As we near the end of our week on the parables, today we’re going to look at the parable of the prodigal son. Hanging in my office is a print of Rembrandt’s depiction of this biblical scene. It’s hard for me to think of another passage of Scripture that produces such continual fruit in my life on a daily basis. May these words of Jesus redefine our relationship with God for the better today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 15:21-24, and today's worship is This Is The Sound by Steffany Gretzinger.  

 

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Next week is Giving Tuesday, the one day a year when the world focuses on unleashing radical generosity.

And what better cause is there to be radically generous about than helping people connect with God?

A generous donor has offered a $25,000 Matching Grant to help reach First15’s $110,287 Giving Tuesday goal.

This means any gift you give today will be DOUBLED.

You and I were made to connect — with others, and most importantly, with God. But many people struggle to find a devotional resource that’s easy to understand and relatable to daily life.

This is why First15 exists, and I assume it’s why you’re part of this growing community.

You can give your Giving Tuesday gift and have it doubled by visiting supportfirst15.org!

 

One of my favorite stories is the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector. Through this story, Jesus makes it abundantly clear how we’re to come before God. May we today begin a fresh revival of humility in the church as we humble ourselves before God in prayer and honest worship. I want to encourage you to be open and vulnerable as you approach the Lord today.

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 18:10-14, and today's worship is 

Mercy by First15 Worship feat. Amanda Cook.

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Outro / Wrap Up:

 

Thanks for listening to today’s devotional. 

 

As you go about your day today, look for an opportunity to practice humility in a new way. Maybe it will be with your spouse, a child, a coworker, or a complete stranger. Look for a chance to choose humble strength over pride, and pay attention to the effect it has on your heart. 

 

Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.

 

As we continue to look at the profound, life-transforming concepts Jesus shared through parables, today we’ll focus on the parable of the lamp on a stand. May what might’ve once been a concept that caused many of us to feel pressure, now bring forth peace, purpose and freedom in God’s love and identity for us.

 

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 5:14-15, and today's worship is My Lighthouse by Rend Collective.

 

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Next week is Giving Tuesday, the one day a year when the world focuses on unleashing radical generosity.

And what better cause is there to be radically generous about than helping people connect with God?

A generous donor has offered a $25,000 Matching Grant to help reach First15’s $110,287 Giving Tuesday goal.

This means any gift you give today will be DOUBLED.

You and I were made to connect — with others, and most importantly, with God. But many people struggle to find a devotional resource that’s easy to understand and relatable to daily life.

This is why First15 exists, and I assume it’s why you’re part of this growing community.

You can give your Giving Tuesday gift and have it doubled by visiting supportfirst15.org!

 

Continuing our week on Jesus’s parables, we’ll look today at the parable of the mustard seed. As we dig into this rich, beautiful parable, may our hearts and minds be enlightened. Take a moment even now to ask God to give you fresh revelation.

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 13:31-32, and today's worship is Faith of a Mustard Seed by Jesus Co. 

 

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Outro / Wrap Up:

 

Thanks for listening to today’s devotional. 

 

As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to allow your faith to grow and produce fruit. Maybe it will be believing for breakthrough in the life of another. Maybe it will be asking for God to move in a supernatural way, and truly believing that he will. Whatever it is, practice faith today and watch as that practice connects you an increasing awareness of God moving in you, around you, and through you. 

 

Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.

 

As we continue this week allowing the parables of Jesus to speak directly to our situations, mindsets, and core beliefs about who God is, today we’ll dive into the parables of the hidden treasure and valuable pearl. Upon learning about God forsaking everything to find us, we’ll assess our own hearts and see what they value most in this life. Open your heart today and choose to take an honest look. You might be surprised at what you find.

 

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 13:44, and today's worship is Treasure by Madison Street Worship.

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Outro / Wrap Up:

 

Thanks for listening to today’s devotional. 

 

As you go about your day today, what’s one act of worship you can give to your loving heavenly Father? What’s one way you can demonstrate your love for him? 

 

Know that your Father loves you no matter what, but there’s no better experience throughout the day than giving and receiving love with God. 

 

If you’re new to our space, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss one of these daily guides to God’s presence. And if God did something meaningful in your life today, maybe giving you a specific sense of his love, or giving you the gift of revelation or wisdom today, consider taking a moment to leave a rating and write a review of your experience. 

 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him. 

 

Jesus loved to use stories to illustrate profound, life-transforming concepts. He loved to use real and genuine settings, characters, and ideas that apply to all of us to reveal God’s heart of pursuit and love. This week we’re going to spend time allowing the parables of Jesus to speak directly to our situations, mindsets, and core beliefs about who God is. Open your heart and mind to be transformed by the powerful and captivating stories of Jesus.

Our Scripture for today comes from John 10:14-15, and today's worship is Shepherd by Amanda Lindsey Cook.

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Outro / Wrap Up:

Thanks for listening to today’s devotional, the first in our week-long series on the parables. 

