Posts with the category “devotional”

Monday — Foundation DayHave you ever told yourself, "I'll get more involved once things settle down"? Most of us have. But what if the mission was never meant to wait?Today's Scripture: "And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbid...  Read More

Friday — Forward DayThe book of Acts ends without a conclusion — and that's entirely on purpose.Today's Scripture: "Then he [Paul] dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him." — Acts 28:30–31Reflection:All week, we've been buildin...  Read More

Thursday — Testimony DaySometimes the most powerful moments of ministry start with a U-turn.Today's Scripture: "But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness..." — Acts 26:16"...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light..." — Acts 26:18Reflection:This week we've been building toward something: the idea that...  Read More

Wednesday — Application DayA testimony that stays within four walls is an incomplete testimony.Today's Scripture: "...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." — Acts 26:18Reflection:On Monday we laid the foundation: you were saved...  Read More

Tuesday — Challenge DayRemembering where you came from can be painful. But forgetting can be just as dangerous.Today's Scripture: "Can you remember where Jesus found you without forgetting where He has brought you?""I thank myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you... my manner of life from my youth... all the Jews know... that according to the strictest sect o...  Read More

Monday — Foundation DayWhat if the thing you're most ashamed of is actually your greatest ministry tool?Today's Scripture: "But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you." — Acts 26:16Reflection:When Jesus stopped Paul on the road to Damascus,...  Read More

Friday — Forward DayAs this week wraps up, here's a question worth sitting with: Have you been trying to live your faith mostly alone?Today's Scripture: "Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." — Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)Reflection:This week we've walked through some significant ground. We've seen that our identity in Christ is the anchor that holds when accusations come. We've been honest...  Read More

Thursday — Testimony DayWhat if the most powerful thing you could do for someone who doesn't yet know Jesus isn't a conversation — but simply how you live when things get hard?Today's Scripture: "But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets."— Acts 24:14 (NLT)Reflection:Paul...  Read More

Wednesday — Application DayWe've all felt that Sunday-morning conviction that somehow disappears by Tuesday. What would it look like to actually do something with it this time?Today's Scripture: "Felix was afraid and answered, 'Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.'" — Acts 24:25 (NKJV)Reflection:Felix had the gospel delivered to him personally. Paul spoke directly ab...  Read More

Tuesday — Challenge DayBe honest — when someone criticizes you, do you go quiet and replay it for hours, or do you come out swinging and say things you later regret?Today's Scripture: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age." — Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)Reflection:Yesterday we established the foundation: ...  Read More

Monday — Foundation DayHave you ever had something said about you that got inside your head and started rearranging things — changing the way you saw yourself?Today's Scripture: "I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men." — Acts 24:16 (NKJV)Reflection:In Acts 24, the apostle Paul is standing before a Roman governor. Religious leaders have hired a professional ...  Read More

Friday — Forward DayThe week is almost over. Before it ends, there's one question worth sitting with: Who has God placed in your life right now who needs to hear your story?Today's Scripture: "What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord." — Acts 22:16Reflection:All week, we've been building toward this moment. We've looked at why ...  Read More

Thursday — Testimony DayHave you ever experienced a moment so perfectly timed that you knew — you just knew — it couldn't be coincidence?Today's Scripture: "Paul's testimony wasn't the end of the story. It was the beginning of his ministry." (Acts 22:21, in context)"For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard." — Acts 22:15Reflection:Picture this: two people decide...  Read More

Wednesday — Application DayYou don't have to be a preacher. You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to know your story — and there's a simple way to tell it.Today's Scripture: "For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard." — Acts 22:15Reflection:Notice what Jesus told Paul to share: not everything he had studied, not a theological defense of Christian...  Read More

Monday — Foundation DayWhat if the parts of your story you most want to hide are the very parts someone else most needs to hear?Today's Scripture: "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel... I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison." — Acts 22:3-4Reflection:When the...  Read More

DAY 5 — DON’T FOLLOW SOMEONE ELSE INTO THEIR STORMRead: Acts 27:9–25 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.[a] So Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, follow...  Read More

DAY 4 — WHEN I CREATE THE STORMRead: Jonah 1:1–17 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee fro...  Read More

DAY 3 — WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?Read: Matthew 14:22–33 "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind wa...  Read More

DAY 2 — FAITH WHEN I’M AFRAIDRead: Matthew 8:26 "He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”Jesus didn’t pretend the storm wasn’t scary. He challenged the disciples to trust Him in the middle of their fear.Having faith doesn’t mean you never get scared.You mig...  Read More

DAY 1 — JESUS IS IN THE BOATRead: Matthew 8:23–2723 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the wind...  Read More

True leadership in God's kingdom doesn't start with a title — it starts with a towel. Discover what Acts 20 teaches us about servant leadership.  Read More

