Nay Chapel

09/06/2026

I invite you to join me today at Nay Chapel Church as we look at Psalm 23 and as we Walk with God.
Worship at 10am
Sunday School @ 11am

09/06/2026

September 6: Faith for Every Moment
Hosea 13:1–14:9; Acts 6:1–15; Job 17:1–16
Sometimes it’s tempting to imagine ourselves as the hero of a dramatic scene where we’re called upon to give an account of our faith. But in real life, every action and every moment of our lives is a witness—even the ordinary ones. Stephen, a leader in the early church, knew this to be true.
Stephen was appointed by the apostles to care for widows in need because he was “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). People recognized his witness because he was faithful when no one was watching. His devotion brought him to a place of influence and leadership in the community.
But Stephen didn’t limit his witness to one area of leadership. In the next verses, we find him witnessing about Christ by performing great wonders and signs. That’s when he came under fire, and his response was above reproach: “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking” (Acts 6:10). His opponents could not find a way to accuse him, so they resorted to spreading rumors (Acts 6:11). But even when Stephen stood accused before the Sanhedrin, he remained firm. Luke describes him as having “the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15), signifying that a sense of peace permeated his witness, where others might have been fearful or defensive.
It’s easy to think our witness matters only for world-changing events, but we’re in the spotlight all the time. Knowing this, we should be intentional about the way we interact in the small things and in the present time. Pray to be faithful, wise, and full of the Spirit for every moment.
How do you need to change your perspective on your witness?
Rebecca Van Noord

Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Lexham Press, 2012.

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09/05/2026

September 5: I Loved You; I Love You Now
Hosea 11:1–12:14; Acts 5:1–42; Job 16:10–22
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hos 11:1). This line is beautiful if read alone, but it is sad when read in context: “When I called them, they went from my face. They sacrificed to the Baals, and they sacrificed to idols” (Hos 11:2). It’s incredible how quickly we forget God’s mercy and provision. All too soon we return to putting our desires before His.
When we put things in front of God’s will—false gods and our own misguided ways (Baals and idols)—we thwart His will not only for our lives, but also for the lives of others. For each of us, God has a tremendous plan that also affects others, for His glory and for the betterment of the world. When we fail to seek His will, we neglect our faith and operate by our own agenda, setting His work aside.
Our missteps can have terribly painful consequences: “The sword rages in [my people’s] cities; it consumes [their] false prophets and devours because of their plans. My people are bent on backsliding from me. To the Most High they call, he does not raise them at all” (Hos 11:6–7).
We endanger ourselves when we backslide. Sin tears at our very souls. Yet God is loving. Unlike us, He doesn’t act out of vengeance but out of His perfect will: “I will not execute my fierce anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; because I am God and not a mortal, the Holy One in your midst; and I will not come in wrath. They will go after Yahweh; he roars like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the sea” (Hos 11:9–10).
God’s goodness is not an excuse for our poor behavior; it’s the reason to run back to Him—our great lion. Let’s let Him roar against the darkness that seeks to capture our desires and our hearts. Let’s let Him push back. Let’s call upon Yahweh.
What circumstances in your life prompt you to call on Yahweh today? What are you battling against?
John D. Barry

Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Lexham Press, 2012.

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09/05/2026

Welcome to Nay Chapel on this 30th day of August, 2026; This morning message comes from Micah 6:8 - What Does God Require?, with Pastor Dwayne Brown

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

September 4: Utopian Truth for Today
Hosea 8:1–10:15; Acts 4:1–37; Job 16:1–9
Wealth often tempts us to materialism, as our possessions make us feel secure, valued, and comfortable. But sometimes the lack of these assets allows this temptation to exert even more power over us, driving us to spend our lives chasing the higher salary, the bigger house, or the new car. Our pursuit of this illusion makes it easy to dismiss passages like Acts 4 as utopian fantasy—ideal for difficult times, perhaps, but hardly realistic.
“Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all things were theirs in common. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold” (Acts 4:32–34).
We too easily find ways to distance ourselves from the selfless acts of the early believers. Sell plots of land or houses? Give it all away? That doesn’t seem reasonable. Won’t people take advantage of us? Won’t they grow lazy and begin to feel entitled?
The early church responded differently. They responded to the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with concrete acts of faith. They saw Christ as Lord over all they previously regarded as their personal possessions. They were so united in purpose and prayer that the things they owned mattered little unless they could be used in service to others—in doing the work of Christ.
No matter where we stand financially, we need a new mindset. If it’s difficult to imagine changing our lifestyle to help someone in need, then we need to examine our hearts. If we cling to the belief that our possessions give us security, value, and comfort, then we need to examine our faith. Either way, we have to assess our possessions, talents, and time, consider the people in our lives, and make decisions that are governed by the values of a new kingdom.
How can you better use your money, possessions, time, and talents to serve others?
Rebecca Van Noord

Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Lexham Press, 2012.

