Break Every Chain, 11602 Valley Forge, Sellersburg, IN (2026)

06/10/2026

Devotional: Free Indeed

Scripture:
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 NKJV

Reflection:
“The greatest gift that God . . . made in Creation, and the most formidable to His Goodness, and that which he prizes the most, was the freedom of the will”. ~ Dante Alighieri

Freedom, real freedom, is freedom of will, the freedom to choose. The Bible tells us that when we are lost in our trespasses, that we are slaves to sin. Sind has such a tight hold on our hearts and minds that it has control over our whole being. This kind of slavery that is so total, so pervasive, cannot be broken by the unaided will. You can’t think your way out, feel your way out, or fake your way out. Sin only leads to destruction and permanent separation from God. Only Jesus, only His power, only His love can restore our freedom. In a similar verse to the scripture of the day, Jesus states, …. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32 NKJV) We know that Jesus is the truth, that He is the living Word, therefore our freedom, true freedom, freedom of will, is found only in Jesus and obedience to Him.

So many people, including Christians do not walk in the fullness of freedom, because they have not, cannot, or will not surrender their will to Jesus. You can’t pick something up until you let go of what you are already holding. Surrender is necessary and must be conscious and purposeful and total. Are you ready to know the Truth, to know Jesus, and to walk in real and total freedom? Make Him the Lord of your life today!

Questions:
Are you free, really free? How do you know?
Do you need to surrender something? What do you need to lay at Jesus’ feet?
What do you think life would look like if you could totally surrender your will?
Is there someone you can help, someone you know who needs freedom?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son Jesus, for His sacrifice. Through His blood we are washed clean, made new, and have a freedom that is impossible to achieve on our own! Lord, help us to live in this freedom, to witness to others in our freedom, and help us to set the captives free. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

06/03/2026

Devotional: Courageous Discipleship

Scripture:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV

Reflection:
"True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous." — Russell M. Nelson

Christian wimp should be an oxymoron. It is not easy being a disciple of Jesus, and it is not supposed to be. We have to choose daily to go against the strong current of a world in which Satan is in charge. Eph 2:2 We are to look different, and act differently from the world, to be in it but not of it. Rom 12:2 We must speak up against sin and for what is right, whether it is popular or not. Sometimes calling someone or something out is the right and loving thing to do, and it is what Jesus would do!

We can’t and don’t do this alone. As the verse above states, if we are in Christ Jesus, then He is with us, and He goes before us and behind us and is wherever we go. It is the grace of God that enables us to be disciples which enables us to stand up under great pressure and great persecution and hold fast to love and truth. Grace is poured out on the disciple through the Holy Spirit for the purpose of giving us what we need to live the Christian life. God’s grace is sufficient to provide all we need, but we must in courage put it into practice! That is the very definition of being a disciple of Jesus.

Questions:
What does courage look like as a disciple of Jesus?
Do you have courage to push back against an evil world?
Are you willing to be unpopular, even hated for your faith?
For those of us who are disciples in Christ, how can we encourage one another?

Prayer:
Father God, we want the courage and strength of our savior Jesus, we want the boldness to stand up to an increasingly evil world! Lord Jesus, help us to be true disciples, modeling our inner and outer lives after you, and Holy Spirit, guide us and give us strength along the way. In Jesus’ name. Amen

05/27/2026

Devotional: Biblical Inerrancy

Scripture:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17NKJV

Reflection:
"The Bible is inerrant in that it tells the truth, and it does so without error in all parts and with all its words." Charles Ryrie

Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines inerrant as: “free from error”. It defines error as: “something produced by mistake: an act involving an unintentional deviation from truth or accuracy: a deficiency or imperfection in structure or function”. I was accused recently of false theology and therefore lying, because I teach and preach the inerrancy of scripture, and I am “getting it wrong”. At our church, women can serve as elders and pastors. I was told I was in violation of 1 Tim 2:12. The context of this passage is Paul writing to his protege Timothy about the churches in Ephesus, a place dominated by female-centric pagan worship including the goddess Artemis. Paul was writing what he was writing to come in strong opposition to these cults and rid the church of any possible influence by adhering or formerly adhering to these beliefs. 1 Timothy goes on to say women should sit in silence in church, not wear jewelry, not do their hair in fancy ways, dress modestly, not to teach men nor have authority over them. Are all women doing this? Are the women accusing me and our church of being theologically unsound adhering to this? Are they following it in their own homes? If we are following 1 Timothy to the letter then we should not have women worship leaders, Sunday school teachers, or church directors, because they will inevitably teach men and have authority over them. Many churches think as long as they do not give a woman the title of pastor or elder they are following this passage. This is manipulative and sneaky and fools no one. It seems to me people only attack theology and the inerrancy of certain passages of scripture when it is convenient to them and when it suits their preferences. The fact of the matter is that many theological controversies have been discussed and continue to be debated by very intelligent theologians for centuries and have never agreed upon conclusively. As long as these are not issues of salvation, or issues preventing a deep and transforming relationship with Jesus, they are satanic distractions which divide the church. The Bible is the written word of God, is alive, is powerful, and accomplishes all that God wishes it to accomplish in the lives of His people and those seeking Him! Thank God for that!

Questions:
What does it mean to say the Bible is inerrant?
Do you pick and choose what to get indignant about in scripture?
Do you allow the Holy Spirit to guide your Bible reading and interpretation?
How does what you believe and teach about the Bible help others come to saving faith in Jesus?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father help us to rightly interpret, apply, and teach your word. Help us through your Holy Spirit to focus on what is important, on saving faith in Jesus the Christ, learning to love You and others better Lord, not getting caught up in theological distractions which Satan uses to pull the church apart. In Jesus’ name. Amen

05/20/2026

Devotional: Disciples Ask and Answer Questions

Scripture:
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Matt 16:13 NKJV

Reflection:
“Asking questions and encouraging questions are powerful tools for making disciples.” -John B. MacDonald

As disciples of Jesus, we need to be prepared to answer questions, tough questions. This will mean knowing your scripture, but also being able to relate to people on a level that is meaningful. Discipleship, as we have seen, is first and foremost about being apprentices of Jesus. We, in turn, teach others how to apprentice Jesus, and they, too, become disciples of Christ through this process. I hesitate in calling it a process because it is much more than that; it is a relationship.

Relationships start with a first meeting, a greeting, and a conversation. Conversations are an exchange of dialogue consisting of each party asking and answering questions about and to one another. When our identity is solidly in the foundation of our faith in Christ, then any conversation about ourselves should also be a conversation about Jesus, about our lives in Him, and how they, too, can have eternal life in and through Jesus. The best testimonies are stories of the transformative power of God. They are stories about how we were one way, how we were lost in doubt, fear, addiction, and sin, and how Jesus has rescued us and set us on the road of faith, victory, and life! We need not fear questions, even tough questions. Don’t be scared to say “I don’t know”, but be sure to follow up with “let’s find out together”. Let’s encourage questions and make disciples!

Questions:
Are you willing to have conversations about your faith?
How do you handle tough theological questions?
When you meet those who don’t know Jesus, do you encourage questions?
What can you do to better prepare for faith-sharing opportunities?

Prayer:
Jesus, please help us to be prepared to ask and answer questions regarding our faith, about life in you. Help us to be people driven by the desire to see everyone come to saving faith in you! Lord, we want to be disciples who make disciples, people who normally, naturally, and noticeably live out our faith. In your name, Amen.

05/06/2026

Devotional: A Church of Disciples

Scripture:
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV

Reflection:
“The church must recapture its missionary identity and activate every Jesus-follower to engage wholeheartedly in the ongoing mission of God.” – Brad Brisco

You might not know this if you look around most churches, but Christianity is not a spectator sport! In most churches a very small percentage of the people that call that church their church, serve in any fashion that helps the church function and meet its mission. Most christians come to church to receive, not to give, not to serve. But Jesus calls us to serve, to be disciples, to do the things that He did and does in the world. In fact it is through the Holy Spirit that we know Jesus, and have the power to live the Christian life and to do the things Jesus did.

As christians, we are all missionaries, we are all called to make disciples. We are to be doers of the Word who make other doers of the Word. This may in some regard, make the church a less attractive place, it may make churches shrink in size. However, this will also make churches grow in power, affectiveness, and influence in the world. That sounds pretty good to me, and I hope it sounds good to you too. Let’s put our time and effort into making disciples who are ready and willing to carry out the mission of the church!

