Spiritual Growth

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 Pride has no place in a heart that seeks heaven. Let it die within you so that humility and grace may flourish.

True humility isn’t about diminishing your worth—it’s about shifting your focus from yourself to others, creating space for kindness, empathy, and genuine connection. Jesus’s parable of the Good Samaritan provides a clear example of selflessness, encouraging us to treat everyone as our neighbors regardless of the cultural norm. Luke 10:25-37

If you never acknowledge your mistakes, you will not grow. True growth starts with humility and a desire to learn from our errors. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

To be a light for those in spiritual darkness, we must be in the world but not of it. We should live in a way that showcases our good deeds and behavior, allowing those outside the faith to recognize that there is something “different” about us.

Early on in the days of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association a set of safeguards were developed to help retain and maintain the integrity of the ministry. Specific measures were agreed upon to help keep a strict level of accountability among the leadership to maximize the effectiveness of their outreach. Those ingredients came to be known as the “Modesto Manifesto” and it’s something we use at Calvary Aurora as well. Although it isn’t a formal document, the principles contained within it are valuable and useful, even if you are not serving Jesus in some form of spiritual leadership.