Title: Servant Leadership

Author: Mark Bryan

Scripture: John 13: 1-17

Devotional:

Leadership in the world often comes with titles, authority, and recognition. But on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus redefined what it means to lead. In the upper room, with His disciples gathered around, Jesus knelt to wash their feet—a task typically reserved for the lowest servant in the household.

This act of humility was more than an act of service; it was a lesson in servant leadership. Jesus chose to serve rather than be served. He showed us that true leadership is not about power or position but about the willingness to meet the needs of others with grace and humility.

Think about your own life. Where is God calling you to lead by serving? It might be in your workplace, where a kind word or act of support can uplift a colleague. It might be at home, where serving your family with patience and love can demonstrate Christ’s love. Or perhaps it’s within your community, where offering your time and energy can meet someone’s practical needs.

Devotional Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us what true leadership looks like. Help me to lead with a heart of humility and a willingness to serve others, just as You served Your disciples.

Title: Confused

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: John 13: 21-32

Devotional:

I grew up in the church. We attended weekly—both the service and Sunday school. As I got older, there were Bible studies and small groups on top of our Sunday activities. This means that many of the Bible passages about Lent and the Easter story are very familiar to me. I’ve literally read or heard them hundreds of times.

This passage, in particular, confused me as a child. I was in awe of Jesus’ seemingly magical powers—how did he know the future? What kind of power was this to declare, “One of you will betray me”? That seemed like the kind of power I’d like to have. It would be useful to know what other people were going to do before they did it.

As I grew older, it seemed less like magical foresight and more like Jesus was simply “reading the room.” But then I was baffled by the disciples. If Jesus knew what was happening, how could they be so clueless? Why did they start wondering, “Is it I?” How could they not know? This scared me too. Could I be that unaware? Could I betray Jesus without even realizing it?

With time, I began to see the disciples differently. Maybe they were just overwhelmed—by the crowds and festivals, the threats surrounding them, and Jesus’ parables and mysterious words. They seemed less obtuse and more frightened, struggling to understand in the midst of chaos.

Then my attention shifted to Judas, and his actions were even more confusing. After all this time together—after witnessing healings, teachings, and Jesus standing up to petty critics—after seeing firsthand that Jesus’ actions matched his words, how could Judas betray him? What was wrong with him? Didn’t he realize he was betraying his friend?

But as I continued to grow, I found more compassion for Judas. He started to seem less evil and perhaps more... confused. Working with people who were in the process of repairing relationships after betrayal helped me see Judas as a human being, rather than as a symbol of evil.

And now, I find myself puzzled by Jesus again. His words at the end: “Now the Son of Man has been glorified…” Now? At the moment of betrayal? What about the cross? The resurrection? I know how the story ends, so isn’t glory supposed to come at the end? Yet Jesus says, “Now...”

It seems the older I get, the more questions I have and the less I feel certain about. Maybe it’s time to accept that God will continue to surprise and confuse me in new ways—and to let go of the idea that I’ll ever figure it all out.

Devotional Prayer:

Help me to embrace the mystery of faith, to ask questions without demanding all the answers, and to trust in Your wisdom even when I don’t fully understand. Give me compassion for others, just as You showed compassion—even to those who betrayed You. Teach me to walk humbly, accepting that faith is a journey filled with wonder and questions. May my uncertainty lead me to deeper trust and my curiosity draw me nearer to Your heart. In Your name, Amen.

Title: Becoming

Author: Scott Anderson

Scripture: John 12: 20-36

Devotional:

I recently attended a marriage ceremony.  The minister reminded us that, in this ritual, “the two become one.” Although the two persons had lived separate lives until that moment, from then on, their life would be lived as one life.  Those of us in attendance could reflect, from the perspective of many years, how true that statement was.  It is impossible for me to think of my life without thinking of my wife.  Everything I have is ours:  our children, our dog, our house. Ours.

One of the things I say to my wife—usually to make her smirk or to roll her eyes—is “Thanks for making you and me…us.” I think that’s what is happening in the scripture passage for today.  Jesus is telling his followers that a more fruitful, more abundant life is available.  But they have to be willing to look beyond their current circumstances and challenge their own perspectives.  Do you want to live a fuller life? Invest yourself in others!  Do you want to expand your influence? Be part of something bigger than you are!  Do you want to be part of God’s Kingdom? Stop being self-ish and become self-less. Be a grain of wheat, planted in the ground, coded to germinate, and prepared to transform into nourishing food.

Devotional Prayer:

“Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.”  Help me to remember: there is no progress without change; no transformation without transition; no resurrection without death. Amen.

Title: What Would You Give To God?

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: John 12: 1-11

Devotional:

As we journey through Lent, we are invited to reflect on what we hold most precious. In pouring something out that was so precious and valuable, Mary expressed her deep love and devotion. What can we learn from Mary? What would we be willing to give to Jesus? What do we value enough to lay down before Him in worship?

This Lenten season calls us to consider what we might be holding onto too tightly—our time, our resources, our comforts—and offer them to God as a sacrifice of love. Just as Mary’s act was not about the value of the perfume but about the love behind it, so too our offerings to God are about the heart we bring, not the value the world places on it.

