“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”  – Romans 12:9-13, (ESV).

One of the most frustrating parts of the Christian life is we are sometimes not as passionate about God as we should be. We sometimes find ourselves amid a stretch of feeling reasonably indifferent about the things of God. We know that Bible reading, prayer, church involvement, missions, evangelism, and many other means of grace should capture our hearts. But with all that is going on around us, we can’t seem to get excited about them. We are spiritually apathetic for a short time. And while we may be aware of our apathy, we often feel helpless to pull ourselves out of it.

There is a lot to digest in the Roman 12 passage,  but wrapped right up in the middle is this, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Paul writes to be fervent in spirit and to serve the Lord.  Zeal means having great energy or enthusiasm to pursue a cause or objective. We should be filled with energy and enthusiasm because no matter what is going on in our lives, we are living for Jesus, and we aim to follow Him. Next, it says to have fervor. To have fervor is to be intense and have passion. God wants us to have great energy, enthusiasm, intensity, and passion when following Him. This does not mean that everything we do will be exciting. But it does mean that we can still do whatever we are called to with high energy, enthusiasm, and passion.

No matter what you are doing, there will be fun things, and there will be not-so-fun things. It is not about what you are doing but the attitude in which you do them. You are not just living for what the day brings, but something much bigger. You are living for Almighty God. Our walk with God is not just a fleeting enthusiasm but a burning passion, a deep commitment to actively pursue God’s will in every aspect of our lives. According to the Word of God, the way to fight off apathy and reignite your passion for Jesus is to do the very thing that apathy is trying to put you off of: Serve the Lord. Read the Bible. Pray. Worship.

 The antidote for spiritual apathy is a faithful and diligent routine of devoting time to Jesus and serving Him.

 Discussion Questions:

1. Where do you see areas in your life where you could cultivate more zeal for the Lord?
2. How can you actively express your devotion through your actions, words, and attitude?
3. What steps can you take to reignite your passion for God’s Word and prayer life?

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep….I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me” – John 10:11,14.

What was a day in the life like for a person who lived in Bible times? A shepherd’s life was long and sometimes difficult. In the early morning, shepherds led the flock from the fold, marching them to where they would be pastured. Once there, they watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any, for a time, eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. The shepherd had to protect the sheep from predators, of which there were many: lions, bears, wolves, hyenas, and leopards were all interested in a sheep dinner.

We all have some shepherd we follow. Sometimes, we may want to be or at least try to be our shepherd and follow ourselves. Or our functional shepherd may be another person in our life, leading us around and taking us places we don’t want to go.  Maybe there is some idea or something that consumes you. But there is only one good shepherd. Jesus was called the Good Shepherd because He called himself the Good Shepherd in the Gospel of John.

There are two different types of shepherds: hired hands and those who own the sheep. The hired hand is doing this shepherding gig to make a living. In most cases, his commitment to the sheep is based on self-interest, which will impact to what degree or length he will go to take care of those sheep. If the going gets tough, the shepherd may get going.

The shepherd who owns the sheep has no limitations in his level of care for his sheep. Jesus is the long-awaited, true Good Shepherd who does not lose sight of His sheep (Ezekiel 34). He knows the heart and condition of each one in His flock.  The text says the Good Shepherd “…sacrifices his life for the sheep” (John 10:11) to save and protect his sheep.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). He protects them against danger, goes after those who wander away, and pursues those who are lost (Matthew 18:12-14).

Psalm 100:3 says, “Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his, — his people, the sheep of his pasture.”  Jesus is the only one who cares about you without limitation.  He is the only one who loves you perfectly.  Psalm 121:3-4 says, “He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.” There is no limit to the Good Shepherd’s love and care for you.

Discussion Questions:

1. When you think of a shepherd, what comes to mind? What comes to mind when you think of a sheep? What is most significant about the shepherd’s relationship to the sheep?
2. Throughout Scripture, God describes Himself as the Shepherd of His people. How does that apply to your life?

“They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.” – Luke 2:16-20.