Questions:
What is a disciple?
What is the mission of the church?
Are you a disciple who carries out the mission?
Are you a disciple that makes disciples?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we want to carry out the mission with which we have been commissioned. Lord, we want to be disciples who make disciples, to be the church you have called us to be. Help us now Jesus, through the power of your Holy Spirit to live our faith to your glory. Amen

04/29/2026

Devotional: Discipleship is Relationship

Scripture:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 NKJV

Reflection:
“Making disciples is not a 6-week event, but rather a relationship journey. How can you build in more margin for people time? Is your schedule interruptible? What can you stop doing, so you have time for the people God brings to you?” – Lorna Johnston

Love is both an action and a feeling. We tend to believe we must feel loving to act loving, but it is the other way around. Do the loving thing, and most often the feeling will follow. Discipleship, walking through the Christian life with someone, modeling what it means to be a Christian, is an act of love. Love is exchanged in and through relationships. Discipleship is not done in a class, for a pre-assigned length of time. Discipleship is not a class, but life.

Mentoring others, discipling others, takes time, energy, giving, and can result in changing my plans and schemes, but it is worth it! It is what our Christian life is all about. We are on a mission with Christ to introduce people to Christ, and then to walk them through what living unto Christ looks like. To be healthy, we need at least one person feeding into our lives,and at least one relationship in which we are spiritually feeding someone else. It is not an option but a command from our Lord and Savior.

Questions:
Are you a disciple of Jesus?
Are you making disciples of Jesus?
Who is your mentor, and who do you mentor?
How can you help others get involved in the discipleship relationship?

Prayer:
Jesus, we are your disciples, but we know you have commissioned us to take part in this relationship process. Please help us through your Holy Spirit to find the courage and ability to walk the Christian life with others. In your name and to your glory! Amen

04/22/2026

Devotional: Disciples Not Converts

Scripture:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matt 28:19-20 NKJV

Reflection:
“The church changes the world not by making converts but by making disciples.” – John Wesley

John Wesley has it right! The Bible does not say we are to make converts, but disciples. A convert has simply come around to your or our way of thinking. They may believe that Jesus is God, that Jesus died for their sins, and may believe He rose again on the third day to life that we might have eternal life in Him. This does not mean Jesus is the Lord of their life or that they are a disciple of Jesus. A disciple is an apprentice, one that is practicing under a master. A disciple is a doer of the word not a hearer only.

Too often we allow a person to “make a decision for Christ” and may even get dunked while saying the words “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, but there is no follow-through. Who is showing this new convert how to become a doer of the word, a disciple. Each one of us in the church is called to make disciples. We are called to take the time to show a new believer what it means to follow Jesus, to be a Christian, to live out the Christian life. This is not a choice, this is a part of being a disciple ourselves.

Questions:
Are you a convert or a disciple?
Are you making disciples?
What is preventing you from helping to make disciples of Jesus?
How can you help others become not only a convert, but a disciple?

Prayer:
Jesus, you are very clear in your mandate for your people to make disciples of all nations. Please send us those you would have us reach for you, and help us to lead them in your ways, to make real disciples not just converts. Amen

04/15/2026

Devotional: The Cost of Discipleship

Scripture:
“But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me’.” Isaiah 49:14 NKJV

Reflection:
Being a disciple of Jesus is not always easy. Being a disciple of Jesus is no guarantee against sickness, oppression, calamity, or many of the other ills that plague society and life. Being a disciple of Jesus means you will never face these things alone. It means knowing that whatever happens, Jesus is with you even unto physical death. If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, there is nothing at all in this world to be afraid of, for “to live is Christ and to die is gain!” Phil 1:21

There was a time when all the disciples were in a boat with Jesus. Suddenly a storm arose to the point that the boat was taking on water and during this time Jesus was sleeping, clearly not worried and clearly at peace. The disciples became very afraid for their lives and struggled with how Jesus could sleep at such a time. They struggled with whether or not Jesus cared if they lived or died. This is often missed in the story, Jesus assures them they are okay and that everything would be okay. What Jesus doesn’t do is say that they won’t or wouldn’t die. Jesus’ assurance doesn’t directly address the physical situation in which the disciples find themselves, rather He addresses the spiritual reality that in Jesus the disciples are safe whether in this life or the next. Matt. 8:23-27 Yes Jesus did eventually calm the storm but not because of the disciples but because His time had not yet come. Jesus gives us the same assurance as His disciples, we are safe eternally and therefore need fear of life or death!

