Four principles for the
structure of your spiritual life.
These four principles aren't a program or a formula. They're a shared language
for the ongoing work of following Jesus. Once you start to see them, you'll find
them everywhere in Scripture.
Who you are becoming on the inside through abiding with Christ. The Lord cares a lot more about the interior life than outward performance. Dwell is the foundation of everything else.
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
John 15:4
Who you are becoming on the outside as you join Christ in His work. This is how you participate in redemption through your time, your talents, and your resources, not out of obligation, but out of transformation.
"Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail." Luke 12:33
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
1 Peter 4:10
Who you are becoming in community. Scripture puts a surprisingly high value on being with other disciples regularly, not just being in the same room, but engaging, encouraging, and bearing one another's burdens.
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
"Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Hebrews 10:25
Who you are becoming as you align with Scripture, reflect Christ's character, and bear fruit in His kingdom. This isn't just information gathering. It's ongoing transformation.
"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
Ephesians 4:15
Not all foundations are bad. No foundation is complete.
Here's the thing about the home we started with. If the foundation is bad, it needs to be addressed before anything else. If you're building from scratch, the foundation goes in first. And if you're adding on, the addition needs its own foundation too.
Your spiritual foundation doesn't need to be broken before it's worth looking at. Even the strongest foundation will need to be more developed for the next season of your life. The life of a disciple is a life where you're always coming from somewhere and moving toward something.
Jesus meets the real you and calls you to follow Him from here.
One thing to be clear about.
Dwell, Give, Gather, and Grow are tools for people who have been born again in Christ. Following this framework without that foundation is like giving vitamins to someone in critical condition. Even good things, added to a life that hasn't been surrendered to Jesus, won't do what only the gospel can do.
If you've never repented of your sin and confessed Jesus as Lord, that's the starting point. Not a step in a program, the actual foundation.
Scripture puts it plainly:
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
If you're ready to do that, you can do it right now, wherever you are. Turn away from running your own life. Submit to Jesus.
And then tell someone. Talk to a pastor, a small group leader, or a Christian you trust.
Contact Us
If you have questions about any
of this, we'd love to talk.
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Children are welcome in any of our church gatherings. Preschool (birth-kindergarten) and Children (1st-5th grades) ministries are available during both gatherings.
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Carpenter's Way Fellowship
5220 Monroe Boulevard
