Scripture: Matthew 28:1–20 | ~7 min

On a Sunday morning nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus stepped out of his tomb. The grave couldn't hold him. Death had no claim on him. And the same disciples who ran away in fear were about to become the foundation of a movement that would change the world.

Everything changed that morning. And because of it, everything changes for us.

In this episode:

• The angel at the empty tomb — and the first words spoken on Easter morning: "Do not be afraid"
• Why some disciples worshiped when they saw Jesus — and some doubted
• The Great Commission: the mission Jesus gives to his followers before he ascends
• Why the resurrection means sin is no longer your master and death is no longer the final word

Reflection: The news of what Jesus accomplished is too good to keep to yourself. Who in your life needs to hear this story? Pray for the courage to share it.

He is risen. He is risen indeed.

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Scripture: Matthew 27:57–66 | ~7 min

It must have felt like it was over. Jesus was in the tomb. The disciples were scattered. The women prepared spices to care for a body. No one was expecting the miracle that was just hours away.

Holy Saturday is the day of silence — the day between death and resurrection. And sometimes life puts us in our own Holy Saturday.

In this episode:

• Joseph of Arimathea: the secret disciple who steps out of the shadows when there's nothing left to gain
• The irony of the Pharisees' sealed tomb — the very evidence that would later confirm the resurrection
• What to do when you're in a season of waiting and uncertainty
• How the silence of Saturday points toward the hope of Sunday

Reflection: If it feels like Saturday in your life right now, rest in this: Sunday is on its way. God is at work even in the silence.

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Scripture: Matthew 27:32–56 | ~10 min

This is the darkest day of the story. Jesus is stripped, nailed to a cross, mocked by soldiers, and abandoned. From noon to three, darkness covers the land. And then Jesus cries out the most anguished words in all of Scripture: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

This is not a lapse in faith. This is what it cost.

In this episode:

• The brutal ironies of the crucifixion — including the charge posted above his head
• Why Jesus' cry of dereliction is actually an act of faith
• The tearing of the temple curtain — and what it means for us
• The foretaste of resurrection happening at the moment of Jesus' death

Reflection: When life is dark and it feels like God is absent, look at the cross. Jesus entered the darkness first — and came out the other side victorious.

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Scripture: Matthew 27:11–31 | ~9 min

Jesus stands silent before the most powerful man in the region — and somehow, Jesus is the one in control. Pilate knows he's innocent. His own wife warns him in a dream. And yet he washes his hands of the whole thing and hands Jesus over to be crucified.

Then there's Barabbas. A violent outlaw. A guilty man who walks free because an innocent man took his place.

Sound familiar?

In this episode:

• Why Pilate's indifference may be just as dangerous as the religious leaders' malice
• The soldiers' mock coronation — and why they had no idea how right they were
• The Barabbas exchange as the entire gospel in miniature
• What it means to live as someone who's been made new

Reflection: Pilate knew the truth and stayed silent. This week, ask the Spirit to give you eyes to see those around you who are suffering — and the courage to act.

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Scripture: Matthew 26:57–27:1 | ~9 min

Jesus stands before the Sanhedrin. False witnesses. A staged verdict. And outside in the courtyard, Peter — the man who swore he'd die before denying Jesus — crumbles three times before a servant girl.

Two men who both fail Jesus. Only one finds restoration. But here's the thing: this story is bigger than either of them.

In this episode:

• How the religious leaders manufactured a case against a man they couldn't legally condemn
• Peter's denial — and why most of us are more like him than we want to admit
• Why every act of opposition, betrayal, and cowardice actually moved the story closer to the cross
• The astonishing irony: what looked like the triumph of evil was actually the vehicle of salvation

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where fear has been calling the shots? Bring it to Jesus today. His plan of rescue is bigger than your failure.

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Scripture: Matthew 26:31–56 | ~11 min

In the hours before his arrest, Jesus does something that might surprise you: he falls on his face and asks his Father if there's any other way. This is not calm, detached acceptance. This is agony — the fully human, sinless recoil from suffering and death.

And yet, three times he prays. And three times he surrenders.

In this episode:

• The contrast between Jesus' resolve and the disciples' weakness — and what it means
• Why Jesus' emotional anguish is not a lack of faith, but an expression of it
• Judas' betrayal kiss — and Jesus' stunning response
• What it means that Jesus could have called down twelve legions of angels — and chose not to

Reflection: Jesus didn't wait for perfect followers before he gave his life. He wasn't looking for people who had it all together. Take time today to be honest with God about your struggles — you don't have to clean yourself up first.

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Scripture: Matthew 26:17–30 | ~8 min

It's Passover. Families all over Israel are gathering to remember God's greatest act of rescue in their history. Jesus gathers with his twelve closest followers — and in one breathtaking moment, he takes the bread and the cup and gives them entirely new meaning.

This is the meal that changes everything.

In this episode:

• How Jesus transforms an ancient celebration about the past into a promise about what's coming
• What it means that Judas calls Jesus "Rabbi" while the others call him "Lord"
• The new covenant Jesus announces — and why it echoes Jeremiah's prophecy
• Why Jesus looks past the cross even on the night before his arrest

Reflection: Jesus offered this meal knowing full well that the people around the table would fail him. He offered it anyway. Is there a place in your life where you need to receive that kind of grace today?

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Scripture: Matthew 21:1–11 | ~11 min

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey — and the crowd goes wild. They're chanting for a king, waving palms, throwing their cloaks on the road. The energy is electric. But there's a gap between what the crowd expects and what Jesus actually came to do.

This week, we're walking through the final days of Jesus' life — from his triumphal entry through the horrors of the cross to the glory of the resurrection. Whether you've heard this story a hundred times or you're coming to it fresh, the invitation this week is the same: let Easter surprise you.

In this episode:

• Why Jesus chose a donkey over a war horse — and what that signals
• The Hebrew roots of "Hosanna" — a praise cry that started as a desperate plea
• The crowd wanted a political revolution. God had something far more radical in mind.
• What Palm Sunday tells us about the kind of king Jesus actually is

Reflection: Where are you bringing your own expectations to God right now? What would it look like to loosen your grip on how you think things should go?

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Episode Summary:

As Malachi closes the Old Testament, we’re left with both warning and hope. God exposes corruption—but also promises restoration. This final episode invites us to reflect on the full story: from drift to redemption, from brokenness to renewal, all pointing to Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

1. God does not ignore sin—but His final word is restoration
2. The Old Testament points forward to Jesus as the fulfillment
3. Faith is more than outward practice—it’s a heart posture
4. We are called to live and share this story of redemption

Reflection Questions:

1. Where is God calling you back to Him?
2. How can you live out and share what you’ve learned this week?

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.

Scripture: Malachi 3:16–4:6

Episode Summary:

Even in a culture drifting from God, some remained faithful—and God saw them. This passage reminds us that faithfulness doesn’t go unnoticed. While judgment is coming for the unrepentant, hope and healing await those who honor God. This episode is a powerful encouragement to stay faithful, even when it feels rare.

Key Takeaways:

1. God sees and remembers those who remain faithful
2. There is a coming day when justice and restoration will be made right
3. Faithfulness matters—even when it feels unseen
4. Hope is found in the promise of what God will do

Reflection Question:

What does quiet, everyday faithfulness look like in your life right now?

Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney

Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD

If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.