The Road to Redemption | Day 30: Luke 13:18-35 – Embracing the Kingdom’s Call and Urgency
In today’s reading, Jesus describes the nature of God’s kingdom and issues a call to enter through the narrow door. The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven illustrate the kingdom’s seemingly small beginnings and its transformative power. Though it starts small, the kingdom grows expansively, reaching people from every nation and bringing radical change to the hearts of those who belong to it.
The Road to Redemption | Day 29: Luke 13:1-17 – Repentance, Fruitfulness, and the Kingdom of God
Jesus calls us to repentance, fruitfulness, and a deeper understanding of God’s kingdom in the reading for today. Jesus begins by addressing two tragedies: Pilate’s slaughter of Galileans and a tower collapse in Siloam. He rejects the idea that these victims were more sinful than others, instead urging all to repent. His words remind us that everyone stands under God’s judgment apart from repentance. These events point to the urgency of turning from sin and seeking His grace.
The Road to Redemption | Day 28: Luke 12:35-59 – Stewardship, Watchfulness, and Following Christ
In today’s verses, Jesus emphasizes readiness for His return, faithfulness in stewardship, and the cost of discipleship. He begins with the call to stay prepared, likening His followers to servants waiting for their master’s return. This readiness is marked by vigilance, faithfulness, and living in obedience to His Word. The promise that the Master will serve His faithful servants is a profound picture of Christ’s grace and the joy of His return.
The Road to Redemption | Day 27: Luke 12:1-34 – Living with Integrity, Fear, and Eternal Priorities
Our journey through Luke today brings us to Jesus providing a series of teachings that address fear, trust, and the priorities of His kingdom. He begins by warning His disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, comparing it to leaven that spreads and corrupts. Authentic faith requires integrity and an awareness that nothing is hidden from God. This call to sincerity reminds us that we live before an all-knowing and holy God.
Test and See His Provision: Malachi 3:6-12 | 5 Devotions on Trusting the God Who Provides
Welcome to this week's devotional guide based on Sunday's sermon, "Test and See His Provision," from Malachi 3:6–12. As we reflect on God's faithfulness and generosity, these devotions will encourage you to deepen your trust in His unchanging character and overflowing grace. Set aside a few minutes each day to read, reflect, and pray, asking God to shape your heart into joyful stewardship in response to the abundant blessings we have received in Christ.
Test and See His Provision: Malachi 3:6-12 | Experiencing God's Overflowing Grace
Are you living as if God's blessings might run out? In "Test and See His Provision," Pastor Mark guides us through Malachi 3:6–12, reminding us that God is faithful even when we're not. This sermon encourages us to examine our hearts, highlighting that true obedience and generosity flow naturally from gratitude for God's overwhelming grace.
In this message, you'll learn that God doesn't leave His people stuck in their mistakes. Instead, He graciously invites them—and us—to return to Him, promising blessings beyond our imagination. These promises are ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who has richly blessed us through His life, death, and resurrection. Our response to this profound generosity should be joyful stewardship of our whole lives.
The Road to Redemption | Day 26: Luke 11:33-54 – Letting God’s Truth Shine in Our Lives
Today’s passage challenges us to examine the integrity of our faith and the condition of our hearts. Jesus begins by teaching that a lamp is meant to shine, not to be hidden. The lamp represents the truth of God’s Word, and our lives should reflect its light. The condition of our spiritual eyes—our understanding and receptivity to God’s truth—determines whether we walk in light or darkness. A healthy, Christ-focused heart leads to a life that glorifies God and illuminates His truth to others.
The Road to Redemption | Day 25: Luke 11:14-32 – The Authority of Jesus and the Call to Repentance
In Luke 11:14-32, Jesus addresses the nature of His authority, the danger of unbelief, and the call to repentance. After casting out a demon, some accuse Jesus of working by the power of Beelzebul, while others demand a sign. Jesus responds by exposing the absurdity of their accusation: a divided kingdom cannot stand. His power over demons demonstrates the arrival of God’s kingdom, for He is stronger than Satan and has come to plunder the enemy’s domain.
The Road to Redemption | Day 24: Luke 11:1-13 – Trusting in God’s Provision Through Prayer
In the reading today, Jesus teaches His disciples about prayer, emphasizing its simplicity, persistence, and the Father’s goodness. When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray, He gives them the Lord’s Prayer, a model that begins with reverence for God and submission to His will. It acknowledges our dependence on Him for daily provision, forgiveness, and protection from sin.
The Road to Redemption | Day 23: Luke 10:25-42 – The Good Portion: Prioritizing Jesus Above All
Today we see two well-known passages: the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the account of Jesus visiting Martha and Mary. Together, they emphasize loving God and neighbor and finding our priorities in Christ.
The parable begins with a lawyer asking Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus turns the question back to him, affirming the greatest commandments: love for God and love for neighbor. Seeking to justify himself, the lawyer asks, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus responds with the parable, where a Samaritan—despised by the Jews—shows sacrificial love to a wounded man while the religious figures pass by. The Samaritan’s actions reveal that true love transcends boundaries and requires compassion, mercy, and action.
