• Ephesians 3:20-21 Undivided
    Sep 14 2025
    Undivided > Ephesians 3:20-21 3:20 The power of God. Paul has taken the past three chapters to show that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings reconciliation – both between sinful humans and their creator, but also with one another, which reflects the power of Christ to save. The Lord is at work building and unifying a people for Himself, for His own glory. 3:21 The worship He deserves. Because of the marvelous grace of the Lord and on account of His mercy to sinners in reconciling us and working in us through the Holy Spirit, we – in turn – glorify Him, both by how we act as a church and how we respond to and worship Jesus Christ. The Point: The gospel is not only a message of how to “get saved,” but also about what salvation really means. Reconciliation with our God has been achieved by Jesus Christ. We, in turn, display, enjoy, and testify to that reconciliation in the church through our unity as we worship the King together. Prayer: Heavenly Father, what an amazing reality we see here! Your grace and mercy to us in Christ transforms us, both as individuals and as a church. It accomplishes this transformation across every dividing line, testifying to Your great power and wisdom, which is why we praise You. Application: Unity is a big deal to Jesus – is it a big deal to you? How are the ways that you act and speak and care for others displaying the unity brought about by Christ’s gospel? Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________ __________________________________________________
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Exodus 7:1-13 That All May Know
    Sep 14 2025
    That All May Know > Exodus 7:1-13 7:1-7 What, will, and why. The time for the big showdown with Pharaoh has come: Moses and Aaron are sent to proclaim what God will do, what he has promised all along: that he would rescue his people from out of Egypt. In so doing, all of Egypt would come to know that he is the Lord, the one true God. 7:8-13 Just as God said. The prelude to the plagues unfolds exactly as the Lord had said: Pharaoh isn’t open to the Lord’s command to let his people go. Instead, Pharaoh tries to dismiss God’s power through Moses and Aaron by having his own wise men use their wicked and counterfeit ways. Rapidly, the Lord will show Pharaoh and all of Egypt that nobody is as powerful as the living God! The Point: God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and completely sovereign. Pharaoh and all who oppose him will receive only judgment. But those who trust this God, who hope in him, shall have the Lord’s blessing forever. Prayer: Father, make us to see your greatness rather than our own. Keep us from giving our allegiance to any other. Instead, make us proclaimers of you and your glorious plan to save many from their sins. Thank you for rescuing us! Application: If you are not yet a Christian then it’s time to admit, believe, and confess that God is God and you are not. If you are a Christian, rejoice! Our God is King and all his promises are “yes” and “amen” in Jesus Christ! Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________ __________________________________________________
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Acts 2:46-47 How We Live
    Sep 1 2025
    How We Live > Acts 2:46-47 2:46 Attending. Luke summarizes the practice of the early church in two words. First, they “attended” – that is, they regularly worshipped together and shared time in their homes with one another. The people of God weren’t isolated, but instead, lived in community and gave thanks to the Lord for all that He was doing and providing. 2:47 Praising. Second, God’s people focused on the Lord, praising Him as the God who had brought Good News (=the gospel) to His people. This changed their entire way of life (v42-45), which was then noticed by the people around them. These Christians witnessed to Jesus by their very way of life. The Point: The growth of Christ’s church is the blessing that God gives as His people respond to His gospel by faith in Jesus. When we prize Gospel proclamation, Christ-centered fellowship, and intentional and sacrificial care for one another, we enjoy the blessing of being a church used by God to spread – and live in the enjoyment of – His gospel. Prayer: Lord, you are so good to us. Your gospel gives us hope that we could never earn, but that You have given anyway. A hope in Jesus that transforms how we live now, how we care for others now, because of our trust in what Jesus will bring to completion when He comes back. Thank you! Application: How will you prize the Christian life in your own schedule and routine this week? Who around you needs to see (and hear!) from you genuine, lasting, hope in Jesus? Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________ __________________________________________________
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Acts 2:44-45 God’s Treasure
    Aug 30 2025
    Gospel transformation leads to Christ-centered change in every area of life. The Jerusalem church gave of their possessions not because they were rich, nor because they were forced to. Instead, they gave as an expression of the forgiveness and life that Jesus had first given to them.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Acts 2:42d Let Us Pray
