Simple ways to put compassion into action.

Whether it’s listening to someone in distress, helping a neighbour after a tragedy, or simply stopping to say hello, being a good Samaritan is about putting compassion into action. That’s the message from Jon Owen (CEO of Wayside Chapel), Raewyn Elsegood (chaplain and author), and Danny Abdallah (co-founder of i4Give).

For Jon, the phrase “Good Samaritan” has a deeper meaning beyond someone who simply lends a helping hand.

“It’s about a story,” he explains, referencing the biblical parable where the Samaritan stops to help someone in need. “If being a good Samaritan means anything to me … it’s the person who can get off their high horse.”

For most Australians, Jon says, a good Samaritan is someone who sees a person in distress and takes time out of their day to respond, regardless of whether they know them.

“It’s the ability to put aside your own agenda to attend to someone else’s,” he says.

The Power of Compassionate Action

Raewyn begins with one key characteristic: compassion.

“When you can really empathise, you want to walk towards a person,” she explains. “But when you’re sympathising, you might do the odd nod and go, ‘Oh, that poor person,’ and just keep walking past.”

Raewyn, a disaster recovery chaplain who responded to the Bondi shooting in December 2025, witnessed first-hand what compassion looks like in action. She explains how the local community looked out for each other in their grief, including helping a homeless woman who was too scared to return to her usual spot at the Pavilion.

“A local had noticed (her),” says Raewyn, “so he seconded one of us chaplains to go with him and try and convince her that her home was still safe … I watched that beautiful work of art of the locals helping each other.”

Quiet Service Without Expectation

For Danny, being a good Samaritan means showing up quietly when things are tough.

“A good Samaritan is someone that comes quietly and helps and serves,” he says.

“Someone that isn’t necessarily there in your good times. It’s when you’re in your tough times, you just see them come and help pick up the pieces … without expecting anything in return.”

Having experienced tragedy himself, Danny saw the human spirit step up through people who would drop food, pick up the kids, and check in without making a fuss.

Now, as a prison chaplain, Danny brings that same quiet service to inmates. He listens to their stories, encourages them, and helps them see that their time in prison could transform them.

“I tell them, this place here could be a blessing or a curse in your life,” says Danny. “You can come out like gold or like ash. It’s up to you.”

Simple Steps to Make a Difference

So, what does it take to be a good Samaritan? Jon’s advice is simple: just take one step.

“No one is a problem to be solved. They’re a person to be met,” he says. “Don’t think about people as projects … One of my favourite quotes that guides me is, ‘I’m just one beggar helping another beggar find bread.’”

Jon encourages people to remember that we all have gifts and deficits, and that vulnerability is actually a gift we bring.

“Let me tell you, there ain’t no answer that’s going to hit the mark at all when you’re in those moments, but your presence will,” says Jon.

Raewyn agrees that kindness is essential. “Our world needs people to open their eyes and not walk past when kindness is needed.”

Jon says we have communities that embody this spirit, when Australians rally together after tragedies like bushfires, floods, and terror attacks.

“We see the way people come together. People put aside differences, put aside divisions and just check in on each other,” he says.

His final piece of advice … “See someone, look them in the eyes and say hello.”

Article supplied with thanks to Helping Hands TV.

About the Author: Helping Hands is an Australian produced TV program that airs on 9GEM, Channel 9 and 9NOW, and showcases people and organisations who make the world a better place.

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What it means to give thanks in all circumstances

Life is never perfect. Sometimes it even feels like our world is falling apart and we are only just holding onto the pieces. A job finishes, a marriage ends, an unexpected diagnosis arrives. And in the midst of all this someone says to you, “Just give thanks in all circumstances.”

It can feel like the worst advice in the world. How is anyone supposed to be grateful while they are grieving, afraid or in pain? For a lot of people, this verse has done more harm than good, because it sounds like God is asking them to pretend everything is fine when it isn’t.

But actually, this is not what Paul wrote, and if we look closely, the difference can completely change our mindset.

Give Thanks In All Circumstances

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

Notice the wording carefully. Paul does not say, “give thanks for all circumstances.” He says give thanks in all circumstances. It’s a small detail, but its implications can radically transform our heart posture.

