category
Search by topic, scripture, category etc..
106 Results in 896ms
Display
Sorted By
-
liturgy
Creator of heaven and earth, you have
Creator of heaven and earth, you have studded the sky with stars and made it bright with lights, enriched the earth with fruits to satisfy our needs, given to humankind the clear light and the shining... -
liturgy
Adapted from the Parable of the Sower
Pastor: “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what wa... -
liturgy
Lord Jesus–You’ve come, are coming and
Lord Jesus–You’ve come, are coming and will come again. Whether we know it or not, we live on the edge of Your advent every moment of every day either with anticipation or with anxiety. As if stumblin... -
illustration
The Fruit Comes at the End
In the growth cycle of fruit-bearing plants, fruit comes at the very end. The cycle starts with a seed being planted in the ground. When watered, the seed will break open and begin to put down roots. ... -
Quote
Work and let him give the fruits therefore! Rule, and let him prosper it! Battle, and let him give victory! Preach, and let him make hearts devout!” -
liturgy
Prayer for Agriculture
Almighty God, we thank you for making the earth fruitful, so that it might produce what is needed for life: Bless those who work in the fields; give us seasonable weather; and grant that we may all sh... -
Quote
You don’t turn from sin to get saved. You get saved to turn from sin. -
Quote
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing. Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown, that we may be fed with the bread of life. Gather the hopes and dreams of... -
illustration
The Wisdom of Dormancy
Sabbath honors the necessary wisdom of dormancy. If certain plant species, for example, do not lie dormant for winter, they will not bear fruit in the spring. If this continues for more than a season,... -
liturgy
A Prayer of Absolution for the Overchallenged
Good God, We have a lot going on. You are a God of grace, And we are made in your likeness. Let us then be people of grace. Meet our human concerns with the fruit of your Spirit: Love for ourselves... -
Quote
Looking through the lens of Holy Scripture, human work must be seen first and foremost as value contribution, not economic compensation. We can have a flourishing, fruitful life even if we don’t get a... -
illustration
Cultivating Blessing Through Our Work
Looking through the lens of Holy Scripture, human work must be seen first and foremost as value contribution, not economic compensation. We can have a flourishing, fruitful life even if we don’t get a... -
liturgy
Gracious God, thank you for the gift of
Gracious God, thank you for the gift of work. There are times when we experience work along the lines of your intentions, when work is fulfilling and fruitful. For these moments we thank you. Yet, we... -
illustration
Tolstoy and The Goodness of Physical Labor
We get a feel for the goodness of working as creatures with bodies in Leo Tolstoy’s classic Anna Karenina . In the novel, Constantine Dmitrich Levin is a wealthy landowner in nineteenth-century R... -
illustration
Parenting is Part of My Work
There have been times in my life when I’ve wondered if I have failed to accomplish what God intended for me in my professional life. I have worried that I have not lived up to my potential. I judge my... -
illustration
The Perfect Soil for Winemaking
My first call to ministry was in Eastern Washington state. It turned out to be one of the most prolific winemaking regions in the country. One of the things I learned from a local winery was really qu... -
liturgy