As you head out into your day, try and notice the value of stories. Think about the things happening in your life, and what narrative God might be weaving through your story. Even take a moment or two, if you can, to journal the story of your day, taking time to process what God is doing in and through you. And at the end of today, consider taking a few moments to share your story with someone you love. You never know how your story could truly impact the life of another. 

Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.

 

As we wrap up this week looking at the desires of every heart, we’re going to look today at the desire to live a life of significance. God has a plan to use you in ways far beyond what you could ask or imagine, a plan for you to make an eternal impact in the world. As we make space for God to speak and lead today, may he give us a deeper sense of purpose and calling in him.

 

Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 25:21. Today's worship is Renew My Mind by Allen Froese.

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Thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast, the longing for greatness. 

As you go about the rest of your day, try and recognize when your longing for greatness gets stirred up. And take just a moment to follow it to its source. Is that specific desire a fruit of God, or a fruit of pride or fear? Is it the Spirit leading you to fulfill his purpose for you today, or an opportunity to gain more traction in the pursuit of the world? 

 

And if it’s God, take courage and boldly go forth. If it’s not, simply notice the desire and let it go. 

 

May you find the daily practice of allowing God to satisfy your longing for greatness to lead you into a deeper and fuller fulfillment of God’s wonderful plans for your life. 

 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him.

 

In today’s devotional, we’re going to explore the desire we all share to be passionate. Everyone of us desires to give our lives to something, our passion to something that truly matters. And God has given us all that desire with a perfect plan to satisfy it in a unique way, a way he’s perfectly wired each of us for. May each of us get a greater sense of how we can live more wholeheartedly in him today.

 

The main concept for this week is derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.

Our Scripture for today comes from Mark 12:30, and today's worship is Love You More by Harvest Bashta.  

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We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kids Advent Devotional book, Jesus, the Light of the World. 

And you can get a copy for your children or grandchildren today!

Jesus, the Light of the World is a 25 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12.

Intended to be started on December 1st, each day of this 25 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how Jesus was the light that came to heal and save a hurting and broken world. 

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as, 

• Who is Jesus?

• Why was Jesus born?

• How does it matter in my life today?

“God is a good Father who gives good and perfect gifts. God is also a Father who speaks truth to us! When he tells us the truth, he wants us to trust and believe him even when it’s hard. When we trust God’s word even when it feels hard, it’s called faith. Faith is a gift God gives us, and the amazing thing is, we can always ask God for more.”

Request your copy of First15’s new kids advent devotional, Jesus, the Light of the World, today by going to supportfirst15.org, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! Again that is supportfirst15.org. The link is also in the podcast description.

In today’s devotional we’re going to look at the desire we all share to be fully known and fully loved. You and I were made for this. And pursuing that sense of knowledge and love from the world has left so many of us wounded. But the good news is that God has a path for healing, relationship, and love that’s void of shame, and wants to guide us down that path today as we create space and follow him together.

 

The main concept for this week is derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.

Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 2:4-5, and today's worship is 

Hide and Seek by First15 Worship feat. Nikki Moltz.

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Thank you for listening to today’s podcast, the longing for intimacy without shame. 

As you go about your day today, try and notice whenever you get a sense of shame. And if you’re able, take a moment to simply hand that shame over to God. Shame is so destructive, and in union with the Spirit we have available to us a constant healer who wants to deliver us from the destruction shame produces. 

 

And if you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast, so you won’t miss episodes like tomorrows, where we’ll look at the longing to be wholehearted. 

 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek him. 

 

Today as we continue our series looking at the desires of every heart, we’re going to take time to recognize and satisfy our desire to be great. The desire to be great within the heart of man has produced tremendous and terrible things. It’s produced peace and war, advancement and destruction. And as we look at this desire today, I pray that God reveals the purity and power of it as well as his plans to satisfy it moment by moment, day by day.

The main concept for this week is derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.

 

Our Scripture for today comes from 1 Corinthians 2:9, and today's worship is Firelight by Brother Isaiah.

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We are so excited to announce our very first First15 Kids Advent Devotional book, Jesus, the Light of the World. 

And you can get a copy for your children or grandchildren today!

Jesus, the Light of the World is a 25 day devotional written for young readers, ages 6-12.

Intended to be started on December 1st, each day of this 25 day devotional includes scriptures, activities, and prayers to help growing believers learn how Jesus was the light that came to heal and save a hurting and broken world. 

This resource is foundational, answering questions such as, 

• Who is Jesus?

• Why was Jesus born?

• How does it matter in my life today?

“God is a good Father who gives good and perfect gifts. God is also a Father who speaks truth to us! When he tells us the truth, he wants us to trust and believe him even when it’s hard. When we trust God’s word even when it feels hard, it’s called faith. Faith is a gift God gives us, and the amazing thing is, we can always ask God for more.”

Request your copy of First15’s new kids advent devotional, Jesus, the Light of the World, today by going to supportfirst15.org, and help your kids explore spending time with God each and every day! Again that is supportfirst15.org. The link is also in the podcast description.