Devotional Prayer:

During this Lenten season, help us to reflect on what we hold most dear and give it back to You as an offering of love and devotion. Teach us to serve You with hearts full of sacrifice, knowing that in doing so, we reflect the love You’ve shown to us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Title: Know Nothings

Author: Matt Yoder

Scripture: John 11: 45-53

Devotional:

The plot to take Jesus’ life in John’s gospel intensifies at a meeting of the chief priests and Pharisees. In this moment, the high priest Caiaphas asserts his authority in telling those worried that getting rid of their Jesus problem would save their nation from any potential trouble. He mockingly scolds his colleagues saying, “You know nothing at all.”

What follows is one of the more incredibly ironic passages of Scripture. The gospel writer gives Caiaphas a “yea, but…” by reminding readers that this was a real prophesy about Jesus through his office of being the high priest. But what he spoke about Jesus would come true in a way he would never expect, in Jesus welcoming all of God’s children to gather together. If God can work like this through someone so fervently opposed to the life and ministry of Jesus, what more can be done by working together for the good of God’s Kingdom? Perhaps the Lord does work in mysterious ways after all.

Devotional Prayer:

Lord God, we humbly admit that we cannot comprehend the fullness of the movement of Your Spirit and the works of Your Hand. Help to work and move within us for the building of Your Kingdom, even when we may least expect it. Amen.

Title: Believe the Works

Author: Matt Yoder

Scripture: John 10: 31-42

Devotional:

We live in a time and age where religious faith is dropping generationally at a precipitous rate. Ask anyone who grew up in the church and walked away later in life and you will likely hear a story about how someone in the church hurt or wronged them. So often it’s not Jesus or his teachings that cause people to reject religious faith, but the works of someone associated with it.

Here, Jesus says to a disbelieving and dissonant crowd that the proof of His divine claims is in His works. And what were Jesus’ works? Offering gifts of healing, love, justice, and mercy. Skepticism of organized religion has never been higher in our culture. But sharing with people who Jesus was and what His ministry was about won’t happen through lofty messages, building the biggest megachurch, or blessings of prosperity. And it certainly won’t happen by eliciting fear, regret, or judgment. It will happen by walking in the footsteps of Christ and proving that Christians can actually practice what they preach.

Devotional Prayer:

Holy Lord, may we be faithfully consistent in doing Your will so that the world may not just see You through our words, but our actions of love, justice, and mercy. Amen.

Title: God’s Contract

Author: Hugh Dowell

Scripture: Genesis 17: 1-8

Devotional:

I’m a lawyer, so I see a lot of contracts. At their core, each one is the same: an agreement in which one party promises to do something (or not) in exchange for some benefit it will receive from the other party. Yet too often these agreements unravel. Promises get broken, expectations go unmet, and the limitations of human commitments are laid bare.

The covenant God offers Abram transcends these human arrangements. Rather than offering a mutually advantageous deal, God invites Abram into a transformative relationship. At the covenant’s heart are promises not of mere obligation, but of faithful love. God pledges to be with his beloved children, guiding and providing for them—extending this commitment to generations everlasting. In return God asks Abram to simply walk and be blameless. It is a covenant so one-sided, so imbalanced, that God gives all this away for free.

Unlike human contracts built on our fragile, self-interested obligations, God’s covenant is rooted in a loving faithfulness that looks beyond our weaknesses and imperfections to our truest identity. And it is this same love that carries Jesus from the darkness of Gethsemane, through Golgotha and the grave, into the promise of a sunlit Easter morning.

Devotional Prayer

Faithful God,

You promised Abraham that you would be with your people forever.

Help me now to rest confidently in that promise,

and in that rest to be transformed by your love,

until I see that in you, there is no longer “you” and “me,”

but simply “us.”

Amen

Title: Freedom in Truth

Author: Mike Nowlin

Scripture:  John 8: 31-42

Devotional:

In John 8:31-42, Jesus is talking to people who believe in Him, but He challenges them to go deeper. He says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Jesus isn’t just talking about head knowledge; He’s calling us to live out His teachings in a way that changes us. True freedom comes from aligning our lives with His truth.

The crowd doesn’t quite get it—they think they’re free just because of their heritage, but Jesus points out that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. During Lent, we have the chance to pause and reflect on where we might still be held captive by things like fear, pride, or old habits. Real freedom comes when we allow Jesus to set us free by living according to His word.

As we journey through Lent, it can be helpful to ask for input from others. Sometimes, we can’t see what’s holding us back, and asking a friend, a pastor, or a fellow believer can give us valuable insight and encouragement to move forward toward spiritual growth.

Devotional Questions:

Reflect on the following questions today:

• Where in my life am I still holding onto things that keep me from fully following Jesus?

• Who could I talk to about areas where I need help or accountability to grow closer to Christ?

Title: Prism

Author: Joan

Scripture: John 8: 12-20

Devotional:

In the morning, prisms appear on my bedroom wall. I sit in bed, sipping coffee, watching as colorful light dances just for me. It only happens when the sun shines. These glimmers of light help me notice the nuances of life, reminding me to pay attention to my world. It’s how I keep learning. A step out the door, a phone call, a slow breath, a simple “How are you?” or “Thank you.” The lights nudge me, keeping me present and alert.

Devotional Prayer:

Dear God, Your Holy Spirit walks with me, sometimes behind, sometimes ahead, but always with me. Thank you, and Amen.

Title: Keep Me Humble

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: John 8: 1-11

Devotional:

This scripture is a good reminder to be humble. It can be easy to think we know it all and have all the correct answers, and if only everyone would listen to us, the world would be a much better place. But the truth is that all of us are human and fall short of the mark of perfection. All of us are sinners.

