[Weekly Scripture] 1 John 1:8–9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

John 15:4,5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

What conscious sins are there in your life?
Have you repented of these sins and turned to God to receive His grace and renewal?

Pray that you can abide in Christ and that you can give these known sins over to Him.

E-devotion by Mike Hubbard (Elder)
We tend to think doing wrong is sin. But James tells us that sin is also not doing right. Many have referred to this as sins of commission as well as omission.
Christ is the vine, and God is the gardener who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. Sin in our lives will render us non-productive(no fruit). Jesus states that our best efforts, apart from Him, are still unfruitful. Remaining in Him and receiving His nourishment, e.g. a properly attached branch, gives us the productivity in our lives and helps us conquer sin. Being in the center of His will is critical for our daily walk.

God forgive us of our sins, renew us and our relationship with you. And may the fruit in our lives bring glory to You.

[Weekly Scripture] 1 John 1:8–9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

What areas of your life are you preventing you from coming closer to God?
What things in your life are destroying your witness as a believer in Jesus Christ?

Pray that you will be a fully devoted follower of Christ.

E-devotion by Jeff Armstrong (Next Generation Pastor)
Paul appeals to believers by the mercies of god that we offer our bodies as living sacrifices. The appeal is a response to what Christ has done for us as already. Through his mercy, we are to respond in a spiritual act of worship. To offer our bodies as living sacrifices. In the Old Testament God would accept the sacrifice of animals. Now because of What Christ did for us, offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice, those who follow him should offer themselves wholly and completely to the Lord.  Knowing what Christ did for you, shouldn’t you give your life to him?

[Weekly Scripture] 1 John 1:8–9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Hebrews 10:25 Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

1 Thessalonians 5:13b Be at peace among yourselves.

What are two ways you’ll encourage someone in your life today?
In what situations do you need to promote peace?

Pray that you will be a blessing to those in your sphere of influence.

E-devotion by Mike Lewellen (Elder)
Today we want to consider relationships. Many are familiar with the passage in Matthew 28 where Christ commands us to go and make disciples.  Today one with the spirit of this passage might say, “ go and build relationships.”  God designed us in such a way that we want to be around, bond, and get to know other people.  We are going to have relationships, who will we choose.  I remember when I was a kid my mother always wanted to know who “we ran around with”.  She did that because it does matter.  It says something about who we are and what is important to us.   Who do you find yourself spending time with?  Are you spending time with others who believe in Christ and put Him first in all things in their lives?   It would be good to do so.   In the New Testament in Hebrews 10:25 we are encouraged to gather with other believers on an ongoing, regular basis.    Go and make relationships!   Don’t let relationships just happen, carefully and prayerfully decide whom you will have a relationship.
Consciously think about who you have a relationship with.  Try to do something that will give them a blessing today.    Encourage them, pray for them and maybe give them a call.  Let them know you value your relationship with them.

[Weekly Scripture] Psalm 51:1–2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

What is keeping you from forgiving someone who has hurt you?
After reading the above scripture, what is keeping you from forgiving others?

Pray that you will forgive as you have been forgiven.

E-devotion by Will Burnham (Middle School Pastor)
“This is a tough one. How often do I assume I have forgiven someone and yet still harbor resentment in my heart? Often.

I can say it with my lips, maybe even directly to them, but the memory of the hurt will continue in my mind. How do I battle this? How can I truly forgive and go about the process of reconciliation and trying to forget?

First of all, I must remember that anyone who has wronged me I have wronged God all the more… and yet he still loves and forgives me. How amazing is that! In this I have the clearest picture of forgiveness that I should strive for: to remember that I have wronged God more than anyone will ever wrong me. This is a good start.

Next, I must repent before my God of any sin in my life because of the hurt someone has caused me. This is a very humbling aspect of the process… to focus on my sin instead of the wrong someone else committed against me.

