It was great to be back at OneLife yesterday since we had to cancel last week. And it was another incredible day!

• We wrapped up NewThru30 talking about how to celebrate and remember what the New Testament is all about – Jesus!
• We celebrate through baptism and remember through communion.
• For the first time in our church’s short history, we shared in communion together. It was amazing!
• I preached hard about the fact that communion is not to be taken lightly nor entered in to without really checking our hearts with God.
• As a result, at least two people that I talked to started a relationship with Jesus and had communion “for real” for the first time! Still waiting to see if others let us know on their connection card.
• Since yesterday morning I have gotten several incredible emails. One from a young lady whose marriage was nearly over but it’s now restored, one from someone who hasn’t been to church in 3 years but has been to OneLife for 4 straight weeks, and another from a lady struggling with the pain of divorce who is trying hard to lay it at the feet of Jesus.
• This is the real-life stuff that makes me love what I do.
• Next week starts a new chapter at OneLife. We are hosting our first major series that we hope attracts a lot of people to see what the Bible says to their lives. The series title?…
• “Sex, Drugs, Rock ‘n Roll”
• I can’t wait! If you know someone who thinks church is boring or doesn’t have anything to do with their lives, this is your opportunity to invite them to come!
• The band is playing songs that I PROMISE you have never heard in church, we will have video testimony from other OneLifers who have struggled in these areas, and the sermons won’t be “don’t do this, don’t do that” but will truly make sense to everyday life.
• Did I mention that I can’t wait?!?!?!
• Then last night we hosted a series of Super Bowl parties. I got to check out 4 of them and eat a TON of amazing food.
• It set my weight loss goals back at least a week. Oh well. Gotta live a little!
• Days like yesterday are what make me wake up every morning. Thank you Jesus for asking me to do this!

Today’s Key Verse:

John 10:18

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Sometimes I forget that Jesus didn’t have to do what he did. He did it willingly. He did it for me.

I think this is easy to forget simply because we take salvation and a relationship with God for granted. The only analogy that probably does it any justice is that of a parent to a child.

Does the parent have to give their children the best of everything that they can provide? Of course not! All a parent must do is keep their child alive. Provide food and shelter – that’s it. But what parent wouldn’t want to do more? Instead, most parents strive for the best clothes, food, house, education, and recreation that their money can buy. Many parents will even sacrifice their own wants and needs to provide for their children.

What Jesus did for us is similar, but yet more. He didn’t have to die for you and me. He chose to! How amazing, is that?! When I stop and think about that, I realize even more how incredible it is that Jesus chose to have a relationship with me. He chose to give up perfection in heaven to enter this world of work, pain, and death. And in doing so, he chose me. He chose you.

Today’s Prayer:

Thank Jesus today for choosing to give up his life for yours. Thank him for being willing to leave his home in heaven to give us the chance to live with him there for eternity. Ask Him to help you remember that your salvation is a gift to be treasured and to continually be thankful for.

Today’s Key Verses:

2 Corinthians 8:10-12

10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

People hate to hear churches talk about money. And I can’t say that I blame them. Too many times churches have abused the generosity of others or given the impression that money is what’s most important.

The problem is magnified when we see how much the Bible talks about money. It means that churches should talk about money but yet walk the fine line of doing so in a way that points people closer to God rather than farther away.

Today’s key verses give us a great example to follow. Paul (the author of this letter) is writing to a church in the city of Corinth. This church had become key financial contributors to ministry and in this specific example they were collecting offerings to be distributed to the poor in Jerusalem.

We learn several great things from this passage. First, the people of this church were the first to have a desire to give. We can read between the lines to imagine that they were so passionate about their faith that they had a passion to align all areas of their lives with Christ – including their finances.

