The Power of Truth in Community

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

February 1st Sermon, Day 2

Trust is the foundation of every meaningful relationship, and truth is what builds that trust brick by brick. When we're dishonest - whether through outright lies, half-truths, or convenient omissions - we're not just hurting the other person; we're damaging the very fabric of our community. Think about a time when someone lied to you.

Remember that sinking feeling when you discovered the truth? That moment when trust cracked, and you wondered what else might not be true? Now imagine that happening repeatedly in a church, family, or workplace. The bonds that hold us together begin to unravel. Paul understood that the church functions like a body - each part connected and dependent on the others. When we speak truthfully, we strengthen these connections. When we lie, we create dysfunction that affects everyone. It's like a virus that spreads, making the whole body sick.

But here's the encouraging news: every time we choose truth, we're building something beautiful. We're creating safe spaces where people can be vulnerable, where real growth happens, and where God's love is tangibly expressed. Truth-telling isn't always easy - sometimes it requires difficult conversations or admitting our mistakes - but it's always worth it. When we commit to honesty, we're not just following a rule; we're participating in God's character. He is truth, and when we speak truthfully, we reflect His nature to the world around us.

Bible Verse

'Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.' - Ephesians 4:25

Reflection Question

Are there any areas in your relationships where you've been less than completely honest, and what steps can you take to rebuild trust through truthfulness?

Quote

Lying, falsehood is a gross hindrance to the function of the church body. It is game over, life over for the church as a body if there's lying.

Prayer

Father, give me the courage to speak truth in love, even when it's difficult. Help me to see how my honesty strengthens our community and reflects Your character. Forgive me for times I've chosen convenience over truth. Amen.

Remember Who You Are

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

February 1st Sermon, Day 1

Have you ever caught yourself acting in a way that doesn't match who you know you're supposed to be? Maybe you snapped at your spouse after a long day, or gossiped about a coworker, and afterward thought, 'That's not who I want to be.'

Paul reminds us that as believers, we have a new identity in Christ that should transform how we live and interact with others. When we accepted Jesus, we didn't just get a ticket to heaven - we became new people. Yet sometimes we slip back into old patterns, especially when conversations get difficult. We might resort to defensiveness, harsh words, or even dishonesty to protect ourselves. But Paul challenges us to live differently.

This transformation isn't just about big moral decisions; it's about the everyday moments when we choose how to respond to our teenager's attitude, our boss's criticism, or our friend's different political views. In these moments, we have the opportunity to reflect our new identity in Christ. The beautiful truth is that we don't have to figure this out on our own. God has given us His Spirit to help us remember who we are and to live it out authentically.

When we feel ourselves slipping into old patterns, we can pause and ask, 'How would Jesus handle this conversation?' This simple question can redirect our hearts and words toward grace and truth.

Bible Verse

'So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.' - Ephesians 4:17

Reflection Question

In what specific relationships or situations do you find yourself most tempted to revert to old patterns of thinking and speaking, and how might remembering your identity in Christ change your approach?

Quote

Stop thinking and thus living like people who have not been transformed by the saving grace and love of Jesus. Remember what you've been taught, who you are, and walk that out.

Prayer

Lord, help me to remember who I am in You. When I'm tempted to respond from my old nature, remind me of the new person You've made me to be. Give me the strength to live out my identity in Christ, especially in difficult conversations. Amen.

Hope in Broken Places

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

January 25th Sermon, Day 5

God's promise of hope to the exiles came right in the middle of their difficult circumstances, not as an escape from them. They were still in Babylon, still far from home, still surrounded by a culture that didn't understand their faith. Yet God said, 'I know the plans I have for you... plans to give you hope and a future.'

This is a profound truth for us today: God's hope isn't a distant promise for when everything gets better. It's a present reality that transforms how we live right now, even in broken places. When we truly believe that God is at work in our communities, our workplaces, our families - even when they're messy and imperfect - it changes everything.

Hope gives us the courage to plant gardens in foreign soil, to invest in relationships that might be challenging, to work for the good of people who may never thank us for it. Hope helps us see beyond current circumstances to God's bigger story of redemption and restoration.

