Life Group Community

10/24/2026

**Why Does the Name of Jesus Offend So Many?**

Mention Zeus, Ra, Odin, or any other false god, and most people don't think twice.

But mention **Jesus Christ**, and suddenly people become uncomfortable, defensive, or even angry.

Why?

**Romans 1:18–25** explains that humanity suppresses the truth, exchanging the Creator for created things.

Zeus doesn't call you to repentance.
Ra doesn't confront your sin.
Odin doesn't demand you surrender your life.

**But Jesus does.**

John 3:19 tells us that people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

Jesus confronts the very thing humanity doesn't want to surrender: **our sin and our desire to be our own god.**

But here's the beauty of the Gospel.

**Romans 3:23** reminds us that ALL have sinned, and **Romans 5:8** tells us Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

Jesus doesn't simply expose our sin. **He offers salvation from it.**

The world may reject His authority, but that doesn't change the truth.

**Jesus Christ is Lord.**

10/23/2026

No Place Like Home

10/23/2026

You Belong to the Family of God
Reading: Ephesians 2:19-22 -- Paul's declaration that believers are no longer strangers or foreigners but citizens with God's people, members of his family, built together into a holy dwelling place for God through his Spirit

Devotional:

Ellie grew up in her church and, by her own admission, sometimes took for granted the richness of what surrounded her. It was not until a painful and uncertain season of waiting that she saw clearly what the church truly is -- not a building, not a program, but a family that prays specifically, loves genuinely, and points one another back to Christ. You belong to that family. Not because you earned it, not because you have it all together, but because Christ is the cornerstone and you have been built into his dwelling place. Wherever you are today, you are not a stranger. You are home.

Reflection Question: Have you ever taken your church community for granted? What would it look like to engage with them this week with fresh gratitude and intentionality?

Practical Application: Write a brief note or send a message to someone in your church family expressing genuine gratitude for the specific way they have reflected Christ to you. Let them know they are seen and valued.

10/22/2026

10/21/2026

Self Love #

10/21/2026

The Strength of the Triple-Braided Cord
Reading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 -- The wisdom that two are better than one, that a person who falls alone is in real trouble, and that a cord of three strands is not easily broken

Devotional:

The world tells you that self-reliance is strength and that needing others is weakness. Scripture tells you the opposite. God designed human beings for community, not isolation. Ellie shared how her boyfriend Ryan suggested they begin praying together, and how that simple act of shared prayer helped her trust God more deeply during one of the most stressful seasons of her life. The triple-braided cord is not just a poetic image -- it is a blueprint for how relationships thrive. When Christ is the center of your connections with others, those bonds carry a strength that no individual effort can manufacture on its own.

Reflection Question: Who in your life could you invite into a deeper, Christ-centered relationship of mutual prayer and accountability?

Practical Application: Reach out today to one person and commit to praying together regularly, even if it begins with a single shared prayer over the phone or in person.

10/20/2026

Our Purpose

10/20/2026

Built on the Only Foundation
Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:11 -- The reminder that no foundation other than Jesus Christ can be laid; and John 15:5 -- Jesus describing himself as the vine and believers as the branches, noting that apart from him nothing of lasting value can be produced

Devotional:

Every structure is only as strong as what it rests upon. When storms come -- and they will come -- a foundation built on shifting ground will give way. Ellie reminded us that even Peter, who denied Christ three times out of fear, was still chosen to play a foundational role in the early church. This is not because Peter was perfect, but because Jesus is. The church does not stand on the strength of its people. It stands on the unchanging character of Christ. When your faith feels shaky, return to the vine. Apart from him, lasting fruit is impossible. In him, it is inevitable.

Reflection Question: Are there areas of your life where you have been relying on your own strength rather than remaining connected to Christ?

Practical Application: Spend ten minutes today in prayer, consciously releasing one area of your life into God's hands and asking him to be the foundation of your decisions in that area.

10/19/2026

Our Church

10/19/2026

You Are Part of the Body
Reading: Romans 12:4-5 -- Paul's description of how believers, though many, form one body in Christ, each belonging to the other

Devotional:

It is easy to underestimate your role in the church. You may feel ordinary, unnoticed, or replaceable. But God does not design anything by accident. Just as lungs and a heart each serve a distinct function while working toward the same goal of sustaining life, your gifts and your presence sustain the body of Christ in ways only you can. Ellie's youth group in Montana demonstrated this beautifully -- some collected donations while others delivered them, and together they blessed an entire community. Ask yourself today: what gift has God placed in you, and are you offering it freely to those around you?

Reflection Question: In what specific area of your church or community could your unique gifts serve others this week?

Practical Application: Identify one concrete way you can contribute to your local church body this week, whether through service, encouragement, or prayer for another member.