Scripture:“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT) Reflection:As we close these 35 days, think about the journey we’ve been on. We’ve looked at the Trinity, the power of Scripture, the…

Scripture: “As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take this and eat it, for this is my body.’” Matthew 26:26 (NLT) Reflection:I love watching my grandkids share something. It doesn’t happen naturally or without teaching, but when they…

Scripture:“For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NLT) Reflection:Memory is a funny thing. We can remember lyrics to a song from 20 years ago, but forget what God did for us last Tuesday. We are prone to “spiritual…

Scripture:“In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.’” 1 Corinthians 11:25 (NLT) Reflection:Contracts are usually signed with ink on paper. They are…

Scripture:“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of…

Scripture:“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” Romans 6:4 (NLT) Reflection:Something is jarring about the word “buried.” It sounds final. It sounds like the end. But in the Kingdom…

Scripture:“And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.” 1 Peter 3:21 (NLT) Reflection:I still remember the day I put a wedding ring on my wife’s finger. That small band of gold didn’t make me love her—I already…

Scripture:“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 (NLT) Reflection:I love flying into a city at night and seeing the grid of lights glowing against the darkness below. It’s beautiful and impossible to miss. It offers a sense of direction and civilization. Jesus calls His…

Scripture:“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) Reflection:Sharpening a knife isn’t a gentle process. It involves friction, heat, and sparks. Metal grinds against metal to remove the dull edges and create a useful, sharp point. Real community isn’t always comfortable. It’s easy to surround ourselves with people who agree…

Scripture:“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” Ephesians 2:19 (NLT) Reflection:There is something sacred about a family dinner table. It’s where you belong, where you don’t have to perform, and where there is always a seat…

Scripture:“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT) Reflection:Over the years, I have tried to move heavy furniture by myself at times. It’s always a disaster….

Scripture:“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (NLT) Reflection:Let’s be honest—sometimes the deepest wounds come from inside the church. I’ve heard stories of betrayal, judgment, and hypocrisy that break my heart. Maybe you have one of those stories….

Scripture:“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLT) Reflection:Have you ever tried to walk with a sprained ankle or type with a jammed finger? Even a minor injury to one part of the body affects the…

Scripture:“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.” Ephesians 2:20 (NLT) Reflection:When I drive past the building where our church meets, I see bricks, glass, and parking spots. It’s a structure. But when I think about The Church, I see faces. I…

Scripture:“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.” John 10:28 (NLT) Reflection:When my kids were toddlers, and we would cross a busy street, I didn’t say, “Hey, hold my hand tight.” If their safety depended on their little grip, they’d be in danger the moment…

Scripture:“I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with him depends on faith.” Philippians 3:9 (NLT) Reflection:I remember going to a leadership event where I felt underdressed. Everyone else was in ties, jackets, and gowns, and…

Scripture:“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law.” Galatians 2:16 (NLT) Reflection:Religion is often spelled with two letters: D-O. It’s a list of things you must do to please God. Do this, don’t do that, work harder, try more. It’s an exhausting ladder climb…

Scripture:“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NLT) Reflection:Guilt is a heavy backpack. We carry around the memory of past mistakes, harsh words we spoke, and things we wish we hadn’t done. Even when we ask for forgiveness, we often continue to put ourselves on trial, acting…

Scripture:“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 (NLT) Reflection:I’ve had moments as a parent where my kids have made a spectacular mess—mud tracked on the carpet, juice spilled on the couch. In those moments of chaos, my love for them…

Scripture:“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” Romans 3:22 (NLT) Reflection:Have you ever felt like life is a treadmill that keeps speeding up? You run harder and faster, trying to be the perfect parent, the perfect…

Scripture:“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) Reflection:I remember a time in my life when I received…

Scripture:“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NLT) Reflection:My kids always loved a good treasure hunt. The excitement is in the search, following the clues to find the hidden prize. The Psalmist here speaks of “hiding” God’s word in his heart, as if it were…

Scripture:“But Jesus told them, ‘No, the Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 (NLT) Reflection:I can always tell when I’ve skipped a meal. I get irritable, my focus wanes, and I feel weak. My body needs food to function. In…

Scripture:“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” Matthew 7:24-25 (NLT) Reflection:When you buy a house,…

Scripture:“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (NLT) Reflection:When we’re going through a hard time, it can feel like we are utterly alone in our struggle. No one understands….

Scripture:“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) Reflection:My wife and I wrote many letters to each other…

Scripture:“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NLT) Reflection:When I was younger, I used to take friends on night hikes to summit the mountain peak before morning to see the sun rise. We had flashlights, but their beams only lit up a few feet of…

Scripture:“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) Reflection:I have a shelf full of books I love—stories that have moved me, non-fiction that has taught me something…

Scripture:“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NLT) Reflection:As we close this first week, think of a three-strand rope. One strand might hold a little weight, but three strands braided together are powerful. They can tow…

Scripture:“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) Reflection:Imagine you have a debt you could never repay—a bill so large it threatens to take everything you own. Then, someone walks in, takes the bill…

Scripture:“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13 (NLT) Reflection:I remember stormy nights when my kids were toddlers, and they would be terrified of the thunder. The only thing that calmed them was my voice, steady and low, assuring them they were safe. The storm didn’t stop immediately,…

Scripture:“I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” John 14:11 (NLT) Reflection:Family dinners at our house can be chaotic—voices overlapping, plates passing, laughter mixing with the clinking of silverware. But beneath the noise, there is a unity, a bond that says, “We belong to each other.” The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is…

Scripture:“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” Romans 8:26 (NLT) Reflection:There are times when life hits us so hard that we run out of words. I’ve…

Scripture:“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13 (NLT) Reflection:Have you ever had a friend who stuck by you when everyone else walked away? I recall a season in my life where…

Scripture:“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 (NLT) Reflection:I remember watching my children sleep when they were babies, their tiny chests rising and falling. In those quiet moments, my heart would ache with a love so fierce it felt like it could…