THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER -- SPRING 2026

          Hello Calvary family! For my portion of this newsletter, I want to give us a recap of our “How We Grow” series that God has had us on in the first quarter of 2026. I have done my best to lead us on this spiritual renewal journey and I pray that you have been as challenged and blessed as I have.

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          Growth is one of the clearest signs of life. Wherever something is alive, it is changing, stretching, deepening, and becoming stronger. Each message that I have preached this year, I have tried to build on the last, inviting us to move beyond comfort and into deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

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          While I hope that you have enjoyed these message and I pray that they have been impactful in your life, this series has not just been about learning something new—it has been about becoming someone new. 

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          As a way of reminder and to hopefully keep these principles in our minds as we leave this series behind, here are some of the key moments from this journey and what they continue to mean for us as a church family.

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All of Me: The Starting Point of Growth

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Spiritual growth begins with surrender.

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          In All of Me, we were reminded that God does not ask for pieces of our lives—He asks for our whole hearts. True transformation begins when we stop negotiating with God and start yielding completely to Him. We are to love the Lord with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul and all our strength! Growth happens when our plans become His plans, our priorities become His priorities, and our will becomes aligned with His purpose.

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          When we place all of ourselves on the altar as an act of consecration, God begins doing His greatest work within us. In a world full of distractions, if we can learn to tame today, we will transform tomorrow. Are you answering the call to give all?

 

I Want to Grow: Developing a Hunger for More

 

Growth does not happen accidentally—it begins with desire.

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          In I Want to Grow, we were challenged to move beyond spiritual complacency and develop a genuine hunger for maturity. Comfort is the enemy of growth and we must activate our spiritual disciplines to push past comfort in our life. Scripture reminds us that while milk sustains infants, God calls His people to deeper understanding, stronger faith, and greater obedience.

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          God never intended for a salvation experience to be the finish line, but the starting point of a vibrant, growing relationship with Him. But growth is not left to chance, it is a choice. Growth begins the moment we decide we are no longer satisfied staying where we are.

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          A growing church is made up of growing believers. We need to decide every day, I Want to Grow.

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Abide in Me: Staying Connected to the Source

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Jesus said, “Without Me, you can do nothing.”

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          In Abide in Me, we explored the life-changing truth that spiritual fruit is not produced through effort alone—it comes through connection. Just as a branch cannot survive apart from the vine, our strength, peace, joy, and effectiveness flow directly from remaining close to Christ. Humanity tells us to strive for independence, while God instructs us that we are to depend on Him.

 

          Every Christian must endure seasons of pruning. While these season can be painful, and while they may not be enjoyable, they are for our good. During these seasons, we must allow God to remove what hinders growth and embrace his refining love. This will help us to produce more fruit. 

 

          Growth is not about striving harder. It is about staying closer. When we abide in Him, He produces power that we cannot manufacture ourselves. As we Abide in Him, we are able to trust His will, even when it sometimes differs from our desires. 

 

Silent Killers: Guarding What Matters Most

 

The journey to spiritual health begins with a thorough examination of our lives.

 

          We must look inward, beyond the facade we present to the world, and ask ourselves: What is silently killing my spiritual wellness?

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          Not every threat to our spiritual life is obvious, but in order to identify these things, requires us to be honest with ourselves.

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          In Silent Killers, we confronted the hidden dangers that quietly weaken faith—neglect, distraction, bitterness, compromise, and spiritual drift. These are the unseen forces that slowly rob believers of passion and purpose if left unchecked. We were challenged to Exam, Identify and Eliminate all things that are coming between us and God. 

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          Healthy growth requires awareness and intentional protection. God calls us to guard our hearts, renew our minds, and remain spiritually alert so that nothing steals what He is building inside us. We must confront the spiritual Silent Killers in our life because what you fail to conquer will control you.

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Courageous Faith: Choosing Trust Over Fear

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Every believer faces moments where fear tries to replace faith.

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          In Courageous Faith, we looked at the example of David and Goliath and were reminded that victory does not belong to the strongest—it belongs to those who trust God. Fear may speak loudly, but faith speaks with authority.

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          Courageous Faith is not the absence of fear, but the determination to trust God despite it. David did not cower in fear like the rest of the army of Israel. He faced it head on, fueled by the faith that God was greater than any adversary. This kind of faith does not change the reality of the challenges that we face but refuses to let them dictate the outcome. 

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          Everyone faces giants. You can kill yours just like David killed his. Growth happens whenever we step forward in obedience even when the outcome feels uncertain. Faith is contagious. Courage is powerful. God still honors those who trust Him. Giants still fall!

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          Live your life, every day, with Courageous Faith!

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From Winter to Spring: It’s breakthrough season

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          As the earth awakens from the slumber of winter, we find ourselves on the brink of transformation. The transition From Winter to Spring is more than just a change in weather - it is a powerful metaphor for spiritual renewal. Just as the barren landscape bursts forth with life, God invites us too experience breakthrough and growth in our spiritual journey. 

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          Winter seasons come to everyone—times of waiting, uncertainty, hardship and times when it feels like we are frozen in place. Yet Scripture and nature reminds us that winter seasons never lasts forever. God specializes in renewal. He brings life where things seemed dormant and restores hope where it once felt distant.

Spring is growing season. Spring is breakthrough season. The pressure that you though was meant to bury you, was actually allowing you to be planted. And anything that is planted is always destined to grow! Trust the process, growth is on the way! 

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          If you feel like you are enduring a winter season, just remember, Spring is on the way! God is always working beneath the surface—even when we cannot see it. Soon the ground will thaw and become fertile and life will breakthrough. 

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Continuing the Journey Together

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As we reflect on these messages, one truth stands out clearly: God is trying to grow something special in our church family. He is calling each of us higher, deeper, and closer to Him.

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Although we are moving on from this series, Growth is not finished. It is just beginning. Let’s continue surrendering. Let’s continue abiding. Let’s continue choosing faith. Let’s continue stepping into the new season God has prepared for us. Because when we grow in Him, everything changes.

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Never stop growing!

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- Pastor Dan