Listening is essential to our relationship to God. The Hebrew word for listen is SHEMA. In Hebrew culture, there is an expectation to respond to what one hears. It was a listen AND obey scenario. Listen AND act. In fact, in ancient Hebrew, there is no separate word for listen and obey- they were just two sides of the same coin.

In today’s passage in Isaiah, we see what happens not only when we listen, but also when we don’t listen. What’s the cost of not listening to God? Abiding peace and intimate relationship with Him. But God is a God of redeeming grace. He has hope for us and a better plan for us.

When we DO listen to God, we experience a new thing- joy and peace that lasts. How do we do that? Accepting Jesus as Lord of our lives is the first step. Next is a daily commitment to listen to God. James 1:22-25 encourages us to digest, understand, and obey the word of God. Jesus, our Good Shepherd trains us to listen to His voice. Henri Nouwen says that, “Jesus’ life was a life of obedience. He was always listening to the Father, always attentive to his voice, always alert for his directions. Jesus was ‘all ear.’ THAT is true prayer: being all ear for God. The core of all prayer is indeed listening, obediently standing in the presence of God.

How can we listen every day?

1. Pray for others
2. Study God’s word
3. Serve others

“Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends…” Henri Nouwen

“A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer listening.” Soren Kierkegaard

When we begin to listen, it becomes easier to hear that faint, small voice. God is always there. We always have a chance to listen to Him.

Let’s start with what the Kingdom of God is not. It is not any modern nation, not Republican or Democrat. It is not Christian Nationalism. We don’t build, bring, or extend the Kingdom of God. But instead:

• Jesus’ coming brought the Kingdom of God
• The Kingdom of God starts small and spreads everywhere
• The Kingdom of God is where God sets things right
• The Kingdom of God is here… but it is also coming
• The Kingdom of God is a gift

We enter, receive, and inherit the Kingdom of God.

We are not the heroes of the kingdom and we are not the King. We belong to the King and we enter the Kingdom of God when we are faithful and serving and embodying Jesus’ teaching. When we are following Jesus’ mission, purpose, and plan, we are in the Kingdom of God.

There Was Darkness: Jesus’ Death and Burial

Weekly Devotional 6.30.2025

“Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn?…In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.” Amos 8:8-9

When Jesus was crucified, several cosmic events occurred that underscored the significance of that moment and helped those who witnessed it finally understand who Jesus was. The darkness across the land and the great earthquake not only symbolized God’s righteous anger but also displayed His divine judgment and wrath on sin. These events, along with references to David, the fulfillment of the suffering servant prophecies, the tearing of the temple veil, and the resurrection of the saints, all pointed to one thing: truly, Jesus was the Son of God. When we consider the significance of everything that just happened, as well as the events that would follow in three days and thereafter, one cannot help but make the same profession of faith that Jesus is Lord and seek to affirm, honor, and glorify the crucified Christ.

June 22, 2025 - Dr. Jeff Raines

What is the Gospel? - Romans 1:1-7

What is the gospel?

In Greek gospel means good news and here in the book of Romans Paul is laying out this theology in a systematic way. So how does the gospel, this good news, come and how is it shared? According to N.T. Wright in his book, “Simply Good News”:

1. It comes to a historical context of need, despair/hopelessness. Jesus is the good news. He came into history at a time where there had been great longing for God to act, to remove the oppressionive forces.

2. It promises a wonderful future that had been out of reach. Jesus brings the promise of heaven and abundant, eternal life. In Revelation 21:3-5it says, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eye. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things has passed away.”

3. In the meantime, we live with hope and excitement for what is coming. We are called to a different kind of living in the meantime. We live with hope. We know the outcome is assured.

What do we do with this good news? We share it. Like the woman at the well after realizing Jesus was indeed the Messiah, she runs into the village and tells everyone about her encounter with the Living Water.

So how do we understand our story, our experiences with the Good News and how do we share it?

Mocking the King: Jesus’ Trial and Crucifixion

Weekly Devotional 6.23.2025

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” Galatians 3:13

Towards the end of Jesus’s earthly ministry, the religious leaders’ plan was always to swiftly condemn and execute Him (Matt. 26:1-5). The late evening trial and false witnesses served as methods to expedite His death sentence. When the crowds testified against Jesus and mocked Him, oppressing and afflicting Him, He remained silent and endured their actions as the Suffering Servant (Isa. 53:7). They were witnessing the prophecies about the Messiah unfold. Still, their religiosity and political loyalty blinded them from seeing who Jesus truly was.