Next, from that day forward I must take every thought captive. As the Apostle Paul challenges us in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “… and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This aspect shows the maturity of a believer. No doubt there will be days and seasons of our lives when we will remember past hurts. Take that thought captive and make it obedient to Christ! You have to “Make” it obedient. This is a verb/action we have to commit to. It will be a process. But we must persevere! Because of our ability to persevere in forgiveness we Christians will shine like light in darkness.

As an example of living this out: In 1956 five missionaries were martyred in their attempt to evangelize the Waorani people of Equador. Among them were Jim Elliot and Nate Saint. In 1958, just two years after the massacre, Jim’s wife Elizabeth and Nate’s sister Rachel returned to the Waorani tribe to continue the work the men had started. Today, the vast majority of Waorani tribesman are followers of Christ! What a great testimony to lives living in constant forgiveness to those around them. Rachel Saint spent the rest of her life living among the very people who killed her brother. Nate Saint’s son was even baptized by one of the very men who killed his father!

Where forgiveness abounds… grace abounds. Where grace abounds… the Gospel is proclaimed.”

[Weekly Scripture] Psalm 51:1–2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

1 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Are you prepared to share the truth of God’s Word with others?
Do you find it easy to lie to people?

Pray that you will be a doer of the Word.

E-devotion by Don Brown (Elder)

When you go to the dentist or to a doctor about a particular ailment that you have, you expect that doctor to be well qualified.  To be qualified, he or she must have studied long and hard,  graduated from a specialized residency or fellowship program, and passed the appropriate board certification exams.  The final exam, however, is when he encounters the patient.

Our final exam may come in an encounter with an unbeliever today.  In the same way, we need to remember that we must be ready in every moment and in every situation that comes our way to show ourselves approved.  We must be able to defend our faith.  This is called apologetics.  We live in a pluralistic society. That is, many people believe that there are many different paths to God.  We should be able to point those people to the cross!  Jesus is the only way to God.  Can you tell an unbeliever why we believe that?  Could you point them to Scripture?

1 Timothy 4:2 tells us to be prepared in season and out of season.  Are you prepared?  Just as a dentist or a doctor needed years of specialized training, we should all daily train ourselves in Bible doctrine and study so that we may show our self approved when the time comes and adequately defend the gospel.

[Weekly Scripture] Psalm 51:1–2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each other.

How do you think most people feel after you share about your day or circumstances:  encouraged or dumped on?

Do you have an issue with inappropriate and negative words?

Pray for a thankful heart that expresses itself in uplifting words.

E-devotion by Gary Hughes (Elder)

Scholars and experts in communication study how people speak and communicate with one another through various means.  These folks like to describe what they have observed, and in doing so, they have listed several characteristics of communication that are common to all forms of expression whether oral or written.  One of those characteristics is that “Communication is irreversible.” For good or for bad, once the words have crossed ones lips, once the “Send” button has been clicked, or once the letter has been placed in the mail, one cannot take it back.  We may further explain what we meant, we may try to make amends, or we may even seek forgiveness, but the words will not return to our mouths, or our keyboard, or even our ink pen.  This presents a real problem for those who “speak their minds” without regard to whom might be hurt, for those who speak out of fear before they have considered the consequences, and for those whose language habitually includes vulgarities that offend those in earshot.

How quick Peter was to “rebuke” the Lord Jesus when He shared about how “He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day” (Matt. 16:21).  Just as quickly, when out of fear of the prospect of possible arrest or even loosing his life for knowing and following Jesus, Peter denied three times even knowing the Lord.  He even went so far on the third time to curse and swear while saying “I do not know the man!” It was at this point that the cock crowed and “Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times.”  And he went out and wept bitterly (Matt. 26:74-75).  It was at this point that Peter recognized that awful truth:  He said the very thing that he said he would never say, and he could not take it back.  What Jesus had said to Peter following his earlier rebuke of Him was true at this point as well: “…you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matt. 16:23).  Therein lies the source of our problem.  Our problem is not the irreversible nature of our communication.  It is that we do not set our minds on God’s interests and His will first and foremost.  This is one more result of our sinfulness as fallen mankind.

