News on Captives

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The Forgotten French Soldier

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Scripture

Psalm 142:4-5, Isaiah 49:15-16, Psalm 34:18, Hebrews 4:15, Matthew 28:20, John 14:18, Romans 8:38-39, Lamentations 3:21-23, Psalm 40:1-12

This story is probably apocryphal, but conveys a truth nonetheless. During the early 19th century, following the Napoleonic Wars, a French soldier was captured and imprisoned. He was thrown into a...

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The Messenger Pigeon

Author

Billy Graham

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Scripture

Genesis 8:6-12, 1 Kings 17:2-6, Isaiah 40:31, Matthew 3:16 , Psalm 55:6, Acts 10:9-16

Many years ago a great Arctic explorer started on an expedition to the North Pole. After two long years in the lonely northland, he wrote a short message, tied it under the wing of a carrier pigeon, a...

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Hear the good news! Who is in a

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

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Scripture

Romans 8:34

Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. (Romans 8:34, Phillips) Leader: Friend...

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Author

N. T. Wright

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Scripture

Ephesians 4:3-6, Romans 9:30-32, Acts 15:7-9, John 10:16, Colossians 3:11, Acts 28:28, Acts 14:27, Ephesians 3:8-10, Romans 3:29, Galatians 3:28, Acts 10:1-48, Romans 15:9-12, Romans 11:11, John 3:16, Luke 13:29, Ephesians 3:6, Romans 1:16, Revelation 7:9

Paul’s insight that Gentiles are co-heirs, co-members, and co-participants in the gospel is not a mere sociological adjustment—it is a radical theological revelation.

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We affirm the good news that this

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

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Scripture

1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 6:11

We affirm the good news that this saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He personally bore our sins in His body on the cross, s...

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Merciful God, you have moved and

Author

Laura B. Murray

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Merciful God, you have moved and changed our lives in amazing ways, yet we have kept these stories to ourselves. We confess the times we have kept these stories to ourselves out of fear of rejection a...

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Hear the Good News! The saying is sure

Author

Darren Pollock

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Scripture

1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Peter 2:24, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8

Hear the good news! The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to...

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Hear the good news: For the joy set

Author

Jacob Traeger

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Scripture

Isaiah 53:5, Romans 5:8, John 14:27, 1 John 1:9, Colossians 1:13-14

Hear the good news: For the joy set before him, Jesus Christ endured the shame of the cross, taking all our weakness and failure. Jesus went to the cross for the joy of having you as part of God’s Kin...

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You Summon and Send Us

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

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Scripture

Mark 6:1-13, Luke 9:1-13, Matthew 10:1-42

This prayer can be voiced by a single speaker or responsively by a single speaker (light print) and group (bold). Jesus, you summon and send us You give us authority over all that is unholy and de...

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Your Healing Hands

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

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Scripture

Mark 4:35-41, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 5:25-34, Romans 1:16, Acts 3:19, John 11:25

Jesus, Resurrected One Light of New Life Breaker of Chains Bringer of Grace and Hope You are moving, speaking, inviting We hear your call to repentance The turning will save us We hear your Good Ne...

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Inspired by Zephaniah 3:14-20

Author

Austin D. Hill

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Zephaniah 3:14-20

Zephaniah reminds the people of God that God will gather the exiles. God will restore his people. Believe the good news today. Through our Messiah, your sins have been forgiven. Thanks be to God! Ame...

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Jesus: You gave us Your love at a high

Author

Richard Herman

Scripture

1 Timothy 2:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Hebrews 13:20-21, Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 5:20

Jesus: You gave us Your love at a high price – Your own death on the cross in our place! By Your grace you give us eternal life and entrust to us Your creation. Thank You, Lord! We come today as Y...

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Scripture Guide, Colossians 3:1-4

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Colossians 3:1-4

Ancient lens? What can we learn from the historical context? Context and Tone Paul was writing from prison to a Christian community that he didn’t establish. Rather, it was his co-laborer, Epaphr...

