Back to School

Pause

As followers of Jesus, we have committed to a life of faith and discipleship. We reaffirm this initial commitment with a fresh commitment to follow Christ each day.

Scripture invites us to choose today whom we will serve, whom we will follow. Will you follow Jesus today? Where might the Spirit of God lead you?

Listen

So let’s press on to maturity, by moving on from the basics about Christ’s word. Let’s not lay a foundation of turning away from dead works, of faith in God, of teaching about ritual ways to wash with water, laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment — all over again.

Hebrews 6:1-2

Think

Every summer, the university where I work holds an open football practice just before the season begins. I always go to watch the players and see how they’ve matured over the summer, especially the new recruits. At the practice, the players showcase the skills and plays that they’ve mastered over months of practice. This exhibition doesn’t focus on fundamentals like catching the ball or making basic tackles. Instead, the players want to show their best as a team.

In a similar way, Hebrews calls Christians to “press on to maturity.” It calls us to move on from the basics, but that doesn’t mean that we ever leave these basics behind. We never outgrow things like turning from old ways of living toward faith in the resurrection. Instead, we build on them to commit to even greater trust in God. Just like the football team continues to stretch and run basic drills throughout its season, Christians continue to value the basics of our faith, but we also build on them as we mature in following Jesus.

Joshua Hays

Pray

God, thank you for the basics of your word to us about faith and resurrection. Help us to hold on to these basics even as we press on to maturity, committed to learning and growing more in your word. Amen.

Go

The seed that fell on good soil are those who hear the word and commit themselves to it with a good and upright heart. Through their resolve, they bear fruit.

Luke 8:15 (emphasis added)

May you bear fruit in this season of commitment to the Lord Jesus.