Avonport Baptist Church

09/07/2026

Weekly Bible Reading Plan

Day 1: Monday September 7, 2026

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” —Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah reminded us that our lives are not accidental or reactive to circumstances: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5). What an incredible thought! God’s knowing comes before our doing, our success, or our failure. Long before Jeremiah struggled with fear or doubted his calling, God had already seen him, named his purpose, and claimed him as His own. This verse grounds identity not in performance or confidence, but in God’s intentional design and prior knowledge.

For us, this means that seasons of uncertainty, inadequacy, or feeling unqualified do not negate God’s calling. Being known by God precedes being sent by God. When we remember that God saw us before anyone else ever labeled us, we are freed from striving to prove our worth and invited instead to trust the One who formed us with purpose. Jeremiah 1:5 calls us to rest in the truth that we are already known, already seen, and already held by God—even as we continue to grow into who He has called us to be.

Day 2: Tuesday September 8

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” —Matthew 10:29-31

Jesus reminded His disciples that not even a sparrow falls to the ground outside the Father’s care—and then He makes it personal: “You are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). In a moment when Jesus was preparing the disciples for hardship and fear, He anchored their courage in God’s intimate awareness. The same is true for us. We will constantly face hard things in life. And when life feels overwhelming, we can remember that God sees us, cares for us, and will be intimately involved in our lives. Matthew is revealing a God who is not distant or indifferent, but attentively involved in the smallest details of creation, right down to the number of hairs on our heads.

For us, this truth can speak directly to anxiety and self-doubt. Since God notices what seems insignificant to the world, then nothing about our lives is overlooked—not our worries, not our pain, not our quiet faithfulness. Jesus does not promise an easy path, but He promises presence and value. When fear tells us we are unseen or expendable, this passage calls us back to trust: we are fully known, deeply cared for, and held securely by a Father who sees us as worth far more than we imagine.

Day 3: Wednesday September 9

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” —John 14:21

Love for Jesus is not merely a feeling or a statement, but a lived response shaped by trust and obedience. Obedience here is not about earning God’s love; it is the natural outflow of a relationship already grounded in grace. Jesus connects love and action, showing that faith expresses itself through a willing alignment of our lives with His ways. It’s not that we need to earn His love by keeping His commands, it’s that we long to follow His ways because of a deeply connected relationship. It’s not an obligation. It’s a choice grounded in love.

What’s striking is the promise that follows: Jesus will show Himself to those who love Him. This suggests intimacy and revelation—not in dramatic displays, but in the quiet, faithful walk of obedience. As we choose to follow Jesus in daily, often unseen ways, we grow in awareness of His presence and character. What Jesus said that’s captured in John 14:21 invites us to see obedience not as pressure, but as an invitation into a deeper relationship, where love is both given and revealed in the life of one who walks closely with Christ.

Day 4: Thursday September 10

For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. —1 Corinthians 13:12-13

Paul reminded us of the limits of our understanding and the permanence of love: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Our present experience of God, ourselves, and one another is incomplete—marked by partial knowledge and unanswered questions. Paul’s words invite humility, acknowledging that much of what we long to fully understand will only be made clear in God’s presence. Yet even in this in-between space of imperfect vision, God is still at work, forming us and drawing us toward Himself.

Paul ended with a grounding truth: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Faith carries us when clarity is lacking, hope anchors us as we wait for what is yet to come, but love endures beyond both—into eternity itself. Love is not only what we practice now; it is what we are being prepared for forever. In a world driven by certainty, achievement, and answers, this passage calls us to invest most deeply in what will last: choosing love in our relationships, trusting God when we do not fully see, and living with hope that one day all things will be made clear.

Day 5: Friday September 11

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” —Mark 2:17

Jesus responded to criticism by saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). With these words, Jesus clarified both His mission and His heart. He did not position Himself as a reward for the spiritually successful, but as a healer for those who recognize their need. He does not force Himself on anyone, but rather freely invites a relationship with all who recognize what He is offering in light of themselves. This statement by Jesus confronts the illusion of self-sufficiency and invites honesty—because acknowledging our brokenness is the doorway to grace. If we don’t see our need, then we will never understand a need for Jesus.

For us, Jesus is reshaping how we see both ourselves and others. We do not come to Jesus once we are cleaned up; we come because we are in need of healing. And if this is true for us, it must also shape how we treat those around us—with compassion rather than judgment, and openness rather than exclusion. Jesus’ words recorded in Mark 2:17 remind us that the church is not meant to be a showcase of perfection, but a place where grace meets real need, and where Jesus continues His work of restoration in willing hearts.

09/07/2026

https://youtu.be/a1r4ul78XxE
Sunday, September 6th Service
Services will start at 11 am beginning September 13th. Also, the after service Fellowship gatherings will begin on the 13th. All are welcome; come bring a family member and/or a friend. Have a Blessed week.

