Scripture: Acts 1:8

Devotion

Knowing your location is important. Think about a map you have seen that gives you the layout of a mall, theme park, or hiking trail with a big “You are Here” marker.

This week, we have been focusing on our church’s mission statement, “Engaging the whole person with the whole gospel of Jesus Christ anywhere, anytime, with anybody.” Today we are focusing on the idea of “anywhere.”

As we look through Scripture, there is no limit of where we carry and declare the goodness of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words are clear: every follower of Jesus is supposed to carry Jesus with them into every place they go (John 13:35). In Acts 1, we see Jesus give His followers a similar charge as He did with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. The takeaway for us is that we are charged to “be [His] witnesses” (Acts 1:8) and to “Go…and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19).

When thinking about “engaging” people with the gospel, let’s think about the locations Jesus lists in Acts 1 in the following categories:

Jerusalem: home, our safe and comfortable places.

Judea: places that are well-traveled paths for us, such as work, school, practices, etc. Think about the places your weekly rhythms consistently take you.

Samaria: places we encounter people who we might tend to write off or think they are too far gone for salvation or God’s love.

Ends of the Earth: places where we may never visit, but still where people are who need Jesus.

Think about your location, that big “You are Here” marker on your life. Where has God placed you? God has placed you where you are so that you can share the gospel with those around you.

A Personal Prayer

Read Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15. Consider the places you’ve been and where you’ll go today. Make a list of individuals you’ve encountered or expect to interact with and pray specifically for each person — that God would draw them to Himself and open doors for gospel conversations. Ask God for wisdom and a renewed hunger for His Word so you may obediently follow His lead. Pray for an open heart to say, “Yes, I will follow,” wherever He directs.

Pray for Our Community: The Rising Church

The Rising Church, founded in 2019 by David and Samantha Layne, is a church plant that our church partners with. With a mission rooted in Ephesians 4, The Rising Church equips believers to grow in faith and become disciple makers. In 2024, they merged with Lincoya Hills Baptist Church, uniting their communities with a shared mission to see lives transformed through Christ.

Pray for continued growth and unity within The Rising Church, that their community would flourish and reach more people for Christ in Middle Tennessee and beyond.

Ask God to bless Pastor David Layne, his wife Samantha, and the leadership team with wisdom and strength as they lead and equip the church.

Pray for the church’s mission to reach, raise, and send disciples, impacting lives and equipping believers to fulfill their callings.

Prayer for the Nations: Deaf Pathway

Deaf Pathway transforms lives by providing Bible translations in major sign languages, empowering Deaf individuals to share God’s message in their native languages. Through innovative visual storytelling, they aim to make Scripture accessible to Deaf communities worldwide.

Pray for wisdom and creativity for the translation team.

Ask God to bless the translation of 300 Bible passages to empower Deaf individuals.

Pray for Deaf communities in the across the world to engage deeply with God’s Word.