1 Peter 1:17-25 Thanks be to God that He has given us everything we need to live a godly life. Our God not only calls us, affirms us, and desires a relationship with us, but walks alongside us in the journey. These verses also bring out an important aspect of the Christian life: growing in […]

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1 Peter 1:17-25 Your value and worth are immeasurable. As the people of God, we have an understanding that our creator God is working in all things. This means that God is continuously redeeming all of creation—including you! This means good things. Your life has a purpose, a good purpose! The creator of the world […]

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James 2:20-26 Think of someone you know who you feel exemplifies the characteristics of Christ. Perhaps this person is a mentor, friend, or pastor you know. Think about or take some time to write down a few characteristics about this person that you admire. What is it about their walk with Christ that draws you […]

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James 2:14-19 James is an author who cares deeply about the connection between what we believe and what we say. For James, faith cannot be separated from good works, and good works cannot be separated from faith. They are one and the same, continuously feeding into one another. If the people of God are those […]

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James 1:22-27 Something I appreciate about the book of James is the lack of “sugarcoating” in these words. James likes to tell it like it is. Don’t just listen to the word, do what it says. A hindrance to the people of God may be the way we love to talk about Scripture, but sometimes […]

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James 1:16-21 The people of God would be wise to follow the advice of James. Especially when James writes, “be quick to listen, slow to speak” (1:19). Perhaps this is something you can write on a sticky note and place on your laptop, keep it on a whiteboard, a bulletin board nearby, or as a […]

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Hebrews 11:39—12:3 The writer to the Hebrews spends an entire chapter commending the faith of Old Testament heroes. Yet sums up noting “none of them received what had been promised” (11:39b). All those years and “All these people were still living by faith when they died” (11:13a). Where did we get the idea that faith […]

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1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois is a beautiful place. While there are many notable monuments none draws more interest than that of the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Over 150 years after his death his tomb remains one of the most visited in the country. Lincoln’s death was […]

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Acts 1:1-11 “I only believe what I can see!” He shouted. His hands and feet were shackled to a bolt in the interview room floor. He turned as best he could away from me. “So do I,” I replied. He turned his neck to look me in the eye. “I have seen lives changed,” I […]

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John 20:11-18 Pilate was surprised. The crowd mocked. A centurion wondered. The disciples were confused. And Mary Magdalene, all she could do was cry. Each reacted to the death of Jesus in different ways. Now the tomb was empty. This was not going right. Jesus should not have been treated like this. He certainly shouldn’t […]

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