Giving thanks for a cancer diagnosis, a broken relationship or a financial collapse would be strange, even dishonest. Scripture never asks us to celebrate suffering as though it were good in itself. What it asks is us is to keep our eyes on God’s presence and goodness even while we are standing in the middle of something painful.

Written to a Church Under Pressure

It helps to remember who Paul was writing to. The Thessalonian church was not a comfortable, thriving congregation with easy lives. They were a young community facing real hostility and persecution, and Paul had already written earlier in the letter to comfort them about believers who had died.

This was not a theoretical instruction dropped into an easy season. It was written to people who were grieving and under threat, which means Paul was not asking for shallow positivity. He was directing them to look at the One who is always good despite our circumstances.

Gratitude Is Not the Same as Pretending

There is an important distinction between denial and gratitude. Denial refuses to acknowledge the truth and pretends that everything is fine. Gratitude does the opposite. It recognises our situation yet still looks to God and trusts Him in the midst of it.

Giving thanks in hard circumstances is not about denying our feelings. It is choosing to notice what is still true even when everything feels like it is falling apart: that we are not alone, that God has not left, and that this moment is not the whole story.

That is a very different posture to forced cheerfulness. It leaves room for tears and honest lament, while still anchoring the heart somewhere solid.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Thanksgiving in difficult seasons is not easy for anyone. It’s not a switch that we can just flip and suddenly have a cheerful heart. Like any habit, it takes time, discipline and lots of practice. Here are a few ways you can start to implement gratitude into your day:

• Name one thing that is still good, even on the worst days, whether that is a friend who checked in, a roof over your head or simply having made it through today.
• Bring the hard thing honestly to God in prayer rather than skipping past it. Lament and thanksgiving can sit in the same prayer.
• Look for God’s presence in the details rather than expecting Him to remove the circumstance. Sometimes gratitude begins with noticing He is near, not with the problem being solved.
• Let thanksgiving grow slowly. It is rarely instant, and that is fine.

The Hope in the Hard Word

Paul’s instruction to, “Give thanks in all circumstances” was never meant to add guilt to grief. It was meant to give a struggling church something to hold onto when everything else felt unstable.

If you are in a season where thanksgiving feels impossible, that is not a sign of failed faith. It’s a chance to practise gratitude, whatever that looks like, and seek God in the middle of your storm.

God is not asking for a performance. Nor is He wanting you to wallow in the pain. He is inviting us to trust that even here, in the middle of the mess, He has not gone anywhere. And that is something worth being thankful for.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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Because perspective matters when it comes to success, opportunities and the difficulties of of life.

Roses are beautiful, but the most spectacular ones have thorns. It makes sense. Something as exquisite as a rose needs some protecting, for though lovely, they are delicate and vulnerable, and need some safguarding from grasping hands which might clutch their blooms without thought or heed.

I recently led a leadership strategic planning day and instead of the tried and trusted SWOT analysis (strengths/ weaknesses/ opportunities/ threats) was asked to run a similar but not identical Rose/ Buds/ Thorns exercise, where you explore what is deeply pleasing about what you are presently doing (the roses), what potential or opportunities are waiting to be grasped (buds) and what difficulties are being faced (thorns). The group responded really well to it, and some very constructive discussion was backed by excellent decisions. It was a valuable time.

It struck me that this is not simply a good exercise for organisations, but that it’s also helpful for individuals. I like it because the framing is essentially positive. It’s the fine balancing act between the beautiful, the possible, the vulnerable, the sharp and the difficult. It normalises that all are present. It’s so easy to look at the thorns and not to notice all that is still beautiful and possible.

True story

I was around 7 years old and had just got my first two wheeler bike – yes, I know kids now get them at about 2, but there was a different financial climate back then. My friend Lynton was helping me learn to ride and would faithfully run behind the bike holding it up with his one hand. Getting short of breath he suddenly stopped and I was alone, riding the two wheeler with immense pride.

