The City Church Lubbock The City is a Spirit-filled, Bible teaching church with powerful worship. We’d love for you to join us this Sunday! https://city.family Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/26/friday-devo Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/26/friday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 4:1-4
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Commentary:

4:2 This is Jonah’s second prayer; the repetition of prayed to the LORD (see 2:1) invites the reader to compare the two. gracious God … relenting from disaster. These same words occur in Joel 2:13 as the basis for hope (see Ex. 34:6–7; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 145:8). Ironically, this standard confession of the compassionate character of God is the root of Jonah’s anger. Steadfast love, when extended to Jonah, filled him with thanksgiving (Jonah 2:8), but when extended to the Ninevites, filled him with anger.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

The final attribute highlighted in Jonah 4 is God's steadfast love; His faithful, covenant-keeping love. This love is the foundation for grace, mercy, patience, and forgiveness. God loved us while we were still sinners and even while we were His enemies. Because we have received that kind of love, we are called to show it to others. Jesus taught that love for God and love for people are the two greatest commandments. The true measure of spiritual maturity is not simply knowing biblical truth but living it out through sacrificial love. Jonah knew the right theology but failed to reflect God's heart. As followers of Jesus, we are called to follow His lead and become conductors of His love.

  • Think through your closest relationships: family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even difficult people in your life. Which relationship currently requires the most intentional, Christlike love from you? What makes loving that person difficult, and what might God be teaching you through that challenge?
  • The sermon described love as the foundation for grace, mercy, patience, and forgiveness. Why do you think all of those qualities ultimately flow from love? How does understanding God's steadfast, covenant-keeping love for you change the way you treat others?
  • The sermon ended with the question, "What does love require?" As you consider your relationships, where might God be asking you to sacrifice your comfort, pride, preferences, or desire to be right for the good of someone else? What step of obedience is He inviting you to take today?

Prayer Topics:

  • Thank God for His unchanging, steadfast love toward you.
  • Ask Him to help you love others the way Christ has loved you.
  • Pray for the willingness to put others before yourself and follow Jesus' example of sacrificial love.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.

(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/26/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/25/thursday-devo Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/25/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 4:1-4
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Commentary:

4:2 This is Jonah’s second prayer; the repetition of prayed to the LORD (see 2:1) invites the reader to compare the two. gracious God … relenting from disaster. These same words occur in Joel 2:13 as the basis for hope (see Ex. 34:6–7; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 145:8). Ironically, this standard confession of the compassionate character of God is the root of Jonah’s anger. Steadfast love, when extended to Jonah, filled him with thanksgiving (Jonah 2:8), but when extended to the Ninevites, filled him with anger.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

One of God's defining attributes is that He is "slow to anger." Jonah, however, was quick to anger and impatient with both God and people. He wanted God's plan to unfold according to his timeline and preferences. Yet God patiently endured Jonah's complaints, questions, and rebellion. 

Patience is one of the clearest signs of spiritual maturity because it reflects trust in God's timing and sovereignty. It shows up in our relationships, our trials, and our waiting. When we become impatient, we often reveal that we are trying to control things that belong in God's hands. Patience grows when we learn to trust God more deeply.

  • What circumstance, relationship, or unanswered prayer is testing your patience the most right now? How have you been responding while you wait? Are your reactions revealing trust in God's timing or frustration that things are not happening according to your plan?
  • Patience is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, meaning it is evidence of God's work within us. Why do you think patience is such an important mark of spiritual maturity? How does patience demonstrate trust in God's sovereignty, wisdom, and control over every situation?
  • Where have you been demanding immediate answers, immediate change, or immediate results instead of trusting God's process? What would it look like to surrender that timeline to God and believe that His timing is better than your own?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to help you trust Him when answers seem delayed.
  • Thank Him for the patience He has shown you throughout your life.
  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to produce greater patience in your relationships and circumstances.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.

(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/25/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/24/wednesday-devo Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/24/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 4:1-4
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Commentary:

4:2 This is Jonah’s second prayer; the repetition of prayed to the LORD (see 2:1) invites the reader to compare the two. gracious God … relenting from disaster. These same words occur in Joel 2:13 as the basis for hope (see Ex. 34:6–7; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 145:8). Ironically, this standard confession of the compassionate character of God is the root of Jonah’s anger. Steadfast love, when extended to Jonah, filled him with thanksgiving (Jonah 2:8), but when extended to the Ninevites, filled him with anger.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

Jonah wanted mercy for himself but justice for Nineveh. Yet God's heart was different. He looked at an entire city filled with broken people and responded with compassion when they repented. 

Scripture repeatedly teaches that God is merciful and that His people are called to reflect that mercy. Mercy is not excusing sin or pretending wrongdoing doesn't matter. Mercy is choosing compassion over condemnation and trusting God with the final judgment. Jesus even commanded His followers to love their enemies and be merciful just as the Father is merciful. When we refuse mercy, we begin looking less like Christ and more like Jonah.

  • When people fail, hurt you, or make poor decisions, how do you respond? Do you tend to be critical, impatient, and judgmental, or compassionate and understanding? What does that response reveal about what is happening in your heart?
  • Jonah struggled to understand how God's mercy and justice could exist together. How does the cross of Christ demonstrate both God's perfect justice against sin and His incredible mercy toward sinners? Why is it important to hold both truths together?
  • Is there someone in your life whom you secretly want God to punish, expose, or bring down instead of restore and redeem? How might God be calling you to pray for that person, show compassion toward them, or trust Him with the outcome instead of holding onto resentment?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to soften any harshness that has developed in your heart.
  • Praise Him for showing mercy to you when you needed it most.
  • Pray that people who seem far from God would encounter His mercy and repent.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.

