Spiritual Discipline - Liferoads Church https://liferoads.org Helping people become Fully Alive in Christ Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:40:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://liferoads.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cropped-cross-100x100.jpg Spiritual Discipline - Liferoads Church https://liferoads.org 32 32 Abide – Week 4 https://liferoads.org/sermons/abide-week-4/ Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:32:00 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=5114 There are several metaphors used to describe the Church. The most common description used in the Bible is a family. But, Paul also used the image of living bricks, and members of a body (⁠1 Corinthians 12:12-27⁠). We all desire to belong. People are always forming clubs and groups and teams. We build community to support each other and encourage each other. The Church differs in that Christ is the head of the body of the Church (⁠Ephesians 4:14-16⁠). This […]

The post Abide – Week 4 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> There are several metaphors used to describe the Church. The most common description used in the Bible is a family. But, Paul also used the image of living bricks, and members of a body (⁠1 Corinthians 12:12-27⁠). We all desire to belong. People are always forming clubs and groups and teams. We build community to support each other and encourage each other. The Church differs in that Christ is the head of the body of the Church (⁠Ephesians 4:14-16⁠). This is unique. It is where we can be with our Creator like no where else on earth. We belong to Christ, and so we belong to each other. In that, we rejoice together and we suffer together. Jesus did. We are like the literal hands of Jesus. This is a spiritual disciple, a habit that changes lives.

The post Abide – Week 4 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Abide – Week 3 https://liferoads.org/sermons/abide-week-3/ Mon, 19 Jan 2026 03:19:19 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=5112 No one claims to be an expert on prayer; we all feel inadequate. There are many difficulties and many distractions. In one way, prayer is very easy; however, it is also deeply complex. Prayer should be the business of Christians; it is our duty, and it should be our delight. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he describes this rich, deep desire to know the love of God (⁠⁠Ephesians 3:14-21⁠⁠). Prayer is the most likely place to be this close […]

The post Abide – Week 3 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> No one claims to be an expert on prayer; we all feel inadequate. There are many difficulties and many distractions. In one way, prayer is very easy; however, it is also deeply complex. Prayer should be the business of Christians; it is our duty, and it should be our delight. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he describes this rich, deep desire to know the love of God (⁠⁠Ephesians 3:14-21⁠⁠). Prayer is the most likely place to be this close to God. Most often we pray for the physical, but we wish you to know the love of God in His fullest, just as Paul prayed. Don’t just know God intellectually, but experientially. Abide in Him (⁠John 15:4-5⁠).

The post Abide – Week 3 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Abide – Week 1 https://liferoads.org/sermons/abide-week-1/ Mon, 05 Jan 2026 04:44:21 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=5103 In the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, today we ask, how might we grow spiritually this year? How do we worry less and pray more? The “Gospel Hardware” is Jesus. He stated that He is the true vine; you are clean because of the words He has spoken. Apart from Him you can do nothing. “Abide in me,” Christ said. (⁠John 15:1-11⁠). Abide is a verb relating to where you live. Where is your permanent spiritual address? Live in constant […]

The post Abide – Week 1 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> In the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, today we ask, how might we grow spiritually this year? How do we worry less and pray more? The “Gospel Hardware” is Jesus. He stated that He is the true vine; you are clean because of the words He has spoken. Apart from Him you can do nothing. “Abide in me,” Christ said. (⁠John 15:1-11⁠). Abide is a verb relating to where you live. Where is your permanent spiritual address? Live in constant and close community with Christ.

Map out a space of peace and order, and just show up. Put yourself in a place that God can grow you. C.S. Lewis used the analogy that humans are engines fueled by God. And God is with us! Grace has appeared and He came to train us (⁠Titus 2:11-14⁠). So, abide in Him. Experience the love of God, unfold the love of Jesus (⁠Ephesians 3:14-19⁠).

