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
He said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand here where we can see you."(Mark 3:3 MSG) There's a difference between a deep tissue sports massage and a Swedish full body massage, and I learned it the hard way. One of my cousins is a massage therapist, and when she was newly licensed and looking for more practice she offered free treatment to family and friends. I had...
Keep Reading"Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, 'Stand up in front of everyone.' Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evi...
Keep ReadingAnother time Jesus went into the synagogue,and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Somewere looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched closelyto see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. (Mark 3:1, 2) When I was young, Shabbat (the Sabbath) was a mixed bag of beautiful and annoying. On the one hand, I loved the peaceful serenity of my mother as she lit the ca...
Keep ReadingJesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone" (Mark 3:5). Welcome, Monday, and hope you are enjoying good memories from yesterday's Chatham Serves (even as you may be rehabbing some sore muscles!). This week we begin a new series, Forever Changed, which will run throughout the summer. This week's passage, Mark 6:1-3, is set on a Sabbath d...
Keep ReadingEditor's note: Thank you for being a CD reader! This week is the run-up to Chatham Serves (CS) on Sunday May 18. If you haven't yet signed up for a CS service project, please go to cccsignup.org -- still lots of room for you to join in! And since there is no set Scripture passage for this week, our CD writers get to freewheel a bit. We hope you enjoy the creative variety! ...
Keep ReadingIn your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who,being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be usedto his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himselfby becoming obedient to death ...
Keep ReadingTo this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (I Peter 2:21). Editor's note: Thank you for being a CD reader! This week is the run-up to Chatham Serves (CS) on Sunday May 18. If you haven't yet signed up for a CS service project, please go to cccsignup.org -- still lots of room for you to join in! And...
Keep Reading"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowersmost of which are never even seendon't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?"(Matthew 6:30 MSG) Editor's note: Thank you for being a CD reader! This week is the run-up to Chatham Serves (CS) on Sunday May 18. If you haven't yet signed up for a CS service project, please go to ccc...
Keep ReadingDo you want to get well? (John 5:6) As we prepare for Chatham Serves this Sunday, our CD writers have been let off leash no specificassignment, so choose our own adventure! Should be a fun week for CD writers and readers! Our Thursday morning men's group (Thursdays, 8 AM, NCH, all men welcome) has recently beenexploring the questions Jesus asked (and He asked a lot of t...
Keep Reading"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? L...
Keep Reading