And then I saw them – a full bed of Christ Thorn flowers, you know the ones with pretty red flowers but seriously savage thorns. I couldn’t stop myself from fixating on them. The more I told myself to steer away the more I felt magnetically drawn to them – I have no idea why. And yes, I crashed right into them. I still wince when I think how many of those thorns went into my hands and knees. They were beautiful flowers, but they sure knew how to defend themselves. Ah the parables you learn when you are 7.

Back to today…

How would you answer someone who asked what are the roses, buds and thorns in your life? Think about it…

It is always good to start with the roses

Or to put it differently, to start with gratitude. It’s the Phil 4:8 principle – whatever is good, whatever is lovely, true, good, noble, right, admirable – think about these things. It’s a choice we make – the conscious decision to notice and affirm the beautiful, because that then sets the tone for everything else. It is clear that Paul expects us to find many things to think about. You shouldn’t have to wrack you brain extra hard to find something to fit the bill. Be quietly confident. Even in difficult seasons, there is much that is beautiful. Observe it, celebrate it.

And then there are buds

The little bits of potential that surround us. You can never be certain with a bud. It may of may not flower into full bloom. It’s far more likely to if it is noticed, protected (just a little), and allowed to flourish. It’s the “what’s there waiting to develop” conversation. It could be a new skill to learn, a challenging task to accept, a friendship to develop. Each bud is a gift – a possibility – a sign of hope. 

Paul again frames it well when he instructs Timothy to fan into flame the gift that was within him through the laying on of hands (2 Tim 1:6). The bud was there – now Timothy needed to fan it into flame. And so should we.

We finish with the thorns

Not because they are the last word, anything but. Reminded of how much is good and lovely, and of the gifts that God has placed in our orbit, we soberly look at the thorns, and accept their challenge to cherish the roses and buds which they protect. Because in a strange way, our difficulties are protective – they strengthen us, teach us resilience, and invite us to put our trust and faith in God.

For to quote Paul one more time, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil 4:13). And lest you (or I) forget it, it is “through Christ” – not without Him – that this is possible.

And here is an Amen and Amen to that.

Article supplied with thanks to Brian Harris.

About the Author: Brian is a speaker, teacher, leader, writer, author and respected theologian who is founding director of the AVENIR Leadership Institute, fostering leaders who will make a positive impact on the world.

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What Joseph’s story reveals to us, and how God speaks through His Word in places we would least expect.

The story of Joseph (known for his Technicolor dream coat) is one many know well. A young man with dreams. A family fractured by jealousy. A descent into betrayal, then slavery and finally imprisonment. But there’s more to this tale than meets the eye. This was not simply a story about resilience or perseverance. It was about the way God still moves through people’s suffering to bring life to them and those in their world.

Because when you look closely, Joseph’s story is not about Joseph being a hero.

It is about the glory of God.

The Unexpected Way God Chooses

Joseph was not the obvious choice. In his family, position and honour were meant to belong to the older brothers. Yet God’s hand rested on the younger son, setting him apart for a purpose that no one else could see.

That choice stirred tension and as jealousy grew, it led to rejection.

Joseph’s own brothers turned against him, selling him into slavery and removing him from everything familiar. What followed was a season marked by loss, uncertainty and injustice.

Yet even in those moments, God had not stepped away.

This is often where the tension lies for us. We can recognise God’s calling in the good moments, but when the story takes a turn, we wonder if He is still present.

Joseph’s life answers that question with a quiet but powerful yes.

Suffering That Was Not Wasted

It would have been easy to see Joseph’s journey as a string of setbacks. Betrayed by family, falsely accused, forgotten in prison. Each moment could have felt like the end of the story.

But God was writing something bigger.

Every hardship became preparation. Each delay carried purpose. Every closed door positioned him for something that only God could bring about.

In time, Joseph rose to leadership in Egypt, placed in a position where his decisions would preserve life during a devastating famine. Nations would come to him for grain. Families would survive because of the wisdom God had given him.

From the outside, it might look like a remarkable turnaround. But through the lens Mandy shared, it becomes something greater. It was God sustaining His people. God fulfilling His purposes.