The post Abide – Week 1 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Following Jesus – Week 4 https://liferoads.org/sermons/following-jesus-week-4/ Sun, 13 Jul 2025 22:33:29 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=4973 In ⁠Matthew 6:1-15⁠, Jesus makes it clear that spiritual practices are not for show. What we aim for in our spiritual lives, we receive. Don’t pray to impress or with formulaic expectations, as if God does not already know and He needs to be woken up or informed. Spiritual practices of generosity, worship and prayer are about a personal relationship with God. The Lord’s Prayer is a model or a map of prayer. Like many other books of prayer, it […]

The post Following Jesus – Week 4 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> In ⁠Matthew 6:1-15⁠, Jesus makes it clear that spiritual practices are not for show. What we aim for in our spiritual lives, we receive. Don’t pray to impress or with formulaic expectations, as if God does not already know and He needs to be woken up or informed. Spiritual practices of generosity, worship and prayer are about a personal relationship with God. The Lord’s Prayer is a model or a map of prayer. Like many other books of prayer, it structures the ideas and guides us. Slow down and take your time through prayer. The first line alone is a shocking idea: God, the awesome creator, is our father. And what do you mean when you pray for God’s Kingdom? We need to live spiritually one day at a time – trust God for our manna (our daily bread). Just as Matthew wrote later in the chapter (⁠6:25-34⁠), “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”

The post Following Jesus – Week 4 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Church, Then and Now https://liferoads.org/sermons/church-then-and-now/ Sun, 14 Jan 2024 21:27:36 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=4509 Continuing our two-week look at spiritual practices, Kylan Kracher takes a look at church, then and now.

The post Church, Then and Now first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Continuing our two-week look at spiritual practices, Kylan Kracher takes a look at church, then and now.

The post Church, Then and Now first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Pt. 2 https://liferoads.org/sermons/a-long-obedience-in-the-same-direction-pt-2/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 21:14:12 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=4183 How can we grow and mature in our Christian faith? According to Pastor Donnie Johnson, practicing some valuable Christian disciplines, including being daily being in the Word of God, helps make us available to God to work His grace in our lives.

The post A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Pt. 2 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Colossians 3:12-17
Colossians 3:16

The post A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Pt. 2 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Pt. 1 https://liferoads.org/sermons/a-long-obedience-in-the-same-direction/ Sun, 01 Jan 2023 21:38:08 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=4179 Pastor Donnie encourages us to engage in spiritual practices that will strengthen our walks with Christ in the year ahead.

The post A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Pt. 1 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> 1 Timothy 4:7-8 Titus 2:11-14 Hebrews 4:16

The post A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Pt. 1 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Fully Alive Pt. 2 https://liferoads.org/sermons/fully-alive-pt-2/ Mon, 03 Oct 2022 12:42:33 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=4053 Christianity is a team sport. In Ephesians chapter 4, we are told the goal of this Christian life, both individually and together as believers in the body of Christ.

The post Fully Alive Pt. 2 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Ephesians 4:1-16

Ephesians 4:1-6

Ephesians 4:7-16

Ephesians 4:13

The post Fully Alive Pt. 2 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Practical Faith, Pt. 4 https://liferoads.org/sermons/practical-faith-pt-4/ Sun, 10 Jul 2022 19:42:33 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=3980 Words matter, and God's Word always brings life ... but our words can either encourage or do great harm, according to Pastor Donnie.

The post Practical Faith, Pt. 4 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> James 1:19-27

Proverbs 18:21

The post Practical Faith, Pt. 4 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> Practical Faith – Pt. 1 https://liferoads.org/sermons/practical-faith-pt-1/ Sun, 19 Jun 2022 19:30:27 +0000 https://liferoads.org/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=3970 Today's introductory message to a new summer series on the Book of James focuses on the first four verses, the background of the author (the brother of Jesus), and James' immediate encouragement to believers to count all suffering and trials as joy ... say what? How do we do that? Pastor Donnie gives specific help to do just that.

The post Practical Faith – Pt. 1 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]> James 1:1-4

Romans 5:3-5

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Philippians 4:4

The post Practical Faith – Pt. 1 first appeared on Liferoads Church.

]]>