Posts with the category “devotional”

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: When reading Matthew 4:1-11 about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, I have to admit that I've never paid much attention to verse one: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.” The phrase “led by the Spirit” stands out to me.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: It’s hard to put into words the power of these versus. John was a really big deal. He had so many followers and had impacted countless people. Known as the Baptizer, his ministry was massive, and he rubbed shoulders with some of the most influential people of that day. John’s impact was undeniable.  Read More

By Elliotte Pearson [Elder]: He who finds a wife finds a GOOD thing and obtains favor from the Lord… Proverbs 18:22 Guys, have you ever heard this verse before? Maybe your wife has reminded you of it, or you've heard it quoted in church. Have you ever stopped to consider that your wife is a gift?  Read More

By Theresa Golden: We all love gifts, especially surprise gifts from the people we love. What is it about gifts that make them so special? Maybe it’s the thoughtfulness behind the gesture or the excitement of receiving something new.   Read More

By Pastor Mike Adkins: Before Pentecost, Peter was uncertain, impulsive, and afraid, denying Jesus when it mattered most. But after Pentecost, empowered by the Holy Spirit, he stood boldly, preached with clarity, and led thousands to Christ. What changed? The presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  Read More

By Whitney Bailey: BOJANGLES. Welcome to the South. We have three kids who are always hungry, and Bojangles Bo Berries are some of our favorites. One day, we were headed home from a long trip and stopped at Bojangles to go inside and eat.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron: “So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord.” – Joshua 9:14 NLT This verse gets me every year in our Bible Reading Plan. If you know, then you know. If you don’t, let me fill you in with the Cliff Notes version.  Read More

By Guest Author | Anita Harrison: I don’t fly often, but when I do, I like to take a direct, nonstop flight. I think most of us are like that. We want to get somewhere the quickest and most efficient way possible. We’re often like that in our journey through life too.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23 TPT I think one of the best questions we can ask ourselves is: “How is my heart?”   Read More

By Guest Author | Tanner Hoyt: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” – Galatians 5:22-23 (NSFL)  Read More

By Joy Kimbril: As a Christian, I am so thankful for Easter. I am thankful that my God rose out of the grave and is constantly working on my behalf. Going into Easter this year, I read through the book 40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chloe.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: This is one of the most familiar scriptures; but as I was preparing for Easter this year, I kept being drawn back to it over and over again. As I began digging into it a little more than I have in the past, I discovered some things about sheep in my research that I didn’t know. One of those is sad, disturbing, and funny all at the same time!  Read More

By Theresa Golden: "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." – John 15:2 (ESV) Has there ever been something in your life that, at first glance, seemed like a good thing; but over time, you realized it was actually hindering your growth in an area or keeping you from seeing the full scope of your potential?  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: I think Jesus needs work on his discipleship pitch! It sounds a little harsh; yet when you pull back the layers of all he is saying, it rings absolutely true.   Read More

By Mary Beth Dunn: It’s almost the middle of 2025, and I find myself in the same cycle that I’m always in. It’s the cycle of doom scrolling. I suddenly realize the hours that I spend on my phone are bad for me, deleting all of my social media in one fell swoop. At first, I genuinely feel that my life is better without it.   Read More

By Guest Author | Brittany Hoyt: All throughout Scriptures, where there is Resurrection, there is God’s presence and His power. To resurrect means to restore, revive, or bring new life. God wants to revive the parts of us that are weary and doubtful, remind us of the hope of resurrection, and restore us to believing in hope and abundance again.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Earlier this year, I came across this song by Brook Ligertwood, and it wrecked me. I would strongly encourage you to pull it up and listen to it this week as we approach Easter. Many times in our lives, we get lost in the complicated and lose the beauty of the simple.  Read More

By Guest Author | Anita Harrison: The story of the Prodigal Son Is one of my favorites. It is so rich in meaning. For a long time, I missed much of the meaning by not knowing the customs of the people in the time that Jesus walked the earth. When you understand the culture and context, the meaning becomes so rich.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Doe, a Deer, a Female Deer...Now that I have your attention, take a minute to read these words from David: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration Why am I discouraged?  Read More

By Christy Hubbard: We have been studying the parable of the Prodigal Son over the last few weeks. I love this story because it's so relatable. As a prodigal daughter in my younger years, I am thankful The Father welcomed me home with open arms.  Read More