Joseph’s story reveals God’s purpose in suffering, turning what was meant for harm into something that carried life.

A Pattern Hidden in Plain Sight

Joseph’s story reminds us that Scripture is not random. The patterns we see are intentional, the stories are connected, the themes are repeated.

In the Jewish understanding of the Bible, there is an expectation that earlier accounts will mirror what is still to come. That readers would recognise familiar shapes and begin to connect them.

Joseph’s story carries that kind of shape. A chosen one who is rejected. A servant who suffers. A leader who rises, not for his own gain, but to rescue others.

This is part of how God reveals His plans across generations. He plants these moments throughout Scripture so that, when the time is right, the fuller picture can be seen.

Finding Hope for Your Own Story

Many of us know what it feels like to be in the middle of a difficult chapter, or to sit in the tension of unanswered questions. To carry disappointment, loss or uncertainty and wonder how it fits into anything good.

Joseph’s story speaks directly into that space. It reminds us that God is not absent in the waiting. He is working, shaping and positioning.

Even when the process feels hidden, God’s purpose in suffering is still unfolding.

This is the heart of Christian encouragement. Not that we avoid hardship, but that God meets us in it and leads us through it with intention and care.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision Christian Media – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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You have more influence than you think.

When you hear the word “leader”, who comes to mind? A pastor? A CEO? A politician? Most of us tend to think of leadership as something reserved for people with a title, platform or position of authority. But the Bible presents a different picture. In God’s Kingdom, every Christian is a leader because every Christian has influence.

Neil Johnson and Bible teacher Dr Kameel Majdali know the importance of leadership in a changing culture. While churches and communities often look for strong leaders to cast vision and inspire others, Neil suggests something many Christians overlook: every believer has influence. And wherever there is influence, leadership follows.

Whether it’s your family, workplace, church, friendship group or neighbourhood, every one of us has opportunities to shape the lives of those around us.

Why Every Christian Is a Leader

Many Christians assume leadership isn’t relevant to them because they don’t hold an official position. But Neil challenges the idea by pointing out that influence is something every believer possesses.

“We all have an opportunity to influence those who are in our circle,” he said.

For some of us, that circle is our family. For others of us, it’s our friends, colleagues, sporting club or local church. Even when we don’t always see it, people are constantly watching how we live, act and behave as Christians. We’ve fallen for the idea that leadership is all about authority, but it’s about influence.

The good news is that you don’t need a massive platform to make a difference. Some of the most significant Kingdom impact happens through ordinary conversations, acts of kindness and faithful relationships built over time.

Leadership Is About Bringing People Along

Leaders often carry the vision. But what Dr Kameel pointed out was that good leaders help others embrace that vision as their own too. “We have to take the lead by casting the vision as well as knowing the strategy of how to get to the goal,” Kameel said. “Winning people over to the vision, getting them stakeholders so it’s no longer your vision… it’s their vision too.”

And this is modelled perfectly through the best leader to have walked this earth- Jesus. Jesus didn’t force people to follow Him. He always started with relationship. He taught them, equipped them and gave them a shared mission. The disciples weren’t spectators in Christ’s ministry. They were active advocates for the good news of the Gospel.

The same principle still applies in Christian community today. Whether we’re serving in church, the people you live with, raising children, mentoring younger believers or encouraging friends, leadership is about helping others grow alongside us.

We Don’t Lead Alone

Dr Kameel reminds us that Christian leadership is never meant to be carried in our own strength. “If we think we’re going to do this all on our lonesome, we’ll fall flat on our face,” he said. “But if we understand that Jesus Christ is the one who is going before us… then we will find far more fruitfulness than trying to do things in our own strength.”

Many of us hesitate to influence others because we don’t feel qualified enough. We worry we don’t know enough, haven’t been a Christian long enough or don’t have the right personality.

But Christian leadership has never been about having all the answers. It’s about faithfully walking with Jesus and helping others do the same.

The Influence You Have Matters

The people in your own backyard matter to God. Your friends, family, neighbours and church community.

You may never hold a leadership title, but that doesn’t mean you’re not leading. Every Christian is a leader in some capacity because every Christian has influence.

