Agents of Shalom

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

January 25th Sermon, Day 2

When we hear the word 'peace,' we often think of quiet moments or the absence of conflict. But the Hebrew word 'shalom' that God used when speaking to the exiles means so much more. It encompasses wholeness, flourishing, justice, well-being, and right relationships. It's not just about avoiding trouble; it's about actively creating conditions where everyone can thrive. God called His people to be agents of shalom in Babylon - a place that didn't share their beliefs or values.

This wasn't about compromising their faith or blending in completely. Instead, it was about working for the genuine good of their community, even when that community felt foreign or hostile. Today, we face a similar calling. In our neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities, we're surrounded by people who may see the world very differently than we do. It's tempting to withdraw, to create our own little bubbles of comfort and familiarity. But God invites us to something more challenging and more beautiful: to be people who actively work for the flourishing of everyone around us.

This might look like volunteering at a local school, supporting community initiatives, or simply being the neighbor who shows up when someone needs help. It means caring about the well-being of people who vote differently, worship differently, or live differently than we do. When we become agents of shalom, we reflect God's heart for all people and participate in His work of restoration in the world.

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 would it look like for you to be an agent of shalom in your community, actively working for the flourishing of people who may be very different from you?

Quote

God was calling his people, and he's calling us, to be agents of shalom in a place that oftentimes doesn't share our beliefs.

Prayer

God, expand my heart to care about the well-being of my entire community. Help me to see beyond my own comfort and convenience to work for the flourishing of all people around me. Make me an agent of Your shalom in practical, tangible ways. Amen.

Life in the Waiting Room

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

January 25th Sermon, Day 1

Have you ever felt like you're stuck in a waiting room, just enduring until your name gets called? Maybe it's a job you don't love, a neighborhood that doesn't feel like home, or circumstances that seem far from ideal. The Jewish exiles in Babylon knew this feeling intimately.

Torn from everything familiar, they found themselves in a foreign land with different values and customs. But God had a surprising message for them through Jeremiah: don't just wait it out. Build houses, plant gardens, get married, have children. In other words, live fully even when life isn't perfect. Your faith isn't on hold just because your situation is hard.

Many of us have adopted a 'waiting room mentality' toward our communities and circumstances. We quietly endure, counting down the days until we can move somewhere better, find a different job, or escape to more comfortable surroundings. But what if God is calling us to something different? What if He's inviting us to see our current situation not as a temporary inconvenience, but as the very place where He wants to use us?

Life is happening right now, and you have a role to play. Your current circumstances, however imperfect, are not a mistake or a detour from God's plan. They are the canvas on which He wants to paint His purposes through you. Today, consider how you might move from passive waiting to active living, right where you are.

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

In what areas of your life have you been operating with a 'waiting room mentality,' and how might God be calling you to engage more fully in your current circumstances?

Quote

Some of us, we treat our community like we're quietly sitting in a waiting room, waiting for our name to be called.

Prayer

Lord, help me to see my current situation through Your eyes. Give me the courage to stop waiting for perfect circumstances and start living fully where You have placed me. Show me how to be faithful in this season, trusting that You have good plans for me even here. Amen.

Love Over Winning

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

January 18th Sermon, Day 5

In our final day together, let's focus on what might be the most challenging shift of all: changing our goal from winning to loving.

We live in a culture obsessed with being right. Social media rewards the cleverest comeback, the most devastating argument, the perfect "mic drop" moment. But what if our goal in difficult conversations wasn't to win, but to love?

This changes everything. Instead of asking "How do I win this conversation?" we start asking "How do I love this particular person I'm engaging with?" Instead of seeing people as projects to be fixed or opponents to be defeated, we see them as unique individuals made in God's image.

When love becomes our goal, we listen differently. We speak differently. We care more about the person than about proving our point. We remember that the person across from us isn't our enemy—they're someone Jesus died for.

This doesn't mean we compromise on truth or avoid difficult topics. It means we approach these conversations with the same heart Jesus had—a heart that sees people as precious, not problems to be solved.

