Tag Archives: growth

7 Characteristics of Growing Churches

Posted on December 28, 2025 by Mark Cole

Church growth in North America isn’t accidental—and it isn’t primarily about style, denomination, or budget. Growing churches tend to share a set of intentional characteristics that shape everything they do. They don’t abandon theology or tradition, but they continually ask … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Healing, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged anxiety, applied, baptisms, belonging, church, church growth, clear, encounter God, engaging, excellent, experienced, first impressions, God still, growing, growth, guest experience, heals, How do we reach them, joy, leading, marriage, mission, Music, new life, outsiders, pathways, prayer, preaching, reaching, restores, saves, sermons, serving, singable, testimonies, transformed, truth, vision, vision-casting, work, Worship | Leave a comment

Don’t Go Back: Why God Calls Us Forward, Not Backward

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Mark Cole

“When people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before.” — 2 Peter 2:20 This verse hits … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Wisdom | Tagged accountable, backward, bondage, conscience, conviction, danger, don't go back, drifting, enslaved, forgiveness, forward, freedom, godliness, growth, know Jesus, know the truth, made for more, maturity, mercy, move forward, old bondage, old patterns, repentant, restore, restoring, see the light, shame, sin, spiritual drift, stay alert, stay free, tangled up, warning, wickedness | Leave a comment

Growing Into a Godly Life: Making Every Effort

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Mark Cole

Few passages describe spiritual growth as clearly and powerfully as 2 Peter 1:3–8. Peter opens with a life-changing statement: “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged 2 Peter, believe, brotherly affection, choices, courage, desires, divine love, divine power, effort, endurance, every effort, faith, family, fruitful life, genuine care, God provides, godly life, grace, grow, growth, habits, heart, Holy Spirit, humility, influence, know Him, knowledge, ladder of growth, loves people, moral excellence, obedience, Peter, productive, resilience, seeks wisdom, self-control, trust God, truth, unity, useful | Leave a comment

10 Leadership Lessons from Jesus

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Mark Cole

When we think of leadership, we often imagine authority, strategy, or influence. But the greatest leader in history—Jesus Christ—showed a completely different model. His leadership was unlike any the world had ever seen. His approach combined humility, love, and vision … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership | Tagged care, compassion, dependent on God, empathy, empower, enduring impact, equip, example, extra mile, finish well, genuinely care, growth, healed, honest, humble service, humility, influence, integrity, lead, leadership, legacy, love, loyalty, mission, modeled, potential, prayer, purpose, relationships, serve, service, serving, Son of Man, Trust, vision | Leave a comment

When Suffering Becomes a Teacher

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Mark Cole

“Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.” — Hebrews 5:8 (NLT) This verse offers one of the most profound insights into the life of Jesus. Even though He was the Son of God … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus | Tagged choice, difficulties, divine training, empathy, faith, faith grows, growth, hope, humility, I trust You, learned, lessons, obedience, pain, painful, pressure, proven, strength, suffer, suffered, suffering, Surrender, tested, trial, trials, truth | Leave a comment

When Smart Becomes Dangerous

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Mark Cole

It’s good to be smart. It’s even better to be wise. But when we start thinking we’re too wise — that we’ve got life figured out, that our opinions are always right, that we no longer need correction — that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus, Wisdom | Tagged correct me, dangerous, depending on God, education, experience, fear of the Lord, God's wisdom, growing, growth, hearts soft, humble, intellect, learning, listening, minds open, obedience, opinions, pride, smart, spirits teachable, teach me, teachable, truth, wisdom | Leave a comment

How God Builds Our Faith One Step at a Time

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Mark Cole

Isaiah 28:10 says: “He tells us everything over and over—one line at a time,one line at a time,a little here,and a little there!” This verse reminds us that spiritual growth is not instant. God builds our faith patiently—one step at … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Leadership, Music | Tagged be consistent, Be patient, be thankful, God's patience, growth, Isaiah, little steps, one line, one step, patience, practice, read the Bible, reminders, repeat, repetition, same verse, scripture, step by step, teaches us, truth, truths, walk of faith, we forget | Leave a comment

Speaking the Truth in Love

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Mark Cole

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” — Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) One of Paul’s greatest themes in his letters is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Teaching, Wisdom | Tagged builds people, Christlike, compassion, condemn, confronting, counsel, encourage, encouragement, gentleness, good, grow, growth, helpful, honesty, love, speak, teach, truth, truth in love, wisdom, words | Leave a comment

Compelled by the Spirit: Following God’s Leading

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Mark Cole

“Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. ‘And after that,’ he said, ‘I must go on to Rome!’” — Acts 19:21 One of the most remarkable aspects of the Apostle … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, God Adventures, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Travel, Wisdom | Tagged blessing, compelled, detail, do, eternal, eternal impact, Go, God's leading, GPS, growth, His kingdom, humility, inner conviction, next step, obey, personal, prayer, progressive, say, scripture, service, significance, spirit, step by step, trusting God, trusting Him, wait | 2 Comments

Seven Ways Your Life Will Change When You Seek God First

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Mark Cole

In 2 Chronicles 15:12, we read: “Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.” This was a pivotal moment for God’s people. They decided to put Him … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Health, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Wisdom | Tagged battles, blessing, change your life, changed, find God, first, fortress, God's guidance, God's peace, God's presence, growth, guidance, heart and soul, His image, holiness, joy, peace, refuge, renewal, rest, seek God, strength, transformation, whole heart | Leave a comment

Tag Archives: growth

7 Characteristics of Growing Churches

Don’t Go Back: Why God Calls Us Forward, Not Backward

Growing Into a Godly Life: Making Every Effort

10 Leadership Lessons from Jesus

When Suffering Becomes a Teacher

When Smart Becomes Dangerous

How God Builds Our Faith One Step at a Time

Speaking the Truth in Love

Compelled by the Spirit: Following God’s Leading

Seven Ways Your Life Will Change When You Seek God First

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