Devotional Prayer:

Dear God, Help me not to think I'm better than anyone else. Please help me to use my humanness with all my imperfections to help others and glorify you.

Title:   Come In, No Stay Out!

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: John 7: 37-52

Devotional:

I read this passage several times, and I kept getting stuck on this phrase: “the temple police.”

At the beginning of the passage, Jesus extends a broad invitation: “Anyone who is thirsty… come to me.” He announces to the entire crowd—presumably a large one, given that it was the last day of the festival—that anyone can come to him, and he will help them. This makes it all the more jarring to read about the temple police just a few lines later—individuals whose role, I assume, often involved keeping people out.

• Jesus: “Anyone who is thirsty, come in.”

• Temple Police: “But first, where are you from? Show us your credentials. Who are you, anyway?”

To be fair, the temple police seem confused and stuck in this situation. They even get scolded by the religious leaders for not arresting Jesus—for not, essentially, keeping him out.

Reflecting on this contrast, I was struck by how quickly I can shift from welcoming to policing who gets to be part of my communities. Although I genuinely want to welcome anyone, it doesn’t take long before I start wondering about someone new and silently asking, “Who is that? Where are they from? What do they do?” Even if I never voice these questions, I notice how quickly I start checking people’s credentials in my mind.

But if I take Jesus’ words seriously, then there is no need for me—or anyone else—to take on the role of “temple police.” Jesus’ only criterion is: “Are you thirsty?” Maybe that should be my only criterion too. Perhaps it’s time for me to quit volunteering to be the temple police.

Devotional Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You invite all who are thirsty to come to You without barriers or judgment. Forgive me for the times I’ve acted as a gatekeeper, questioning who belongs or who is worthy. Help me to welcome others as You do—without hesitation or conditions.

Title: Where’s Your Wisdom Coming From?

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: Proverbs 1: 1-7

Devotional:

In our daily lives, we are often faced with decisions, big and small, that require wisdom. Whether navigating relationships, work, or personal challenges, we can seek God's guidance. The fear of the Lord directs us to prioritize God above all else. How are we making space for God’s wisdom in our life? Are we truly seeking God’s guidance, or are we relying solely on our own understanding? As we move through this day, let us

remember that true wisdom begins with a heart that honors God.

Devotional Prayer:

God - Thank You for the gift of Your wisdom, which leads us to understanding. Too often we rely on our own understanding instead of seeking Your guidance. Teach us to listen, learn, and live according to Your Word. May Your wisdom guide us in every decision we make. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Title: The Will Keep You

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: Psalm 121

Devotional:

The times we are living in feel very perilous. Things are changing at a rapid speed. Decency and human kindness do not feel like the norm as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. However, the goodness of the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Devotional Prayer:

Dear God, may I draw my strength from You to help drown out the negative noise the world shouts. May I cling to the promise that the Lord will keep my going out and coming in from this time on and forever more. Amen. 

Title: God’s Wondrous Works

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: Psalm 145

Devotional:

When you are thinking about God’s wondrous works, what comes to mind? Is it the various mysteries of nature - the silence that a snowfall brings, the beauty of the spring flowers budding, the fall crisp cool air of fall, and the colors that paint the sky during sunrise and sunset? Is it your friends, your pets, your family? Likely. How often though do you consider yourself among the wondrous works of God? How often do you

meditate on your uniqueness, the gifts you’ve been given or how much God delights in you?

For many, this idea conjures fears of being prideful or “too big for your britches.” However, there is a way to meditate on the wonder of who you are as a reflection of the goodness of God. If we are to take delight and be grateful for the birds of the sky, then surely, we are to meditate and take delight in who God created us to be. Because we are all a part in God’s wondrous works.

Devotional Prayer:

Lord, help me to meditate on your goodness and your wondrous works. Help me wonder and delight in me the way you do. Help me to see myself from your eyes. Help me meditate on the gifts you’ve given me and ways you’ve worked in me. May I see the wonder in myself the same way I see it in others. Amen.

Title: Answer the Question

Author: Pastor John

Scripture: John 5: 1-18

Devotional:

When I lead a life group, I always ask the question, “Where in your life do you need healing?”  It feels like a simple, straightforward question to me.  A question most people would be capable of answering with ease, and some participants do answer the question easily, others though are clearly unsettled by the question, possibly embarrassed to name those facets of life in need of healing, or perhaps, simply unwilling to reflect upon the wounds of their life.

In today’s story, lying by the pool is a man who has been sick for 38 years. Jesus approaches the man and asks, a simple question, “Do you want to be made well?” You would anticipate, after 38 years of lying on a mat, the man would answer, YES, I want to be made well, however, the man gives no answer to Jesus’ question.

He does however offer circumstances and excuses, “I have no one to put me in the water. When the water bubbles, others get there first.” In short, he avoids answering the direct question Jesus asks, which is not a question about the man’s circumstances at all, but a question about his need, and his desire for wellness.

For me, the poignancy of today’s story is God wants us to be well. God wants us to walk again. To thrive again. To live again. God wants to deliver us from our paralysis – paralysis of the past, paralysis of our scars, paralysis of our fear, paralysis of our stasis, paralysis of our myopic view of what our life can be. I believe there’s also this desire on God’s part for us to want to live. To answer the question, “Do you want to be made well?” with a resounding YES, for God can only work with what we offer.