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09/03/2026

September 3: The Discomfort of Scripture
Hosea 6:1–7:16; Acts 2:42–3:26; Job 15:21–35
Most of the Western world operates in the spirit of individualism. Christianity does not, though we often attempt to adapt it and make it more comfortable. It’s much easier to think about “God’s role in my life” than to reflect on “my role in God’s plan” to help others and share the gospel.
When we attempt to shape our faith to fit our needs, we’re bound to run into Scripture that makes us squirm. Some people perform interpretive backflips to wriggle out of passages such as Acts 2:42–47. Verse 44 says, “And all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common.” A fear of socialism serves as a convenient excuse to sidestep this verse, but it doesn’t speak to socialism. It speaks to voluntarily joining a movement of people who care more about the betterment of the group than they do about their individual gain.
The truth is that God’s Word should make us uncomfortable because we are the ones who need to conform. None of us wants to accept Acts 2:44 unless the Spirit has worked within us. Acting out our faith means we must be willing to donate what we have to help others: time, material goods, money—whatever God calls us to give. Self-sacrifice is not easy for anyone, but it becomes easier when the Spirit prompts our hearts to see the needs of others as more important than our wants.
Most people in the Western world choose the sin of selfishness over selfless service to others. Do we need to buy a coffee every morning, or could we make a cup at home? Do we need to live in a larger house, or could we downsize? Nearly all of us can find ways to give more by living with less. And we might find the motive we need when the Spirit speaks to us through the discomfort of Scripture.
How can you give what you have to help others? What sacrifice can you make today, this week, or this month? Who do you know who’s in need?
John D. Barry

Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Lexham Press, 2012.

09/02/2026

September 2: Only the Very Beginning
Hosea 3:1–5:15; Acts 2:1–41; Job 15:10–20
Beginnings are exciting. The freshness of a new project or a new relationship sharpens our senses. When that novelty diminishes, though, it’s difficult to maintain the same level of excitement.
Acts 2 is all about beginnings. In this passage we get an inside view of how God worked to gather a new community of believers to Himself. Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit signaled a new era and produced a new community, as both Jews and “devout men from every nation under heaven” converted to the Christian faith (Acts 2:5).
From where we stand, it’s easy for us to see Pentecost as the pivotal moment in the history of the Church—an unparalleled event that changed the world forever. Magnificent things happened. Peter gave a moving testimony. Three thousand people came to faith.
When we celebrate the holiday of Pentecost, however, we are remembering the firstfruits of the harvest—the coming of the Holy Spirit and the original community of believers under Jesus Christ. Firstfruits are only the start of a harvest; they hint at future abundance. The wonders that began at Pentecost are still happening today. God is active and present in our lives, just as He was gathering His Church then.
We need a fresh perspective. We need the motivation and the boldness of Peter. We need to rekindle our original excitement when announcing that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, because He is at work, in us and around us.
How are you sharing this hope?
Rebecca Van Noord

Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Lexham Press, 2012.

09/01/2026

September 1: An Unusual Portrait
Hosea 1:1–2:23; Acts 1:1–26; Job 15:1–9
“At the beginning when Yahweh spoke through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, ‘Go, take for yourself a wife and children of whoredom, because the land commits great whoredom forsaking Yahweh.’ So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son” (Hos 1:2–3). God’s people had prostituted themselves to other nations by seeking their help instead of Yahweh’s. Hosea’s act, which dramatized the rebellion of God’s people against Him, is one of the oddest in the Bible.
God loves His people with passion and jealousy. He has little tolerance when they seek alliances with other nations and put false gods before Him. At times, He takes shocking measures to get their attention. The act He requires of Hosea not only depicts Israel’s unfaithfulness, but it also reveals God’s own feelings of betrayal. Many of us can empathize.
At such moments in the Bible, it’s hard to understand how God uses such behavior to further His plan. But within the view of biblical theology, desperate situations like Hosea’s are transformed into redemptive scenes. Such is the case when we open the book of Acts: “I produced the former account [of the Gospel of Luke], O Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, until the day he was taken up, after he had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom he also presented himself alive after he suffered, with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking the things about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:1–3). Jesus came to redeem a people who sought refuge in the arms of false gods and other nations.
When we see Hosea’s story in the light of Jesus’ acts and the subsequent acts of His apostles, we learn that God can indeed bring even the most wretched of people to righteousness. We also learn that sometimes it takes a vivid, if odd, real-life portrait for us to understand the truth about our false ways.
Are you seeking refuge in the wrong places or the wrong ways? What are you placing before Yahweh and His work in your life?
John D. Barry

Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Lexham Press, 2012.

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