This devotional is part 4 of 4 in a series based on The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8) in which Jesus compares various conditions of the human heart to a farmer’s field. In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23), Jesus compares a farmer’s field to our hearts. God uses…
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You’ve seen the message on your screen: “A program update for your operating system is available.” A system update addresses vulnerabilities in the computer’s processes. Often it provides better ways to operate the program. Yet for the system to be updated, action is required. You must click “Yes” to continue. Commitment: Your Old Operating System…
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“I thought I should be an example to the tribe,” explained the former missionary as he described his role in the village’s building project. The tribesmen, weighing fully one-third less than him, each carried two 80-pound bags of cement from the river to the building site without falling or dropping any part of the load.…
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Second in a series about serving God calls us to serve people. If we as individuals serve people directly rather than from the overflow of our service to God, we find ourselves battling burnout and depletion. Ministry teams face the same danger. Does yours? A Tale of Two Ministry Teams In Ezekiel 44:10-16, God reveals…
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Third in a series about serving How do you know that you’re putting God first as you serve? God calls us to serve people. Yet when Christ-followers – both individuals and teams -serve people directly rather than from the overflow of our service to God, we can battle burnout and depletion. This kind of ministry…
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“Past performance does not guarantee future returns.” You’ve seen that disclaimer on a financial prospectus. Market fluctuations, economic conditions, worldwide crises – unlimited number of factors can impact the return on your investment (ROI). While we invest financial resources in order to accrue monetary gain, God’s resources produce both tangible and intangible returns. His resources…
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Andrew studied the print out comparing two investments. One had an excellent ROI. The other – not so much, at least on paper. How much would ROI factor into his decision to proceed with one, the other, or both? ROI – the acronym for return on investment – reveals profitability and efficiency. It is a…
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Martha studied the letter from the young man in her congregation. He explained his call to participate in a short-term medical mission trip and had written to ask for her support – both financially and spiritually. As Martha prayed, a financial amount came to mind. It was more than she felt comfortable giving, but she…
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“Vocational missionaries to foreign, remote areas face enormous challenges,” explained a 16-year mission field veteran. “They are hungry for any opportunity to grow spiritually because they deal with overwhelming obstacles.” When it comes to fulfilling The Great Commission, these precious servants are called Go-ers. They leave their homes and go to isolated regions to share…
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Converts are new believers who find life in Christ. They are the whole goal and purpose of The Great Commission: “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and … teaching them” (Matthew 28:19-20). (Senders provide support and encouragement for others who go and share the gospel and Go-ers leave their homes and travel to…
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