Beyond Sunday

Monday, The First Week Of Lent (Feb. 22)

Narrated by Ryan Reimers

The Lord of the Sabbath

Some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” ... He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:2, 5

Jesus was criticized for allowing his disciples to work, to do “what is not lawful” on the Sabbath. Their mistake was confusing the rule for the blessing the rule was intended to reinforce. Our mistake is not so much breaking a rule as it is neglecting the blessing God wants to give us. His desire is to renew and reinforce our relationship with our gracious, loving heavenly Father.

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath from whose wounds we receive healing and new life day after day, week after week, throughout our often difficult journey through earthly life to life eternal. What a blessing!

REFLECT: Think of ways to accept the blessings of God more fully.

PRAY: Touch my sinful heart, Lord Jesus, with your daily, forgiving love.
Amen.

Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

The First Sunday Of Lent (Feb. 21)

Narrated by Pastor Greg Griffith

Obligation or Opportunity

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8, 11

A commandment, of course, is an obligation, not an option. It is our human nature to look for loopholes in laws, to find excuses to do what we prefer, not what God expects. Even when we obey, we resent being forced to “do our duty.”

Can we view the commandment as an opportunity instead of an obligation? After all, God “blessed the Sabbath,” intending it to be a gift for our benefit. We are blessed, are we not, to enter into the presence of our gracious God, to be renewed as his children to continue our journey through life?

We dishonor the Sabbath by feeling forced to worship. We honor the Father and the Son by gratefully receiving God's healing grace and responding with joyful praise.

REFLECT: Consider ways to honor the Sabbath today.

PRAY: Heal my stubborn heart, Lord Jesus, and fill me with the joy of your salvation. Amen.

Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Saturday After Ash Wednesday (Feb. 20)

Narrated by Jenny Thompson

To Heal Our Brokenness

I and the Father are one. John 10:30

There was no conflict between Jesus and his heavenly Father. Their very nature was identical. Jesus’ mission meshed perfectly with the Father’s purpose: to rescue lost sheep, to heal our broken lives, to preserve us for eternity.

Our natural nature does conflict with God’s. To be human is to be sinful, selfish, self-centered, me-first. The cross proclaims God’s nature—to love, to forgive, to heal, to give new life to dying sinners such as ourselves.

Jesus’ wounds apply healing power to our natural nature, changing us from the inside out. At the cross, we see what we should be, and we become what we can be. It’s a lifelong, blessed process of being healed and made whole.

REFLECT: Consider the subtle ways your nature is in conflict with your Lord’s.

PRAY: Heal my soul, Lord; create in me a new heart. Amen.

Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Friday After Ash Wednesday (Feb. 19)

Narrated by Dave Reddel

The Glory of God’s Love

Jesus... lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you...” John 17:1

God's glory is shown not by spectacular displays of celestial fireworks but by Jesus’ giving himself into death to heal the fatal sinfulness of doomed sinners. Fireworks are easy...loving is hard! God is glorified by his grace, his godly love for ungodly humans.

In our sinful sickness, we place our own will ahead of God’s. Jesus’ death fulfilled the Father’s will for us. He loved us to death, and by his wounds, we are healed. Trust him completely and rejoice, for your wounds are being healed by his godly love. Glory be to God!

REFLECT: How does my will conflict with God’s?

PRAY: Empower me, Lord, by your godly love to glorify your name by loving those around me. Amen.

Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Thursday After Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18)

Narrated by Mildred Gerner

Blasphemy or Gospel Truth

The Jews answered [Pilate], “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” John 19:7

Jesus had broken the commandment (Exodus 20:7), they said; he was guilty of blasphemy, of taking the name of God in vain. The gospel truth is that Jesus was on the way to the cross because he was the Son of God! His mission as Son of God was to be wounded for our transgressions so that we doomed sinners could be healed.

Because of our blasphemous, toxic sinfulness, we deserve the judgment of God. Because the Son of God was willingly wounded, we receive what we do not deserve—the healing grace of God. Thanks be to God!

REFLECT: How often do we abuse the name of God without even thinking about it? Sin is in our DNA.

PRAY: Heal me, Lord Jesus, so that my attitude and words may honor your holy name. Amen.

Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17)

Narrated by Dave Millen

Ashes to Ashes

You are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19

An ancient Christian ritual imposes ashes on our foreheads with these words, reminding us forcefully that we all are born to die. Without exception, the wounds of sin are terminal. Except, the gospel of the cross proclaims a new future for us. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, and by his wounds, we are healed. Our sinfulness offends our holy God and deserves the judgment of death. Jesus died to offer healing grace to all who believe in him. Let this be our goal for Lent: to receive again the healing power of the cross and to live as healthy children of God.

REFLECT: How have sin's toxic wounds distorted and disrupted my life?
How can the wounds of Christ bring healing to my soul?

PRAY: Lord Jesus, apply the healing power of your wounds to my inmost nature. Amen.

Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

In this episode of the Greg Griffith Leadership Podcast, Pastor Greg shares about vision casting.

Faithful Living | Faithful Leading | Putting Faith First

Stay up to date by following us on your favorite social networks.

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. 

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of the Greg Griffith Leadership Podcast, Pastor Greg shares about how to navigate fear and frustration in ourselves and those we lead into living life abundantly.

Faithful Living | Faithful Leading | Putting Faith First

Stay up to date by following us on your favorite social networks.

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. 

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of the Greg Griffith Leadership Podcast, Pastor Greg shares lessons learned about leading during a pandemic.

Faithful Living | Faithful Leading | Putting Faith First

Stay up to date by following us on your favorite social networks.

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. 

Thanks for listening!

Jon Bartels (Host, Worship Producer) is joined by Dr. Brenda Neyens as they discuss how Technology is so often not a positive aspect of our lives, but a replacement. How do we use technology wisely to benefit us?  To learn more about King of Kings and for additional content to feed your walk of faith, visit our website: https://kingofkingsomaha.org

Stay up to date by following us on your favorite social networks.

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Have questions or comments? Email us at [email protected]. 

Thanks for listening!