Today, “Where in your life do you need healing?” or to quote Jesus, “Do you want to be made well?” The journey of healing and wholeness begins based on your answer the question.

Devotional Prayer: Holy One, give me the courage to know life differently, to mend and relinquish the wounds which stifle my life, so I may walk a new path. Amen.

Title: Signs and Wonders

Author: Matt Yoder

Scripture: John 4: 43-54

Devotional:

As hard as it is to resist, we’re really not supposed to ask Jesus for a sign as followers of Christ. We are encouraged to trust, to have faith, to just believe. But sometimes we just need that extra bit of proof, right? That extra reassurance. That extra confirmation that our faith actually means something. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy on His wilderness journey that we are not to put the Lord to the test.

So what are we to make of the royal officer’s ill son? Jesus flatly tells him that he won’t believe until he sees a sign. And yet Jesus… just gives it to him anyways and heals his sick child. If only it were that easy for us today, right? But maybe we’re looking at this conundrum the wrong way. Perhaps this wasn’t just a sign or a message for the royal officer, but also for the generations who would come to follow. Jesus’ miracles and ministry is just the slightest tip of the iceberg of the healing, restorative possibilities of God. What if we lived not searching and begging for a new sign, but as people who have already seen one?

Devotional Prayer:

Lord Jesus, let us trust in your power that transcends people of all times and all ages. Give us faith to persevere and know that this Spirit of healing still flows throughout the world today. Amen.

Title: Lessons in Humility

Author: Matt Yoder

Scripture: Luke 18: 9-14

Devotional:

This short prayer of the tax collector is so powerful that it has been entrenched in the Eastern Church since the early years after Christ.  It’s been called the “Jesus prayer” and what many in the Eastern Church have done is to use this as an anchor prayer.  When they meditate, when they pray, even at other times during the day, they will pray this prayer.  “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

And they will repeat it time and time again until it is no longer a string of words but a part of their own identity.  Here it becomes not just a prayer of the mouth or a prayer of the mind, but a prayer of the heart.  There is no heart in the prayer of the tax collector, just pride and boasting. But when we pray from the heart, that’s when our hearts can be changed.  That’s where we meet Jesus.

Devotional Prayer:

Gracious God, let our prayers humbly be written upon our hearts so that we may see you and your glory, and not the glory of ourselves. Amen.

Title: Faith in Action

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: Mark 12: 28-34

Devotional:

One of the things that I love most about Stone Village is the sense of community and the Outreach we do for others. When we make brown bag lunches for people experiencing homelessness, I feel like we are putting our faith into action. When we donate needed goods monthly to The Open Shelter, I feel that we are loving our neighbors in a small way. Our actions and prayers can make a difference.

Devotional Prayer:

Dear Lord, For all that you give to me. Help me to help others through gifts of service. This Lent, let us love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen. 

Title: Pivotal Moments

Author: Heather Monkmeyer

Scripture: Luke 2: 41- 52

Devotional:

Jesus was twelve-years-old when he made the audacious choice to disappear from his friends and family as they journeyed home from their annual pilgrimage to the Passover Festival so he could go to the temple where he would have the chance to listen and learn from the rabbinical

teachers. Imagine that. It was no small thing that he sneaked away from his parents, his relatives, his community, all that was familiar and all that kept him safe. No permission. No chaperone. This was his alone to do.

I personally identify with Mary and Joseph and the absolute terror they must have endured as they searched for him over days and nights, imagining the worst, hoping and praying for the best. But, something compelled young Jesus to do what he did and, to me, that is what is so

interesting here.

In How We Learn To Be Brave; Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington DC, says that often in adolescence or young adulthood (but it can happen anytime)there is a moment that defines us, a point in time where we hear a call to

embark on a hero’s journey. We are summoned out of what is normal and familiar and into the unknown. That first experience, if the call is heeded, will become a critical marker in the inner work of identity formation and self-differentiation. If Jesus’ calling was anything like other

people’s sense of calling, the memory of this first moment—when he knew he had no choice but to “go,” regardless of his or anyone’s feelings, regardless of the consequences—would be something that would grow in significance and be a touchstone for him the next time the call to ‘go” or respond came again. Even though his public ministry was many years in the future, this was the beginning.

The line “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor” is all we know about the “hidden years” of Jesus’ life. We can imagine there were many moments when he said “yes” to being faithful in small ways that led to the moment when he stepped out as the Jesus we follow thousands of years later.

Can you think of a pivotal moment in your life, a time you felt compelled to “go” despite the way it would impact friends, family or your own sense of security or comfort? What was that like for you? How long did it take for you to follow the call? How did it change you? How did it change those around you? Spend some time honoring the courage it took to go or to stay.

Devotional Prayer:

God, help us be brave and faithful in the small moments when we sense your invitations so that when the time comes for something big, we know we can show up and be who you have made us to be. Amen.

Title: Watch Yourselves Closely

Author: Pastor Matt

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 5-9

Devotional:

Moses’ address to the people in the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy reads like a modern day campaign rally speech. He is ready to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land and is celebrating their status as God’s chosen ones. What a time to be alive! But he also offers them a very clear warning not to forget God’s statutes or God’s miracles and how they made it through the wilderness journey in the first place.

