Scripture Reading — Acts 8:1-8There was great joy in that city.— Acts 8:8Our reading today describes a great persecution against the church of Jesus and how people like Philip responded. Saul (also known as Paul) was convinced he was doing the right thing, even at the cost of many lives. His actions
Scripture Reading — Romans 16:3-5Greet also the church that meets at their house.— Romans 16:5Paul was a traveling preacher on mission for the Lord Jesus, and Priscilla and Aquila welcomed him to stay and work with them (see Acts 18). They knew the importance of the gospel and were willing to do wha
Scripture Reading — Acts 16:22-34The jailer . . . was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.— Acts 16:34It wasn’t a place they would have chosen to stay for the night. Yet God chose a prison cell to be the place where Paul and Silas would share the gospel.
Scripture Reading — Acts 10:1-38While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.— Acts 10:27She walked to church regularly on Sunday mornings, and on one occasion she saw a most unlikely character. He was barely sober and headed to the liquor store. Though she might e
Scripture Reading — John 4:1-30The woman . . . said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”— John 4:28-29It started as an ordinary day. The woman had her routine planned—including going to the well at the hottest time of day, when no one else wo
Scripture Reading — Romans 10:11-15How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?— Romans 10:14Have you ever wondered what beautiful feet look like? A woman who walked into my office one day helped me to see that beautiful feet m
Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 4:8-14Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.— 1 Timothy 4:12Aaron was young and active and loud. He gathered friends easily. He was also one of the first teena
Scripture Reading — Luke 10:1-11“If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.”— Luke 10:6On my Facebook page I asked a question about how people might define “a person of peace.” I received lots of answers, and a few of those can be summarized
Scripture Reading — John 3:16-21God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.— John 3:16The newness we celebrate at the start of each year pales in comparison to the ultimate newness we receive through Christ. Eternal l
Scripture Reading — Psalm 126:1-6Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.— Psalm 126:5The journey of life isn’t always easy. We face struggles, setbacks, and moments where it feels like our efforts are in vain. But the beautiful truth of Psalm 126:5 is that God does not waste our pain.
Scripture Reading — John 13:34-35“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”— John 13:34-35When Jesus gave this new command to his disciples, he wasn’t simply telling them to show kindness or to be nice to each other. No, Jesus was calling his fol
Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:17If anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here!— 2 Corinthians 5:17Becoming a new creation in Christ is one of the most beautiful transformations we can experience. But it doesn’t always feel like a sudden change, does i
