Posts with the category “take-20”

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to bot...  Read More

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  Reading: Acts 4:1-22Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you...  Read More

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  Reading: John 9Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you high...  Read More

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  Reading: Romans 5:1-11Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what y...  Read More

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-18Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what ...  Read More

Jesus welcomed people who were often rejected by others, demonstrating that God's love reaches beyond social expectations and personal preferences. In Romans 15, Paul calls believers to bear with one another, pursue unity, and welcome others in the same way Christ has welcomed us. We all depend on the mercy and grace of God, so we have no reason to treat others as projects or keep our distance because their lives are complicated. Instead, we can build relationships with humility, remembering that God is at work in people long before we understand their stories. When we extend the welcome we have received from Jesus, we become part of His work of helping people everywhere discover His love and hope.  Read More

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a wounded man needed help, and several people passed by without stopping. The Samaritan chose compassion over convenience, allowing another person's need to interrupt his plans. We may want others to experience God's love while still protecting our time, comfort, and routines from inconvenience. Yet following Jesus means being willing to notice needs and respond with mercy, even when doing so disrupts our day. Although healthy boundaries matter, we can learn to recognize unexpected opportunities to serve others as opportunities for ministry rather than interruptions to it.  Read More

The early church demonstrated that following Jesus was not simply an individual experience but a shared life marked by fellowship, generosity, and care. Their commitment to one another created a community where people could experience the goodness of God through everyday relationships. Relational evangelism requires more than a moment of connection; it calls us to invest our time, energy, and attention in others. As we welcome people into our lives and communities, they have opportunities to see our faith in action and experience the love of Christ firsthand. We may never know how God will work through a simple meal, a thoughtful conversation, or a consistent friendship.  Read More

When the first disciples encountered Jesus, they began inviting others to come and see Him for themselves. Their invitations were simple, personal, and rooted in what they had experienced. We do not have to know all the answers or deliver a perfect explanation of our faith before we reach out to someone. Sometimes, the most meaningful first step is inviting someone into a conversation, sharing a meal, or making time to connect. As we create opportunities for relationships to grow, we open doors for others to experience the love of Jesus through us.  Read More

Jesus saw Zacchaeus when others may have seen only a despised tax collector. Instead of looking past him, Jesus recognized an opportunity to connect with someone who needed to experience God's love. We can become so focused on our responsibilities, schedules, and personal concerns that we overlook the people God has placed in our lives. Relational evangelism begins when we intentionally look beyond ourselves and see people as individuals whom God loves and desires to know.  Read More

When we truly understand the Good News, we begin to see why it matters that others hear it too. Paul reminds us that people need to hear about Jesus in order to believe in Him. We don’t share the Gospel because we want to pressure people, win arguments, or prove how much we know. We share because we have received a gift that brings life, hope, forgiveness, and relationship with God. Fear of awkwardness or not having every answer can hold us back, but we can trust the Holy Spirit to help us take the next step. We have been saved from death, saved to new life, and saved for the purpose of bringing that Good News to others.  Read More

God’s grace doesn’t end with what He does in us. It also shapes what He does through us. Jesus calls His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Our everyday actions and words can help others see what God is like. We don’t have to wait until we have everything figured out or become perfect Christians before we can point people toward Jesus. As we follow Him, our lives can reflect His goodness right where He has placed us. We have been given new life not only for our own benefit, but also to bless the people around us.  Read More

Jesus didn’t come merely to keep us from the consequences of sin. He came to give us life. Through Him, we are brought into relationship with God and invited into a life shaped by His presence, love, direction, and purpose. This doesn’t mean life will always be easy, but it does mean we no longer have to live separated from the One who made us. As Jesus transforms us, our lives begin to reflect the new life we’ve received. The Good News changes not only our future but also how we live today.  Read More

The words “But God” remind us that our story doesn’t end with our sin or brokenness. God responded to our need with mercy and love. He didn’t wait for us to become good enough or earn His favor. Instead, He saved us because of His kindness and grace through Jesus. Salvation is a gift we receive, not a reward we achieve. When we understand how freely God has loved us, gratitude begins to replace pride and shame.  Read More