Second, Paul tells them to not just have the desire, but to finish the work. In other words, take the desire to do what is right financially and actually do it! Finally, he reminds them (and us!) that the amount doesn’t matter. Some can give a little and some can give a lot – what matters is giving in relation to what God has provided. These church members were familiar with the principle of tithing, which means giving the first ten percent. Paul is teaching that God only cares that we are being obedient with that and that He isn’t impressed with our amount. It would be better for a poor person to give a tenth of $1 than for a rich person to give less than a tenth but more money.

Being a giver is a reflection of what we truly believe about our heavenly Father because he was the ultimate giver in giving his son. When you examine all areas of your life, do you see the alignment in your finances? Are you giving back to God the first tenth of what he gives to you first? Remember: Generosity is not something God wants from you. It’s something he wants for you.

Today’s Prayer:
Start by thanking God for all that he has given you. Recognize that everything you have – car, house, money, etc. – is truly a gift from him. As such, ask him to give you the desire to give back a portion to him like the church in Corinth had the desire to give financially. Commit to him that you are going to do so starting now or continue doing so. Ask Him to give you the faith that he will take care of you and bless you according to your obedience and faith in this area.

I hope you have a great Friday tomorrow! Be praying about our services this Sunday and who you can invite to come with you.

Watch Part 1 of NewThru30 Sermon | Daily Devotionals Archive and NT30 Resources

Today’s Key Verses:

James 2:14-17

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Today’s key verses should sound quite familiar! This was the text of Sunday’s sermon and part two of our NewThru30 series.

James is a letter full of sermons to churches that got started soon after Jesus died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. In this mini-sermon, James is telling his listeners and readers that it’s not enough to just believe. Christians must LIVE what they believe!

In these verses specifically, James gives a hypothetical situation of seeing someone in need and just having sympathy for them. However, the sympathy stops there and doesn’t end with action. James teaches us that without action, our faith is dead – not sick, put up on a shelf, or on hold – it’s dead.

As you look at your life and compare it in relation to this passage, do you simply believe? Or do you LIVE what you believe? When people look at your life, do they see evidence of your faith? Is there action to accompany your belief in Christ?

Today’s Prayer:
Thank God that he has given you an opportunity to believe in him and find forgiveness for sin through His son. Ask Him to help you put action to your faith. Commit to do something this week that shows your faith in action. Ask God to help you continue living what you believe and as a result making a huge difference with your life.

If you have learned something you never knew or realized before by participating in NewThru30, please reply and let us know!

Rodney Arnold
OneLife Church
www.facebook.com/OneLifeChurch
www.twitter.com/onelifeknox
www.onelifeknox.com

Watch Part 1 of NewThru30 Sermon | Daily Devotionals Archive and NT30 Resources

Today’s Key Verses:

Mark 8:34-35
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Have you ever ridden in a car with someone that you didn’t really know? Or maybe you did know them but you also knew they were a terrible driver. Maybe it was your teenage son or daughter who was learning to drive for the first time.

Think about that feeling of being out of control. Your life is literally in the hands of someone else. There’s really nothing you can do but just ride.

Chances are, you hate that feeling. We all do. And it’s because we all hate being out of control. But yet that is the very thing that Christ is asking us to do in today’s key verses.

It is impossible to be a follower of his and try to hang on to control. The example he gives in this passage is that of trying to save our own lives. It is impossible to do! Only those who are willing to give up every part of control to Him will truly understand the gospel.

Jesus says we should deny ourselves in following Him. As you think about your life, whom do you deny more? Yourself or Christ?

Today’s Prayer:
Denying self goes against everything we are taught in society and culture. Ask God to give you strength to do just that in all areas of life. Ask Him show you areas of your life where you may not be denying yourself and in doing so are actually denying Him. Thank God for the promise of eternal life that Jesus gives in this passage and the hope we can have through relationship with Him.

If you have learned something you never knew or realized before by participating in NewThru30, please reply and let us know!

Rodney Arnold
OneLife Church
www.facebook.com/OneLifeChurch
www.twitter.com/onelifeknox
www.onelifeknox.com