October 19, 2026

Psalm 84:3

3  Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

Ever feel like you don’t belong, like you got in by mistake? I’m sure medical students dream of being called Dr., but I bet they also feel a little scared to answer life-or-death questions. I know people dream of having children, but most parents are sure they don’t know what they’re doing. Imposter syndrome can hurt the Christian too. How can we say we, with all our sin, are God’s children?

The verse above describes the heart of God as the perfect host. Even the little swallow or sparrow has a special designated place for even the delicate task of raising young. Though God is so high above us, He is able to make you really ready to be with Him forever. Prayer Prompt: Lord, my soul longs to be with You forever.

Prayer Prompt: Please preach the gospel to me so I will desire You and trust Your ability to declare me clean!

October 17, 2026

Psalm 92:1-2

1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

Some say the secular person is embracing the reality of a world without God while the Christian escapes to our fantasy of something more. Are we like dads binging the NFL or teens with PS5s or moms with … chores? Or is there a deeper rest and worship involved?

The subtitle for Psalm 92 says it is a Song for the Sabbath. It models how we are to rest by enjoying God’s steadfast love and the works of His hands. The Psalmist wants God’s people to rest in a deeper reality than the one we see everyday. We don’t escape when we praise God, we remember what is more true than the violence, waywardness, and injustice of our world. Make sure to rest in the Lord today.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, Your steadfast love means I can slow down for a day and trust that You are in control.

October 16, 2026

Luke 19:5

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”

How do we know we’re okay? In this story, Jesus felt the press of a huge crowd in Jericho while an immoral, hated, and rather short tax collector climbed a tree to try to see him. When Jesus called to him, the ridiculous sinner felt not only the joy of seeing Jesus, but the much greater joy of acceptance. Zacchaeus knew he was okay.

Not long after, Jesus was taken by the crowd and nailed to a tree. Jesus, who alone among men could stand without sin before God's presence died as a cursed man. Why? He switched places with Zacchaeus. Jesus went from the center of everything to the tree so Zacchaeus, and you, could be forgiven and accepted and brought into the presence of God. Don’t answer your soul’s nagging question with anything less than the smile of Jesus telling you to come down and eat with Him.

Prayer prompt: Lord, please help me to accept and enjoy Your loving invitation.

October 15, 2026

1 Corinthians 12:11

11 All these [gifts] are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

My lovely wife’s brain is as different from mine as possible. We agree on everything that matters, the Lord, parenting, Utah, but when it gets down to how our brains actually work, we never approach anything the same way. She likes details, repetition, and knocking out tasks. I like thinking about why, trying something new, and letting my mind wander. You’d think that may make us frustrated with each other, but it’s led to a lot of laughs and a much bigger view of the world.

God has made His church with incredible diversity, many more than just the two notes in my marriage. Like keys on a piano, the different tones harmonize beautifully when played together. God weaves melodies and rhythm together through the Church to teach the world His song. We should joyfully embrace the humility required to enjoy His Church.

Prayer Prompt: Lord please teach me to value the people who frustrate me with their different ways of seeing the world and doing Your mission.

October 14, 2026

2 Corinthians 4:7-8

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

The world today is overwhelmingly perplexing. The speed of technological development changes the way we interact constantly and deeply. The speed of social change creates wild new questions for ethical considerations about categories as obvious and settled as mountains to previous generations. Add to that the everyday questions about speaking with love and wisdom to coworkers or spouses and you’ve got a very perplexing world.

We don’t despair when our knowledge is so small because the Lord planned to use our smallness to show His bigness. He can change a culture even with such limited servants. Take your big questions to the Lord and gain confidence in His good plan.

Prayer Prompt: Today, I don’t know what to do about this situation (trade the word “this” for a perplexing situation in your life.) Lord, please teach me to trust in You so that You increase and I decrease!

October 13, 2026

1 Corinthians 8:9

9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

When people think of Christianity, they may associate it with a list of rules and outlawed pleasures. But God only outlaws things that will turn pleasure into bitterness if used sinfully. Idols, sexual immorality, funny things that really are just grumbling hearts all have their appeal but don’t actually please. There are so many pleasures in the Christian life that the verse above actually warns us to give some up so that we might better serve those around us.

If that concept makes you mad, take a deep look at those around you. They aren’t just immature and in need of your help, they are brothers and sisters for whom Christ died. If there’s something you wouldn’t willingly set down for the love of a brother or sister in Jesus you may in fact be holding an idol. Thanks be to God for a little sibling who will knock it out of your hand!

Prayer Prompt: Lord, teach me to trust You to use even inconveniences to lead me away from sin and to true Pleasure!

October 12, 2026

1 Corinthians 6:12

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Simple pride hates to be dominated by anything. Our world makes it so easy to pretend, even if just to yourself, that you’re in charge: picking shows and movies from an unlimited list, rocketing around in your car anywhere you like, deciding on dinner from restaurants that serve whatever you like. Is our wealth and freedom deceiving?

