The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
Jesus is Risen!, Luke 24.1-49
The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the foundational truth of Christian faith, confirming his divine identity and the efficacy of his atoning sacrifice for humanity’s redemption. Christ’s resurrection validates all his teachings and promises, offering assurance that death has been conquered, and eternal life is available to all who believe. The disciples’ journey from confusion and disbelief to understanding and conviction demonstrates how encountering the risen Christ transforms our perception of Scripture, history, and personal purpose. As modern believers, we are called to follow their example by allowing the reality of the resurrection to illuminate our understanding of Scripture, shape our worldview, and empower us to bear witness to this transformative truth in our daily lives.
Our Focus Today
The Return to Jerusalem.
The two disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem to share their experience of the risen Savior with the eleven apostles and others, learning that Jesus had also appeared to Simon Peter, Luke 24.33-35.
Invocation
Lord Jesus, as you reveal yourself to us in countless ways, create in us pure and open hearts that burn with recognition of your presence. Give us also the feet that hasten to share what you show us with our brothers and sisters in faith. Grant us the urgent conviction of those Emmaus disciples who valued testimony over comfort, understanding that our encounters with you are meant to be shared for the strengthening of the faith of your people. Give us generous hearts to share our individual experiences of you with others, and may our experiences help create a tapestry of witness that confirms you as our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Wednesday: 2 Chronicles 7; 1 Kings 9.1-14
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Wednesday: Psalm 23, 53, 83, 113, 143 and Proverbs 23
The Return to Jerusalem.
The two disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem to share their experience of the risen Savior with the eleven apostles and others, learning that Jesus had also appeared to Simon Peter, Luke 24.33-35.
Reflection
Genuine encounters with the risen Christ naturally compel believers to seek community and share their testimony with others who are also experiencing God’s revelation. The convergence of independent witnesses to Christ’s resurrection—Peter’s encounter and the Emmaus experience—demonstrates how God often confirms his truth through multiple testimonies, building collective faith through shared experiences. Just as the disciples’ burning hearts gave way to burning feet that hastened to share their revelation, our own spiritual insights and encounters with Christ are not meant for private consumption but should propel us toward fellowship and testimony with other believers. We are called to add our witness to the collective testimony of faith.
Engaging God’s Word Today
When is the last time you would say that you experienced a significant spiritual insight or encounter with Christ? How does your experience with your Christian community help you to share your testimony, and strengthen their faith in Christ as well?
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the same God who reveals himself to his people in unexpected ways, kindle within us burning hearts that perceive his presence. Grant to us also the willing feet that help us to carry your revelation of him to others. Give us the courage to share our testimony of God’s work in our life with our neighbors, friends, and family, adding our witness to the chorus of voices that have faithfully declared, “The Lord has risen indeed.” Help us to share your Good News with the urgency of those who have seen the Lord, knowing that your Gospel still saves those who believe it. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
Psalm 1.1-3 (ESV):
1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
4 In all that he does, he prospers.”
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading and Reflection
“If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Focusing on the overall system, rather than a single goal, is one of the core themes of this book. It is also one of the deeper meanings behind the word atomic. By now, you’ve probably realized that an atomic habit refers to a tiny change, a marginal gain, a 1 percent improvement. But atomic habits are not just any old habits, however small. They are little habits that are part of a larger system. Just as atoms are the building blocks of molecules, atomic habits are the building blocks of remarkable results.
Habits are like the atoms of our lives. Each one is a fundamental unit that contributes to your overall improvement. At first, these tiny routines seem insignificant, but soon they build on each other and fuel bigger wins that multiply to a degree that far outweighs the cost of their initial investment. They are both small and mighty. This is the meaning of the phrase atomic habits—a regular practice or routine that is not only small and easy to do, but also the source of incredible power; a component of the system of compound growth.”
~ Clear, James, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Penguin Random House UK, 2018. Electronic Edition, Location 392.
Seedling Focus for the Season: The Tree Planted by Streams of Water
Description: A spiritually mature believer bears fruit in all circumstances and seasons of life, Psalm 1.1-3.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
Worthy Is the Lamb Who Was Slain, Revelation 5.11-14.
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