For a long time, I believed that God was chronically disappointed in me.I knew that He loved me, but the heavy weight of shame and condemnation I felt over never quite being good enough led me to believe that there was still work to be done. I couldn’t accept His love for me until I felt like I had proven that I was worthy of it. Which, in case you were wondering, never happened. To quote Pastor A...  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: '“ And when you pray , make sure you forgive the faults of others so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you withhold forgiveness from others, your Father withholds forgiveness from you.”' -- Matthew 6:14-15 Man, that’s a tough verse. I’ve read it and spoken it a thousand times. I must tell you, it’s one that says what it means and means very simply what it says.   Read More

By Steve Miller: When it comes to the story of the Prodigal Son, am I the only one who identifies more with the older brother than the prodigal? Sure, I’ve had seasons of doing my own thing and getting into trouble, but for the most part, my life has been about following the rules and doing what I’m told, much like the older brother in the parable.  Read More

By Theresa Golden: The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is one of the most well-known parables in the Bible. It’s a story of rebellion, regret, and redemption. But the prodigal son isn’t the only one who has wandered from God’s path.   Read More

By Elliotte Pearson (Elder): Pastor Aaron has said many times, “church is for you, but not about you.” I would take that a little further to say that the Gospel is for you, but it’s not about you. We are not the center of the Gospel, and too often, we will read the Gospels like it is about us.   Read More

By Jake Haggard: For years, I read the story of the Prodigal Son and found myself identifying with one of the brothers. As a child, I was familiar with the dynamic of sibling rivalry, the longing for attention and sometimes feeling that one was loved more than the other.   Read More

By Guest Author | It’s me, I’m the prodigal. How often have I squandered my inheritance, chasing a life on my own terms, believing I had all the answers—only to find myself lost, hungry, and alone? I lived for the moment, seeking freedom, yet in the end, I was left longing for love, purpose, and a place to belong.  Read More

By Whitney Bailey: What should I do when I'm feeling stressed, overwhelmed, triggered, or spiraling? It's often easier to recognize when someone else is struggling, but when it comes to ourselves, we might feel trapped in a hamster wheel and find it hard to step off. The effort to break free from this cycle can feel like more than we have the energy to handle.   Read More

By Guest Author | Rachel Edwards: "You can't pour from an empty cup." This is a phrase I'm sure you’ve heard before, and it’s something I often encounter as a teacher. I need to take care of myself first to be able to show up for my students in the best way possible. Fortunately, I’m writing this devotional on the first day of my Spring Break, which gives me the opportunity to rest and refill my cup.  Read More

By Guest Author | Ashley Piner: Paul shares a wealth of valuable information throughout 1 Corinthians. He talks about the importance of unity within the church, the functions of the body of Christ, how the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts to build up the Church, the need for reverence and order in worship, and one of my favorites — 1 Corinthians 13 — where he teaches that love is the greatest virtue above all others.   Read More

By Pastor Mike Adkins: In our current message series, we’ve been studying 1 Corinthians, and many issues we see within the church of Corinth stand to teach us a needed lesson about the source of all spiritual gifts.   Read More

By Pastor Scott Conner | “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” Acts 18: 9-10 This promise from God comes to Paul in a vision during his first visit to Corinth when he establishes the church in that city.   Read More

By Joy Kimbril: Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬ “For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.” Faithful - that’s my word for 2025. Yes, it’s a reminder for me that God will be faithful, but it’s more than that.   Read More

By Guest Author | Heather Hamilton: I love sports! Football, soccer, basketball… it doesn’t matter to me what the sport is; I love watching teams work together for a common goal.  Read More

By Mary Beth Dunn: Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong in church? Whether it’s feeling out of place when greeted by a cheerful and enthusiastic greeter at the door while you’re having a rough morning and just aren’t in the mood, or watching the pastor confidently deliver a well-spoken message and thinking you could never do something like that, or even experiencing something in between.   Read More

By Pastor Nikki Bailey: If you would have told me as I child that I would end up like my parents watching journalists interviewing people and being captivated by people’s history, positions, and stances in life, I would have said, there is no way. Yet, here I am.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: A lamp that is trimmed correctly causes the flame to burn consistently.” I said this recently in a message. It was one of those statements that comes out after speaking three services; and as soon as I said it, I knew it was God speaking to me.   Read More

By Rachael Wynne: “...On the night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” - 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 NLT  Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. - 1 Corinthians 13:7 Have you ever prayed for something for so long that you sometimes realized you had stopped consistently praying for that situation because you had accepted it as a reality?   Read More

By Guest Author | Anita Harrison: I love the adage that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. And if you grew up in the country, that was usually followed by: if it is greener, you know what makes grass greener. In case you don’t know, it’s fertilizer; and in the country, that fertilizer often comes from the “other end” of a cow.   Read More