Category Archives: Peace (of God)

Christ Has Come: The Promised King & His Gift of PEACE — a Refresh & Restore Bible Study

Isaiah 9:1-7 –

9:1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.[1]

Merry Christmas, Sojourners!

As we move deeper into this Advent season, I have found myself meditating on what we saw in last week’s Bible study – the stunning grace of a God who entered the world through a broken family line to bring us the gift of hope. Advent has a way of slowing us down and lifting our eyes, reminding us that our hope isn’t rooted in circumstances but in the faithfulness of the God who keeps His promises.

This week, we turn from hope to peace. And just like with hope, the peace God gives isn’t thin or sentimental. It isn’t the quiet that comes when life stops spinning, nor is it the fragile feeling we try to hold on to when things seem manageable for a moment. The world can offer distraction, comfort, and brief periods of calm in our chaos – but none of it lasts. We’re all acquainted with this truth all too well. Our hearts get restless. Our minds get loud. The world around us trembles with conflict and fear. And even when we long for peace, we can’t seem to create it or find it on our own.

The peace God gives is different. It doesn’t come from escaping the brokenness of the world but from the presence of the One who entered it. Scripture tells us that the eternal Son took on flesh and blood so He could break the power of death and free us from fear (Hebrews 2:14-15). He is the One who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), stepping into our weakness and struggle so He could reconcile us to God and give us the kind of peace nothing in the world can (or even wants) to imitate – a lasting, perfect peace, a peace secured by His own life, death, and resurrection.

This is what we need to remember: peace isn’t found in our circumstances but in Christ Himself. Peace is not a feeling. Peace is a Person. And He has come.

Isaiah 9:1-7, a familiar reading at Christmas time, points us to this truth beautifully. Isaiah brought these words into a land covered in deep darkness, a people crushed by the weight of fear, oppression, and uncertainty. Yet into that darkness, God spoke through Isaiah to promise light, joy, freedom, and rest – all bound up in the coming of a Child who would be King. All of those familiar titles – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – push our gaze toward Jesus. He is the Wonderful Counselor whose wisdom never fails. He is the Mighty God whose strength and divinity never wavers. He is the Everlasting Father who cares for His people with perfect compassion. And He, Jesus, is the Prince of Peace whose reign brings an end to the turmoil within and around us.

Today, as we dive into this passage together, we’re going to see the darkness of Isaiah’s day (and ours), the brilliance of God’s promise, and the fullness of its fulfillment in Jesus. And, Lord willing, we’re going to see why the peace of Jesus isn’t temporary or fragile but strong enough to steady our lives in every season – even and especially the one we’re in. Let’s get in the Word together and behold the Promised King who brings peace to His people.

Original Context: The Darkness & the Promise (Isaiah 8-9)

When Isaiah first spoke these words, he was preaching to a people standing on the edge of collapse. The northern tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali had already felt the crushing weight of the Assyrian Empire — their homes were devastated, their land seized (2 Kings 15:29), and their hope draining. Spiritually, the nation was in bad shape, too. Instead of turning to the Lord, they turned to anything but Him – mediums, whispers of the dead, worldly wisdom, and their own fearful imaginations (Isaiah 8:19-22). The result was exactly what God told them it would be: deeper darkness, heavier gloom, and a people walking without direction or peace (Isaiah 8:22).

This is the backdrop for Isaiah 9:1-7: darkness, suffering, and a people who cannot save themselves. But it’s into this darkness that God shines a light and speaks hope: “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish” (v. 1).

The places hit the hardest – Zebulun, Naphtali, and Galilee – would be very the places where God’s salvation would first appear. In other words, the lowest places would become the brightest. The lands most humiliated by Assyria would become the launch point for God’s redeeming work. Matthew later tells us that this is where Jesus’s public ministry began here, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 4:12-16)[2]. The people who walked in darkness saw a great light because the Light Himself arrived.

