First Christian Church of Rushville, Illinois

06/11/2026

Sunday, June 14
9:30a Coffee
10a Worship
Scripture: James 1:9-18
Message: "Persevere" - Pastor Jerry Marzolf
Come join us!

06/10/2026

Wednesday Devotional
Scripture: Romans 5:1-8

When we were, and are, still sinners, still in our weakness, yet despite all of that Christ came and died for us. Christ loved us enough to die for us without waiting for us to be "good" enough. Hallelujah. What a wonderful and awe-inspiring love, a love that is beyond comparison. A love that comes from the Master of the Universe, one who knows us more deeply than we know ourselves. And because of the love of Christ, we have a hope beyond all hope, one that cannot be taken away by circumstance or difficulties. Because of the Gospel we know that we can persevere through all difficult and troubling times that we have to face. We know that no matter what happens in life, we are still loved by the God above all. That nothing can separate us from the love of God, and that no matter what people say about us we are loved. Let us live in this love and use it to encourage us to perservere through trouble. And then when people who see us ask for the source of our hope, we can tell them that is Christ.

Questions to Meditate on:

1) When did you first feel the love of God, and when do you feel it most clearly during your life?

2) How does Christ's love differ from the love that offered by our culture? How do we ensure our love is more Christlike?

3) In what ways can we remember the love of Christ during our times of trouble?

06/09/2026

Tuesday Devotional
Scripture: Psalm 100

The Lord's steadfast love endures forever. We are studying Ecclesiastes in our summer Bible study, and one consistent refrain is how everything is temporary and nothing is lasting. Ecclesiastes reminds us that power is fleeting, wealth is fleeting, joy is fleeting, wisdom is fleeting, and fame is fleeting all eventually to pass into the wind. The only thing that remains, the only thing that is eternal is God and God's love. When we cling onto the fleeting we are met with disappointment, when we cling on the eternal we are filled with joy.

Once we acknowledge the steadfast love of God we cannot help but dance, sing and act for joy. We cannot help but celebrate God, and let us do so. Let us celebrate God both by our worship in song and dance, but in our lives of discipleship reflecting God's love onto this world. Our world is obsessed with the fleeting, let us instead show them the eternal love of God they sorely need.

Questions to meditate on:

1) Have you ever put your hope on something fleeting and have been disappointed?

2) How can you world to move your hope and trust to God's love even when the rest of the world tells you to trust other sources?

3) In what ways can you demonstrate the steadfast love of God?

06/08/2026

Monday Devotional
Scripture: Exodus 19:2-8

I think the most important part of this passage for us is the emphasis that, even before the covenant, God had already provided grace and mercy to the Hebrew people. God did not wait for the Mosaic Law to be followed before God saved the Hebrews from Egyptian rule. God could have done that; he could have had Moses and Aaron first deliver the Law to the Hebrews and offer liberation after the Law was followed. But that was not the path God chose, for God is the first actor showing love and grace to us and we are the responders with discipleship and faith.

Just like it was with God saving then providing the Law with Moses, Christ died on the Cross before we were made righteous. The Grace precedes the faith, our faith is a response to, and acceptance of, God's Grace. In this God demonstrates the love God has that reaches out to us seeking our good before we even know it. God is not one sitting and waiting on us, but one who seeks us out to show us God's love and invite us to join God's family. In the same way our love should be one which reaches out to people. Not waiting on people to be perfect before we provide love and help, but helping those even in their dark times. Not to approve of ill doing, but demonstrating the Love of God that reaches to them always. For it God loves us in our wickedness, we can do the same for others.

Questions to meditate on:

1) What does God as the first actor, showing love first, mean to you?

2) Have you ever had someone reach out to you in a dark time before you reached out to them? How did that impact you?

3) How do you show love to someone who is on a dark path without reinforcing that dark path?

06/08/2026

Tuesday 6PM Worship Service Information'

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:20
Sermon Title: Do Not give False Witness

Songs:

"I've witnessed it"
"Good News"
"Ancient Words"
"Mighty to Save"
"Hard Fought Hallelujah"

06/08/2026

Yesterday's Service:

Welcome to our Sunday service.

06/04/2026

Thursday Devotional
Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

The story of the calling of Matthew is one that always inspires me. Jesus went to Matthew and said, "follow me" and Matthew followed. There was no grand speech or argument, no Elevator Pitch or evangelistic tract. There was no itinerary offered, no promise of riches or an easy life, and no guarantee of safety. There was just the command by Jesus to follow him, and Matthew got up and left behind his entire life to follow Christ. Too long we, and I include myself in this, are waiting for Christ to give us all the details and assurances before we move and follow Christ. Further, unlike Matthew we know who Christ is and what Christ has done. We should endeavor to adopt the courage and willingness of Matthew to be ready to eagerly and zealously follow Christ.

After calling Matthew, Jesus ate at his house the same night with people who were considered undesirable. Christ chose to be around those that society has abandoned and given up on. The despised and forgotten of society, and we are called to do the same. We may face push back, just like Jesus did from the Scribes and Pharisees, but it is among the hurting that we can most clearly demonstrate God's unending and unlimited Grace.

And the final statement is similar to the discussion from yesterday. God cares more about how we live in our faith than just the appearances. We can go to church every weekend, have the best worship music, have the most beautiful sanctuary, but if we do not show God's mercy and love to the world we have not fulfilled our need. So let us show God's mercy.

Questions to Meditate On:

1) Have you ever got up and changed your life based upon God's Call?

2) In what ways can you go and show God's love to the forgotten and despised?

3) How can First Christian demonstrate God's mercy?

06/04/2026

Sunday, June 7
9:30a Coffee
10a Worship
Scripture: James 1:1-18
Message: "Asking for Wisdom and Faith" - Pastor Jerry Marzolf
COME JOIN US!

06/03/2026

Tuesday Devotional
Scripture: Hosea 5:15-6:6

It is amazing the mercy and grace that God possesses, grace and mercy beyond all understanding. In this passage, God is calling on the people of Israel to repent and turn back to God. Throughout the prophetic text God continually gives the same message, repent and turn back to God. This instruction to repent is accompanied by the promise of reconciliation and restoration should Israel do so. Christ makes the same call upon us as individuals, to turn towards God and be restored. And this call comes and follows us our entire lives, no matter where we go, no matter how far we fall, if we just return to God we shall be saved. There shall be a full restoration to God, not just an end to punishment but to become children of God. Let us answer this call to turn to God, let us be restored upon the one who can and will restore all.

Besides this call to repent and return to God includes a new view of our relationship with God. Rather than a focus on sacrifice, it is a focus on love and knowledge of God. It is not about just going through the motions of Christianity, how often you attend church, or the percentage of your income you tithe. What matters is how you live your life every day, how you reflect the Love of God unto this world, and how you seek after God every day growing in your relationship with God. This is actually much harder; one needs to give oneself wholly to God. But despite the difficulty and cost, it is more than worth it.

Questions to meditate on:

1) Have you seen anyone, or yourself been, restored to God after a time of trouble?

2) How does God's treatment of people who wrong differ from the world's?

3) How do you demonstrate God's love in your daily life?