Adapted from Psalm 128 & Colossians 3
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. And [w]hatever you do, work at it with all your h... -
Quote
The seed of God is in us. Given an intelligent and hard-working farmer, it will thrive and grow up to God, whose seed it is; and accordingly its fruits will be God-nature. Pear seeds grow into pear tr... -
Quote
To speak of sin without grace is to minimize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the fruit of the Spirit, and the hope of shalom. -
Quote
It is our best work that God wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. I think he must prefer quality to quantity. -
liturgy
O most merciful Father, who has blessed
O most merciful Father, who has blessed the labors of the farmer in the return of the fruits of the earth; we give you humble and hearty thanks for this their bounty; asking you to continue your lovin... -
liturgy
Prayer for the Festival of Harvest
Almighty and most merciful Father, giver of every good and perfect gift, we give you thanks for blessing us so richly with your good Word and the holy Sacraments, and supplying so abundantly all our d... -
illustration
Becoming a Tiller of Soil
One of my favorite sections of Home Depot is the power garden tool department. Even though I have all the tools I need, I still like browsing through Home Depot’s collection of power mowers, chainsaws... -
liturgy
God blessed them, and God said to them,
God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth' Lord be with those who work and worship The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to ti... -
illustration
Creation Continued
The earth had been completely unformed and empty; in the six-day process of development God had formed it and filled it—but not completely. People must now carry on the work of development: by being f... -
illustration
Why We Resist a Less Hurried Life
A primary resistance to a less hurried way of life—a resistance I find in myself and in others—is the belief that “I won’t be as productive” or that “I will fail to seize the opportunities God sets be... -
illustration
Image Bearers in the Garden
If we are to be God’s image-bearers with regard to creation, then we will carry on his pattern of work. His world is not hostile, so that it needs to be beaten down like an enemy. Rather, its potentia... -
blog
Stewarding Our Work
Pastors work hard and those outside of ministry (and maybe within) may miss that it is labor , a job , their share in Adam's gift of work. We're excited to share this devotion from Kara M... -
liturgy
Spirit of the Living God—Fall afresh on
Spirit of the Living God—Fall afresh on us this day. Spirit of God present and powerful, Spirit of God fruitful and faithful, Spirit of God filling and fulfilling us as children of the Father and foll... -
liturgy
Gracious God, today we begin to pay
Gracious God, today we begin to pay attention to the fact that you rested on the seventh day. Somehow, you finished your work by resting. This seems odd to us, even contrary to how we think about work...
Page 1 of 4
Top Level Categories by Topic
A
- A Fresh Start
- A Meaningful Life
- Abiding in Christ
- Ability
- Abolition of Slavery
- Abraham
- Abundance
- Acceptance
- Accidents
- Achievement
- Actions
- Activities
- Adaptability
- Addiction
- Advent
- Adventure
- Adversity
- Advice
- Advocate
- Agnosticism
- Agriculture
- Aim
- Alcohol
- Ambassadors
- Ambition
- Angels
- Angry with God
- Anxiety
- Appreciation
- Apprehension
- Approval
- Arrogance
- Arts
- Assumptions about God
- Assurance
- Atheism
- Atonement
- Attacks
- Attention
- Authentic Faith