The language of this prophecy was specifically given so that Israel would understand. He spoke of light breaking in, joy overflowing, burdens snapped, and oppression shattered so that they’d know the God who broke Egypt at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-31) and crushed Midian under Gideon (Judges 7:19-25) would step in again and fight for His people. Only this time, the battle would look different. Israel needed more than physical and political rescue – they needed peace, real, lasting peace. Their true enemy was bigger than Assyria, the darkness thicker than invading armies, the oppression heavier than military threat. They needed God Himself to step in and help them. And that’s when Isaiah says something entirely unexpected – something that would have sounded unbelievable to anyone relying on human strength: God’s victory would not come through a general or a warrior or a king but through a Child.

This would be no ordinary child but a Child who is also the Son – fully human (“a child is born”) and fully divine (“a son is given”), a reality affirmed throughout Scripture (John 1:1, Colossians 2:9). He would be their Wonderful Counselor, providing wisdom beyond their understanding. He would come as their Mighty God, the Warrior who cannot be defeated, even by death. He would come as their Everlasting Father, faithfully loving and protecting His own. And He would come as their Prince of Peace, the only One able to end the conflict around and within them. His government wouldn’t rise and fall like the kingdoms of the world. His reign would not waver. The peace He brings will never end. And Isaiah ends the prophecy with the foundation of this promise: “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (v. 7).

This is the same hope given then and now – not a hope in human effort, political strength, or temporary solutions, but in the God who Himself brings peace through His promised King.

Prophecy Fulfilled in the Child Who is King (vv. 2-6)

When Isaiah gave the stunning announcement of this coming Child with all these divine titles, it should have definitely had the reader or hearer’s attention. In the midst of darkness, God promised a King whose wisdom, strength, care, and peace would outshine every failed ruler before Him. And everything in that promise – every title, every hope, every glimpse of light – points us straight to Jesus.

We’ve already seen how Matthew tells us that Jesus intentionally began His public ministry in the region Isaiah talked about in Isaiah 9, but Isaiah’s prophecy wasn’t simply to predict where the Messiah would appear – it was ultimately to reveal who the Messiah would be. Every title He spoke was like a window opening toward Bethlehem, Nazareth, Calvary, and the empty tomb. Every title anticipated a Messiah far greater than any king Judah (or Israel) had ever known.

Isaiah said the Child would be our Wonderful Counselor, one whose wisdom far surpasses human understanding. In Jesus, that promise becomes flesh. He’s not offering good advice but embodying the very wisdom of God (Isaiah 11:2, Colossians 2:3). When He speaks, storms still, demons flee, and blind (and confused) people finally see clearly. He’s the Counselor whose plans never fail and whose guidance leads to life.

Isaiah called Him Mighty God – a title Isaiah later uses for the LORD Himself (Isaiah 10:21). In Jesus, we see that divine strength fully displayed. He is the Warrior who breaks the real yoke of oppression – sin, death, and the devil – freeing His people in a way no earthly deliverer ever could (Hebrews 2:14-15). His miracles weren’t’ mere spectacles but signs revealing His true identity: Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23).

Isaiah called Him Everlasting Father, the King whose rule is marked by faithful, fatherly care for His people. Jesus embodies this perfectly as the Shepherd who knows His sheep, protects them, provides for them, and never abandons them (John 10:11-15). Unlike the kings Judah had known – even the best ones, His compassion never falters, His reign doesn’t waver, and His care doesn’t end.

And Isaiah proclaimed that Jesus would be the Prince of Peace – the ruler who establishes true wholeness and reconciliation. Jesus fulfills this not by silencing earthly conflict but by reconciling sinners to God (Colossians 1:19-20). His peace is not fragile or temporary but the deep, restoring peace of being made right with God and living under the reign of a King who does not rise or fall with the shifting tides of history (John 18:36).

Isaiah finishes by saying that the increase of this King’s government and peace will never end, and that it will be accomplished by the “zeal of the LORD” Himself (v. 7). And that is exactly what we see in Jesus. His Kingdom does not come through human effort or political force but through the unstoppable, sovereign purpose of God. His reign expands not by military conquest but by changing hearts, rescuing sinners, and bringing people from every tribe and tongue into His eternal peace (Revelation 7:9-10).