Every act of encouragement, every conversation about faith and every example of Christlike living is an example of Christian leadership in action.

And when we allow God to work through our everyday influence, He can use even the smallest acts of faithfulness to strengthen His people, build community and help others take their next step towards Him.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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Why journaling your God conversations can change everything.

How do you maintain an ongoing conversation with God?

Let’s get practical for a moment. Hearing God’s voice is only part of the story. The real key is doing what the Spirit says– and that’s often the hard part.

Partly, it’s because we forget. Our God conversations become a fleeting moment in the day, and soon after, as the distractions and busyness of life crowd in, we’ve lost what the Spirit said.

Humanity has always been this way

I think that’s why God kept telling the prophets: write it down.

God said it to Moses. To Jeremiah. To Isaiah. To Habakkuk… “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)

Why would God say this?

So that we can run with what God said… so we can actually do it.

Words that don’t return empty

God’s words are sent to have an impact on our lives. They’re full of power and authority as well as God’s character qualities such as love, hope, peace. They’re also full of God’s creativity and the ability to bring themselves to pass.

The prophet Isaiah described it this way: God’s words don’t return empty. Like rain and snow falling from heaven, they water the earth and make it flourish before they go back up. God’s words work the same way – they accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which they were sent. (from Isaiah 55:10-11)

So hearing God isn’t just about having a nice experience with the Holy Spirit. It’s about being transformed from the inside out so that we become more like Jesus and more like ourselves. We need to let the words of God actually do their work in our hearts. And that takes more than a passing thought.

Eat the scroll

I love the imagery God gives the prophet Ezekiel. God tells him to write his words on a scroll…and then “eat them.” (Ezekiel 3:3)

So that’s exactly what Ezekiel did. He ate the scroll, and it tasted sweet as honey in his mouth.

It’s a strange picture, isn’t it? Imagine eating a scroll and trying to digest it. But God’s point is simple: take in the words you’ve been given until they become part of you.

Read them. Think about them. Meditate on them. Chew them over until you’ve fully taken them in. Don’t forget them. Let them change you – and do what they say.

God’s words are powerful. They cut through our sin and selfishness. They quietly, powerfully form God’s purpose in us – but only if we let them stay long enough to work.

Why writing it down matters

This is why it’s so helpful to write your God conversations down.

For some of us, that’s journaling in a book. For others, it’s a note on our phone. If you’re more visually minded, you might draw what God is showing you. However you do it – even if it’s just one word or one thought – don’t lose what God has spoken. Write it down. Draw the vision. Read it back again. Day after day, sit with it, digest it, until it becomes part of who you are.

Article supplied with thanks to God Conversations.

About the Author: Tania Harris is a pastor, speaker, author and the founder of God Conversations.

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God wasn’t tired. So why did He rest?

Most of us can picture the creation story, but have you ever wondered why God rested on the seventh day? We read of the six days when God spoke light into darkness, separated the seas from the land, filled the sky with birds and created humanity in His own image. Then, almost as an afterthought, Genesis tells us that God rested on the seventh day.

Berni Dymet says we’ve often misunderstood this part of Genesis. We tend to assume God rested because He was exhausted, but the Bible reveals something quite different. God rested because His work was complete. When we truly understand the significance of the seventh day in Genesis, we see God’s character and His design for humanity in a brand-new light.

The Creation Story Doesn’t End With Adam and Eve

When we think about the climax of creation, we naturally assume it comes when God creates people. After all, humanity is made in His image and given the responsibility of caring for His creation.

But Genesis doesn’t stop there. Genesis 2:3 says, “Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.” The seventh day isn’t just an appendix to creation. It’s woven into the story of creation, suggesting that it is just as important as everything that came before it.

God’s Rest Was Never About Being Tired

It’s easy to read our own experience into the text. Because we are human, our bodies require rest at the end of a long week. We’ve never experienced it any other way. So when we read of God resting on the seventh day, we assume it’s because He needs rest too.

