Where is Jesus?

 Jesus left Lazarus's family and friends to wonder about where He was when they needed Him most. In His absence, Lazarus died (John 11). Where do you think Jesus is when we need Him? Is He in Heaven being mysterious or is He in your heart working through your life? 

Bad things happen to...

John 9 begins with a question about blame—who sinned to cause this suffering? Jesus redirects the moment toward God’s work instead. As Christians, are we busy assigning fault, or are we bringing Christ’s love to those who hurt?

 

What no favors?

In John 4, Jesus meets a desperate official but offers no favors—only mercy. His response shows that faith and love cross all boundaries. How can you love like that today?

Push or Follow?

For a while, Christians asked, “What would Jesus do?” to refocus their lives around His example. We can’t heal blindness or multiply food on command, but we can still imitate the way He lived. What step could help you follow Jesus more closely this week? Matthew 4:18

Followers or not

 

While calling His apostles (Matt 4), Jesus did not ask them to argue theology, He simple asked them to follow Him. During their time with Jesus, we see them struggle to understand what He wants from them, but maybe it's just as simple as doing the things He would do. How do you follow Jesus?

Whippersnappers

 Christians often like to recall the story of Jesus cleansing the temple (John 2) but also don't want their own services or practices disrupted. What Christian practices do you think Jesus would disrupt today?

Transformations

John 2 shows Jesus turning water into wine—a sign of His power to transform. But not all change honors Him. How have you or your church drifted from being true witnesses of God's goodness?

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, but not our teacher?

 Many Christians call Jesus a personal friend while forgetting that He came chiefly to teach (for example Matt 5-7). Do you sidestep His words by appealing to other passages, or do you let His teachings shape your life today?

Happy? New Year

 May the new year inspire us to bear witness to the love of God in our hearts, words, and deeds. John 1

Song of the Season

 Maybe it's appropriate that we fill our hearts with song during the Advent season. After receiving Elizabeth's prophetic proclamation, Mary can't seem to help but burst out in song (Luke 1). What kind of songs do you find bursting from your lips when you consider the hope that is in Christ?

The Call to Worship?

 We might laugh at the scene of Hebrew people being forced to worship the king's idol, but are we really different (Daniel 3)? Do we also worship our leaders and lust after gold? Do we long for praise parties that rally our emotions with exciting music and dreamy lyrics? Do we love in deed as well as with words? (1 John 3:18)

Thanksgiving 2025

 Thanksgiving might seem a time to consider the fall of Israel (2 Kings24), but as a time of over-indulgence and self-satisfaction, the holiday might remind us of why God allowed the fall of that great nation. Will accept your feast day with humility and share your bounty with your neighbors, or will you simply fill your own desires and consider it your privilege to do so?

I can't wait for Jesus to return, or can I?

Christians often anticipate Christ’s return, but our motives can be murky—are we seeking reward, vindication, or true redemption? If we truly grasped what the second coming entails, our eagerness might give way to humility. Malachi 3

 

Loving the hate

 Jesus often depicted the most hated people of His day, like the tax collector (Luke 18), as exemplars of God's righteousness, mercy, and love. Who do you believe you should hate, or who do you hate in spite of God's commands and examples to love your neighbor?

The funnest king

Daniel describes a lavish party thrown by a dishonorable king, where sacred temple vessels were misused (Dan 5). But beyond the objects, the people—meant for holy worship—were also misused, reduced to props in the king’s spectacle. How do you misuse the sacred vessels called people?

Killing it with the letter of the law

Many Christians focus on Old Testament law to judge others, but Paul knew true life comes from loving ministry, investing in others, rather than in pronouncing legalistic judgements (2 Co 3:6). Are you investing in people with love, or just offering judgment?

Greed covered by nobility

A woman lovingly anointed Jesus’s feet, but the disciples masked their greed with noble-sounding criticism over the cost (Mark 14). When have you used virtue to disguise self-interest?

Awesome labels?

 

The disciples used labels like “leper” (Mark 14) to categorize people, but Jesus challenged those labels—calling His followers to see the person behind them. Oddly, we still use terms like “the harlot” or “the doubter,” do describe biblical characters. What labels keep you from seeing people as people?

Stop the Story

 Jesus's revolutionary act of engaging conversation with a Samaritan woman resulted in a city-wide revival (John 4). How might God's kingdom be promoted if the church followed Jesus's example of receiving and empowering those our society shuns?

If you must perform good works...

Christians reconcile James and Paul by understanding that true faith produces good works (James 2, Eph 2). Yet today, “works” are often reduced to worship, recruitment, or politics—far from James’ call to care for those in need. So, how does your faith show up in action?