Hey there!

I want to tell you about Dr. Michael Horton’s new book, Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World. I just downloaded the book and am excited to read it.

I have heard Dr. Horton discuss this theme several times on his excellent podcast, The White Horse Inn, and I couldn’t agree more with his perspective.

Here it is, in my own words:

The Christian life is lived in the ordinary, the mundane, the typical, the average, the seemingly trivial. Spiritual growth occurs via the daily habits of life and speech and prayer and study and perseverance, not the short-lived experiences of a conference, special church services, “radical” living, or “Xtreme” worship.

As a young pentecostal Christian, I was taught to expect and pursue immediate, miraculous, life-transforming experiences. But, over time I observed that Christians always grow slowly. Our spiritual formation is certain, yes, but also very slow. That slow growth is realized not by extraordinary means, but by observing the ordinary work of God’s providence, and attending to the ordinary means of God’s grace: prayer, hearing God’s gospel word, and receiving God’s gospel meal (communion, eucharist).

These ordinary things are the pulse and heartbeat of every Christian life. What we need is not a new program, or a fresh approach to spiritual growth; we need a renewed appreciation for the ordinary ways God grows us up to be like Jesus.

I encourage you to read Ordinary, and to pursue spiritual growth by deepening your life of prayer, study, and fellowship at God’s table.