- Authority
- Avoidance
- Awareness of Sin
B
- Balance
- Baptism
- Baseball
- Bearing Fruit
- Beginnings
- Behavior
- Behavior Modification
- Being a Good Neighbor
- Being Enslaved To Sin
- Being Heard
- Being Humbled
- Being Known
- Being Lost
- Being vs. Doing
- Beliefs
- Believing in God
- Believing in Jesus
- Belonging
- Benefit of the Doubt
- Biblical Faithfulness
- Blameless
- Blessing
- Blessings
- Bold Prayers
- Bossing Others Around
- Bread
- Breakthrough
- Broken Families
- Brokenness
- Brothers and Sisters
- Brothers and Sisters in Christ
- Building
- Burdens
- Burning Bush
- Burnout
- Business
- Busyness
- The Bible
- The Body
- The Body of Christ
- The Bread of Life
C
- Cain and Abel
- Called by God
- Calling
- Calling On God
- Capitalism
- Captives
- Captivity
- Career
- Caregivers
- Cars
- Causes
- Celebrations
- Cemeteries
- Challenges
- Change
- Changing Ourselves
- Character
- Character Development
- Character Formation
- Character Transformation
- Cheating
- Child Development
- Childlike Faith
- Children
- Children of God
- Choices
- Christ and Culture
- Christ's Death
- Christ's Resurrection
- Christian Character
- Christian Community
- Christian Identity
- Christian Leadership
- Christian Liberty
- Christian Service
- Christian Values
- Christians
- Christmas
- Christmas Eve
- Chronic Illness
- Church and Power
- Church Attendance
- Church Conflict
- Church Health
- Church is the People
- Church Leaders
- Church Leadership
- Church Tradition
- Church Unity
- Churches
- Civility
- Clean Water
- Cleansing
- Climbing the Ladder of Success
- Coffee
- Coldness of Heart
- College
- College/Universities
- Comfort
- Comfort Zone
- Comforter
- Coming of the Kingdom
- Commandments
- Commerce
- Common Good
- Communication
- Communion
- Communion of Saints
- Community
- Community Development
- Compassion
- Compassion Fatigue
- Competence
- Competition
- Complaining
- Completion
- Complexity of Life
- Compromise
- Confession of Sin
- Confidence
- Conflict
- Congregation
- Connection
- Conscience
- Consequences
- Conservation
- Construction
- Consumerism
- Contemplation
- Contentment
- Contributions
- Controlling God
- Controversy
- Conversational Prayer
- Conversion
- Conviction of Sin
- Convictions
- Cookie-Cutter
- Core Beliefs
- Cost of Discipleship
- Courage
- Covenant
- Covenant Community
- Covid Pandemic
- Craftsmanship
- Created World
- Creation
- Creation (Human)
- Creation Care/The Environment
- Creativity
- Crises
- Criticism
- Crying Out To God
- Cultivation
- Culture
- The Christian Faith
- The Cross
D
- Danger
- Dangers of Religion
- Dangers of Success
- Dangers of Technology
- Dead In Christ
- Deadlines
- Death
- Death Has No Power
- Death of a Loved One
- Debt
- Debt of Sin
- Deception
- Dedication
- Deliverance
- Dependence
- Dependence on God
- Dependence on Others
- Depression
- Desire
- Desire for God
- Desires
- Despair
- Destructive Behavior
- Determination
- Development Work
- Devil
- Devotion
- Difficult People
- Digital Age
- Dignity
- Disability
- Discernment
- Discipleship
- Discipline
- Discovery
- Dishonesty
- Dissent
- Distortion
- Distraction
- Divine Intervention
- Divine Love
- Division
- Divisions
- Doubt
- Doubts
- Dreams
- Drive
- Dust
- Dysfunction
E
- Earthiness
- Economics
- Education
- Elderly People
- Emotions
- Encouragement
- Endurance
- Enemies
- Enemy
- Enjoyment
- Entrepreneurship
- Equality
- Eternal Life
- Ethics
- Evangelicalism
- Evangelism
- Example
- Excellence
- Exclusion
- Exhaustion
- Existence
- Existence of God
- Expectations of Children
- Experience
- Experiencing God
- Expressing Emotions
- The Earth