(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/24/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/23/tuesday-devo Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/23/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 4:1-4
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Commentary:

4:2 This is Jonah’s second prayer; the repetition of prayed to the LORD (see 2:1) invites the reader to compare the two. gracious God … relenting from disaster. These same words occur in Joel 2:13 as the basis for hope (see Ex. 34:6–7; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 145:8). Ironically, this standard confession of the compassionate character of God is the root of Jonah’s anger. Steadfast love, when extended to Jonah, filled him with thanksgiving (Jonah 2:8), but when extended to the Ninevites, filled him with anger.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

Jonah finally revealed why he ran from God in the first place: he knew God might forgive Nineveh. Jonah loved God's grace when it rescued him from drowning and the belly of the fish, but he hated that same grace when it was given to others. 

Many of us struggle with this same exact thing. We gladly receive God's forgiveness, patience, and kindness, yet we can become reluctant to extend those same gifts to people who hurt us. God's grace was never intended to stop with us. We are called to be conduits of grace, receiving it from Him and passing it on to others. The gospel changes us when we move from simply enjoying grace to actively giving it away.

  • Think about the people in your life who frustrate, hurt, disappoint, or oppose you. Who is the hardest person for you to show grace toward right now, and why? What emotions surface when you think about extending kindness or compassion to that person?
  • What does God's willingness to show grace to sinners teach us about His heart and His mission? How does the story of Jonah challenge the idea that God's grace is only for certain types of people? What does it reveal about God's desire to save people who seem least deserving?
  • Have you been expecting God to continue showing patience, forgiveness, and grace toward your failures while refusing to extend those same gifts to someone else? What specific step could you take this week to reflect the grace that God has already shown you?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to help you see difficult people through His eyes.
  • Thank Him for the undeserved grace He has shown you.
  • Pray for the courage to extend grace to someone who has not earned it.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.

(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/23/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/22/monday-devo Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/22/monday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 4:1-4
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Commentary:

4:1 it displeased Jonah exceedingly (cf. the ESV footnote, “it was exceedingly evil to Jonah”). In the previous episode (see 3:10) the pagans got rid of their “evil” and God got rid of the “disaster” he had threatened (both Hb. ra‘ah). The pagans are in harmony with God, but Jonah is not, as he alone is now characterized by “displeasure” (or “evil”; Hb. ra‘ah).


Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

Throughout the book of Jonah, we've been reminded of one powerful truth: "I am Jonah." Jonah wasn't just a prophet with a bad attitude, his story is like a mirror reflecting the struggles that live inside all of us. 

After witnessing one of the greatest revivals in history, Jonah should have been celebrating, but instead he was angry because God showed mercy to people he thought deserved judgment. God responded to Jonah's anger with a question: "Do you do well to be angry?" Instead of correcting Jonah, God held up a mirror for him to examine his own heart. 

God invites us to do the same. God's Word is just a book of information, it is living and active, it reveals where our hearts are out of step with Him. Spiritual growth begins when we honestly look into that mirror and allow God to show us what needs to change.
 
  • Looking honestly at your life right now, what attitudes, reactions, or habits remind you most of Jonah? Are there areas where you know the right thing to do but struggle to align your heart with God's desires? 
  • Why do you think God often asks questions throughout Scripture instead of simply telling people what they are doing wrong? What do His questions reveal about His character and His desire for a relationship with us? 
  • Are there areas of your spiritual life where you are faithfully doing the "right" things: attending church, serving, praying, reading Scripture, but your heart feels distant from God? What would it look like to move beyond simply going through the motions and pursue genuine intimacy with Him again?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to reveal any blind spots or unhealthy attitudes in your heart.
  • Thank God for His patience in exposing sin so that you can grow.
  • Ask Him to help your outward actions to reflect what He has done in your heart.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.

(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/22/monday-devo#comments 0 Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/19/friday-devo Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/19/friday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:4-10
4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:

“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Commentary:

3:9 Who knows? expresses hope (see 2 Sam. 12:22) that God may turn and relent—the exact hope of the prophet Joel for the people of Judah (Joel 2:14). we may not perish. This is the third time a pagan has been concerned that people not perish (see Jonah 1:14 and note on 1:6); ironically, Jonah has not expressed any such concern.

3:10 evil … disaster. Both terms translate Hebrew ra‘ah (see note on 1:2). The use of the same word underscores the close connection between human action and divine response. God did not carry out the threatened disaster because the Ninevites repented of their evil (see note on 3:4). From a temporal perspective, God responds to human action; from an eternal perspective, God chooses the means (human repenting) as well as the end (divine relenting). The repentance of Gentiles contrasts with the repeated lack of repentance on the part of Israel (see note on vv. 7–8).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

When the king of Nineveh called the people to repentance, he said, "Who knows? God may yet relent." His words remind us that God's mercy is a gift of grace, not something we can presume upon.

Nineveh experienced revival in Jonah's day, but that revival did not last forever. Generations later, the city returned to its old ways and eventually faced God's judgment. God's patience is real, but it is not endless. Every day we are given is another opportunity to respond to His grace.

  • The king of Nineveh responded immediately because he understood that tomorrow was not guaranteed. What distractions, comforts, or routines tend to lull you into spiritual complacency? How might your priorities change if you lived with a greater awareness of eternity?
  • Nineveh experienced both God's mercy in Jonah's day and His judgment generations later in Nahum's day. What do these two very different outcomes teach us about God's patience, holiness, and justice? How do they challenge the assumption that we can always put off repentance until later?
  • Is there a step of obedience, act of reconciliation, ministry opportunity, or area of repentance that you have been delaying? What is one specific thing you can do today to respond to God's prompting rather than assuming you will have another chance tomorrow?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to wake you up from spiritual complacency.
  • Pray for a greater awareness of eternity and the shortness of life.
  • Surrender any delayed obedience and commit to respond to God.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? 

Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.

(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/19/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/18/thursday-devo Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/18/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:4-10
4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:

“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Commentary:

3:10 The repentance of Gentiles contrasts with the repeated lack of repentance on the part of Israel (Matt. 12:41; 21:43).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

Although the word "repentance" never appears in Jonah 3, the actions of the Ninevites provide a powerful picture of what repentance looks like. Repentance is more than feeling bad about sin. It is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction.

The people believed God's message, humbled themselves, grieved their sin, and turned from their evil ways. Genuine repentance always produces visible fruit. It moves beyond words and results in transformed behavior.