As soon as we take up the idea that we rule all and can choose whatever we like, we open ourselves up to the lie that such things can’t rule us and can’t harm us. For instance, if you let sexual immorality in the door, even just extra glances or minimal scenes in shows you enjoy, you begin to be controlled by the desires such lust sets alight in your heart. Are you looking out for sins that may enslave your heart?

Prayer Prompt: Lord, please teach me to fear the things you call wicked that I might submit to You and no other lord.

October 10, 2026

1 Corinthians 6:15

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!

It’s crucial to understand how Paul argues against our acting out in sexual immorality. I really don’t want my dog getting around the neighborhood and finding lady dogs. We neutered the poor guy, but even so a promiscuous dog causes problems. A promiscuous spouse causes significantly bigger ones.

God consistently portrays us in Scripture not as His dog but as His spouse. Because He’s united Himself to us, when we give our favors to idols or practice physical sexual immorality we separate ourselves from Him. Take a hard look at your life today. Where do you need to walk away from things that anger your Holy God? What does it mean for Him to love you not like a favorite tool but as His very own spouse?

Prayer Prompt: Lord, teach me to look away from what will destroy me and look to the love You have for me!

October 9, 2026

1 Corinthians 1:10

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 

People are hard to live with but impossible to live without. An old German philosopher talked about our relationships like the relationships of porcupines in winter. It’s too cold to go off by yourself but trying to snuggle with another porcupine causes pain in both you and your prickly buddy. How do we overcome the pain and enjoy the warmth of relationships?

Paul makes it clear in these first commands. We are united by the name of Jesus Christ under His Lordship, united in His way of thinking. He made it clear that He loved us enough to be pierced, even by a spear and nails. Looking at that great love, we too decide to endure pain for the moment and enjoy love forever.

Prayer prompt: Lord, please make me closer with your people even if it hurts me and occasionally I hurt them. May Your name be honored as we unite around You!

October 8, 2026

2 Timothy 2:21

21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

We generally think of blindness as something that happens to a person through disease or accident. Well we should, who would ever choose it? Why would someone choose to shut out the light of the sun or the colors of the rainbow? Yet sin is a blindness we choose. Every time we give our thoughts or hearts to something God hates, we pretend to live in a world that doesn’t exist and shut out the one that does.

Put positively, doing things God’s way gives you a much better view of things God sees. We become more useful to the master of the house when we can see by His light rather than closing our eyes to His beauty. Open your life up to all the wonder of the grace of God and become a golden vessel of His love to the world.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, please help me obey and become more useful to You in Your work.

October 7, 2026

Ezekiel 37:4

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

I don’t know if there is a more weird and wonderful story in Scripture than that of Ezekiel preaching to the Valley of Dry Bones. God commands His prophet to go and prophesy to a massive, dry valley filled with the bones of warriors who died in some ancient battle. We may shiver or laugh at such an assignment, but Ezekiel probably got very emotional.

He had done much of his ministry to an Israel that was dead on the inside. He wanted them to turn, to repent like Nineveh and live, but no. Nothing greeted his ministry but death, deportation, and despair. Then, God told him to go and preach to the bones, just as he had been preaching to spiritual skeletons. As he preached, those bones had their corruption undone and then life breathed into them. We are a people of sin, but God is a God of restoration. Listen to His words today and live.

Prayer prompt: Lord, let me see my sin that I may turn to You for life.

October 6, 2026

Philippians 1:27

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Military tattoos on old men can look a little rough. That’s because they had deep meaning, if not a graceful style. I understand wanting a tattoo with fellow soldiers, people who suffered together in the defense of honorable things. It would be awesome to remember those heroic and difficult times and think about what drew them all together.

The Christian community is drawn together in the same way. We experience difficulty together as we pursue the same passion. We have one mind which is a mind fixed on the spectacular face of our Lord and His mission. We may not get a group tattoo, but we share the same scars as we carry the same cross. Look around at your brothers and sisters and celebrate those who strive with you!

Prayer Prompt: Lord, thank you for my family and the love we get to share.

October 5, 2026

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

The Bible is full of encouragement for the Christian. We are given God’s richest blessings while being called His children. How can God’s people fear when a God like Yahweh is watching out for us? It’s a very simple answer: we’re not sure we’re His people. How do we know He is for us and not, how chilling to think, against us?

The Thessalonians wondered the same thing. Unsure about the end times, they began to wonder about God’s love. Paul comes through with an amazing comfort for any believer, then or now. When you believed, you received God’s seal, His very presence, in the Holy Spirit. We are not God’s because our life is perfect or our faith is strong. If we believe, then we can trust Him to bring us home. Rest in that conviction today.

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me to remember the way you saved me so I will trust that you still love me.