This week, you've been challenged to move from passive waiting to active engagement, to become an agent of shalom, to step outside echo chambers, and to engage in meaningful conversations. All of this is possible because of hope - the confident expectation that God is working His purposes out through ordinary people like you and me. Your current circumstances, however difficult or imperfect, are not the end of the story. They're the very place where God wants to demonstrate His power to bring beauty from ashes, to create community from division, and to build His kingdom through willing hearts.

Bible Verse

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' - Jeremiah 29:11

Reflection Question

How does believing that God has good plans for you - right where you are now - change the way you approach your current challenges and relationships?

Quote

God's promise of hope comes in the middle of a difficult time, and not as an escape from it.

Prayer

Father, thank You that Your hope is not dependent on perfect circumstances. Help me to live with confidence in Your good plans, even when I can't see the full picture. Use me as an instrument of Your peace and hope in the places where You've planted me. Amen.

Conversations That Matter

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

January 25th Sermon, Day 4

Some of life's most important conversations happen in the most unexpected places. Around lunch tables at school, in break rooms at work, during neighborhood gatherings, or while taking walks with friends. These aren't formal debates or structured discussions - they're the organic moments when real life intersects with real relationships.

But here's what's interesting: important conversations can also happen when things feel tense, divided, and frankly exhausting. In fact, these might be the most crucial times for meaningful dialogue. When the world feels polarized and people seem to be talking past each other, that's precisely when we need people who are willing to engage with hope rather than fear.

Peace doesn't start with policies or programs - it starts with people. It begins when we choose to see the person across from us not as an opponent to defeat, but as a fellow human being created in God's image. It grows when we listen to understand rather than to win arguments. This kind of conversation requires something from us that our culture often discourages: patience, humility, and genuine curiosity about others' experiences. It means asking questions like 'Help me understand your perspective' rather than immediately launching into why someone is wrong.

When we believe God is at work even in broken places, we can approach these conversations differently. We don't talk from fear, superiority, or despair. We talk from hope, knowing that God can use even difficult discussions to bring about His purposes.

Bible Verse

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' - Jeremiah 29:11

Reflection Question

Think of a difficult conversation you've been avoiding - what would change if you approached it from a place of hope rather than fear, seeking to understand rather than to win?

Quote

Turns out some of the most important conversations that you can have in life, and that we do have in life, happen in places we don't expect.

Prayer

God, prepare my heart for the conversations You want me to have. Give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to listen. Help me to approach others with curiosity and grace, trusting that You can work through even difficult discussions to bring about Your peace. Amen.

Breaking Out of Echo Chambers

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

January 25th Sermon, Day 3

We live in an age of echo chambers. Social media algorithms serve up content that confirms what we already believe. We tend to live in neighborhoods, attend churches, and work in places surrounded by people who think like us. Over time, our world gets smaller, our certainty gets louder, and our patience gets thinner.

But real peace - the kind of shalom God desires - requires something different. It requires stepping outside our comfortable bubbles and engaging with real people who have real stories, even when those stories challenge our assumptions or make us uncomfortable. This doesn't mean abandoning our convictions or pretending that all viewpoints are equally valid. Rather, it means recognizing that faithful living happens through engagement, not isolation.

When we only talk to people who agree with us, we miss opportunities to understand, to learn, and to build the kind of relationships that actually create lasting change. Think about the conversations you've been avoiding. Maybe it's the neighbor with different political views, the coworker who comes from a different background, or the family member whose lifestyle choices you don't understand. What if these aren't obstacles to peace, but opportunities for it? What if God wants to use these very relationships to teach you something new about His heart for the world? Peace is built through listening, understanding, presence, and dialogue. It's messy, uncomfortable work, but it's the work of the Kingdom.

Bible Verse

'Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.' - Jeremiah 29:7

Reflection Question

What echo chambers have you created in your life, and what would it look like to intentionally engage with people whose perspectives challenge or differ from your own?

Quote

Peace, shalom, requires stepping outside the echo chamber and engaging with real people with real stories.

Prayer

Lord, give me the courage to step outside my comfort zone and engage with people who see the world differently than I do. Help me to listen with humility and speak with grace. Use these conversations to grow my understanding and build bridges of peace. Amen.