- The Epiphany
- The Exodus
F
- Failure
- Faith
- Faith and Doubt
- Faith and Prayer
- Faith in Action
- Faith in Christ
- Faith of the Church
- Faith Seeking Understanding
- Faith vs. Works
- Faithfulness
- Fallacies
- Fame
- Family
- Famine
- Farming
- Fathers
- Fatigue
- Favor of God
- Fear
- Feedback
- Financial Resources
- Financial Struggles
- Firm Belief
- Five Senses
- Fixing a Mistake
- Flourishing
- Focus
- Food
- Foolishness
- Football (American)
- Foreigners
- Forgiveness
- Forgiveness of Sin
- Formation
- Foundations
- Fragility of Life
- Free Will
- Freedom
- Freedom in Christ
- Friend of Sinners
- Fruit
- Fruit of the Spirit
- Fruitfulness
- Fulfillment
- Fullness of Life
- Fun
- Funerals
- Future
G
- Games
- Garden of Eden
- Gardening
- Gardens
- Gathering
- Generosity
- Genesis
- Genetics
- Getting Fired
- Gifts
- Giving
- Giving and Receiving
- Giving Freely
- Giving God the Glory
- Giving to the Poor
- Gladness
- Glory
- Goals
- God
- God Cares For You
- God the Creator
- God's Abundance
- God's Acceptance
- God's Anger
- God's Creation
- God's Design
- God's Forgiveness
- God's Gifts
- God's Goodness
- God's Hands
- God's Incomprehensibility
- God's Invitations
- God's Judgment
- God's Law
- God's Love
- God's Majesty
- God's Name
- God's Nearness
- God's Plans
- God's Power (Omnipotence)
- God's Presence
- God’s Presence
- God's Promises
- God's Protection
- God's Provision
- God's Pursuit
- God's Righteousness
- God's Truth
- God's Unfailing Love
- God's Voice
- God's Will
- God's Word
- God's Work
- God's Works
- Going to Church
- Golf
- Good Life
- Good Works
- Goodness of God
- Government
- Grace
- Grace vs. Works
- Graduation
- Gratitude
- Great Exchange
- Greatness
- Greatness of God
- Grief
- Growth
- Grumbling
- Guidance
- Guilt
- Guilty
- The Glory of God
- The Golden Rule
H
- Habits
- Hands
- Happiness
- Hard Work
- Hard-Heartedness
- Hardship
- Harmony
- Harvest
- Healing
- Healing the Past
- Healing Wounds
- Health
- Healthcare
- Hearing God
- Hearing our Prayers
- Hearing What We Want to Hear
- Heart
- Heart Change
- Hearts
- Heaven
- Help
- Helping the Poor
- Hiding Our Sin
- HIV/AIDS
- Holiness
- Holiness of God
- Holy Fire
- Homelessness
- Homogeneity
- Hope
- Hostility to God
- House
- Human Condition
- Human Creation
- Human Development
- Human Judgment
- Human Judgments
- Human Life
- Human Nature
- Human Qualities
- Humanity
- Humankind
- Humble Leadership
- Humble Living
- Humble Prayer
- Humble Service
- Humility
- Hunger
- Hurry
- Hustle
- The Holy Spirit
I
- Ideas
- Identity
- Idolatry
- Ignorance
- Ignoring God
- Illness
- Image Bearers
- Immigrants
- Impact
- Improvisation
- Inadequacy
- Infants
- Inheritance
- Initiative
- Injury
- Innovation
- Insecurity
- Inspiration
- Intercession
- Intercession of Jesus
- Intercessory Prayer
- Interdependence
- Interviews
- Intimacy
- Investments
- Invitation
- Israel
- The Image of God
- The Incarnation
- The Internet
J
L
- Labor
- Labor Day
- Lack of Control
- Lack of Forgiveness
- Lack of Leadership
- Law (Torah)
- Laziness
- Leaders
- Leadership
- Leadership Challenges
- Leadership Development
- Leadership Integrity
- Learning
- Learning from Your Mistakes
- Legacy
- Legalism
- Leisure
- Lent
- Liberation
- Lies
- Life
- Life after Death
- Life of Faith
- Life of Purpose
- Life Story
- Limitations
- Listening
- Listening to God
- Living
- Living for Christ
- Living Humbly
- Living Life
- Living Sacrifice
- Loans
- Loneliness
- Longing
- Longings
- Losing Control
- Losing Yourself
- Loss
- Love
- Love of Money
- Loving Kindness
- Loving Other Christians
- The Law
