The Covenant Maker | Genesis 15:1-20 | Grace Secured By His Word
Covenant is more than an old-fashioned word—it’s the backbone of God’s plan of redemption. In Genesis 15, God initiates, guarantees, and seals his promise to Abraham in a dramatic covenant ritual. This passage points us beyond Abraham’s story to the gospel of Jesus Christ, who bore the covenant curse and secured salvation for his people. In this sermon, Pastor Mark reminds us that our reward is God himself and that his promises are sure, even when our faith wavers.
Kept in God’s Love | Jude 17-25 | Strength to Contend and Confidence to Endure
In the closing verses of Jude (17–25), believers are called to take the warnings of the apostles seriously, to remain steadfast in the love of God, and to rely on His power to keep us from stumbling. In this sermon, Kept in God’s Love, Pastor Mark reminds us that the Christian life is not lived by grand gestures but in daily faithfulness—holding fast to God’s Word, building ourselves up in prayer, showing mercy to others, and trusting that the God who has saved us will also keep us to the very end.
Contend for the Faith | Jude 1-16 | 5 Devotions on Guarding and Passing on the Gospel
These five devotions flow out of our recent sermon on Jude 1–16, Contend for the Faith. In that message, we considered Jude’s urgent call to guard the gospel from distortion and to pass it on as our greatest legacy. If you missed the sermon or would like to listen again, you can find it here: Contend for the Faith | Jude 1–16.
Use these short daily readings and prayers to reflect more deeply on God’s Word and to apply the truths of Jude to your walk with Christ.
Contend for the Faith | Jude 1-16 | Holding Fast to the Faith That Saves
The little letter of Jude begins with warmth but quickly takes a serious turn. False teaching had crept into the church, and Jude calls believers to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. In this sermon on Jude 1–16, we see why the gospel must be guarded, how error slips in unnoticed, and how the church must treasure and pass on the faith as its greatest legacy.
Grace for the Battle | 1 Peter 5:1-14 | Standing Firm in the Living Hope of Christ
The final chapter of 1 Peter is both realistic and hope-filled. In Grace for the Battle, we hear Peter’s final exhortations: shepherd God’s people with care, walk in humility, resist the enemy, and rest in God’s grace. He reminds us that after we have suffered a little while, the God of all grace will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. This is the Living Hope we’ve explored all summer—a hope that cannot be drowned by storms, devoured by the enemy, or destroyed by death.
Grace for the Battle | 1 Peter 5:1-14 | 5 Devotions on Living with Confidence in God’s Care
In the closing chapter of 1 Peter, we find a powerful reminder that the Christian life is both a battle and a journey under the care of the Chief Shepherd. These five devotions flow out of the truths in 1 Peter 5:1–14, where Peter calls leaders to shepherd God’s flock faithfully, the church to walk in humility and trust, and all believers to stand firm against the enemy. Along the way, we’re assured that “after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace… will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Whether you’re facing personal trials, spiritual opposition, or the daily pressures of life, these reflections are designed to help you live with confidence in God’s care.
Faith in the Fire | 1 Peter 4:12–19 | 5 Devotions on Trusting God Through Trials
When Peter wrote to suffering Christians in the first century, he didn’t offer them a way around their trials. Instead, he pointed them to a faithful God who walks with His people through the fire. In 1 Peter 4:12–19, we are reminded that trials are not strange detours in the Christian life—they are part of God’s refining work, preparing us for the glory to come.
Faith in the Fire | 1 Peter 4:12–19 | Finding Joy When Faith Is Tested
When trials come, we often look for an escape. But in this passage, Peter calls us to something far greater—to rejoice in suffering because it unites us with Christ and strengthens our witness to a watching world. In this message, we see how believers can endure hardship with hope, entrust their lives to a faithful Creator, and live boldly for the glory of God.
Living on Purpose | 1 Peter 4:1-11 | 5 Devotions on Christian Living
These five devotionals build on the message of 1 Peter 4:1–11, where we’re called to live differently because of what Christ has done. Christian living isn’t aimless—it’s shaped by the gospel, rooted in eternity, and directed toward the glory of God. Whether you're walking through difficulty, resisting temptation, or seeking to love and serve well, these short reflections will help you live with purpose each day.
Living On Purpose | 1 Peter 4:1-11 | Living with Eternity in View
In 1 Peter 4:1–11, Peter calls believers to live with purpose, rejecting the ways of the world and embracing a gospel-shaped life. In this sermon, Pastor Mark encourages us to live intentionally—keeping eternity in view and glorifying God through love, service, and holiness.
