The connect devotional is a great way to stay connected spiritually to what our community is learning about God right now. It is in step with the current sermon series, studying the scripture through the lens of life application.
Clicking here to subscribe and receive the Connect Devotional in your inbox
To see past posts, click the "All Posts" button above
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on" (Mark 2:3,4). My father-in-law is a retired manager of a national wildlife refuge, and while there it wasn't uncommon for hiker...
Keep ReadingSome men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:3-5). My kids used to play with...
Keep ReadingMark 2:1-11 I'm fortunate to be in a small Bible study group led by retired pastor and devotional writer/editor Brian Emmet. Brian is never content to let our discussion stay surface level. He continually probes, forcing us to look deeper into scripture and into ourselves. His favorite phrase during our study is what else? And he will ask it over and over until we have pl...
Keep ReadingThey gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. Wh...
Keep ReadingA few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home So he said to the man,"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home" (Mark 2:1-11). Hope you're still enjoying good memories and swapping good stories from yesterday's Chatham Serves! As we continue thinking, praying and living our way into our Made on Purpose for a Purpose seri...
Keep ReadingDoes merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? (James 2:14 MSG) When the teenagers come home from school they will occasionally give me more information about their days than, "School was fine." On those lucky days they'll tell me something they've heard in a particular class, and I always enjoy watching their eyes light up as they tell me about wha...
Keep ReadingIn the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is deadI will show you my faith by my deeds (James 2: 17,18). James reminds us that Jesus calls us to love all our neighbors all the time. And there are few better ways to show your love than by putting faith into action. With Chatham Serves right around the corner, I wanted to share a particularly powe...
Keep Reading"What good is it if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds" (James 2:14)? As Christians, what should we do when we approach a red traffic light and see a person in the median with a cardboard sign, asking for help? Gather your answer(s), and I'll get back to you. In the span of just thirteen verses, James (the half-brother of Christ) reminds his Christian audience s...
Keep ReadingWhat good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ...
Keep ReadingBut someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faithwithout deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds (James 2:18). Happy Monday! We're in the middle of our Made on Purpose for a Purpose series, and gearing up for Chatham Serves on Sunday, April 21. If you've not yet signed up for a Chatham Serves activity, please go to www.chathamserves.org. "D...
Keep Reading