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Scripture Reading — Luke 4:14-21 “The Spirit of the Lord . . . has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. . . .” Luke 4:18 In our city there is a center for forensic mental health. Part of its work involves care for people with mental illness who have been part of the criminal justice...

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:40-42 “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42 I’m not sure how widespread the tradition is in your area, but when the 13th of the...

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:14-16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 I was intrigued by a church’s vision statement for 2026: “Empowering believers to embody Christlike values in their...

Scripture Reading — John 1:14-18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:18 One of our latest adventures in the past year has been to invite about 10 people at random to our home for...

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 J. John, an evangelist and speaker from the United Kingdom, has said there are two reasons why someone is not a Christian. The first is that they have never met a Christian...

Scripture Reading — Acts 16:11-15 “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” Acts 16:15 The door of our church can be opened by pressing a “Push to Open” plate, and on Sunday mornings a greeter stands there to welcome people coming in. As they approach...

Scripture Reading — Acts 8:1-8 There was great joy in that city. Acts 8:8 Our reading today describes a great persecution against the church of Jesus and how people like Philip responded. Saul (also known as Paul) was convinced he was doing the right thing, even at the cost of many lives...

Scripture Reading — Romans 16:3-5 Greet also the church that meets at their house. Romans 16:5 Paul was a traveling preacher on mission for the Lord Jesus, and Priscilla and Aquila welcomed him to stay and work with them (see Acts 18). They knew the importance of the gospel and were willing to...

Scripture Reading — Acts 16:22-34 The jailer . . . was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. Acts 16:34 It wasn’t a place they would have chosen to stay for the night. Yet God chose a prison cell to be the place where Paul and Silas would share the...

Scripture Reading — Acts 10:1-38 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. Acts 10:27 She walked to church regularly on Sunday mornings, and on one occasion she saw a most unlikely character. He was barely sober and headed to the liquor store. Though she...

Scripture Reading — John 4:1-30 The woman . . . said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” John 4:28-29 It started as an ordinary day. The woman had her routine planned—including going to the well at the hottest time of day, when no one...

Scripture Reading — Luke 10:1-11 “If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.” Luke 10:6 On my Facebook page I asked a question about how people might define “a person of peace.” I received lots of answers, and a few of those can be...

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 4:8-14 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 Aaron was young and active and loud. He gathered friends easily. He was also one of the...

Scripture Reading — John 3:16-21 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 The newness we celebrate at the start of each year pales in comparison to the ultimate newness we receive through Christ...

Scripture Reading — Psalm 126:1-6 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Psalm 126:5 The journey of life isn’t always easy. We face struggles, setbacks, and moments where it feels like our efforts are in vain. But the beautiful truth of Psalm 126:5 is that God does not waste our...

Scripture Reading — John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34-35 When Jesus gave this new command to his disciples, he wasn’t simply telling them to show kindness or to be nice to each other. No, Jesus was calling...

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Becoming a new creation in Christ is one of the most beautiful transformations we can experience. But it doesn’t always feel like a sudden change...

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 Life has a way of humbling us. Whether that takes place through physical illness, personal struggles, or unexpected challenges, we often find...

Scripture Reading — Philippians 1:3-6 He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 When we set out on a new journey or season, it can be easy to feel discouraged, as if the process of change is taking too long or the work isn’t...