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“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35

In Acts 20:35, we find Paul encouraging the Ephesus elders to “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

In God’s economy, giving is better than getting. What we provide for others is more significant than what we acquire for ourselves. The words of Jesus flip the world’s “me first” messaging on its head. When we give, we reflect God’s incredible generosity.

Every good thing comes from God (James 1:17), including the unfathomable gift of Jesus. Our God is characterized by radical, undeserving generosity. And when we are generous, we reflect His incredible generosity. And we find greater contentment. While we often regret our purchases, we rarely regret our generosity. 1 Timothy 6:19 says when we give, we “experience true life.” Matthew 6:19-20 says generosity is an eternal investment that we will one day enjoy. While the momentary allure of worldly treasures may fade and vanish, eternal treasures will endure. The pursuit and acquisition of material gain only leaves someone wanting more. The pursuit of and acquisition of eternal gain leaves someone content.

God doesn’t need our generosity to fulfill His mission. Yet, He invites us to participate in what He is doing in our community and around the world. When we give, God multiplies the gift to reach the lost, mend broken marriages, feed the hungry, and care for the poor. When we give, God allows us to be a part of life change. In a world consumed with a “me first” mentality, people take notice of biblical generosity. Biblical generosity is undeserved generosity, and it showcases the love of God to those in our community.

What is your purpose with respect to giving? Why has God given you talents and giftings to earn money? God challenges each of us to trust Him in all things. Just as God gave Himself for you, consider how giving is an act of worship, not only trusting God more deeply but also reflecting His sacrificial giving.

Jesus’ life demonstrated the heart of generous living. He sacrificed His life so that we could have life to the full. God does not need or want our money; He already owns everything. What He wants is us—our wholehearted devotion to and trust in Him. He wants us to love Him and to love others with the same kind of love that Jesus demonstrated during His earthly life. That is the kind of worship He desires—generous living in response to His generous love.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you see generosity as a part of your apprenticeship to Jesus?
2. What fears or desires keep you from being generous? How would your life be different if you were free of the fear of not having enough?

“Each of us must rededicate ourselves to serving the common good.  We are a community.  Our individual fates are linked; our futures intertwined; and if we act in that knowledge and in that spirit together, as the Bible says: “We can move mountains.” – Jimmy Carter

In today’s world, filled with distractions and constant digital connection, relationships can easily stay on the surface. People may greet each other, exchange pleasantries, and participate in activities together, yet there are few deep and authentic connections. The reality is that no Christian runs well alone. No believer stands alone. No child of God fights alone.

Every believer desires spiritual intimacy with other believers. We may call it fellowship, community, or doing life together. God didn’t make us to be lone rangers. He saved us into the church. He called us to be part of a community.

The pursuit of deep and genuine connection can be difficult even within the church. It’s possible to feel lonely and isolated, surrounded by people. So how do we move past superficial relationships into a more authentic and transformative community? Moving beyond superficial connections requires intention and effort. It demands that people open themselves up to others, share vulnerabilities, and be willing to listen and support one another in love.

The first step is to embrace vulnerability: Authentic relationships require honesty about struggles and failures. This transparency is essential for fostering trust and allowing God’s grace to work in lives and relationships. Another step is to listen better and longer. We can deepen connections by genuinely listening to others, seeking to understand their perspectives and experiences rather than formulating a response or offering unsolicited advice.

Another component of deeper connections is engaging in shared experiences. Shared experiences — such as a concert, a meal, a ministry, or an adventure — create a bond. These memories often generate deeper, more enduring connections that can lead to mutual appreciation, unity, and trust.

Prayer is so important. Praying for one another removes our isolation. It’s a powerful way for us to bear one another’s burdens. What a powerful gesture it is to seize the moment and pray for someone, telling them you care enough to step into their struggle. Prayer makes a difference. God’s power is seen when His people join together in prayer for one another.

Lastly, it is to persevere through the inevitable difficulties. We must acknowledge that community is hard, but also come to terms with Christian community–the church–is God’s plan. Building a community can be challenging, but it’s crucial to persevere and not give up. There are real communities rooted in Christ’s love to be found.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the potential dangers of neglecting deep, meaningful relationships in the church community? How can this hinder spiritual growth and community impact?
2. What does it mean to be intentional in building relationships within the church, and how can interactions move beyond surface level?

