Romans 12:1–2 (NLT) 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and…
2 Corinthians 4:16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. This time of year we try and pick up on a series that is intentionally light but meaningful enough to recharge our spiritual and personal batteries at a time of significant juncture in…
Matthew 2:1–12 (NLT) 1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” 3 King…
For Christians the birth of Jesus is not just an historical event to be marked on Christmas Day but is an ongoing story of the way that God is at work in the world. The period of Advent leading up to Christmas is for many an important time for us to reflect. Central to our…
Five checks that identify spiritual apathy
Zechariah 1:1–6 (NLT) 1 In November of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave this message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo: 2 “I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:…
Zephaniah 1:2–3 (NLT) 2 “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” says the Lord. 3 “I will sweep away people and animals alike. I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea. I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, and I will wipe…