In Jesus, every thread of Isaiah’s prophecy is woven into a perfect tapestry. The Child who was promised is the King who has come – and the King who is coming again.

The Gift of Peace for a Restless People (vv. 6-7)

When Isaiah announced that the coming King would be the Prince of Peace, he wasn’t offering Israel kind words or a soothing sentiment. He was announcing a peace that they were incapable of creating and their enemies couldn’t steal. Israel’s history had been chock full of conflict, fear, and instability – more than they could recount. Assyria was looming over them, their leaders had failed them, their hearts condemned them. What they needed, though, wasn’t calmer days or different politics or religious outcomes but a different kind of King – One whose very presence brings the peace our hearts were made for.

That’s what Jesus gives. When He entered the world, He didn’t arrive into a quiet nursery but into a world trembling with the same darkness Isaiah described. From the very beginning of His life, peace came not by avoiding brokenness but by stepping right into the middle of it. Scripture tells us that Jesus “made peace by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20), offering reconciliation no earthly leader could ever achieve. The conflict between sinners and holy God is the deepest unrest in the universe, and Jesus made a way for it to be resolved once and for all.

But His peace doesn’t stop at reconciliation. Isaiah promised a peace that would increase without end (v. 7), and that is the very peace Jesus continues to give His people today. He speaks peace into fearful hearts: “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). He breathes peace into weary disciples who don’t know where to turn (John 20:19). He offers rest to those crushed by their own sin and striving: “Come to me…and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). His peace isn’t the result of everything around us settling down – it’s the result of Jesus Himself holding us fast!

And here is the miracle Isaiah got a glimpse of centuries before: the government of this peace rests on His shoulders, not ours. Its increase depends on His power, not our performance. He is the Wonderful Counselor who guides us when we’re confused, the Mighty God who keeps us when we’re weak, the Everlasting Father who comforts us when we’re hurting, and the Prince of peace who steadies us when the world shakes beneath us. If our peace depended on us, it would crumble. But, no, it depends solely on Him – His character, His reign, His finished work. That is why this peace can guard our hearts and minds even “in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

His peace isn’t fragile; it’s not seasonal; it’s not momentary. It is strong enough for the real world – for doctor visits and financial strain, for family tension and anxious nights, for wandering thoughts and restless souls. It is a peace that shines into our darkest valleys the same way it shone in Galilee’s gloom 2,000 years ago – a peace that doesn’t deny the darkness but breaks it – a peace that will one day fill the whole earth when the King returns and makes all things new (Isaiah 43:18-19; Revelation 21:5).

Wrapping Up

Isaiah 9 doesn’t give us a fairy tale to escape into; it gives us a Savior to anchor ourselves in. The Promised King has come, and the peace He brings is as real today as it was on the night the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth among those with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) That peace is for you – not someday, not theoretically, but right now, in the very places where your heart feels most restless. And the reason this peace is possible is because the Prince of Peace has come – and the same Jesus who entered our darkness then is One who promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20).

This is what Advent keeps teaching us: peace isn’t found in the stillness of circumstances but in the nearest of Christ. The government of peace rests on His shoulders, not ours. Its increase depends on His power, not our performance. If you’ve never trusted Him – if peace has always felt out of reach – hear the good news Scripture gives: Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. He is approachable. Call on Him. Trust Him. Let Him bring His peace. And if Jesus has saved you, take heart in the beautiful truth that His peace is anchored in His unchanging presence and unfailing promises. And “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). He has redeemed you, He is with you, and He will come again for you. So, fix your eyes on Him. Rest in what He’s done. Rejoice in what He’s doing. And let the peace of our Promised King steady your heart now and in every season to come.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 9:1–7.

[2] Matthew records Jesus quoting Isaiah 9:1-2, showing that region to be where the Light of the world began His ministry and illustrating how God was reversing Israel’s story in Christ and honoring the place once brought low (just as He said He would).