- The Lord's Prayer
- The Lord's Supper
- The Lordship of Christ
M
- Making a Difference
- Mammon
- Management
- Manna
- Marital Problems
- Marriage
- Martyrdom
- Mercy
- Message of the Bible
- Messages
- Mind
- Mind and Body
- Ministry
- Miracles
- Mission
- Missionaries
- Mistaken Identity
- Mistakes
- Misunderstanding
- Modern Life
- Modernity
- Monasticism
- Money
- Moral Choices
- Moral Failures
- Moses
- Motivations
- Motives
- Music
- Mystery of Life
- The Meaning of Life
- The Military
- The Mind of Christ
- The Morning
N
O
P
- Pain
- Palm Sunday
- Parenting
- Parents
- Passion
- Pastors
- Paths
- Patience
- Peace
- Peacemaking
- Penalty of Sin
- Perfection
- Perfectionism
- Performance
- Persecuted Church
- Persecution
- Perseverance
- Perseverance of the Saints
- Persistence
- Personal Agendas
- Perspective
- Persuasion
- Pharisaism
- Philosphy of Life
- Place
- Plans
- Play
- Pleasing God
- Pleasure
- Politics
- Poor
- Poor in Spirit
- Poverty
- Power
- Power and Weakness
- Power of Prayer
- Power of Sin
- Praise
- Praise Music
- Prayer
- Prayer Life
- Prayers for Funerals
- Preaching
- Preaching Christ
- Preparation
- Presence
- Preservation
- Presidents
- Price
- Pride
- Priesthood of All Believers
- Priorities
- Prisoners
- Private Faith
- Problem Solving
- Problems
- Procrastination
- Productivity
- Products
- Professionalism
- Progress
- Promises
- Prosperity
- Protection
- Proving the Existence of God
- Provision
- Pruning
- Psychology
- Public Faith
- Public Witness
- Punishment
- Punishment for Sin
- Purity
- Purpose
- Putting God in a Box
- The Passing of Time
- The People of God
R
- Rain
- Reading the Bible
- Real Estate
- Reality
- Reason
- Rebellion
- Receiving
- Receiving Forgiveness
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving God
- Receiving Grace
- Receiving Love
- Receiving Thanks
- Receiving the Gospel
- Receiving the Word
- Recognizing our Sin
- Reconciliation
- Redeemer
- Redemption
- Reflection
- Refugees
- Rejection
- Relationships
- Reliance on Others
- Religion
- Religion and Public Life
- Religions
- Religious Conflict
- Religious Liberty
- Religious Persecution
- Religious Practices
- Renewal
- Renewing our Minds
- Renouncing Faith
- Repentance
- Rescue
- Resilience
- Resistance
- Resisting Temptation
- Responsibility
- Rest
- Rest in God
- Restoration
- Resurrection
- Resurrection from Sin
- Resurrection of the Dead
- Retirement
- Retreat
- Returning to God
- Revelation
- Rewards
- Rhythms
- Rhythms of Rest
- Right and Wrong
- Right Relationships
- Righteous Indignation
- Righteousness
- Rock of Ages
- Role Models
- Roles
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Routines
- Rule of Life
- Running from Your Problems
- Running to God
- Rural Areas
- Ruthlessness
- The Resurrection and the Life
- The Rich
- The Risen Lord
S
- Sabbath
- Sacred vs. Secular
- Sacrifice
- Sacrificial Giving
- Salt and Light
- Salvation
- Salvation History
- Sanctification
- Satan
- Satan's Lies
- Saved by Grace
- Saving Faith
- Savior
- Schedules
- School
- Science
- Science and Religion
- Screens
- Scripture
- Search
- Searching for the Truth
- Seasons
- Secularism
- Security
- Seeds
- Seeking God
- Seeking Happiness
- Self-Acceptance
- Self-Achievement
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Deception
- Self-Discovery
- Self-Expression
- Self-Glory
- Self-Importance
- Self-Improvement
- Self-Indulgence
- Self-Justification
- Self-Knowledge
- Self-Love
- Self-Promotion
- Self-Reliance
- Self-Worth
- Selfishness
- Sending
- Sense of Humor
- Sense of Smell
- Sermon on the Mount
- Servant Leadership
- Servanthood
- Service
