A Bigger Story Week Devotions (with scripture)

Monday, June 30, 2025. Read Ephesians 2:1-3 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”

Dead in your transgressions and sins, have you ever really thought about that?  You were completely separated from God because you were enslaved in sin.  As we consider that we need to thank God for revealing our true spiritual state and for drawing us out of the darkness to salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Read Ephesians 2:4-7 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

Today reflect on God’s intervention and the transformative power of His grace.  Looking at the phrase "But God..." in verse 4. How has God intervened in your life? What does it mean to be "seated with Christ in the heavenly realms"? Praise God for His mercy and grace that brought you from death to life.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Read Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Salvation as a gift received through faith, not earned by works. What does it mean to be saved by grace through faith? How does this passage challenge the idea of earning salvation through good works? Ask God to help you live in light of the truth that you are saved by grace.

Thursday, July 3, 2025. Read Ephesians 2:11-18 “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

The unity of believers in Christ, breaking down barriers between different groups. Consider how Christ's sacrifice has reconciled all people to God and to each other. How can you actively promote unity in your community? Pray for reconciliation and unity within your church and in the world.

Friday, July 4, 2025. Read 2:19-22 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Believers as living stones built into a spiritual temple, indwelled by the Holy Spirit. How are you contributing to the building of God's spiritual temple? How is the Holy Spirit active in your life? Ask God to use you to build up His church and to empower you to live as a temple of the Holy Spirit.