Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58DevotionalWhen I was fifteen years old, I gave my life to Jesus at youth camp. A pastor invited me, another pastor helped pay for my trip, but it was a volunteer youth leader named Bobby Mills who sat with me and led me in the ...  Read More

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.… When each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. -Ephesians 4:11–12, 16 DevotionalsThe New Testament never describes the Church as a performance produced by a few gifted people for everyon...  Read More

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.- 1 Peter 4:10–11DevotionalMany people believe they have nothing meaningful to contribute to the Church. They see gifted musicians, confident leaders, talented comm...  Read More

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.-Matthew 20:26–28DevotionalThe world often measures greatness by how many people praise/serve us. We pursue influence, authority, recognition, and success. We climb the ladder hoping ...  Read More

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.” —1 Peter 4:9–10DevotionalCommunity is not only about what we receive. Eventually, the welcome, healing, and support we experience should become something we offer to others. Healthy community never becomes a closed circle that exists only for itself. It continually makes room. At Restorat...  Read More

“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” —Mark 2:5DevotionalMark 2 tells us that Jesus was teaching inside a home in Capernaum. The house became socrowded that there was no room left, not even at the door. Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed friend on a mat. The man had a need, but he did not have the ability to reach the One who could meet it. T...  Read More

“If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit ofgentleness.” —Galatians 6:1DevotionalThe word accountability can make people uncomfortable. Some hear it and imagine control,condemnation, or someone attempting to manage their private decisions. Biblical accountability is none of those things. Its goal is restoration. Galatians 6:1 says that if someo...  Read More

Scripture“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking ofbread and the prayers.”—Acts 2:42DevotionalActs 2 says the first believers devoted themselves to fellowship. The Greek word translated“fellowship” is koinonia. It describes participation, partnership, contribution, communion, andshared life. They were not merely friendly toward one another. They b...  Read More

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:2DevotionalThere is a difference between being noticed and being known. Someone may notice that youmissed church, but a person who knows you will ask why. Someone may notice that you seemunusually quiet, but a person who knows you may recognize that something is wrong. Someone can see the smile on your face while a trusted...  Read More

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” —James 5:16DevotionalSecrecy promises protection, but it often produces isolation. It tells us that no one wouldunderstand, that we would be rejected if people knew the truth, and that hiding is safer thanhonesty. What begins as an attempt to protect ourselves can become the environment in which shame, ...  Read More

“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone.’” - Genesis 2:18DevotionalGenesis 1 repeatedly tells us that God looked at what He created and called it good. Light was good. The land and seas were good. The plants, animals, and humanity were good. Then, before sin entered the world, God looked at Adam and declared that something was not good: “It is not good that the man sh...  Read More

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together…but encouraging one another.”—Hebrews 10:24–25DevotionalSunday morning matters. Gathering to worship, hear God’s Word, pray, and celebrate what Jesus is doing is an essential rhythm of the Church. But the Church Jesus built was never intended to exist for only an hour each week.Hebrews tells bel...  Read More

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”—Matthew 6:33DevotionalMost people do not consciously decide to move Jesus away from the center of their lives. It usually happens gradually. A responsibility becomes a priority, a priority becomes a preoccupation, and eventually our lives begin revolving around something that was never meant to ca...  Read More

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”—Acts 2:42DevotionalLuke begins his description of the early Church with a powerful statement: “They devoted themselves.” He does not say they were occasionally interested, temporarily inspired, or involved only when it was convenient. They continually gave themselves to the rhythms...  Read More

“You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”— Ephesians 2:19DevotionalThere is a difference between being surrounded by people and truly belonging. We can live in busy neighborhoods, work in crowded offices, attend packed events, and remain largely unknown. We may have hundreds of online connections while still longing f...  Read More

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”—Matthew 16:18DevotionalWhy church? It is a fair question. Why gather with other believers? Why organize part of your life around a local church? Why not simply believe in Jesus, read the Bible, and worship from home? The simplest answer is that the Church was Jesus’ idea.When Jesus declared, “I will build My church,” He ...  Read More

Romans 12:1“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”DevotionalWe love talking about the fire of God. We pray for revival, ask for more of His presence, and sing songs about wanting God to move in our lives. But throughout Scripture, there is a connection we cannot...  Read More

Leviticus 6:12“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire…”DevotionalThere is a small phrase in Leviticus 6 that is easy to overlook: “Every morning.” God didn't simply tell the priests to keep the fire burning. He gave them a rhythm for doing it. Every morning, before another day unfolded, ...  Read More

Leviticus 6:12–13“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”DevotionalThere is a difference between starting a fire and keeping a fire burning. Starting a fire ca...  Read More

Scripture"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." — John 10:14DevotionalAs we've walked through these devotionals together, we've talked about recognizing God's voice, delighting in His presence, testing our desires, seeking confirmation, trusting His open doors, and following Him one step at a time. Every one of those lessons is important, but they all point to something ev...  Read More

Scripture"He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake." — Psalm 23:3DevotionalOne of the hardest parts of following God is that He rarely shows us the entire journey. We naturally want a roadmap. We want to know where He's taking us, how long it will take, what obstacles we'll face, and how everything will turn out. God, however, usually offers us something much better than a detailed p...  Read More

Scripture"What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." — Revelation 3:7DevotionalOne of the most common questions Christians ask when trying to discern God's will is, "Is God opening this door?" It's a good question, but it's also one that can be misunderstood. Sometimes we assume that if something is easy, it must be God's will. If it's difficult, we assume we've missed Him ...  Read More

Scripture"Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." — 2 Corinthians 13:1DevotionalHave you ever had a moment where you felt like God was speaking to you, but you weren't completely sure? Maybe it was an opportunity, a new direction, or a dream that began to grow in your heart. You sensed the Holy Spirit stirring something inside of you, but you also wondered, "I...  Read More

Scripture"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." — Psalm 37:4DevotionalPsalm 37:4 is one of the most quoted—and misunderstood—verses in the Bible. Many people read it as though God is saying, "If you love Me enough, I'll give you everything you've always wanted." But that's not what David is saying.Look at the progression. He says, "Trust in the Lord... dwell in...  Read More