Second, allowing God to speak to us from the Bible. Third, grow in our fellowship with fellow believers. Finally, living the transformed life as a result of the Spirit of God working in you. 

Colossians 2:8 says that we are not to let any "philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world " take us captive yet there are some Christians who have been taking captive by these things and are teaching them in the church whether behind the pulpit, in a podcast, or the books they write. Gilley's book exposes these dangerous disciplines and where they come from. Highly recommend this book

I received this book from G3 Press in exchange for an honest review. 

Essential Wisdom for the Christian Life

In this video, Paul Washer speaks with Mack Tomlinson and Don Currin regarding essentials to the Christian life, such as Bible reading and prayer, and how important they are.

Jesse Randolph on Biblical Meditation

Around The Web-May 16, 2018

WTS Books is having a sale on the ESV Student Study Bible

Patterson, Abuse, and Misogyny from Doctrine and Devotion

Owen Strachan– The Essential Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to the Life and Teaching of America’s Greatest Theologian from Equipping You In Grace

Thou Shalt Not Put Your Friends to the Test by Jared C Wilson

Jason Allen and Tony Merida discuss preaching the book of Acts

A Biblical View of the Embassy Move to Jerusalem by Jim Davis

5 Spiritual Disciplines That Will Change Your Life by Stephen Altrogge

Andy Stanley’s Modern Marcionism by Wesley Hill

During the recent Together for the Gospel conference, Albert Mohler, Mark Dever, John MacArthur, and Ligon Duncan reflect on the life of R.C. Sproul

Around The Web-April 20, 2018

Theologians on the Christian Life is 50% off for individual titles and 60% off for the complete set

Brian Hedges– Watchfulness: Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline from Equipping You In Grace

Can We Skip the Parts of the New Testament Not in the Original Manuscripts? from Ask John Piper

Nathan Rose on Church Revitalization from For The Church Podcast

How to Preach to the Secular Age by John Starke

The Best Argument for Using a Printed Bible by Tim Challies

Reflections on Singing with 12,000 People by Matt Sliger

It's Time to End the Stupid about the End Times: Debunking Christian Numerology by Ed Stetzer

Back in 2012, R.C. Sproul explained Definite Atonement

Around The Web-February 14, 2018

Honoring R.C. Sproul Sale

Paul Tripp on the Dangers Facing Every Bible Teacher

Why Do I Believe in Credobaptism? by Stephen Kneale

All Other Ground is Sinking Sand: A Portrait of Theological Disaster by Albert Mohler

Doctrine & Devotion discusses Spiritual Disciplines with Don Whitney

20 Quotes from Mark Dever on Church Leadership by Matt Smethurst

The Goal of Doing Theology by Sinclair Ferguson

What Is True Love by Justin Huffman

Warning: Do not go beyond what is written in the Bible

Around The Web-October 25, 2017

Banner 100 Winner giveaway (250+ Banner Books) from Banner of Truth

The Prosperity Gospel in Our Closet by Jimmy Needham

How God Has Upheld Connie Dever by Tilly Dillehay

All for the Gospel by R.C. Sproul

Robert Jeffress, Roman Catholicism, the Reformation, and then Kevin Thompson on John 6 from James White

The Four C’s of Biblical Leadership by Juan Sanchez

Six Reasons to Practice Spiritual Disciplines by Landon Coleman

Tim Challies on how this resurgence of Calvinism began.

Podcast Wednesday: Church Discipline, Spiritual Disciplines, Paul's Thorn, and more

Doctrine and Devotion on Spiritual Disciplines

Equipping You In Grace on The Importance and Necessity of Church Discipline

9 Marks on being "called" to ministry

The B.A.R. Podcast on Physics and The Glory of God

What Is Paul's Thorn In The Flesh? from Word Matters

Sinclair Ferguson speaks on The Spirit of Sonship from Renewing Your Mind

Hope When It Hurts (#TGC17 Live-Show) from Calvinist Batman

Furtick Manipulates God's Word for MONEY from Fighting For The Faith

Podcast Wednesday: Reformed Unity, Stranger Things, Church History, and more

The Regular Reformed Guys and Les Lanphere talk about the Calvinist movie and reformed unity

How We Feed Ourselves Spiritually from Doctrine and Devotion

Dr. Julius Kim– Preaching The Whole Counsel of God: Design and Deliver Gospel-Centered Sermons from Equipping You In Grace

Hair Products, Short Term Missions, and a Legit Third Party Candidate (Episode 97) from the Happy Rant podcast

Popcorn Theology on Stranger Things

Jason Allen speaks with Timothy and Christian George on why preachers should study church history

The Reformed Library with Drew from Gotham Central on graphic novels and comics

The “F” Word in a Gospel Song from To Be The Church

Voting Your Conscience from R.C. Sproul Jr.

Book Review: Habits for Our Holiness by Philip Nation

When one thinks of holiness, the tendency to think purity or set apart. We call God holy because He is set apart from the world. He calls His people to be holy, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).

In being holy, we are not to hide from the rest of the world to live as monk. We are to be out in the world yet set apart because we are the children of God. As we live in the world, we are called to do things that do set us apart. We are to pray, read the Bible, share the gospel, etc. We call these things spiritual disciplines.

Philip Nation addresses how holiness and spiritual disciplines are linked together in his book, Habits for Our Holiness. Nation defines spiritual disciplines as "a mental and physical act and a habit that expresses our love for God and fosters a greater display of His glory in our lives and a deeper understanding of His character and agenda." As he puts it in simpler terms, "it is the practice of our relationship (to God) and theology."

The first chapter serves as a reminder of how sin came into the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve followed by God's relentless pursuit of us. The rest of the book deals with the disciplines that Christians need to be engaged. He does not write them in some legalistic form, which tells us do these things if you want to stay saved. He has the gospel in mind when he writes about these "habits" knowing that we are holy in response to what God has done for us through the finished work of Christ.

Nation writes about worship, Bible study, prayer, and fasting, which is something the church needs to talk about a lot more. He even addresses fellowshipping with the body of Christ as a discipline. It does take work to talk with people and even getting out of bed after a long week at the office. Some other disciplines addressed in the book were surprising because you normally don't talk about these things as disciplines. They are rest, submissions and simple living.

Finally, Nation address the discipline of disciple making. This is for all Christians, not just those in leadership positions. Because of what God has done for us, we are to share that good news with everyone. Though it will be difficult, as all disciplines are, all Christians are called to make disciples.

This is a great book. I highly recommend it to all believers, not just new ones. I love Nation's approach to spiritual disciplines and how God-centered he kept it throughout the entire book.

Thanks Moody Publishers for letting me review this book.