Isaiah 53:6a

The Chapel Fort Wayne

Isaiah 53:6a

Sheep Gone Astray

August 12, 2024 • Pastor Mike Fanning • Isaiah 53:6

PASSAGE: Isaiah 53:6a - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.

PAUSE: There is an inclination in the human heart to go our own way. And that way most often leads us towards isolation because everyone else is also going their own way! This “turning to our own way” is actually a vivid description of what sin is. God created us to live our lives according to His way, under His leadership. But, like foolish sheep, we choose to leave God and try to forge our own way. This is not a neutral thing, it is rebellion against God. So how do we realign our way to God? Of course, it begins with Christ redeeming us. But we also need to have godly people in our lives who can teach us the ways of God and who can help hold us accountable to walking in His ways. A critical movement in the life of a growing believer is the shift from living in isolation to living in deep community with others!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us to fight against all the forces in the modern world that push us toward isolation and help us to seek and find real community! Amen.

More from ABC’s of Community Devotionals

Acts 2:47

August 23, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • Acts 2:47

PASSAGE: Acts 2:47 - ...And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. PAUSE: The actions of the early church were contagious! By living out the Gospel and sharing it with others, people’s eternal destinies were changing. Churches living in beautiful community attract unbelievers to the good news of Jesus Christ because they see God’s love on display! That should be our heart in everything we do—to live a life with others in view. Think about those you are in community with—your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. How can you live out the good news and share that with them? It is a beautiful thing to watch the Lord grow His church as the Gospel is spread! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may the way we live out our faith together draw many others to put their trust in You. Amen.

Acts 2:44-45

August 22, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • Acts 2:44–45

PASSAGE: Acts 2:44-45 - And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. PAUSE: Hang on a minute... Is this passage telling us we all need to sell everything we have and give it all away?? Does that thought make your stomach turn? The truth is, this passage is not prescribing a mandatory requirement for all believers to follow. But what it is describing is the heart of generosity that we should all have! If you see the needs of others around you and you have the means to help, would you be willing to obey that conviction in your heart? Sacrificial generosity should increasingly characterize every believer as we grow up in our faith and grow together in God’s forever family! Ask God to reveal any areas of your life that you need to grow in generosity and care for those around you. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us to see ourselves as good stewards of all You have given us. And help us to actively look for those in need that we can bless with Your abundant provision. Amen

Acts 2:42

August 21, 2024 • Pastor Mike Fanning • Acts 2:42

PASSAGE: Acts 2:42 - And they devoted themselves to…the prayers. PAUSE: Praying together about the real needs of life and the heavy burdens of the heart is a spiritual practice that every single believer should experience on a regular basis! Most Christians confess that they have a great deal of either guilt or dissatisfaction about their life of prayer. Guilt, because they just don’t pray very much, or dissatisfaction. because when they do pray it seems shallow or repetitive. And I’ve noticed that most of the time when Christians gather to pray, the requests are about physical needs and often focus on people we don’t even know that well. It’s almost like we are afraid to share and pray over personal struggles or difficult circumstances or relationships. We really need to push through to a deeper level. And we need to pray for the spiritual way more than the physical! That’s the emphasis I see when I look at the prayers of Jesus and Paul in the New Testament. Prayers for God’s wisdom and strength and courage. Prayers that we continue to be transformed into the image of Christ in all our relationships and responsibilities. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, coming before You in prayer together is one of the great privileges of the Christian life. May we do it more often. Amen.