“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” – Psalm 46:1-3.

Once more, we stand by helplessly and see cataclysmic forces of nature wreaking havoc. We are used to highly active hurricane seasons in Florida, but two in so many weeks seems excessive. Part of Florida is still cleaning up from Helene and preparing for Milton simultaneously. Hurricanes not only bring pain, devastation, and death, they remind us just how out of control we are. We can’t redirect a hurricane, lessen the wind, or reduce the storm surge.  All we can do is prepare for the worst and pray for the best.

Hurricanes and other natural disasters often leave us grappling for control, but as Christians, we find solace in God’s sovereignty, knowing that our lives are in His capable hands.

In Psalm 46, verse 5 says that “God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it” (the city of God), and verse 7 declares that the “Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us.” No matter how bad things get, we can always count on His presence. The last part of verse 6 reminds us of God’s incredible power. When “God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!.” Jesus Christ is God and Lord of everything. Nothing has happened outside of his plan. Nothing ever leaves him bewildered or astonished. Nothing ever catches him by surprise.

As Christians, we need to pull together when life comes apart. One good thing that can emerge from times of trouble is extravagant compassion and care for our neighbors. We can respond to disasters by extending hands of help, offering prayers, and providing comfort to those in need.

Take the example of the early Christian community, as depicted in the book of Acts. When a great famine struck the entire Roman world, the believers in Antioch chose to send relief to their brothers living in Judea: “So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could”  (Acts 11:29). Their collective, compassionate response provides a blueprint for us today, teaching us that disaster response is not just about personal resilience but also community. We need each other.

We serve a God bigger than the biggest hurricane. It is a time to seek comfort in God’s presence, acknowledge His sovereignty, and bear one another’s burdens.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is it possible to have the serving mentality we demonstrate during hurricanes all year long?
2. How do we make a serving attitude our normal way of doing things?

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’” – Luke 10:33-35.

A man went to big cities and stood in a corner, looking up at the buildings around him. He just stood there, focused on a spot on one of the buildings. It didn’t take long before a group gathered around him, trying to see whatever he was trying to see. That’s when he would stop looking at the building and begin to watch the crowds. They had no idea why they were looking at the building, but as they looked, more people stopped to look at what they were looking at.

As Christians, we want to see what Jesus is seeing. We want to be so good at seeing what Jesus is seeing that others will stand around and wonder what we’re looking at. We want to allow Jesus to use our eyes and energies to address today’s world’s needs.

To see what Jesus is looking at, we need to slow down to see people. We need to do more than notice and acknowledge them. We need to be fully present so that you can truly see them. We don’t wait for problems to come to us. We actively search for those in need and work to address those needs even before being asked.

In Luke 19, we read the story of Zacchaeus. As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus had his financial needs met. With so many people suffering from poverty and physical needs, why did Jesus choose to spend time in Zacchaeus’s home? Jesus saw past the exterior trappings of wealth, recognizing that Zacchaeus had a need only He could meet. Zacchaeus’s salvation became Jesus’ mission because even a wealthy tax collector needed to experience God’s love.

 Every day, we meet people whose needs are not always instantly recognizable. Not everyone climbs a tree to see us. Ask God to give you an open eye and listening ear.

The difference between helping when asked and taking initiative is not just a matter of being reactive versus proactive. It’s a fundamentally different way of seeing the needs of others.

If we pay attention to and actively seek ways to help others, we will become more aware of their needs.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we better see the needs of people closest to us?
2. How might God want to use us to meet those needs?

“When I consider the cross of Christ, how can anything I do be called sacrifice? – Amy Carmichael.

At some time, every Christian has asked this question: Is serving God and others worth it? If you have been following Jesus for any amount of time, you have probably experienced moments of doubt, uncertainty, and maybe even anger at God. Maybe you have felt like the Psalmist who said, “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked…surely in vain I have kept myself pure” (Psalm 73:2-3, 13), If that is you, you are not alone.

The Christian life requires sacrifice. Serving others demands you give up something. It might mean giving up time, attention, effort, a material resource, or all the above. So, if serving always involves sacrifice, why do it?

A familiar Bible passage gives us the answer. John 13:14-17 says, “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

Jesus, who “existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him,  and nothing was created except through him. the eternal Creator of the universe”(John 1:1-3), shockingly lowered Himself to wash His followers’ feet.

Jesus is telling us that we are not to be above serving. Instead, we’re to follow His example. This certainly makes sense, given that Jesus tells His disciples on another occasion that “… the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many”  (Mark 10:45).

The Lord calls us to serve because it helps demonstrate to those around us what kind of Savior and Lord we follow. This can be encouraging to those who already know Him and revealing to those who don’t. After all, how do you usually react when you witness or benefit from someone’s example of service?

