Tag: growth

The Centrality of Jesus in Our Conversations

Posted on by pastordarryl68

I wonder if the watching world is as shocked as I am that Jesus is such an insignificant subject in many professing Christians’ conversations about themselves—their thoughts, actions, behaviors, and the details of their lives (myself included). It’s unsettling to consider how often we go about our days without mentioning the One who should be at the center of everything. How often do we miss opportunities to bring Him into our discussions, even in the mundane parts of life? Whether it’s at work, with family, or among friends, Jesus often seems absent from the dialogue.

Now, that’s not to say that we don’t often hear the Bible and God referenced when Christians discuss their opinions and judgments about the actions and behaviors of others. Or that some don’t wax eloquent with their interpretations of various biblical scenarios and theological matters. But how often is Jesus truly at the center of our everyday conversations—our hourly thoughts and actions? It seems that for many of us, Jesus is brought up when it’s convenient, when it suits our arguments, or when we want to make a point about morality. But what about in our day-to-day, when we’re just sharing life with others? Are we talking about Him then? Are we reflecting His love in our words and attitudes, even when we aren’t explicitly mentioning His name?

He is the One to whom we have committed everything, the One to whom we owe our allegiance and loyalty. He is the One who sacrificed His life so that we might know Him, the One who created us with intentionality and purpose. His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness are what make a restored and reconciled relationship with Him possible. Shouldn’t He, then, be the core of our words, the foundation of our daily reflections, and the center of every decision we make? If Jesus is truly our Savior and Lord, then His influence should permeate every aspect of our lives. Our conversations should reflect our relationship with Him, not in a forced or overly religious way, but naturally and authentically, flowing from a heart that is captivated by His love.

This is no easy task, but it is one worth striving for. We need to reflect on how we can make Jesus central to our daily conversations—not as an afterthought or merely a reference point for others, but as the true foundation of our own lives. This requires intentionality. It means making time to dwell on His Word, to talk to Him in prayer throughout the day, and to look for ways to bring Him into the conversations we have with others. It means letting go of the fear of what others might think and instead being bold in sharing how Jesus is working in our lives. When He becomes our priority, He naturally becomes a part of our conversations, whether we’re talking about our struggles, our successes, or the ordinary moments of our day.

Reflective Questions:

  • How often does Jesus come up in your everyday conversations? Are these mentions intentional or just occasional references?
  • Is He the focal point of your thoughts, or do other topics and worries take precedence over Him? What steps can you take to ensure He stays at the center?
  • How can you intentionally bring Jesus back to the center of your words, actions, and relationships? Are there specific moments in your day where you can consciously bring Him into focus?

Final Thought

Jesus is not just a figure to be discussed on Sundays or referenced when convenient. He is the One who gave everything for us, and He deserves to be central in our daily lives. Let’s strive to make Him the subject of our thoughts and the heart of our conversations, so that the watching world sees that He truly matters to us. Let’s make it our goal to ensure that our faith is not compartmentalized but rather integrated into every part of our lives. When Jesus is truly central, our words and actions will reflect His love, grace, and truth, allowing others to see Him clearly through us. The world is watching, and our lives can be a powerful testimony to the One who has given us everything.

Avoiding Burnout: Are You Serving God or Yourself?

Posted on by pastordarryl68

“I wonder if it’s a hard pill for our Creator to swallow when we tell Him that serving Him has worn us out, stressed us out, or even burned us out. Imagine standing before God and saying, “I’m doing too much for You.” It’s a sobering thought—one that I’ve wrestled with myself more times than I’d like to admit.

Every time I’ve reached the edge of burnout, or gone beyond it, I discovered a difficult truth: I wasn’t really serving God. I was serving myself. Even as a pastor, I could try to convince myself and others that I was sacrificing for God’s people. It might have sounded righteous to my ears, and maybe even fooled others, but when I lay down at night, I had to face the truth. I was wearing myself out, not for His glory, but for the idol of my own ego and the approval of others.” – Darryl Jones

Who Are We Really Living For?

It’s easy to say we’re living for God, but let’s take an honest look at how we spend our day. When I add up the time I spend scrolling through social media, binge-watching shows, or focusing on myself—whether that’s worrying about what others think, stressing, or trying to get ahead—it becomes clear that much of my day isn’t really for Him.

How much of our time is actually spent for God’s glory? Are we genuinely seeking His will, or are we more focused on making ourselves look good, feel good, or gaining other’s approval?

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” — Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

A Gradual but Dangerous Shift

The shift from serving God to serving ourselves can start in small ways, but it’s dangerous. We start out wanting to glorify God, but somewhere along the way, our own desires creep in. We begin to measure our worth by what others think of us, the praise we receive, or the sacrifices we make. Suddenly, we’re no longer serving for God’s sake; we’re doing it because it makes us feel important or valued.

Burnout is often the warning sign that we’ve gotten off track. It’s the signal that, rather than relying on God’s strength, we’ve tried to do it all ourselves. Instead of resting in His sufficiency, we start striving in our own power.

Where Are Our Priorities?

Matthew 6:33 gives us a clear directive: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” But if we’re honest, how often do we seek first our comfort, our success, or our reputation?