09/05/2026

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

Weekly Bible Reading Plan
August 31st - September 4th

Day 1: Monday August 31

Psalm 46:1 - “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

This verse does not promise the absence of trouble—it assumes it. Trouble is the setting in which God reveals who He is. A refuge is not needed when life is calm. It is needed when things feel unstable, threatening, or overwhelming. God does not stand at a distance waiting for us to get through hardship on our own. He is present in it—near, attentive, and active. His strength meets us exactly when ours runs out.

What makes this promise so powerful is the phrase “ever-present.” God is not only available in emergencies or spiritual high points; He is consistently near, even when we feel shaken, afraid, or unsure how to move forward. When life presses in, we often look for escape or control, but Psalm 46 invites us to look for God’s presence instead. Refuge does not mean the storm disappears—it means we’re not facing it alone. And when God is our refuge, we discover that His steady presence can hold us, even when everything else feels unsteady.

Day 2: Tuesday September 1st

Psalm 55:22 - “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

We are invited to do something active with our anxiety—to release it. The word cast implies a deliberate handing over, not a quiet holding in. God does not ask us to manage our burdens better. He asks us to give them to Him. Sustaining grace does not always remove what is heavy, but it supplies the strength to carry what we cannot bear alone.

What makes this promise deeply reassuring is that God’s sustaining work is ongoing. He doesn’t offer a momentary boost and then step back. He sustains steadily, faithfully, and patiently. While circumstances may remain uncertain and emotions may still fluctuate, God’s presence keeps us from being undone. We may feel stretched, tired, or overwhelmed, but we are not abandoned or unstable in His care. When we place what weighs us down into God’s hands, we discover that He is strong enough to hold both us and everything we are carrying.

Day 3: Wednesday September 2nd

2 Corinthians 5:6-7 – “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.”

Paul was reminding believers that confidence doesn’t come from having everything figured out—it comes from trusting God beyond what we can see. Life in this world often feels uncertain, incomplete, and unresolved. Our brains are wired for concrete answers, and it’s challenging when we feel like we don’t have those. We don’t always see where God is leading or how things will turn out, but faith anchors us in the assurance that God is present and at work even when the evidence feels thin.

To live by faith rather than sight means choosing trust over control. Sight wants proof, clarity, and outcomes. Yet faith leans into God’s character when answers are unclear. This kind of confidence is not a denial of difficulty. It’s a settled trust that our lives are held by God, even in the in-between. This type of confidence doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes it takes practice. But, as we walk by faith, we learn to loosen our grip on certainty and deepen our reliance on God, discovering that His promises are more reliable than what our eyes can see.

Day 4: Thursday September 3rd

Matthew 11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus does not invite the strong, the put-together, or the spiritually impressive—He invites the tired. He invited the discouraged and the doubting. He speaks directly to those carrying heavy loads: expectations, responsibilities, guilt, grief, and unspoken exhaustion. This invitation is not a demand to do more, but a call to come as we are. You don’t need to get your act together first. Jesus just asks you to be yourself. Exactly as you are. Rest, in Jesus’ words, is not simply physical relief; it is soul-deep renewal that comes from being with Him.

What makes this promise so comforting is that rest is not something we earn. It is something we receive. Jesus does not say, “Fix your life and then come,” but “Come, and I will give.” In a world that constantly asks us to prove our worth and manage our burdens alone, Jesus offers a different way of living. Jesus goes against the norm. He flips the expectations of the world on its head. He offers better. When we respond to His invitation, we find that our weariness is met with grace, and our burdens are held by the One strong enough to carry them.

Day 5: Friday September 4th

Psalm 91:3-7 – “Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.”

Psalm 91:3-7 paints a picture of God as both protector and refuge amid real danger. The psalmist speaks of snares, deadly disease, terror, and destruction—images that reflect the uncertainty and fear that often surround human life. While we may not experience these exact things, we certainly know the feelings and fears. Yet woven through these threats is a steady assurance: God delivers, covers, and shields those who dwell in Him. His protection is not portrayed as fragile or distant, but as close and intentional, like sheltering wings that guard what is precious.

These verses do not promise that trouble will never come, but it does promise that fear does not have the final word. Even when chaos surrounds us, and others seem to fall, God remains faithful and present. Trusting in Him does not mean denying reality; it means anchoring our hearts in the truth that we are not defenceless or alone. When we choose to rest in God’s care, we find confidence not in our circumstances, but in the One whose protection holds firm no matter what unfolds around us.

08/31/2026

This is my invitation (Pastor Stephen) to you to join us @ 10:30 Am September 6th for our Sunday Worship Service. We will be partaking in The Lords Supper during the services. Come one come all.

