Brandon Phillips

Devotional, Family

Word of God Speak (Challenge 2024 Wk1.2)

Bible-2

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. 11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward. Psalm 19:7-11

Devotional Thought

We are continuing to talk about God’s Word the Bible. In it are His words that guide us through life. There are many voices in our world today that want to tell us how we should live but they fail to renew our lives like only God’s Word can. His word renews our lives, makes our hearts glad and helps us keep our focus where it needs to be, on Him.

  • The instruction of the Lord is perfect – this refers to the entirety of the word of God and when we read God’s word and the stories within it renews our lives and gives us new excitement for life.
  • The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy – this is what God says about himself and how he has been revealed through out time. We can trust God because his character is true.
  • The precepts and commands of the Lord – This is how God spells out for us how he wants us to live and what leads to an abundant life. When we have a clear direction from the Lord it helps us experience the full and abundant life he wants us to have.
  • The Fear of the Lord – This explains to us how we are to respond to God and his word. It puts us in the right posture to recive God’s word.

“Together, these terms show the practical purpose of revelation, to bring God’s will to bear on the hearer and evoke intelligent reverence, well-founded trust, detailed obedience.” ( An Intro and Commentary to Psalms by Derek Kinder )

Try singing to listening to a song together. Here is a suggestion. You can use your phone, search YouTube, or pull out an instrument.

Song

Word of God Speak – Mercy Me

 Prayer

God, thank you for revealing yourself to us through your Word. I am so thankful that you give us your Word as a guide to help us know how to follow you. Help us as a family to have a desire to know you deeper through your Word as we worship.

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Devotional, Family

Challenge 2024 At Home Devotions

January 2024

I love new beginnings! January is always a time when we can refocus our hearts and minds on what matters most. If you are like most people, you have at least some idea of what you want to improve on in the new year. It is our prayer as a staff at FBC Panama City that we can continue to be “The House of Hope for ALL Generations”. To that end we would like to provide some simple resources that go along with Pastor Conner’s sermons for the next few weeks.

Below you will find the title of the message and theme for the week. Along with each theme there will be two devotions written for you to meditate on by yourself or with your family. The instructions are easy just start at the top and involve as many people in your household as possible. You can do this whenever or wherever you want. The dinner table while everyone is still seated, the living room on the couch, or even in the car during your daily trip to and from school.

The goal is simple focus on God and HIS word. Allow him to speak to you and adjust when needed. Also share how God is speaking to you with others.

I pray that your 2024 is a year where you seek to make significant strides in your spiritual growth.

I will also include a reading plan 

Let the journey begin.

Pastor Brandon Phillips

Young Adult Pastor

First Baptist Church Panama City

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

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Devotional, Family

The Word Of God (Challenge 2024 Wk1.1)

Bible

The Word of God

Daily Passage:

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Devotional Thought

There is no substitute for the Word of God in the Christian life. That’s why it is important for us to make sure that the word of God is a priority in our lives. As we look at today’s passages, we see that all scripture is inspired by God. That means it is special and passed down to us from the Holy Spirit through human writers that God led to write. It also tells us that it is useful for Christians because it prepares us for life.

Let’s look at a few things it says in this passage.

  • Profitable for teaching.

God’s word teaches us new things about His character and how we are to live out the Christian life.

  • Profitable for rebuking

God’s word, through the spirits working in our hearts, has the ability to show us when we are wrong.

  • Correcting

God’s word not only shows us when we are wrong but also puts us on the correct path.

  • Training in righteousness

God’s word trains us in the things of righteousness and helps us know right from wrong.

  • All that leads to us being equipped and ready to do what God has called ALL Christians to do. To live according to his ways and to tell others about the good news of Jesus.

Try singing to listening to a song together. Here is a suggestion. You can use your phone, search YouTube, or pull out an instrument.

Song

Living Word – Jeremy Camp

Prayer

God your Word is living and active. Please let your word change me into the man or woman you want me to be. Help us as a family to listen to your word and be committed to living out what it says.

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Devotional

The Joy of Transformation

joy (Medium Banner (US) (Landscape))

The word of God is a gift. The Word tells us of the good news of salvation, the joy of life, and the hope of heaven. The Word is how we know the way things ought to be and that we are meant for more than this world promises.

This world promises that if you conform you will find success. Society throws out lies and tries to direct you a certain way that is contrary to God's way. To confirm means to fit the mold. A mold that is sure to leave you feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled.

On the other hand when we seek to understand God and his ways through His Word we are able to see right through the lies. We become aware of God's mercies, the fact that he does not give us what we deserve. This compels us to worship, to leave all other things in pursuit of the one who loved us first.

The joy of transformation is that it is on going. You live ,you learn, you mess up. You change, you grow, you transform. There is an endless cycle on this earth of progress that if you press in and allow God to have His way you will transform into a new creation that only he can create through the power of His Word and spirit.

There is a joy that is unspeakable when you begin to sense the change in yourself. Even more so when those around you see your progress and give God glory because of it. Even though it can be painful there is joy in that pain.

I need to be reminded of that everyday. Especially on the days that I feel like I have taken a step back. God will continue his work of transformation in me and I will receive it with Joy.

Amen.

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Devotional, Family

Building Blocks of Character

building blocks of character

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Lego! A timeless toy that any kids and adults at any ages can enjoy. I especially love the Star Wars ships although they cost too much!

If someone gives me a new Lego brand new in the box and I have instructions it is no problem for me to knock out this task in a couple of hours. If someone gives me a used set with no instructions, then it becomes more difficult and almost impossible to finish the set as originally intended.

Life is like that too. When expectations are not clear it can be very frustrating to try and meet those expectations. When you start school your teachers give homework assignments and tests to study for. You know the expectation so you can meet them.

There are a set of expectations in the Bible that God has set for us. Some of these expectation are wired into our morality but they can seem hard to attain. But I have good news for you that God has given us instructions for these building blocks of character.

In 1 Timothy Paul, inspired by God is writing to his young friend in ministry. He is writing to encourage him in living the Christian life, which we all need encouragement and support with from time to time.

To keep this brief… are you living TALL are setting examples in these areas to your family, friends, and acquaintances.

  • Talk (Speech) - How you talk about God, family, friends, and your quality of speech
  • Act (Conduct) - How you act are you a light for Jesus? Are you kind and helpful?
  • Live (Faith) - Do you know Jesus, think about Him, talk about him with others?
  • Love (Purity) - Are you seeking to please God and be a good example in moral areas of life.

So ask yourself these questions?

Am I a TALL example for the Lord?

Who can I get to hold be accountable to be a TALL example for the Lord?

Parents are you being a good example of this to your family?

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