Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the themes from the sermon on Sunday, April 26, 2026:
Day 1: Faith That Moves Mountains (and Roofs)
Reading: Mark 2:1-5
Devotional: The four friends in this passage demonstrate what active faith looks like. They didn't let crowds, obstacles, or social conventions stop them from bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Their faith was visible—Jesus saw it through their actions. True faith is never passive; it takes risks, overcomes barriers, and perseveres when the path isn't easy.
Consider someone in your life who needs Jesus. What obstacles are keeping you from bringing them to Him? Perhaps it's fear of rejection, concern about your reputation, or simply inconvenience. Like these four friends, we must be willing to go to extraordinary lengths for those who cannot reach Jesus on their own. Faith isn't just believing Jesus can heal—it's acting on that belief, even when it requires cutting through the roof.
Reflection Question: Who is God calling you to carry to Jesus, and what "roof" might you need to remove to get them there?
Day 2: Our Greatest Need
Reading: Romans 3:21-26
Devotional: The paralyzed man came seeking physical healing, but Jesus addressed his deepest need first: forgiveness of sin. This reveals a profound truth—our greatest problem is never our circumstances, relationships, or physical limitations. It's always our separation from God caused by sin.
We often approach God like spiritual consumers, presenting our wish list of what we think we need: better health, more money, fixed relationships, career advancement. Yet Jesus sees past our surface requests to our soul's true condition. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Before we can experience wholeness in any area of life, we need spiritual cleansing that only Christ's blood provides.
Today, thank Jesus that He doesn't just give you what you ask for—He gives you what you truly need.
Reflection Question: Are you seeking Jesus primarily for what He can do for you, or for who He is and what He offers eternally?
Day 3: The Authority to Forgive
Reading: Colossians 1:15-23
Devotional: When Jesus declared the paralytic's sins forgiven, the religious leaders correctly understood that only God can forgive sin. What they failed to grasp was that Jesus is God. His healing of the man's physical paralysis proved His authority to heal the spiritual paralysis of sin.
Jesus is not merely a good teacher, a prophet, or a moral example. He is God incarnate—fully divine and fully human. This matters tremendously because if Jesus is not God, His death on the cross was merely the tragic end of a good man. But because He is God, His sacrifice has infinite value, sufficient to pay for the sins of all who believe.
The religious leaders missed who Jesus truly was because they were blinded by their own self-righteousness. Don't make the same mistake. Jesus has the authority to forgive your sins—not because of anything you've done, but because of who He is.
Reflection Question: Have you truly acknowledged Jesus as God and surrendered to His authority over your life?
Day 4: Hope in a Broken World
Reading: Philippians 3:17-21
Devotional: The sermon reminds us that as Christians, our citizenship is in heaven. When we look at the brokenness of our world—violence, injustice, moral decay—we can easily become discouraged. But we have a hope that transcends earthly circumstances: Jesus is coming back.
This hope isn't escapism or denial of present realities. It's the confident assurance that this broken world is not the end of the story. The same Jesus who came as a suffering servant will return in glory to establish His eternal kingdom. Until then, we live as people with hope, not despairing over temporary troubles but anticipating eternal glory.
This hope should transform how we live today. We don't panic when culture shifts or elections disappoint. We pray for revival while trusting God's sovereignty. We work for justice while knowing ultimate justice comes when Christ returns. We're not home yet, but we know who's waiting for us.
Reflection Question: How does your eternal hope in Christ affect the way you respond to current challenges and cultural decay?
Day 5: Friend of Sinners
Reading: Luke 15:1-7
Devotional: Jesus was criticized for eating with tax collectors and sinners. His response was clear: He came for the sick, not the healthy; for sinners, not the self-righteous. This should challenge how we view and interact with those far from God.
Are you a friend of sinners? Do you intentionally spend time with people whose lives might be messy, whose language might be crude, whose reputations might be questionable? Or have you insulated yourself in a comfortable Christian bubble, avoiding contamination from the lost world?
Lost people act like lost people—that shouldn't surprise us. Jesus didn't wait for sinners to clean up before He spent time with them. He met them where they were, loved them as they were, but loved them too much to leave them that way. We must get out of the salt shaker and into the world. Your coworkers, neighbors, classmates, and family members need Jesus. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents. Will you be the one who introduces them to the Savior?
Reflection Question: Name three people in your life who don't know Jesus. How can you intentionally build relationships with them this week?