December is a strange time in America. Everyone and everything is all about Christmas. Religious or not, young or old, everyone shops, bakes cookies, and sings about reindeer. Hipsters pull out Nat King Cole albums, and families gather to watch Miracle on 34th Street for the 34th consecutive year. And then, where you least expect it is the elf on the shelf. Amidst it all is a childlike wonder and joy that is sometimes rare in our culture today. Imagine the childlike wonder and joy the shepherds experienced when an angel of the Lord appeared to them and they met the future Savior of the world.

One part of the shepherd’s story is sometimes overlooked. That part is the shepherds going around and sharing the good news with others after witnessing the promised Messiah in the manger with their own eyes.

We, as Christians, can make sharing the gospel more complicated than it is because they feel like they lack biblical knowledge or fear rejection. Much like with these shepherds, sharing your faith is simply sharing the good news that you have witnessed firsthand. You do not have to take a theology course before telling your testimony to others and do not have to fear rejection. Our job as Christians is to proclaim the good news about Jesus. Fortunately, success does not depend on us.

It should be noted that the shepherds weren’t sitting in the temple praying or walking out of an advanced theology class when this happened; they were working, watching sheep. The point is that God wants to use who we are to share His good news where we are.

This Christmas, consider your own story. Look over the past year and ask yourself, “Where did I see God?” And then, think about who you might share your story with. Who might be blessed to hear about how God has worked in your life, whether it was extravagant or simple, whether you are still struggling or you’ve made it out of the valley?

What if the shepherds hadn’t told everyone else what they’d seen? What if they thought, “I do not matter. No one cares about me.” The people of Bethlehem would have missed an amazing opportunity to learn of Emmanuel, God’s Son, sent to earth to save all people. If you keep your story to yourself, you just might be depriving the people around you of the chance to meet Jesus firsthand.

Discussion Questions:

1. Share the last time God prompted you to have a bold conversation with someone. How did you respond to that moment? What happened?
2. How can you draw inspiration from the shepherds’ boldness to proclaim the Gospel daily?

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” – Luke 2:8-11.

When was the last time you received some good news? How did you respond? With Christmas just 16 days away, it is the season to reflect on the Christmas story. The story of the birth of our Lord and Savior is tapestry made up of many different story threads. The shepherds are one of them. They received good news, and their response to that good news is what makes their part of the story compelling.

Try to imagine what it must have been like to be the shepherds. Tending sheep was not a glamorous or desirable job, as they spent much of their lives in solitude. But it needed to be done, and they did it. The peacefulness of another evening protecting their flock was broken when an angel appeared, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. It was almost too much for them to handle. The Bible says they were terrified. But the angel quickly told them not to fear because he came to bring them good news. The Savior of the world had been born. And the shepherds could find the newborn Christ lying in a manger in Bethlehem. After hearing this news from the one angel, they suddenly heard an army of angels in heaven singing praises to God. Can you imagine? Serenaded by a choir of angels.

When the shepherds heard this impressive announcement of the newborn Messiah, they said to one another, “Let’s go!” The shepherds could have declined the invitation. They could have declared themselves unworthy of meeting the Messiah. But they chose to say yes to Jesus’ invitation. They had the faith to follow, to go. It says in verse 16 that the shepherds “hurried.”

Luke’s Gospel makes no mention of the shepherds doing anything else. There was no work to be undertaken, no task to be accomplished, no requirements to enter the presence of Jesus. You would think they stood there in awe in the presence of the Son of God.  The faith of the shepherds is an example for each of us. Through the example of the shepherds, we can be encouraged that we don’t need to have it all together, we don’t need to be at the top of society, and we don’t need to have all the answers. We need to recognize God’s invitation and remember that we can respond in faith, always trusting in Him.

We are faced with the same decision—to go or stay regarding God. Not only to go to church but also to go out into the world and do the things of God. Each of us has a talent that we have to decide to use. Each of us has an opportunity to bring God into conversation. The encounter between the angels and the shepherds gave them pause to think. It encouraged them. However, the encounter between the shepherds and Christ, while introduced by the message of the angels, happened because the shepherds decided to go.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Luke 2:13-14. Share how you would have reacted if millions of God’s angels broke out in the first Christmas chorus right before your eyes?
2. God intentionally chooses the disfranchised to receive His good news. God can use you to reach others if we are willing to go. What can you do so that you will be more willing to go?