  • When you fall into sin, what bothers you most: the fact that you have grieved God, or the consequences that follow? How can examining your emotional response help you determine whether you are experiencing genuine repentance or simply regret?
  • Psalm 51 teaches that God desires a broken and contrite heart more than outward religious actions. Why do you think God is more concerned with heart transformation than behavior modification alone? How does a changed heart naturally produce changed actions?
  • Is there a recurring sin or unhealthy pattern that you have been managing rather than abandoning? What would a true 180-degree turn look like in that area? Are there practical boundaries, conversations, or decisions you need to make in order to pursue lasting change?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to guard you from self-righteousness and spiritual complacency.
  • Pray for genuine sorrow over sin and a heart that desires holiness.
  • Ask for the strength to make lasting changes that reflect true repentance.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? 

Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.

(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/18/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/17/wednesday-devo Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/17/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:4-10
4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:

“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Commentary:

3:6 The word that reached the king of Nineveh was the “word” of the Lord (see 1:1; 3:1, 3). The “king of Nineveh” was probably not the king of Assyria, since Nineveh was not an Assyrian capital in Jonah’s day; he may have been a provincial governor who ruled from Nineveh.

3:7–8 issued a proclamation. It seems odd that the king would tell everyone to fast and put on sackcloth when they had already done so (v. 5). Therefore it is more likely that v. 5 and vv. 6–9 are in topical rather than chronological order. First the king issued the proclamation, and then the people carried it out (see a similar summons to repentance in Joel 1:13–14). By putting the people’s response ahead of the king’s proclamation, the author underscores the immediacy of the people’s response and that they are responding to Jonah’s message, not just to the king’s command. The Ninevites each turn from his evil way, whereas the Israelites did not (cf. 2 Kings 17:13–14).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

One of the biggest contrasts in Jonah 3 is between Jonah and the king of Nineveh. Jonah resisted God's call and ran from Him. The king of Nineveh, however, responded to God's warning by stepping off his throne, removing his royal robes, and humbling himself before God.

The king understood something we often forget: true repentance requires surrender. It means acknowledging that God is King and we are not. We can either humble ourselves before Him or eventually be humbled by Him.

  • The king of Nineveh stepped off his throne as a sign of humility before God. What is the "throne" you are most tempted to hold onto? Your schedule, finances, relationships, future plans, reputation, or desire for control? What makes it difficult for you to surrender that area to God's authority?
  • Scripture teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. What are the practical consequences of living with pride at the center of your life? How have you seen humility create greater dependence on God and openness to His work?
  • Where is God asking you to relinquish control and trust Him more fully? What specific action would demonstrate that Jesus, not you, is truly King over that area of your life?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to reveal any areas of pride and self-reliance you have.
  • Pray for a heart marked by humility and surrender.
  • Declare Jesus' lordship over your plans, relationships, and future.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? 

Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.

(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/17/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/16/tuesday-devo Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/16/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:4-10
4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:

“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Commentary:

3:4 Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown! “Overthrown” is the same verb used for God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:21, 25, 29). Although the threat sounds unconditional, a condition was implied: If people repent, God will relent (see Jer. 18:7–8). Jonah knows this condition is included (see Jonah 4:2), and the king of Nineveh will hope that it is (see 3:9).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1689–1690.

Questions:

Jonah's message to Nineveh was simple: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be overthrown!" 

The Hebrew word translated "overthrown" carries a deeper meaning. It can describe complete destruction, but it can also describe a complete transformation. The warning itself contained an invitation. Nineveh could either be destroyed by its sin or transformed by God's grace. The same is true for us. God's conviction is not meant to crush us, it is meant to turn us back to Him.

  • Think about the last time someone lovingly confronted you about an attitude, habit, or area of sin. What was your initial reaction? Did you become defensive, make excuses, minimize the issue, or receive the correction with humility? What does your typical response reveal about your willingness to be changed?
  • Throughout Scripture, seasons marked by "forty days" often became moments of testing, judgment, or transformation. How do the stories of Noah, Moses, and Nineveh demonstrate that God's warnings are often invitations to respond? What role does human repentance play in these moments of divine intervention?
  • Is there a destructive pattern, unhealthy habit, broken relationship, or sinful attitude that God has been confronting in your life? What practical step could you take this week to stop feeding that pattern and allow God to completely turn it around?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God for a heart that welcomes correction and conviction.
  • Thank Him that His warnings are invitations to change rather than signs of rejection.
  • Surrender any habits or attitudes that need His transforming work.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? 

Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.

(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/16/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/15/monday-devo Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/15/monday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:4-10
4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:

“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Commentary:

3:4 Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown! “Overthrown” is the same verb used for God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:21, 25, 29). Although the threat sounds unconditional, a condition was implied: If people repent, God will relent (see Jer. 18:7–8). Jonah knows this condition is included (see Jonah 4:2), and the king of Nineveh will hope that it is (see 3:9).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1689–1690.

Questions:

Jonah 3 forces us to wrestle with the reality of who God is. 

Nineveh was known for its violence, cruelty, and arrogance. They deserved judgment, yet God sent a warning before sending punishment. Why? Because God is both perfectly just and deeply merciful.

We often want God to fit into one category or the other. We want Him to be either loving or holy, merciful or righteous. But Scripture reveals a God who is both. His warnings are not signs of cruelty; they are acts of compassion. God reveals the seriousness of sin so people have the opportunity to turn back to Him before it is too late.
 
  • When life becomes difficult, prayers seem unanswered, or God asks you to obey in a way that feels uncomfortable, which side of God's character do you tend to focus on most? Do you ever view Him as loving but not serious about sin, or as holy and demanding but lacking compassion?
  • In Ezekiel 33:11, God says He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires that they turn and live. How does that verse challenge the way you think about God's judgment? What does it reveal about the heart of a God who must punish sin while still longing to save sinners?
  • Have you ever used God's grace as a reason to delay obedience, postpone repentance, or tolerate a sin you know He wants you to address? What would it look like to stop presuming upon His patience and respond to His loving warning today?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to help you see Him more clearly and trust every aspect of His character.
  • Thank Him for being both perfectly just and perfectly merciful.
  • Confess any areas where you have abused His patience, and ask for the courage to walk in obedience.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? 

Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.

(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/15/monday-devo#comments 0 Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/12/friday-devo Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/12/friday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-3
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.

Commentary:


3:3a Jonah went to Nineveh instead of fleeing to Tarshish. He complies with God’s will, but whether this compliance is from the heart remains to be seen.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1689.

Questions:

Life is short, and every day is a gift from God. Because our time is limited, we cannot afford to live spiritually distracted or complacent. 

Jonah eventually obeyed God's call, and an entire city heard God's warning. We have been given the message of salvation through Jesus, and countless people around us still need to hear it. God has not called us to a life of comfortable Christianity. He has called us to shine His light, invest in what matters eternally, and faithfully carry His message wherever He sends us.

  • If you knew your time on earth was limited, what priorities would immediately rise to the top of your list? Would your schedule, relationships, spending habits, or spiritual practices look different? What does that reveal about what matters most to you right now?
  • The Bible consistently reminds believers that life is brief and eternity is real. How does remembering the reality of eternity shape the way we think about sharing the Gospel, investing in people, and living faithfully? What might a lack of urgency reveal about what we truly believe regarding heaven, hell, and God's mission?
  • Are there comforts, distractions, ambitions, or routines that have slowly dulled your passion for God's Kingdom? What practical adjustments could you make this week to prioritize spiritual growth, Gospel conversations, and eternal impact over temporary comfort?

Prayer Topics:

  • If you knew your time was limited, what priorities would need to change?
  • How does remembering eternity affect the way you live today?
  • What comforts or distractions may be preventing you from fully embracing God's mission?

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

1. Who is Jesus?
I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.

(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/12/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/11/thursday-devo Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/11/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-3
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.

Commentary:


3:3a Jonah went to Nineveh instead of fleeing to Tarshish. He complies with God’s will, but whether this compliance is from the heart remains to be seen.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1689.

Questions:

Jonah and Peter share an interesting similarity. Both failed God in significant ways. Both struggled with God's plan to extend grace beyond their comfort zone. And both experienced restoration that led to renewed purpose.

After Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus met him on the shore and restored him. Instead of focusing on Peter's failure, Jesus reaffirmed his calling: “Feed my sheep.”
God does not ignore our sin, but neither does He define us by it. Through grace, He restores, forgives, and continues to use imperfect people for His purposes.

  • As you reflect on the lives of Jonah and Peter, where do you see similarities in your own heart? Have there been times when you struggled to extend grace, resisted God's leading, or allowed failure to shape your identity? What lessons might God be teaching you through their stories?
  • Jesus restored Peter after one of the most public failures in his life and then entrusted him with continued ministry. What does this teach us about God's grace, forgiveness, and ability to redeem broken people? How should this truth affect the way you view your own failures and the failures of others?
  • Is there a past sin, mistake, disappointment, or source of shame that continues to influence the way you see yourself today? What would it look like to fully surrender that burden to Jesus and embrace the purpose and calling He has for your life moving forward?

Prayer Topics:

  • Bring your failures honestly before God and ask Him to replace shame with His truth.
  • Thank Jesus for His forgiveness and His willingness to restore broken people.
  • Pray for a heart that is fully surrendered to God's will and open to whoever He calls you to reach.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

1. Who is Jesus?
I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.

(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/11/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/10/wednesday-devo Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/10/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-3
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.

Commentary:


3:3a Jonah went to Nineveh instead of fleeing to Tarshish. He complies with God’s will, but whether this compliance is from the heart remains to be seen.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1689.

Questions:

For Jonah, Nineveh was a distant city filled with people he did not want to reach. For many of us, our "Nineveh" is much closer. It may be a family member, coworker, neighbor, friend, or classmate.

God has intentionally placed each of us within a network of relationships. These people are not there by accident. They are part of the mission field God has entrusted to us.
Often, the people who need Jesus most are the people we see every day. God calls us to influence them through our example, our love, and our willingness to point them toward Him.

  • Who is the person, group, or relationship that immediately comes to mind when you think about someone who needs Jesus? Is there anyone you have been reluctant to engage spiritually because of fear, frustration, past conflict, or uncertainty? What makes reaching out to that person difficult for you?
  • Scripture teaches that God intentionally places people in specific families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and communities. How would your perspective change if you viewed your everyday environment not as an accident, but as a mission field carefully assigned to you by God? What opportunities might you be overlooking?
  • Think about the people closest to you: your family, friends, coworkers, classmates, or neighbors. Have distractions, busyness, comfort, or self-focus caused you to neglect opportunities to encourage them spiritually? What specific change should you make to become more intentional in pointing them toward Christ?

Prayer Topics:

  • Pray by name for family members, friends, coworkers, or neighbors who do not know Christ.
  • Ask God to help you recognize opportunities to share His love in your everyday routine.
  • Pray for strength to lead spiritually in the relationships God has entrusted to you.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

1. Who is Jesus?
I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.

(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/10/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/09/tuesday-devo Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/09/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-3
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.

Commentary:

3:1–2 The second time underscores God’s determination to get his message to the Ninevites and to use Jonah in the process. The message that I tell you replaces “for their evil has come up before me” (1:2).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1689.

Questions:

When God recommissioned Jonah, the assignment remained the same: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh and deliver the message I have given you.” God had not changed His mission.

As followers of Jesus, we have received a similar calling through the Great Commission. While our actions should reflect our faith, God has also called us to speak the truth of the Gospel. Jonah wasn't sent merely to be present in Nineveh, he was sent to proclaim God's message. People need more than our example, they need the hope found in Christ. Our lives should support our message, but our message must still be shared.

