The Gospel First
What Self-Improvement Can't Give You
Every productivity book and habit app promises a better life, but none can touch the one thing that actually needs changing.
Library
Articles
Every article, organized by the six lanes of The Path. Go where you’re stuck.
The Gospel First
Why grace, not guilt, fuels real change. The gospel you never outgrow.
The Gospel First
Why Spiritual Maturity Takes Time (and Why That’s Good News)
If you feel stuck or disappointed with how slowly you’re changing, take heart: God often grows us “by little and little,” and even our setbacks can become part of his gentle work in us.
The Gospel First
How to Battle Sin
Sin keeps knocking on the door, but Romans 6 says you don't have to answer it.
The Gospel First
Become Who You Already Are
Christian growth is not about achieving a new identity through self-improvement, but about living out the transformed identity that God has already given believers through Christ's death and resurrection.
The Gospel First
The Journey of Progressive Sanctification
In a world obsessed with instant results, discover why God intentionally designed your spiritual growth to be an imperfect journey rather than an immediate transformation.
Making Space
You can’t grow without room to grow in. Time, rest, and the myth of “too busy.”
Making Space
Spiritual Organization
Most of us blame our lack of spiritual consistency on weak discipline, but the real problem is that our lives aren’t intentionally organized with rhythms of communion, rest, and refreshment that make faithfulness sustainable.
Making Space
Where Spiritual Growth Begins
Spiritual growth begins with a desire for God and the intentional time to seek him.
Making Space
Maintaining Your Spiritual Health During Christmas
During Christmas, protect your spiritual well-being by managing your time wisely and staying focused on Jesus.
The Core Habits
Bible, prayer, and church. Three habits you’ll never outgrow.
The Core Habits
You Don’t Have to Read Your Bible
The key to reading your Bible and praying every day may be realizing you don’t have to.
The Core Habits
Ask for Help
The habit that we need is the one many of us resist most: humbly admitting we’re needy enough to ask for help.
The Core Habits
How to Listen to a Sermon
Cultivate such a high view of Scripture that it shapes how you prepare, listen to, and respond to a sermon.
The Core Habits
Four Keys to Unlocking a Lasting Bible Reading Habit
Before you give up on daily Bible reading, there's something you need to know: you might only be one dial away from unlocking it for good.
The Core Habits
50 Tips for Reading the Bible
Fifty practical tips to help anyone build a meaningful Bible reading habit that leads to spiritual growth
The Core Habits
Check Your Spiritual Vitals
Check three spiritual vitals—regular Scripture reading, consistent prayer, and active involvement in a local church—to identify and address root causes of spiritual struggle.
The Core Habits
Why a Boring Christian Life is Best
The best Christian life embraces ordinary faithfulness in Scripture, prayer, and church rather than chasing extraordinary spiritual experiences.
The Core Habits
Counterintuitive Truths About Prayer
Prayer is about honest, simple communion with God, focusing on his presence and surrendering control rather than striving for perfection or following rigid formulas.
The Core Habits
We’re All Beginners at Prayer
Prayer is not about expertise or eloquence but about humble, heartfelt communication with God, who welcomes us as we are.
The Core Habits
When You Don't Feel Like Going to Church
Sometimes the most meaningful worship happens when we show up despite reluctance, allowing God to meet us in our weakness through the church community he designed for our spiritual formation.
The Core Habits
A Beginner’s Guide to Reading the Bible
Reading the Bible can be hard. Here's how to get started.
The Core Habits
The Hidden Value of Church
The church might be the most underrated and under-appreciated way to grow spiritually.
The Core Habits
Building a Stronger Prayer Life
Discover how to transform your prayer life from a daily struggle into a profound, joy-filled conversation with a Father who deeply cares about every detail of your life.
The Core Habits
Finding Your Rhythm in Bible Reading: A Beginner's Guide
Reading the Bible consistently will transform your life. Here's how to get started.
Going the Distance
How to keep growing when the novelty wears off. Habits that last a lifetime.
Going the Distance
A Rule of Life Isn’t Self-Optimization; It’s a Path of Faithful Love
A “rule of life” is not a productivity hack; it’s a realistic set of rhythms that helps people stay responsive to God and loving when their limits, roles, and desires collide.
Going the Distance
A Year-End Spiritual Review
The turn of a new year offers a natural opportunity to reflect on what has been and prepare for what's ahead. Here are some questions to guide you through that process.
Going the Distance
Hope for Christians Who Are Bad at Habits
Spiritual growth doesn't require natural habit-forming abilities.
Going the Distance
The Problem With Habits (and Why We Still Need Them)
Spiritual disciplines, while necessary, risk becoming empty routines that distract from their true purpose: bringing us closer to God.