It’s easy to think of ourselves as people who simply need a little direction or improvement. But Paul describes our condition apart from God as spiritual death. Sin separates us from the One who gives life, and the world often leads us to search for hope and joy in things that cannot truly satisfy. Understanding the Good News begins with understanding how much we need Jesus. We weren’t just given a better way to live; we were rescued and made alive.  Read More

Philip had just encountered Jesus, and the first thing he did was find Nathanael. He didn't have a complicated strategy or a perfect explanation. He simply invited him to “come and see.” Jesus' plan for reaching people is remarkably simple: experience Him, live in a way that points people toward Him, and invite the people God has placed around us to encounter Him for themselves.  Read More

The good news of Jesus is meant to be shared. Paul reminds us that people cannot believe in someone they have never heard about, and they cannot hear unless someone tells them. This means our calling includes more than simply living a good life—we are also sent to tell people about Jesus. We don't have to have all the answers or be perfect communicators. We simply need to be willing to share what Jesus has done and invite people to know Him.  Read More

Jesus calls us to live in a way that draws people toward God. Our calling isn't only about what we say; it is also about the way we treat people and the kind of people we become. Love, kindness, generosity, patience, forgiveness, humility, and thoughtfulness can make our faith visible to the people around us. Our everyday lives can become an invitation for others to see what Jesus is like.  Read More

Jesus called His followers to be salt and light right where they were. He didn't tell them to wait until they were more mature, knowledgeable, or spiritually disciplined. He called the people who were standing in front of Him at that moment. In the same way, Jesus isn't waiting for a future version of us before He can use us. He has called us to live for Him right now.  Read More

You are not an accident or an afterthought. God knows you completely and has intentionally designed you, including the experiences, abilities, personality, and story that have shaped you. Psalm 139 reminds us that God saw us before we ever saw ourselves. Even the parts of our story that we struggle to understand or appreciate can become part of what God uses for His purposes.  Read More

Communion looks backward and forward at the same time. We remember what Jesus has done, but we also anticipate the day when He will return and complete His work of salvation. We live in the “in-between”—Jesus has saved us, but we are still waiting for everything to be made right. When we take communion, we proclaim His death until He comes. It is a meal of remembrance, but it is also a meal of hope.  Read More

Communion is not only about remembering something Jesus did in the past. When we take communion together, we recognize that God is still at work among His people. We participate in the ongoing story of His salvation, and we do it together—not alone. Our relationship with God is alive, and He continues to work in us and through us as His people.  Read More

The final cup of the Passover meal pointed toward God’s desire to restore His relationship with His people. Jesus gives the cup new meaning when He calls it the new covenant in His blood. His death does more than forgive our sins; it makes relationship with God possible. We are not simply people who have been rescued from punishment. Through Jesus, we are invited into a restored relationship with God.  Read More

The Passover meal reminded Israel that their rescue came through sacrifice. The lamb was sacrificed, the bread reminded them of affliction, and the meal told the story of a costly rescue. Jesus takes this story and places Himself at the center of it. He becomes the One who bears our affliction and gives His body for our freedom. Communion reminds us that our salvation was not cheap—it was purchased through the sacrificial love of Jesus.  Read More

God gave Israel the Passover meal as a way to continually remember how He rescued them from slavery. They were not simply told to think about their salvation; they were given a meal that engaged their whole selves. Every year, they would eat, remember, and retell the story of what God had done. Communion carries this same purpose for us. It brings the story of Jesus’ sacrifice into our hands and minds so that we don’t forget what He has done to save us.  Read More

The disciples’ boldness wasn’t a one-time experience. They developed a new rhythm of obedience, responsiveness, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. In Acts 3, Peter and John were ready when an unexpected opportunity came, and in Acts 4, after being threatened, they gathered with their friends and prayed for greater boldness. The Holy Spirit continued to fill them and empower them to speak about Jesus with courage.  Read More

Peter was not the same man who had denied Jesus just weeks earlier. The Holy Spirit gave him power and clarity, transforming his fear into confidence as he stood before thousands and proclaimed Jesus. Peter didn’t become bold because he suddenly became naturally fearless. He became bold because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit and found himself in the place God had called him to be.  Read More

