June 25, 2019
by Eric Stillman
This week, I am beginning an online book study with some people in the church on the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, a classic on spiritual growth. One story in the introduction really moved me. As Foster shares about the origin of the book, he talks about a time when he felt led to have Bill Cathers, a former missionary and a man of unusual discernment and wisdom, pray for him. He didn’t know what to have him pray for, only that he felt the need for him to pray. Foster writes:...Keep Reading
Tags: humility, Spiritual disciplines
August 16, 2016
by Eric Stillman
This past Sunday, I preached on pride, humility, and wisdom. I joked about it from the pulpit, but for most of us (including me), I would bet that as we listened, we had someone else in mind that we were hoping was listening or that should have been there listening. Because, after all, THAT PERSON has an issue with pride, not us. Hopefully as the sermon went on, we all realized just how much of a problem we all have with pride.
In keeping with the theme of pride, I want to share an excerpt from a Charles Spurgeon sermon that I read recently and found especially encouraging and challenging:...Keep Reading
Posted in: Discipleship Tags: pride, humility
May 20, 2014
by Eric Stillman
As we‘™ve been working through Philippians on Sunday mornings, it has been clear that much of the emphasis of Paul‘™s letter to the church in Philippi is unity. He loves his church dearly, and sincerely wants them to love each other with a humble love, showing each other the same grace that they have received from Jesus.
In keeping with that theme, I wish to share an excerpt from a Charles Spurgeon sermon that I read today and found especially encouraging and challenging:...Keep Reading
Posted in: Grace Tags: Grace, humility
May 7, 2013
by Eric Stillman
Jesus‘ Sermon on the Mount begins with this counterintuitive statement ‘" ‘œBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.‘ In other words, Jesus declares that God‘s favor is not on the spiritually self-sufficient, those who exalt and justify themselves and think that their good works have made them righteous in God‘s sight. Instead, God‘s favor is on those who are spiritually bankrupt, who realize that in themselves they have nothing of spiritual significance to offer to God, but are completely dependent upon His grace and mercy. By the time Jesus is declaring to his disciples that they need to ‘œbe perfect as their heavenly father is perfect‘ (Matthew 5:48), I am sure Jesus‘ disciples were all thanking God that God‘s favor is on the spiritually bankrupt who recognize their utter dependence upon God for their righteousness, because none of them have measured up to Jesus‘ commands.
...Keep Reading
Posted in: Discipleship Tags: pride, humility, poor in spirit
