God is with you no matter what. In Acts 3:1-4:21, we see that Jesus’ mission wasn’t going to be easy for the disciples. Luke tells us that Peter healed someone in the name of Jesus and ended up causing quite a stir. As people gathered, Peter and John used this moment...
As God has forgiven us, we are to forgive each other. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus is teaching His disciples, and us by extension, that forgiveness should be in like proportion to the amount forgiven. The first servant had been forgiven all, and he...
God sent the Holy Spirit to help you. In week 2, head to Acts 2:1-41 and find out how the disciples found the confidence to tell the world about Jesus. The disciples had a huge mission: to share the message of Jesus with the world. Thankfully, Jesus also promised that...
Jesus accomplishes his mission through his Church, but our part in a local church can be challenging as well as rewarding. In Matthew 16, we discover part of the foundation for God’s work through his Church and our part in it. How might God be calling you to be part...
Share God’s love with others. We start off the month in Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 24:50-53, and Acts 1:1-11. Before Jesus went back to His Father, He gave His disciples a huge mission: to tell the world about Him. The message of Jesus is for everyone, and it was the...
Put others first by making things right. In John 21:1-19, we discover how Peter and several other disciples were out fishing on the Sea of Galilee without catching a single fish. Suddenly, they saw a man standing on the shore, who told them to try the other side of...
Fear can creep into our lives at any time, especially when our happiness, comfort, or success is threatened. As we’ll see from Peter’s example, following Jesus doesn’t automatically eliminate our fears. However, we can also see how our fears fade into the background...
Put others first by helping them understand. In Luke 24:13-35, we find two followers of Jesus on their way to Emmaus. From what we read, it seems these men were sad and confused about Jesus’ death on the cross. Little did they know that Jesus was walking with them!...
Getting started is often the hardest part of any effort. Fortunately for Peter, when he started to follow Jesus, he found help from his brother. Influencing others to find and follow Jesus is the heart of our mission. Let's explore the value of introducing other...
Put others first because Jesus put you first. In Philippians 2:3-8, Paul explains how Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. He writes,“As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did. . . . He was humble and obeyed God completely. He did this...
At Easter, God’s new creation work bursts out onto an unsuspecting world with new life and new possibilities for hope. We join that never-ending celebration of God’s faithfulness, compassion, and power by responding and living with confident hope. How does life change...
Celebrate because Jesus is alive. For week 2, we celebrate Easter by taking a closer look at John 18:12-20:23. The religious leaders were up in arms because Jesus had claimed to be God. It didn’t matter that this was TRUE; the leaders were still readyto dish out the...
“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (NLT)hortly after having our third child, my husband took a huge leap of faith and left the corporate world to make a career switch. He had hoped this change...
For she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. Matthew 9:21-22 (ESV)o you want to be...
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah...
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34...
They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Hebrews 11:35c (NLT) recently hit a major birthday milestone and spent some time looking back over the past few decades. For much of my adult life, I looked ahead to the next stage,...
Isn’t it ironic. Through what appears to be a dramatic failure, Jesus achieved victory over every power raised against him. Through experiencing death, Jesus provides life for all who trust in him. As we explore Jesus’ crucifixion from Mark 15, let’s remember the...
Jesus put others first. We start off the month with Palm Sunday in John 12:9- 16 and the Last Supper in John 13:1-17. For Jesus’ triumphal entry, He didn’t ride a mighty warhorse, but rather he chose a humble donkey. The crowds in Jerusalem were ready to make Jesus...
What does faithfulness look like in the face of our temptations and weakness? Along with Jesus’ disciples, we can learn and grow in faithfulness as we follow Jesus to the last supper and into prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Read Mark 14:32-42, and if you can make...
God will always forgive you. We end the month in Luke 15:11-32, when Jesus shared a parable to help people understand God’s amazing grace and forgiveness. A son came to his father and asked for his share of the inheritance. This broke the father’s heart, but he went...