When it comes to the church. I believe unity is our foundation. The whole church stands or falls on the strength of this foundation. As long as there are people, there will be a wide variety of opinions. That’s okay. It’s not essential to have a unity of opinion in every matter. What is crucial is that we have unity around mission, vision, and purpose. It’s necessary that we have a strong biblical and doctrinal foundation.

Main Points:

1. When we have unity, we have bought into the mission and vision of the church. We are willing to forgo some personal preferences for the greater good. We trust God has spoken to our leadership, and we are willing to follow and serve.

2. When a church has strong unity, believers sincerely love one another. They protect each other and support one another.

3. We can sometimes unknowingly fall prey to the enemy’s trap to sow seeds of disunity. When we complain, gossip, and talk behind another believer’s back, we can drive a wedge in the unity of our church without even realizing it.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 14:19 - “Let us, therefore, make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

Ephesians 4:3 - “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

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As Christians, we’ve been taught the importance of the Word of God. We have been instructed to read the Bible every day. We know the significance of spending time with God every day. So, are there things we can do to develop a fresh love for the Word of God?

Main Points:

1. Start by praying a new prayer. Begin to ask God to give you a love for His Word. It’s a simple prayer you can start praying each day. I believe God loves it when we pray such a prayer, and He will give us the desire of our hearts.

2. When you open your Bible, believe that you will hear from God. The Bible is a living document. God wants to speak to your heart and life from its pages.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes. Ask Him to illuminate the truth so that it is clearly seen. The Spirit of God is present every time you open your Bible.
4. Look for the application. How can you put the scripture into practice in your daily life? Remember, the goal is not to get through Scripture. The goal is to get the scripture through you.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 6:68 - “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Psalm 119:97 - “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”

Psalm 119:167 - “I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.”

Psalm 119:18 - “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

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Our financial health is not the only thing that requires an investment; our spiritual growth requires one too. No, not a financial investment, though God may ask that of us, an investment of time, effort, passion, and heart. God will ask for an investment of sacrifice, faithfulness, and commitment. He will ask us to invest in the lives of others with love, support, and encouragement. God will speak to us about investing deeper into our own discipleship with Christ.

Main Points:

1. Let me ask you, “What investment are you making in your own spiritual growth?” Don’t rush past this question. Take a minute and think about it. What investment are you making in your own spiritual growth? To get a return, you have to make an investment.

2. Growth does not happen automatically. In fact, when something is not healthy, we often say it has “stunted growth,” meaning something is hindering and prohibiting healthy growth.

3. What can you do today to begin investing in your spiritual growth? How can you begin pursuing a closer relationship with Jesus? What steps of faith can you take? Where do you need more investment?

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Mark 10:28-31 - “Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 - “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

James 4:8 - “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”

Psalm 37:4 - “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

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No matter where you are or how far away from God you have run, you can always come home. Our loving Heavenly Father is waiting with open arms. He is calling once again for you to come home.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Luke 15:20 - “So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” “…Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. (Vs 24)

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As children of God, we desire the Lord’s hand of guidance and protection to be upon our lives. Why? Because He can see what we cannot see. He knows what we do not know. He holds our purpose and our future in His hands.

Main Points:

1. I believe each day the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, too. He is speaking, leading, guiding, and directing. Are we listening? Are our ears open to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Are we sensitive to His promptings?

2. Start your day by spending time with God. Then, as you go throughout your day, watch for the direction of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to lead you. Ask Him to guide your steps. Trust that He is with you, walking step by step.

3. God is not absent, uninvolved, and uninterested in your life. He is an ever-present God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 37:23-24 - “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”

Proverbs 16:9 - “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 27:1 - “…you don’t know what the day will bring.”

Romans 8:14 - “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

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When you love Jesus, it makes you different. You are not the same. There will be a noticeable difference in how you live and what you live for. In Christianity, some of the words we use to describe this new life are changed, transformed, converted, and born again.

Main Points:

1. We are still in the world, but we are not of the world. We live by different values. We have different ambitions. We have been given a new purpose in life. What we love has changed. We have exchanged old passions and desires for new ones.

2. Prior to placing our faith in Jesus, we loved the world. We loved what the world could offer us because it was all we knew. Now, we no longer love the world because we have discovered something superior. We have experienced the love of God that is satisfying and meets our inmost desires.

3. We are to bear the likeness or the imprint of God. People should recognize that we belong to Christ because we bear His image. The life we live is to be a reflection of the values, character, and lifestyle of Christ.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 John 2:15-17 - “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Ephesians 4:24 - “…to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

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As Christians, the Bible describes us as children of God. As children, we are learning how to walk in Christ. We sometimes stumble and fall. God, with his grace and mercy, is patient and helps us get up and get going again. Yet, sometimes other believers aren’t as gracious.

Main Points:

1. Sadly, sometimes the fallen are shunned, excluded, and looked down upon. Sometimes the fallen Christian is gossiped about and criticized.

2 The fallen one needs restoration. The goal is always to restore the believer who has been overcome by sin. They are not to be ignored. They are not to be excused. They are not to be destroyed. The goal is always restoration.

3. If you know a fellow believer who is struggling or who has fallen. With gentleness and humility, reach out to them in an effort to restore them to the faith and the path of righteousness. While you are doing so, remember that any of us is capable of falling.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Galatians 6:1 - “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

John 13-34-45 - “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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I talk to a lot of Christians who are unsatisfied with their prayer life. They even feel guilty, knowing prayer should be a more consistent part of their Christian life. But sometimes, it feels difficult to get going again. It seems hard to restart your prayer life. Here are some things that will help.

Main Points:

1. First, ask God to give you a renewed passion for his presence. It’s a prayer God will answer because He wants to spend time with you, too.

2. Second, decide on a place and a time. Set a reminder on your phone. This is half the battle.

3. Third, use a prayer journal/list to help you stay on track. Each morning, I use the 5-minute discipleship journal to walk through my time with God. The journal provides a simple strategy for engaging with God in His Word and prayer. I really enjoy using the “Pray First” App that was designed by the Church of the Highlands.

4. Finally, recognize that prayer is your lifeline. Everything we need, God can provide.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 3:1 - “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.”

Mark 11:24 - “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - “pray continually”

Colossians 4:2 - “devote yourselves to prayer”

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