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
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneselffrom being polluted by the world." (James 1:27) I'm neither an orphan nor a widow, but I have been on the receiving end of much kindness throughout my life. My mom put herself through nursing school while raising three young kids, and o...
Keep Reading"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17) Please take a moment and read this week's entire passage! In the second chapter of his book (written ~44-47AD to new Christians), James addresses a dichotomy we still discuss almost 2,000 years later. James quotes a common saying: "But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds'" (2:18a). H...
Keep ReadingBlessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him (James 1:12). Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! NIV Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! MSG Sometimes God moves in a mysterious way. Other times you find him ...
Keep ReadingBlessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! NIV Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! MSG This morning I was drawn to this story in my news feed: A college valedicto...
Keep ReadingConsider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kindsbecause you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete,not lacking anything (James 1:1-4). Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! NIV Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! MS...
Keep ReadingConsider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way (James 1:2-4 MSG). Please take a moment to read this wee...
Keep Reading***Our writers have done it again! We're blessed with another abundance of Connect Devotionals this week, so please enjoy both pieces by the Emmets and Bella.*** Split Personality Brian and Kathy Emmet James 1:1-18 Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! (NIV) Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! (MSG) Ever feel like two diffe...
Keep ReadingDave Patterson "But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?'" Luke 5: 30" Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! When I read the Bible, I often default to seeing myself on the side of Jesus. I like to imagine I'm part of his crowd, takin...
Keep ReadingJesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Luke 5:31 Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! I showed up to my first day of CrossFit almost ten years ago completely out of shape and with zero experience in any kind of gym or group fitness setting. Everything in that first class was brand new to me, but I officially joine...
Keep ReadingAfter these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, s...
Keep ReadingJesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet" (Luke 5:27-29a). Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! [chutzpah: (huts-puh) a Yiddish term meaning audacity, courage, or nerve] The old saying "Birds of...
Keep ReadingThen Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd Of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" (Luke 5:29-30). Please take a moment to read this week's entire passage! It's kind of n...
Keep Reading"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender, one five hundred, the other fifty. Since neither could pay, he canceled both their debts. Now which one will love him more?" "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled" (Luke 7:41-43). Here's a link to the entire passage! We all say we want compassion and need compassion, but the actual doing of compassion can get ...
Keep ReadingAs she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them (Luke 7: 38). Here's a link to the entire passage! When I think about Jesus, I tend to focus on how he's always serving other people. I model my own service after him. I enjoy volunteering and serving others, but ...
Keep ReadingLuke 7:36-50 Here's a link to the entire passage! What's up with Simon the Pharisee? At first, he seems to be genuine. He did, after all, invite Jesus to the dinner party at his house. Yet there was evidence from the get-go of his disdain: no washing of Jesus' feet on arrival, no kiss, no oil on His head. Simon may have been a stickler for the Law, but he was obviously ...
Keep ReadingIt's your lucky day: not one, but *two* Connect Devotionals to begin with this Tuesday! We hope you enjoy these pieces written by Bella and Jessica. "Cost of Forgiveness" Bella Segnere "You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgivenfor she loved much. But he who is forgive...
Keep ReadingIf this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching himand what kind of a woman she is that she is a sinner (Luke 7:39). Here's a link to the entire passage! [Did you notice: we have begun putting a link to the complete passage for the week at the top of each Connect Devotional. We encourage you to read the whole passage before diving into what we write!] Linus f...
Keep ReadingThe God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live God did this so that men would seek ...
Keep ReadingActs 17:16-32 Here's a link to the entire passage! Almost two years ago, Pastor Alex asked if I would consider volunteering with our high school youth group, and one of my first thoughts was, "Am I cool enough to hang out with teenagers?" I'm a former high school teacher, but I've spent the last 10+ years at home raising babies and toddlers and grade-schoolers. I wasn't ...
Keep Reading"When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." At that, Paul left the Council. Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed." Acts 17: 32-34 Here's a link to the entire passage! There's so much going on in our world today, and hot topics range from war to immigration, id...
Keep Reading(All the Athenians and the foreigners who live there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest idea.) Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said" Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you." (Acts 17:21, 22a, 23b). Here's a link to the entire passage! "As children we were good at joining som...
Keep ReadingPaul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hand he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else" (Acts 17:22, 24). Here's a link to the entire passage! Our first two passages in our current Won't You be a Neighbor? series f...
Keep Reading