1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 (NIV) 12  Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care [ lit: watch over] for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13  Hold Live in peace with each other. 14  And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15  Make sure that

John's poetic style defines God's love and grace. 1 John 4:7-10 (NIV) 7 Dear friends, let us love one showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Summary It often seems like John writes in big loops, like he's repeating the same thing over and over In our western style, we tend to organize our thoughts like Paul, using an outline format like what you learned in school: Point 1 Subpoint Subpoint Point 2 Subpoint Subpoint John, on the other hand, writes

Often feel like your work & efforts are useless? Learn how to experience shalom every day. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 125 Q. Certainly there is a distinction between the two, but Psalm 127 helps remind us that true shalom depends His shalom; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Revelation 10

Psalm 51:1–12 (NIV) 51 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. 1 Have mercy on let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a Often times we associate words like compassion and mercy with a mother's soothing hug and not so much

1 John 5:19-20 (ESV) 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 15: The Doctrine of Original Sin used the word 'world' earlier, when he commanded us to "not love the world or anything in the world (1 John 2:15)." distractions, attractions, and lies that he uses to control people born with a comprehensive sin infection like

2 Corinthians 3:1–6 (NIV) CONTEXT: Some people in the Corinthian church questioned Paul's authority as Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 14: The Creation and Fall of Man Today: Matthew 15

Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 122 Q.

Sure, we like the parts about Jesus or the stories of God's miraculous power on display, but on a percentage

Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire (James 1:14 ESV) James 1:13-17 (NIV) 13  When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14  but each person is tempted when they lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18  He chose to give us birth through the word of Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election 1 - God's right to condemn all people 2 - God

Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 122 Q. God gives them two overarching commands: 1) Pray for their new city, which is what grabs our attention