Foothills Church We exist to connect people to Jesus and help grow to love and serve Him. https://foothillscp.org Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:19:57 +0000 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:19:57 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com 5-Day Devo (Based on 4.5.26 Easter Message) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/04/02/5-day-devo-based-on-4-5-26-easter-message Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:23:16 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/04/02/5-day-devo-based-on-4-5-26-easter-message
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the April 5, 2026 Easter Message.

Day 1: The Invitation to the Feast

Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9

Devotional: God's invitation to His eternal feast isn't based on your worthiness—it's based on His grace. Isaiah paints a picture of abundance: the finest wines, the richest foods, a celebration without end. This isn't a reward for perfection; it's a gift for the willing. Today, consider what keeps you from fully accepting God's invitation. Is it shame? Fear? A sense of unworthiness? The resurrection of Jesus proves that God knows exactly who you are—your failures, your fears, your past—and He still calls you by name. The table is set. Your place is reserved. Will you take your seat at the feast God has prepared specifically for you?

Day 2: Victory Over Death

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Devotional: Death is the universal enemy we all face, yet Easter declares its defeat. Paul writes, "Death has been swallowed up in victory"—echoing Isaiah's ancient promise. Jesus didn't merely survive death; He shattered its power. For those who trust in Christ, death becomes a doorway rather than a dead end. Today, reflect on your relationship with mortality. What fears surface when you think about death? Easter offers more than wishful thinking—it provides historical evidence that Jesus conquered the grave. This means your life has eternal significance, and your loved ones who died in Christ are not lost but waiting. Let this truth transform your fear into confident hope that anchors your soul.

Day 3: Comfort in the Midst of Tears

Reading: Revelation 21:1-5

Devotional: The image of God wiping away every tear is profoundly intimate—a loving Father gently caring for His hurting child. This promise has both future and present dimensions. One day, all suffering will cease permanently. But even now, God meets you in your grief. He doesn't minimize your pain or rush your healing. Christianity gives full permission to mourn while assuring you that you don't mourn alone. What tears are you carrying today? The ones no one sees? The grief you've learned to hide? God sees them all. He sits close, offering His presence as comfort. Your sorrow is not forever, and your separation from loved ones is temporary. Let God's nearness strengthen you today, knowing ultimate restoration is coming.

Day 4: Shame Removed Forever

Reading: Romans 8:1-11

Devotional: Shame whispers lies: "You are what you did. You'll never be free. You're defined by your worst moment." But Easter shouts truth: "There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!" Shame keeps you hiding, isolated, stuck in destructive patterns. It attacks your identity at the core. But God's promise isn't just forgiveness—it's complete removal of disgrace. Jesus took your shame to the cross and left it in the tomb. Today, identify the shame you're carrying. Is it from your own sin or imposed by others? Either way, Jesus offers freedom. You are not your past. You are not your mistakes. In Christ, you are beloved, redeemed, and fully accepted. Let this truth silence shame's accusations and walk in the freedom Easter provides.

Day 5: Living in Celebration Now

Reading: Philippians 4:4-9

Devotional: Easter's promises aren't only future realities—they empower present living. Because death is defeated, comfort is coming, and shame is removed, we can "rejoice in the Lord always." This isn't fake happiness that ignores reality; it's deep joy rooted in unshakeable truth. God's Spirit lives in you now, providing peace despite circumstances, strength in weakness, and hope in hardship. The celebration has already begun! Today, practice gratitude for Easter's completed work. Thank God for specific ways His promises impact your daily life. Let joy become your default response, not because everything is perfect, but because your God has made promises—and kept them. Live today as someone invited to an eternal feast, experiencing foretastes of glory even now.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Brian's April 5, 2026 Easter Message: Easter's Promise.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/04/02/5-day-devo-based-on-4-5-26-easter-message#comments 0 You Don't Have to Stay in the Tomb https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/30/you-don-t-have-to-stay-in-the-tomb Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:46:51 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/30/you-don-t-have-to-stay-in-the-tomb
from our 5-part mini Easter blog series: From Saturday to Sunday

Series Intro

There are seasons in life that feel heavy, silent, and endless — moments when it seems like nothing is changing, nothing is moving, and hope is hard to see. In the story of Easter, this is much like Saturday: the day between the cross and the resurrection, the day of grief before glory.

This series is for anyone carrying stones too heavy to move alone, for hearts waiting on answers, for scars that haven’t yet been healed. Across these posts, we’ll reflect on what it means to wait well, to grieve openly, and to step into the new life Jesus promises — because Sunday always comes.

Part 5: You Don’t Have to Stay in the Tomb

Tombs are meant to hold what is finished, forgotten, or broken. Yet Easter tells us that the tomb is empty. You do not have to live in the darkness of old labels, old shame, or past failures.

Whatever has kept you hidden—fear, regret, disappointment—Jesus invites you to step out. The tomb cannot hold what God has redeemed. Resurrection is not only about what Jesus did; it’s about what He continues to do in our lives.

Today, take one step out of the tomb. Let go of one weight you’ve been carrying. Breathe in the freedom of Sunday, knowing that God’s life is waiting for you.

It’s Sunday invitation.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/30/you-don-t-have-to-stay-in-the-tomb#comments 0 He Still Had The Scars https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/26/he-still-had-the-scars Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:37:45 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/26/he-still-had-the-scars
from our 5-part mini Easter blog series: From Saturday to Sunday

Series Intro

There are seasons in life that feel heavy, silent, and endless — moments when it seems like nothing is changing, nothing is moving, and hope is hard to see. In the story of Easter, this is much like Saturday: the day between the cross and the resurrection, the day of grief before glory.

This series is for anyone carrying stones too heavy to move alone, for hearts waiting on answers, for scars that haven’t yet been healed. Across these posts, we’ll reflect on what it means to wait well, to grieve openly, and to step into the new life Jesus promises — because Sunday always comes.

Part 4: He Still Had The Scars

Jesus rose from the dead, but He did not erase His scars. The marks of the cross remained — a visible reminder of what He endured for us.

Our scars, too, are part of our story. Divorce, disappointment, infertility, loss — they do not define our ending. They bear witness to the journey we have walked. Easter is God’s promise of healing, but it does not mean pretending the past never happened.

The scars are proof that we survived. The resurrection shows that God transforms survival into victory. And like Jesus, we can step into new life without erasing the story that brought us here.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/26/he-still-had-the-scars#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 3.29.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/26/5-day-devo-based-on-3-29-26-sermon Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:29:43 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/26/5-day-devo-based-on-3-29-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the March 29, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: The Unassuming God

Reading: Isaiah 53:1-3; Philippians 2:5-8

Devotional: God arrived not in splendor but in simplicity. Jesus had no beauty or majesty that would draw crowds, no social status that would command respect. He was despised, rejected, and familiar with suffering. This is the scandal of the gospel: God chose humility over power, weakness over strength. We often expect God to show up in impressive ways—through success, influence, or dramatic intervention. Yet Jesus reveals that God's greatest power is displayed in sacrificial love. Today, look for God not in the extraordinary but in the ordinary, humble moments of your life. Where might Jesus be present in ways you've overlooked because they seem too simple or unimpressive?

Day 2: The Great Exchange

Reading: Isaiah 53:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21

Devotional: The heart of the gospel is substitution: Jesus took what was ours so we could receive what is His. He carried our pain, bore our suffering, was pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. Every sin—past, present, and future—was transferred to Him. Think about the worst thing you've ever done. Now understand this: Jesus took that upon Himself. The punishment that brought us peace fell on Him. We deserved the judgment; He received it instead. This wasn't symbolic; it was real. His wounds purchased our healing. His death secured our life. Today, confess your sins honestly before God, and receive the freedom that comes from knowing they've been completely removed from you through Christ.

Day 3: Willing Submission

Reading: Isaiah 53:7-9; John 10:17-18

Devotional: Jesus was not a victim; He was a volunteer. "He submitted himself," Isaiah writes. His silence before accusers wasn't confusion or fear—it was determination and love. No one took His life from Him; He laid it down willingly. When Jesus saw the depth of your sin and brokenness, He didn't run. He said, "Bring it on!" This willing sacrifice reveals the magnitude of God's love for you. You are not an inconvenience to God or a burden He reluctantly bears. You are the treasure for whom He gladly gave everything. Today, respond to this extravagant love. What area of your life have you been withholding from God? Follow Jesus' example of willing submission and surrender it completely to Him.

Day 4: Mission Accomplished

Reading: Isaiah 53:10-12; John 19:28-30

Devotional: "It is finished," Jesus declared from the cross. The mission was complete. The condemned became the righteous. The helpless became the victor. Death could not hold Him. Isaiah prophesied that after suffering, the servant would see life and be satisfied. Jesus triumphed decisively over sin, death, and evil. Nothing was left undone. The work of salvation is complete—not partially finished, not dependent on your performance, but fully accomplished. You cannot add to what Jesus has done; you can only receive it. Today, rest in the finished work of Christ. Stop striving to earn God's approval. You are already accepted, already loved, already forgiven because of what Jesus accomplished for you on the cross.

Day 5: From Cheers to Jeers to Eternal Cheers

Reading: Mark 11:1-11; Revelation 5:11-14

Devotional: Palm Sunday's cheers became Good Friday's jeers, but Easter transformed everything into eternal celebration. The crowd's fickleness reveals human nature, but God's faithfulness reveals His character. Jesus knew the cheering crowd would soon demand His crucifixion, yet He rode into Jerusalem anyway. He endured the shame for the joy set before Him—the joy of bringing you into eternal relationship with God. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The question is whether you'll do so willingly now or reluctantly later. Today, join the eternal celebration. Worship Jesus not because of what He can do for you, but because of who He is—the suffering servant who became the conquering King.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Brian's March 29, 2026 Sermon: The Suffering Servant.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/26/5-day-devo-based-on-3-29-26-sermon#comments 0 When It’s Not Like You Expected https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/19/when-it-s-not-like-you-expected Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:23:49 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/19/when-it-s-not-like-you-expected
from our 5-part mini Easter blog series: From Saturday to Sunday

Series Intro

There are seasons in life that feel heavy, silent, and endless — moments when it seems like nothing is changing, nothing is moving, and hope is hard to see. In the story of Easter, this is much like Saturday: the day between the cross and the resurrection, the day of grief before glory.

This series is for anyone carrying stones too heavy to move alone, for hearts waiting on answers, for scars that haven’t yet been healed. Across these posts, we’ll reflect on what it means to wait well, to grieve openly, and to step into the new life Jesus promises — because Sunday always comes.

Part 3: When It’s Not Like You Expected

Sometimes the way God brings new life surprises us. The disciples expected a powerful, political savior. What they got was Jesus risen, teaching, and transforming hearts in ways they never imagined. Isaiah 25 reminds us that God’s plans are always greater than what we see.

Your resurrection might not look like you pictured. Healing may come slowly. Answers may arrive differently than you prayed. Joy may feel small at first. But the promise is the same: death will be swallowed up, every tear wiped away, and God’s glory revealed in ways beyond our imagination.

