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Read Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Reflect How is the message of Jesus so different from any other religion? Somedays, my to-do list is absolutely exhausting. It feels like there is always something that I need to get done or someone who expects somet

Read Hebrews 10:23-25 (ESV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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. Reflect According to today’s verses, what are some things that a Christian community should do? Some people claim that they don’t need to go to churc

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV) Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Reflect What do you most appreciate about the partner

Read Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Reflect What is the “tie that binds” the true Ch

Read John 4:23-24 (ESV) “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Reflect How is living in obedience to God’s Word an act of worship? Barna Group published research in 2017 called “Competing Worldviews Influence Today’s Christians.” As part of that study, they polled practic

Read Acts 16:22-25 (ESV) The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Read Psalm 100:1-2, 4 (ESV) Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! ... Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Reflect According to this psalm, how should we worship the Lord? People have a lot of opinions about how worship should be done. Some prefer to crack open hymnals and reverently sing to the Lord with just the piano or even a

Read Ephesians 2:1-5 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which

Read Matthew 15:8-9(ESV) “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Reflect Is it possible to act religious but not be a Christ-follower? Did you know that the word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word “hypokrites” which means “an actor”? In ancient Greece, it meant a literal stage actor who wore an actual mask. Now, it has a much more figurative meaning. We thi