Once we accept Christ Jesus and what He did at Calvary for us, we make the first step toward putting God first. When we seek to live out His calling for us, we continue to seek God first. We put Him first when we say “yes” to God above and before anything else. He is The Answer to everything that matters in this life and eternity. Main Text: Jeremi…

When Jesus sacrificed His life for us on the cross, when God valued our salvation above everything else, it was not so that we would view Him as an afterthought. Instead, it was for us to surrender our lives to Him and embrace the path He has for us; this is how we seek God with our whole hearts: by living for Him alone. Main Text: Jeremiah 29:13 (…

Jeremiah’s message carried the words of God to the exiled community of Judah. Readers today can gain understanding by recognizing that the God who stated: you will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart, has also promised that we can draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us (James 4:8), and that He will never leave us nor for…

God’s avenue for your continued transformation is spending time alone with Him daily. In the same way, a candle must be ignited with a flame; you must continuously encounter the fire of God’s love to live a joy-filled life. God is your only constant source. You will only find lasting satisfaction through God’s closeness. When you seek God, you will…

The 120-person group of the Early Church had unity because they trusted one another as they placed faith in Christ. We, too, must have the same goal to unite in fulfilling the Great Commission. How do we achieve unity in the church? 1. Agree to disagree. 2. Remember our shared identity. 3. Embrace differences. 4. Work through conflict. 5. Believe t…

Because of Jesus’ work at Calvary, we can not only experience forgiveness and restoration but are also no longer enemies of God (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21). We can know the peace of God and be at peace with God. Main Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

Remember, we can only experience peace through friendship with God. God is with you, ready to lead, empower, sustain, and fill you with peace in response to your faith. The peace that comes from God surpasses anything we can experience. When we entrust our lives to Him, we can confidently know His plans will be fulfilled. Main Text: 2 Thessalonians…

Perfect peace begins with trust. If we truly trusted God, we wouldn’t spend so much energy mulling over life hardships. Instead, we will rest in the peace that God has provided us, knowing He is working out the most minor details to assure us of His glorious future. Main Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)…

It is not possible to experience peace without being connected to God. Strive to deepen your connection with God’s Holy Spirit and experience the fruit of peace. Main Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

Corrie Ten Boom said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.” One key indication of a believer’s strength is an overwhelming sense of peace that transcends understanding. Main Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

Sharing was an intentional part of the early church movement. The apostles also shared the Good News, but the simple ways of generosity that each member of ‘The Way’ shared everything they had was a key factor in the early church’s growth. Sharing remains an essential part of both worship and growth today, nearly 2,000 years later. Main Text: Acts …

God wants to heal our wounds with His perfect love. He intends to take what the enemy intended for harm and turn it into something beautiful and everlasting. Main Text: Psalm 36:5 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

Today, we emphasize the importance of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and trusting in His provision as His adopted children. The pathway to blessing is through a humble and dependent attitude devoted to God. Main Text: Matthew 6:33 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

It is not always apparent that our plans are not God’s purposes. Some things we are involved in can prevent us from fully surrendering to God’s priorities. The outcome, however, will be amazing when our plan aligns with God’s purpose. Main Text: Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

You were never meant to go through this life alone. Solomon reminds believers to rely entirely on God and acknowledge God in all our ways, and God will direct our paths. God doesn’t intend to direct us like horses or mules, leading a purposeless or uninformed life. Instead, He prefers to guide us like a loving shepherd guides sheep to a safe pastur…

Labor Day is a holiday in the US, celebrated on the first Monday of September. Resting from labor is, and has been from the beginning, God’s design. Hopefully, today will be a day of rest for you. Do not feel guilty in resting. Please understand that rest from labor is a gift from our Creator. Happy Labor Day. Main Text: Genesis 2:2-3 (NLT)…

Sharing was an intentional part of the early church movement. The apostles also shared the Good News, but the simple ways of generosity that each member of ‘The Way’ shared everything they had was a key factor in the early church’s growth. Sharing remains an essential part of both worship and growth today, nearly 2,000 years later. Main Text: Acts …