If you’re disappointed, confused, or waiting for your breakthrough, take heart. God is at work, even when it doesn’t look like the plan you drew. Sunday always comes, and He is faithful — even when it surprises you.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/19/when-it-s-not-like-you-expected#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 3.22.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/19/5-day-devo-based-on-3-22-26-sermon Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:01:48 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/19/5-day-devo-based-on-3-22-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the March 22, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: Here I Am

Reading: Isaiah 65:1-7

Devotional: God's persistent call echoes through history: "Here I am, here I am." Yet how often do we ignore His outstretched hands, pursuing our own plans instead? The Israelites treated worship as transaction rather than transformation, offering ritual without relationship. God desires more than religious performance—He wants your whole heart. Today, examine your spiritual life honestly. Are you going through the motions, treating God like a divine vending machine? Or are you genuinely seeking His presence? God is still calling out to you, ready to be found. The question isn't whether He's available, but whether you're truly listening and responding with wholehearted devotion.

Day 2: Ritual or Relationship

Reading: Isaiah 66:1-6

Devotional: God doesn't need your perfect attendance, generous giving, or impressive service—He wants you. A humble, contrite heart that trembles at His Word matters infinitely more than outward displays of piety. The danger of ritualism is subtle: we can read our Bibles, attend church, and serve faithfully while our hearts remain distant from God. These practices are beautiful expressions of faith, but they cannot replace authentic relationship with Jesus. Today, invite God to examine your heart. Are you trying to earn His favor through good works, or resting in His grace? Surrender control and let Him take full residence in your heart. True worship begins when ritual becomes relationship.

Day 3: New Creation Living

Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Devotional: God's power extends beyond temporary deliverance—He creates all things new. As believers, we're already experiencing this transformation. You are a new creation in Christ, being renewed daily by His Spirit. The future hope of new heavens and earth isn't just distant promise; it's present reality breaking into your life now. God rejoices over you like a groom over his bride, eager to eliminate every trace of sin and sorrow. Today, celebrate what God is doing in you. Let joy bubble over as you consider His faithfulness. The frustration and futility plaguing this world won't last forever. Start living like the new creation you are—flourishing, productive, and intimately connected to your Creator.

Day 4: Comfort and Care

Reading: Isaiah 66:7-14

Devotional: God compares His comfort to a mother tenderly caring for her infant child. This intimate imagery reveals His heart toward you—compassionate, attentive, and abundantly generous. Just as a nursing child rests in complete trust, knowing mother will provide, you can rest in God's faithful provision. He knows your needs before you ask. Under His care, your life will flourish like grass after spring rain, and joy will overflow from deep within. Today, bring your worries and fears to your heavenly Father. Stop striving and simply rest in His loving care. Let Him comfort you in ways only He can. His hand of blessing is upon His servants, and His indignation is reserved for His enemies—not His beloved children.

Day 5: Witnesses to the World

Reading: Isaiah 66:18-23; Matthew 28:18-20

Devotional: God's glory will be revealed to all nations through His faithful servants. From the beginning, His plan included gathering people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into His family. You are part of this magnificent story. Your faithful obedience, authentic worship, and genuine love for Jesus draw others to Him. Someone came to faith because faithful followers lived out the Gospel before them—now you carry that same responsibility and privilege. Today, consider who is watching your life. How does your daily walk with Jesus point others toward Him? You don't need to be perfect, just authentic. Let your life declare God's glory among the nations. The hope and transformation you've experienced isn't meant to be kept secret—it's meant to be shared generously with a world desperate for good news.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Phil's March 22, 2026 Sermon: Hope & Judgment.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/19/5-day-devo-based-on-3-22-26-sermon#comments 0 Finding Security https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/18/finding-security Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:48:08 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/18/finding-security
Life has a way of pulling the rug out from under us. Leadership fails. Institutions we trusted crumble. Plans we carefully constructed collapse overnight. In those moments of instability, when everything we assumed was solid begins to tremble, a quiet question surfaces in our hearts: "Where are you, God?"

This is exactly where the people of Israel found themselves in Isaiah 43. Their city was threatened, their temple desecrated, their leadership exposed. Everything that once defined them as stable was collapsing. And into that instability, God spoke words that still echo with power today.

The Foundation That Cannot Shake

God doesn't begin His message with a political strategy or economic reform. He doesn't start with a list of corrections or demands for better performance. Instead, He opens with something far more profound:

"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1)

Three simple words carry the weight of the entire message: You are mine.

This is covenant language—God binding Himself to His people with promises rooted not in their performance, but in His character. The One speaking is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. He speaks not as a distant deity, but as their covenant Lord.

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you."

This isn't emotional pep talk. This is deliverance language. Ownership language. Purchase language. And if that weren't personal enough, He adds: "I have called you by name."

For anyone who has grown up feeling unseen, unprotected, or left behind, these words hit differently. They don't sound religious—they sound like rescue.

The Promise of Presence, Not Absence

What follows in verse 2 is one of the most powerful promises in all of Scripture:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

Notice what God doesn't say. He doesn't promise the absence of hardship. He doesn't guarantee you'll avoid the waters or sidestep the fire. Instead, He promises something better: His presence in the hardship.

For Isaiah's original audience, this language immediately stirred memories. The Red Sea, where God separated the waters and made a way through on dry ground. The Jordan River at flood stage, where God caused the waters to stand still. These weren't poetic metaphors—they were historical realities.

God was reminding them: The same God who made a way through the Red Sea, who stopped the Jordan River, is still with you.

And the fire? In the ancient world, fire represented destruction, devastation, and judgment. Cities were burned. Nations were consumed. Isaiah was preparing them for the reality that Jerusalem itself would be burned. Yet God declares: "You shall not be consumed."

Why? Because they belonged to Him.

The Identity That Defines Everything

This is the thread holding the entire passage together: You are mine.

The waters can't change that. The fires can't change that. Exile can't change that.

The defining reality of life isn't the intensity of the waters or the presence of hardship—it's the identity given to us by God.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have been purchased by His blood. You are His. This is an identity transformation. You are no longer of this world—you belong to the kingdom of God. Which means the waters will not consume you. The fires will not consume you.

In verse 3-4, God explains why:

"For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you."

Not because you've gotten it right. Not because you're sinless or morally perfect. Not because of how much you give or serve. But simply because you are His.

This is covenant loyalty language. The God who knit every cell together in your body and this world describes those who belong to Him as precious, honored, and loved.

Cutting Off the Rival Saviors

God doesn't stop there. He systematically dismantles every alternative source of security:

"I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior." (Isaiah 43:11)

We don't bow before Babylonian statues today, but we're not immune to lesser saviors. We lean on careers for identity. We look to relationships for completion. We find security in money, reputation, health, or control.

None of these things are evil in themselves. The problem comes when they take priority—when they become functional saviors in our lives.

Consider the amount of time and energy invested in career compared to relationship with God. Look at how much thought goes into financial planning versus spiritual growth. It reveals who we actually think the real Savior is.

God exposes this with clarity: "Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me."

The God Who Does New Things

After reminding them of the Red Sea, God says something surprising:

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19)

He's not dismissing their history or minimizing what He's done before. He's saying: Don't limit me to yesterday's methods.

The God who split the sea is not confined to the past. He's still redeeming. He's still making ways where there are none.

Our best days aren't behind us. Our failures haven't limited what God can do. Our story isn't finished.

Grace Deeper Than Failure

Just when everything feels triumphant, God gets personal:

"Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel!" (Isaiah 43:22)

He reminds them of their neglect, their burden of sins. And then comes the stunning declaration:

"I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

Not because they improved. Not because they tried harder or prayed more. Simply for His sake.

Forgiveness flows from God's character, not our performance.

This is covenant mercy. This is grace. For those carrying shame or guilt, thinking "if I was just better, just holier"—stop. You're not qualified because of you. You're qualified because of Him.

Living in Dependence

Isaiah 43 isn't calling us to spiritual striving. It's calling us to spiritual dependency.

You belong to Him. There is no other savior. His grace runs deeper than your failures.

So don't live as though you've been abandoned. Don't lean on lesser saviors. Don't assume the story is finished.

Instead, recognize the reality of your identity. When fears rise and insecurities surface, don't rehearse what could go wrong or what you could do to fix it. Rehearse who He is and who you are in light of Him.

That's what leaning in looks like.

You are precious. You are honored. You are loved.

You are His.
This blog was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Doug's sermon on March 1, 2026: You Are Mine.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/18/finding-security#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 3.15.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/12/5-day-devo-based-on-3-15-26-sermon Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:18:00 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/12/5-day-devo-based-on-3-15-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the March 15, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: The Universal Invitation

Reading: Isaiah 55:1-3

Devotional: God's invitation is not selective or exclusive. He calls to "everyone who thirsts," which means every single person. Notice how the Lord says "Come" four times in verse one, emphasizing His earnest desire for relationship with you. This invitation requires no payment, no prerequisites, no spiritual résumé. Just as your body needs water to survive, your soul needs God to truly live. Today, reflect on this truth: God is actively inviting you to come to Him right now. He's not waiting for you to clean yourself up first. He's not checking your qualifications. He simply says, "Come." Will you accept His invitation today? Stop striving to earn what He freely offers and simply come.

Day 2: The Empty Cisterns

Reading: Isaiah 55:2; Jeremiah 2:13

Devotional: God asks a piercing question: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" We exhaust ourselves pursuing things that can never fill the void in our hearts. Career success, relationships, entertainment, possessions—these aren't necessarily bad, but they become broken cisterns when we expect them to satisfy our deepest longings. Only God can do that. Take inventory today of where you're investing your time, energy, and resources. What are you laboring for? Is it satisfying your soul? The tragedy isn't that we desire satisfaction; it's that we look everywhere except to the One who can truly provide it. Stop drinking from empty wells and return to the source of living water.

Day 3: Jesus, the Living Water

Reading: John 4:7-15; John 6:35-40

Devotional: Jesus identifies Himself as both the living water and the bread of life. He's not offering a temporary fix or a momentary relief from your spiritual thirst. He promises that whoever drinks from Him will never thirst again. The Samaritan woman at the well had tried five marriages and was in another relationship, searching for someone to fill her emptiness. Jesus offered her something far better than human love—divine love that satisfies completely. When you come to Jesus, you're not just getting forgiveness; you're receiving an endless supply of grace, mercy, love, and purpose. His well never runs dry. His bread never grows stale. Today, drink deeply from Christ. Spend time in His presence, not out of duty, but out of thirst.

Day 4: God's Higher Ways

Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9

Devotional: God's thoughts and ways are as high above ours as the heavens are above the earth. This truth should humble us and give us hope. It means God can forgive what we cannot forgive. He can redeem what we consider irredeemable. He can love us in ways we cannot comprehend. When you struggle to believe that God could truly forgive your past or use your brokenness, remember: He doesn't think like you think. His capacity for mercy infinitely exceeds your capacity to sin. Seek Him while He may be found. Don't wait until you feel worthy—you never will. Call upon Him while He is near. His nearness is not based on your goodness but on His grace. Today, let go of your limited understanding and trust in God's higher ways.

Day 5: The Faithful Word

Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13

Devotional: Just as rain accomplishes its purpose of watering the earth and producing growth, God's Word always accomplishes what He intends. When God invites you to come, that invitation is backed by His faithful, unchanging character. When He promises forgiveness, you can trust it completely. When He declares you are a new creation, it is already done. God's Word doesn't return void. This means every promise in Scripture is trustworthy. Every invitation is sincere. Every declaration of love is true. Today, stand on the promises of God's Word. Whatever He has spoken over your life will come to pass. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. Where there were thorns, He will plant cypress trees. His Word is working in you right now, producing fruit that will last forever.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor DIllon's March 15, 2026 Sermon: Invited to God's Table.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/12/5-day-devo-based-on-3-15-26-sermon#comments 0 Easter for the Brokenhearted https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/12/easter-for-the-brokenhearted Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:05:47 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/12/easter-for-the-brokenhearted
from our 5-part mini Easter blog series: From Saturday to Sunday

Series Intro

There are seasons in life that feel heavy, silent, and endless — moments when it seems like nothing is changing, nothing is moving, and hope is hard to see. In the story of Easter, this is much like Saturday: the day between the cross and the resurrection, the day of grief before glory.

This series is for anyone carrying stones too heavy to move alone, for hearts waiting on answers, for scars that haven’t yet been healed. Across these posts, we’ll reflect on what it means to wait well, to grieve openly, and to step into the new life Jesus promises — because Sunday always comes.

Part 2: Easter for the Brokenhearted

Not everyone feels joy at Easter. Some of us carry grief that sits quietly beneath the surface, or wears a smile to church each Sunday. Isaiah 25 reminds us that God sees every tear. He promises to wipe them away.

Easter is not just a celebration of what Jesus has done—it’s personal. It meets the hearts of those who are hurting, the hearts of those who feel unseen. Your grief is real, your waiting is real, and the resurrection reaches into that reality.

This year, let Easter be a reminder that God is near to the brokenhearted. He does not rush our mourning, and He does not minimize our pain. He enters it, and He brings hope. Even when it feels impossible, Sunday is coming.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/12/easter-for-the-brokenhearted#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 3.8.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/05/5-day-devo-based-on-3-8-26-sermon Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:57:27 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/05/5-day-devo-based-on-3-8-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the March 8, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: No Need to Fear

Reading: Isaiah 44:1-5; Romans 8:14-17

Devotional: God addresses His people as "Jeshurun"—the upright one—not because of their perfection, but because of His unwavering faithfulness. Despite our failures and wandering hearts, God never un-adopts us. His promise stands: "I will never leave you or forsake you." Today, consider the areas where fear has taken root in your heart. Are you afraid of abandonment, failure, or inadequacy? God's covenant love means you are permanently His. Like water poured on thirsty ground, His Spirit refreshes and sustains you. You don't earn this belonging; you receive it. Rest in the security that comes from being chosen, formed, and held by the God who calls you His own, no matter what.

Reflection Question: What fears am I holding onto that contradict God's promise to never leave me?

Day 2: The Only Rock

Reading: Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 18:1-6

Devotional: "Besides Me there is no God." In a world of shifting circumstances and unstable foundations, God declares Himself as the singular Rock upon which we can build our lives. Think about standing in surf—the sand constantly shifts beneath your feet, requiring exhausting effort to maintain balance. But standing on a rock changes everything. Stability. Security. Strength. When life's waves crash against you, where are you standing? God alone knows the future, controls history, and remains unchanging. He is "the First and the Last," meaning every moment of your life falls within His sovereign care. Today, consciously transfer your weight from the shifting sands of circumstances, opinions, and feelings onto the solid Rock of God's character and promises.

Reflection Question: What "shifting sand" am I currently standing on that I need to exchange for the solid Rock?

Day 3: The Absurdity of Idols

Reading: Isaiah 44:9-20; Jeremiah 2:9-13'

Devotional: Isaiah's satire cuts deep: a man uses half a log to cook dinner and carves the other half into a god. Absurd, right? Yet we do the same when we look to career success, romantic fulfillment, political outcomes, or self-actualization to give us what only God can provide. These modern idols promise satisfaction but deliver ashes. Jeremiah describes it as digging broken cisterns that cannot hold water while abandoning the spring of living water. What are you asking to save you? What defines your worth? What consumes your emotional energy? These diagnostic questions reveal our functional gods. The tragedy isn't just that idols fail us—it's that they blind us to the One who never will. Today, name your idols honestly before God, recognizing that only He satisfies the deepest thirst of your soul.

Reflection Question: What good thing have I turned into an ultimate thing, asking it to bear weight only God can carry?

Day 4: The Invitation to Return

Reading: Isaiah 44:21-22; Luke 15:11-24

Devotional: "Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." These words pulse with grace. God doesn't wait for you to clean yourself up before inviting you back. He sweeps away your sins like morning mist vaporized by the sun, then calls you home. Like a GPS that calmly says "rerouting" after a wrong turn, God's grace doesn't condemn your wandering—it redirects you. The prodigal son expected judgment but received a robe, a ring, and a feast. That's the heart of your Father. You don't return to earn acceptance; you return because you're already accepted. Repentance isn't groveling; it's coming home to the One who has been watching for you. What wrong turn have you taken? What idol has distracted you? Return quickly. Your Redeemer awaits with open arms and a clear path forward.

Reflection Question: What is keeping me from immediately returning to God right now?

Day 5: Living as the Lord's

Reading: Isaiah 44:5; Romans 12:1-2

Devotional: "One will say, 'I belong to the Lord.'" This is the confident declaration of those who know whose they are. Like a wedding ring that publicly signals belonging, our lives become visible testimonies to our covenant relationship with God. This isn't about performative religion but authentic identity. When you know you're redeemed, swept clean, and permanently His, it changes how you live. You stop performing for approval and start responding in gratitude. Your obedience flows from love, not duty. Your witness becomes natural, not forced. Today, consider: does your life declare your belonging to God? Not perfectly—but authentically? Let your identity in Christ shape your decisions, relationships, and priorities. You are the Lord's. Let that truth anchor you, free you, and compel you to live with bold confidence in His redeeming love.

Reflection Question: How can I more visibly and authentically live out my identity as one who belongs to the Lord?
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Brian's March 8, 2026 Sermon: The Absurdity of Misplaced Trust.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/05/5-day-devo-based-on-3-8-26-sermon#comments 0 When Saturday Feels Endless https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/05/when-saturday-feels-endless Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/05/when-saturday-feels-endless
from our 5-part mini Easter blog series: From Saturday to Sunday

Series Intro

There are seasons in life that feel heavy, silent, and endless — moments when it seems like nothing is changing, nothing is moving, and hope is hard to see. In the story of Easter, this is much like Saturday: the day between the cross and the resurrection, the day of grief before glory.

This series is for anyone carrying stones too heavy to move alone, for hearts waiting on answers, for scars that haven’t yet been healed. Across these posts, we’ll reflect on what it means to wait well, to grieve openly, and to step into the new life Jesus promises — because Sunday always comes.

Part 1: When Saturday Feels Endless

Some chapters in life feel like they will never end. The waiting stretches on. The prayers seem unheard. The grief feels too heavy to bear. This is the silence of Saturday — the space between promise and fulfillment. Even the disciples didn’t understand what was coming. They saw the cross and felt defeat. They did not understand Sunday was on the way.

Isaiah 25 reminds us that God’s story doesn’t end in despair. He promises a feast, a celebration, a time when death is swallowed up and every tear is wiped away. The waiting is real, the pain is real—but it’s not the end of the story.

If you are in a season of silence or waiting today, remember: Saturday is not the final word. Sunday is coming. The resurrection is near. And the same God who conquered the tomb is faithful to meet you in the waiting.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/03/05/when-saturday-feels-endless#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 3.1.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/26/5-day-devo-based-on-3-1-26-sermon Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:13:13 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/26/5-day-devo-based-on-3-1-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the March 1, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: Covenant Identity

Reading: Isaiah 43:1-3

Devotional: Before God addresses your performance, He establishes your identity. "You are mine" isn't conditional—it's covenant. The God who created you has redeemed you and called you by name. This isn't sentimental; it's ownership language rooted in His character, not your consistency.

When instability surrounds you—when leadership fails or plans collapse—the first word into your chaos is belonging. You don't earn this identity; you receive it. Before you correct anything or prove anything, God says you are His.

Today, before rehearsing what could go wrong, rehearse who God says you are. Write down this truth: "I am redeemed. I am called by name. I am His." Let this covenant grounding steady your trembling soul.

Day 2: Presence in Hardship

Reading: Isaiah 43:2; Exodus 14:21-22

Devotional: God doesn't promise absence of hardship; He promises presence in hardship. "When you pass through the waters"—not if, but when. The same God who parted the Red Sea and stopped the Jordan River walks with you through overwhelming circumstances.

The waters may rise. The fire may burn. But neither has the final word over those who belong to Him. Your identity isn't defined by the intensity of your trial but by the faithfulness of your God.

What waters feel overwhelming today? What fire threatens to consume you? God isn't asking you to deny the reality of hardship. He's inviting you to recognize His presence within it. The defining reality of your life isn't your struggle—it's His promise: "I will be with you." Let that truth anchor you today.

Day 3: No Other Savior

Reading: Isaiah 43:10-13

Devotional: "Besides me there is no savior." This exclusive claim dismantles every alternative we construct. We don't bow to Babylonian statues, but we lean on financial security, political outcomes, relationships, and control. None are evil, but they're terrible saviors.

When the waters rise, what do you instinctively grab for? God gently exposes our lesser saviors—not to shame us, but to free us. He alone predicted history. He alone declares the future. No god was formed before Him; none will come after.

Today, name the alternative saviors you're tempted to trust. Write them down. Then cross each one out, acknowledging that only God holds the authority to save, redeem, and sustain. Refuse to give your worship to what cannot deliver. Return your dependence to the One who can.

Day 4: God Does New Things

Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21

Devotional: God reminds Israel of the Exodus, then says something surprising: "Remember not the former things." He's not erasing history; He's refusing to be confined by it. The God who split the sea isn't limited to yesterday's methods. "I am doing a new thing."

Some of us assume our best days are behind us—that our failures have written our final chapter. But God makes rivers in the desert and paths in the wilderness. Your story isn't finished. His redemption isn't exhausted.

Don't limit God to how He worked before. He is still writing, still redeeming, still creating ways where there seem to be none. What area of your life feels like barren wilderness? Ask God to open your eyes to the new thing He's doing. Expect Him to move in fresh ways.

Day 5: Grace Deeper Than Failure

Reading: Isaiah 43:22-25

Devotional: After promises of redemption, God confronts Israel's failure. "You did not call upon me...you have burdened me with your sins." Yet immediately follows the most breathtaking sentence: "I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake."

Not because you improved. Not because you tried harder. For His own sake. Forgiveness flows from God's character, not your performance. When you fail, return quickly instead of hiding—His mercy is grounded in His name, not your consistency.

Dependence isn't desperation; it's alignment with reality. Since He alone saves, lean into Him. Since He alone redeems, lean into Him. Since He alone blots out sin, lean into Him. Confess where you've leaned on yourself. Receive His covenant mercy. Your failures don't exhaust His grace.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Doug's March 1, 2026 Sermon: You Are Mine.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/26/5-day-devo-based-on-3-1-26-sermon#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 2.22.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/19/5-day-devo-based-on-2-22-26-sermon Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:14:05 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/19/5-day-devo-based-on-2-22-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the February 22, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: When Discouragement Becomes Your Companion

Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5

Devotional: "Comfort, comfort my people," God declares with urgent repetition. Notice that comfort doesn't always mean the immediate removal of hardship, but rather God's presence within it. The Hebrew word for comfort means "to come alongside and help through suffering." Perhaps you've been carrying the same burden for so long that weariness has become your constant companion. Today, God speaks directly into your exhaustion: your discipline is over, your suffering has been enough. The voice crying in the wilderness prepared the way for Jesus, your ultimate Comforter. Whatever wilderness you're walking through, lift your head. God sees you, and He's preparing something redemptive in your story. Your discouragement has not disqualified you from His promises.

Reflection: What prolonged struggle has worn you down? Can you hear God's voice saying "enough" over your situation today?

Day 2: The Everlasting Word in a Withering World

Reading: Isaiah 40:6-8

Devotional: Life feels fragile because it is. We're like grass that greens briefly then withers, like flowers that bloom and fade. Our strength fails. Our faithfulness wavers. Our best efforts have finite limits. But here's the stunning contrast: "the word of our God endures forever." When everything else in your life feels unstable, God's promises remain unshakeable. His word isn't just information; it's His active work in the world. What He speaks, He accomplishes. The basis for your hope isn't positive thinking or human determination. It's the everlasting, unfailing character of God Himself. When you feel most frail, remember you're not trusting in your own strength but in His eternal word that never fails.

Reflection: What promise from God's Word do you need to anchor yourself to today?

Day 3: The Majestic Shepherd Who Knows Your Name

Reading: Isaiah 40:9-11; Matthew 10:29-31

Devotional: The God who measures oceans in the hollow of His hand also gathers lambs in His arms. This is the beautiful paradox of our faith: infinite power paired with intimate tenderness. The same God who commands galaxies knows the number of hairs on your head. He sees the sparrow fall and He certainly sees you. You're not lost in the crowd of His creation. He carries you close to His heart, leading you gently through whatever valley you're walking. This isn't a distant, disinterested deity. This is a Shepherd who knows His sheep by name, who notices when one goes missing, who binds up wounds and provides rest. Whatever has you feeling small or forgotten today, know this: you are seen, known, and tenderly loved.

Reflection: How does knowing God as both majestic and tender change how you approach Him with your struggles?

Day 4: Everything is Nothing Compared to Him

Reading: Isaiah 40:12-26

Devotional: When problems loom large, we need perspective. Isaiah provides it by showing us God's incomparable greatness. The nations are like a drop in a bucket. The rulers of earth are nothing before Him. Every star was named and positioned by His wisdom. This isn't meant to make you feel insignificant, but rather to remind you that the God who cares for you is absolutely capable of handling whatever you're facing. No problem is too complex for His wisdom. No enemy too powerful for His strength. No situation beyond His control. When anxiety whispers that your challenge is insurmountable, remember: the God who holds galaxies in place is holding you. What feels overwhelming to you is less than nothing to Him. You can rest in His capable hands.

Reflection: What situation feels bigger than God in your life right now? How does this passage reframe that perspective?

Day 5: Waiting on the Lord for Renewed Strength

Reading: Isaiah 40:27-31

Devotional: "God has forgotten me." That's the lie exhaustion whispers. But it's impossible. The everlasting God neither faints nor grows weary. His understanding is limitless, and His attention never wavers from you. The promise isn't that circumstances will immediately change, but that those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. Waiting isn't passive resignation; it's active dependence. It's choosing to connect with God rather than rely solely on yourself. Notice the progression: walk without fainting, run without weariness, soar like eagles. God meets you wherever you are. Maybe today you can only walk. That's enough. He gives strength in daily portions, not for the entire journey at once. Your next faithful step is all He's asking for. Take it, and watch Him provide strength you didn't know you had.

Reflection: What is the next small, faithful step God is asking you to take today? Will you trust Him for strength to take it?
Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank You that my weariness qualifies me for Your promises, not disqualifies me from them. Help me remember who You are when circumstances feel overwhelming. Give me strength for today's journey, and teach me to wait on You with dependent faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Brian's February 22, 2026 Sermon: Good News for the Weary.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/19/5-day-devo-based-on-2-22-26-sermon#comments 0 When the Alarms Go Off https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/18/when-the-alarms-go-off Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:01:58 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/18/when-the-alarms-go-off
When the Alarms Go Off: Practicing Trust Before Crisis Hits

Think about the last time a fire alarm went off unexpectedly. Maybe it was at work, or perhaps your home security system malfunctioned at 3 a.m. Your heart races. Adrenaline surges. In those disorienting moments, clear thinking becomes nearly impossible.

But emergency responders don't panic when alarms blare. Firefighters don't freeze when smoke fills a building. Why? Because they've practiced. They've rehearsed their response so many times that when crisis actually strikes, their training takes over.

Even schoolchildren learn this principle through fire drills. The first alarm might terrify a kindergartener, but by high school, students calmly file out because the response has become second nature. They know where to go and what to do because they've practiced it dozens of times.

This same principle applies to our spiritual lives in profound ways: What we rehearse each day is what we'll repeat in crisis.

A King Under Siege

The story of King Hezekiah in Isaiah 36-38 provides a masterclass in crisis response rooted in daily faithfulness. Hezekiah was one of the few genuinely good kings in Judah's history. Scripture says there was no king like him either before or after. He didn't just talk about trusting God—he actively demonstrated it through radical obedience.

When Hezekiah became king, he literally cleaned house. He removed pagan shrines, destroyed idols, and even broke apart the bronze serpent Moses had made because people had started worshiping it instead of God. He reopened the temple and restored proper worship. Every decision flowed from one question: What would please God?
This daily practice of trust and obedience prepared Hezekiah for what came next.

The Ultimate Intimidation Campaign

After fourteen years of Hezekiah's reign, the Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, systematically conquering every city except Jerusalem. Then he sent his commander with an intimidating army to deliver a message designed to crush any remaining hope.

The Assyrian commander's speech was psychological warfare at its finest. He mocked Hezekiah's trust, ridiculed the idea that God would save them, and pointed out that no other nation's gods had been able to stand against Assyria's might. His message was clear: You're helpless, hopeless, and your God is powerless.

Notice how many times the commander used the word "trust." He understood that faith was the foundation of Judah's resistance, so he attacked it relentlessly. He even blasphemed by claiming God Himself had sent Assyria to destroy Jerusalem.

The threats escalated to graphic descriptions of the suffering Jerusalem would endure under siege. The commander shouted that conditions would become so desperate that people would eat their own waste and drink their own urine. He declared that the king of Assyria was stronger than God Himself.

The Practiced Response

Here's where Hezekiah's daily habit of trust became crucial. When his officials returned with this devastating news, their clothes torn in grief and distress, what was the king's first response?

He went to God.

Not to his military advisors. Not to seek political alliances. Not to strategize with his cabinet. He went straight to the house of the Lord.

This response wasn't manufactured in the moment—it was muscle memory from years of practice. Hezekiah had cultivated such a consistent pattern of going to God first that when crisis struck, he didn't have to think about it. His feet simply carried him to the place of prayer.

The Habit that Saves

This is the critical insight we cannot miss: When it's your habit to listen to the Lord when you're not in crisis, it's easier to discern His voice when you are in crisis.

Consider your own prayer life. When do you pray? Is it your practice to go to Jesus with all things throughout the day—touching base, checking in, listening and adjusting? Or is prayer primarily reserved for the big stuff you can't handle on your own?

The Bible instructs us to "pray without ceasing"—not just morning and evening prayers, but constant communication with God. This isn't about religious performance; it's about relationship. It's about remaining in such close contact that His voice becomes familiar above all the noise.

Sometimes we can better see where our trust truly rests by examining where we fail to be obedient. Perhaps you say you trust God as your healer but have never asked anyone to pray for healing. Maybe you claim to trust God as your provider but don't give generously because you're afraid you can't afford it. You might say God's leading your children, but you try to control their every move because you're terrified they'll fail.

Too often we live like we're in charge and God needs to run His plan past us. But genuine trust means following His plan, not asking Him to bless ours.

God's Response

Hezekiah sent messengers to the prophet Isaiah, asking him to pray for the remnant of Judah. But here's the beautiful part: we don't see Isaiah stopping to intercede because God was already on the move. He had already prepared Isaiah with the answer.

God's message was simple: "Do not be afraid. I will send Sennacherib home, and he will die by the sword in his own land."

When Sennacherib later sent a threatening letter, Hezekiah's response was identical to before. He went to the house of the Lord, spread the letter before God, and prayed. His prayer focused not on his own preservation but on God's glory—that all kingdoms would know that Yahweh alone is Lord.

God's response was decisive. He sent an angel who killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. Sennacherib returned home, where his own sons murdered him in the temple of his false god.

Personal Crisis

The story doesn't end there. Later, Hezekiah became deathly ill. Through Isaiah, God delivered the message: "You will not recover. You are going to die."

Imagine receiving that diagnosis. Yet even in this deeply personal crisis, Hezekiah's response remained consistent. Too sick to go to the temple, he simply turned his face to the wall and prayed. His words were simple: "Remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart."

Then he wept.

God's response? "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life."

The God of the universe hears your prayers and sees your tears. Let that truth sink deep into your soul.

The Invitation

What crisis are you facing today? What struggle threatens to overwhelm you? Whatever it is, it's not too big or too small for God.

If you've practiced being obedient and trusting Him each day, you can certainly trust Him in whatever storm you're weathering now. If it's not your habit to go to God first, let this be your invitation to start. Confess your resistance. Repent of your unwillingness to trust. Pour out your heart.

He knows what you need. He made you for Himself. He knows exactly where you are.
And He's trustworthy—not because you decided to trust Him, but because of who He is. It's about His character, His loving kindness, His grace and mercy, His strength and purpose and plan.

When we genuinely trust God, we can stand in quiet confidence no matter how desperate the circumstances may seem. As Romans 8 promises, nothing—no problem, no issue, no crisis—can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

So practice trust today in the small things. Go to Him first with everything. Stay in constant communion with Him throughout your day. Because when the alarms inevitably sound, you'll know exactly where to run.
This blog was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Phil's sermon on February 1, 2026: Trust in Crisis.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/18/when-the-alarms-go-off#comments 0 How to Love God https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/03/how-to-love-god Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:13:48 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/03/how-to-love-god
Written by Sherri Bergmann 

Valentine’s Day places the spotlight on showing our significant other how much they mean to us, even though we should demonstrate our love every day just as much. The same is with God, the most significant person in our life.

He’s a spirit, but he’s also a person. As the late Billy Graham put it, “God also is a Person. A person acts—and so does God. He feels, thinks, sympathizes, forgives, decides, acts, judges, and loves. God is not an impersonal force or power; He is a Person—the most perfect Person imaginable. There is, of course, a vast difference between God’s personality and ours: He is perfect, but we are not.”1 

God desires, and deserves, our attention and love above anyone else.

How should we love God?

“Jesus answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” —Mark 12:29-31

Loving Him with All Your Heart

 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” —Proverbs 4:23

While we look at others by their appearance, God looks at our hearts. Our heart is considered the base of our emotions, desires and will, from which our passions flow that affect our thoughts and actions. Our heart is the core of making a choice or decision – with the most important being to follow Christ or not.

Loving Him with All Your Soul

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” —Genesis 2:7

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” —Matthew 16:26

Jesus emphasized that the soul is worth more than the whole world. Our soul is who we are as a whole person – our personality, mind, emotions, and will. Our soul connects our spirit with our body. Both the body and soul can die, but God is the only one who can preserve us or extinguish our self forever.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” —Matthew 10:28

Loving Him with All Your Mind

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” —2 Corinthians 10:5

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” —Romans 12:2

Don’t let your thoughts become negative or stray from the truth, actively replace them with God’s truth.

Loving Him with All Your Strength

“Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.” —Exodus 17:11-13

We give our all to accomplish His purpose.

1. Our obedience reveals the strength of our love.

“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” —1 John 14:23-24

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” —1 John 5:3. 

Different Bible versions use the word burdensome instead of grievous. Some people think it’s hard to follow God. Initially, that may seem to be true when the Father of Lies winks at us, but Hell makes us pay. Obeying God doesn’t add burdens to our life, nor cause us grief.

2. Our love towards others reveals the depth of our love for God.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” —1 John 13:34

“If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” —1 John 4:20

When we love others, we are loving God. The opposite is also true.

3. Words and actions count. 

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” —Matt 25:37-40

How we love others is the reflection of how much we love God.

4. Build a relationship with God.

“Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. Three times every day, he bowed down on his knees to pray and praise God. Even though Daniel heard about the new law, he still went to his house to pray.” —Daniel 6:10

Relationship building with God was so important to Daniel he set aside regular times to pray every day, people knew His prayer schedule. Daniel’s enemies used this knowledge to set Daniel up to die and tricked the king to declaring a law that those who didn’t worship his majesty would be thrown into the lion’s den. Because Daniel had built a relationship with God over time, He knew God, and that loving God was a higher priority than obeying the king.

Daniel also knew and obeyed God’s commandments. The more we know what the Bible says, and pray to God, the more we will know Him.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” —James 4:8

The best way to build a relationship with someone is to spend time with them.

All of God’s commandments and the attitudes of those who followed God in the Bible are summed up in loving God and others. 

“Love is the greatest.” —1 Corinthians 13:13

Because God is love.
1 https://billygraham.org/answers/is-god-a-spirit-or-a-person
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/02/03/how-to-love-god#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 2.1.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/29/5-day-devo-based-on-2-1-26-sermon Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:12:02 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/29/5-day-devo-based-on-2-1-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the February 1, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: Practiced Trust

Reading: 2 Kings 18:1-8

Devotional:King Hezekiah's legacy wasn't built in a moment of crisis—it was forged in daily obedience. Before facing Assyria's threats, he systematically removed idols, reopened the Temple, and aligned his life with God's commands. His trust was practiced, not improvised.

Consider your own spiritual rhythms. Are you cultivating trust through daily surrender, or only reaching for God when emergencies strike? Like a fire drill prepares students for real danger, your everyday faithfulness prepares you for life's inevitable storms. The small choices—morning prayer, biblical obedience, consistent worship—become muscle memory for your soul.

Today, identify one area where you can practice trusting God. Don't wait for crisis to teach you dependence. Build your foundation now, stone by stone, choice by choice, so when the alarms sound, your first instinct leads you straight to Him.

Day 2: Running to God First

Reading: Isaiah 37:1-7, 14-20

Devotional: Notice Hezekiah's immediate response to devastating news: he tore his clothes and went into the house of the Lord. Not to his advisors. Not to his army. To God. This wasn't panic—it was practiced priority.

When crisis crashes into your life, where do you run first? Do you exhaust your own strategies before approaching God as a last resort? Or is He your first call, your immediate refuge? The order matters because it reveals where you truly believe help is found.

Hezekiah's prayer demonstrates honest, humble conversation with God. He didn't use manipulative language or try to convince God. He simply spread the threatening letter before the Lord and acknowledged His sovereignty. Your prayers don't need polish—they need authenticity.

Make it your habit to bring everything to Jesus first: the diagnosis, the conflict, the financial pressure, the relational fracture. Start there. He's already listening.

Day 3: God Is Bigger Than Your Crisis

Reading: Isaiah 37:21-38

Devotional: Sennacherib thought he was unstoppable. He'd conquered nations and crushed their gods. But he made a fatal miscalculation—he challenged Yahweh, the one true God who controls kings and kingdoms.

God's response is stunning: "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." Not Hezekiah's strategy. Not Judah's military. God Himself would defend Jerusalem. And He did—185,000 Assyrian soldiers fell in one night.

Whatever you're facing feels overwhelming because you're measuring it against your own strength. But God isn't limited by your resources, your circumstances, or your past failures. He specializes in impossible situations because they showcase His power and bring Him glory.

Your crisis—whether medical, financial, relational, or spiritual—is not too big for God. The question isn't whether He can handle it. The question is whether you'll trust Him while He works. Stand in quiet confidence today, knowing nothing can separate you from His love.

Day 4: Personal Crisis, Same Faithful God

Reading: Isaiah 38:1-8

Devotional: When Isaiah delivered the death sentence, Hezekiah didn't rage or despair. He turned his face to the wall and prayed. Even in his weakest moment, his practiced trust guided him to God.

Notice the simplicity of his prayer: "Remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness." Then he wept. No elaborate theology. No bargaining. Just honest grief brought before a faithful God. And God responded immediately with healing and fifteen additional years.

Your personal struggles matter to God. He sees your tears. He hears your prayers. Whether it's chronic illness, broken relationships, career uncertainty, or mental anguish, bring it to Him. You don't need perfect words—you need an open heart.

God's healing came not because Hezekiah earned it, but because of God's faithfulness to His promises. Your hope doesn't rest on your performance but on His character. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Trust Him with your personal pain today.

Day 5: Building a Legacy of Trust

Reading: 2 Chronicles 31:20-21; Hebrews 4:14-16

Devotional: Scripture summarizes Hezekiah's reign beautifully: "He did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And in every work that he undertook...seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered."

This is the legacy of practiced trust—a whole-hearted pursuit of God in everything. Not perfection, but direction. Not flawless execution, but faithful intention. Hezekiah's daily obedience prepared him for national and personal crises because he'd already established where his help came from.

What legacy are you building? Will those who observe your life see someone who talks about trust but operates in self-reliance? Or will they witness authentic dependence on God in both ordinary moments and extraordinary trials?

Hebrews invites us to approach God's throne of grace with confidence. That confidence comes from relationship, not crisis management. Cultivate closeness with Jesus today. Pray without ceasing. Listen for His voice. Obey His promptings. When storms come—and they will—you'll know exactly where to run.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Phil's February 1, 2026 Sermon: Trust in Crisis.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/29/5-day-devo-based-on-2-1-26-sermon#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 1.25.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/22/5-day-devo-based-on-1-25-26-sermon Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:04:44 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/22/5-day-devo-based-on-1-25-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the January 25, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: The Promise of Righteous Rule

Reading: Isaiah 32:1-8

Devotional: "Behold, a king will reign in righteousness." This isn't poetic optimism—it's a radical promise. When we examine our lives honestly, we often discover we've placed our security in strategies, relationships, or circumstances rather than in God's reign. Like ancient Judah, we may appear spiritually functional while God has been pushed to the margins. True security doesn't come from better circumstances but from better leadership—from allowing Jesus to truly rule. Today, ask yourself: What am I trusting in for stability? Where have I replaced God's authority with my own solutions? The invitation isn't to try harder but to yield control. When the right King rules, everything else begins to align.

Day 2: Shelter in the Storm

Reading: Isaiah 32:2; Psalm 46:1-7

Devotional: Isaiah describes God's reign as "a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place." Notice that righteous rule doesn't eliminate hardship—it assumes wind, storms, dryness, and weariness will come. What changes isn't the presence of difficulty but the presence of refuge. Under God's reign, we're no longer left exposed. Political alliances failed Judah; our own strategies will fail us too. But when Jesus rules our hearts, we find genuine shelter. Today, identify one area where you feel exposed or overwhelmed. Instead of seeking a human solution first, pause and acknowledge God's authority over that situation. True peace flows from rightful leadership, not from managed circumstances.

Day 3: From Confusion to Clarity

Reading: Isaiah 32:3-4; James 1:5-8

Devotional: "Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention." When God reigns, spiritual clarity emerges. We begin seeing what we've been blind to and hearing what we've been resisting. The "hasty heart" finds understanding; confused speech becomes distinct. This isn't just intellectual knowledge—it's inner transformation. Drift happens when we stop actively yielding to Jesus, when we pray only after decisions are made, when Scripture no longer challenges us. Alignment begins by slowing down enough to ask: "What does obedience look like here?" Today, before making decisions, pause to consult God. Let Scripture speak into areas you've kept personal. Direction replaces drift when the right authority governs our lives.

Day 4: Restoration in Barren Places

Reading: Isaiah 35:1-7

Devotional: "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom." God doesn't just bring order—He brings life back to barren places. These are the areas where we've stopped expecting much: stuck patterns, dry faith, strained relationships, mechanical obedience. When God truly reigns, He works in these dried-up spaces. Not magically or overnight, but genuinely. Isaiah isn't rebuking weakness; he's naming it honestly—weak hands, feeble knees, anxious hearts. God's reign restores courage where fear has settled. Today, identify one "wilderness" area in your life. Don't try to fix it yourself. Instead, invite God's authority into that space. Restoration is real, often partial now and complete later, but always moving toward wholeness.

Day 5: Walking the Way of Holiness

Reading: Isaiah 35:8-10; John 14:6

Devotional: "A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness." This isn't about moral perfection—it's about direction. When God reigns, life becomes oriented rather than drifting. Confusion is often the clearest sign His rule has been displaced; clarity signals its restoration. Jesus is the Way—not just philosophically, but practically. He doesn't merely tell us what's right; He restores us as He reigns. Alignment isn't a one-time decision but a daily practice of surrender. It looks like responding differently when wronged, naming sin honestly, letting Scripture shape our conflicts. Today, ask: Who is actually ruling my life? Not who I believe in, but who governs my decisions and responses. Jesus isn't asking for perfection—He's asking for rightful authority. When He reigns, scattered lives become re-centered.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Doug's January 25, 2026 Sermon: When God Reigns.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/22/5-day-devo-based-on-1-25-26-sermon#comments 0 Choosing Your Foundation in Uncertain Times https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/19/choosing-your-foundation-in-uncertain-times Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:08:53 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/19/choosing-your-foundation-in-uncertain-times
The world feels unstable. News cycles churn with threats of conflict, economic uncertainty shadows our financial decisions, and personal struggles test our resilience daily. In moments like these, fear becomes a familiar companion—whispering doubts, magnifying dangers, and tempting us toward desperate solutions.

But what if our fear is revealing something deeper? What if the anxiety we feel is actually exposing where we've placed our trust?

The Ancient Crisis That Mirrors Our Own

Twenty-seven hundred years ago, the kingdom of Judah faced an existential threat. Two neighboring nations—Israel and Syria—had formed an alliance and were marching toward Jerusalem with conquest in mind. King Ahaz and his people were terrified. The walls that once seemed so secure now felt paper-thin. The soldiers who once inspired confidence now seemed inadequate.

Looming even larger in the background was Assyria, the ancient world's superpower, conquering nations and demanding submission. Judah stood at a crossroads: Would they trust in military might? Political alliances? Submission to a foreign power? Or would they trust in God?

The prophet Isaiah entered this moment of crisis with a message that seems almost absurdly specific: he named his son Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, meaning "Speeding to the plunder, hurrying to the spoil." Before this child could say "mama" or "dada," God promised that Israel and Syria would be overthrown by Assyria. Deliverance was coming.

But here's where the story takes an unexpected turn.

When We Reject the Quiet Stream

Isaiah used a powerful metaphor to describe God's provision. He spoke of "the waters of Shiloah"—a small, gentle stream that flowed through Jerusalem, quietly sustaining the city. This modest brook represented God's faithful provision: consistent, reliable, sufficient.

Yet Judah rejected these gentle waters. They wanted something more impressive, more powerful, more immediately reassuring. So God warned them: if they rejected His quiet provision, they would instead experience the Euphrates River—Assyria's power—flooding over them, rising up to their necks, nearly drowning them.

How often do we make the same mistake? We pray for provision, and God answers—perhaps not spectacularly, but sufficiently. Then we grow restless. We want more control, more security, more impressive solutions. We replace trust in the Provider with trust in the provision itself.

The person who prays through a financial crisis and experiences God's faithfulness might then shift their trust entirely to money, budgeting, and earning power—forgetting the One who provided in the first place. The individual who receives healing might place all their confidence in health protocols and medical systems, losing sight of the Great Physician.

We trade the gentle, sustaining stream for our own strategies, only to find ourselves overwhelmed by circumstances beyond our control.

The Darkness of Fear-Driven Living

When fear takes the driver's seat, we become vulnerable to deception. Isaiah warned the people not to get caught up in conspiracies and fear-mongering. When we're already afraid, we'll believe anything that confirms our fears.

This pattern is painfully familiar in our digital age. Algorithms feed us content that amplifies our anxieties. Doom-scrolling becomes addictive. Every crisis feels like confirmation that the sky is falling. We collect evidence for our fears like currency, trading in speculation and worst-case scenarios.

The consequences of fear-driven living are devastating: "They will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness." Fear breeds bitterness, despair, and a profound spiritual darkness that can infect individuals, families, and entire nations.

But darkness is never the end of the story.

Light Breaks Through

Into this prophecy of judgment and warning, Isaiah introduces a stunning reversal: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."

This isn't just poetic optimism. Isaiah was prophesying about the Messiah—a child who would be born seven centuries later, carrying four names that would dismantle every foundation of fear:

Wonderful Counselor – In a world of competing voices, conspiracies, and confusion, the Messiah offers true wisdom. Hidden within Him are "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." We don't have to sort through the noise alone. We have access to divine counsel, wisdom that cuts through deception and guides us into truth.

Mighty God – When we feel weak and overwhelmed, when enemies seem too powerful and circumstances too dire, we have a Mighty One fighting for us. He is the distinguished warrior, the champion who has never lost a battle. "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love."

Everlasting Father – Like a strong, loving father who provides safety and security for his children, Jesus offers us an eternal refuge. When children are afraid, they run to their father. Jesus is that sanctuary, that strong tower we can run to when fear threatens to overwhelm us. His compassion is as constant as a father's love, removing our transgressions "as far as the east is from the west."

Prince of Peace – In a world of wars and rumors of wars, where peace treaties fail and conflicts multiply, Jesus promises something different: "In me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." This isn't the absence of trouble but the presence of peace in the midst of it—a peace that "surpasses all understanding" and guards our hearts and minds.

The Choice Before Us

Every season of fear presents us with the same choice Judah faced: Will we be ruled by our fears, or will we surrender them to the One who has already overcome?

The path of fear leads to darkness—trusting in our own strength, political powers, financial security, or whatever else promises immediate relief. But these solutions exact a heavy price and ultimately leave us feeling like we're drowning.

The path of faith leads to light—trusting in Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This path doesn't promise the absence of difficulty, but it offers something better: His presence in the midst of it.

As you face your own fears this week, consider: What are you afraid of? Who are you listening to? Where are you seeking wisdom? Are you content with God's provision, or are you striving to create your own security?

The gentle waters of Shiloah still flow. The Light still shines in the darkness. And the choice remains yours: fear or faith?
This blog was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Dillon's sermon on January 18, 2026: Fear or Faith.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/19/choosing-your-foundation-in-uncertain-times#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 1.18.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/15/5-day-devo-based-on-1-18-26-sermon Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:10:55 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/15/5-day-devo-based-on-1-18-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the January 18, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: The Choice Before Us

Reading: Isaiah 7:1-9

Devotional: King Ahaz faced terrifying threats from neighboring armies, and his heart shook with fear. God offered him assurance, yet Ahaz had to choose: Would he trust God's promise or seek security elsewhere? You face similar crossroads daily. Financial pressures, health concerns, relational conflicts—each presents an opportunity to either surrender to anxiety or anchor yourself in God's faithfulness. Fear whispers that you must control everything, but faith reminds you that God holds everything. Today, identify one area where fear has been ruling your heart. Acknowledge it honestly before God, then choose to believe that He is present, powerful, and working on your behalf even when circumstances seem overwhelming.

Reflection Question: What specific fear is God inviting you to surrender to Him today?

Day 2: Rejecting God's Provision

Reading: Isaiah 8:5-10; Psalm 103:1-13

Devotional: The gentle waters of Shiloah represented God's quiet, faithful provision for Jerusalem. Yet Judah rejected this steady supply, seeking something more impressive. How often do we do the same? We overlook God's daily mercies—health, relationships, provision, His Word—because they seem ordinary. We chase after what appears more powerful or prestigious, forgetting that God's "small" gifts sustain our very lives. The Father's compassion toward you is as constant as those flowing waters. He removes your sins as far as east is from west. He provides exactly what you need, even when it doesn't look like what you wanted. Today, practice gratitude for the "gentle waters" in your life—the seemingly small ways God shows up faithfully.

Reflection Question: What "small" provision from God have you been taking for granted?

Day 3: Guarded by Truth

Reading: Isaiah 8:11-22; Colossians 2:1-7

Devotional: In fearful times, we become vulnerable to lies, conspiracies, and voices that amplify our anxiety. Isaiah warned God's people not to call conspiracy everything others called conspiracy, but instead to fear the Lord alone. This warning rings powerfully today. Social media, news cycles, and even well-meaning friends can flood us with fear-driven narratives. But in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is your Wonderful Counselor, offering truth that anchors your soul. Evaluate what voices you're allowing into your mind and heart. Are they leading you toward fear or faith? Root yourself deeply in Scripture, letting God's Word be your filter for every message you encounter. Truth sets you free from fear's prison.

Reflection Question: What voices do you need to turn down so you can hear God's wisdom more clearly?

Day 4: The Mighty God Who Fights For You

Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7; Zephaniah 3:14-17

Devotional: The Messiah is called Mighty God—a warrior distinguished in battle. This isn't a distant deity uninvolved in your struggles. Jesus is the Mighty One in your midst who saves, who fights for you while you remain still. When you face battles that seem too great—illness, injustice, spiritual warfare, overwhelming circumstances—remember that your Savior is mighty. He rejoices over you with gladness and quiets you with His love. You don't fight alone, and victory doesn't depend on your strength. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to you. Today, identify one battle you've been fighting in your own strength. Invite the Mighty God to fight for you, and watch how He moves when you trust Him.

Reflection Question: Where do you need to stop fighting and let the Mighty God battle on your behalf?

Day 5: Peace That Surpasses Understanding

Reading: John 16:33; Philippians 4:4-7

Devotional: Jesus is the Prince of Peace, yet He promised we would have tribulation in this world. How do we reconcile these truths? Christ offers not the absence of trouble, but His presence in the midst of it. His peace guards your heart and mind even when circumstances remain chaotic. This supernatural peace surpasses human understanding—it doesn't make logical sense to others, yet it sustains you through the storm. The pathway to this peace is prayer with thanksgiving. Instead of anxiously rehearsing your fears, bring everything to God with gratitude for His faithfulness. He hears you. He cares. He has overcome the world. Whatever you're facing today, you can have peace not because everything is resolved, but because the Prince of Peace lives in you.

Reflection Question: Will you exchange your anxiety for God's peace through prayer and thanksgiving today?
Closing Thought: Throughout this week, you've been invited to examine what rules your heart—fear or faith. The same God who promised deliverance to ancient Judah has sent Jesus, your Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. He is trustworthy. His plan is unfolding even when you cannot see it. Choose faith. Choose Jesus. He is enough.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Dillon's January 18, 2026 Sermon: Fear or Faith.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/15/5-day-devo-based-on-1-18-26-sermon#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 1.11.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/08/5-day-devo-based-on-1-11-26-sermon Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:25:36 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/08/5-day-devo-based-on-1-11-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the January 11, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: God's Lavish Investment in You

Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7; 2 Peter 1:3-4

Devotional: God is the vineyard owner who spares no expense in cultivating your life. He cleared the stones of obstacles, planted choice potential within you, and built protective structures around you. Like Israel's vineyard, you've been given every advantage—spiritual resources, community, His Word, and the Holy Spirit. Yet the question remains: What fruit are you producing? God's investment isn't passive; it's purposeful. He expects justice where there's been injustice, righteousness where there's been selfishness, and love where there's been indifference. Today, take inventory. Are you yielding sweet grapes of godliness or the sour fruit of self-centered living? God's care demands a response—not from obligation, but from gratitude for His relentless love.

Day 2: The Stunning Reality of God's Holiness

Reading: Isaiah 6:1-4; Revelation 4:1-11

Devotional: Isaiah encountered God high and exalted, surrounded by seraphim crying "Holy, holy, holy!" This wasn't a casual coffee-shop conversation with the divine—it was an earth-shattering revelation of God's transcendent majesty. The threefold repetition of "holy" in Hebrew emphasizes what sets God completely apart: His absolute moral perfection, His otherness, His blazing purity. When we truly glimpse God's holiness, our response isn't casual familiarity but reverent awe. We live in a culture that treats God like a cosmic buddy, but Scripture reveals a King whose glory shakes foundations. Today, resist the temptation to domesticate God. In your prayers, begin with worship that acknowledges His majesty. Let His holiness recalibrate your perspective on sin, self, and service.

Day 3: Confession Opens the Door to Cleansing

Reading: Isaiah 6:5-7; 1 John 1:8-9

Devotional: "Woe is me! I am ruined!" Isaiah's encounter with holiness exposed his sinfulness immediately. He didn't make excuses or compare himself favorably to others—he owned his unclean lips and the corporate sin surrounding him. This honest confession triggered immediate divine response: a seraph touched his lips with a burning coal from the altar, declaring his guilt removed and sin atoned. God doesn't cleanse the self-righteous; He purifies the repentant. Confession isn't about groveling but about agreeing with God about the reality of our condition. What area of your life needs the touch of God's cleansing coal today? Name it specifically. Own it honestly. God stands ready to forgive comprehensively and restore completely the moment you stop defending and start confessing.

Day 4: Redeemed to Serve, Not Just Sit

Reading: Isaiah 6:8-13; Romans 12:1-2

Devotional: Immediately after Isaiah's cleansing, God asks, "Whom shall I send?" Isaiah's response—"Here am I. Send me!"—flowed naturally from gratitude. You weren't saved merely to enjoy forgiveness; you were redeemed to participate in God's redemptive mission. God doesn't need you, but He invites you into His work as an expression of love and purpose. Isaiah's assignment wasn't glamorous—he'd preach to hardened hearts with limited visible success. Yet willingness mattered more than outcomes. Your calling may not be dramatic, but it's significant. Perhaps it's sharing faith with a neighbor, serving in your church, or pursuing justice in your workplace. God's not looking for perfect people; He's seeking available people. Let your "yes" to God today be your worship offering for yesterday's grace.

Day 5: The Holy Seed—Hope in the Stumps

Reading: Isaiah 6:13; 11:1-3; Romans 11:1-6

Devotional: Isaiah's prophecy ends with devastation—a land of felled trees and lifeless stumps. Yet from this barrenness emerges a promise: "the holy seed will be the stump in the land." Even in judgment, God plants hope. From Jesse's stump would come a Branch—the Messiah who brings life from death, hope from despair. This is God's pattern: He's never a quitter. When everything seems dead, God is growing something new beneath the surface. The remnant—those few who remain faithful—become the seed of restoration. You may feel like a spiritual stump today, cut down by failure or circumstance. But God specializes in resurrection. The same power that brought Jesus from the tomb can bring new life to your barren places. Hold on to hope. God's not finished with you yet.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Brian's January 11, 2026 Sermon: Sweet News for Sour Grapes.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2026/01/08/5-day-devo-based-on-1-11-26-sermon#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 1.4.26 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/30/5-day-devo-based-on-1-4-26-sermon Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:43:25 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/30/5-day-devo-based-on-1-4-26-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the January 4, 2026 Sermon.

Day 1: The God Who Sees Our Rebellion

Reading: Isaiah 1:2-9  

Devotional: God begins His message through Isaiah with heartbreaking honesty: "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me." Like a loving parent watching their child walk away, God sees every act of rebellion, yet His first response isn't rage—it's grief. The people had everything they needed, yet they turned away. Today, examine your own heart. Where have you turned from God's provision to pursue your own way? The beauty of this passage is that God doesn't abandon His children even in their rebellion. He pursues them with truth because He loves them too much to let them destroy themselves. Confession begins with honest acknowledgment of where we've wandered.

Day 2: When Religion Becomes Routine

Reading: Isaiah 1:10-17

Devotional: God declares something shocking: "Stop bringing meaningless offerings!" The people were attending worship, bringing sacrifices, and observing religious festivals—yet God called it detestable. Why? Because their Sunday devotion disconnected from Monday behavior becomes hypocrisy. They prayed for neighbors while preying on them in business. They lifted holy hands while crushing the vulnerable. God desires authentic transformation, not religious performance. Today, ask yourself: Is my faith merely a Sunday routine, or does it transform how I treat others throughout the week? God isn't impressed with our religious activities when our hearts remain unchanged. He calls us to "seek justice, defend the oppressed." True worship always flows into compassionate action toward others.

Day 3: Scarlet Sins Made White as Snow

Reading: Isaiah 1:18-20

Devotional: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." This is one of Scripture's most beautiful invitations. God doesn't minimize sin's stain—He acknowledges it's deep, dark, and permanent by human standards. Yet He promises complete cleansing. No sin is too deep, no rebellion too long, no shame too dark for God's redemptive power. The condition? "If you are willing and obedient." God offers renewal, but we must turn toward Him. Perhaps you're carrying guilt from past mistakes, believing you've gone too far. Today, hear God's invitation: "Come now, let us settle the matter." Bring your scarlet stains to the only One who can make them white as snow. Restoration begins with one honest step toward Him.

Day 4: The Refining Fire of Discipline

Reading: Isaiah 1:24-28

Devotional: God promises to "thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities." Like a metalworker heating precious metal to remove impurities, God sometimes allows heat in our lives—not to destroy us, but to refine us. Discipline isn't evidence of God's abandonment; it's proof of His commitment to our transformation. The dross must be removed for the gold to shine. When you face difficult seasons, consider: Is God using this to remove something that hinders my relationship with Him? His goal is always restoration—to make us into "the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City." The refining process is uncomfortable, but the result is beautiful. Trust that God's discipline flows from His love, designed to restore you to intimacy with Him.

Day 5: More Than Resolutions—We Need a Redeemer

Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31

Devotional: Human resolutions fail because we lack the power to sustain them. We make commitments with sincere intentions, but our strength runs out. Isaiah offers something better than self-powered promises: "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Notice it doesn't say "those who try harder" or "those who make better plans." Renewal comes from waiting on—trusting in, depending on—the Lord. He doesn't just inspire change; He sustains it. He doesn't demand commitment and leave you alone; He empowers you through it. As you step into this new year, release your grip on self-sufficient resolutions. Instead, surrender to the God of renewal who promises to carry you through, not just call you forward. True transformation isn't about turning over a new leaf—it's about receiving a new heart from the One who makes all things new.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Brian's January 4, 2026 Sermon: Penalty and Promise.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/30/5-day-devo-based-on-1-4-26-sermon#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 12.28.25 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/23/5-day-devo-based-on-12-28-25-sermon Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:04:52 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/23/5-day-devo-based-on-12-28-25-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the December 28, 2025 Sermon.

Day 1: Our Perfect High Priest

Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28

Devotional: The Old Testament priests were temporary—limited by death, sin, and human weakness. They offered sacrifices repeatedly because their work was never finished. But Jesus is different. He sits at the right hand of God's throne as our eternal High Priest, ministering on our behalf in the true heavenly sanctuary. Unlike earthly priests who needed to sacrifice for their own sins first, Jesus was sinless. His priesthood never ends, and His sacrifice was offered once for all time.

Today, reflect on this truth: you have a High Priest in heaven right now interceding for you. He understands your struggles, knows your weaknesses, and continually brings you before the Father. You are never without an advocate. Let this reality bring you comfort and security in your relationship with God.

Day 2: Covered by the Blood

Reading: Leviticus 16:11-19; Hebrews 9:11-14

Devotional: On the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place with blood from a spotless sacrifice to cover Israel's sins. This was a solemn, fearful moment—one mistake meant death in God's holy presence. The blood didn't eliminate sin; it covered it temporarily. Year after year, the cycle repeated.

But Jesus entered the true Holy of Holies—heaven itself—with His own blood. Unlike animal blood that merely covered sin, Christ's blood cleanses us completely. God no longer sees your sin; He sees the perfect sacrifice of His Son covering you.

Stop carrying the weight of past mistakes. If God remembers your sins no more, why do you keep replaying them? Let the blood of Jesus wash away your guilt and shame. You are covered, cleansed, and made completely new.

Day 3: A Better Covenant

Reading: Hebrews 8:6-13; Jeremiah 31:31-34

Devotional: The Old Covenant was based on external laws written on stone tablets—rules that revealed sin but couldn't transform hearts. It required constant sacrifices and priestly mediation. But God promised something better: a New Covenant written not on stone, but on human hearts.

Through Jesus, God's law becomes internal. The Holy Spirit dwells within you, transforming you from the inside out. You don't serve God out of fear or obligation, but from a heart that has been made new. This covenant isn't about your ability to keep rules—it's about God's power to change you.

Today, thank God that your relationship with Him isn't based on your performance but on His promise. The New Covenant means you belong to Him, He knows you intimately, and your sins are forgiven—not just covered, but completely removed. Walk in the freedom of this better promise.

Day 4: Living as the Redeemed

Reading: Romans 5:6-11; 1 Peter 1:17-19

Devotional: You were bought with a price—the precious blood of Jesus. God didn't wait until you cleaned yourself up or proved yourself worthy. While you were still a sinner, actively rebelling against Him, Christ died for you. This is the scandalous, overwhelming love of God.

Your identity is no longer defined by your past, your mistakes, or your failures. You are redeemed. You are chosen. You are covered by the blood of the spotless Lamb. God looks at you and sees the righteousness of His Son.

But here's the challenge: if God views you this way, how should you live? Let this truth transform how you see yourself and how you treat others. Stop living in guilt. Stop defining yourself by yesterday's sins. The old is gone; the new has come. Walk in the freedom and dignity of being blood-bought and deeply loved by the King of Heaven.

Day 5: The Life of a Servant

Reading: Mark 10:35-45; Philippians 2:1-11

Devotional: Jesus, the High Priest and King of Glory, didn't come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom. He left heaven's throne, took on human flesh, lived perfectly, and died brutally—all to serve you. This is the heart of Christianity: sacrificial, selfless love.

As followers of Jesus, we're called to live the same way. Not pursuing comfort, recognition, or self-centered goals, but laying down our lives for others. This means forgiving when it's hard, serving when it's inconvenient, and loving people who don't deserve it—just as Jesus loved you when you didn't deserve it.

As you enter this new year, examine your heart. Are you living selfishly or sacrificially? Who needs your forgiveness? Who needs your service? Where is God calling you to step out of your comfort zone? Remember: you serve a Savior who sweat blood in anguish before going to the cross for you. Let His example compel you to live as a servant of all.
Closing Prayer: Father, thank You for Jesus, our perfect High Priest and eternal sacrifice. Thank You that the old covenant has passed away and You've made us new through the blood of Your Son. Help us live in the freedom of being fully forgiven, fully known, and fully loved. Transform our hearts to serve like Jesus served, to love like Jesus loved, and to sacrifice like Jesus sacrificed. May our lives magnify Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Jamin's December 28, 2025 Sermon: The Old is Gone The New Has Come.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/23/5-day-devo-based-on-12-28-25-sermon#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 12.21.25 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/18/5-day-devo-based-on-12-21-25-sermon Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:18:46 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/18/5-day-devo-based-on-12-21-25-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the December 21, 2025 Sermon.

Day 1: The Inadequacy of Our Efforts

Reading: Hebrews 10:1-4; Psalm 51:16-17

Devotional: The Old Testament sacrificial system revealed a profound truth: our best efforts can never truly cleanse us. Bulls and goats couldn't transform hearts—they only covered sin temporarily. This wasn't a design flaw; it was intentional. God wanted His people to recognize their desperate need for something greater.

Today, we still try to earn God's favor through our performance—church attendance, good deeds, religious activity. But like those ancient sacrifices, these things can't change our hearts or remove our guilt. God doesn't want your offerings; He wants you. He's not impressed by your résumé; He's moved by your surrender.

Reflection: What "sacrifices" are you offering God instead of giving Him your whole heart? What would it look like to stop performing and start surrendering?

Day 2: A Body Prepared for You

Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10; Philippians 2:5-11

Devotional: "A body have you prepared for me." These words from Psalm 40 anticipated Christmas morning over a thousand years before it happened. God didn't send another prophet or angel. He came Himself, wrapped in human flesh, to accomplish what no sacrifice ever could.

Jesus didn't come to add to the religious system—He came to fulfill it and make it obsolete. His obedience, lived out in a human body just like yours, satisfied God's requirement once for all. The baby in Bethlehem was God's final answer to humanity's deepest problem.

When you celebrate Christmas, you're celebrating more than a birth. You're celebrating the moment God stepped into our mess to clean it up permanently. The manger points to the cross, and the cross points to freedom.

Reflection: How does knowing Jesus came in a body—experiencing hunger, temptation, and pain—change how you relate to Him today?

Day 3: Once for All

Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14; Romans 6:8-11

Devotional: In the temple, there were no chairs. The priests' work was never finished—another day, another sacrifice. But Jesus sat down. Not from exhaustion, but from completion. His work was finished.

"Once for all" might be the most liberating phrase in Scripture. Your salvation doesn't depend on daily sacrifices, repeated rituals, or constant performance. Jesus' single sacrifice perfected you forever. You're not "being made holy" by your effort; you're "being sanctified" by His finished work.

Stop living like you need to earn what's already been given. Stop carrying guilt for sins already cleansed. Stop performing for approval you already have. Jesus sat down because there's nothing left for you to do except trust Him and rest in His completed work.

Reflection: What guilt are you still carrying that Jesus already dealt with on the cross? Will you let it go today?

Day 4: The New Covenant Heart

Reading: Hebrews 10:15-18; Ezekiel 36:25-27

Devotional: God's promise under the New Covenant is stunning: "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Not "I'll try to forget" or "I'll overlook them." God chooses not to remember—He removes our sin from His record permanently.

But there's more. He doesn't just forgive externally; He transforms internally. He writes His laws on our hearts and minds, giving us both the desire and power to live for Him. The Holy Spirit takes up residence within us, changing us from the inside out in ways animal sacrifices never could.

This is why Christianity isn't about rule-keeping—it's about heart transformation. God doesn't demand outward compliance from unchanged hearts. He changes the heart, and obedience flows naturally from love.

Reflection: Where do you sense the Holy Spirit prompting change in your life? Are you resisting or cooperating with His transforming work?

Day 5: Drawing Near with Confidence

Reading: Hebrews 10:19-23; Ephesians 2:13-18

Devotional: The curtain that separated humanity from God's presence was torn. Not partially, but completely. Jesus opened "a new and living way" through His flesh, inviting us to walk boldly into the Most Holy Place where God dwells.

You don't need to fear God's presence anymore. Your penalty has been paid. You're not an intruder; you're welcomed. You're not tolerated; you're beloved. Draw near with confidence—not confidence in yourself, but in what Jesus accomplished for you.

And hold fast to this hope without wavering. Your salvation doesn't rest on your performance but on God's faithfulness. He began the good work in you, and He will complete it. So approach His throne of grace boldly, rest in His finished work completely, and trust His promises absolutely.

Reflection: How would your prayer life change if you truly believed you're welcomed into God's presence with confidence? What would you say to Him right now if you believed nothing could separate you from His love?
This Week's Challenge: Each morning, before the day's demands crowd in, spend five minutes sitting quietly in God's presence. Don't perform or present a list of requests—just rest. Thank Jesus for His once-for-all sacrifice and practice simply being with the One who made you holy so you could be close to Him.
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Phil's December 21, 2025 Sermon: Once For All.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/18/5-day-devo-based-on-12-21-25-sermon#comments 0 The Radical Gift of Christmas https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/15/the-radical-gift-of-christmas Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:15:15 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/15/the-radical-gift-of-christmas
Christmas is more than twinkling lights, wrapped presents, and holiday cheer. At its heart lies a truth so profound that it has transformed billions of lives across two millennia: God became human. The infinite became finite. The eternal entered time. The Creator became creation.

This isn't merely a heartwarming story to tell around a fireplace. It's the foundation of everything Christians believe about salvation, hope, and connection with God. Without the birth of Jesus in human flesh, there would be no Easter resurrection. Without Christmas, there would be no Christianity.

Yet in our modern culture, we're witnessing an increasing attempt to sanitize Christmas of its central figure. "Holiday trees" replace Christmas trees. "Season's greetings" substitutes for "Merry Christmas." Public celebrations carefully avoid any mention of Christ, as if the holiday spontaneously appeared without reason or meaning.

But you cannot have Christmas without Christ any more than you can have Memorial Day without memory or Independence Day without independence. The entire celebration hinges on one staggering reality: God put on flesh and moved into the neighborhood.

The Unthinkable Descent

The book of Hebrews offers us theological depth to understand what happened at Christmas. The writer explains that Jesus, though superior to angels and all created beings, willingly became "a little lower than the angels" for a specific purpose. He became like us—fully human—to accomplish what we could never accomplish for ourselves.

The Gospel of John frames it beautifully: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." (John 1:1,14)

Think about what Jesus gave up to make this journey.

He gave up His home in heaven. Jesus didn't begin His existence in Mary's womb. He existed for all eternity in the indescribable glory of heaven—a place so magnificent that human language fails to capture its wonder. He left all of that to be born in a dark, cold, smelly barn in Bethlehem, laid in a feeding trough meant for animals.

He gave up certain divine privileges. As God, Jesus is omnipresent—everywhere at once. But contained in human flesh, He could only be in one place at a time. God never gets hungry, thirsty, or tired. God cannot be tempted and will never die. Yet as the God-man, Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, exhaustion, temptation, pain, and eventually death itself.

He gave up continual worship. In heaven, angels ceaselessly worship the Lord. But when Jesus entered our world—the world He created—He wasn't greeted with worship but with contempt. The Creator came to His own creation, and His creation rejected Him. They mocked Him, ridiculed Him, and eventually spit in His face.

Isaiah prophesied it centuries before: He would be "despised and rejected by men, like one from whom men hide their faces." (Isaiah 53:3)

The rejection continues today. Despite centuries of waiting and longing, much of our world still tells Jesus to stay out. We've marginalized Him, privatized Him, and tried to erase Him from the very holiday celebrating His birth.

Yet knowing full well how He would be treated, Jesus came anyway. Motivated by love, compelled by mercy, and fortified with grace, He "did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." (Philippians 2:6-7)

Why Did He Do It?

The writer of Hebrews reveals two critical advantages to God coming in human flesh.

Someone Who Became Like Us

The whole point of Christmas is identification. Unlike the distant, aloof gods of other religions, the God of Christianity came close. He didn't remain detached. He entered fully into the human experience.

This matters more than we might initially realize. There are sorrows you can't Google. There are griefs no one teaches you in school. You only truly understand them when they live in your body.

You can't fully understand chemotherapy until poison becomes your medicine. You don't understand panic attacks until fear hijacks your body for no reason. You don't understand poverty until you've had to choose between rent and groceries.

And that's precisely why Jesus didn't stay distant. He came close. Because only a Savior who suffers can truly save sufferers.

Hebrews 4:15-16 drives this home: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

When you're struggling with temptation, Jesus isn't standing at a distance saying, "What a loser! How could you?" No—He's saying, "I get it. I understand the struggle. I know how tempting that is. Don't give in. Come to me. I know what you need. I can help you gain victory."

Most of us probably cave to temptation long before the enemy gives us his best shot. But Jesus never caved. He saw Satan's full arsenal and emerged victorious. He knows exactly how to enable us to overcome.

Someone Who Overcame What We Cannot

The second advantage is this: Jesus overcame what we could never overcome on our own.

Hebrews 2:14-15 explains: "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery."

Notice those crucial words: "by his death."

Christmas is special primarily because it's a prelude to Easter. Jesus was born for the purpose of dying. He knew He would become the sacrifice for our sins. He told His disciples repeatedly that He would die and rise again to defeat death once and for all.

Here's the beautiful logic: Jesus had to be fully human to represent us on the cross. And He had to be fully God to pay for all the sins of all humankind, once for all, for eternity.

Jesus didn't just take on part of us at Christmas. He took on a fully human body to save our bodies. He took a human mind to save our minds. He embraced human emotions to rescue our hearts. He took a human will to save our broken and wandering wills.

As the ancient church father Gregory of Nazianzus wisely observed, "That which he has not assumed he has not healed." Jesus became man in full so that He might save us in full.

The Invitation Still Stands

This is why Christmas is non-negotiable for Christians. This is why "God with us" through His Son born in the flesh matters eternally.

No other spiritual leader has done what Jesus did. Not one. Buddha didn't rise from the dead. Muhammad didn't conquer death. Only Jesus was born at Christmas to be like us and to overcome what we could not.

For these reasons, Jesus is absolutely unique and uniquely qualified to connect us with the Father. He opened wide the way for us to experience all the amazing gifts of connection to God—hope, peace, joy, love, and finding our home in Him.

The question isn't whether Jesus came. History confirms that. The question is whether you've opened your heart to Him. Do you sense He's pulling you close?

The invitation still stands, just as it did on that first Christmas night: Come home to God through Jesus. Trust that He came in the flesh to die on the cross to pay for your sin. Believe that through His resurrection He proved victorious over sin and death once and for all.

Christmas without Christ is meaningless. But Christ at Christmas changes everything.
This blog was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Brian's sermon on December 7, 2025: The Son's Solidarity.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/15/the-radical-gift-of-christmas#comments 0 5-Day Devo (Based on 12.14.25 Sermon) https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/11/5-day-devo-based-on-12-14-25-sermon Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:19:57 +0000 https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/11/5-day-devo-based-on-12-14-25-sermon
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the December 14, 2025 Sermon.

Day 1: Jesus, Our Perfect Representative

Reading: Hebrews 3:1-6

Devotional: Jesus holds two unique roles that no one else can fulfill. As our Apostle, He perfectly represents God to humanity, revealing the Father's heart through His life and teaching. As our High Priest, He perfectly represents us before God, interceding on our behalf. This Christmas season, reflect on the incredible truth that Jesus didn't remain distant but became one of us to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. He understands your struggles because He experienced them. He knows the Father's will because He is one with Him. Today, consider how Jesus represents both God's love to you and your needs to God. Let this truth bring you comfort and confidence as you approach the throne of grace.

Day 2: Greater Than Our Heroes

Reading: Exodus 3:1-12; Hebrews 3:2-6

Devotional: Moses was Israel's greatest hero—deliverer, lawgiver, and leader. Yet the writer of Hebrews boldly declares Jesus is worthy of greater glory. While Moses was a faithful servant in God's house, Jesus is the faithful Son over God's house. We often elevate people to pedestals they were never meant to occupy—spiritual leaders, celebrities, even family members. But everyone falls short except Jesus. He alone deserves our ultimate allegiance and worship. This week, examine who you've placed on a pedestal. Have you made anyone's approval more important than God's? Have you trusted in human wisdom over divine truth? Jesus doesn't compete for first place in our hearts; He rightfully occupies it. Surrender those lesser loyalties and give Jesus the preeminence He deserves.

Day 3: The Invitation to Rest

Reading: Matthew 11:25-30; Psalm 23

Devotional: In our busiest season, Jesus extends a counter-cultural invitation: "Come to me and find rest." This isn't rest from all activity, but rest for your soul—freedom from striving, performing, and earning God's favor. Jesus offers rest from trying to be good enough, from hiding your shame, from worrying about others' opinions. His yoke is easy not because following Him requires no effort, but because He carries the weight with you. The Good Shepherd leads you beside still waters and restores your soul. What burden are you carrying that Jesus never asked you to bear? What expectations are crushing you that He wants to lift? Today, practice Sabbath rest—not just physical stillness, but soul rest. Spend unhurried time with Jesus, letting Him restore what the world depletes.

Day 4: Guarding Against Hard Hearts

Reading: Hebrews 3:7-15; Psalm 95:1-11

Devotional: The Israelites stood at the edge of God's promised rest but refused to enter because of unbelief and hard hearts. Their story serves as a sobering warning: we can be so close to God's blessings yet miss them through rebellion. Hard hearts develop gradually—through unconfessed sin, nursed bitterness, or competing affections. The remedy is daily mutual encouragement within Christian community. We need others to call us alongside, to help us see our blind spots, to remind us of God's faithfulness when we're tempted to doubt. Examine your heart today. Has cynicism replaced childlike faith? Has disappointment hardened you toward God? Has sin taken root that you've rationalized or hidden? Confess it to God and to a trusted believer. Let the Holy Spirit soften your heart again.

Day 5: A Better Rest

Reading: Hebrews 4:1-11

Devotional: Moses led Israel toward a geographical rest—a physical land of safety and blessing. But that rest was always temporary and incomplete. Jesus offers something far greater: eternal rest for our souls. This rest begins now as we cease striving to earn salvation and trust fully in Christ's finished work. It continues as we learn to live from His acceptance rather than for His acceptance. And it culminates in eternity when we enter the ultimate Sabbath rest in God's presence. The promise of entering His rest still stands. Today is the day to respond in faith. Don't let busyness, distraction, or doubt rob you of what Jesus purchased for you. As you prepare your heart for Christmas, remember that the baby in the manger came to give you rest—rest from sin's penalty, rest from performance-based religion, and rest in the Father's unconditional love.

Reflection Questions for the Week:

  • How does knowing Jesus as both Apostle and High Priest change how you relate to God?
  • What areas of your life feel most restless right now? How is Jesus inviting you to find rest in Him?
  • Who can you encourage this week to keep their heart tender toward God?
  • What practical step will you take to experience true Sabbath rest this Christmas season?
This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Dillon's December 14, 2025 Sermon: Resting in Jesus.
]]> https://foothillscp.org/blog/2025/12/11/5-day-devo-based-on-12-14-25-sermon#comments 0