Reflect more deeply with our companion devotional series: https://edgertonfrc.org/blog/living-on-purpose-devotions
Ready to Give a Reason | 1 Peter 3:8–22 | 5 Devotions on Hope, Suffering, and Witness
How do we respond to suffering, hostility, or even injustice with steadfast hope? In 1 Peter 3:8–22, the apostle challenges believers to endure trials with humility, to bless rather than retaliate, and to always be ready to share the reason for our hope in Christ. These five devotions build on the message of “Ready to Give a Reason”, helping you reflect more deeply on what it means to live as those who are united with Christ in both his suffering and his victory.
Ready to Give a Reason | 1 Peter 3:8-22 | Enduring Trials, Proclaiming Christ
In this week's message, Pastor Mark preaches from 1 Peter 3:8–22, calling us to live faithfully under pressure, show grace when wronged, and be ready to share the hope we have in Christ. The gospel isn't just something we believe — it's something we display. When we endure trials and hold fast to Jesus, our lives proclaim the truth of who He is.
To All Generations | Psalm 146 | 2025 Dutch Festival Community Worship
In a world obsessed with the temporary, Scripture calls us to think generationally. Psalm 146 reminds us that true legacy isn’t found in wealth, politics, or human power—it’s found in the unshakable reign of the Lord, who is faithful to all generations. This sermon explores the contrast between earthly rulers who perish and the eternal God who feeds the hungry, lifts the lowly, and reigns forever. Our hope, and the legacy we pass on, is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Heirs Together | 1 Peter 3:1-7 | 5 Devotions on Faithful Witness in Our Relationships
When we think about sharing our faith, we often imagine quick results—powerful moments, instant transformation, visible fruit. But in 1 Peter 3, we’re reminded that one of the most powerful witnesses we can offer is a life marked by quiet faithfulness, gentle strength, and patient trust in God.
This five-day devotional series flows out of our study of 1 Peter 3:1–7 and explores how godliness in our relationships—especially in marriage and family—can become a testimony to Christ. Each day includes a Scripture reading, a reflection, and a prayer to guide you in living out a witness that endures.
Heirs Together | 1 Peter 3:1-7 | Living Out the Gospel in Marriage and Family
What does faithful witness look like behind closed doors?
In 1 Peter 3:1–7, Peter turns our attention to the home—not the public square or the church gathering, but the everyday relationships that often test our patience, love, and endurance the most. In a world that celebrates instant results and self-promotion, God calls His people to a different kind of witness: one shaped by quiet strength, gentle respect, sacrificial love, and long-term faithfulness.
For the Lord’s Sake | 1 Peter 2:13-25 | 5 Devotions on Following Jesus When It’s Hard
What does it mean to follow in the steps of Jesus when life is unfair, authority is imperfect, and submission feels costly? In 1 Peter 2:13–25, we’re given a vision of Christian living that’s deeply counter-cultural—one marked by respect, endurance, and trust in God’s sovereign care. These five short devotions are meant to help you reflect on what it means to live as a gospel-shaped person in a watching world. Each day includes a Scripture passage, a brief reflection, and a prayer to guide you as you seek to follow Christ—the One who suffered for you, and the One who walks with you.
For the Lord’s Sake | 1 Peter 2:13-25 | Strength to Endure in a Watching World
In this week’s sermon from Living Hope, Pastor Mark explores 1 Peter 2:13–25 and what it means to live as gospel-shaped people in relationship to authority, injustice, and suffering. Peter calls Christians to honor those in authority—not because they are perfect, but because God is sovereign. Even more, he calls us to endure unjust treatment by looking to Jesus, who suffered for us and left us an example. This message challenges us to respond to hardship not with complaint, but with grace, and to trust in the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
Living Stones, Lasting Glory | 1 Peter 2:1–12 | 5 Devotions on Identity, Holiness, and Witness
What does it mean to be built together in Christ? In 1 Peter 2:1–12, we’re given a powerful picture of what God is doing through His people—shaping us like living stones into a spiritual house, rooted in Christ, and called to proclaim His marvelous light.
These five short devotions will help you reflect on your identity in Christ, the holiness we’re called to pursue, and the witness our lives offer in a watching world. Whether used individually or with others, may they encourage you to stand firm on the cornerstone and live for His glory.
Living Stones, Lasting Glory | 1 Peter 2:1-12 | Together Proclaiming His Marvelous Light
In this sermon from 1 Peter 2:1–12, Pastor Mark Groen walks through the powerful imagery of living stones, a spiritual house, and a chosen people. We see how the gospel not only brings us out of darkness but also builds us together on Christ, the cornerstone, for a life of worship and witness. This message calls us to grow in holiness, embrace our identity in Christ, and live visibly faithful lives in a watching world.