Author: Central Christian Church

December 20, 2013

Advent Devotional: Friday, December 20

Galatians 5:22

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Romans 15:13

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 19, 2013

Advent Devotional: Thursday, December 19

3 John 1:2-8

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

 

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 18, 2013

Advent Devotional: Wednesday, December 18

Proverbs 10:28

28 The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes.

Proverbs 12:20

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.

Proverbs 21:15

15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.

 

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 17, 2013

Advent Devotional: Tuesday, December 17

John 16:16-24

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Foretold

16 “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” 17 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. 21 Whenever a woman is in labor she has [a]pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a [b]child has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Prayer Promises

23 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 16, 2013

Unbelievable Joy

strive4theprize's avatarOne Man's Quest

Advent 2013…Joy: Isaiah 35.1-10

As I reflected this passage, I was struck by this overwhelming picture of great joy that Isaiah paints for us. It’s a joy that in many ways is incomprehensible where all of creation can’t help but shout over the salvation that the LORD brings. Nothing on earth can compare…sporting event, concert, celebration of any kind…all pale in comparison.

I shared a tweet this past week, “The pursuit of happiness is a far cry from the everlasting joy of the kingdom…only the latter truly satisfies the longing of our souls.” As the guys and I talked about the sermon, the question was asked, “What’s the difference between happiness and joy?” Great question. Happiness has a lot to do with circumstances. It tends to be more momentary, more fleeting. It’s rooted in the physical. That’s why the pursuit of happiness is a vain pursuit…it never lasts and is…

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December 16, 2013

Advent Devotional: Monday, Decemer 16

Luke 15:1-10

The Lost Sheep

15 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Lost Coin

8 “Or what woman, if she has ten [c]silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 14, 2013

Advent Devotional: Saturday, December 14

Isaiah 35:1-10

(This weekend’s message scripture for Week 3 of Advent: Joy)

The wilderness and the desert will be glad,
And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom;
Like the crocus
2 It will blossom profusely
And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
The majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
The majesty of our God.
3 Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.
4 Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened
And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy.
For waters will break forth in the wilderness
And streams in the Arabah.
7 The scorched land will become a pool
And the thirsty ground springs of water;
In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,
Grass becomes reeds and rushes.
8 A highway will be there, a roadway,
And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean will not travel on it,
But it will be for him who walks that way,
And fools will not wander on it.
9 No lion will be there,
Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;
These will not be found there.
But the redeemed will walk there,
10 And the ransomed of the Lord will return
And come with joyful shouting to Zion,
With everlasting joy upon their heads.
They will find gladness and joy,
And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 13, 2013

Advent Devotional: Friday, December 13

Psalm 34:12-14

12 Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

Isaiah 26:3

3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 12, 2013

Advent Devotional: Thursday, December 12

Colossians 1:15-23

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 11, 2013

Advent Devotional: Wednesday, December 11

John 14:15-30

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Role of the Spirit

16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)