Today we’re looking at a letter from Paul to the church in Corinth. The Corinthian church was like a rebellious teenager- they thought they knew it all and that Paul wasn’t measuring up. Corinth was a thriving metropolis and they thought highly of themselves. They were very superficial- just like us. We judge people for their looks and what they have. We are image obsessed.

It’s easy to lose heart and be discouraged, but Paul sets out his hope in these passages. What drives Paul is not the approval of the Corinthian people - it’s the message of the Gospel he brings.

“But we have these treasures in jars of clay…”

It’s not important for Paul to look important. We are simply clay pots- chipped and broken- it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Our jar is our body and soul and the treasure is the Spirit of God within us.

This is a great reminder for us that:

1. We don’t have to be perfect
2. We have strength in our weakness

Jesus faced opposition in life and Paul did as well, so we can expect it. But we can look to that treasure in our life for strength. Paul was able to look back and realize that he was pressed and distressed, but not destroyed even though it may have felt like it at the time. Maybe you’re in the middle of it and “perplexed” and “distressed” really captures how you feel right now. If you’re asking God why, this passage can remind us that difficulty doesn’t mean that we’re on the wrong track. Don’t give up. Don’t lose heart. In fact, the things you pass through now, God can redeem and use later on.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’…” 2 Corinthians 12:19

My Betrayer is at Hand: Betrayal and Arrest

Weekly Devotional 6.16.2025

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10

This week, we look at Jesus’ betrayal. Judas doesn’t regard Jesus as the Lord, Messiah, or Savior, but merely a religious teacher. The Lord of Judas’ life is money and greed, not the person and work of Christ. He stole from the money bag, questioned Jesus’ motives about the oil, and ultimately betrayed Him. Instead of facing his betrayal and guilt the right way, Judas hanged himself. Judas regretted, but never repented. Our heart's desire shouldn’t be wealth and power, acquired through betrayal and greed; it should be seeking the glorious riches found only in Christ.

Today is a big day on the church calendar: Pentecost.

There are two groups in Acts 2, the early days after the resurrection.

The first group is the disciples of Jesus who were asking “What’s next?” “Is this the end?” Jesus tells them the timing of the end is not for them to know, but they are to be witnesses and to make disciples, to wait and to pray. That is also our job as disciples of Jesus now!

Pray for direction in your life, pray for people to know Jesus, pray for the healing you need, for our city and our nation, for the violent places in the world. We start by waiting and praying which lays the groundwork for what God will do next in our lives.

In Acts 2, we see tongues of fire and a miracle of languages coming over the disciples. The tongues of fire mirror the pillar of fire that led the Hebrew people through the wilderness to the promised land in Exodus. The understanding of different languages is a reversal of the Tower of Babel and the confusion of languages. God’s Spirit is at work!

The second group in this story is the crowd, jeering and saying that these disciples have had too much wine.

Peter then stands up and preaches about and explains what is happening, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God has arrived in Jesus Christ.

As disciples of Christ, we WITNESS to this outpouring of the Spirit, that Jesus is alive, that the Kingdom of God has arrived in Jesus Christ.

“When it comes to Pentecost, it is far more important that you are out there in the wind and letting it sweep through your life and your heart and your imagination and your powers of speech and transform you from a listless or lifeless believer into someone whose heart is on fire with the love of God.” NT Wright

Which group are you in? The disciples or the crowd? Either way, there are action steps for both groups:

Disciples: witness, wait and pray

Crowd: repent and be baptized

Three thousand believers were added to the followers of Jesus that day in Acts chapter 2!

We are either a missionary or a mission field.

May the Spirt of God move and blow through our lives, transforming us. The Spirit of God burns through our complacency and the walls that we’ve built, to love the world that Jesus died for. Are you ready to let the Spirit lead your life?

The Gospel invites us in. If you’ve never turned to Jesus, you’re invited turn from your sins and follow Jesus’ way!

Where are you this Pentecost?