But this is not the case. Psalm 121 reminds us that God “will neither slumber nor sleep,” making it clear that the Creator doesn’t become weary or run out of strength. If this is the truth, then why did God rest on the seventh day? If God wasn’t exhausted, then His rest must have meant something else.

Why Did God Rest on the Seventh Day?

Berni points out that before God rested, “God sat back to enjoy what He’d made. It wasn’t just good. It was very good.” His work was complete. Nothing needed improving, correcting or adding to it.

God’s rest wasn’t the rest of someone who had reached His limit. It was the rest of someone who had completed something perfect and stopped to enjoy it. He wasn’t recovering from creation. He was delighting in it.

Understanding this changes the way we see God’s character. The seventh day points us to a satisfied Creator who delights in the goodness of His finished work.

The First Thing God Made Holy

Genesis doesn’t say that Eden was holy. It doesn’t describe the rivers, the mountains or even Adam and Eve as holy. Instead, the first thing God sets apart as holy is a day.

Long before there was a temple, a nation of Israel or the command to keep the Sabbath, God built a rhythm of work and rest into creation itself. “The seventh day is a Sabbath day of solemn rest, holy to the Lord,” Berni shares. Rest wasn’t introduced because humanity was struggling to keep up. It was woven into the world from the very beginning.

Why Does This Matter Today?

We live in a culture that celebrates the hustle and bustle of life. It’s easy to believe our value comes from what we achieve, how productive we are or how much we can fit into a day. But the creation story invites us into something so much more worthwhile.

Why did God rest on the seventh day? He paused to delight in what He had made. Berni says, “There’s another dimension of rest, which is about enjoying our lives, enjoying the fruits of our labours, enjoying our relationships.”

That’s the invitation we find in Genesis. We can follow God’s example by weaving healthy rhythms of rest into our lives, taking time to enjoy His goodness and remembering that He is the One who sustains the world, not us.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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Scripture Union NSW CEO Jim Wackett shares practical advice for understanding God’s Word and growing in faith.

Jim Wackett says the Bible is best understood as a library of books that together tell one great story.

“It’s a library of 66 books,” Jim said.

“It’s a mixture of history, law, biography, poetry, wisdom literature and letters.”

While those books cover a wide range of genres and time periods, Jim believes they all contribute to one overarching narrative.

“They all form part of one great narrative arc that tells the story of humankind’s sin and brokenness and the way that God has sought to reconcile Himself with humanity, particularly through His Son Jesus.”

Start with Jesus

One of the most common mistakes new readers make is starting at Genesis and attempting to read straight through to Revelation.

While that approach works for some people, Jim recommends beginning with Jesus.

He calls it the “Star Wars approach”.

“Start with the story’s great hero first and then go into the hero’s backstory,” Jim said.

For new Christians, Jim recommends:

1. Start with the Gospel of Mark.
2. Read the Gospel of Luke.
3. Continue into the book of Acts.
4. Then begin exploring the Old Testament.

The Gospels present the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus, while Acts tells the story of the early church and how the message of Jesus spread throughout the world.

Every story in the Bible ultimately points towards Jesus.

Understanding the Old Testament

Once readers understand the story of Jesus, Jim believes the Old Testament becomes much easier to understand.

From Noah and Abraham to Moses, David and the prophets, many of the Bible’s major figures point forward to the coming of Christ.

Jim recalled a line from The Jesus Storybook Bible that has stayed with him over the years:

“Every story whispers His name.”

While the Old Testament contains remarkable stories, it also highlights humanity’s need for a Saviour.

The stories of Genesis, Exodus and the historical books help readers understand both the human condition and God’s plan of redemption that ultimately finds its fulfilment in Jesus.

Don’t read the Bible alone

While personal Bible reading is important, Jim encouraged new Christians not to treat studying Scripture as a solo activity.

He compared it to joining a gym.

“You can go into the gym by yourself and try and work it all out, but it really helps to have a coach or trainer who can show you how things work,” he said.

In the same way, experienced Christians, churches and Bible study groups can help readers understand difficult passages and provide valuable context.

Reading with others also creates opportunities for discussion, encouragement and accountability.