Fortunately, there is a remedy, and that is the grace and forgiveness found in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Upon receiving Him as Lord, our sin is blotted out and remembered no more (Isaiah 43:25).  Our standing before God the Father is made right as the righteousness of the Lord Jesus is placed upon us (2 Corinthians 5:21).  We are reconciled to God.  With regard to those we may have hurt, if they are in the Lord then reconciliation is available as we confess our sin toward them, ask forgiveness, and find forgiveness is granted (Matthew 18:22).  Finally, as a result of our placing our trust and lives in the Lord, He makes us new creatures as the old has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).  We must seek to allow the love of Christ to control us that we no longer view others through the eyes of this flesh (2 Corinthians 5:14 & 16), and that our minds are transformed (Romans 12:2 and Philippians 2:5-11).  When He is in control of ones mind and heart then what crosses the lips, what travels the Internet, and what is delivered by the postal carrier will build up our brothers and sisters in Christ and not tear them down.

[Weekly Scripture] Psalm 51:1–2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

2 Timothy 1:7-9  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

1 John 2:15-17 –  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

How do you hide the Gospel from others?
What are things in your life that make it look like you love the world more than you love God?

Pray for an undivided heart and for courage to have spiritual conversations.

E-devotion by Cindy Starr
How thankful I am that God has given us a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline! How amazing that His spirit indwells us, seals us, empowers us, convicts us and transforms us to the glory of God. God has rescued us from the despair of the world – we are called to live unencumbered by the world. Our purpose is defined by the grace of God. Let our devotion be pure; our attitude one of delight; our heart undivided as we treasure Christ and live a disciplined life to His glory.

[Weekly Scripture] Psalm 51:1–2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Ephesians 4:2 With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Do you put your own needs above others?
Who are some people in your life who are difficult to love?

Pray to have the eyes and heart of Christ.

E-devotion by Mike Wilson (Elder)
Someone cuts us off in traffic.  A co-worker gets the recognition you should have received.  You didn’t get the award you worked so hard for.  Nobody in the house appreciates the hard work you’ve done cleaning the house, washing clothes, & preparing meals.  “Mom always did like you best.”  These are feelings many of us have on a daily basis.  We lack patience, humility & perspective.  We operate from a position of “me first”.  We often fail to recall that Jesus gave up his recognition, glory & praise in heaven to come to this earth to pay a terrible price for our sin.  Yet he was & is still patient, kind, generous & forgiving.  Who do I need to forgive, show mercy, show grace, show patience to today?

[Weekly Scripture] Psalm 51:1–2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

1 John 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

What thoughts are pulling you into temptation and sin?
What are some ways you can decrease your non-praiseworthy thought life and increase in the number of thoughts that lead you to praise God?

Pray for a disciplined mind.

E-Devotion by Bill Starr (Elder)
Isn’t it true that often our sins are a result of acting on what we think about? In today’s reading, Paul exhorts us to fill our minds with things that would be described as excellent and worthy of praise. We are to dwell on whatever is true – these are things that are the opposite of dishonest and unreliable; whatever is noble – things that are dignified and worthy of respect; whatever is right – things that conform to God’s standard; whatever is pure – things that are morally pure; whatever is lovely – things that promote peace and not conflict and whatever is admirable – things that are positive and constructive, not negative and destructive. Think about such things!

Our actions will follow our  thoughts. Are we bringing every thought captive to Christ? Are we filling our minds with words and images that will cause us to magnify and honor God? If someone could read our minds mind would they be shocked or would they see echoes of what Paul exhorts us to fill our mind with? Are we daily spending time in God’s word – reading and meditating and seeking to have our thoughts conformed to His image?

Pray that God would grant us discernment to be vigilant about what things we listen to, watch and read. Pray that we would immerse ourselves in the Word of God that our thoughts might be transformed by the power of the Word. Then our words and actions will be pleasing to the Lord and reflect His work in our lives.