Think about how much time we spend:

  • Scrolling and consuming—looking for distraction or validation.
  • Worrying and stressing—trying to control things that are beyond our grasp.
  • Investing in relationships—sometimes not for God’s glory, but so that others will like us or validate us.
  • Pursuing achievements—finding our identity and worth in what we do, rather than who we are in Christ.

It’s not that any of these activities are inherently wrong, but when they become the focus—when they overshadow our true purpose—they turn into idols.

Redirecting Our Focus

If we want to avoid burnout and truly live for God, we have to redirect our focus. We need to ask ourselves daily, “Am I doing this for God’s glory or for my own?” It’s not always easy to be honest with ourselves, but it’s necessary.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23 (ESV)

Living for God means more than just doing things for Him—it means having a heart that’s oriented toward Him. It means choosing to seek His approval rather than the praise of others. It means learning to rest in Him, rather than striving in our own strength.

Final Thought

When we serve with a heart genuinely focused on God, there is peace, purpose, and joy—even in hard work. Let’s take the time to examine our hearts, our motives, and how we’re spending our days. Are we serving God, or are we serving ourselves? The answer may be a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the key to finding true fulfillment and avoiding burnout.

The Unbreakable Bond of Salvation in Christ

Posted on by pastordarryl68

You have probably heard people say, “I used to be a Christian.” They speak as though being a follower of Christ is something that can be undone. It’s a phrase that raises questions. It also offers an opportunity to clarify an important truth. When someone is genuinely transformed by the Holy Spirit, that transformation is permanent.

There’s no such thing as a “former Christian.” If you have truly been saved by Jesus and the Holy Spirit has entered your heart, there is no going back. It’s not just an emotional decision or a fleeting commitment. It’s a lifelong journey of transformation that begins the moment we accept Christ. This journey continues throughout our lives.

Jesus Himself assures us of this in John 10:27-28: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

This passage speaks to the security we have in Christ. Once you’re in His hands, you belong to Him forever. It’s not something that depends on our strength or ability to stay faithful—it’s grounded in Christ’s power to keep us.

It’s easy to get confused when we see people who once appeared committed to the faith suddenly drift away or declare they are no longer Christians. Does this mean salvation can be lost? Not at all. 1 John 2:19 explains it clearly: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

True salvation bears lasting fruit. While some may have experiences with the church or outward signs of faith, those who truly know Christ remain rooted in Him, even through difficult seasons.

One of the most powerful assurances we have as believers comes from Ephesians 4:30:
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

The Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts is not temporary. When we are saved, we are sealed for eternity. This means that the transformation that takes place when we give our lives to Christ is something no one—not even ourselves—can undo.

Of course, the Christian walk is not without challenges. There will be times of doubt, struggle, and even moments where we may feel distant from God. But instead of these moments pushing us away from our faith, they often become opportunities for God to draw us closer to Him. Through trials and hardships, we grow, learn, and depend on Christ even more.

As Romans 8:38-39 beautifully reminds us: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

There is no undoing the work of salvation once it has taken root in your heart. If you’ve been saved by Jesus, you are His forever. Let’s be encouraged by the truth that our salvation is secure in Christ, and no matter what, the Holy Spirit continues to work in us to bring us closer to the likeness of Christ.

Growth is Healthy

Posted on by pastordarryl68

Healthy things grow. If it’s not growing, it’s diminishing, dying, or dead. In the life of the follower of Jesus and in the church, the same is true.

Sometimes people stay stationary and the things around them grow, change, and transition. A solid, consistent, spiritually fit person might walk out all of Christ for all of life by teaching the same class or doing the same type of discipleship for years and years, but the people around them develop and grow and take on new ministry and relationships of pouring into others.

Sometimes people develop and grow out of one form of ministry into another as they themselves grow.

Sometimes a church grows and develops people in loving and obeying Jesus and then sends them out of the fold as workers in other communities, cities, and countries to teach them how to know, love and follow Jesus into His Kingdom.

Sometimes a church grows and develops people who grow and develop people who grow and develop people to know, love and follow Jesus into His Kingdom and the church body just grows and grows.

Sometimes a church does both. But the follower of Jesus and the church of followers of Jesus that is alive in the Spirit and healthy will ALWAYS grow.

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:10

Change is Inevitable

Posted on by pastordarryl68

I’m one of those people who like change, for the most part. I love to rearrange and refresh things and practices just to keep them from becoming stale, boring, empty rituals, or sacred cows. I think one of the reasons I love change is that it demonstrates the way Jehovah is making all things new…changes of seasons, human growth, spiritual growth, regeneration, conforming us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, drawing the nations into His Kingdom. I love the occasional clean slate to re-open my eyes to God’s creative, restorative genius and endless possibilities when HE is doing the work.

I don’t necessarily invite change that is precipitated by tragedy or loss, but even then, if I’m attentive, I can see the hand of God at work. He is in constant care for and absolute rule over ALL of HIS creation, for HIS glory and the good of HIS people.

We can’t stop all forms of change…plants grow and change; children grow and change; relationships grow and change; we physically, emotionally, and spiritually grow and change. But even if we try to stop growth, change is inevitable. Our bodies, our minds, our plants, our homes, our cars, our relationships – if we don’t allow them to grow and develop, they will deteriorate and die. Deterioration and destruction is still change – we can’t avoid it.

Change is inevitable…growth is optional.

I get super excited about the change produced by growth, especially when I can see the hand of God in it.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ~ 2 Peter 3:18