  • When opportunities arise to talk about your faith, how do you typically respond? Do fear, insecurity, concern about what others might think, or the desire to avoid awkward conversations keep you from speaking openly about Jesus? What does your response reveal about what you value most in those moments?
  • Romans 1:16 teaches that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation. Why is it important to remember that people are ultimately changed by God's truth rather than by our personality, influence, or good example alone? How does understanding the power of God's Word give you confidence to share your faith?
  • Have there been times when you softened, avoided, or changed biblical truth because you were worried about how others would react? What would it look like for you to speak God's truth with both courage and compassion in your relationships this week?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to reveal any fears that keep you silent about your faith.
  • Pray for confidence in the power of the Gospel and trust that God works through His Word.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to give you opportunities and boldness to share Christ with others.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

1. Who is Jesus?
I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.

(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/09/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/08/monday-devo Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/08/monday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-3
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.

Commentary:

3:1–2 The second time underscores God’s determination to get his message to the Ninevites and to use Jonah in the process. The message that I tell you replaces “for their evil has come up before me” (1:2).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1689.

Questions:

One of the most encouraging statements in the book of Jonah is found in Jonah 3:1: “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” After running from God, sinking to rock bottom, and spending three days in the belly of a fish, Jonah received something he did not deserve, another chance.

God could have chosen someone else. He could have left Jonah in his rebellion. Instead, He met Jonah with mercy and renewed His call. The same God who called Jonah is the God who restores us when we fail. Our mistakes, seasons of wandering, and moments of disobedience do not have the final word. God's grace does.
 
  • Where in your life have you struggled with feelings of failure, regret, or disappointment? Is there a mistake, sin, or season of disobedience that makes you feel like you've moved beyond God's ability or desire to use you? How might God be inviting you to see your story through the lens of His grace rather than your shortcomings?
  • God chose to recommission Jonah even after his rebellion and refusal to obey. What does this reveal about God's character and His relationship with His people? How does Jonah's story challenge the belief that we must somehow earn our way back into God's favor after we fail?
  • God gave Jonah another opportunity to obey, but Jonah still had to respond. Is there an area of your life where God is calling you to take a step of obedience today? What practical action can you take this week to stop running from His direction and start walking faithfully in it?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to help you see yourself through the lens of His grace rather than your failures.
  • Thank Him for His patience, mercy, and willingness to restore those who return to Him.
  • Confess any areas where you have been resisting His direction and ask for courage to obey.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

1. Who is Jesus?
I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.

(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/08/monday-devo#comments 0 Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/05/friday-devo Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/05/friday-devo

Scripture:

Luke 9:23
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me."

John 6:9-11
9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” 10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.

Commentary:

9:23 Come after me means to become a disciple (cf. 14:27) and requires that a disciple: (1) deny himself (not simply denying certain things but denying personal control of one’s life); (2) take up his cross (cf. 14:27; notes on Matt. 10:38 and Mark 8:34; make a commitment that will lead to rejection and possibly even death); and (3) follow me (following the example and teachings of Jesus). In Jesus’ day, “follow me” also meant joining the company of his disciples who traveled in ministry with Jesus around Palestine.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1972.

Questions:

Many people assume they will get serious about following Jesus later in life. They think, "When I'm older, I'll spend more time with God. Then I'll serve Him. Then I'll make my faith a priority." But Jesus calls us to follow Him today. In John 6, a young boy offered Jesus the little he had; five loaves and two fish. It wasn't much, but he placed it in Jesus' hands, and Jesus used it to feed thousands. God isn't asking you to wait until you have more knowledge, more confidence, or more experience. He simply asks you to bring what you have and trust Him with it. Following Jesus is not a future decision, it's a daily one.

  • If someone looked at how you spend your time, attention, and energy, what would they conclude is most important to you? Would they see evidence that following Jesus is a priority in your life?
  • The boy with the loaves and fish offered what he had, even though it seemed small. What gifts, abilities, opportunities, or resources has God already placed in your hands that you could offer to Him right now?
  • Jesus said that following Him means taking up your cross daily. What do you think that looks like in your life right now? How is following Jesus different from simply believing certain things about Him?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to help you follow Him faithfully today instead of putting off spiritual growth for some future season of life.
  • Pray that God would reveal any areas where you are holding back and give you the courage to trust Him more fully.
  • Thank God that He delights in using ordinary people who are willing to trust Him and place what they have in His hands.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.

(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/05/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/04/thursday-devo Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/04/thursday-devo

Scripture:

John 14:15
“If you love me, obey my commandments."

1 Samuel 17:26
David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

2 Kings 23:25
Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

Commentary:

14:15 Jesus’ words echo the demands of the Deuteronomic covenant (cf. Deut. 5:10; 6:5–6; 7:9; 10:12–13; 11:13, 22) and reflect his unique authority. True love manifests itself in willing obedience.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2053.

What shall be done? By faith, David grasps Goliath’s challenge as directed toward the armies of the living God, hence toward the unseen God himself. To David, this battle is fundamentally spiritual in nature (see vv. 45–47; cf. Eph. 6:12). His father’s house refers to a person’s extended family, smaller than a tribe or clan, with 50 to 100 persons. Free means exempt from taxes and other obligations to the palace.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 520.

23:25 In spite of several generations of idolatry and rebellion against the Lord, somehow Josiah arose as a righteous king who not only appeared outwardly to be righteous but turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 691.

Questions:

True love isn't defined by words alone; it is proven through willing, active obedience. Because of our sin nature, our default tendency is to go our own way instead of God's way. Yet the Bible is filled with examples of young people who made a tremendous impact because they chose to trust and obey the Lord. David faced a giant while still a youth, and Josiah helped lead an entire nation back to God while he was still a boy. Their lives remind us that God is not limited by our age, abilities, or experience. He delights in using ordinary people who are willing to follow Him. You are never too young or too ordinary for God to use.

  • Jesus said that love for Him is shown through obedience, not just words. Are there any areas of your life where you know what God wants you to do, but you're struggling to follow through?
  • Sometimes it's easy to believe that God can't use us until we're older, more mature, or have everything figured out. What excuses do people often make for why they can't serve God right now? How do the stories of David and Josiah challenge those excuses?
  • What is the difference between obeying God because you love and trust Him versus obeying God because you're trying to earn His approval? How does genuine faith naturally lead to a changed life?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to give you a heart that delights in following Him and obeying His Word.
  • Pray that you would stop focusing on your limitations and instead trust that God can use you right where you are.
  • Thank God that He often works through ordinary people and that His power is greater than your weaknesses.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.

