GDLC Audio

This Ash Wednesday, we look at the Wilderness of Slavery. The Israelites were enslaved people to Egypt just as humanity enslaved people to the power of sin. On Ash Wednesday, we remember the curse of the law that brings about death in our mortal bodies, but we also remember the sure and certain hope of the resurrection from the dead. Just as God heard the cries of the Israelites, God also heard the cries of humanity and sent Jesus as the one to redeem us from our slavery to sin and to bring us to a new life in Him. 

This chapter highlights the transformative power of Jesus' physical and spiritual touch, using the story of Jesus healing the leper as a focal point. It also challenges readers to consider moments when they’ve witnessed or provided Christ-like compassion to someone in need. The chapter emphasizes the importance of physical touch and its ability to convey love, healing, and acceptance, even in a society wary of physical interactions. Jesus’ touch extended beyond the leper to many others. The chapter concludes with a personal challenge to identify someone in need of Christ’s love and to pray for opportunities to bring healing and hope to their lives, emphasizing that small, intentional actions can have a profound impact.

This is the conclusion of our deep dive into John 11.

What an incredible moment in Peter’s life we are witnessing this weekend. The disciples are in a small boat in the middle of a big storm and filled with great fear. In the middle of all of this comes Jesus walking to them right on top of the thing they fear the most. Jesus then invites Peter to Step Out of the boat in faith and to walk on his fears by staying focused on the one who is always in complete control. This week, we are encouraged and challenged to step out in faith, just like Peter, and to trust that the one who calls us is already standing there waiting for us. 

What an incredible moment in Peter’s life we are witnessing this weekend. The disciples are in a small boat in the middle of a big storm and filled with great fear. In the middle of all of this comes Jesus walking to them right on top of the thing they fear the most. Jesus then invites Peter to Step Out of the boat in faith and to walk on his fears by staying focused on the one who is always in complete control. This week, we are encouraged and challenged to step out in faith, just like Peter, and to trust that the one who calls us is already standing there waiting for us. 

Chapter Two addresses the challenge of loving difficult people, a feeling Max Lucado describes as “Stuckitis” or “The Claustrophobia of Commitment.” This chapter challenges believers to overcome pride and extend love, forgiveness, and humility to everyone—even those they find difficult to love—because that is how Christ loves us.