For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV) The leaves have fallen from the trees. The weather turns colder. The days grow shorter. The seasons shift. We leave the season of Autumn and the new season of Winter begins. This Sunday is the last Sunday of the Church year. Next week we begin a new season of the Church year … [Read more...] about Verse of the Week: Ecclesiastes 3:1
Devotions
A Kingdom Interruption
Yesterday, I spoke about how the kingdom is right here. But we are often too distracted to even notice. How can we better notice the presence of the kingdom? Consider this: Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We set this day aside to remember all the things for which we are grateful. But it is easy to lose sight of that. How do we recover gratitude? We take a day off of work. We gather … [Read more...] about A Kingdom Interruption
Distracted Kingdom
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, ESV) The kingdom is closer than you think. We live in a world that is filled with distractions. Our eyes are taken off the kingdom. There is consumerism. This week has Black Friday. There are all the ads that tell us about all the things that we need to buy to make … [Read more...] about Distracted Kingdom
The Thrill of the Kingdom
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17, ESV) Is the kingdom a reality in your life? Jesus came to bring the kingdom from heaven to earth. He came so that it would be more than something we know about and read about. He comes so we might experience it and live in its domain. He said, "repent for the kingdom … [Read more...] about The Thrill of the Kingdom
Verse of the Week: Luke 17:15-16
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. (Luke 17:15–16, ESV) This week is Thanksgiving. The traditional reading for Thanksgiving day is from Luke 17. It tells the story of ten lepers who were healed of their disease by Jesus. They come to Jesus and ask to be … [Read more...] about Verse of the Week: Luke 17:15-16