Following Jesus’s example is worth it. Jesus plainly says, “Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” We’re told repeatedly in the Bible that while following Jesus won’t always be easy, it will ultimately lead to our great benefit. It’s why, for example, Paul urges us, “… let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9).

And it’s the reason Jesus promises a hundred-fold return in our lives. As the old saying goes, God is no one’s debtor. In one way or another, He will always give us far more than we give Him. So serving results in both Jesus’s glory and our good.

At the end of the day, serving is worth it.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is living the Christian life worth it to you? Why?
2. How do you view making sacrifices for others?

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, but they have the heart. Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, nothing will get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss.

Most of us know how essential volunteers are to ensuring that our churches are as effective as they need to be. Volunteers serving in worship, education, community outreach, and events build a strong church and help serve the community’s needs.

It’s so easy to get into the mindset that serving God is a chore, our job, our duty, but it’s more than that. It is a reflection of God’s nature. Jesus showed generosity of spirit, kindness, forgiveness, and gentleness to those in need. His sacrifice on the cross was a singular, selfless act that gave us something more than we could ever deserve. He showed generosity of spirit, kindness, forgiveness, and gentleness to those in need. His sacrifice on the cross was a singular, selfless act that gave us something more than we could ever deserve, and I know it’s nothing I can ever repay. But, volunteering allows me to be as generous as possible with my time and gifting in an attempt to reflect that selflessness towards those around me.“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.… The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded” (John 10:11; 17-18).

In his letter to early Christians, Peter writes, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10).  God has given each of us who follow Him specific and unique gifts. Some of us have the gift of hospitality. We enjoy making people feel loved and welcomed. The church needs that. Some of us have the gift of teaching. The church needs that. Some of us have a gift for children’s ministry. The church needs that.

Paul admonishes the Romans to serve competently and authentically: “If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly” (Romans 12:7-8).

There is a place for everybody. It takes many people to keep a church running smoothly. Don’t ever think you are unnecessary because no one has asked you to help. Churches seldom have the capacity or organizational ability to actively scout out and communicate needs or to find the right people to serve in various ways.

Look at the opportunities based on your interests, availability, and skills.  Imagine how exciting it would be if we were a church of purposeful, passionate, and proactive people of God united around a shared vision of fulfilling God’s plans.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you feel about volunteering? Do you think volunteering is an opportunity to use your skills, a joy, or a burden? 
2. How do you view volunteering in relation to Jesus? Do you feel that volunteering is a way to reflect Jesus’ selflessness? 
3. How can you get involved? What are some ways you can look for opportunities to serve?

“There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”  –  Acts 9:36-38

Over the last few weeks on Friday, we have been looking at various people from the Bible who are not that well-known, but who provide an example, a model, for us of faith, trust, courage, perseverance, and conviction. People that we can learn from. Such is the case with Tabitha.

Tabitha was a believer. She followed Jesus’s teachings about how to treat others. She made clothes for the widows and the poor. She always did good and helped those in need.

Then, suddenly, Tabitha got sick and died. Two men were sent to urge Peter to come to Joppa. Tabitha was placed upstairs in preparation for burial, and her friends and the widows were there mourning her passing. When Peter arrived, the women were crying, and they showed him the clothes Tabitha had made for them. Clearly, Tabitha was beloved in the community. She gave, expecting nothing in return.  She gave to those who could not pay or repay.  These were women who had no means of support for themselves, women who were overlooked, vulnerable women. She had clothed the widows.

Peter sent them all out of the room. He got on his knees and prayed. He turned to her and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes and sat up. Peter called for all of them to come back, and he presented a living Tabitha to them. Her coming back to life became known throughout Joppa, and many more people believed in the Lord. In this story, we encounter a faithful believer who helped others and received God’s help when she needed it.

Throughout her life, Tabitha improved the lives of the people around her. She saw that someone had to help and that things needed to be done, so she stepped up and served others. Tabitha demonstrated tangible love for others by meeting their needs with the gifts she had. She made them clothing, and she cared for them.

As we seek to love others with God’s love, we might be tempted to overcomplicate things. Serving the community may seem overwhelming, but it isn’t. Tabitha teaches us that we love others by using our gifts for God’s glory, no matter what those gifts are. We may not be able to make clothes, but God has given us unique gifts that will bless others if we step out in faithfulness.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who has been a Tabitha in your life?
2. How might God be calling you to meet needs in your community?

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24

Motivation is the desire to act in service of a goal. It’s a crucial element in setting and attaining our objectives. Motivation is one of the driving forces behind human behavior. It fuels competition and sparks social connections. To become successful in your chosen career or business, you must decide to remain motivated. This is what differentiates one person from another. So, what motivates us as Christians?