Day 5 —You’re Here—So Let’s Be Here TogetherScripture: 1 Corinthians 12:27“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”Think about a piano.One hand can make music.But when the hands, fingers, feet, pedals, timing, and mind all work together, something much greater happens.That’s the picture of the church.You matter.But you aren’t the whole body.I matter.But I’m not the whole body.We ...  Read More

Day 4 —Come to the Table, Not Just the Service Scripture: Luke 10:41–42“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed…”There is a difference between being in the room and being present.Martha was physically near Jesus.But Mary was intentionally sitting at His feet.Church attendance by itself doesn’t produce discipleship.You can sit in a chair every Sunday ...  Read More

Day 3 —Stop Looking for Someone to BlameScripture: Philippians 4:8“Whatever things are true… noble… just… pure… lovely… of good report… meditate on these things.”Sometimes we disconnect from church because something didn’t go the way we wanted.The music wasn’t right.The temperature wasn’t right.Someone distracted us.The message wasn’t what we expected.Someone didn’t talk to us.The service didn’t “...  Read More

Day 2 —Keep GrowingScripture: 2 Peter 3:18“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is becoming satisfied with where we are.We can know enough Scripture to answer questions.We can know enough church language to sound spiritual.We can have enough experience to think we’ve figured things out.But discipleship never ends...  Read More

Day 1 —We Need Each Other Scripture: Hebrews 10:24–25“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works…”It is easy to think of church as something we attend.We go to church.We hear a message.We sing some songs.We go home.But Scripture gives us a much bigger picture.The church is not simply a place we go. The church is a people we belong to.There will be seasons when you need...  Read More

Friday — Forward DayThe week is almost done. Sunday is almost here. And somewhere between now and then, God wants to use you — exactly as you are.Today's Scripture: "The same Spirit who brought Aquilla and Priscilla, who spoke to Paul in the night, who used two tentmakers to raise up one of the greatest leaders in the early church — that Spirit lives in you.""Now to him who is able to do far more ...  Read More

Thursday — Testimony DaySometimes God doesn't show up the way we expect. Sometimes He shows up driving a wrecker at 3 a.m.Today's Scripture: "He found a certain Jew named Aquilla... and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked." — Acts 18:2–3Reflection: In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Scott shared a story that stopped the room.It was early in his walk with Jesus. A nightmare sce...  Read More

Wednesday — Application DayWe're at the midpoint of the week — a good place to pause and ask: how is Sunday's message actually changing how I live?Today's Scripture: "When Aquilla and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." — Acts 18:26Reflection: Apollos was gifted, passionate, and sincere — but he had an incomplete picture. So Aquilla and Pr...  Read More

Tuesday — Challenge DayHave you ever been doing everything right — showing up, working hard, trying to follow God's lead — and the opposition came anyway?Today's Scripture: "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city." — Acts 18:9–10Reflection: Paul was preaching. He w...  Read More

Monday — Foundation DayWhat if the most important thing God is looking for in you isn't talent, a title, or a track record — but just your availability?Today's Scripture: "After these things, Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquilla... and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for by occupation they were tentmakers." — Acts...  Read More

Friday — Forward DayAs you head into the weekend, here's one thing worth carrying with you: the same Spirit who moved through Acts 16 lives in you right now.Today's Scripture: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." — Acts 16:31Reflection: We've walked through a lot this week. We've sat with closed doors and the discomfort of redirection. We've been hones...  Read More

Thursday — Testimony DayWhat would it take for you to sing in the dark — not when things got better, but right in the middle of the worst of it?Today's Scripture: "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were...  Read More

Wednesday — Application DayWe spend a lot of time waiting for a big, obvious open door. What if God's already opened one, and we just haven't noticed?Today's Scripture: "A certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul." — Acts 16:14Reflection: When Paul finally arrived in Mace...  Read More

Tuesday — Challenge DayBe honest — when doors keep closing, doesn't part of you start to wonder if you missed God somewhere along the way?Today's Scripture: "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had ...  Read More

Monday — Foundation DayHave you ever been absolutely certain you were headed in the right direction — only to have every door slam shut in your face?Today's Scripture: "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them."...  Read More

Friday — Forward DayThis week we've covered a lot of ground together. Opposition as confirmation. Getting back up. Practical steps forward. The testimony of those who went back. Today, we land on the why — the fuel that makes all of it possible.Today's Scripture: "...Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has...  Read More

Thursday — Testimony DayWhat would you do if you were asked to go back to the place that hurt you most?Today's Scripture: "And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God...  Read More

Wednesday — Application DayYesterday we sat with the image of Paul in the dirt. Today we look at what he did next — and what that means for us right now.Today's Scripture: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." — Galatians 2:20Ref...  Read More

Tuesday — Challenge DayYou're still showing up. Still in the building. But somewhere along the way, something knocked the wind out of you — and you haven't quite gotten all the way back up.Today's Scripture: "...they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city." — Acts 14:19–20Reflection: ...  Read More