Daily Devo | The Danger of Divided Loyalties (New Testament in a Year, Acts 7:44-60)

Daily Devo | The Danger of Divided Loyalties (New Testament in a Year, Acts 7:44-60)

Stephen concludes his defense by reminding the council that God's presence has never been confined to a building, even one as important as the Temple. Additionally, he reminds them of their long history of rejecting all of God's messengers, the prophets. In other words, it is something other than a loyalty to God that motivates Stephen's persecutors. Hearing these words, the religious leaders become enraged. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, sees a vision of heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. As they stone him to death, Stephen follows the example of Jesus by praying for God to forgive those who murder him. Unlike his persecutors, Stephen's identity is truly rooted in God to the very end. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/ [https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/] For Reflection: - What do you believe gave Stephen the courage to speak the truth despite the danger he faced? - Which is more challenging for you: standing for truth when facing opposition, or showing grace and forgiveness towards those same people when they hurt you? - In light of the previous question, how might God be inviting you to grow in either courage, grace, or both? - Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to remain faithful to you, the grace to forgive others, and the confidence to trust you in every circumstance.

Daily Devo | God Works Through the Rejected, Again (New Testament in a Year, Acts 7:20-43)

Stephen's answer to the authorities moves from the patriarchs to Moses. Though Moses was chosen by God and raised up to deliver Israel, he was rejected at every turn by his people. When Moses promised God would send a prophet like Moses, perhaps he was speaking of this persistent rejection! The patriarchs and Moses highlight two key stories of their national identity, and both have clear patterns of the people rejecting God's chosen savior. We can see already how this pattern leads to Jesus, God's ultimate chosen, but rejected, savior. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/ [https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/] For Reflection: - What do these rejected saviors reveal about God, about us, and about Jesus? - Who are the key people in your spiritual story? What are the key events? Do you see any themes? - "Comfort kills" - do you see this maxim at work in your life, and if so, how might your life be leaning too much into comfort right now? - Prayer: Lord, help me to trust your guidance rather than rejecting it as has so often happened in the past and so often in my own life.

Daily Devo | God Works Through the Rejected (New Testament in a Year, Acts 7:1-19)

Standing before the Jewish council, Stephen begins his defense by recounting Israel's history. Stephen reminds his listeners of the covenant God made with Abraham and then turns to the story of Joseph. Though Joseph was rejected and sold into slavery by his brothers, God was with him. Joseph later was in a position to save his family. Stephen is not telling random stories; he is laying out the patterns of how God moves in the world, especially through rejected saviors like Joseph, and Jesus — a theme on which Stephen will continue to build. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/ [https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/] For Reflection: - How well do you know God's story? Would you be prepared to explain Jesus' message to someone else? - How well do you know your own story? Would you be able to share your own story to someone who was curious about the hope within you (1 Peter 3:15)? - What would help you to be better prepared to share those stories? - Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness throughout every generation — help me trust that you are at work even when I cannot see the full picture.

Sermon | Credible Witness (Acts 3)

If the message of Jesus is so compelling, why do so many people find Christians unconvincing? Maybe the problem isn't the message itself. Maybe it's the gap between what we proclaim and what we actually possess. · · · 👉🏻 Check out other Highrock sermons [https://www.highrock.org/sermons-services?type=sermons] 👉🏻 Check out Highrock's 15-min daily devotionals [https://www.highrock.org/dailydevotionals]

Daily Devo | All for One (Flashback Friday, 1 Corinthians 12:21-26)

In this flashback to February 24, 2022, we see that when even a small part of our physical bodies is in pain, that small part becomes our biggest consideration! The apostle Paul says that it should be the same in the body of Christ. What parts of Christ's body are diminished or dismissed as not important? How do these considerations intersect with race, gender, disability, or other potential divisions? And what are we missing when we fail to give these eyes and voices more consideration? When a part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers. Note: Our hope for Flashback Fridays this summer is to replay devotionals from the relevant texts in Acts. However, we are currently having trouble locating that content from 2021. In the meantime, this passage from 1 Corinthians touches on a similar theme of unity in the Spirit that we see in Acts 4. Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here: https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/ [https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/]