“We modern people think of miracles as the suspension of the natural order, but Jesus meant them to be the restoration of the natural order. The Bible tells us that God did not originally make the world to have disease, hunger, and death in it. Jesus has come to redeem where it is wrong and heal the world where it is broken. His miracles are not just proofs that he has power but also wonderful foretastes of what he is going to do with that power. Jesus’ miracles are not just a challenge to our minds, but a promise to our hearts, that the world we all want is coming.”― Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

As a Christian, you will encounter skepticism about whether the biblical stories should be taken literally. Really, feeding 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves? Should I take Adam and Eve and Noah’s Ark as fact? Can my questions help me overcome skepticism, or will my doubts derail my faith?

If you are a writer, you will soon learn to appreciate your copy editor.  Often, that last set of professional eyes catches errors the writer may have missed. Because no matter how good a writer you are, frequently embarrassingly glaring mistakes somehow slip through. The Old Testament contains approximately 300 prophecies, is the work of multiple contributors, and spans more than 1,500 years. And yet, not a word of it is contradictory. The New Testament then shows Jesus fulfilling every one of those Old Testament prophecies. No writer(s) could pull off such a feat, no matter how gifted. Only God could give us this perfect book. So, we meet our skepticism with facts. Our faith is based on the assurance that the Bible is God’s inspired Word.

Skepticism is not new. History is replete with skeptics. Take the story of Nicodemus: In John 3, we read about an exciting yet confusing encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus represents the privileged leadership in the Jewish community. He is most likely educated, devout, and used to being listened to and obeyed. He is an insider, an elite. Yet, Jesus has stirred something powerful enough to draw him in. He and others are fascinated by the signs Jesus has done. So he goes to Jesus under the cover of darkness; Nicodemus has questions for Jesus. He senses something special about Jesus, and in his skepticism, he asks many questions. He struggled to understand and asked more. He left that conversation still a skeptic, with much to consider. Something deep inside began to change. Maybe he wrestled some more, watching Jesus from the sidelines.

Maybe he processed with a trusted friend, journaled, or prayed. But he leaned into his belief that God was a God he could trust and ended up one of the few standing in plain view before Jesus on the cross, one of the few who had tried to defend Him.

 Discussion Questions:

1. Sometimes, we already believe in Jesus Christ as God. Do you remember a time when you were skeptical about Jesus?
2. Sometimes, we are still on a faith journey. In what ways does this story of Nicodemus reveal that it’s pretty normal to doubt or ask questions?
3. Do you see yourself in Nicodemus’ story? In what ways can it show us we can be encouraged “wherever we are” in our faith journey?

“As Christians, our identity is to be found in our relationship with Christ, not in our subjective and often negative life experiences in our life.” – Jerry Bridges.

The issue of identity has become increasingly popular. From the moment we are born, we are constantly told who we are or who we should be. With so many opinions flying left and right towards us, many wonder what our identity is.

Society would make us believe that we must convince others that we have what it takes or that we are enough. When we think our worth is based on what we do, how we look, and who accepts us, we are stuck on a hamster wheel of constantly striving to prove our value. We measure ourselves by the expectations of others, compare ourselves to the ultra-successful, and try to please the impossible-to-please. The reality is that whether we are striving to be beautiful, smart, happy, a good parent or a good child, a good neighbor, etc., we will mostly fail. If we try to be a perfect Christian, we will fail. As Christians, our identity should be less about “who” we are and more about whose we are.

As believers, we have a shortcut to the million-dollar question. Who are we? We are a part of the family of God. We have an identity in Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul writes, “ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In this passage, Paul is referring to times in his life when he recognized his faults, blind spots, and weaknesses. But rather than looking at them as just another faux pas, Paul counts these times when he relied on the Lord’s strength and guidance. Freedom and acceptance are some of the most beautiful and comforting things that can be found in a relationship with Jesus. God knows that we will fail, and He loves us anyway. He does not ask us to meet a quota or look a certain way. Instead, He invites us to find our identity in Him.

 When we find our identity in Christ and in Christ alone, we are rid of any societal standards or expectations. We are loved by the greatest love the world has ever known and accepted by the only One who will care for us despite our flaws and failures. Your identity in Christ is rich, deep, unique, and solidly rooted in God, not your behavior.

