Summary of this week's sermon
Every week we want to have a 5 day devotional recapping our previous sermon so we can grow deeper together.
This Sunday Pastor Scott began our new summer series, "You Ask the Questions"...
This is a chance for our church members to ask questions about Faith, Christianity, and life.
To Re-watch, please go to our YouTube Channel, linked below.
Day 1: The Foundation of Our Faith
Devotional
When we talk about salvation, we often focus on what we do or don't do. But the heart of Christianity isn't about our performance—it's about what Jesus has already done for us. Our relationship with God isn't based on our ability to be perfect; it's founded on Christ's perfect sacrifice. Think about it: if we could earn our way to heaven through good behavior, why would Jesus need to die? The truth is, we can never be good enough on our own. That's why God's grace is so amazing—it's a gift we don't deserve and can't earn. This understanding changes everything about how we approach our faith. Instead of constantly worrying if we're doing enough to stay in God's good graces, we can rest in the finished work of Christ. This doesn't mean we can live however we want, but it does mean our relationship with God is secure not because of our grip on Him, but because of His grip on us. Today, take a moment to reflect on the foundation of your faith. Are you trusting in your own efforts, or in what Christ has done for you?
Bible Verse
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9
Reflection Question
If your salvation isn't based on your performance, how does that change the way you approach your relationship with God today?
Quote
Do not base your relationship on what you do. Base it on what he did.
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your amazing grace that saves me not because of what I've done, but because of what Jesus did. Help me to rest in this truth today and live from a place of gratitude rather than fear or obligation. Amen.
Day 2: Evidence of True Faith
Devotional
How do we know if our faith is genuine? This question has troubled believers for centuries. While we can't see into someone else's heart—or even fully understand our own—the Bible gives us some guidance. True faith isn't measured by the intensity of a moment but by endurance over time. Many people have emotional experiences with God that fade when life gets difficult. But genuine faith perseveres, even through doubts and struggles. James tells us that faith without action is dead—like a body without breath. This doesn't mean our works save us, but rather that authentic faith naturally produces fruit in our lives. When we truly grasp what Jesus has done for us, it changes how we live. This perspective helps us understand why some people who once seemed faithful later walk away. The issue isn't that they lost salvation; it's that their initial response may not have been rooted in genuine understanding and commitment. Today, instead of worrying about losing your salvation, focus on nurturing your relationship with Jesus. Let your gratitude for His sacrifice motivate your obedience.
Bible Verse
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:26
Reflection Question
What evidence of genuine faith do you see in your life, and what areas might need more attention as you grow in your relationship with Christ?
Quote
The evidence of a saving faith is not the intensity, but the endurance of the faith.
Prayer
Lord, help me to develop a faith that endures through all of life's challenges. Show me how to live out my beliefs in practical ways that honor You. Thank You for Your patience as I grow. Amen.
Day 3: Secure In His Hands
Devotional
One of the most comforting promises in Scripture is that nothing can separate us from God's love. When we place our trust in Jesus, we're not just making a temporary arrangement—we're entering into an eternal relationship secured by God Himself. Jesus uses the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep to illustrate this security. He knows His own, they recognize His voice, and no one can snatch them from His hand. This doesn't mean believers never stray or make mistakes, but it does mean God's commitment to us doesn't waver based on our performance. This security isn't a license for careless living. Rather, understanding the depth of God's commitment to us should inspire deeper devotion. When we grasp that our salvation depends on Christ's faithfulness rather than our own, we're freed from fear and empowered to live boldly for Him. God doesn't want us living in constant anxiety about our eternal destination. He wants us to rest in His love while actively growing in our relationship with Him. Today, take comfort in knowing that your salvation is held secure not by your strength, but by His.
Bible Verse
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." - John 10:27-30
Reflection Question
How might your daily life change if you fully embraced the security of your salvation in Christ rather than worrying about losing it?
Quote
God does not want me to live in fear. Wouldn't being worried constantly about my eternal destination create fear in my life?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for holding me securely in Your hands. Help me to live confidently in Your love, not out of fear but out of gratitude for Your unchanging commitment to me. Amen.
Day 4: Understand True Salvation
Devotional
Many people claim to know Jesus, but what does it really mean to be saved? It's more than just saying a prayer or having an emotional experience. True salvation involves understanding who Jesus is and what He did for us. When we grasp that Jesus—God in human form—willingly suffered and died to pay for our sins, and then conquered death through His resurrection, it changes us fundamentally. This isn't just intellectual knowledge; it's a heart-level understanding that transforms our identity and purpose. Jesus warned that some who call Him "Lord" and even do impressive religious works will hear Him say, "I never knew you." The issue isn't that they lost their salvation, but that they never truly knew Him in the first place. They had religion without relationship. Salvation isn't about checking boxes or following rules—it's about knowing Jesus personally and allowing His life to flow through yours. When we truly understand what Christ has done for us, walking away becomes unthinkable, not because we're afraid of punishment, but because we're captivated by His love. Today, examine your understanding of salvation. Is it based on what you do for God, or on what He's done for you?
Bible Verse
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" - Matthew 7:21-23
Reflection Question
What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Him in a relationship, and how can you deepen that relationship today?
Quote
I don't want anyone in this place to experience Jesus looking at you and saying, depart from me. I Never knew you.
Prayer
Jesus, I don't want to be someone who just goes through religious motions. Help me to truly know You, to understand the depth of Your sacrifice, and to live in the reality of Your love every day. Amen.
Day 5: Living From Assurance
Devotional
When we understand that our salvation is secure in Christ, it doesn't lead to complacency—it leads to freedom. Freedom from fear. Freedom from performance-based religion. Freedom to serve God out of love rather than obligation. This assurance isn't based on our feelings or even our faithfulness, but on God's character and promises. Nothing can separate us from His love—not life or death, not angels or demons, not present troubles or future worries. His commitment to us is unshakable. How do we respond to such amazing grace? Not by taking advantage of it, but by living lives that reflect our gratitude. Our good works don't earn or maintain our salvation; they're the natural response of hearts transformed by God's love. When we see others who once claimed faith now walking away, we don't need to question our own security. Instead, we can pray for them, recognizing that only God truly knows their hearts. Our job isn't to judge their eternal destiny but to continue growing in our own relationship with Christ. Today, let the assurance of your salvation in Christ motivate you to live boldly and love freely, knowing that your eternity is secure in His hands.
Bible Verse
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39
Reflection Question
How would your approach to serving God and others change if you lived from a place of complete assurance rather than fear or uncertainty about your salvation?
Quote
My faith for eternity is in the precious shed blood of Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus lived a perfect life. He went to the sinner's cross. He shed his blood as a payment for my sin and rose again the third day, defeating hell in the grave once and for all.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the incredible security I have in Christ. Help me to live from this place of assurance—not taking Your grace for granted, but allowing it to transform how I live and love. May my life be a response to Your goodness rather than an attempt to earn Your favor. Amen.