Songs for Sunday, December 7, 2025 @ Christ Community Church (Advent Week 2)

Tomorrow is the Lord’s day, and I’m excited! I’m also grateful for another week in this Advent season, remembering Jesus’s first coming and longing with hope for His return!

Last week, we lit the candle of hope and remembered that our confidence in Jesus isn’t vague, wishful thinking — it’s anchored in the character of our faithful God (Hebrews 10:23). This week, we move to the second candle: peace. And just like hope, the peace we find in Advent isn’t shallow or sentimental. It’s not the temporary ease the world (falsely) offers. It’s a deep, steady peace secured by Jesus Himself (John 14:27).

We light this second candle to remind us that true peace came to us through the humility of Jesus. Hebrews tells us that the eternal Son took on flesh and blood “so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15). He didn’t stand at a distance. He entered our weakness, stepped into our struggles, and became like us “in every respect” so that He could be a merciful and faithful High Priest — able to reconcile us to God and bring lasting peace (Hebrews 2:17).

The peace that Jesus brings isn’t weak or merely sentimental. It is the victory-won peace that came “by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). Hebrews tells us He destroyed” the one who has the power of death” (Hebrews 2:14) — and He did it not by mounting a worldly assault but by humbling Himself (Philippians 2:6-8). The world wins peace by force (unpeacefully), but Jesus wins peace by laying His life down. His strength is not seen in crushing armies or empires but in crushing sin, Satan, and death through His own suffering and resurrection. And because Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), His peace means we no longer fear death at all — He has already passed through it and triumphed over it for us. It’s the beautiful paradox of salvation: the humility of Christ is stronger than all the strength of the world, and His finished work is more than enough (Philippians 2:9-11).

Bethlehem shows us this and more. In Bethlehem, we see that God came near — not in power but humility, not with fanfare but quiet mercy (Micah 5:2, Luke 2:7). And the same Jesus who put on flesh and dwelt among us in the manger in Bethlehem now reigns in glory (Philippians 2:9-11). Because He lived, suffered, died, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), we can draw near to His throne of grace with confidence, sure that we can and will receive the mercy and help we need in every moment (Hebrews 4:14-16). As this candle of peace shines, we rest in the peace Jesus secured for us, and we pray that His peace would shine through our lives into a world that needs Him desperately (Matthew 5:9).

But Advent isn’t some mere set of religious exercises inviting us to remember theological ideas — it invites us to come to the One who is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). If you find yourself anxious, restless, or burdened, hear the good news: Jesus came near to save people just like us, and “He is not ashamed to call them brothers” (Hebrews 2:11). He welcomes you. So, come to Him. Bring your fears, your wounds, your weariness. His peace is real, and His mercy is sure (1 Peter 5:7).

Tomorrow at Christ Community, we also have the joy of celebrating the peace and salvation of Jesus through baptism — a visible picture of the gospel and a reminder of what Jesus has done for us. When someone goes beneath the water and rises out of it, we’re seeing Romans 6:4 lived out before our eyes: “We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Baptism tells the story of Advent’s promise fulfilled — Jesus came to save sinners (Matthew 1:21), to make us new (2 Corinthians 5:17), and to bring us into His peace forever (John 16:33).

This is also why we take the time to share these “Songs for Sunday” posts each week (or at least as often as we can). We want to help you prepare your heart for corporate worship—that time each week when we come together as a church family to sing, pray, and hear God’s Word—to let the Scriptures and songs we’ll share this week begin settling in your soul before Sunday ever arrives. When we come ready, familiar with the Word and expectant to sing, our hearts are strengthened and our worship deepens (Colossians 3:16).

Take a few moments to read through the passages and listen to the songs we’ll be singing. Let them draw your thoughts and hearts to Jesus — our merciful High Priest, our Prince of Peace, and our soon-coming King.

We would love to invite you to gather with us as we sing and John opens God’s Word and points us to Jesus.