 Discussion Questions:

1. Where do you find yourself seeking identity outside of Christ? Do you find yourself holding tightly to something, fearing you’ll be lost without it?

“Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.” – Ecclesiastes 11:5.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 is a great verse. It’s a sobering, humbling reminder that there are so many mysterious things in the world that we don’t understand. It reminds us how limited our understanding of the world is and that we are unable to truly understand the magnificence and greatness of God’s power.

Jesus in John 3:8 says, “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” And just like we are unable to comprehend the path of the wind, we are also incapable of genuinely understanding the mystery of a baby in a mother’s womb.

Do you understand the Trinity? Relating to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is easier to experience than explain. A child can believe in, interact with, and trust the triune God, but the combined power of the greatest theological minds of the past two millennia has not been able to explain triune mechanics. We know it works, but we don’t know how.

It should not be surprising because we are dealing with God, whose intelligence, power, and complexity so far exceed our comprehension that we have no metaphor or superlative that can even remotely do Him justice. Romans 11:33-34 says, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?”

Given that, we should expect some conundrums, curveballs, and perplexing situations without clear answers or understanding. But during those times, we need to remember that while God is always at work, we will never know all the details of what He is doing. Acts 1:7 says, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.” Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

God is above all things, and intuitively, we know His thoughts are always higher than ours. We will never know all the details. That is why faith is needed. The takeaway of Ecclesiastes 11:5 is to remember and realize that you don’t know and will never be able to understand everything, but you can trust in the God who knows all things and is always working all things together for the good of those who love Him.

The Bible reveals some things we find extraordinarily hard to understand—things that perplex, confound, and confuse us. When we encounter conundrums that show us the limits of our intellectual capacities, we need to remember that God loves us and wants only the best for us.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some situations in your life where you feel most uncertain or lack complete understanding?
2. How does acknowledging that you don’t know everything impact your approach to your spiritual walk?
3. How can we use our “not knowing” as an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper reliance on God?

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.” – Matthew 1:20-24.

When you become a Christian, the natural inclination is to do something extraordinary. You want to further the kingdom by doing giant, complicated things that change the world. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a real difference in our city, state, country, or world. But we must remember that we can also further His kingdom in the ordinary day-to-day moments of life. It means focusing on and obeying God, loving people, and leaving the size of the outcome to God.

But do the small things that I’m doing matter? Is it a suitable return on my investment in time and resources? The Bible partly gives us the answer in Zechariah 4:10, which says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…”  There are many people in the Bible that exemplify this idea. One of them is Joseph.

Joseph is the epitome of someone who obeyed God. He was willing to do the hard but right thing—without hesitation or fanfare.  Joseph trusted and obeyed when God redirected him. We know how Joseph didn’t want to disgrace Mary publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. But then an angel of the Lord came to Him in a dream and told Joseph not to fear taking Mary as his wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

Joseph obeyed. He took what he knew of God’s Law and was willing to put feet to it. The problem was he didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle.  An angel told them in a dream to flee to Egypt. Joseph left his community, work, and comfort to obey God. There is no proof that Joseph knew the long-term results of his obedience. His Son would do miracles, preach the gospel, die for the sins of His people, be buried, and rise again. He would save the world. He would do what no man could do. He would bring life where life was impossible.

All Joseph knew was what God had said and what he needed to do to obey. And he did it.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does Joseph’s story encourage you to cooperate with God even when He wants you to do something difficult? How does Joseph’s story inspire you that God knows what He’s doing even if you don’t understand?

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”  – Psalm 90:12 (ESV).

We all want to do what the Bible tells us to do. Scripture tells us to “number” or “count” our days. If you are 50 years old, you have been alive for 18,250 days. If you have been married for 18 years, you have been wed for 6,570 days. And if you have been in school year-round for 10 years, you have entered the school building 3,650 times. But if you look at moments (for the sake of reference, a moment is 90 seconds), you have 960 moments in the day or 350,400 moments in a year, or if you are 50, you have experienced 17,520,000 moments in your life. That is a whole lot of moments to make count.