A ‘futurist’ is a person who works as part of a team that researches and makes forecasts. Still, the job title ‘futurist’ is a legitimate title. Christ-followers can be accurate ‘futurists’ when we correctly handle the Word of Truth. The believer does not get their forecast from data; rather, from the voice of God through Scripture. Main Text: Reve…

A ‘futurist’ is a person who works as part of a team that researches and makes forecasts. Still, the job title ‘futurist’ is a legitimate title. Christ-followers can be accurate ‘futurists’ when we correctly handle the Word of Truth. The believer does not get their forecast from data; rather, from the voice of God through Scripture. Main Text: Reve…

A ‘futurist’ is a person who works as part of a team that researches and makes forecasts. Still, the job title ‘futurist’ is a legitimate title. Christ-followers can be accurate ‘futurists’ when we correctly handle the Word of Truth. The believer does not get their forecast from data; rather, from the voice of God through Scripture. Main Text: Reve…

A ‘futurist’ is a person who works as part of a team that researches and makes forecasts. Still, the job title ‘futurist’ is a legitimate title. Christ-followers can be accurate ‘futurists’ when we correctly handle the Word of Truth. The believer does not get their forecast from data; rather, from the voice of God through Scripture. Main Text: Reve…

A ‘futurist’ is a person who works as part of a team that researches and makes forecasts. Still, the job title ‘futurist’ is a legitimate title. Christ-followers can be accurate ‘futurists’ when we correctly handle the Word of Truth. The believer does not get their forecast from data; rather, from the voice of God through Scripture. Main Text: Reve…

Luke 11:13 Confirms that the Holy Spirit is one of our greatest gifts. When we ask for strength, Jesus doesn’t just give us strength. He gives us the Holy Spirit, Who is omnipotent. When we ask for peace, He gives us the spirit of peace. When we ask for—fill in the blank, every good gift that we desire, He doesn’t just give us our needs and desires…

How many of us have refrained from forgiving because the person who hurt us never said, “I’m sorry?” Remember, forgiveness is a choice. It’s a way to serve God and an essential part of our healing. Main Text: Ephesians 4:25-32 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

God wants us to depend on His power to kindle the fire into what He desires it to be. Often, superficial passion is cooled so it can be fanned into genuine love. Main Text: 2 Timothy 1:4-7 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

Just like a fire needs care and attention to keep burning brightly, a believer’s passion requires sustained effort to stay strong. Main Text: 2 Timothy 1:1-10 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

In the late summer and early fall, there is a captivating allure to the presence of a warm fire. Be it a crackling fireplace, a flickering firepit, or a mesmerizing campfire, the comfort and radiance of the fire draw the human heart near. Main Text: 1 Timothy 4:13-16 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

When adversity hits, God’s purpose in the hardship is to stimulate your spiritual growth and transform you into the image of His Dear Son. Every adversity in life has been sifted through God’s permissive will. He may allow trials to achieve His good purposes for you, even if we can’t always understand His plans. Main Text: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 & 16…

Jewish people used appropriate forms of address for God in the Old Testament. Hebrew children were trained to address God in proper phrases of respect. All these titles were memorized, and the term “Father” was not among them. There is no reference to a Jewish person addressing God as Father until Jesus. Main Text: Luke 11:1-13 (NLT)…

The Hebrew people believed a person’s name reflected their character. When Moses asked God for His Name, God responded, “I AM WHO I AM.” Later, Moses received God’s law, including one of the ten major laws about not misusing God’s Name. It was important for God’s people to respect His Name, as it reflected who God is and how He works. Main Text: Ph…

The doctrine of providence in the Christian faith deals with how God’s authority interacts with human choices, the relationship between God’s rule and human free will, the existence of evil and suffering, and the influence of prayer on God’s decisions. Main Text: Genesis 16:13 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Our prayers are powerful—more powerful than we sometimes realize. In the Book of Acts, we find the early church praying for Peter. Peter was being held in prison, and it looked like his release from prison would only come by execution. Main Text: Matthew 6:5-6 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

I read an article by Lara Joseph where she narrated an amusing yet guilt-inducing episode. Lara’s story reminds me of a more dramatic guilt-inducing episode—the Biblical narrative of Joseph. Main Text: Psalm 32:1-5 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

