What Are You Looking For?
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
December 28th Sermon, Day 1
Have you ever been asked what you're looking for in life? It's one of those questions that can catch us off guard because it forces us to examine our deepest longings. We might say we want success, happiness, or security, but underneath it all, there's often something we can't quite name—a restless searching for meaning and purpose. Many of us find ourselves in church week after week, participating in religious activities, yet still feeling like something is missing. We go through the motions of faith, but our hearts remain unsettled.
This isn't uncommon, and it's not something to be ashamed of. Even faithful people can find themselves searching for something more. The beautiful truth is that what we're really looking for isn't a 'what' at all—it's a 'who.' Deep down, our souls are searching for Jesus, even when we don't realize it. He is the answer to that unnamed longing, the peace our hearts crave, and the purpose we desperately seek.
Today, take a moment to honestly examine your heart. Are you going through religious motions, or are you genuinely seeking Jesus? There's no judgment here—just an invitation to acknowledge where you really are and to begin looking with fresh eyes. Jesus is waiting to be found by those who seek Him with sincere hearts.
Bible Verse
'And it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.' - Luke 2:26
Reflection Question
If someone asked you today what you're truly looking for in life, how would you answer, and does your daily life reflect that search?
Quote One of the most revealing questions you can ask somebody is what are you looking for? Not just in an abstract sense either, but in life. What are you looking for? What are you hoping will bring meaning and peace and fulfillment and direction to your life?
Prayer
Lord, help me to be honest about what I'm really searching for. If I've been going through religious motions, awaken my heart to genuinely seek You. Show me that You are the answer to every longing in my soul. Amen.
Changed Lives During Ordinary Days
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
December 21st Sermon, Day 5
After seeing Jesus, the shepherds didn’t get new jobs or new circumstances. They returned to the same fields, the same sheep, the same responsibilities. But they were not the same people.
They returned glorifying and praising God. Encountering Jesus didn’t remove them from ordinary life—it transformed how they lived within it.
God often works the same way in us. He may not change our circumstances right away, but He changes our hearts within them. Joy replaces fear. Gratitude replaces routine. Purpose fills places that once felt mundane.
The Christmas story reminds us that meeting Jesus sends us back into our everyday lives—changed, hopeful, and ready to praise God wherever we are.
Bible Verse
“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.”
—Luke 2:20 (NIV)
Reflection Question
How can your everyday life become a place of worship and gratitude today?
Prayer
God, thank You for meeting me and changing me. Help me live out my faith in ordinary moments, praising You in every season. May my life reflect the joy of knowing Jesus. Amen.
Faith Responds With Action
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
December 21st Sermon, Day 4
After the angels left, the shepherds had a choice. They could dismiss what they had experienced. They could stay in their comfort zone. Or they could act in faith.
They chose to go. “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.” Faith is not just believing something is true—it’s responding to what God has said.
God invites us into His plans, but He never forces us. The shepherds stepped forward with curiosity, obedience, and trust. And because they did, they encountered Jesus for themselves.
Faith often begins with a simple step. Not certainty. Not perfection. Just movement toward what God has revealed.
Bible Verse
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
—Luke 2:16 (NIV)
Reflection Question
What step of faith might God be asking you to take in response to what you already know?
Prayer
Lord, give me a heart that responds when You speak. Help me move past fear or hesitation and take the next faithful step You’re calling me to take. I trust You to meet me along the way. Amen.
God Chooses the Overlooked
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
December 21st Sermon, Day 3
Shepherds were not admired or trusted in their society. They were considered unreliable, spiritually compromised, and socially suspect. Yet God chose them first.
That choice tells us something powerful about God’s heart: He does not choose people based on status, influence, or reputation. He chooses based on His grace.
God sees those the world ignores. He notices people others dismiss. And more than that—He invites them into His story. The shepherds weren’t an afterthought; they were chosen on purpose.
If you’ve ever felt invisible, inadequate, or left out, this part of the Christmas story is for you. God delights in drawing near to those who feel far away. You are seen. You are known. You are invited.
Bible Verse
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
—1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV)
Reflection Question
In what ways might God be reminding you today that you are seen and valued by Him?
Prayer
Father, thank You that Your love is not based on my achievements or reputation. Help me rest in the truth that I matter to You. Give me humility to receive Your grace and confidence to live as someone You have chosen. Amen.
Good News Is Personal
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
December 21st Sermon, Day 2
The angel’s announcement was not vague or distant. It wasn’t just a headline for the world. It was deeply personal: “A Savior has been born to you.”
That’s easy to overlook, but it changes everything. God didn’t just send good news into the world; He directed it toward people who likely felt forgotten, overlooked, and insignificant. Shepherds—people on the margins—were told, “This is for you.”
Before the gospel becomes good news for the world, it must become good news for someone. And that someone includes you. God’s love is not generic. His grace is not abstract. Jesus came personally, intentionally, and lovingly for you.
When you struggle to feel worthy of God’s attention, remember the shepherds. The invitation was never about status—it was always about grace.
Bible Verse
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
—Luke 2:11 (NIV)
Reflection Question
Do you believe—truly believe—that the good news of Jesus is for you personally?
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for coming for me. Help me receive Your grace not as a distant truth, but as a personal gift. When I feel overlooked or unworthy, remind me that You chose to come near. Amen.