08/31/2026

https://youtu.be/3HvCNydXnq8
Sunday, August 30, 2026

08/24/2026

I invite you all to come on out on August 30th @10:30 AM for our Sunday Worship Service. Coffee/ Tea and maybe even hot chocolate will be available. Come as you are.

08/24/2026

Bible Reading Plan
Week of August 24th -August 28th

Day 1: Monday August 24th

Psalm 139:1-2 says, “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”

We are reminded that God’s knowledge of us is not distant or observational, but deeply personal: “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” To be searched by God is not to be scrutinized for failure, but to be lovingly known. God is attentive to the quiet details of our lives—the ordinary rhythms, the unspoken thoughts, the moments no one else notices. Long before we explain ourselves or prove our worth, God already knows us fully. What’s striking is that this kind of knowing is paired with care, not control. God’s awareness doesn’t wait for us to perform or impress; it meets us where we are. When we feel unseen, misunderstood, or overlooked, Psalm 139 assures us that our lives are never invisible to God. He sees the internal battles, the faithful obedience no one applauds, and the questions we carry silently. Resting in this truth allows us to stop striving for recognition and instead live from a place of security—confident that the God who knows us completely also loves us faithfully.

Day 2: Tuesday August 25th

Matthew 10:29-31 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus pointed to something small and easily overlooked: sparrows. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” Jesus reminded us that God’s attention is not reserved for what the world deems important. If God notices the life and death of a sparrow—something of little value in the marketplace—then His care for us is far greater. God’s awareness is not broad and impersonal; it is precise, intimate, and constant. Nothing in our lives is too small, too ordinary, or too insignificant to escape His notice.

Jesus went even further, saying that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. This is not meant to impress us with God’s power, but to reassure us of His closeness. God’s knowledge of us is detailed because His love is intentional. When fear tells us we are alone, forgotten, or replaceable, Jesus speaks directly to that lie: “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Living in this truth reshapes how we face uncertainty and anxiety. We can move forward with courage—not because life is predictable, but because the God who sees even the smallest details holds our lives with unwavering care.

Day 3: Wednesday August 26th

Zephaniah 3:17 tells us, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17 paints one of the most tender pictures of God in all of Scripture: “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” This verse holds together two truths we often separate—God’s strength and God’s affection. The One who is mighty enough to save is also gentle enough to delight in His people. God is not merely tolerating us or reluctantly staying near; He is present with joy, not disappointment.

What’s especially both tender and revealing is that God’s rejoicing is active and expressive—He sings over His people. This means our worth is not rooted in our performance or spiritual success, but in God’s love itself. When shame tells us to hide, and fear tells us we’re alone, Zephaniah reminds us that God moves toward us with delight. He quiets our anxious hearts with His love and surrounds us with His presence. Living in this truth allows us to rest—not because life is easy, but because the God who is with us is both powerful and deeply kind.

Day 4: Thursday August 27th

Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

The author gives us a gentle yet powerful invitation: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” This verse doesn’t deny the weight of what we carry—it acknowledges that there are real burdens pressing on our hearts. God does not ask us to minimize our worries or manage them alone. He is not asking us to pretend like those worries don’t exist. Instead, He invites us to place them into His care, trusting that He is strong enough to hold what feels too heavy for us. He longs to care for us and carry these hard places for us.

What makes this promise so comforting is the word sustain. God may not immediately remove the burden, but He promises to support us through it. When we feel unsteady, overwhelmed, or close to giving up, God supplies what we lack—strength, endurance, and peace. Casting our cares on Him is not a one-time act, but a daily posture of trust. Sometimes we will need to do this multiple times throughout the day, and that’s okay. God is not bothered by that. As we release what we cannot carry, we discover that God is faithful to keep us standing, held steady by His unfailing presence.

Day 5: Friday August 28th

Genesis 16:13 says ,“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

This verse records a sacred moment of recognition and hope despite deep pain. After being mistreated, overlooked, and driven into the wilderness, Hagar encountered God and declared, “You are the God who sees me.” This statement was not born out of comfort or success, but out of desperation. In a moment when no one else noticed her suffering, God met Hagar personally and tenderly. He saw her fear, her exhaustion, and her uncertainty—and He moved toward her, not away from her. Being seen by God restored Hagar’s dignity and reminded her that her life mattered.

What makes this moment so powerful is that Hagar’s circumstances did not immediately change, but her understanding of God—and herself—did. She discovered that God’s attention is not reserved for the powerful or celebrated but extends to the wounded and forgotten. Genesis 16:13 invites us to trust that the same God sees us in our hidden places, our unanswered questions, and our quiet endurance. When we believe that God truly sees us, we begin to walk forward with renewed courage—not because life is suddenly easy, but because we are no longer invisible.

08/24/2026

https://youtu.be/URYOjm5muA8

Avonport Baptist Church ServiceSunday, August 23, 2026; 10:30 AMP...