- Sexual Immorality
- Sexual License
- Shalom
- Shame
- Sharing the Gospel
- Sickness
- Signs
- Sin Management
- Sin Nature
- Sinfulness
- Sinners
- Sinners and Saints
- Sins
- Sins of the Church
- Slavery
- Sleeping In
- Sloth
- Slowing Down
- Social Justice
- Societal Problems
- Society
- Soil
- Soldiers
- Solitude
- Solutions
- Solving Problems
- Sorrow
- Sounds
- Sowing and Reaping
- Sowing Seeds
- Speech
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Spiritual Formation
- Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Leadership
- Spiritual Nurture
- Spiritual Practices
- Spiritual Problems
- Spiritual Transformation
- Spirituality
- Sports
- Spring (Season)
- Staying Humble
- Steadfast
- Steadfast Love
- Stewardship
- Stillness
- Storms
- Stranger
- Strength
- Stretching Experiences
- Stronghold
- Structures
- Struggles
- Struggles with Prayer
- Stuck
- Success
- Suffering
- Summer
- Sunday
- Surgery
- Surrender
- Sustainer
- The Saints
- The Sick
- The Soul
- The Spiritual Life
T
- Tabernacle
- Taking God for Granted
- Taking Stock
- Taking Up the Cross
- Targets
- Tasks
- Taste
- Taxes
- Teachers
- Teaching
- Team
- Teamwork
- Technology
- Temptation
- Ten Commandments
- Tenderness
- Terrorism
- Thankfulness
- Thanksgiving (General)
- Thanksgiving (Holiday)
- Theological Division
- Theology
- Theology of Work
- Thinking
- Thirst
- Thoughtfulness
- Thoughtlesness
- Throne of Grace
- Time
- TIme Management
- Timekeeping
- Tired
- Tithing
- Tongue
- Town
- Tradition
- Training
- Transformation
- Transgressions
- Transitions
- Translation
- Treasure
- Trees
- True Worship
- Trust
- Trust in God
- Truth
- Turning a Blind Eye
- Turning People Away from Jesus
U
W
- The Weak
- The Work of the Holy Spirit
- Wages of Sin
- Walls
- Wandering
- War
- Warning Signs
- Warnings
- Waste
- Wasting Time
- Weakness
- Weakness of Will
- Wealth
- Weariness
- Weather
- Weekend
- Weeping
- Welcoming
- Western Culture
- Wholeness
- Wickedness
- Wilderness
- Wine
- Wisdom
- Witnesses
- Wittiness
- Women
- Words
- Work
- Work and Rest
- Work-Life Balance
- Workaholism
- Workmanship
- Works-Righteousness
- World
- World Leaders
- World Peace
- Worldliness
- Worship
- Wrath
Y
Top_level_categories by Reference
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Deuteronomy
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Esther
Psalm
- Ps 1 (3)
- Ps 2 (3)
- Ps 8 (1)
- Ps 9 (2)
- Ps 13 (1)
- Ps 15 (4)
- Ps 16 (2)
- Ps 18 (1)
- Ps 19 (2)
- Ps 23 (5)
- Ps 25 (1)
- Ps 27 (4)
- Ps 30 (1)
- Ps 31 (1)
- Ps 32 (2)
- Ps 33 (1)
- Ps 34 (9)
- Ps 37 (4)
- Ps 41 (4)
- Ps 42 (5)
- Ps 46 (9)
- Ps 49 (2)
- Ps 51 (12)
- Ps 56 (1)
- Ps 60 (1)
- Ps 62 (2)
- Ps 63 (1)
- Ps 65 (2)
- Ps 67 (1)
- Ps 68 (1)
- Ps 72 (2)
- Ps 73 (5)
- Ps 78 (4)
- Ps 82 (2)
- Ps 85 (3)
- Ps 90 (11)
- Ps 91 (3)
- Ps 92 (1)
- Ps 95 (2)
- Ps 100 (5)
- Ps 103 (7)
- Ps 104 (3)
- Ps 106 (1)
- Ps 110 (1)
- Ps 115 (4)
- Ps 116 (2)
- Ps 118 (3)
- Ps 119 (12)
- Ps 121 (1)
- Ps 122 (2)
- Ps 126 (3)
- Ps 127 (9)
- Ps 128 (2)
- Ps 130 (2)
- Ps 131 (2)
- Ps 133 (4)
- Ps 136 (3)
- Ps 139 (16)
- Ps 141 (2)
- Ps 145 (1)
- Ps 146 (1)
- Ps 147 (2)
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Ezekiel
Joel
Amos
Zephaniah
Zechariah
Matthew
- Matt 1 (1)
- Matt 2 (2)
- Matt 3 (1)
- Matt 4 (10)
- Matt 5 (19)
- Matt 6 (20)
- Matt 7 (7)
- Matt 8 (2)
- Matt 9 (3)
- Matt 10 (2)
- Matt 11 (2)
- Matt 12 (3)
- Matt 13 (5)
- Matt 14 (4)
- Matt 15 (1)
- Matt 16 (8)
- Matt 17 (2)
- Matt 18 (5)
- Matt 19 (5)
- Matt 20 (1)
- Matt 21 (2)
- Matt 22 (2)
- Matt 23 (7)
- Matt 24 (1)
- Matt 25 (18)
- Matt 26 (1)
- Matt 27 (1)
- Matt 28 (2)