The reality is that life is short, and time is running out, which is why we want to make every day count. Joesph is an example of making every day count. We don’t hear a single word from him, and he only shows up in 16 verses in the New Testament, yet we can learn from him. Joseph is a man of faith who listens to God’s messages and then obeys God’s commands, trusting in God’s promises. He was not passive but focused and intentional in his actions. The example of Joseph’s life also reminds us to trust God even when things don’t make sense, and we can learn from him.

To take advantage of every moment, we need to have our day sponsored by God. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” God made the day, and He made every moment. When you think about it, this is the only time God has given us.  He has not given you tomorrow. He hasn’t even given you this evening. He’s given you this moment. So, make this moment count for God.

In Job chapter 7, verse 6, we read how some people describe their day. “My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle. They end without hope” (Job 7:6). We all have days like that, but rather consider what the day could mean if you make each moment count: accomplish something today. We have a loving father. He wants us to make something of today.  We can make more moments count when we get busy with God’s business, whether you’re accomplishing something for yourself or somebody else.   

Put the life of Jesus into your days. He is your life. So, put God’s life into your day. We don’t choose how our face looks but can control our expression. We don’t always control the circumstances, but we do control ourselves and how we handle those circumstances.

Every second is a precious gift from God, and we should not waste it by letting days slip by without intentionality. To truly “make every moment count,” we must be present in the here and now. This means actively engaging with our experiences, whether it’s a conversation with a loved one, a beautiful sunset, or a simple task. When we understand that every moment matters, we are naturally driven to live with purpose. This means aligning our actions with God’s will, seeking to use our time to serve others, and working for the kingdom of God.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to you to make every moment count? 
2. What areas of your life could benefit from a more intentional approach, where you could “make every moment count?”

“We do not know the destination. We have no map of what lies beyond the curtain…We do not know the limits of the possibilities for our personal lives or the life of the world. We do not know, and cannot know, all that God has prepared for those who love him. It is beyond the highest power of our imagination. We do not know the destination, but we do know the way. That is the heart of the matter.” – Lesslie Newbigin.

Many people live the seasons of their lives thinking that things will be better the next season and that joy is just around the corner. They think, “Once I get through this, then I’ll have time for … ” or “When the kids are through this stage, then we can really … “And “if only I were (fill in the blank — thinner, more creative, more outgoing, healthy …) then …”

The bottom line is we often live for the future and not make the most of the present, and we look for that time when all the circumstances fall into place and life is enjoyable. Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Life is a journey, not a destination.” We know that to be true, but we become so obsessed with the destination. And so it is, and we must learn not to become so obsessed with the destination that we fail to enjoy and embrace the journey.

 In this world, we will never arrive at a place where everything is perfect, and we have no more challenges. As admirable as setting goals and reaching them may be, you can’t get so focused on accomplishing the goals that you make the mistake of not enjoying where you are right now.

It’s a good thing to remember that life is a journey – the good bits and the bad bits. We can learn from every single experience if we seek God’s presence. It is not always easy, but it is a worthwhile thing to do. We need to remember what Jesus said, as recorded in John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”  While the Bible helps us understand how to process our past and inspires us with hope for our future, its emphasis is clear on our “today.” The reality is that we have no other time but now promised and given to us. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow has not yet arrived. And growth opportunities, learning, serving, giving, and loving others always happen in the now. Opportunities always occur in the present moment.

In the New Testament, when Jesus said, “Follow me,” he set Peter on a journey. Peter didn’t immediately become the bold evangelist we see later in Acts. Through the journey, Peter developed into the man Jesus called him to be. Yes, the destination is important, and we need to have goals and identify where we’re called, but then we need to allow God to set the timeline and take us through His journey. It’s the journey, after all, that prepares us for the destination.

Just as a winding road reveals stunning landscapes, our life’s journey can unveil unexpected beauty and valuable lessons if we are present and open to what each moment holds. It’s about embracing the journey God has called you to for the time He has called you to do it in the circumstances He has placed you in.

Where are you today? Are you allowing God to take you through the journey?

 Discussion Questions:

1. The Christian journey is a spiritual adventure marked by growth, faith, and transformation. It’s a process that takes us closer to God, shapes our character, and allows us to reflect Christ’s love in everything we do. Agree or disagree and why?
2. What can we do this week to live in the present?