Tag Archives: spiritual formation

Lay Down Your Reputation

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Carl Simmons

Recently, I’d been walking around a wildlife area of Colorado, where informative plaques abounded. One plaque in particular caught my eye, highlighting the families who’d formerly owned ranches in this area in the late nineteenth/early twentieth centuries. It got me thinking … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Strength

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Carl Simmons

Our strength—or rather, our reliance upon it—is still pride. Therefore, it must be broken. Watchman Nee, in his book Changed into His Likeness, put it this way, “The characteristic of those who truly know God is that they have no … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Baggage: a small-group session

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Carl Simmons

For this session, you’ll need…. a large suitcase a variety of items—at least one per person. Include a Bible, as well as several of the following: work-related items, such as a stapler or even a laptop computer family-related items, such … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Idols

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Carl Simmons

Today we finish our section on the past and begin moving into the present. But there are still some things in our way we need to push aside, so let’s spend today identifying and dealing with them. We have been … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Addiction

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Carl Simmons

Now that we’ve addressed the need to lay down the things we hold against others, let’s spend the rest of this week addressing the other side of our baggage—namely, the logs in our own eyes. Let’s begin today with the … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Bitterness

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Carl Simmons

I had originally considered calling this entry “Lay Down Your Judgment” or “Lay Down Your Grudges.” Either would have worked, and I’ll touch upon them here. But I think the title I settled on captures both those ideas, and something … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Hurt

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Carl Simmons

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the following passage: “He (Christ) was numbered with the transgressors” (Mark 15:28, cf. Isaiah 53:12). I believe that in our own way we too are called to be “numbered with the transgressors,” and … Continue reading →

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Lay Down What’s Done

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Carl Simmons

Last week was about you receiving forgiveness. This week, it’s about you extending it—to others, and ultimately to yourself as well. So yes, this week we’re still more focused on the “negative” pieces of our lives, but the bigger focus … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Old Life: a small-group session

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Carl Simmons

Have everyone take their shoes off before entering your meeting area. If this is your first time together, ask group members to introduce themselves and share what they’re each hoping to get out of this study. (You can ask this … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Shame

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Carl Simmons

“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8, NIV). One of the very first things Peter says to Jesus captures a huge issue for many of us. After a night of fishing and catching nothing, Jesus … Continue reading →

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