“When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them—He also named them apostles” (Luke 6:13)Jesus didn’t walk through life on His own—He had brothers with Him. He chose twelve that would be His disciples, and wherever Jesus went, the twelve went with Him.Jesus calls us into the family, not because the Father cannot satisfy us, but because we grow better when we’re surrounded by...  Read More

“During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).Jesus went away to pray. How many times in Scripture have we read that Jesus went away from the crowds, even went away from His friends to pray to the Father in solitude?Why does Jesus do this? He doesn’t do this to parade His holiness. He does this because He’s modeling a practice that we are ...  Read More

“The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).Have you ever noticed how kids imitate their parents? They mimic their facial expressions and adopt their speech patterns—even imitate the way they walk.  As a son or daughter of God, we are meant to imitate Jesus. In Ephesians, we’re told to “Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just ...  Read More

“Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need…They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47).Over the last few days, we’ve explored our iden...  Read More

“You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures” (Psalms 16:11).In Havelock, North Carolina, there’s an air station where F14s and fighter jets train for the Marines. The roar from the jet planes is so loud that it sounds like ocean waves crashing. Upon coming into Havelock, there’s a sign that reads, “Pardon our noise, it’s the sound ...  Read More

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42).They devoted themselves “…to the fellowship…”What is fellowship? The word used in Acts chapter two is the Greek word, Koinonia, meaning ‘commonality’ or ‘community.’ The disciples didn’t just resemble one another or talk like one another—they shared the same spiritua...  Read More