Many begin motivated and galvanized to achieve their dreams, but as time goes on, their motivation fizzles out, especially as they encounter challenges. Without motivation, they are unable to achieve their goals.

When we begin something, we often have great determination and motivation. We have a goal set in our mind, and we pump ourselves up so much that we can see the finish line. Fast-forward a couple of weeks, and here comes that all-too-familiar lack of drive.

In Colossians 3, Paul tells the Christians in Colossae and us to work at whatever you are doing with all of your heart. In other words, our work and all of our activity should be done in a way, with a heart, with a goal of pleasing God. Our efforts as believers should come from a place of devotion to Jesus as an expression of a transformed heart.

Everything you do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus. In other words, our motivation should be primarily to please and obey our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are to be motivated by living our lives in a way that glorifies God. We are to be loving, patient, and kind. We are not to rejoice in wrong but to rejoice in right. We are to work, talk, do, or serve out of love, mercy, and grace. We are to care for others with a servant’s heart. The needs of others outweigh ours as we care for the least, the lost, and the last.   

The preceding paragraph probably seems overwhelming or convicting, but that’s because none of us can persevere in our own strength. We constantly fall short of perfection. But God planned for our lack, and He’s not expecting us to get there in our strength. You’re loved, made new, and met God’s standards through Christ.

Since the beginning of humanity, every person in every generation has experienced moments when their motives are put to the test. Psalm 26:2 says, “Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.

One of the best ways to keep our motives pure is to ask God to show us why we do what we do. Because when we consider our motives before taking action, we are more likely to act in a way that honors Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

1. Where does motivation come from for you?
2. What motivates us to worship God in every aspect of our life?
3. How does the future motivate you?

 “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. –  Romans 12:1-2 (AMP).

Have you ever tried to calculate how good a Christian you are? There will certainly be times when you don’t feel like a very good Christian, especially when you don’t feel like you read or study your Bible enough, or you don’t pray or have morning devotions as often as you like. And then there are those times when you lose your patience and say things you regret. If you feel that way, you are not alone.

Many people are wrestling with the “not feeling like a very good Christian.” They feel they haven’t done quite enough to please God genuinely.  If you begin praying for ten minutes a day, you feel that if you were committed, you’d be praying for thirty. If you’re reading one passage of Scripture a day, you feel a nagging notion that a whole chapter would be better. Wanting to do more and be better is one of the most common symptoms of the spiritual life.

The “I’m not a very good Christian” syndrome is not strictly a modern problem; Paul once wrote a letter to the church in Galatia full of people who felt these symptoms. They began to think God loved them less if they stopped keeping up with their commitments. If they faltered, their Christian lives were through. When Paul heard about it, he wrote a letter to the Galatians. “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? . . .  I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.” (Galatians 3:1–3, 4:11).

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be better. But what Paul is saying is that God did not adopt you as His children because you attended all the growth track sessions, prayed an hour every day, or memorized 50 key verses. All those are good, but you became a Christian by trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection. It depends on His Spirit, not your effort.

The difference is that you are 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.

It will be just as Paul said in Galatians 2:20: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever felt like you need to be a better Christian?
2. What did you do as a result?
3. What would God tell you in that situation?

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30.

Work, family, school, bills, doctor’s visits, and hurricanes are increasingly the fabric of life. Stress builds, and you feel consumed and trapped by the pressures of life. Fortunately, the Bible has the solution for overcoming stress, anxiety, pressure, and the impossible expectations the world places on us and we place upon ourselves.

In Matthew 11, Jesus commands us: “Take my yoke upon you… For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Jesus tells you that finding rest for your soul involves taking His yoke upon yourself. If you think that sounds counterintuitive, He reassures you that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. This passage of scripture seems to contradict what Jesus said about following Him: that following Him was hard, having trials in this world, counting the cost, and the way is narrow.

 If something is easy, it cannot be a yoke—a collar for doing hard labor. But Jesus is doing what He did for His three years of ministry: challenging established paradigms. With Christ, yokes become easy, burdens become light, death becomes life, despair becomes hope, and fear becomes faith. You are not alone in your walk of faith because Jesus walks with you. This makes the burden light because Jesus bears the weight, not you. He is doing the heavy lifting so you can find rest.

Every day we wake up, we choose to grab our burden or His burden. His burden is like grabbing helium balloons, whereas our burden feels like two full-grown oxen.  The key to choosing Jesus’ yoke is about loving and pursuing God in every aspect of your life.