October 3, 2026

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The Old Testament is full of the woe of Israel. They walked away from God so many times and their desertion always led to destruction. Even still, God didn’t abandon them. He continued to love them and restore them. Imagine leaving your spouse for another lover, being abused and left penniless and alone, only to be found by your spouse and invited back. Who would refuse such love and forgiveness?

That’s how absolutely mad the human heart is. In 2 Corinthians, Paul quotes Isaiah’s prophetic words to Israel to come back. God wants you to come back. Today is the day of salvation. Right now, His hand is stretched out to you. Won’t you take it? Won’t you live today with joy and a solid commitment to leave your idols?

Prayer prompt: Lord, I accept Your loving invitation to be Yours again.

October 2, 2026

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Is there any fundamental difference between the modern Christian and the ancient one? The first 11 Christians were sent out by Jesus, on foot, to convert the Roman Empire. What kind of Christianity empowers that kind of optimism? It would be like the kind of optimist that attempts to relocate a mountain one stone at a time.

And yet, the Christian faith does work. We labor in love, constant in hope, trusting that exactly that kind of miracle can happen. The early Christians had their eyes of faith open wide, staring fixedly at Jesus. They saw their master and believed what He said. Famously, Jesus promised us we could move mountains by faith. Time to begin a work of faith, a labor of love, today.

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me to see Jesus rather than my obstacles and get to work.

October 1, 2026

Malachi 3:10

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

It’s crazy to realize, but I’ve never preached a sermon on this verse. Yet every sermon at Hope Church has talked about what this verse addresses. God’s concern here isn’t with money. How could it be? He is promising to pour out blessing on those who give even 10% of their income. No, the verse cuts much deeper.

God wants you to trust Him and not yourself. You can never make enough to feel safe in this fallen world. You can never have enough stuff to feel truly happy. Trying to make your own name great leads to just one destination: destitution. Give enough to look away from your money and up to the Face who can make you truly glad.

Prayer prompt: Lord, I commit to give what will never satisfy so I can learn to trust what will always satisfy.

September 30, 2026

Deuteronomy 34:7

7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.

Saturdays and Mondays are close on the calendar, but what two days could be further apart? Saturday is full of late breakfasts, watching kids play sports, and having people over for dinner. Monday is just the opposite. It’s full of bleary eyes staring at screens as we try to bully our brains into doing something productive. I know which I prefer, but why? God has given us 6 days for work and only one for rest. How do we have a Moses-like energy that works with undimmed eyes for 120 years?

Moses knew the Lord. God gives us the Moses story to show what happens to someone who knows the Lord. The Lord gives you a vision of what the world should be and an invigorating energy to go bring it about. He brings you along with Him in the wild wonderful work He is doing in the world. Align your heart with His and Monday will have a new energy and purpose.

Prayer prompt: Lord, please bring me close so I can be helpful in Your mission and world.

September 29, 2026

Psalm 40:5

5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

There is this hanging command for Christians to make disciples all over the world. Most believers recoil at the job because of how difficult it is for a modern person to look at someone else and tell them that their ideas about God, good and evil, Heaven and Hell are either Christian or wrong. Convinced as we may be of Jesus, it feels almost violent to declare those convictions at someone else.

Verses like Psalm 40:5 turn evangelists from cavemen clobbering people with a club to crazy wealthy philanthropists dropping money on any and everyone. We do have truth for others to receive, but it is truth that transforms with its radical goodness. It is exactly what others need! Ponder God’s deeds towards you and be ready to tell someone else today.

Prayer prompt: Lord, Help me to declare Your wondrous deeds!

September 28, 2026

Zephaniah 3:16b-17

16 … “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

God commands us, “let not your hands grow weak.” I don’t want to be slow or weak in the work I do for the Kingdom. I want strong hands that know their work. I want to have a bricklayer or a shepherd’s hands as we build God’s house and care for His people. How do we work without growing weak?

We have the Lord. Our work won’t be in vain, He is in our midst and He will save. He doesn’t stand among us like a task master, waiting on our missteps with a whip. He rejoices over us with gladness. He doesn’t allow our weeping and pain to continue forever; He will quiet us with His love. He rejoices over you with LOUD singing. Look at His love and work joyfully!

Prayer prompt: Lord, teach me to work hard because I see Your joy over me.

September 26, 2026

Zephaniah 3:14-15

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.

What would a life without fear look like? Looking out on a world without any threats would almost be Heaven by itself. We fear the future, the past, and the present. We fear the judgment, the anger, the sneers, and maybe most of all the indifference of the people around us. We fear because we’re guilty and guilty people always fear being caught.

The Christian joy comes from being freed, not only from enemies, but from the judgment of God Himself. True rejoicing comes when we look all the way up to the highest Judge and see that He has taken away the judgments. On that face is not a frown, but a smile. Now He is in our midst, and we shall never fear again.

Prayer prompt: Lord, I look to You to be free of judgment and free forever of fear.