“The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” – Isaiah 58:11.

Florida is commonly characterized by periods of both rain and sunshine. Sometimes the rain makes a quick entrance and exit, while at other times it lasts for hours. Sometimes it doesn’t rain for several days. When that happens, the lush green spaces, including lawns and gardens, will begin to turn brown and show signs of wilting due to a lack of water, and lakes, ponds, and even canals will have noticeably lower water levels. It is a welcome sight when it begins to rain.

Just as all living things need water, so our spiritual life must be nourished with the water of life. Fortunately, God provides that water. Experienced gardeners know the adequate amount of water to supply each plant within their care. They won’t allow their plants to dry out, but will have a well-watered garden.

A “well-watered garden” is when His people are consistently nourished by God’s grace, guidance, and love. This imagery, drawn from scriptures like Isaiah 58:11, reminds us that just as a garden thrives with consistent watering, so too can our lives blossom when we actively seek God’s presence and allow His word to penetrate our hearts.

A well-watered garden is not just about survival; it’s about abundant growth and beauty. The imagery of a spring whose waters never fail assures that God’s love and grace are constant and reliable.

Have you ever thought of your life as a garden? Probably not, but if you did, you would want to be a well-watered one. But it doesn’t matter how green your thumb is for this life; we can never be well-watered apart from the Lord. We need the Lord to supply us with living water. Only then can we become a spring of life.

A well-watered life doesn’t happen overnight. It starts with planting a small seed. It takes time for the seed to grow, become deeply rooted, and produce fruit. Following Jesus is a lifelong journey, not something to be marked off a checklist.

To thrive and survive, plants require every season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season has a purpose in the grand scheme, and without the other seasons, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the growth that comes in springtime. The same is true for our spiritual lives. If we want to grow and flourish in our walk with Christ, we have to walk through seasons of heat, rain, loss, and dormancy. Spring calls us to wake up, but winter reminds us to slow down. Summer calls us to work hard, but autumn reminds us to enjoy the harvest.

Through every season of life, we can live the well-watered life because of the Cross.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does “well-watered life” mean to you, personally?
2. How do you currently “water” your life (e.g., through relationships, hobbies, faith)?
3. What are some common “droughts” or challenges that hinder your ability to feel well-watered?

“What are Christians known for? Outsiders think our moralizing, our condemnations, and our attempts to draw boundaries around everything. Even if these standards are accurate and biblical, they seem to be all we have to offer. And our lives are a poor advertisement for the standards. We have set the game board to register lifestyle points; then we are surprised to be trapped by our mistakes.”― David Kinnaman, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity… and Why It Matters.

UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…And Why It Matters was written in 2012. Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world, but according to the research in this book, something has gone terribly wrong. When asked about their impressions of Christianity, people used descriptions like “self-righteous, “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” and “judgmental.”

It would seem Christianity has an image problem when those on the outside looking in think of Christians primarily negatively and with language that suggests Christians fail to live up to who they claim to be and fail to practice the way of Jesus.

While people tend to hold Christians to a higher standard than they hold themselves, Christianity has an image problem because of Christians. To our credit, we strive to please God and walk in His will, striving every day to be the best that we can be. While that is a worthwhile goal, putting it into practice is another matter. We strive to improve ourselves by trying harder not to sin, engaging in more ministry work, and modeling the behavior of a good Christian. That only results in a heavy burden we have a hard time carrying. That’s when the Lord comes in.

Jesus wants to live out His life through us, and the best version of ourselves is not nearly as good as Jesus in us. The difference is in you trying to improve yourself from the outside to change what’s on the inside instead of allowing Jesus to change your thinking and character from the inside out. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

As you begin to incorporate this into the standard parts of your day, God will change your thinking and refine your character to match the identity of Christ within you. You will naturally start to see changes in your behavior without having to push yourself to act out the Christian life on your own. And that’s when the image of Christianity is viewed in a completely different light.

God is constantly revealing the ways each of us has fallen short of being Christian, the ways we’ve strayed from the path, and the ways we’ve missed the heart of what it means to be a living expression of the gospel. And again, if it’s becoming harder to be a Christian in America, that means there are more opportunities to be like Christ in a skeptical and challenging culture.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we be more intentional in reflecting God’s love and compassion to others?
2. How can we be more mindful of our impact on others and strive to be a positive reflection of God’s character?
3. How can we better understand and embrace the concept of our unique roles in reflecting God’s image in different contexts?
   