Dallas Willard has this to say in a chapter titled “The Secret of the Easy Yoke.” He writes, “To depart from righteousness is to choose a life of crushing burdens, failures, and disappointments, a life caught in the toils of endless problems that are never resolved. Here is the source of that unending soap opera, that sometimes horror show known as normal human life. The ‘cost of discipleship,’ though it may take all we have, is small when compared to the lot of those who don’t accept Christ’s invitation to be a part of His company.”

Taking Jesus’ yoke allows us to learn from Him, become like Him, and find rest in His easy yoke and light burden. The yoke allows us to pull a burden with less stress and strain, and a good yoke makes the work easier. The most obvious application is that Jesus helps us bear life’s burdens more easily.

Discussion Questions:

1. In Matthew 11, Jesus calls His followers to take His yoke upon them. What does it mean today?
2. How do Jesus’ words “come to me” and “take up my yoke” help us understand the gospel?
3. What kind of yokes do we carry?

“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf…” –  Hebrews 6:18-20 (NIV).

The writer of Hebrews uses the image of an anchor to describe the confident hope we can have in God. When a boat is in open water, away from a dock, nothing can keep it in place but an anchor. The anchor keeps the boat from drifting off in any direction. No wonder Hebrews calls hope “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” That is what an anchor is for a boat, and that is what hope is for our souls.

We need an anchor so we “ won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:14,15).

We experienced another hurricane last week. When a hurricane hits, it can knock out everything that brings us comfort and security. We see the devastation firsthand. The reminders are all around us in the form of severely damaged buildings and homes. It will take months for many people to rebuild battered lives and return to normalcy. In the interim, they live with no communication, no TV, no internet, no electricity, etc.

People always ask how we keep faith and trust in God when hurricanes strike. We keep faith because we have an anchor in Jesus Christ. Most of the time, when we put our anchor out, it is usually so deep that it isn’t visible.  And isn’t that like the hope we have in Jesus? He is the hope that doesn’t disappoint. We can’t really see it, but as Romans says, “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees” (Romans 8:24)?

Jesus is our hope and anchor. He keeps us safe, our hearts, our minds, and our souls. He secures our place in heaven. He guides us so that we don’t sink. He tells us to keep our eyes on Him while walking on water and keeps us firmly planted so that we don’t get tossed around in the waves more than we should. He is the solid rock on which we can stand, our hiding place and our safe refuge.

Without that anchor, we can drift. Our minds drift, our thoughts drift, our insecurities grow, and so do our fears. God could take away all of our struggles and the thorns in our sides. He could eliminate hurricanes and every other storm in life. But He doesn’t, and He won’t. If He did, we would not be running to the foot of the cross daily so that our anchor is secured.

Have you ever noticed what an anchor looks like? What shape is the top of it? It is a cross. It seems appropriate.

Discussion Questions:

1. What hopes are you holding onto?
2. Where and how are our hopes anchored, firm, and secure?
3. How does this anchor hold us secure during the storms of our lives?

“David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.” – 2 Samuel 23:15-17. .

Over the last few weeks on Friday, we have been looking at various people from the Bible who are not that well-known, but who provide an example, a model, for us of faith, trust, courage, perseverance, conviction, and so on. People that we can learn from. Such is the case with David’s mighty men.

David’s mighty men were a legendary band of warriors who rallied to David when he was a fugitive on the run. Renowned for their valor, the mighty men became David’s most loyal and trusted warriors during his tenure as king.  Heralded for their valor and skill in battle, David’s mighty men were a unique group of fighting men who came to David in the caves of Adullam after he fled from King Saul. Jashobeam the Hacmonite once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle (2 Samuel 23:8).

What can we learn from these mighty men? One thing is devotion. Devotion is not an easy thing these days. As believers, we have to ask ourselves, “Am I fully devoted to Him?” David’s mighty men were devoted. They were loyal and followed David through thick and thin. In addition, they served cheerfully. They respected David and gladly followed and served him. David asked for some water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem. What did these three mighty men do as they heard the desire and the wish of the king? Boom. They were off to get water despite the challenges.  How deep is our devotion to the King and how ready is our response to the King and to His commands and to His desires to follow Him?

The mighty men had unbelievable courage. They were always willing to take a risk. If our goal is to serve Christ, then there are times when we will have to take risks. It might be the risk of job or financial loss, the risk of social isolation and scorn, the risk of family rejection, or simply the risk of leaving what is familiar to you to go somewhere else, to do something else, to serve Him in another way.

David’s mighty men may not have been large in number. Still, their courage, loyalty, and willingness to stand their ground and challenge giants were enough to win the day. We should never, therefore, underestimate just how much a small but committed group of brave people can achieve.

Discussion Questions:

1. What can we learn from David’s mighty men?
2. The church needs mighty men who are attracted to the person of Christ. Agree or disagree and why?