Did the ancient Israelites heed those words? Well… not really. They went through a Hebrew Bible roller coaster of breaking and mending God’s covenant with them as various kings and leaders led the people astray. God may have offered them a promised land, but showing wisdom and discernment was their end of the deal. Are there any parallels in that reality to our world today? Would we rather build a great nation or be a wise and discerning people?

Devotional Prayer:

Lord God, encourage us to properly use the gifts of wisdom and discernment that you have given us, so that we can stay true to your call and stay near to you. Help us to remember that all good things come not from our own greatness, but from your grace. Amen.

Title: Does Forgiveness Include Yourself?

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: Matthew 18: 21-35

Devotional:

Forgiveness can be challenging, both to receive and to offer to others. True forgiveness means letting go of the anger, resentment, and bitter feelings we hold towards someone that has hurt us. How often, though, do you include yourself in this decree? How often do you extend grace to yourself when you’ve harmed? How often do you consider the harm you cause yourself when you hold onto the anger and bitterness towards

yourself?

In my experience, self-forgiveness is incredibly challenging. To face my own selfishness and examine how my own survival strategies prevent me from loving others the way I am commanded to do is painful. Like a punch to the gut, my brain will remind me of previous injuries I’ve caused and the cycle of attacking myself starts all over again. If I’m not mindful of interrupting it, my brain will relieve the most painful parts of those incidents and flog me repeatedly. And this is where the invitation lies – can I lean into self-forgiveness and interrupt the pattern of anger and blame with self-compassion? Can I remind myself that I’m human, that I make mistakes, and the goal isn’t perfection? Can I remember that if God has forgiven me, that I can and should forgive myself? Forgiveness is a process and one that doesn’t happen just one time. It is often something we revisit repeatedly, especially when it comes to forgiving ourselves.

Devotional Prayer:

Lord, please help me learn to forgive myself as I forgive others.

Help me extend the same grace to myself that I do to others and live in your love. Amen.

Title: Expectation vs. Reality

Author: Mark Bryan

Scripture: Luke 4: 23-30

Devotional:

Why do we let our expectations determine whether or not our reality is good or bad? Why can we not just let reality be what it is? In this passage, Jesus’s own people were so expectant that they would be blessed when Jesus was home, and because He did not meet their expectations…it ruined their day.

I love a good dramatic moment, but this crowd is a bit much. They got so angry they were willing to throw Him off a cliff! That’s a bit dramatic, but I’m sure we’ve all gotten angry at something because it did not meet our expectations. What if, instead of getting angry the next time something does not meet your expectation, you tried to find something happy about it instead of letting anger control you? Chances are, what you are receiving in that moment might be what God wants for you, which means He is there with you too.

Devotional Prayer:

God, Thank You for being in the moments when I let my expectations disappoint my reality. Thank You for being in the moments when I cannot find joy. Help me to remember that You are in those moments, and that is all the joy I will need. Amen.

Title: It’s Terrifying To Be Lost.

Author: Laurie Clark

Scripture: Luke 15: 11-32

Devotional:

Years ago, long before cell phones, I visited my cousin and his family in Buena Vista, Colorado. One morning, his wife and I went hiking. Following a trail, we talked until we were above the tree line – such beautiful views. Coming down, we kept talking and didn’t realize somewhere we left the trail. The sun was going down, it was getting cold, and we were turned around, lost. We found an animal trail to follow, and eventually it ran into an old logging road, overgrown, which we followed out into a parking lot with a pay phone. It was nearly 8pm. We called my cousin’s husband who answered just as he was leaving the house to meet people to start looking for us. He figured out where we were and came and got us. I still remember the feeling of being found.

It’s terrifying to lose someone.

When our son was 6 years old, our family made a trek to Disney World. Standing in line for the train ride, I looked around and asked, “Where’s Luke?” I knew he had stopped to tie his shoe, but I thought he was with us. Immediately, we sprang into action. While Greg alerted Disney workers, I ran back to the last place I saw him and waited. In what seemed like an eternity, I saw him running over a bridge toward me, looking around. I shouted, ran to him, and scooped him up. Tears of gratitude. He was lost, and then, like magic, he was found.

In this parable of extravagant love, the younger son was lost to himself. Finally, he realized he wanted to be found, to reconnect with his true self, to belong again to people who loved him, so he started his journey back.

It’s harder when we are lost and don’t realize it. That’s how I understand the elder brother, the one who believes he’s done everything right. In God’s world, love, forgiveness, and acceptance are not merit-based. Love is for all, and when this Love finds us, or when we find this Love, it’s the kind of being found that can heal us from the inside out.

When have you felt lost? And how does it feel to be found? To feel reconnected, to belong?

Devotional Prayer:

Holy One, you know what it’s like to be alone in the garden in the middle of the night. Be with us as we open our hearts to be found. Be with us as we turn our faces to find others. Amen.

Title: What Kind of Tenant Are You? 

Author: Andrew Gifford

Scripture: Matthew 21: 33-43

Devotional:

Have you ever been a tenant somewhere? Chances are you have been - or maybe even currently are. Whether it be the place you call home or where you work, we all, at one point or another, have occupied a space that was ours but also sort of not. Now, take a moment to think back on that time. Were you a good tenant? What was your landlord like? Did you make the most of the property you occupied?