(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/04/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/03/wednesday-devo Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/03/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Matthew 22:37-38
37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment."

Commentary:

110:23 Let us hold fast. The second exhortation of vv. 22–25 calls forth a faithful, unwavering embrace (see 3:6, 14) of the confession of our hope, i.e., the church’s assent to the teachings concerning Christ and his work (see 3:1; 4:14; cf. 2 Cor. 9:13; 1 Tim. 6:12), teachings that produce hope (Heb. 6:18–20; 7:19). for he who promised is faithful. Confident hope in God’s promises (see 6:12–20) stems from God’s trustworthy character (also 11:11).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2378.

22:37–38 love the Lord your God … heart … soul … mind. This command from Deut. 6:5, repeated twice daily by faithful Jews, encapsulates the idea of total devotion to God and includes the duty to obey the rest of God’s commandments (cf. Matt. 5:16–20). “Heart,” “soul,” and “mind” do not represent rigid compartments of human existence but rather together refer to the whole person.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1870.

Questions:

Truth is the foundation for trust, and trust is the doorway to love. Think about the difference between dealing with a liar and dealing with someone who is completely incapable of deceit. Because it is impossible for God to lie, He is the only completely safe place to drop your guard. 

  • If we know that God can always be trusted to keep His promises, why do we still find it so easy to trust our own anxious thoughts or the changing opinions of our friends over His Word?
  • Jesus stated that the absolute greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love isn't just an emotion; it requires a vulnerability that only comes when you completely trust that the other person wants what is best for you. What keeps you from trusting God with your whole heart?
  • Hebrews 10:23 tells us to hold firmly to our hope because God is faithful. When life feels uncertain or your emotions are all over the place, why is it important to base your faith on God's unchanging character rather than your changing circumstances?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to help you trust His character and His promises, even when your feelings or circumstances tempt you to doubt.
  • Pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal any fears, doubts, or barriers that are keeping you from fully surrendering your heart, mind, and life to God.
  • Thank God that He is always faithful, always truthful, and always worthy of your trust, no matter what challenges you face.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.

(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/03/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/02/tuesday-devo Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/02/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

John 14:6
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

John 10:14-15
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep."

John 10:27-28
27 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me."

Commentary:

14:6 Jesus as the one way to the Father fulfills the OT symbols and teachings that show the exclusiveness of God’s claim (see note on 3:18), such as the curtain (Ex. 26:33) barring access to God’s presence from all except the Levitical high priest (Leviticus 16), the rejection of human inventions as means to approach God (Lev. 10:2), and the choice of Aaron alone to represent Israel before God in his sanctuary (Num. 17:5). Jesus is the only “way” to God (Acts 4:12), and he alone can provide access to God. Jesus as the truth fulfills the teaching of the OT (John 1:17) and reveals the true God (cf. 1:14, 17; 5:33; 18:37; also 8:40, 45–46; 14:9). Jesus alone is the life who fulfills the OT promises of “life” given by God (11:25–26), having life in himself (1:4; 5:26), and he is thus able to confer eternal life to all those who believe in him (e.g., 3:16). This is another “I am” saying that makes a claim to deity (see note on 6:35).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2052.

Questions:

Because Jesus conquered death and proved He is God, every single claim He made can be taken as truth. Scripture frequently compares us to sheep; animals that are so incredibly helpless and foolish that they can literally wander off, get stuck on their backs, and die if a shepherd doesn't save them. He is exactly who He said He is: our Savior, Friend, and Shepherd.
 
  • What are some things people commonly look to for purpose, security, or satisfaction instead of God? Where do you see that temptation in your own life?
  • Jesus didn't claim to be one option among many. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Why can that be a difficult truth to share or stand behind in today's culture?
  • If Jesus truly is God in the flesh, then His words carry absolute authority. How does Jesus' claim to be the great "I AM" affect the way you view His teachings, His commands, and His invitation to follow Him?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to show you any areas where you have been looking for satisfaction, identity, or security apart from Him.
  • Pray that you would learn to recognize the Good Shepherd's voice and trust His guidance, especially during difficult or uncertain seasons.
  • Thank Jesus for being a loving Savior who knows you personally, cares for you deeply, and gave His life so you could have eternal life.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.

(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/02/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/01/monday-devo Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/01/monday-devo

Scripture:

John 20:24-29
24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

1 Corinthians 15:14
And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.

Commentary:

20:28 Thomas’s confession of Jesus as his Lord (Gk. Kyrios) and God (Gk. Theos) provides a literary link with the references to Jesus as God in the prologue (1:1, 18). This is one of the strongest texts in the NT on the deity of Christ (see 1:1). Some cults try to explain away this clear affirmation of Jesus’ deity by arguing that Thomas’s statement was merely an exclamation of astonishment that, in effect, took God’s name in vain. Such an explanation is unthinkable, however, given the strong Jewish moral convictions of the day and because it is not consistent with the text, which explicitly says that Thomas said these words to him, that is, to Jesus. Thomas’s statement is in fact a clear confession of his newly found faith in Jesus as his Lord and God. John’s entire purpose in writing this book is that all readers come to confess Jesus as their Lord and God in the same way that Thomas did.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2071.

Questions:

Brandon kicked off the sermon talking about "if/then" logic. The most important "if/then" question of our life hinges entirely on the resurrection. Our faith isn't built on blind faith, but rather it is is anchored in an avalanche of historical, logical proof.
 