Everyone is welcome!

Here are our Scriptures, songs, and Advent readings:

  • Advent Reading | Peace —

The second candle reminds us that true peace came to us through the humility of Jesus Christ. Hebrews tells us that the eternal Son took on flesh and blood so that He might break the power of death and free us from fear (Hebrews 2:14–15). He was made like us “in every respect,” entering our weakness and our struggles, so that He could become a merciful and faithful High Priest—able to reconcile us to God and bring us lasting peace (Hebrews 2:17).

Bethlehem shows us that God came near—not in power, but in humility; not with fanfare, but in quiet mercy. Because Jesus came, lived, suffered, and rose again, we can now draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, finding the mercy and help we need in every moment (Hebrews 4:14–16). As this candle of peace shines, let us rest in the peace Christ secured for us and pray that His peace would shine through our lives into a world that desperately needs Him.

14Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

#RomansChallenge | July 31 – 16:17-27

Click here for Romans 16:17-27 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

As Paul closes his letter, he gives a sobering warning to watch out for those who cause division and promote teachings that go against sound doctrine (v. 17). These individuals, driven by selfish appetites, use smooth talk and flattery to deceive the naive (v. 18). But Paul urges the church to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil, confident that God will soon crush Satan under their feet (vv. 19–20; cf. Gen. 3:15).

A brief set of greetings from Paul’s companions (vv. 21–23), including Timothy and Tertius (Paul’s scribe), reminds us that Paul ministered within a community of believers. Finally, Paul ends with a beautiful doxology, praising the God who strengthens His people through the gospel, the mystery once hidden but now revealed to the nations through Scripture to bring about the obedience of faith (vv. 25–26). All glory belongs to the only wise God, forever through Jesus Christ (v. 27).

🎯 Theme: Be alert to division and deception, cling to the gospel, and glorify the God who saves through Christ.

🌀 Reflection: The gospel that began with God’s promise in Genesis ends here with a shout of praise. Are your eyes open to falsehood, and is your heart anchored in the glory of Christ?

💬 Mission Challenge: Ask God to show you someone who may be spiritually naive or wavering, and gently guide them back to the truth of the gospel (v. 18; Gal. 6:1). Boldly declare Romans 16:27 in your own words to someone today.

#RomansChallenge | July 30 – 16:1-16

Click here for Romans 16:1-16 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul ends his letter by commending and greeting a diverse group of believers who have labored faithfully for the gospel. He introduces Phoebe, a servant of the church and a generous supporter of many, likely the one delivering this letter (vv. 1–2). He honors Priscilla and Aquila, who risked their lives for him, and acknowledges house churches, early converts like Epaenetus, hard workers like Mary and Persis, and fellow prisoners Andronicus and Junia, who were in Christ before Paul (vv. 3–13).

Many names reflect a wide range of backgrounds—men and women, Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free—showcasing the unity of the church in Christ. Paul’s repeated affirmations (“beloved,” “fellow worker,” “approved in Christ”) highlight how gospel faithfulness is measured not by status but by service (vv. 8–12). He ends with a call to greet one another with a holy kiss and reminds them of the love of the wider church (vv. 16).🎯 Theme: Christian fellowship crosses every barrier—social, ethnic, and geographic. Gospel relationships are not merely friendships but partnerships in the mission of Christ.

🎯 Theme: Christian fellowship crosses every barrier—social, ethnic, and geographic. Gospel relationships are not merely friendships but partnerships in the mission of Christ.

🌀 Reflection: How are you investing in gospel friendships? Who in your life could you thank or encourage today for their partnership in the Lord?

💬 Mission Challenge: Choose one person from your church or community who has been faithfully serving behind the scenes. Write them a note of thanks for their service in Christ—and include a gospel tract or invite them to join you in reaching others with the good news.