Day 1: Faith That Moves Mountains (and Roofs)
Reading: Mark 2:1-5
Devotional: The four friends in this passage demonstrate what active faith looks like. They didn't let crowds, obstacles, or social conventions stop them from bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Their faith was visible—Jesus saw it through their actions. True faith is never passive; it takes risks, overcomes barriers, and perseveres when the path isn't easy.
Consider someone in your life who needs Jesus. What obstacles are keeping you from bringing them to Him? Perhaps it's fear of rejection, concern about your reputation, or simply inconvenience. Like these four friends, we must be willing to go to extraordinary lengths for those who cannot reach Jesus on their own. Faith isn't just believing Jesus can heal—it's acting on that belief, even when it requires cutting through the roof.
Reflection Question: Who is God calling you to carry to Jesus, and what "roof" might you need to remove to get them there?
Day 2: Our Greatest Need
Reading: Romans 3:21-26
Devotional: The paralyzed man came seeking physical healing, but Jesus addressed his deepest need first: forgiveness of sin. This reveals a profound truth—our greatest problem is never our circumstances, relationships, or physical limitations. It's always our separation from God caused by sin.
We often approach God like spiritual consumers, presenting our wish list of what we think we need: better health, more money, fixed relationships, career advancement. Yet Jesus sees past our surface requests to our soul's true condition. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Before we can experience wholeness in any area of life, we need spiritual cleansing that only Christ's blood provides.
Today, thank Jesus that He doesn't just give you what you ask for—He gives you what you truly need.
Reflection Question: Are you seeking Jesus primarily for what He can do for you, or for who He is and what He offers eternally?
Day 3: The Authority to Forgive
Reading: Colossians 1:15-23
Devotional: When Jesus declared the paralytic's sins forgiven, the religious leaders correctly understood that only God can forgive sin. What they failed to grasp was that Jesus is God. His healing of the man's physical paralysis proved His authority to heal the spiritual paralysis of sin.
Jesus is not merely a good teacher, a prophet, or a moral example. He is God incarnate—fully divine and fully human. This matters tremendously because if Jesus is not God, His death on the cross was merely the tragic end of a good man. But because He is God, His sacrifice has infinite value, sufficient to pay for the sins of all who believe.
The religious leaders missed who Jesus truly was because they were blinded by their own self-righteousness. Don't make the same mistake. Jesus has the authority to forgive your sins—not because of anything you've done, but because of who He is.
Reflection Question: Have you truly acknowledged Jesus as God and surrendered to His authority over your life?
Day 4: Hope in a Broken World
Reading: Philippians 3:17-21
Devotional: The sermon reminds us that as Christians, our citizenship is in heaven. When we look at the brokenness of our world—violence, injustice, moral decay—we can easily become discouraged. But we have a hope that transcends earthly circumstances: Jesus is coming back.
This hope isn't escapism or denial of present realities. It's the confident assurance that this broken world is not the end of the story. The same Jesus who came as a suffering servant will return in glory to establish His eternal kingdom. Until then, we live as people with hope, not despairing over temporary troubles but anticipating eternal glory.
This hope should transform how we live today. We don't panic when culture shifts or elections disappoint. We pray for revival while trusting God's sovereignty. We work for justice while knowing ultimate justice comes when Christ returns. We're not home yet, but we know who's waiting for us.
Reflection Question: How does your eternal hope in Christ affect the way you respond to current challenges and cultural decay?
Day 5: Friend of Sinners
Reading: Luke 15:1-7
Devotional: Jesus was criticized for eating with tax collectors and sinners. His response was clear: He came for the sick, not the healthy; for sinners, not the self-righteous. This should challenge how we view and interact with those far from God.
Are you a friend of sinners? Do you intentionally spend time with people whose lives might be messy, whose language might be crude, whose reputations might be questionable? Or have you insulated yourself in a comfortable Christian bubble, avoiding contamination from the lost world?
Lost people act like lost people—that shouldn't surprise us. Jesus didn't wait for sinners to clean up before He spent time with them. He met them where they were, loved them as they were, but loved them too much to leave them that way. We must get out of the salt shaker and into the world. Your coworkers, neighbors, classmates, and family members need Jesus. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents. Will you be the one who introduces them to the Savior?
Reflection Question: Name three people in your life who don't know Jesus. How can you intentionally build relationships with them this week?
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