One way to foster spiritual growth is to spend time around people who aren't Christians. I like to hang out in bars and clubs, just listening to bands and chatting with people. That may sound like an odd way to grow spiritually, but let me explain.

When I'm around non-Christians, it ignites within me a strong motivation to practice the disciplines of the faith. The conversations I have with people outside the church open my eyes to their needs and often break my heart. It stirs a deep longing for them to know Jesus and his saving grace. It makes me desperate to see them follow him. It also breaks me out of complacency and the numbness that often results from being immersed in the Christian subculture.

Being outside a church context reminds me of the urgency of our mission, which in turn causes me to want to pursue God all the more so that I'm pursuing that mission in a healthy, Spiritfilled way. I'm also motivated to be in Scripture. When I have discussions with ...