The murderer calmly responded, “I knew they wouldn’t do anything. People never do” (Seedman & Hellman, 1974, p. 100). The displayed comment illustrates the concept of “guilty knowledge” - the decision to overlook a crime despite being aware that it is occurring. The apostle James discussed a comparable type of “guilty knowledge” when he said that i…

There is a narrative in the New Testament where, to Jesus’ disciples, it probably sounded like one woman was giving a frugal gift; however, Jesus goes on to assure His followers that this gift is not meager. It was the most sacrificial gift given that day. Main Text: Luke 21:1-4 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

God’s grace embodies the idea of blessing and must include discipleship, the cross, and Jesus. The term “cheap grace” was first used by German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer defined “cheap grace” as grace without discipleship, the cross, and Jesus. As believers, we are the recipients of grace poured out on us by our heavenly Father. Let…

Just as a human relationship can lose its warmth if we do not actively maintain it, our hearts can gradually toughen if we do not seek closeness with God. Main Text: Psalm 103:1–18 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Jesus tells us that those who put His words into practice are like a wise person who built their house on a rock. When storms came, the house stood firm. Main Text: Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

If you primarily think of God as your Father and Him as such, you have Jesus to thank. Jesus has given you this right as an adopted child of God. God delights in His children, so make good use of this grace. Main Text: Romans 8:15 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

It is crucial to be fully present and attentive when God communicates with us so that the Holy Spirit can work within us. Active listeners attend church with the intent of eagerly listening to the sermon and internalizing its teachings. They actively seek insight from the message by asking themselves, “What is God trying to tell me through this ser…

As discussed last time, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 is genuinely a narrative of faithfulness: God’s faithfulness, David’s faithfulness, Samuel’s faithfulness, and Saul’s lack of faithfulness. We left off with the idea that David had an excellent foundation to build his life because he recognized God above everything else. David was found faithful, even in the…

Nearly 3,500 years ago, God carried His people out of bondage in Egypt. What should have been a ten-to-eleven-day journey on foot turned into a forty-year journey by foot. While there are many lessons to learn from the Children of Israel’s wandering, one that we often overlook: Forward motion is not always progress. Main Text: Exodus 15:22-18:27 (E…

Nearly 3,500 years ago, God carried His people out of bondage in Egypt. What should have been a ten-to-eleven-day journey on foot turned into a forty-year journey by foot. While there are many lessons to learn from the Children of Israel’s wandering, one that we often overlook: Forward motion is not always progress. Main Text: Exodus 15:22-18:27 (E…

Today, there are many rich lessons we can learn from the Old Testament’s half-shekel’ Atonement Money.’ Main Text: Exodus 30:11-16 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Today, we can learn many rich lessons from the Old Testament’s half-shekel’ Atonement Money.’ Main Text: Exodus 30:11-16 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Imagine traveling on foot for three days without finding water to drink. How desperate would you be by the third day? What if, on the third day, you found water, but upon tasting it, you found it unfit to drink? What would be your reaction? Would you panic? Would you trust God to provide? Truthfully, we would probably panic. Main Text: Exodus 15:23…

1 Samuel 16:1-13 is genuinely a narrative of faithfulness: God’s faithfulness, David’s faithfulness, Samuel’s faithfulness, and Saul’s lack of faithfulness. In chapters nine through sixteen of 1 Samuel, we see Saul repeatedly fail in his faithfulness to God until finally, God takes the kingdom from Saul and gives it to David. Main Text: 1 Samuel 16…

Jesus tells us that if you want to be My faithful follower, you must give up your way, take up your cross, and follow Me. Hanging on to your life will cause you to lose it, but if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. When I think of Jesus’ words, several things strike me. Main Text: Matthew 16:24-27 (ESV)…

As Christians, we are called to support missions and missionaries. There are many ways we can provide support. We can give financially, we can give physical resources, we can pray, and we can send cards of encouragement and support. Regardless of how we provide, the important thing is that we give. So why are supporting missions so vital? Main Text…

Last time, we discussed Herbert J. Taylor, a business executive who set out to save the Club Aluminum Products Distribution Company. His recovery plan started with changing the ethical climate of the company. The prophet Micah was also in need of an ethical yardstick when prophesying against the leaders of Jerusalem and Samaria. Micah denounced the…