I think when we read parables from Jesus, it’s easy for us to insert ourselves as the “good ones” in the story. We all want to be the Prodigal Son - not the jealous brother; the Good Samaritan - not the Priest or the Levite. But I believe we get the most out of these lessons from Jesus if we

take time to think about how we relate to each of the characters, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And the tenants in this parable are quite bad and ugly. We want to be the ones that produce the fruits of the kingdom of God, who the landowner leases the land to in the end, not the ones who murder his son. And we can be and most certainly are both, but think about what those fruits are I would argue they’re the Fruits of the Spirit - and take time to reflect on each of them. Think about ways you both have - and have not - exemplified them in your day-to-day life (and for a refresher, the Fruits of the Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control).

Take a minute today to reflect on each of them, and let’s work to harvest good fruit this Lenten Season.

Devotional Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You have entrusted us with so much. Help us to be good tenants of the life and blessings You have given us. As we reflect on Jesus’ parables, show us where we fall short and where we can grow.

Title: Gates

Author: Pastor John

Scripture: Luke 16: 19-31

Devotional:

When I set out to build Stone Village, I had a dream of creating a space, a community, where all people knew love, all people belonged, and all people were encouraged to embrace their sacred worth without condition. Yet, in time, I came to realize I was naïve, dare I say blind, to the lived experiences of many people, and I had internal work to do; I had gates I needed to open, chasms I needed to bridge. So, I returned to school and completed a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Partially to better understand me (my triggers, my scars, my preconceived notions) and also to better understand Stoners and those beyond our community so I could authentically celebrate and support without indifference, fear, and judgment. Now, I’m not encouraging anyone to return to higher ed, yet I do know this from my lived experience: nothing in our life changes until we first change.

In today’s parable, the rich man’s offense was not wickedness, and he was not maliciously cruel to Lazarus. He was, however, blind to Lazarus. He was blind to the life, the human suffering on the other side of his gate. He gave no agency to Lazarus’ life, he asked no questions, he offered no help, he gave no time and no space, and I imagine, for Lazarus, lying there day after day, hungry, covered in sores and dog spit, the rich man’s indifference - his blindness - felt like an early death.  For a life unseen, a life unvalued, a life without agency can easily be understood as a life not worth living.

Parables, like today’s, teach us about God’s intention for the world, and they also offer us a glimpse into our potential to know and live life differently. Every day, every one of us has the potential to be a good neighbor, to live in proximity to those who are hurting, those who are suffering needlessly, to those who need a sliver of kindness to make it through the day, however, every day you must decide whether you will stand on the side of indifference or the side of compassion. Will your gates be opened, or will they remain closed? Will you dare to look at life differently or will you remain blind to the life not your own?

Devotional Prayer:

Lord, open my eyes so I can see and compassionately support all of creation. Amen.

Title:  Salvation in Surrender

Author: Doyle Rausch and Jenny James

Scripture: Psalm 31: 9-16

Devotional Prayer: 

Dear God –

The weight of the burdens of this life and the missteps I’ve made separate me from my fellows and leave me lonely, fractured, and afraid.

But my hope lies in you and the surrender of my will and my life to your care and protection.

What chance, then, does the darkness stand against Your light and Your love?

I believe in Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life. Amen.

Title: The Great Disruptor

Author: Scott Anderson

Scripture: Matthew 23: 1-12

Devotional:

We live in an era of disruptors, companies that radically change an existing industry or institution through some type of innovation.  Amazon makes big-box shopping (or any in-person shopping, really) seem ridiculous.  No one hails a taxi anymore; that’s what Uber and Lyft are for.  And why go out to dinner and a movie when GrubHub is your at-the-ready caterer, and Netflix already knows what you want to watch?

Although Jesus didn’t have sweet tech at His disposal, He also was a disruptor.  Throughout the Gospels, He repeatedly challenged tried-and-true religious doctrine with the phrase: “You have heard it said…But I say…!”.  “You have heard it said, ‘Do not kill,’ but I say do not even be angry with your brother!’  I guess it is harder to kill someone when you’re not angry with them in the first place.

In the scripture passage above, Jesus is disrupting the tradition of the religious leaders.  The Pharisees are concerned primarily with status.  They want to hold the place of honor at banquets.  They want the best seats in church.  They want to be seen as exemplars of the religious tradition.

Jesus knows the religious tradition is steeped in status: the way you (and everyone else) can tell you are blessed by God is by the position you hold in society.  So, He disrupts the tradition.  He subverts status in favor of service.  The only position God cares about is the one that demonstrates service to another.  Do you want to be blessed by God?  Serve someone else.  Do you want to be ignored by God?  Serve yourself.

Devotional Prayer:

Help me to remember that one of the temptations Jesus overcame was the temptation of status—to be given control of “all the kingdoms of the world.” Help me to follow Jesus in recognizing that we are here not to be served, but to serve.  Amen. 

Title: Us/Them

Author: Joan

Scripture: Luke 6: 27-38

Devotional:

I'm thinking of the corner I pass in my car daily. The gray and worn-out man and woman sit on the plastic crate with heads bowed. Many things go through my head: are they ashamed, hungry, thirsty, mad, sad? Do they have a home? Where do they sleep? Why don't I put those granola bars and water in my car? I look away. I can't "hold" it in my heart. The next day, I passed by the corner again. One day, I will stop.

Devotional Prayer:

Dear God, Open my heart to see and act. Amen.

Title: Pray for my enemies? 