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Overcoming Fear with God's Grace

Author

Laura B. Murray

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Scripture

Matthew 5:14-16, Acts 1:8 , Mark 5:18-20, 1 Peter 3:15, John 4:28-30; 39-42, Romans 1:16 , 2 Timothy 1:7-8

Merciful God, you have moved and changed our lives in amazing ways, yet we have kept these stories to ourselves. We confess the times we have kept these stories to ourselves out of fear of rejection a...

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The first chapter of the Gospel of John

Author

Cody Sandahl

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:14, Hebrews 9:28, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21

The first chapter of the Gospel of John has this incredible statement: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” In other words, God knew we couldn’t save ourselves, so he saved us. Believe the Good...

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Blessed are we who come to you

Author

Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie

Keywords

Blessed are we who come to you just as we are, asking to be gathered, hidden, and held, shielded for a time from things too hard for us, too heavy to hold for this long. God, give us...

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Gracious God, in Christ Jesus, you

Gracious God, in Christ Jesus, you teach us to love our neighbors but instead we build dividing walls of hostility. You show us how to love one another as sisters and brothers but instead we hide from...

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Inspired by Psalm 51:1-12

Author

Gabe Fung

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Scripture

Psalm 51:1-12

Hear the good news of God’s forgiveness of His grumbling and wayward people: He hides his face from our sins. He blots out all our iniquities. God creates in us a clean heart and a new spirit. He does...

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Father God: You know our thoughts,

Author

Richard Herman

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Father God: You know our thoughts, before we speak them. You know our needs, without us saying them. So, You invite us into Your presence, with arms wide open, not to hear our laundry lists of wants a...

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Leader: As Jesus healed the afflicted

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Scripture

1 John 1:9, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:24, Ephesians 1:7

Leader: As Jesus healed the afflicted and restored those who have died, he also forgives our sins and gives us new life. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. People: In Jesus Christ we are f...

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Father–Father of the Lord Jesus and our

Author

Richard Herman

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Scripture

1 Peter 2:9, James 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Matthew 9:37-38, Galatians 6:9-10, Romans 12:5, 1 John 3:1

Father–Father of the Lord Jesus and our Father: You’ve blessed us beyond imagination. You redeem us, forgive us and lavish Your gifts on us: Thank You. You choose us, when we wouldn’t choose ourselves...

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Beautiful Feet

Author

Warren W. Wiersbe

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Scripture

Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:15, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Matthew 5:11-12, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Matthew 23:11-12, Proverbs 31:30, Acts 4:13, Acts 5:40-42, Acts 17:30-31

A missionary was preaching in the village market, and some of the people were laughing at him because he was not a very handsome man. He took it for a time, and then he said to the crowd, “It is true ...

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Author

Patti Smith

Keywords

The idea of redemption is always good news, even if it means sacrifice or some difficult times.

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Easter: Resurrection of the Lord

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Colossians 3:1-4

Introduction Easter stands out from every other day. It’s time to celebrate and to reflect: how will you “preach the resurrection” and proclaim the new life we have in Jesus Christ? How do we invite ...

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Author

F. F. Bruce

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 3:

The mystery was not something unknowable; it was previously hidden but now revealed—that in Christ, all nations are brought into the one people of God.

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The good news in Christ is that when we face

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Scripture

Luke 15:11-32, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 103:12

Leader: The good news in Christ is that when we face ourselves and God with the awareness of our need, we are given grace to grow, and courage to continue the journey. Friends, believe the good news o...

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Not Until After My Death

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 45:1-15, Matthew 18:21-35, Ephesians 4:32, Romans 5:10, Mark 11:25, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 5:44

Frederick William I was a king of Prussia in the early 18th century. Personality-wise, he was described as exacting, frugal and austere. He was known to beat his children when they disappointed him. H...

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Leader: The good news is that Christ

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Leader: The good news is that Christ calls us to new life and enables us to begin again and again and again and again. Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. People: In Jesus Christ we...

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The Word of the LORD is true and

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Scripture

Psalm 19:9-10, Luke 4:16-21, Acts 8:26-39, Nehemiah 8:1-12, Isaiah 55:10-11, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, John 14:26

The Word of the LORD is true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb. As we turn to your Scripture, s...

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In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explains

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 1:13, Romans 8:14-17

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explains that Holy Spirit is a seal, like a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance in Christ. Friends, believe the good news today. The presence of the Holy Spirit r...

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