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
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). I love a good Hollywood blockbuster. The kind of movie that's heavy on the action, and light on the acting. A movie where the special effects and explosions take center stage. I especially enjoy when the camera zooms in for close-up of the heroes and they utter a witty one-liner as they face certain d...
Keep ReadingJohn 2:1-11 The servants mentioned in our verses this week are asked to do something out of the ordinaryoutrageous even! --and the request came from a man who wasn't their employer, but a guest at the wedding. "Fill the jars with water" (v7), didn't mean putting a couple of Mason jars under the tap in the kitchen. It meant hauling water up from a well to fill "six stone w...
Keep Reading"Do whatever He tells you." (John 2:5) "You need to shift your way of thinking," the professor intones and the parent lectures. Sometimes, like this, we're told to change; at other times, a shift can blindside us. Almost every encounter with Jesus results in the latter. Take Jesus' first miracle, for instance: changing water into wine. Everyone present undergoes an unexpe...
Keep ReadingThis, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.And his disciples believed in him (John 2:11 ESV). I have not been to many weddings in my life, but I have participated in a handful of school dances, both in middle school and in high school. They mainly consist of line dances, and one that I have done many times is the "Cha-Cha Slide." ...
Keep ReadingMary said to the servants at the wedding feast, "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). One of the mistakes we sometimes make is thinking that Jesus just wants to save us.Before you ring up the pastor and elders, be patient for just a minute.Of course: Jesus does indeed save us from all the power and penalty of Sin and Law and Death.And: Jesus does indeed save us in order ...
Keep ReadingThough the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:10-13). As we are r...
Keep ReadingThe true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through himHe came to that which was his own (John 1: 9-11). John opens his Gospel by talking about the true light of the world. This true light is Jesus, and he's coming into the world he created for us. He's not a visitor, coming only temporarily for...
Keep ReadingThe Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish. John 1:14 MSG My mother-in-law, Linda, was known in her community for the "open house" she hosted each Christmas. Preparations started weeks ahead of time; she made sure th...
Keep ReadingThe Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God is not like us. Humans are not small gods, and God is not humanity raised to the nth degree.So this idea of "being at home" with God, with God "being at home" with us, faces some massive problems for which there are no earthly solutions. God is Holy, we are not. God is Righteous, we are crooked and bent in so many ...
Keep Reading"The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us." John 1:14 (NIV) John's Christmas narrative vastly differs from Luke's focus on angels and a virgin birth and from Paul's exhortation to imitate Jesus' humility (Philippians 2). John's version, instead, resonates with Old Testament echoes.John's first words echo Genesis 1, "In the beginning was the Word," recalling th...
Keep Readingand there was no longer any sea God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true I did not see a temple in the city The city does not need the sun or moon to shine on it On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there is no night there Nothing impure wi...
Keep Reading"I am making all things new." (Rev. 21:5) Four centuries of silence bridged the last words of the Old Testament and Jesus' coming. Not a word from God. As the exiled Israelites waited and waited for their promised Messiah, surely they cried out, it's not supposed to be this way; we are God's people. We belong in our land, with our Temple and customs, not subjugated by for...
Keep Reading"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God...Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people" (Revelations 21:2-3). A few weeks ago, my youngest son was playing with his construction toys and built a flying tank. His older brothers made fun of him, insisting that flying tanks are impossible. Being the good father that I am, I intervened...
Keep ReadingHe who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!Revelation 21:5 As I write this we're looking forward to celebrating the birthday of our youngest child. (He's been counting down for weeks, and now we're down to just hours to go!) One thing we always do with our children on their birthdays is tell them all about the day they were born and all the events l...
Keep ReadingThen I saw a new heaven and a new earth I saw the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-3). Ah, the sights and sounds of Christmas! And the smells, too! Shimmering, sparkling lights; music and carols; cookies, fruit breads, and other such deliciousnesses! A feast for the senses and stomachs!But Christmas poses some questions, too: What do you see? Only lights and tinsel? What ...
Keep ReadingThe Gardener-Father cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:1-2, 8). You've seen it before: a once-beautiful tree that has been "cut back" so that it looks like the owner ...
Keep ReadingIf you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have keptmy Father's commands and remain in his love. II have told you this so thatmy joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (John 15 1-11). One of my wife's favorite Christmas movies is "Love Actually". In the opening monologue, the Prime Minister of England, played by Hugh Grant, speaks about ho...
Keep Reading"Every branch that does bear fruit God trims clean so it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:2). We planted and cultivated blackberry vines adjacent to our garden in Maryland. Fat, juicy berries were our reward, sometimes twice a year. But if Scott didn't take care, those vines showed their aggressive side, forcing their way into the rest of the garden and even the lawn....
Keep ReadingI've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love." John 15:9 MSG I've had my Christmas music playlist on shuffle this week as I've been out and about, and this Perry Como song has popped up a lot:Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays,'Cause no matter how far away you roam,When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze,For the ...
Keep ReadingI am the true vine you are the branches. If anyone abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will abide in my love (John 15: 1, 5-6, 9-10). As we're thinking this month about Home for Christmas, we listen this week to the last o...
Keep Reading[What God plants] will become a noble cedar, the largest of plants, so that the birds of the aircome and perch in its branches (Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Matthew 13:31-32). Ezekiel 17:22-24, our church's "noble cedar" passage probably was not on your Bible verse memory list before you got involved in Chatham Community Church, right?But then you perhaps discovered that it was o...
Keep ReadingBirds of every kind will nest and find shelter in its branches (Ezekiel 17:23, emphasis added). [Editor's Note: We started writing this week's Connect Devotionals when it appeared that we'd be in our new building on December 5. We had decided to take a small break from our current sermon theme and re-visit our church's "noble cedar" vision from Ezekiel 17. As you know, th...
Keep ReadingBirds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches (Ezekiel 17:23).[Editor's Note: We started writing this week's Connect Devotionals when it appeared that we'd be in our new building on December 5. We had decided to take a small break from our current sermon theme and re-visit our church's "noble cedar" vision from Ezekiel 17. As you ...
Keep ReadingOn the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest (Ezekiel 17:23). [Editor's Note: We started writing this week's Connect Devotionals when it appeared that we'd be in our new building on December 5. We...
Keep Reading