Author: Heather Monkmeyer

Scripture: Matthew 5: 43-48

Devotional:

This is a difficult passage for me. I am not used to having “enemies,” really. Sure, there have always been people I don’t enjoy or those who have views with which I don’t align. But I didn’t feel like we were enemies, just not each other’s favorite people. Lately, though, the world seems scarier, more pointedly hateful and polarized. I may be someone’s enemy simply because of how I live my life, how I vote, or for what I believe. And suddenly, that feels consequential. How do I pray for the people who seem to stand against what is truthful, compassionate, loving, and redemptive?

The last line of this passage is an admonition to be perfect as God is perfect, which, to me, is jarring. How could I possibly be perfect like God? I cannot, but maybe Jesus was imploring his listeners to sink into their innermost being where they meet God, who is perfect Love. There is an expansive place in all of us where our hearts can open, where we can hold all in God’s generous compassion and love. The only way I can ever love my enemies is by holding them in the space where God dwells in me. Tell me if you have another way.

I cannot say that I always love my enemies. But there is a hopeful place in me that desires to rise above the anger and pettiness, the fear and all that would bind me and keep me small. God, at first, I really don’t want to pray for my enemies. I really don’t want to love them. But I also don’t want to be consumed with anger, hatred, or fear. I want to be free to love, free to forgive, free to be an agent of your healing and kindness in the world. I bring this heaviness to you and ask for you to hold it with me and transform it into something productive, compassionate, and good. Amen.

Devotional Prayer:

Breath Prayer of Love and Compassion

Allow your breath prayer to become a prayer of love and compassion.

As you breathe in, receive God’s gift of unending and expansive love for all of creation.

As your breath expands your lungs, reflect on the ways in which love expands your heart.

As you breathe out, “exhale” love to those for whom you care. Breathe out to family and friends for five breaths.

In the next five breaths, expand your circle of awareness to include the people with whom you have challenging relationships.

In the next five breaths, expand again and breathe love onto your community.

Keep expanding your circle of awareness to include all peoples and, finally, all the earth.

Notice what is inspired in you when you practice extending love and care to the entire Earth community.

This is from Water, Wind, Earth and Fire: the Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements by

Christine Valters Paintner.

Title: The Courage to Ask

Author: Anonymous

Scripture: Matthew 7: 7-12

Devotional:

Asking for what we need can be a vulnerable experience. It requires us to be honest with ourselves and with God about our deepest desires—whether for healing, direction, or simply a sense of peace. In this passage, Jesus assures us that God hears our requests and desires to give good gifts to those who ask. But even knowing this, it’s often difficult to express our needs, especially the deeper ones, because it exposes our

vulnerability. We may feel unworthy or unsure about what to ask for, but God’s promise is that God delights in giving good gifts to us.

Take time today to reflect on what you’re hesitant to ask for. Are there deep, unspoken desires in your heart? Trust that God welcomes your vulnerability and will respond with what is good and right for you.

Devotional Prayer:

Loving God,

Help us to be open and vulnerable before You, asking for what we truly need.

Strengthen our trust in Your goodness and remind us that You delight in giving good

gifts to Your children. Amen

Title: Defeated

Author: Angela

Scripture: Psalm 46

Devotional:

This is a challenging period in my life. I am dealing with people and parents who are intentionally being defiant. It's difficult to look at the situation and pinpoint exactly where the problem lies. You try to persuade them to change their minds, to help them see a different perspective, and to encourage them to be more compassionate. It becomes even harder when you bring your concerns, issues, or problems to light, yet they still choose defiance.  There are times when things don't unfold as you wish. During these moments, I often feel defeated, having expended substantial energy and emotion, and not achieving the desired result feels disheartening.

There comes a point when you have to let go and let God. Hold on to the idea of God's word, which assures us that He has nothing but the best in mind for you. Romans 8:28 is a great reference. Matthew 6 is also wonderful to meditate on in these times. Rest in knowing that God knows what you need versus what you want or think you need.

Devotional Prayer:

Holy God. My whole being cries out for strength no matter what comes. Amen.

Title: Pray Simply

Author: Mark Bryan

Scripture: Matthew 6: 7-15

Devotional:

Jesus teaches us about the power of simplicity in prayer. He warns against using empty phrases, emphasizing that God already knows our needs before we even voice them. This passage reminds us that prayer is not about eloquence or length but about sincerity and trust.

Jesus offers us the Lord’s Prayer as a model—a simple yet profound conversation with God that acknowledges His holiness, seeks His will, asks for daily sustenance, seeks forgiveness, and requests protection from evil. It’s a prayer that focuses on our relationship with God and others, highlighting the importance of forgiveness as a reflection of God’s mercy.

When we pray sincerely, without pretense, we open our hearts to God’s presence and guidance. Let’s embrace the simplicity of honest communication with God, trusting that He hears us, not because of our words but because of our hearts.

Devotional Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for knowing our needs before we even ask. Teach us to pray with simplicity and sincerity, trusting in Your wisdom and love. Help us to seek Your will in all things and to rely on You for our daily needs. Grant us the grace to forgive others as You have forgiven us. Protect us from temptation and deliver us from evil. May our prayers draw us closer to You, reflecting a heart of faith and humility.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Holiness Code

Author: Laurie Clark

Scripture: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 11-18

Devotional:

This scripture comes from a section called the Holiness Codes. It includes some verses that are later listed as part of the 10 Commandments.

