Posts by sjifmc
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide Based on the Themes of Baptism, Union with Christ, and New Life Day 1: Buried and Raised — The Meaning of Union with Christ Reading: Romans 6:1-11 Devotional: Paul teaches that to be united with Christ means to share in both His death and His resurrection. The believer is not merely forgiven and left unchanged — they are fundamentally new. Going down into the waters of baptism pictures the burial of the old…
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide Traveling with God: A Journey of Faith, Trust, and Divine Presence Day 1: You Are Not Traveling Alone Reading: Psalm 121 Devotional: The psalmist does not look to the hills for rescue. He looks past them, to the One who made them. This is a critical distinction. We are tempted to place our confidence in visible things: institutions, people, our own resourcefulness. But the maker of heaven and earth is not one source…
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide Themed Around: The Journey of Faith and Our Final Destination Day 1: Fighting the Good Fight Reading: 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Devotional: Paul wrote these words not from comfort but from chains. He did not claim the road was smooth or the battles few. He claimed something far greater — that he had fought, endured, and finished. The crown awaiting him was not earned by perfection but by perseverance. Your journey may feel relentless…
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide “Open My Eyes: Seeing God in the Midst of the Storm” Day 1: God Is Never Caught by Surprise Reading: 2 Kings 6:8-12 Devotional: The king of Aram believed his strategies were secret, his ambushes invisible. Yet God revealed every plan to Elisha before a single soldier moved. Nothing is hidden from the Lord. Not the diagnosis that arrived without warning. Not the relationship that collapsed overnight. Not the financial crisis that blindsided…
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Devotional: When Jesus Finds You Inspired by Sophie’s testimony Day 1: God Is Pursuing You Scripture: Luke 19:10“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Sometimes we imagine that finding God is the result of our own searching. But Scripture tells a different story. Long before we ever seek Him, God is already pursuing us. Sophie’s story reminds us that God was working behind the scenes for years—through relationships, conversations, a gifted Bible, even…
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Devotional: Finding Rest in God Day 1: When Weariness Overwhelms Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-8 Devotional: Elijah’s collapse under the broom tree reveals a profound truth: even God’s mightiest servants reach their breaking point. After spectacular victory, this prophet found himself running for his life, exhausted in body and soul. Perhaps you’re there now—the journey has been too long, the battles too fierce, the disappointments too heavy. Notice God’s response: He didn’t rebuke Elijah’s weakness. Instead, He provided rest, food,…
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Devotional: The God of Second Chances Day 1: Running From God’s Call Reading: Jonah 1:1-17 Devotional: Like Jonah, we sometimes receive clear direction from God but choose our own path instead. Jonah knew God’s command—go to Nineveh—but he bought a ticket to Tarshish. His rebellion didn’t just cost him; it endangered everyone on that ship. When we run from God’s purposes, we pay a fare that extends beyond ourselves. Our disobedience creates storms that affect our families, friendships, and…
Kids Corner: July 12 to August 9
The Big Picture Question & Answer: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful and does everything for His glory and our good. Memory Verse: (K-6) “Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.” ~ Psalm 24:8
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Devotional: Roadside Assistance – God’s Provision in Our Breakdowns Day 1: God Is Our Refuge Reading: Psalm 46:1-7 Devotional: Life’s journey includes unexpected breakdowns—moments when everything seems to stop and we find ourselves stranded on the shoulder of life’s highway. The psalmist reminds us that God is not distant during these times; He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Notice the phrase “ever-present”—God is already there before we even realize we need Him. When the…
Weekly Sermon Devotional
5-Day Devotional: Journey of Grace Day 1: Salvation by Grace Alone Reading: Ephesians 2:8-9 Devotional: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Salvation is not a destination we earn through religious performance or perfect obedience. It is a gift freely given through Christ’s finished work on the cross. Many of us carry the burden of trying to be “good enough”…