Jesus said something profound: "Whoever has been forgiven much loves much." When we remember how much grace God has shown us, it transforms how we extend grace to others. Our words become a reflection of the One we follow.

In a loud and angry world, gracious speech stands out. Your words matter, and they reflect the One you follow. Choose love over winning, and watch how God uses your conversations to draw people to Himself.

Bible Verse

'Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.' - Colossians 4:2-6

Reflection Question

What would change in your most difficult relationships if you consistently chose love over being right?

Quote

Instead of asking, “How do I win this conversation? Grace asks, “How do I love this particular person who I'm engaging with?

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for the times I've cared more about winning than loving. Help me to see people the way You see them—as precious individuals worthy of grace. Transform my conversations so they reflect Your heart and draw others to You. Amen.

Grace That Preserves and Transforms

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

January 18th Sermon, Day 4

Grace is one of those words we use so often in church that it can lose its power. But when we really understand what grace means—unearned kindness—it revolutionizes how we communicate.

Grace means dealing with others the way God has dealt with you: patiently, mercifully, truthfully, lovingly. Think about that for a moment. How has God spoken to you in your worst moments? With condemnation and harshness? Or with truth wrapped in love?

Grace-filled speech doesn't mean watering down truth or avoiding difficult topics. Jesus was full of both grace and truth. But grace affects how truth is delivered. It's the difference between a surgeon's careful incision and a butcher's hack. Both cut, but one heals while the other destroys.

When our words are seasoned with grace, they preserve relationships even in difficult moments. They make people thirsty for more—not more of us, but more of the hope we have in Christ. Grace-filled words leave people feeling valued, even when they've been challenged.

People can sense when we genuinely care about them versus when we just want to win an argument. Grace makes our conversations compelling because it reflects the heart of God. In a world full of harsh, cutting words, gracious speech stands out like a lighthouse in a storm.

Remember: you were likely changed by someone who listened to you, cared for you, and spoke truth to you with compassion. Now you have the opportunity to be that person for someone else.

Bible Verse

'Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.' - Colossians 4:2-6

Reflection Question

Who in your life spoke truth to you with such grace that it drew you closer to God, and how can you offer that same gift to someone else?

Quote

Grace actually means unearned kindness. It means dealing with other people the way God has dealt with you. Patiently, mercifully, truthfully, lovingly.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for the grace You've shown me—unearned kindness that has transformed my life. Help me to extend that same grace to others through my words. May my speech be seasoned with Your love and point people toward You. Amen.

Wisdom in Timing

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

January 18th Sermon, Day 3

"Strike while the iron is hot." "Speak now or forever hold your peace." Our culture is full of sayings that push us toward immediate action and instant responses. But what if wisdom sometimes calls us to wait?

Not every truth needs to be spoken immediately. Not every debate needs to be entered into right here, right now. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is pause and ask: "Is this the right moment?"

Wisdom pays attention to more than just what needs to be said—it considers when and how. Is the person defensive right now? Are they hurting? Are they open to hearing difficult truths, or do they need comfort first? Sometimes the same words that would be rejected in one moment are received with gratitude in another.

This doesn't mean we avoid difficult conversations or compromise on truth. It means we care enough about the person and the relationship to wait for the right moment. It means our goal is love, not just being right.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. He had countless opportunities to correct people immediately, but He often waited for teachable moments. He met people where they were and spoke truth in ways they could receive.

Grace-filled conversations don't rush. They listen. They pay attention. They recognize that timing can be just as important as the truth itself. When we slow down and seek God's wisdom about timing, our words have a much better chance of actually being heard and received.

Bible Verse

'Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.' - Colossians 4:2-6

Reflection Question

Think of a recent conversation that didn't go well—how might the outcome have been different if you had considered the timing more carefully?

Quote

Wisdom asks, is this the right moment? It asks, is this person open or defensive in this moment? Is now the right time? Wisdom asks, is my goal to love or to win?

Prayer

God, give me wisdom to know not just what to say, but when to say it. Help me to be patient and discerning, caring more about loving well than being right quickly. Show me when to speak and when to wait. Amen.