Helpful tools for beginners

For those looking for practical ways to get started, Jim recommended the YouVersion Bible app, which offers reading plans, multiple translations and guided studies.

Bible reading plans can also be helpful because they break larger sections of Scripture into manageable pieces and focus on particular themes, topics or books.

Taking the first step

For those feeling intimidated by the size or complexity of the Bible, Jim’s encouragement was simple: start with Jesus and keep going.

Understanding the Bible takes time, but every chapter contributes to the bigger story of God’s relationship with humanity.

For many Christians, reading Scripture becomes not just an exercise in learning, but an important way of growing in faith and understanding the God revealed through its pages.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope 103.2.

Chris is the host of Hope Drive, bringing light, uplifting stories and thoughtful conversation to listeners every afternoon. Chris initially studied science before diving into an IT career before following his life-long passion (talking!) and joining the Hope team.

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Why two Christians can read the same Bible and disagree

Have you ever wondered how two sincere Christians can read the same Bible and come away with completely different ideas about God? Or listened to two different Christian podcasts that seem to contradict each other in their teaching? Questions like these reveals why spiritual maturity matters and why the Apostle Paul warned believers against being “tossed by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). This phrase might sound unusual, but it speaks directly into the challenge of staying grounded in God’s truth.

What Does “Every Wind of Doctrine” Mean?

Pastor Adam Ramsey explained that Paul is describing spiritual immaturity. In Ephesians 4, he speaks through the metaphors of children, waves and powerful winds to illustrate what happens when believers are not grounded in God’s truth.

Imagine a small dinghy caught in the middle of a storm. It has no control over where it goes. The waves push it one way, then another. Or picture a leaf being blown through the air by every gust of wind. That’s the image Paul is painting.

Adam explains that a spiritually immature person can be easily swayed by whatever opinion or cultural trend comes along. Their beliefs shift depending on the latest book they read, podcast they listen to or speaker they hear.

“Paul wants us to come to a place where we’re grounded in our theological convictions,” he shared.

Why Does Paul Compare Spiritual Maturity and Children?

At first glance, Paul’s comparison to children might sound harsh. Especially because didn’t Jesus call His disciples to have childlike faith?

Children are naturally trusting. That’s one of their strengths. But it can also make them vulnerable. They haven’t yet developed the wisdom to evaluate every claim they hear. Paul isn’t criticising their innocence or trust. Rather, he’s highlighting their lack of discernment and spiritual maturity.

In the same way, spiritually immature Christians can become vulnerable to every new idea, trend or teaching they encounter. So, while God calls us to trust Him with childlike faith, He also calls us to grow in wisdom and understanding.

Why Are Christians Vulnerable to False Teaching?

This spiritual maturity Paul describes in Ephesians 4 isn’t just to convict us. It is also to warn against false teachers. Charles Spurgeon captures this idea like this:

“Discernment is not merely the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong, but between right and almost right.”

Right and almost right. That’s a fine line to cross.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan didn’t begin by completely denying God’s Word. He just led Eve to question it. It wasn’t right, but it was almost right.

When we are unable to differentiate the lies, our understanding of the gospel can become poisoned and shallow. Adam used an analogy of a perfectly cooked meal. When even a little bit of poison is added, it becomes dangerous.

Most of us could pick out an idea that directly contradicts Scripture, but when it is watered down, diluted and sandwiched in between truth, can we recognise the difference?

This is why discernment matters. It helps us recognise the difference between what is genuinely true and what is just convincing.

How Do We Remain Spiritually Mature?

Now more than ever we have countless resources and technologies available to help us grow in our faith. This is a wonderful opportunity, but it also requires wisdom. Not every confident voice is a trustworthy voice. Not every viral clip represents sound biblical teaching.

Adam points out that Christians are called to become settled in their convictions about Jesus and the Gospel. To become spiritually mature and not “swayed to and fro by the waves” we have to come back to the Bible. “We only ever know God as much as we know His word,” he shared.

When we study the Scripture and know His Word, we learn to discern and test what we hear against the truth. This is exactly what spiritual maturity is all about.

