In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul says: 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 When Paul says to “put on the whole armor of God…,” he…
When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He didn’t just tell His followers to teach information—He told them to teach obedience. That’s a crucial difference. In our culture, obedience can feel restrictive, even outdated. We celebrate independence, personal truth, and doing what feels right. But in the Kingdom of God, obedience is not about control—it’s about…
This is Holy Week, and there is a lot going on. It begins with Palm Sunday, when Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. The crowds shout Hosanna, and Jesus is welcomed into the city. On Monday, Jesus goes to work. Today, He clears the Temple by driving out the money changers. He…
There’s something deeply honest about the heart behind Pat Terry’s song, “I Can’t Wait to See Jesus.” It expresses a longing that many believers feel but don’t always say out loud. The Apostle Paul wasn’t afraid to say it: “I desire to depart and be with Christ.” Not because he wanted to escape life, but…
“Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering… He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities.” — Isaiah 53:4–5 When Jesus carried the cross through the streets of Jerusalem, He carried more than wood on His shoulders. The cross represented the full weight of humanity’s sin, brokenness, and pain. Every…
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” — Luke 9:23 Following Jesus is the greatest invitation ever given—but it is not a casual one. Jesus never hid the cost of discipleship. He told His followers plainly that walking…
We are on a 5-week journey toward Easter and the resurrection. This week, we looked at turning toward the cross. Following the example set by Jesus, we also must intentionally look at the cross and all that it means for us as believers. Each day, we’ll look at some simple devotions that help us prepare…
We live in a hurried world. Easter can arrive before we’ve had time to truly reflect on what it means. As we move toward Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus, I want to invite you into a five-week journey called “From the Cross to the Empty Tomb.” Beginning this Monday, you’ll receive a short devotional…
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” — John 15:8 Over the last several weeks, we’ve talked about being rooted — in Jesus, in prayer, in the Word, in community, and in obedience. But roots aren’t the goal. Fruit is. When I’m rooted in…
I find that sometimes repentance starts with a realization we didn’t expect. During Praise Team rehearsal, I kept trying to get everyone to sing the same pitch. The parts were definitely clashing. I was confident I knew where the part should land. I corrected. I redirected. I pushed for unity. I banged out the notes…