Focal Passage: Matthew 15:1-11, 16-20 Some news changes everything. Maybe it’s a doctor telling you, “The tests came back clear,” or it’s a soldier hearing, “The war is over,” or even a prisoner hearing, “You’ve been pardoned.” Those type of announcements can change your life. Early on Easter morning 2000 years ago, a group of women arrived at the tomb of Jesus expecting silence and sorrow. Instead, they received the
Focal Passage: Mark 16:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 20-22 Today is a day to celebrate! Easter means everything. It’s the day we remember Jesus’s sacrifice. The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the most life‑giving moment in human history. Thanks be to God for the incredible gift! Mark 16 opens with a scene filled with grief, devotion, and uncertainty. Early on the first day after the Sabbath, a group of
Focal Passage: Matthew 18:21-35 My wife and I have three little boys (ages 10, 8, 5) and I recently took them on a hike. They each had a small backpack containing all the essentials we would need: flashlight, change of clothes (because you never know), drinks, and the most important part … some snacks! We had all the necessary snacks: Vienna sausages, apples, cheese, Slim Jim’s, and some candy! We
Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 7:6-16 Most of us have experienced the frustrating cycle of reciprocal gift‑giving. Someone surprises you with a thoughtful present you weren’t expecting. You rush out to buy something in return. It’s all balanced, but then a thank‑you note arrives — so now you feel obligated to send one back. The next time you meet, they pick up the coffee tab, and suddenly the loop begins again.
Focal Passage: Matthew 17:1-13 Have you ever seen one of those movies that doesn’t make sense until the final scene? Maybe you think it’s going in one direction and the final scene pulls everything together differently than you thought. Maybe what felt disconnected all comes together in one moment and the bigger picture finally becomes clear. Matthew 17 is one of those moments. On a mountain, God pulls back the
Focal Passage: Isaiah 44:6-9; 21-28 The central truth of Scripture is both simple and staggering: there is only one God who is supreme, omnipotent, and fully capable of doing whatever He sovereignly chooses. This is not a philosophical idea or a prophet’s speculation — it is God’s own declaration about Himself. In Isaiah 44, the Lord speaks plainly, reminding His people that there is no God like Him and
Focal Passage: Matthew 16:13-26 Our life is filled with questions: both answering them and asking them. Questions such as, “What do you want to eat?” or “When will you be home?” Most of life is shaped by how we answer certain questions. Some questions are just searching for information, but others require a commitment. Questions like, “Will you marry me?” or “Are you in or out?” or the question that
Focal Passage: Psalm 7:1-13 Fairness is often defined less by what we believe and more by what we want. We tend to want judgment for those who wrong us and mercy when we are the ones at fault. Our sense of justice bends toward self-protection. However, Scripture challenges this instinct by pointing us toward a higher, truer standard of righteousness — one grounded not in our desires, but in
Focal Passage: Matthew 15:1-11, 16-20 Outward appearances don’t always match reality. We all have one junk drawer in our kitchen that acts as a “catch-all” for all the random pens, chargers, batteries, paper clips, etc. People can come over and your kitchen can look immaculate. Everything is neat and clean and in its place. People may even compliment how tidy and beautiful it is. Just don’t look in that drawer!
Focal Passage: I John 4:7–19 Years ago, I read “Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health” by Dr. Donald Whitney. It greatly challenged my walk with Christ. One of the chapters is entitled, “Are You More Loving?” That’s a great question we should all ask ourselves right now. In a world divided by hate and fearmongering, our call is to be more loving. The apostle John writes with a
Focal Passage: Matthew 15:1-11, 16-20 Some news changes everything. Maybe it’s a doctor telling you, “The tests came back clear,” or it’s a soldier hearing,
Focal Passage: Mark 16:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 20-22 Today is a day to celebrate! Easter means everything. It’s the day we remember Jesus’s sacrifice.
Focal Passage: Matthew 18:21-35 My wife and I have three little boys (ages 10, 8, 5) and I recently took them on a hike. They
Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 7:6-16 Most of us have experienced the frustrating cycle of reciprocal gift‑giving. Someone surprises you with a thoughtful present you weren’t
Focal Passage: Matthew 17:1-13 Have you ever seen one of those movies that doesn’t make sense until the final scene? Maybe you think it’s going
Focal Passage: Isaiah 44:6-9; 21-28 The central truth of Scripture is both simple and staggering: there is only one God who is supreme, omnipotent,
Focal Passage: Matthew 16:13-26 Our life is filled with questions: both answering them and asking them. Questions such as, “What do you want to eat?”
Focal Passage: Psalm 7:1-13 Fairness is often defined less by what we believe and more by what we want. We tend to want judgment
Focal Passage: Matthew 15:1-11, 16-20 Outward appearances don’t always match reality. We all have one junk drawer in our kitchen that acts as a “catch-all”
Focal Passage: I John 4:7–19 Years ago, I read “Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health” by Dr. Donald Whitney. It greatly challenged my