“I grew up in the church, and I always kind of knew Bible stories and knew the Sunday school answers, but when I was a freshman in high school I joined youth group, and that’s when I started to see radical love; that’s when I started to see what Christian community is supposed to look like and what fellowship is supposed to look like.” – Jeremy Lin, professional basketball player.

We seem to live in a society that greatly promotes individualism, but this isn’t always a good thing because we were not created to go through life alone. God created us to be in relationship with one another.

While on Earth, Jesus gathered a group of believers to join Him in His journey of changing the world. These 12 men, known as the disciples, traveled with Jesus and learned from His teachings. They educated others about the teachings of Jesus and continued to do so after His death. Jesus had the power to go about His journey alone, but He chose to live in community with His disciples. This serves as an example to us of the importance of living in community. After all, we were created with the need for companionship.

There are numerous benefits to being part of a loving, Christian community. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Being part of a community allows us to build meaningful friendships. Our friends encourage us and walk alongside us when we are going through trials, and we do the same for them. Most importantly, friends can help us to remain faithful and obedient in our walk with Christ, and He is present when we gather in His name. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Ultimately, living in community is a crucial aspect of living a Christian life.  The early church, described in Acts 2, is an excellent example of this as well. Whatever the believers did, they did it together, building community in the process. From the big things in life to the small things, they did them together and learned about who they were and who God is at the same time.  As followers of Jesus, our community is the space where we grow in love and become conduits of God’s love to others.

Jesus modeled finding community when He chose 12 men to walk alongside and disciple. Jesus was in a relationship with these twelve for three years. They ate and talked around campfires, caught fish, and shared stories. Beyond the regular ups and downs of spending time together, they witnessed Jesus perform miracles. They were immersed in Jesus’ teaching and way of life together.

God gives us community as a way to become more like Him. There’s something powerful about believers joining together, holding each other accountable, and serving as a witness to one another’s lives. We need people checking in on us, asking the hard questions, and challenging us to live out our faith.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you have someone or a group of people you can be authentic, be yourself with, without any facades or false fronts? 
2. Small groups are about doing life together. A place where you can grow closer to God, others, and your purpose. Agree or disagree?
3. Having a community of believers to do life together is just as important today, but why?

 “ Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” – Philippians 2.12-13.

Have you ever paused during a hectic day and asked yourself this question: What does God want to do in my life? We know that to be a spiritual Christian, we need to be committed to growing in the things of God. We want to resist the rut of not learning, growing, or drawing any closer to the Lord. Drawing closer to God often requires change because what we did yesterday may not help us in the challenges of today. The first thing that needs to be changed is ourselves. If you’re genuinely committed to following Jesus, you will be passionate about becoming more like Him. In other words, become mature Christians.    

There is no finish line or destination for maturity this side of heaven. Our goal is to press on towards Christlikeness. In Colossians 1:28 (ESV), Paul wants to “present everyone mature in Christ.”

The Bible says that God throws a party in heaven when one sinner repents and believes in Jesus. He rejoices with the exuberance of a new dad when one sinner is born again through Christ. The Bible doesn’t tell us, but it seems reasonable to assume that God delights in those early days, weeks, and months of our infancy in Christ, when we are learning the basics of the gospel and laying the foundation for the life of faith. But like any good dad, God doesn’t want us to remain immature.

The goal of following Jesus is not to become His robot or slave. God’s overarching goal is to produce men and women who demonstrate the character qualities of Jesus Christ. God is looking for ordinary men and women who grow spiritually and become more like Him in their thoughts, words, and actions. God wants us to mature and grow as believers in Christ beyond the things we learned when we first became Christians, whether that was when we were five years old or fifty years old.

There is so much God wants to teach us, so much He wants to partner with us to do, to build His church, to reach those far from the heart of God, and to grow in a deeper relationship with Him. When we put into practice the basic things He has taught us, it allows Him to begin to reveal weightier stuff to us that will cause us to be strengthened from the inside out and equipped to do what He has called us to do. The more you look at Jesus, the more you begin to see what God wants in each of us. Selflessness. Sacrifice. Humility. Love and our focus on others.