The disciples waited, but when the Holy Spirit finally came, Peter and the others began to obey. The Holy Spirit moves through us in ways we could never accomplish on our own. We may not feel ready or sufficient, but we can take the next step knowing that where we lack, God can fill the gaps.  Read More

Jesus gave His disciples a seemingly impossible assignment, but He didn’t ask them to accomplish it in their own strength. He told them to wait for the promise of the Father and the coming power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our greatest act of faith is not doing more but learning to wait for God to empower what He has called us to do. We don’t have to manufacture the power to follow Jesus because He provides what we need.  Read More

Peter had no idea what following Jesus would look like after the resurrection. He had failed Jesus, been restored by Him, and was now simply told, “Follow me.” Jesus didn’t give Peter a complete plan for his future. He gave him an invitation to trust and obey. Following Jesus often means saying yes before we know exactly where that yes will lead.  Read More

Paul ends this passage with one of the strongest declarations of hope in Scripture: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Trouble, suffering, danger, loss, uncertainty, and even death do not have the final word. God is for us, Jesus has given Himself for us, and the Holy Spirit is with us. We may walk through difficult seasons, but we never walk through them separated from the love of God.  Read More

Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is able to work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This doesn’t mean everything that happens to us is good. Some things are painful, broken, and deeply unfair. But God is not finished with our stories. He can take what is difficult and work through it toward His greater purpose—ultimately conforming us to the image of Jesus.  Read More

One of the most comforting truths about God is that He knows us completely. He knows where we are emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically, and relationally. Nothing about our current situation is hidden from Him. And the Holy Spirit doesn’t pray for some generic version of us—He knows exactly where we are and knows exactly where God is leading us. We can trust Him because He knows us perfectly and knows what is ultimately best for us.  Read More

Sometimes our pain is so deep that we don’t even know how to put it into words. We may feel overwhelmed, confused, or simply exhausted. Paul gives us an incredible picture of the Holy Spirit meeting us in those moments. When we are weak and don’t know what to pray, the Spirit helps us and intercedes for us according to God’s will. We don’t have to find the perfect words because the Holy Spirit already knows exactly what we need.  Read More

Suffering is a reality of following Jesus. Paul doesn’t minimize our pain or pretend that difficult seasons aren’t difficult. Instead, he reminds us that our present suffering is not the end of the story. God has promised a future glory where sin, brokenness, and death will be fully overcome. Our hope isn’t simply that we can survive what we’re facing today. Our hope is that God is making all things new.  Read More

God repeatedly reminds His people that they do not need to fear because He is with them, strengthens them, and helps them. Peace does not mean that we will never have difficult circumstances or anxious thoughts. It means we have learned where to turn when those things come. As we choose to trust God, surrender what we cannot control, and remember His presence, we can experience a peace that is stronger than our circumstances. We may not know how the story will unfold, but we can know who is with us as it unfolds.  Read More

The disciples’ fear in the middle of the storm made sense based on their experience—they were fishermen who knew how dangerous storms could be. But they had forgotten to account for the most important difference: Jesus was in the boat with them. We can do the same thing when anxiety takes over; we can focus so completely on the storm that we forget who is with us in it. Jesus may calm the storm, or He may allow us to walk through it, but His presence means we do not have to face it alone.  Read More

Paul gives us a practical way to respond when anxiety takes hold: pray, ask God specifically for what we need, give thanks, and release the situation to Him. Prayer is more than simply telling God what is bothering us; it is an invitation to exchange our anxiety for His peace. God may not immediately change the circumstance we are facing, but He can change what is happening within us as we trust Him with it. His peace can guard our hearts and minds even when the situation itself remains unresolved.  Read More

Peter connects humility with how we respond to anxiety. When we are anxious about things we cannot control, our instinct can be to try harder, figure everything out, or carry the burden ourselves. But God invites us to humble ourselves by recognizing that we need His help and trusting that He cares for us. Casting our anxieties on God is an act of humility because we are admitting that we cannot carry everything on our own.  Read More

When Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving, they had plenty of reasons to be anxious about the future. They were about to lose His physical presence and would have to navigate life and ministry without Him beside them. But Jesus promised that they would not be left as orphans because the Holy Spirit would come to be with them and live within them. Our peace is not based on having everything figured out or knowing how everything will turn out; our peace begins with knowing that God is with us.  Read More