#RomansChallenge | July 29 – 15:14-33

Click here for Romans 15:14-33 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul closes the main body of his letter by affirming the Roman believers’ spiritual maturity—commending their goodness, knowledge, and ability to instruct one another (v. 14). Still, he reminds them boldly of their shared calling, especially his own unique role as a minister to the Gentiles (vv. 15–16). Describing his ministry in priestly terms, Paul presents the Gentiles as an offering made holy by the Spirit (v. 16). He boasts only in what Christ has accomplished through him—by word, deed, miraculous signs, and the Spirit’s power—as he preached from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum (vv. 18–19).

Paul’s aim has always been to preach the gospel where Christ is not yet known (v. 20; cf. Isa. 52:15), which explains why he had not yet visited Rome (v. 22). Now, with his work in the east complete, he hopes to visit them on his way to Spain (vv. 23–24, 28). But first, he must carry a financial gift from the Gentile churches in Macedonia and Achaia to the poor believers in Jerusalem—an offering of unity and gratitude (vv. 25–27). Paul asks for prayer: for protection from hostile unbelievers, for the offering to be received well, and for the joy of finally visiting the Romans in the blessing of Christ (vv. 30–32). He ends with a word of peace (v. 33).

🎯 Theme: Gospel ministry requires partnership, boldness, and sacrifice—and the unity of believers across cultural and geographic lines is part of God’s plan for His glory.

🌀 Reflection: How might God use your life as an offering for His glory—set apart and sanctified for gospel purposes? What are you holding back that might be used for His mission?

💬 Mission Challenge: Identify a missionary or church planter who is actively reaching unreached people. This week, write them a note of encouragement, pray fervently for their work, and consider giving to support the advance of the gospel.

#RomansChallenge | July 28 – 15:1-13

Click here for Romans 15:1-13 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul calls on the “strong” to bear with the “weak” (v. 1), urging believers to imitate Christ, who did not please Himself but bore our reproach for the glory of God (v. 3). Rather than demanding our own way, we are called to build up others (v. 2), to live in harmony (v. 5), and to welcome one another as Christ welcomed us (v. 7). The Scriptures were given to instruct us, and through them God brings endurance, encouragement, and hope (v. 4).

Christ came as a servant to the Jews to fulfill God’s promises and to bring salvation to the Gentiles, so that all people might glorify God (vv. 8–9). Paul strings together Old Testament passages (vv. 9–12) showing that this inclusion was always God’s plan. He ends with a prayer: that the God of hope would fill believers with joy, peace, and overflowing hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 13).

🎯 Theme: Christ’s example calls us to selfless unity, mutual encouragement, and a shared hope in God.

🌀 Reflection: If Jesus bore reproach for us and welcomed us into God’s family, how can we withhold love or unity from fellow believers? True Christian strength shows itself in humility and a desire to build others up.

💬 Mission Challenge: Reach out this week to someone outside your cultural, racial, or generational circle—share a meal, a prayer, or your testimony—and demonstrate the unifying hope of the gospel.

#RomansChallenge | July 27 – 14:14-23

Click here for Romans 14:14-23 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul affirms that nothing is unclean in itself (v. 14), but warns that if someone believes it to be unclean, they must not violate their conscience. Love is the greater priority, and if exercising your freedom in Christ causes distress or spiritual harm to another believer, you are no longer walking in love (v. 15). God’s kingdom is not about food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (v. 17).

We should aim for peace and mutual upbuilding rather than insisting on our own rights (v. 19). Though all things may be clean, it is wrong to cause someone else to stumble (v. 20). Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (v. 23)—so we are called to walk in love, governed not only by truth, but by the spiritual good of others.

🎯 Theme: Love limits liberty—Christians must not use their freedom in ways that harm the faith of others or dishonor the gospel.

🌀 Reflection: We live in a world obsessed with personal rights, but Christ calls us to prioritize the spiritual health of others over our preferences. Real love lays down liberty for the sake of a brother or sister in Christ (vv. 15, 20).

💬 Mission Challenge: Consider someone in your life who may be struggling in their faith. Look for a way this week to build them up with grace and encouragement (v. 19), even if it means giving up a freedom you enjoy to help them grow in Christ.

