Posts in Spiritual Formation
120 Years of Hard Soil: Part Two
120 Years of Hard Soil: Part Two

As Chinese Christians, God has called us to take up the cross and suffer the injustice of these fabricated charges in order to renew China in Christ. We are called to suffer in this way in order to renew this drought-stricken land of Shanxi Province, the region where we grow and live. We suffer in this way in order to renew the knowledge of God in the hearts of those in power, including those who make these arrests. We suffer in this way in order to renew their knowledge of God’s kingdom, of eternal life in Jesus Christ, and of the people in this kingdom who belong to God.

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Spiritual Formation, Testimonies & StoriesTan Jian
120 Years of Hard Soil: Part One
120 Years of Hard Soil: Part One

To my surprise I have discovered that the Boxer Rebellion is present in China today, and that it has evolved to be more and more sophisticated. The seeds cast by missionaries of the gospel of sacrificial love have taken only shallow root in the hard soil of Shanxi Province—both in the traditional past and the modern present…During the pandemic in 2020, our local church in Shanxi seized the moment to commemorate missionaries who served in our province. We did this lest we forget our foundation, and miss the redoubling move of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of scarcity and powerlessness, the brothers and sisters of this land were thirsting for revival. Sure enough, our century-spanning spiritual fellowship with those missionaries healed many wounds at once.

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Testimonies & Stories, Spiritual FormationTan Jian
A Chinese Brother Wants to See the Vastness of the World With Us
A Chinese Brother Wants to See the Vastness of the World With Us

For me, it is deeply inspiring that a Chinese house church pastor would encourage his flock to embrace the whole world. Pastor Wang ended his letter, “A brother who wants to see the vastness of the world with you.” This is a sign that Christians in China are increasingly engaging Christians worldwide.

What can we offer each other? One of the single greatest challenges for global Christians is navigating fragmentation and diversity. On top of this is the challenge of interacting with people in other religions. Chinese Christians live in one of the most religiously diverse countries on earth. They can speak to the global Church about their own experience, sharing good practices and lessons in living in religiously diverse settings.

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Learning from China, Guest Writers, Spiritual FormationTodd Johnson
We Do Not Have to Worry
We Do Not Have to Worry

We would all love for God to come and solve our problems when we are in trouble. If we are not feeling well—"God, please heal us.” If we have cancer, we want God to remove the cancer cells through the hand of a doctor. If we are in financial difficulties—"God, please provide.” If our marriage is in crisis—"God, please change my spouse.” But how many healthy, financially well-off, happily married families in this world still live under the bondage and dominion of sin?

God came from heaven to earth. He knows the weaknesses we experience, and he will give us our daily bread. Most importantly, he came to get rid of the sin within us. God wants to deal with our inner being, which is full of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness. He died on the cross so he could surgically remove our dirty heart and replace it with a new heart.

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Spiritual Formation小艾 Little Ai
The Success Trap: Imitation and Idolatry
The Success Trap: Imitation and Idolatry

How do you rest? It is very important for Christians to find their daily renewal in reading Scripture and in prayer. Second, you should set aside a half-day every week or month to be quiet and reflect. This is what the Puritans and many pastors teach. There is also a need to be quiet. People today are imitators: we imitate and unknowingly follow the trends of the world. You must do the opposite, and have a life of reflection.

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Spiritual FormationChina Partnership
How To Face Difficulty? The Reality of the Resurrection
How To Face Difficulty? The Reality of the Resurrection

How can church leaders daily and faithfully live in the reality of resurrection and ascension? By prayer; by our walk with Christ; by our dependency. We must be always wondering what the Lord is going to do through us and in us.

Before Stephen died, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Lord as a king figure. Stephen was at that moment on trial before the council of Jerusalem, the highest worldly authority. But meanwhile, there was another reality. This vision of Jesus ascended, reigning, and continuously praying for them was so real. We deeply desire a life that is led by this power to lead the church. Only by this power can we face persecution and be willing to give our life for Christ. We cannot do this for some heroic personal fantasy or desire; we must be as Stephen, humbly serving the Lord. That is something we want to build in these leaders.

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Pastors & the Church, Spiritual Formation张慕曦 Muxi Zhang
The Limitations of Leadership
The Limitations of Leadership

There is only one unlimited Person in the universe; it’s the Lord. I have limits that God, in his sovereignty, has placed on me that I will never move beyond. Trying to work beyond your limits is spiritually unhealthy and will not produce good fruit. You can’t let the pressures of expectations or the volume of work cause you to act like you don’t have limits…Every time you accept something new, you have to ask: “What will I not do in order to do this?” If you are already busy and you add something new, there is something you will not be able to do. I don’t think pastors ask that question—they just think that somehow they’ll get more time and ability.

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Pastors & the Church, Spiritual FormationPaul Tripp
Isolation and Loneliness: We Know It’s Unhealthy
Isolation and Loneliness: We Know It’s Unhealthy

Pastor Hu Yongjie: Most Chinese pastors are solo ministers. Isolation and loneliness is very common. We know it's unhealthy. Do you have any suggestions as to how to break through this situation?

Paul Tripp: No pastor lives up, above, or outside of the body of Christ. Christ is the head of his body; everything else is just body. A pastor is a man in the middle of his own sanctification. He needs the ministry of the body of Christ. You have to break down that wall of separation and be self-disclosing enough that people understand you need their comfort, encouragement, and insight as much as anybody else…No pastor is a grace graduate. All the graces that God has designed to come to the body of Christ, you need as well. You have to change the culture and the way people think about you so you can receive the ministry that your soul needs.

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Pastors & the Church, Spiritual FormationPaul Tripp
Why Practice Evangelism?
Why Practice Evangelism?

In the city, it is still difficult for Christians to share their faith. Many difficulties come from believers who are not equipped, and are therefore afraid. Actually, Christians can share their experiences, lead the topic to Christ, and then live out their love. If they are not too results-oriented, this will not be a big deal. They must face their own weaknesses and fears of how others see them, and they need courage in situations when it is difficult to lead conversations to the gospel core. In short, believers need more practice. Christians are often afraid to share the gospel or just want people to come to church, but we encourage them to find ways to bring up gospel topics themselves.

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Spiritual Formation, Pastors & the Church杨传到 Preacher Yang