Daily Devotional
January 8, 2025
Genesis 8: God remembers Noah, causing the floodwaters to recede; Noah sends a dove, which returns with an olive leaf, signaling dry land.
Matthew 8: Jesus heals a leper and a paralytic, showcases his authority over nature, and emphasizes the cost of discipleship.
Ezra 8: Ezra leads Israelites back to Jerusalem, secures royal support and donations for temple services, and ensures religious practices are re-established.
Acts 8: Early church faces persecution; Philip evangelizes in Samaria and converts an Ethiopian official who is baptized.
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In this reflective episode of Sermon Notes, host Jay Strother and guest Brian Ball explore the profound journey through the Bible, culminating with the study of 1-3 John and Revelation. They dive into John's writings, emphasizing themes of fellowship, love, and divine sovereignty, and discuss the distinct style of Revelation as a unifying revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Daily Devotional
January 7, 2025
Genesis 7: Noah and his family enter the ark with pairs of all living creatures as God begins the flood, which lasts for forty days and nights, destroying all life except for those in the ark.
Matthew 7: Jesus teaches about the importance of non-judgment, prayer, and discernment, emphasizing the need for genuine faith and actions that reflect a true relationship with God, concluding with the parable of the wise and foolish builders.
Ezra 7: Ezra arrives in Jerusalem with a royal decree from King Artaxerxes, authorizing him to ensure the observance of the Law of Moses and providing resources for temple worship and offerings.
Acts 7: Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, defends his faith before the Sanhedrin, recounting Israel’s history and accusing them of resisting God; he becomes the first Christian martyr after seeing a vision of Jesus at the right hand of God.
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Daily Devotional
January 6, 2025
Genesis 6: As humanity's wickedness escalates, God decides to cleanse the earth with a flood, sparing only Noah, a righteous man, who is commanded to build an ark for his family and pairs of every living creature.
Matthew 6: Jesus teaches on sincere practices of giving, praying, and fasting, emphasizing privacy in devotion and trust in God over material anxieties, culminating in the principle to seek God’s kingdom above all else.
Ezra 6: Darius confirms Cyrus's decree to rebuild the temple; the construction is completed with Persian support and culminates in a joyful dedication and the Passover celebration by the returned exiles.
Acts 6: The early church addresses internal disputes by appointing seven men to serve, ensuring the apostles can focus on teaching; Stephen, full of grace and power, performs wonders but faces accusations of blasphemy.
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Daily Devotional
January 5, 2025
Genesis 5: This chapter lists the genealogy from Adam to Noah, emphasizing the longevity of the pre-flood generations and highlighting Enoch's unique relationship with God, who "took him" rather than him experiencing death.
Matthew 5: Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, introducing the Beatitudes, teaching on the fulfillment of the Law, and providing new interpretations on issues like anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love for enemies, calling His followers to a higher standard of righteousness.
Ezra 5: The rebuilding of the temple resumes under the prophetic encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah, despite inquiries and challenges from local governors, leading to an official investigation by King Darius about the legitimacy of the Jewish claims to rebuild.
Acts 5: Ananias and Sapphira face divine judgment for lying to the Holy Spirit, the apostles perform many signs and wonders, face imprisonment and a council trial, but are miraculously freed and advised by Gamaliel to continue their ministry despite opposition, rejoicing in their suffering for Christ.
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Daily Devotional
January 4, 2025
Genesis 4: Cain, out of jealousy and anger, murders his brother Abel and is subsequently cursed by God to be a restless wanderer, leading to the beginnings of his lineage and the progression of human civilization through his descendants.
Matthew 4: Jesus withstands Satan's temptations in the wilderness, begins His public ministry in Galilee by calling His first disciples and performing various miracles, drawing large crowds from across the region.
Ezra 4: The rebuilding efforts of the Jewish exiles face opposition from local inhabitants and political intrigue, resulting in a halt to the construction of the temple until the reign of King Darius of Persia.
Acts 4: Peter and John are arrested for healing a lame man and preaching about Jesus but stand firm before the Sanhedrin, leading to a prayer for boldness among the believers and a united community that shares everything in common.
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Daily Devotional
January 3, 2025
Genesis 3: The serpent deceives Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, leading to the fall of man, resulting in curses for the serpent, Eve, and Adam, and their eventual expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
Matthew 3: John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus by preaching repentance, baptizing in the Jordan River, and ultimately baptizing Jesus, marking the commencement of Jesus' ministry with divine affirmation.
Ezra 3: The returned exiles rebuild the altar and begin sacrifices despite their fears, celebrate the Festival of Booths, and lay the foundation of the temple amid mixed reactions of joy and weeping from the community.
Acts 3: Peter heals a lame man at the temple gate, which astonishes the onlookers and provides Peter an opportunity to preach about Jesus' power and the necessity of repentance and faith in Him.
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Daily Devotional
January 2, 2025
Genesis 2: God completes His creation, resting on the seventh day, and forms man and woman, placing them in the Garden of Eden with a command not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Matthew 2: After the birth of Jesus, wise men visit from the East to worship Him, Herod seeks to kill Him leading to the holy family's flight to Egypt, and Herod's massacre of the infants in Bethlehem fulfills prophetic warnings.
Ezra 2: The returned exiles from Babylon, led by Zerubbabel and other leaders, are listed by family and occupation, highlighting the communal effort to rebuild Jerusalem and restore the temple, with offerings made for the reconstruction.
Acts 2: The Holy Spirit descends on the apostles at Pentecost, enabling them to speak in diverse tongues and preach boldly about Jesus, leading to the conversion and baptism of about three thousand people and the establishment of a communal, worshipful, and growing church.
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Daily Devotional
January 1, 2025
Genesis 1: God creates the heavens, the earth, and all living things in six days, declaring everything good and resting on the seventh.
Matthew 1: The genealogy of Jesus traces His lineage from Abraham to David and through the exile to Joseph, culminating in the miraculous announcement of His birth to Mary.
Ezra 1: King Cyrus of Persia issues a decree for the exiles of Judah to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling God's promise through Jeremiah.
Acts 1: Jesus ascends into heaven, commissioning His disciples to be His witnesses as they prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
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In this reflective episode of Sermon Notes, host Jay Strother and guest Brian Ball explore the profound journey through the Bible, culminating with the study of 1-3 John and Revelation. They dive into John's writings, emphasizing themes of fellowship, love, and divine sovereignty, and discuss the distinct style of Revelation as a unifying revelation of Jesus Christ.
Read Article
GOSPEL CONVERSATION OPPORTUNITY The Gift of the Bible! We have read through the entire Bible! Congratulations! I hope you have seen that the Bible is...
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Daily Devotional
December 28, 2024
In Revelation 19-22, heaven rejoices over the defeat of evil with cries of "Hallelujah," as the narrative culminates in the majestic return of Christ as the conquering king, followed by the binding of Satan, the reign of the saints, and the final judgment. The vision concludes with the unveiling of a new heaven and earth, where God dwells with humanity in the radiant New Jerusalem, promising eternal life and healing to all nations.
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