#RomansChallenge | July 26 – 14:1-13

Click here for Romans 14:1-13 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

In the church at Rome, some believers were struggling over matters of conscience—like whether it was okay to eat certain foods or observe special days (vv. 2, 5). Paul calls those with stronger faith to welcome those who are weak in faith—not to argue over opinions (v. 1), but to walk in love. Whether someone eats or abstains, honors a special day or sees all days alike, what matters is that they do it in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God (v. 6).

We belong to Jesus in life and in death (v. 8), and each of us will give an account to God (vv. 10–12). That truth humbles us. Instead of judging each other, we’re called to stop putting stumbling blocks in the way of others (v. 13). Our unity in Christ matters more than our personal preferences or freedoms.

🎯 Theme: Believers must welcome one another in love, avoiding judgment and division over disputable matters of conscience.

🌀 Reflection: In a world that loves to argue and divide, the church is called to a higher standard—grace. Are your convictions anchored in honoring Christ, or are they a source of pride and judgment toward others? Love makes room for differences when Christ is the goal.

💬 Mission Challenge: This week, reach out to a believer whose practices or preferences differ from yours. Ask questions, listen with humility, and look for a way to honor Christ together—especially in front of a watching world (vv. 1, 3, 6, 13).

#RomansChallenge | July 25 – 13:1-14

Click here for Romans 13:1-14 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul reminds believers that God is ultimately in control—even over earthly governments. Christians are called to be subject to the governing authorities, because every authority is instituted by God (v. 1). To resist lawful authority is to resist God’s design, inviting judgment (v. 2). Government, when functioning rightly, serves to restrain evil and promote good (vv. 3–4). That’s why believers are to pay taxes and give honor and respect where it is due (vv. 6–7).

But Paul doesn’t stop with civil responsibility—he moves to our spiritual debt: love (v. 8). Loving others fulfills the law because it keeps us from doing wrong to our neighbors (vv. 9–10). And since the day is at hand and our salvation is nearer now than ever (v. 11), we must cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (v. 12). That means walking in holiness (v. 13) and clothing ourselves with the character of Christ, making no provision for sinful desires (v. 14).

🎯 Theme: God calls us to honor authority, love others, and live in the light of Christ’s return.

🌀 Reflection: Are you awake to the time you’re living in? With eternity drawing near, our lives should be marked by obedience, love, and holiness. Putting on Christ daily changes how we think, act, and engage the world.

💬 Mission Challenge: Reach out to someone who holds a different viewpoint—politically, culturally, or spiritually—and show them honor, not hostility. Let your love be genuine, and pray for an open door to share the hope you have in Christ (vv. 7–10, 14).

.

#RomansChallenge | July 24 – 12:9-21

Click here for Romans 12:9-21 audio:

Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.

Paul offers a rapid-fire list of what love looks like when it is genuine and rooted in Christ. He calls believers to abhor what is evil and hold fast to what is good (v. 9), to love one another with brotherly affection and outdo one another in showing honor (v. 10), and to serve the Lord with zeal and spiritual fervor (v. 11). Genuine love rejoices in hope, remains patient in tribulation, and perseveres in prayer (v. 12). It shares with the saints and extends hospitality (v. 13), blesses those who persecute us (v. 14), and walks in empathy and humility (vv. 15–16). Rather than seeking revenge or responding with evil, believers are called to live peaceably with all (v. 18), to leave vengeance to God (v. 19), and to overcome evil with good—even feeding our enemies if they are hungry (vv. 20–21).

🎯 Theme: Real love reflects Jesus in both devotion to others and kindness toward enemies.

🌀 Reflection: God’s mercy calls us not just to feel love, but to live it boldly and sincerely—even when it’s difficult. When we respond to hatred with kindness, we put the gospel on display.

💬 Mission Challenge: Intentionally bless someone who has wronged you or someone you find difficult to love—pray for them, serve them, or share the gospel with them as an act of overcoming evil with good (vv. 14, 20–21).

.