The Goal Isn’t Knowing Everything

Thankfully, Paul isn’t calling Christians to become theology experts. Adam acknowledges that none of us will ever know everything about God, and what a blessing this is! We have the privilege of spending our entire lives growing in our understanding of Him.

Instead, spiritual maturity means becoming grounded in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  As Adam puts it, “We don’t graduate gospel doctrines, we just mature into them.”

Sometimes we can assume spiritual maturity means moving beyond the basics of the gospel. But Paul teaches the opposite. We can never outgrow the gospel. Instead, we slowly learn how it can transform every area of our life.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

Feature image: Canva

Their purpose and how to use them

When most Christians think about spiritual gifts, the first question they ask is, “What’s my gift?” But what if that’s actually the wrong question? The truth is, the gifts of the Spirit are often misunderstood, and serve a far greater purpose than we realise.

What if the real meaning of these gifts has been hiding in plain sight all along?

Dr David Jeremiah gets to the very core of this idea and explains that every believer has been given a spiritual gift, and that gift was never meant to stay hidden or unused. The question is not whether you are gifted. The question is how you are using what you have already received.

The Gifts Were Never Meant for You

When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, we tend to ask, “what is my gift? What am I good at? How does this fulfil me?” But Scripture takes us in a different direction.

Dr Jeremiah explains that spiritual gifts are given “to profit all.” They are designed to strengthen others, not elevate ourselves. “When people use their spiritual gifts within the church, they bless us with those gifts.”

In other words, your obedience becomes someone else’s encouragement.

What Happens When You Don’t Use Your Gift of the Spirit?

We often think receiving and using our gifts are an optional extra. An added bonus here and there to please God. But this is not the case. When a gift is left sitting idle, something is missing in the body of Christ.

If your gift is meant to build others up, then not using it leaves a gap where strength, encouragement, or truth should be. Someone misses out on what God intended to give through you.

There is an old saying that Dr Jeremiah quoted: “Use it, don’t abuse it, or you will lose it.” Spiritually speaking, a neglected gift loses its impact. But when it is used faithfully, it becomes a channel for God’s work in other people’s lives.

Why Gifts of the Spirit Don’t Make You “Spiritual”

Dr Jeremiah pointed out an excellent yet daunting truth. “You can be greatly gifted yet still not walking with the Lord.”

The church in Corinth is the clearest example. They were rich in spiritual gifts, yet spiritually immature. Their lives did not match the power they displayed.

That is a warning for all of us. Spiritual gifts are tools, not proof of holiness. They are meant to point beyond us, not draw attention to us.

The “Specialist” Mistake

Some Christians assume that if they don’t have a particular gift, they’re not responsible for that area of ministry. Scripture says otherwise.

James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” While some are specially gifted in certain areas, all believers are called to live out the basics of the Christian life. The gifts amplify obedience; they do not replace it.

As Dr Jeremiah puts it, “Just because you don’t have the gift of evangelism doesn’t mean you can’t share the gospel with somebody you love.”

The Real Goal: Bringing Glory to Jesus

The ultimate purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is not church growth, personal identity, or even helping others, though all of those are part of it. The final goal is the glory of Jesus Christ.

As 1 Peter 4:11 puts it, “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God… so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

Every gift, whether visible or quiet, points in the same direction. When it is used rightly, it draws attention to Him.

How Do You Discover Your Gift of the Spirit?

If the gifts matter this much, the natural question is: how do you find yours?

Dr Jeremiah outlined a practical path to follow:

• Investigation: Learn what Scripture says about the gifts
• Involvement: Start serving where you are
• Interest: Notice what you are drawn to
• Introspection: Look for where God is using you
• Input: Ask others what they see in you

He shared how “you cannot steer a parked car.” Growth happens when you step out and serve, not when you wait for perfect clarity.

A Life That Gives Back

There is a simple way to understand the gifts of the Spirit:

Your gift is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.

That is the hidden truth many of us miss. So be intentional, step out and see what happens. Spiritual gifts aren’t ultimately about discovering your potential. They’re about participating in God’s mission. As you faithfully serve where He has placed you, He delights in using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things for His glory.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

Feature image: Canva