Lie: Kids don’t do that. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. — Acts 1:8 “You’re too young to do that!” Do you think that is an insult or a…
A Loaf of Bread Just Out of the Oven
Taste and See God’s Community I peer through the oven’s glass window, coated with splatters from past meals, to assess the bread baking inside. More than anything, I don’t want the bread to rise. I wish I knew more about the finicky nature of this particular range, but this isn’t my stove. This isn’t even…
Taste and See: Why the Lamb Is One Year Old
All the time talking about meat and antiquity makes me curious to know Matt’s perspective on one particular animal: the lamb. At Local Yocal, the largest demand for lamb is always around the Passover. I am not surprised. In scouring the Bible for mentions of lamb and sheep, one word kept emerging as synonymous with…
The Golden Invitation of Revelation Is Waiting for You
Imagine if Jesus stood before you with a golden envelope. The envelope contains an invitation to know and experience Jesus like never before. To discover Christ in His breathtaking beauty, His staggering strength, His wondrous power, and the depths of His relentless love for you. Would you take the envelope? Or would you say, Eh,…
This Throne Room Prayer Changes Everything
What’s the one prayer that is spoken every day, every hour, every minute, even now? It’s a simple but potent prayer tucked into the book of Revelation. The beloved disciple, John, finds himself trapped on the island of Patmos. He blinks and suddenly sees an open door. A familiar voice beckons, “Come up here”…
Revelation: Tempted to Give Up on God?
Opening Group Activity (10–15 MINUTES) What you’ll need: Sheet of blank paper for each person Pens, markers, and/or watercolors Each participant is invited to use the paper and drawing/writing tools to create either a picture of what’s described in Revelation 1:12-16 or a list (words or images) of symbols included in the description. Discuss…
God Is My Shield
Lie: The World Is a Dangerous, Scary Place He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. — Proverbs 30:5 I asked my friend Troy which prayer he wanted God to answer above all others. He said he wanted to be free of fear. “I thought about praying for God to fix my…
I Am Beautiful Beyond Measure
Lie: Getting Older Is the Worst You are altogether beautiful. — Song of Songs 4:7 Walking through Costco, I spotted a makeup mirror on sale and scooped it into my basket. But let me tell you a little something: this wasn’t an average mirror — it was a whopping, twenty-times-magnification mirror with a fancy fluorescent…
No Weapon Formed Against Me Will Prosper
No weapon formed against you shall prosper. — Isaiah 54:17 NKJV When I was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, my mind raced: What’s the treatment plan? How will my body respond? How quickly can I recover from chemotherapy? I resisted only one question: Why me? When crisis crashes into your life, it’s easy to ask…
Taste and See: The Jeweled Symbolism of Salt in Scripture
Much like the natural wonderment of the mine, salt glistens throughout the pages of the Bible. The first mention of salt in Scripture is also the most infamous. In Genesis, God rains down sulfur on Sodom, Gomorrah & Co. for debauchery and neglect of the poor. Lot’s wife cranes her neck for a forbidden glimpse…
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