A collection of devotional readings comprised of Bible verses, thoughts to grow on, and amazing facts about the world, designed to promote spiritual growth.

"A study guide for growing in your personal relationship with Jesus"--

The Christian life is built on three seemingly unremarkable practices: reading the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. However, according to David Mathis, such “habits of grace” are the God-designed channels through which his glorious grace flows—making them life-giving practices for all Christians. Whether it’s hearing God’s voice (the Word), having his ear (prayer), or participating in his body (fellowship), such spiritual rhythms of the Christian life have the power to awaken our souls to God’s glory and stir our hearts for lifelong service in his name. What’s more, these seemingly simple practices grant us access to a host of spiritual blessings that we can only begin to imagine this side of eternity—and the incredible joy that such blessings bring to God’s children today.

Grow Like Jesus is the first book to delve into Luke 2:52, "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."—a verse that spans the gap between Jesus the child and Jesus at the start of his ministry—and unpack its lessons in ways that are simple to understand but deep enough to drive meaningful changes in a person’s life. While we don’t know if Jesus performed miracles while living in Egypt, if he caught fireflies at night as a kid or if he went to sleepovers with his friends, we can be sure he wasn’t just hanging around eating lentils and pomegranates. Based on Luke 2:52, we know he was growing in four specific areas: wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with people. In other words, he grew intellectually, physically, spiritually and socially. As it turns out (and it shouldn’t come as a surprise) continual growth in these four areas will prepare us for success in life as followers of Christ—the type of success that allows us to know God and make him known; in other words, real success. The practical, applicable and accessible knowledge of Grow Like Jesus is perfect for anyone new to a faith in Christ or looking to breathe new life into their existing faith.

In Growing Down, Michael Kelley wrestles with Jesus' words that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the likes of little children.

Evangelicals are supposed to be experts at telling their story. From an early age you are expected to have a "testimony," a story of how God saved you from a life of sin and sadness and gave you a new life of joy and gladness. What happens if you don't have such a testimony? What if your story just doesn't fit the before-and-after mold? What are you supposed to do if your voice is not one usually heard? In these offbeat, witty, and often bittersweet essays, up-and-coming writers tell the truth about growing up female and evangelical. Whether they stayed in the church or not, evangelicalism has shaped their spiritual lives. Eschewing evangelical cliches, idyllic depictions of Christian upbringing, and pat formulas of sinner-to-saint transformation, these writers reflect frankly on childhoods filled with flannel board Jesuses, Christian "rap" music, and Bible memorization competitions. Along the way they find insight in the strangest places--the community swimming pool, Casey Kasem's American Top 40, and an Indian mosque. Together this collection of essays provides a vivid and diverse portrait of life in the evangelical church, warts and all. List of Contributors: Jessica Belt Paula Carter Kirsten Cruzen Anne Dayton Kimberly B. George Carla-Elaine Johnson Megan Kirschner Anastasia McAteer Melanie Springer Mock Audrey Molina Victoria Moon Shauna Niequist Hannah Faith Notess Andrea Palpant Dilley Angie Romines Andrea Saylor Nicole Sheets Shari MacDonald Strong Stephanie Tombari Heather Baker Utley Jessie van Eerden Sara Zarr