The truth is, God has so much more for us to do. We are living in challenging days. God is looking for those with some spiritual strength who can handle the Word of God with skill, wisdom, and love. He wants us to discover and fulfill all God has built into us.

Discussion Questions:

1. How is God growing me?
2. How is God using me?”

Summary: Believing, in a spiritual context, is a deep trust and reliance on God, a commitment to His promises, and a willingness to follow His path. It’s about embracing all that God offers through Jesus Christ, seeing Him as Lord and Savior, and making Him the center of one’s life.

The idea of belief seems simple, at the core of being a Christian. But is it simple?  John 20:31 says, “But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.” This verse is a powerful reminder of the gospel’s purpose and the importance of believing in Jesus Christ. So, what does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? Is it enough to acknowledge that He is the Son of God?

“The word ‘believe’ in the Bible means more than simply agreeing in our minds that something might be true. It means ‘trust’—that we believe so strongly in God that we are willing to commit our lives to Him and live the way we know He wants us to live.” Max Lucado said, “Our belief in God is not blind faith. Belief is having a firm conviction that something is true, not hoping it’s true.”

You have some friends who invite you to go skydiving. You decide to go, but are hesitant, looking at your parachute. Your friends had gone skydiving many times, and their parachutes always opened. You continue looking at the parachute, thinking that it will probably open, but that belief is only in your head. You fully believe the chute will open once you’ve jumped out of the airplane.

It is the same way with following Christ. Yes, we can believe that God exists, but God wants us to come to know Him personally. He has bridged the gap between us by sending His Son to remove the barrier of sin. To believe in Christ is to commit our lives by faith to Christ—to trust Him personally as our Lord and Savior.

Faith is more than a passive possession—it’s a firm confidence that results in action. The Bible is full of stories where faith flows into action. Noah prepared an ark, Abraham obeyed without knowing where he was going, and Sarah confidently anticipated the son God promised. They, along with many others, counted on God’s blessings and acted accordingly. God accomplished many things through them. Faith tends to grow when we put it into practice. In this way, believers strengthen their trust in God and His promises, even when they don’t live long enough to see the fulfillment in their lifetime.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to believe in something, and how does that belief impact your daily life? 
2. What are some of the promises God has given to us, and how can we hold onto them when we face challenges? 
3. What are some of the greatest hindrances to faith, both personally and culturally?
   

“The resurrection of Christ changed the midnight of bereavement into a sunrise of reunion; it changed the midnight of disappointment into a sunrise of joy; it changed the midnight of fear to a sunrise of peace.” – Billy Graham.

Easter is a time for reflection and renewal, urging individuals to consider how the resurrection of Jesus can transform their lives. It’s a message of hope, forgiveness, and new beginnings, encouraging a shift in perspective and a commitment to living a more purposeful life. By embracing the power of Easter, individuals can find renewed strength, purpose, and a deeper connection to something greater than themselves.

1 Corinthians 15:17 (ESV) says, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” Paul is telling us here that if Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead, our faith is worthless. This fact is the cornerstone of our faith; without it, we have no hope.

What if, instead of being a one-time historical event we acknowledge once a year, the bodily resurrection of Jesus is an invitation to participate in the real change that comes from transformation and renewal? What if the resurrection isn’t so much something to hope in but rather a practice to join in as the way to make all things new?

The resurrection of Jesus calls for a transformation in how individuals live their daily lives. This includes seeking to live a life of integrity, generosity, and service, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them. It also means nurturing relationships, practicing forgiveness, and spreading the message of love and hope to those around them.

Easter should offer us a renewed sense of purpose and meaning. By reminding us that we are not just living for ourselves but for something greater. It encourages us to seek God’s will in our lives and to live in a way that honors Him. In addition, the Easter story is a powerful message of forgiveness, reminding believers that our sins can be forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus. It should encourage us to forgive others, to mend broken relationships, and to seek reconciliation with those who have wronged us.

Easter emphasizes the importance of love and compassion, urging us to extend our kindness and generosity to others. We are called to be a light in the world, sharing the message of hope and love with those around us.