The American culture emphasizes being an individual so much that often people read the scriptures as an individual: I shall not steal, I shall not swear, I shall love my neighbor as myself. But here God says, “You shall not steal…You shall love your neighbor…” Maybe the “you” is not an individual, but the collective “all of you?” I wonder about this because, almost always, God talks to people as a community first. And not

any old community, but a specific kind of community where love is the central moral framework. Practically, this means people choose not to steal or take vengeance on others. This is what love looks like in the community God is calling together. The community people have come to call church.

After taking a break from church, I realized I missed a group of people gathering to worship God. I missed the ritual of Holy Communion. I missed the rhythmic sound of the Liturgy.

I thought about the kind of church I would consider. It had to be fully inclusive, hard stop. It had to be seeking justice. It had to give me space to linger around the edges and decide if I could give my heart again to a group of spiritual people. It needed to be laid back with rigorous theological reflection, open space for critical thinking, good music, and beauty. It needed to have the Great Thanksgiving. And it needed at least some children. It needed to laugh a little and have some fun. Eventually, I slipped into the back row of SVC. I cried through the first service, and everyone left me alone. It was perfect.

It took me a couple of years to commit. For me, SVC is a place where I can practice loving God and know there are people around me, in silence, in song, in person. For me, this is community love, an expression of the incarnate God, and it is enough.

On day 6 of Lent, what does community love look like and feel like for you?

Devotional Prayer:

Holy One, thank you for distilling the core of your community down to one word: love.

Title: Where Would Jesus Be

Author: Matt Yoder

Scripture: Luke 5: 27-32

Devotional:

One of the most popular fads in modern-day Christianity was the “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets that swept the nation. These bracelets were incredibly popular and found a simple message and a simple way to encourage people of all kinds to follow in the footsteps of Christ on a daily basis.

Perhaps the question we should ask ourselves now is not “What Would Jesus Do?” but “Where would Jesus be?” It’s easy to do what Jesus would do from a position of comfort and living our everyday lives. It’s much more challenging to change our routines and go where it might not be secure and popular.

Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners in spite of the criticisms and complaints from those whom society rejected. Where would we find Jesus in our world today? And would we be willing to go there with him?

Devotional Prayer:

Loving God, grant us the courage and wisdom not just to follow Jesus in our everyday lives but to disrupt our patterns and routines to go with Him. Amen.

Title: Sanctity or Purity?

Author: Scott Anderson

Scripture: Matthew 9: 10-17

Devotional:

I was once the minister of music at a Southern Baptist Church.  In the early 2000s, we decided to offer a contemporary worship service along with the usual traditional service.  The traditional service had a choir accompanied by a pianist and an organist. The traditional service had a praise group accompanied by a drummer, a bass player, a guitarist, and a keyboardist.  The reason for offering the contemporary service was to appeal to younger people who might respond better if the praise music sounded less like a funeral dirge and more like what they might listen to on the radio.

Those attending the traditional service—also the most senior members of the congregation—lobbied against our using a “rock band” in worship.  The very idea sullied the notion of praise to them. They believed that the faith of their fathers required a more solemn, reflective presentation.  “And, by the way, do you know how much that organ cost?”

The traditional folks thought they were making an argument about the sanctity of worship:  a sacred space required sacred music presented in a historically respected manner.  But really, they were challenging the purity of the musical form offered in the contemporary service: drums and electronics sullied their experience. The worship space had been defiled.

In the scripture passage above, Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ conception of His ministry. They think He should be pure, as they are.  How could He defile himself by eating with impure people?  How could He be the Messiah if He refuses to follow the ancient purity laws?  Jesus’ response was as shocking then as it is now: God doesn’t care about purity. He cares about showing compassion to those who need help. The Pharisees had polished themselves and locked themselves away to maintain their holiness. They didn’t realize that God had already sanctified them for use—to be a channel of blessing.

Devotional Prayer:

Dear God, help me to remember that, as Your Beloved, I am, right now, a holy vessel, an instrument of Your peace. Amen.

Title: Seen by the Teacher

Author: Mark Bryan

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

Devotional:

Back in school, I always wanted my teachers to notice when I was doing something extra. If I raised my hand, I wanted them to see that I had the right answer. Even if I was just working hard on an assignment, I hoped they’d walk by, glance at my paper, and nod in approval. But I also remember the times I worked just as hard and got nothing. No comment, no gold star, no pat on the back. And honestly? Didn’t I deserve a little recognition?

Then, every now and then, there’d be a moment—maybe at the end of the year or in a quiet conversation—when a teacher would say something like, “I see how hard you’ve been working,” or “I’ve noticed the way you help others.” And suddenly, I realized they had been watching all along. They weren’t just looking for flashy moments; they saw the everyday things that really mattered.

I think that’s what Jesus is getting at in this passage. It’s not wrong to want recognition—we all want to know we matter. But sometimes, what we really need isn’t applause; it’s to know that we’re seen. And God? He sees it all. The things no one else notices. The quiet efforts. The small sacrifices. The moments of kindness that don’t get posted or praised.

This Lent, maybe we don’t need to try so hard to be noticed. Maybe we just need to trust that we are already seen. And maybe that’s what really matters.

Devotional Prayer: 

God,

You see me - every effort, every sacrifice, every moment no one else notices.

Help me let go of the need for applause and trust that being seen by You is enough.

Teach me to serve, to give, and to love without needing credit, knowing that You know my heart. Amen.