  • Many people describe our faith as a blind faith, but Christianity is rooted in real historical events. As you consider the evidence for Jesus' resurrection: His execution, the early accounts, the empty tomb, and the eyewitness testimonies, how does that strengthen your confidence in who Jesus is?
  • Thomas wanted evidence before he was willing to believe Jesus had risen from the dead. Why do you think Jesus responded to Thomas with patience instead of condemnation? What does that teach us about bringing our questions and doubts to God? Where have you been doubting God recently?
  • Paul said that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, the Christian faith falls apart. Why is the resurrection such a foundational belief? How does Jesus' victory over death confirm that He is exactly who He claimed to be?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to strengthen your faith and help you build your confidence on the truth of Jesus' resurrection rather than on feelings or circumstances.
  • Bring any questions, doubts, or uncertainties to God, trusting that He welcomes honesty and is faithful to reveal Himself.
  • Thank God that the truth of the gospel is grounded in real history and that He has given us good reasons to trust in Jesus and His promises.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.

(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/01/monday-devo#comments 0 Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/05/29/friday-devo Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/05/29/friday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. 7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. 15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! 19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. 20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. 21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! 22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Commentary:

Psalm 103. This is a hymn of praise, celebrating the abundant goodness and love of the Lord for his people. It is the first of four psalms reflecting on God’s dealings with his people from creation to exile. Psalm 103 introduces the sequence by recalling that Israel’s survival in the time of Moses was due to God’s steadfast love. It begins with each individual singer exhorting his or her own soul to bless the Lord, and then goes on to list the benefits that the soul should be careful not to forget. The crowning benefit is God’s enduring love to the descendants of the faithful, which leads the worshipers to exhort all the angelic hosts and all the material creation to join in blessing the Lord. These benefits come to the individual (“you” in vv. 3–5 refers to “my soul,” i.e., to me) but are not individualistic: he or she is a member of the community (vv. 6–14, thinking of the people of God), and he or she contributes to the progress of that community (vv. 17–18). As the notes will show, the psalm takes the Pentateuch story for granted, with evocations of Gen. 2:7; 17:7; Exodus 32–34. Christians enter into the joy of this psalm as they celebrate how the biblical story that has developed since that time has displayed even more of God’s goodness and kindness. Psalm 104, though not by David, is probably placed next to this one because it too begins and ends with “Bless the LORD, O my soul.” Psalm 145 is the other example of a Davidic psalm that is a sustained celebration of God’s goodness and benevolence.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1067.

Questions:

The big idea of the sermon was that authentic worship requires alignment. When a car's tires get out of alignment, the steering wheel pulls, the tires wear unevenly, and the ride gets rough. Our hearts do the same thing when we get caught up in the stress, worries, and routines of the world. Christ didn't endure the cross simply to improve our eternity; He died to restore our relationship and create authentic worshippers whose lives point back to Him.
  • As you look back over your week, where do you feel your heart pulling out of alignment? Has it been toward distraction, worry, or trying to control your circumstances?
  • Which specific area of spiritual realignment do you need most today? (Do you need Refocusing your distracted mind, Remembering His benefits, Rightly Relating to who He is, or returning to a place of Reverence)? What is your next practical step toward that alignment this week?
  • A.W. Tozer wrote: "We are saved to worship God. All that Christ has done in the past and all that He is doing now leads to this one end." If the ultimate purpose of the Gospel and our salvation is to glorify and worship God, how does that reframe our understanding of the Christian life? How does it challenge the cultural view that God exists primarily to make our lives happy and comfortable?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to realign your heart today in the specific areas where stress, worry, or the patterns of this world have caused you to drift.
  • Pray that you would stop viewing worship as just a casual event you attend, and instead live a life where your daily choices naturally overflow into praise.
  • Thank God that the ultimate purpose of your salvation is to know, glorify, and worship Him, and that Christ endured the cross to bring you into this close relationship.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

6. Is the Bible God's word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.

(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/05/29/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/05/28/thursday-devo Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/05/28/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. 7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. 15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! 19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. 20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. 21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! 22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Commentary:

The psalm opened with the psalmist exhorting himself to worship God. At the end, he calls on others to join him. First, he proclaims God’s universal kingship. God rules not only over his people in Israel, but over the entire cosmos from his heavenly throne. Thus, everyone, including the angels who make up his heavenly army (hosts), as well as humanity (all his works everywhere in his dominion), should praise him. The psalmist closes by repeating the first call as a final call to worship (Praise the LORD, my soul).

Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014), 357–358.

Questions:

By the end of the Psalm, David realizes his singular voice isn't enough to contain the praise God deserves, so he summons a massive cosmic choir! Calling on angels, heavenly armies, and all of creation to join him! Amber noted that "fear of the Lord" or reverence isn't about terror or panic, it’s a holy sense of awe and amazement that the God who rules the universe from His heavenly throne actually knows and loves us intimately.
  • When was the last time you were genuinely gripped by holy awe or amazement in your relationship with God?
  • It's easy for the holiness and goodness of God to just become "ordinary" or routine to us over time. What distractions or daily routines do you need to intentionally disrupt this week to regain a sense of reverence for Him?
  • David shifts from praising God for His acts in Israel to acknowledging that "the Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything". How does God’s absolute sovereignty, His supreme rule over all creation, actually provide deep comfort and peace to us as fragile human beings?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to rescue you from treating His goodness as ordinary and to recapture your heart with a genuine, holy sense of awe.
  • Pray that the Holy Spirit would disrupt your daily routines, giving you quiet moments to simply sit in amazement of His grandness and majesty.
  • Thank God that even though He rules the entire universe from His heavenly throne, He still looks upon you with the tender compassion of a loving Father.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

6. Is the Bible God's word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.

(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/05/28/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/05/27/wednesday-devo Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/05/27/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. 7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. 15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! 19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. 20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. 21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! 22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Commentary:

God makes his justice known to the oppressed, and the psalmist backs up this claim with an appeal to the past. At the time of Moses, God showed how he worked justice for the oppressed by freeing the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and judging the Egyptians with plague and at the Re(e)d Sea. He further revealed his ways to Moses as compassionate and gracious, patient (slow to anger) and abounding in love (or loyalty; ḥesed) in the aftermath of the sin with the golden calf (see Exod. 34:4–7; Ps. 86:15). He did not treat Israel at that time as their sins deserved, but graciously he forgave them. The psalmist, healed from a deadly disease that resulted from his sin, sees this as a pattern that should be praised. God’s love (or loyalty; ḥesed) towards those who have the proper attitude towards him (fear, v. 11; see commentary at 2:10–12 and 10:2–11) promised in the covenant is as great as the heavens are high above the earth. Using another spatial metaphor, the psalmist affirms the finality of God’s forgiveness of sin by saying that he removes transgression from us as far as the east is from the west.

Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014), 356–357.

Questions:

David uses a poetic (and blunt) way to describe our human condition: "He remembers we are only dust." In other words, we are fragile, temporary dirt, while God is eternal, holy, and sustaining. A.W. Tozer famously wrote, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." Authentic worship can only happen when we see God rightly and see ourselves rightly at the exact same time.
  • If you are honest, what is the default image of God that pops into your head when you mess up? Do you see Him as a harsh Judge waiting to punish you, or the compassionate Father who removes your sin "as far as the east is from the west"?
  • Our culture hates the idea of being weak or out of control. Where are you currently trying to prove you are self-sufficient instead of embracing the fact that you are "dust" in desperate need of grace?
  • God revealed His exact character to Moses in Exodus 34:6, using the Hebrew word hesed (loyal, covenant, promise-keeping love). Why is it essential to the Christian faith that God is a covenant-keeping God rather than a god whose love changes based on our performance? What does this imply about the security of your salvation?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to give you a right and healthy understanding of both His immense holiness and your own fragility, keeping you from both fear and pride. 
  • Pray that God would tear down any false, mental images you carry of Him and replace them with the reality of who He truly is; holy, eternal, meriful, redeemer, etc. 
  • Thank God that because He knows you are "dust," He meets your weaknesses with endless patience and has removed your failures as far as the east is from the west.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

6. Is the Bible God's word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.

(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/05/27/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/05/26/tuesday-devo Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/05/26/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. 7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. 15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! 19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. 20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. 21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! 22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Commentary:

To motivate his worship, he cites all the benefits that come to the faithful, in a series of participial clauses in verses 3–5. He begins by remembering that God forgives sin. Sin creates a barrier between humanity and a holy God, but God will forgive the sin of a contrite heart (Ps. 51:17). He can heal not only our spiritual state, but also our bodies. He is the divine healer. Indeed, the connection between forgiving sin and healing may indicate that the psalmist himself is thanking God for healing him from sickness that he believed was connected to his sin (a connection made explicit in Ps. 38:1–8; Brown 1995: 150). This sickness was serious, because God redeemed his life from the pit, the pit being a metaphor for the grave/underworld. But God does more than save him from death; he also crowns him with love (or loyalty; ḥesed) and compassion. These are God’s qualities promised to his covenant partners that explain why God does not simply abandon his people, even when they sin. God not only protects the psalmist from negative things like illness and death; he gives him good things as well. For instance, God not only allows the psalmist to survive death; he rejuvenates him. It is as if he is young again. An eagle was a symbol of strength and vitality (Isa. 40:31).

Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014), 356.

Questions:

David has to give his own soul a pep talk in Psalm 103, reminding himself of five massive benefits: Forgiveness, Healing, Redemption, Crowning, and Renewing/Filling. 
  • Look at those five benefits (Forgiveness, Healing, Redemption, Crowning, and Renewing/Filling). Which one feels the most difficult for you to truly accept or connect with right now?
  • Amber tied this Psalm to the story of the Prodigal Son, pointing out that the Father didn't just forgive the boy; he ran to him and put sandals on his feet. Servants went barefoot, but sons wore sandals. The Father completely restored his identity. Why do we often live like spiritual slaves trying to earn our keep, rather than walking in the identity of a son or daughter who has been "crowned" with love and mercy?
  • How does remembering that Jesus paid for these benefits with His own blood change the value you place on your life today?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to help you truly grasp the reality of your identity as a son or daughter who has been crowned with love and mercy, rather than a slave trying to earn your keep.
  • Pray for a deeper revelation of the cross, asking the Holy Spirit to show you where you have taken His costly benefits of forgiveness and redemption for granted.
  • Thank God that He doesn't just stop at forgiving your sins, but completely restores your standing, fills your life with goodness, and renews your weary heart.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

6. Is the Bible God's word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.

(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/05/26/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/05/25/monday-devo Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/05/25/monday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 103
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. 7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. 15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! 19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. 20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. 21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! 22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Commentary:

While other psalms open with a call for the assembled faithful to praise God, the psalmist here urges himself to worship. He desires that his praise not be pro forma, but to emanate from the deepest recesses of his heart (soul/inmost being). Of course, by exhorting himself publicly to praise, he encourages others to join in. To motivate his worship, he cites all the benefits that come to the faithful, in a series of participial clauses in verses 3–5.

Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014), 356.

Questions:

Amber kicked off the sermon talking about being on "auto-pilot"; that feeling you get when you pull into your driveway and suddenly realize you don't remember the last ten miles of the drive! Your body knew what to do, but your brain completely disconnected. We sometimes do the same thing on Sunday mornings. We put on the smile, sing the words, but our minds are a million miles away...
  • Have you ever caught yourself in auto-pilot worship, going through the religious motions while totally disconnected from God? What usually starts that mental disconnect for you?
  • Amber mentioned that our worship was never meant to be dependent on our changing emotions, but rooted in God's unchanging character. What is an altar moment in your past: a time God clearly provided, healed, or carried you, that you can look back on today to remind your soul of His faithfulness?
  • David was speaking directly to his own soul, commanding it to praise the Lord. What does this tell us about the relationship between our emotions, our human will, and worship? Why is it vital to understand that true biblical worship is a choice of obedience rather than just a feeling?

Prayer Topics:

  • Ask God to wake up your heart and mind when you enter into worship, pulling you out of "auto-pilot" routines and distractions.
  • Pray that the Holy Spirit would bring specific altar moments of His past faithfulness to your mind when you feel overwhelmed by your current circumstances.
  • Thank God that worship does not depend on your changing emotions, but on His completely unchanging and trustworthy character.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory! 

6. Is the Bible God's word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.

(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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