The Story Retold | An Introduction to the Four Gospels | Bible Study Video
The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—aren’t just biographies of Jesus. They are divinely inspired, historically grounded, theologically rich accounts of the life and mission of Christ. In this session of The Story Retold, Pastor Mark introduces the nature and purpose of the Gospels, showing how they work together to tell one unified story of redemption.
The Road to Redemption | Day 22: Luke 10:1-24 – The Great Harvest and the Assurance of Salvation
In Luke 10:1-24, Jesus sends seventy-two disciples on a mission to proclaim the kingdom of God. This passage highlights the urgency of the gospel, the dependence required in ministry, and the joy of participating in God’s work. Jesus instructs His disciples to go out as laborers into a plentiful harvest, relying on God for provision and peace. Their mission is marked by simplicity, trust, and a focus on proclaiming the message of salvation.
The Road to Redemption | Day 21: Luke 9:46-62 – The Radical Call to Discipleship
The passage today highlights the nature of true discipleship and the call to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. The disciples’ argument about greatness reveals their misunderstanding of Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus teaches that greatness in His kingdom is marked by humility and service, using a child as an example. True disciples welcome the lowly, reflecting the heart of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.
The Road to Redemption | Day 20: Luke 9:18-45 – The Transfiguration and the Call to Discipleship
In Luke 9:18-45 we see pivotal truths about Jesus’ identity, His mission, and the cost of discipleship. When Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter declares that He is the Christ of God. This confession is central to the gospel, yet Jesus immediately clarifies that His mission involves suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. The disciples struggle to grasp this, as their expectations for the Messiah conflict with the reality of the cross.
The Coming Refiner: Malachi 2:17-3:5 | 5 Devotions on Being Refined by Grace
Have you ever felt like the world is upside down—where those who do wrong seem to prosper while faithfulness feels overlooked? That same question weighed heavily on God’s people in Malachi’s day. But God’s answer wasn’t immediate judgment. Instead, He promised to come as a Refiner—to cleanse, purify, and restore His people.
These five devotions flow out of our recent sermon on Malachi 2:17-3:5 and will help you reflect on how God’s refining work is at play in your life today. Each day offers a Scripture passage, a brief reflection, and a prayer, pointing you back to the hope and holiness we have in Christ, the ultimate Refiner.
May these devotions encourage you to return to the One who purifies and sustains His people by His grace.
The Coming Refiner: Malachi 2:17-3:5 | When Justice Feels Delayed
Have you ever wondered why evil seems to prosper while faithfulness often goes unnoticed? In this sermon, Pastor Mark explores Malachi 2:17-3:5, where God’s people questioned His justice and demanded answers. But instead of immediate judgment, God responds with something unexpected: a refining fire and cleansing soap meant to purify His covenant people.
The Road to Redemption | Day 19: Luke 9:1-17 – From Discipleship to Mission: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Today we see Luke showcasing Jesus’ authority, the disciples’ role in His mission, and His abundant provision. Jesus sends out the twelve with power and authority over demons and diseases, commissioning them to proclaim the kingdom of God. This marks a pivotal moment in their discipleship, as they move from following Jesus to actively participating in His mission. Their instructions to rely on God’s provision challenge them—and us—to trust Him fully.
The Road to Redemption | Day 18: Luke 8:40-56 – Trusting Jesus in the Midst of Despair
The reading for today highlights Jesus’ power to bring restoration and His compassionate response to those who approach Him in faith. The intertwined accounts of Jairus’s daughter and the woman with the issue of blood reveal Jesus’ authority over sickness, death, and despair, as well as His tender care for individuals in need.
The Road to Redemption | Day 17: Luke 8:19-39 – Trusting Jesus in the Storms of Life
This passage demonstrates Jesus’ authority over spiritual powers and the nature of true discipleship. When Jesus’ mother and brothers arrive, He teaches that true family in the kingdom of God is defined by hearing and obeying God’s Word. This redefinition of family emphasizes that discipleship is rooted in a spiritual relationship with Christ, marked by obedience and faith.
The calming of the storm reveals Jesus’ divine power over creation. The disciples’ fear and amazement underscore their growing realization of His identity. Jesus rebukes their lack of faith, reminding us that trusting Him is essential, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. This scene foreshadows the peace Jesus brings to all who trust in Him, even in the midst of life’s storms.
The Road to Redemption | Day 16: Luke 8:1-18 – Preparing Our Hearts to Receive God’s Word
Luke 8:1-18 emphasizes the transformative power of God’s Word and the responsibility of those who hear it. Jesus begins by highlighting the expanding reach of His ministry, as He proclaims the good news of the kingdom with His disciples and faithful followers, including women who have been healed and redeemed. This inclusion underscores the radical nature of Jesus’ kingdom, where grace transforms and empowers all who trust in Him.