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by The Salvation Army Gwinnett

Religion & Spirituality Christianity Spirituality

Season 16

Courage Over Fear (Week 1: From Self-Focused to God-Focused)

Joshua's transition from Moses' assistant to Israel's leader offers powerful lessons for navigating life's inevitable changes. When God called Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, He promised never to leave or forsake him. This same promise applies to us today during our own seasons of transition. Joshua's preparation involved years of learning obedience and faithfulness in smaller roles before stepping into greater responsibility. God addressed Joshua's fears not with condemnation but with encouragement, repeatedly telling him to be strong and courageous. The key to Joshua's success was meditating on God's Word day and night, which shifted his focus from doubts to God's promises and character.

Season 15

Easter Sunday

Christ's victory over darkness, sin, and death represents the most powerful truth in human history. The Gospel of John reveals that Jesus is God himself, whose light shines in the darkness and cannot be overcome. We face real spiritual warfare between light and darkness, but salvation through Christ is like stepping from the dark side of the moon into brilliant sunlight. Jesus left His position as creator to become human, identifying with us so we might receive Him and become children of God. The urgency of sharing this gospel has never been greater, as people are dying daily without knowing Christ. The resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to transform our lives today.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday reveals the tension between the king Israel wanted and the king they needed. As crowds shouted Hosanna and waved palm branches, they expected a political deliverer who would overthrow Rome. Instead, Jesus rode in on a donkey, demonstrating his gentle kingship. His first act wasn't military conquest but cleansing the temple, showing his authority over spiritual corruption rather than political power. Today we often crown lesser kings like wealth, approval, or control, but these leave us empty. Jesus offers something different - he doesn't just save us, he holds us fast, providing the deep satisfaction and eternal security our souls truly need.

Before I Go: Final Moments with Jesus (Week 5: Unity)

Jesus' final days with His disciples reveal five movements in God's formation of a new humanity: humility, presence, connection, endurance, and unity. Through washing feet, promising the Holy Spirit, teaching about abiding in the vine, preparing for trouble, and praying for oneness, Jesus shows that spiritual formation happens in our most challenging relationships. Unity doesn't begin with agreement but with humility born from knowing our identity in Christ. The Spirit enables supernatural love that witnesses to the world, transforming us from influencers into authentic witnesses of God's transformative power.

Before I Go: Final Moments with Jesus (Week 4: Relying on the Spirits Presence)

Jesus promised His disciples the Holy Spirit as God's greatest gift before His departure. He warned them about coming persecution, not to discourage them, but to prepare them so they wouldn't fall away. While the disciples grieved His leaving, Jesus explained it was actually better for them because the Spirit would come to indwell all believers universally. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, while guiding believers into truth and holiness. The Spirit's primary mission is to glorify Jesus, and when we're filled with the Spirit, we become deeply Christ-centered in our worship, witness, and daily living.

Pursuit of Holy Love: How Holy Love Overflows from Us

The world lies under Satan's power, trapped in deception and darkness, but God has called His church to be an army of deliverance. As believers, we are witnesses who proclaim that Jesus has come to set captives free. Our witness flows from four sources: God's truth, our new identity in Christ, fellowship with Him and other believers, and His mission that sends us out. We overcome darkness not through force but through surrender, following Jesus' example of sacrificial love. A faithful church engages in discipleship, skills development, evangelism, and service to bring the whole gospel to the whole person. Victory comes through faith and complete surrender to God's purposes, allowing His Spirit to transform us into Christ's image so we can demonstrate authentic Christianity to a watching world.

Before I Go: Final Moments with Jesus (Week 3: Abide)

Jesus uses the powerful imagery of a vine and branches to illustrate our spiritual relationship with Him. When we disconnect from Christ, we become like withered branches that are thrown into the fire and burned. True spiritual life doesn't come from religious heritage, church membership, or good works—it comes only from a personal connection to Jesus. Abiding in Christ requires daily submission to God's will, consistent prayer and worship, studying Scripture, and turning away from sin. Without this vital connection, we may have the external appearance of faith but lack the spiritual power and life that only comes through Christ.

Before I Go: Final Moments with Jesus (Week 2: Hope in Jesus)

In times of uncertainty and anxiety, our hope isn't found in circumstances, money, or success—it's found in Christ alone. When Jesus told His troubled disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, He offered them faith that goes beyond intellect—an intimate reliance on Him. Jesus assured them that His departure was not abandonment but preparation, as He goes to prepare a place for us in the Father's house. His exclusive claim to be the way, the truth, and the life isn't arrogance but revelation, providing the only path to God. When we lose hope, we must remember that Jesus is our living hope that cannot be shaken, no matter what storms may come.

Before I go: Final Moments with Jesus (Week 1: Humble Service)

Jesus' act of washing his disciples' feet in the Upper Room reveals the heart of true greatness in God's kingdom. Instead of demanding honor like earthly rulers, Jesus took the position of a servant, demonstrating that authentic leadership flows from humble service. This shocking reversal of social norms wasn't just about cleanliness - it symbolized the ongoing cleansing believers need through confession and grace. Jesus set an example for his followers, showing that greatness is measured not by how many serve us, but by how willingly we serve others, especially in life's messy and difficult moments.

Season 14

The Word

Life can feel overwhelming, but God hasn't left us to navigate it alone. Psalm 119:105 reveals that God's Word serves as a lamp to our feet and a light for our path, providing practical guidance for daily living. Just as a phone without power leaves us in darkness, life without Scripture leaves us stumbling through decisions and challenges. When we connect to God's Word, it becomes our power source, making our path clearer and obstacles less intimidating. Jesus declared Himself as the way, the truth, and the life, serving not just as our Savior but as our ultimate guide. Through daily Scripture reading, trusting what we learn, and living out biblical principles, we can experience the transformation and direction that comes from following the Light of the World.

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