November 5, 2021

The decision to start writing regular devotions started at a pastor’s retreat over two years ago. A group of pastors from Grace had spent hours talking about the spiritual life of our community; where we saw fruit and where we saw need. Then, we broke for the afternoon and spent several hours brainstorming ideas to creatively sow a love for the gospel in the lives of Grace Church. Coming out of that weekend we decided to try, for just a couple of months, writing regular devotions based on the sermon scripture passage, to see if it met a felt need in the congregation.

To our surprise and delight, hundreds of people signed up for the “pocket devotions”, as we called them. And over the past two years, hundreds have continued to read each week. Executive Pastor Nate Kimball loved writing them because of the ways they took him deeper into the scriptures. As we often find, we receive even (or especially) as we strive to give. Nate was joined for much of the past two years by Brooks Carlson.
 
Now that they have both transitioned to different roles and ventures, it feels like the right time to close this chapter of devotions at Grace Church. Starting next week, we will no longer be sending out Pocket Devotions. Instead, we want to encourage you to take a next step to engage with Scripture on your own or with your community group! If you’re looking for ways to do this, check out the resources linked below.

Now, let’s close out the week with these verses from Romans 6.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Grace and peace to each of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.