Who is really in charge of our world? Who is governing all things?

God is sovereign and is reigning and ruling over everything and everyone.

The Psalmist writes of God’s governance, saying, “For the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations.” (Psalm 22:28).

The Kingdom of God is God’s rule and reign over all things in heaven and on earth. God governs everything. It is God who is truly in charge and is bringing about his Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

What hope do we have in the face of death? When we die, what will happen next? What can we expect for those who have died before us?

Death is an unwelcome certainty which brings about heartache and grief. Often death is not thought about and not anticipated. The subject of death is avoided, downplayed, or is addressed through denial.

Death is the transition into eternity and the unknown. Because we have not experienced it, and have not had the opportunity to learn from those who have, we are uninformed. We fear what we do not understand and the unknown.

What is the greatest sight you have ever seen? Before your life comes to an end, what do you hope you have a chance to see? When you pass from this life to the next, what is it that you hope to open your eyes to and see?

The Apostle Paul received an amazing revelation from God. Heaven was opened up to John and he was able to look in and gaze upon the glory of God and God’s presence with his people. John saw the Kingdom of God.

What good news do you anticipate in the face of so much bad news? What are you hoping the future holds?

We are surrounded by such sadness, poverty, broken-heartedness, captivity, imprisonment and oppression, injustice, disaster, death, peril and distress. We need the deliverance, relief, rescue, and restoration of God.

When Jesus stood up to read the scriptures in the Synagogue in his home town of Nazareth, he read from the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah, which promises reprieve from our current fallen, sinful, and broken state of being.

How much is too much to give? Can you give to excess? Is it possible to give abundantly while giving what looks like very little?

There are some who give out of their abundance. There are others who give abundantly out of their scarcity.

Each of us are called to give of our time, talent, and resources as followers of Jesus. We are to give abundantly from what we have been given. Since we have been given everything, we should be open to give everything.

The Gospel of Mark records an account of Jesus sitting down across from the treasury and watching the people putting money into the offering box. Mark tells us that many rich people put in large sums of money. However, a poor widow came and put in just two small copper coins, which make a penny.

How are you bearing witness to Jesus? What enables you to bear witness to Jesus? Where do you bear witness to Jesus—in what places do you share the good news?

As followers of Jesus, we are called to bear witness—to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we encounter.

God empowers us by his Holy Spirit to enable us to effectively share the good news of Jesus with others.

God desires for us to share the good news of Jesus wherever we are, with those around us, and to the ends of the earth, so that everyone might know Jesus.

What certainty do you have in what you believe? How can you be certain of your faith?

The author of The Gospel of Luke, the physician Saint Luke, wrote his gospel, his letter to Theophilus, to assure us of the facts of the life, ministry, teachings, miracles, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel of Luke, the Physician Luke writes, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1-4, ESV).

What hope do you have in the face of death? Do you have hope for life after death?

Because Jesus rose from the dead, followers of Jesus have resurrection hope in him. We are encouraged that death does not have the last word and we trust there is life after death.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Rome, saying “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11, ESV).

What are the ways that you are being held captive? How do you need to be set free?

God wants to deliver his people from wickedness and evil. God desires to set the oppressed free, to break every bond, and to set his children free.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6).

How free are you?

Are you still trying to pay an unforgivable debt? Are you still trying to earn the favor of God and others? Are you attempting to make your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds?

How free are you?

If God has set us free from the law and from our earning or achieving our salvation, why would we submit ourselves again to slavery to the law? Why would we submit ourselves again to the bondage of religious ritual?

Whose child are you? Who do you belong to?

We are God’s children. We belong to God.

In his first letter, the Apostle John wrote, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3, ESV).

God loves us so much, he calls us his children. When others may not know us well, we are perfectly loved and known by God and by our brothers and sisters in Jesus.

Who removes the excess weight off of your shoulders? Who helps carry your heavy load?

There are at least two kinds of people in this world: those who weigh others down, create obstacles, and burden other people, and then there are those who help lighten the load of others, ease the burden, and make life easier and more bearable for others.

When the religious leaders, the Judaizers and the Pharisees, wanted to re-institute the law and to make unreasonable and unachievable demands on new Gentile followers of Jesus, the elders stepped in and lifted their crushing demands on the Gentiles joining the church.

Have you ever felt overburdened by other people’s expectations and demands? Have you ever felt crushed by demands and standards you could not keep?

Religious requirements of the law can be overwhelming and can threaten to burden us and even crush us under it’s weight.

We cannot keep up with the demands and the requirements of the law. We simply fall short.

What cares and concerns weigh heavily upon you? Do you have fears and anxieties?

Fear and anxiety go hand in hand. When we are afraid, we feel anxious. When we experience anxieties, we fear the worst. Fear and anxiety feed off of each other.

The word of God calls us to faithful and secure trust in God, which produces the rest and peace of God for the follower of Jesus.

In Moses’s final speech, the book of Deuteronomy, God spoke to his downtrodden people—Israel, saying, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8, ESV).

Have you asked God for what you need through prayer? Do you believe God will give you what you asked for?

Prayer is asking faithfully. When we come to God in prayer and ask him faithfully to meet our needs, God hears us and will answer us.

In Mark’s Gospel account, Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24, NIV).

Jesus wants us to ask him for what we need in prayer, and he also wants us to believe that we have received an answer to our prayer. When we ask faithfully, God answers.

What does following in faith look like for the follower of Jesus? Are you following in faith?

Following in faith is not always simple or clear. To follow in faith requires stepping out into the journey without always being sure of the details, or the final destination or outcome.

Following in faith may look different for different people. However, following Jesus in faith produces life in those who follow him.

In the Apostle John’s gospel, Jesus said this about faith, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38).

Have you considered the real threat and danger of evil? Do you understand you have an enemy that wants to destroy your life?

We must be aware and alert, because we have an adversary who wants to kill, steal, and destroy. We must be watchful, because our enemy wants to devour us.

The Apostle Peter wrote, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9, ESV).

The only way we can stand against the devil is to resist evil and stand firm in our faith.

When should you go to God in prayer? When do you pray? How should you pray? How do you pray? Is there ever a time, or a manner, in which you should not pray to God?

There is never a bad time to pray. God welcomes our prayers, and anticipates that we will pray. Our prayers are welcome anytime.

There are ways to pray that are better than other ways to pray. We should pray, but when we pray it should be done to be heard by God, and not to be seen by others.

Are you surprised when tough times come your way? When life gets difficult, and trouble comes your way, do you find it strange?

Trials and difficulties are a part of living life in a broken and fallen world. We should not be surprised by trials, but we are often caught off guard when life is going well and suddenly hard times come our way.

The Apostle Peter exhorted the early church, saying, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13, ESV).

Have you ever experienced a closeness—an intimacy—so striking that you did not want it to come to an end?

God is present among us, and we can encounter his intimate presence in such a way that we will never want it to end.

The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, “You, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.” (Jeremiah 14:9, ESV).

Jeremiah experienced God’s presence in the midst of his people. He experienced belonging to God and being called by God’s name. Jeremiah did not want God’s presence to end—he did not want God to ever leave his people.