...I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
It is not uncommon for those who read the Bible to claim a sentence or two as their “life verse”–one that gives their life purpose, direction, or meaning. Yet, the Bible has much more to say about life than just the sentences that we post on our walls and our social media. It invites us to a perspective that exceeds the boundaries set by our ego and interests.
During this 8-week small group devotional, we will explore various ways life is discussed throughout the Old and New Testaments. We will explore the implications of those ideas on our understanding of what it means to live and to be alive. We will consider how this shapes our perspective, our words, and our actions concerning the world around us.
We invite you join us in-person or online as we explore these ideas together. You can even follow along with your friends, family, or local church.
As a personal devotional this will encourage introspection and self- discovery. Our hope is that these readings and reflections will turn into life altering conversations with family and friends.
This devotional is ideal for group reflection and discussion. These don't have to be formal small groups. Explore these readings with your family or with your friends.
Signups available August 14, 2022.
The devotional is not exclusive to New Hope Community Church in Aptos, CA. Other churches are welcome to join us in rediscovering the invitation to becoming a community known by our love.
Each week’s devotion will be available on Sundays at Noon Pacific starting on September 11, 2022 and concluding the week of October 30, 2022.
Life is amazing, although its building blocks are surprisingly common. Humans are made of the same elements found throughout Earth and the universe: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc.
The tree of life stood at the beginning—in the center of the garden from which humanity emerged. It did not provide food, yet it provided life.
Lack sells. Before we can convince someone to buy what we’re selling, we must convince them they are lacking it and suffering for it . . . or soon will be.
Our words can either promote or pervert justice. They can preserve or endanger lives through the actions or inactions they provoke. We truly have the power of life and death in the words we choose.
Fear is an effective motivator, yet it takes more than it gives. It may get our kids or our pets to comply, but it compromises trust and intimacy in the relationship.
Two voices call out to us along our way: Wisdom and Folly. They each promise us something better, something we lack, something we desire.
Our compassion for victims is often limited by two factors: how vulnerable and innocent we think they are and whether we see them as a threat.
What we believe frames how we see the life we’ve lived, the life we’re living, and the life ahead: the triumphs and the tragedies, the unexplainable and the unimaginable.
We will be hosting in-person and online small groups that will be going through this 8-week devotional. If you are interested, sign ups begin August 14!
Campus Pastor: Ed Delfin
Administrative Pastor: Cisco Lopez
Author: Scott Olson Jr
Editor: Shannon Olson
Website/Graphic Design: Scott Olson Jr
Promotional Image: Canva
Have a question? Do you have a prayer request? Need help or guidance? Whatever you need, we are here to listen.
We would love to hear from you!
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