Questions:
What is one cost of being a disciple of Jesus?
Do you live in fear of death, why or why not?
Are you able and willing to trust Jesus no matter what is happening around you?
How can you help others have this same trust?

Prayer:
Jesus we want to trust you, because we know without trust there is no love, and we want to love you. Jesus, help us to live what it means to have faith in you and in our eternal life with you. We want to live each day to the full and know without you Lord that is impossible. Amen

04/08/2026

Devotional: On Discipleship

Scripture:
“‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.’” John 14:26-27 NKJV

Reflection:
To be a disciple is to be a student, an adherent, a follower. Jesus is stating here that if your true allegiance, your focus is anywhere but on Him, you cannot follow Him. It would be impossible. Being Jesus’ disciple is not easy, it means doing, thinking, and even feeling things that are not in our “nature”. That is why we must be “born from above”. We have to have a spiritual rebirth, a new way of thinking, feeling. Our will must be transformed. Without this necessary rebirth, we will be focused on earthly pleasures, desires, and distractions. We must be totally devoted to Jesus!

Typically we learn how to be a disciple of Jesus from a seasoned Christian, from someone whose faith has been challenged, someone who has shown time and again victory in Christ. They model for us the Christian life, and the Christian life is bound up in what it is to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. Too many churches today don’t even know what it means to teach someone how to be a disciple of Jesus. A sure sign is when they think it can be done through a class or as some kind of group project. Discipleship is a life long venture, done in both communities, and in a one on one intimate exchange. We all need a mentor and someone we can mentor, and this is how we will teach one another what it means to be a disciple of Jesus the Christ.

Questions:
Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus?
How do you know you are a disciple?
Is there someone in your life that is leading you and showing you how to follow Jesus?
Do you mentor anyone, why or why not?
How can you give back what you have been freely given?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we want to be your disciples, to live lives that bring you glory, that do justice to your Word. Help us today Lord to find both someone to give to our lives and lead us, but also show us the person we can lead. Amen.

04/01/2026

Devotional: Lent is Just the Beginning

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

Reflection:
With the 40 days of Lent coming to an end, it is a good time to reflect on why we have been practicing and talking about it in the first place. Lent is not a command of Jesus, it is not a sin if you don’t practice it, but it is an opportunity and an example of the types of spiritual practices of which every Christian should be taking part in. Every Christian is called to grow in their Christian stature, to do what Jesus did, and in so doing become more like Jesus. At the end of the 40 days of Lent, I hope you know yourself better, know Jesus deeper, and feel closer to Him. But nothing “magical” has taken place, and you could lose what you have gained, or at the very most, stay where you are at, if you wait until next year’s Lenten season to practice a spiritual discipline.

Hopefully, you will continue to pray, to fast from time to time, especially when making a big decision, and you will continue to practice giving and being of service. You can practice the twelve-steps, meditate, take a walk every day and talk with God, practice confession and accountability, the list is endless. But every single spiritual discipline you can list is still just a means to an end. We don’t make an idol of them, but we practice them. We must take part in our salvation, in our relationship with Jesus. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; “ Phil 2:12 We can’t and don’t save ourselves but we do have a responsibility in taking part in and growing into it. Lent and other spiritual disciplines help us do that!

Questions:
Have you been taking part in Lent?
Do you practice spiritual disciplines?
How can you make your spiritual practices more regular and ongoing?
Do you see how these practices help you to become more like Jesus?
With whom can you mentor or share your practices?

Prayer:
Father God, we want to know Jesus better, to be more like Him, we want to work out our salvation in a way that pleases you. Help us through your Holy Spirit to be regular in our spiritual disciplines, to be the people you created us to be. Amen

Break Every Chain

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