Devotions: Held by God
Day 1:
Bible Reading: Psalm 57:1-3
Devotional: Begin the week by reflecting on God's steadfast love and faithfulness, as revealed in the Psalms. This passage illustrates the depth of God's care for us, His constant presence and the refuge He provides in times of turmoil. Consider how God has been your refuge and fortress in times of adversity.
Question: How have you experienced God's steadfast love and faithfulness in your life?
Devotions: Transformed by the Spirit
Day 1:
Bible Reading: Romans 8:28-30
Devotional: Today, we dive into the doctrine of predestination. Reflect on how God knew you before the foundations of the world and chose you for His glory. Recognize that God's grace is so powerful that it transforms our hearts and minds, drawing us to Him irresistibly. Pray for a deeper understanding of this divine election and its implications for your life.
Question: How does understanding God’s predestination impact your view of His grace?
October 1 Sermon: Transformed by the Spirit
In week four of our series “Understanding Grace” we look at the doctrine of Irresistible Grace. For those appointed to salvation, the Holy Spirit will work in their life to bring them to faith in Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches us that we are all dead in sin and unable to come to God on our own. However, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and draws us to Christ, we understand the irresistible nature of God’s grace.
The doctrine of irresistible grace is a source of great comfort and assurance for believers. It reminds us that our salvation is not dependent on our own efforts, but on the grace of God. It also gives us confidence that God will continue His transforming work in our lives to conform us to the image of His Son.
Devotions: Intentional Atonement
Day 1:
Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:1-6
Devotional: Reflect on the suffering of Jesus, the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. Consider how Jesus took on our grief, carried our sorrows, and was pierced for our transgressions. Take some time today to thank Jesus for His sacrifice and ask for His grace to follow Him faithfully.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does Jesus' suffering mean to you personally?
2. How does knowing that Jesus bore your sins affect your understanding of God's love for you?
3. How can you show gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice in your daily life?
September 24 Sermon: Intentional Atonement
We have all been in positions where we are experimenting with something and we find ourselves unsure whether what we have been laboring over has been worthwhile or not. This could be something like substituting an ingredient or a recipe or it could be trying a part that you aren’t sure is compatible in something you are fixing. It comes to the point where you say “I sure hope this works” and give it a try. There is a lot of satisfaction when what you have gambled on works but at the same time you aren’t surprised when it doesn’t work out exactly as you had hoped because you were taking a shot in the dark anyway.
Devotions: Adopted by God
Day 1: Understanding Unconditional Election
Bible Reading: Romans 9:6-8
Devotional: Begin by reading Romans 9:6-8, focusing on the principle of election as outlined by Apostle Paul. This doctrine can be difficult to understand, but it's crucial in comprehending God's sovereignty and His unconditional love for us. The sermon we listened to emphasized that our salvation doesn't depend on our works or merits, but solely on God's mercy. Today, let's meditate on this divine grace and express gratitude for His unconditional love.
September 17 Sermon: Adopted by God
One of the most powerful images of salvation in Christ is the idea of being adopted into the family of God. Now, this is an idea that comes through in many parts of Scripture, but it is primarily something that we see in the writings of Paul in the New Testament this idea of adoption, and we can see the ramifications of this concept, because we can observe adoption in the world around us and, as a covenant community, as the people gathered here, we have seen this ourselves in recent memory. We have two children who were baptized into the covenant family of this congregation within very recent memory, and we witness firsthand what adoption means, and it is a picture of what God does for you and I. In the Gospel, children who did not have parents are chosen to be brought into a family. They are brought into the family and they are not second-class members of that family. They are children who are not only legally part of the family, but they're loved, they're cherished, and they also have all the benefits of being in that family.
Devotions: Fallen Humanity
Day 1:
Reading: Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:1-15
Devotional: Today we begin our journey with the first sin, the fall of man. We see how the first humans disobeyed God and brought sin into the world. However, in Genesis 3:15, we also see God's promise of a Savior. How does this promise impact your understanding of God's love and mercy, even in the midst of our rebellion?
September 10 Sermon: Fallen Humanity
If I were to ask you to make a list of some of the most recognizable and well known songs it is likely that has you drill down your list, the song Amazing Grace might make it in the top five. It is a tune that is used and recognized even in contexts outside the church. You’ve probably seen a movie that used the tune in a funeral scene. In fact, I thought of two films right off the top of my head and they both used bagpipes, and, as soon as i thought of them the images of the films were brought to mind. Many people who have rarely darkened the door of a church even know the song. Most people know the tune and many of the words. It’s one of those hymns that if the lights went out we could probably finish it.
Held By God
A while back, I needed to make two visits in Sioux Falls. One visit was to someone in the hospital in the morning and another visit to pray with someone before surgery. There was about a three hour window of time that I needed to fill. I went to a coffee shop, got a little caffeine, and did a little work on my tablet. Before I went to do the afternoon visit I decided to go to the mall to see if I could find a good price on some clothes that I was in need of. I parked near the food court entrance and spent roughly 30 minutes looking for a dress clothes. On the way out I was observing how little activity there was at the mall compared to times past. The handful of cars in the parking lot reflected how few people were moving around the interior of the mall. The activity in the mall was nothing like I knew when I was younger, even on a slow day.