    Aug 10 2025
    Let Us Pray > Acts 2:42d 2:42a And they devoted themselves… A reminder that for each of the four elements in this verse, Luke is describing what the early church intentionally pursued together as God’s people. 2:42d …to the prayers. God’s people gave themselves to prayer as a priority. Not just when it was convenient or could be worked in to other ministries, but as its own important practice. Theirs was a church driven by calling on the Lord for direction rather than by trusting in their own strategies, personalities, or emotions to determine what they should do. The Point: When we pray together, we call on God to do in and through us what only he can do. Prayer is an act of trust, an expression of faith: we rely on the Lord for guidance and direction, and we believe that his ways are infinitely better than what we would come up with ourselves. Prayer: Father, would you stoke up in us a desire to pray? To make us see all too clearly our own limits so that we would have to (and get to!) joyfully trust you as the Lord who has no limits. Teach us to lean not on our own understanding, but to seek you and trust you in all things, from salvation to the return of our King. Application: How will you prioritize praying together here at First E-Free? What will you say “no” to in order to free up time to regularly call on the Lord in faith? Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________ __________________________________________________
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Acts 2:42c Why Eat Together?
    Aug 3 2025
    2:42a And they devoted themselves… Remember where this verse started: these are the practices of Christians in the first church. This is how they did life together and followed Jesus side-by-side. 2:42c …to the breaking of bread. The breaking of bread describes both the regular meals of these early Christians (eating together, sharing life together) and also the Lord’s Supper, which would have been remembered as part of those meals (see 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 and 11:17-34). The goal was that even in their eating, these first Christians wanted to follow Christ together and prize the gospel in their lives. The Point: When we prioritize sharing meals together, we emphasize and remember Christ’s transformative work in our lives. This is then displayed in our care and hospitality for each other and in how we remember Christ’s own care for us as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Prayer: Lord, we lived hurried lives where it is hard to give attention to one another much less gather together! Yet, your ways are best. Work in us to prioritize sharing meals together as a way of focusing our fellowship and our joy on what Christ has done for us. Sharpen us and build us up as we learn to example Christ’s grace to one another. Application: How will you make sharing meals with others at FEFC a priority? How will you be intentional about fellowship and the gospel during those times? Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________ __________________________________________________
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Acts 2:42b Why One-another?
    Aug 2 2025
    Why does fellowship matter? This gathering together is important because it testified to the God these early Christians believed in, it gave them a training ground and place of encouragement for following Jesus, and it provided them with a foretaste of their own union with Christ.
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Acts 2:42a Why the Bible?
    Jul 25 2025
    Why the Bible? > Acts 2:42a 2:42a They devoted themselves… A snapshot of Christian living from the early church: those who trust Christ devote themselves (give their attention to, prioritize) to four practices as a congregation. They respond to God by dedicating themselves to his pattern of faith and life. 2:42a …to God’s teaching. The first priority of Christ’s church is that it is focused upon, formed by, and gives its attention to God’s word. The apostles taught the good news of God fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The church must believe, respond to, live by, and tell of this message to others. The Point: God’s people are formed by God’s word. We dedicate ourselves to learning and living in response to what God has said and done through our Savior. Prayer: Lord, it is so easy to listen to everyone else before we listen to you. Give us a hunger for your truth. Form us into a congregation who wants to hear from you through your word, so that we would faithfully trust The Word, Jesus Christ. Enable us to treasure our Savior by hearing all that you have said and done and will accomplish, and then give us the opportunity to live out and to share what you have said. Application: What are you devoting yourself to? Christians devote themselves to what God has said matters most. How will you devote yourself to respond to the teaching of God’s word? How will you uphold God’s word in our congregation? Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________ __________________________________________________
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins