November 2025 - Page 2 of 3

“When Does a Trial Become a Temptation?” November 20

Nov 20, 2025

James tells us to “count it all joy” when we encounter various trials.

But if we’re truthful, joy is rarely the first thing we feel when life gets hard.

We may feel afraid.

Angry.

Discouraged.

Overwhelmed.

Or simply desperate for the problem to go away.

So was James telling us to enjoy suffering?

Certainly not.

Then how can a Christian possibly respond to a painful trial with joy?

And there is another question tucked into this same chapter.

James talks about both testing and temptation.

God uses trials to strengthen our faith, yet James is equally clear that God never tempts anyone to sin.

So what is the difference?

Could the very circumstance God intends to use for our spiritual growth also become an occasion for temptation?

And if so, where does that temptation actually begin?

James’ answer may point us somewhere much closer to home than we would like.

“What Authority Has God Actually Given Church Leaders?” November 19

Nov 19, 2025

How much authority should pastors and elders have in our lives?

Hebrews tells believers to obey and submit to church leaders because “they watch out for your souls.”

But what does that actually mean?

Are Christians expected to follow whatever their leaders say?

What if we disagree with a decision?

When is disagreement simply disagreement—and when might it reveal an unwillingness to submit to God-given authority?

And are there times when submission would actually be wrong?

Those questions matter because Scripture neither gives church leaders unlimited authority nor treats our relationship to them as unimportant.

So what authority has God actually given them?

What responsibility do we have toward them?

And how might our willingness—or unwillingness—to submit reveal something about our own hearts?

We’ll also look at two other heart issues in today’s readings: the danger of taking pride in our accomplishments and what biblical compassion for the poor really requires—including why there are times when helping may not actually help.

“What If Your Hardship Is Evidence That God Hasn’t Abandoned You?” November 18

Nov 18, 2025

Where is God when life gets hard?

When circumstances become painful, prayers seem unanswered, or a trial goes on much longer than we expected, it can be tempting to wonder:

Is God angry with me?

Have I done something wrong?

Or even:

Does He still love me?

But what if some of the very circumstances we want God to remove are circumstances He intends to use?

Hebrews 12 says something surprising about hardship, God’s love, and the way a perfect Father deals with His children.

And our response matters.

Will hardship produce growth—or discouragement and eventually bitterness?

There is also a character quality that has everything to do with how we respond to God and to other people.

Without it, we cannot come to God rightly, love and serve others well, lead biblically, communicate as we should, or resolve conflict God’s way.

And its opposite can quietly interfere with every one of those things.

What is that quality—and could its opposite be showing up in ways we don’t recognize?

“What Do You Do When Your Faith Feels Weak?” November 17

Nov 17, 2025

What does it really take to live the Christian life?

Bible knowledge?

Self-discipline?

Courage?

Years of experience?

All of those may have a place, but Scripture points to something even more fundamental.

Something we cannot please God without.

Something necessary not only when we first come to Christ, but every day afterward.

And yet it is also something many believers struggle with.

What happens when we know we should trust God—but our faith feels weak?

Can faith actually grow stronger?

If so, how?

Do we simply try harder to believe?

Ask God for more?

Wait for a difficult experience to strengthen us?

Hebrews 11 gives us example after example of men and women who lived, obeyed, endured, and sometimes suffered because of faith.

So where did that faith come from?

And how can ours grow stronger?

The answer may be simpler—and more practical—than we think.

“What Will You Believe About God When Life Gets Hard?” November 16

Nov 16, 2025

It is one thing to say we trust God when life is going well.

It is another thing when prayers keep going unanswered.

When our child isn’t getting better.

When the prodigal still hasn’t come home.

When the money simply isn’t there.

When the doctor uses words we never wanted to hear.

Or when God allows a loss we never imagined we would have to face.

Those are the moments when what we say we believe about God can collide with what we are experiencing.

So what happens then?

What will keep us from giving way to fear, bitterness, despair, or a “why me?” attitude?

Can we really continue to believe that God is good when life feels anything but good?

And if we are not in a difficult season right now, is there anything we can do today that will prepare us for the trial that may come tomorrow?

Ezekiel was called to walk through a devastating personal loss while remaining faithful to God.

Hebrews 11 introduces us to men and women who trusted God without always receiving what they hoped for in this life.

So what did they know about God that enabled them to keep trusting?

And what do we need to know before the hard days come?

“Can You Follow Christ Without Really Being Part of the Church?” November 15

Nov 15, 2025

What does it really mean to be part of the body of Christ?

Is it enough to attend church most Sundays?

Sit through the service?

Say hello to a few people?

And then go home?

Or does Scripture describe something deeper?

We often talk about having a personal relationship with God—and rightly so.

But the New Testament also says a great deal about our relationships with one another.

Encouraging.

Serving.

Admonishing.

Forgiving.

Bearing burdens.

Showing hospitality.

Stirring one another up to love and good works.

So how important is Christian fellowship?

Is church involvement simply a good idea?

A duty?

An optional extra for especially committed Christians?

Or is it one of the primary ways God intends to grow and care for His people?

Hebrews 10 gives us an important answer.

And it may challenge the way we think about simply “going to church.”

“Could You Be Playing Games with Your Eternity?” November 14

Nov 14, 2025

Have you ever prayed for God’s help and wondered why nothing seemed to change?

Maybe you asked for wisdom.

Relief.

Direction.

A way out of a mess.

Or for God to change a difficult situation.

But what if there is another question we sometimes need to ask?

Am I really seeking God’s way—or am I asking Him to help me accomplish mine?

Ezekiel 20 describes people who came looking for answers from God.

On the surface, that sounds like a good thing.

But God’s response was anything but reassuring.

Why?

What was going on beneath their religious words and actions?

And could we sometimes do something similar—turning to God for help while quietly holding onto the very things He is calling us to surrender?

There is an even more serious version of that problem.

What about someone who claims to belong to God but continues living as though He has little authority over his or her life?

At what point does religious profession become spiritual self-deception?

And could someone actually be playing games with eternity?

“Are Children Destined to Repeat Their Parents’ Sins?” November 13

Nov 13, 2025

Can the sins of parents determine the spiritual future of their children?

Some Christians talk about “generational sin” as though children can somehow inherit the spiritual guilt of previous generations.

Others go almost to the opposite extreme and believe that if parents follow the right biblical formula, their children are virtually guaranteed to become faithful Christians.

But what does Scripture actually say?

Ezekiel 18 gives us a striking picture of a wicked father with a righteous son—and a righteous father with a wicked son.

Why?

And what does that tell us about responsibility before God?

It also raises important questions for parents.

How much influence do we have?

What are we responsible to do?

And at what point must we entrust the outcome to God?

Today we’ll look at personal accountability, parental influence, so-called generational sin, and the hope Scripture gives both to parents and to those who came from difficult or ungodly homes.

“Are We Really Being Salt and Light—or Just Blending In?” November 12

Nov 12, 2025

What happens when the people who are supposed to point others toward God begin looking more and more like everyone around them?

That was part of Israel’s problem.

God had given them an extraordinary calling.

They were to belong to Him in a distinctive way and point the surrounding nations toward the one true God.

But instead of influencing the nations around them, they began imitating them.

And eventually, the distinction almost disappeared.

That raises an uncomfortable question for us.

Jesus called His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

But what does that actually require of us?

Is it enough to live decent lives and hope someone notices?

Is it enough to invite people to church?

Is it enough to avoid the worst parts of the culture around us?

Or does being salt and light involve something much more purposeful?

And what happens if, instead of influencing the darkness, we gradually become accustomed to it?

Today we’ll look at Israel’s failure, Jesus’ words to His followers, and some practical ways we can live more intentionally as people who have been called to point others to Christ.