The Apostle Paul’s Purpose and Ours

(The following is the June 9 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Acts 26 and pay close attention to verses 12-18.) Paul understood his mission because Jesus told him what it was during their encounter on the road to Damascus. Paul described that conversion moment where the Lord told him, “I …

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What Attracted You to Christian Faith?

(The following is the May 25 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Acts 14 and pay close attention to verses 21-22.) What you attract people to church with is what you must continue doing to keep them. This can lead to questionable tactics and unwanted results. For example, if a youth …

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Learning History Can Deepen Your Faith

(The following is the May 14 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Acts 7 and pay close attention to verses 1-53.) False witnesses wrongly accused Stephen of blasphemy. The high priest of the Sanhedrin asked him, “Are these things true?” (v. 1). Stephen replied with a lengthy discourse that walked …

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Never Fear What Christ Has Conquered

(The following is the April 26 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 16 and pay close attention to verses 25-33.) Jesus warned his disciples about difficult days ahead. In John 15-16, he warned that the world would hate believers just as it hated him. He talked about the sorrow disciples …

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Lord, to Whom Will We Go?

(The following is the April 13 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 6 and pay close attention to verses 60-69.) John records a moment when many of Jesus’ disciples stopped following him. His comments about eating his flesh and drinking his blood were particularly problematic. The thought would have been …

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