We must not let the circumstances or mistakes of our lives or the nation weigh us down. Instead, we can turn our hope to the message of Easter: the message that no matter what we have done or what life brings, we can be transformed. Easter reminds us that transformation is possible, and it is possible for all people.

Discussion Questions:

1. During this Easter season, ask yourself these questions: (1) Lord, what needs to change in my life? (2)  Does my heart truly desire God? And (3), Do my daily habits draw me closer to God?

“Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” – Luke 10:38-40.

There’s a trend in the U.S. housing market, albeit a very small one. Drawn to the prospect of financial freedom, a simpler lifestyle, and limiting one’s environmental footprint, more buyers are opting to downsize in some cases to spaces no larger than 300 square feet- people are buying into the tiny house movement. One of the most significant challenges is the limited space. Adapting to a smaller living area means you have to be extremely selective about what you keep, often leading to difficult decisions about which possessions to part with. Making room by finding creative storage solutions is a constant challenge.

If Jesus was coming to stay in a room in your house, how would you get that room ready for Him? If you had a tiny house, it would be a matter of carving out some additional room in an already cramped space. You would first move the stuff that already occupies that space, vacuum, dust, and maybe add a few homey touches like flowers in preparation for a divine guest. If Jesus showed up without notice, I think He would be waiting for some time before he had access to the room.

If you have ever watched the Tiny House Nation TV series, you know the people who build the tiny houses take the buyers’ wishes and work tirelessly and creatively to translate those wishes into a small footprint. They are proud of their work and can’t wait to open the doors and show their handiwork to the new owner. In the same way, we should be excited to open up our hearts and make room for Jesus. When we open our home to a guest, we’d never think of inviting them in and ignoring them. We would never think of telling them to go sit in the corner until we are ready to talk to them for our obligatory 15 minutes. Instead, we offer food, conversation, and relationship.

In the same way, Jesus is often waiting for us to make room for Him in our lives. Jesus should have access to the entire house, not just one room. We should tell Him, “go wherever you want, Jesus; there’s no room or closet closed off to you.”

The Lord wants us to make more room for Him in our daily lives—in every area of our lives. We need to slow down from so many activities and projects and spend more time with the Lord. The more we make room for Jesus in our lives, the more the Holy Spirit will lead us to intentionally make more room for Him.

God doesn’t want to be compartmentalized to a day of the week or a holiday. He wants you to invite Him and say, “Come, Lord Jesus. Be Lord of my life.” My whole life.

Discussion Questions:

1. Which area of your life do you have the most trouble making room for Jesus? 

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” – Psalm 139:7 (ESV).

Experiencing the presence of God sounds like both an epiphany and a mystery. It sounds too good to be true, and this should not be expected or something you place your hope in. We associate God’s presence with something supernatural, such as lights going off and music playing in the background. Fortunately, we can experience God in a way that goes beyond just knowing some facts or truths.  We can experience the presence of God in a personal way through prayer, meditation on scripture, acts of service, and by actively seeking a close relationship with God.

Psalm 27:4 says, “The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.”  This pursuit, this action of seeking the living God, never returns void. You will encounter God when you seek Him because He is already with you. His presence is always available. He’s not a friend who walked away, ghosted, betrayed, and ignored you when you needed them. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” is a Bible verse in Hebrews 13:5 and Deuteronomy 31:6. It is a promise that God will always be with His people. There is nowhere you can go and nothing you can do to shake the love of God.

We must remember that God paid the ultimate price by sending His Son, Jesus, as a mediator between us and God.  So, how do we encounter the presence of God? How do we experience His nearness? Encountering God is similar to encountering another person. I don’t seek an experience with a friend; I seek to know Him by spending time with Him and gaining knowledge. I don’t seek to hear the voice of a friend; I engage in conversation with Him as an act of wanting to know Him and hear His voice as a result. The only thing about seeking God that makes it different is that He is spirit rather than flesh. John 4:24 says, “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” While that sounds foreboding, it is not. It is the reason we can experience His presence. Scripture is clear that God is everywhere and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. His presence is already with you.

We serve a God who longs to be encountered. Our God is not distant. Every morning, there is an open invitation to experience the presence of the living God. God longs for you to know Him. Our Creator longs to be encountered by His creation. It is hard to understand why God makes Himself available to us, but it is true nonetheless.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does God show His presence?
2. How do you enter into God’s presence?