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FOCUS OF THE MONTH (FOM)

Cultivate a Heart of Thanksgiving

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SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK (SOW)

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. — Colossians 3:17 KJV

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. — Colossians 3:17 ESV

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MINISTRY RESOURCES

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Wednesday Corporate Fasting Scripture – Isaiah 58 (ESV); Isaiah 58 (KJV)

Friday End of Week Scripture – Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)

MINISTRY FORMS & HANDOUTS

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LET’S CELEBRATE YOUR NEW YEAR!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPEN INVITATION FROM CLASS 7
Please join us whenever your Class Facilitator is absent
1-605-313-4831; access code 259-748#

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Did you miss your class today? Do you want an evangelism tool?
If yes  — call or share the Class 7 Instant Replay
1-605-313-4904; access code 259-748# 

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Open Invitation – Intercessory Prayer
Join the Ministry for Intercessory Prayer every 2nd Saturday of each month
1-605-313-5671; access code 563-972#
start time is at 4:45 AM

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You Are Welcome To Listen To Class Review Instant Replays

Class 5 – (605) 468-8114; access code 694-591#
Class 6 – (605) 313-4899; access code 943-172#
Class 7 – (605) 313-4904; access code 259-748#

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Visit here to submit Prayer Requests

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ESV Translation Philosophy

The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to reproduce the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. As such, its emphasis is on “word-for-word” correspondence, at the same time taking full account of differences in grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages. Thus it seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and exact force of the original.

In contrast to the ESV, some Bible versions have followed a “thought-for-thought” rather than “word-for-word” translation philosophy, emphasizing “dynamic equivalence” rather than the “essentially literal” meaning of the original. A “thought-for-thought” translation is of necessity more inclined to reflect the interpretive views of the translator and the influences of contemporary culture.

Every translation is at many points a trade-off between literal precision and readability, between “formal equivalence” in expression and “functional equivalence” in communication, and the ESV is no exception. Within this framework, we have sought to be “as literal as possible” while maintaining clarity of expression and literary excellence. Therefore, to the extent that plain English permits and the meaning in each case allows, we have sought to use the same English word for important recurring words in the original; and, as far as grammar and syntax allow, we have rendered Old Testament passages cited in the New in ways that show their correspondence. Thus in each of these areas, as well as throughout the Bible as a whole, we have sought to capture all the echoes and overtones of meaning that are so abundantly present in the original texts.

As an essentially literal translation, taking into account grammar and syntax, the ESV thus seeks to carry over every possible nuance of meaning in the original words of Scripture into our own language. As such, the ESV is ideally suited for in-depth study of the Bible. Indeed, with its commitment to literary excellence, the ESV is equally well suited for public reading and preaching, for private reading and reflection, for both academic and devotional study, and for Scripture memorization.

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PRAISE & WORSHIP

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DAILY DEVOTIONALS

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Sunday, November 16, 2025 – COUNTING THE COST – Luke 14:25-35

Our Daily Bread Focuses:  Christ, life/teaching; Disciple-making; Spiritual growth

Today’s Devotional

Locals call it “The Road to Nowhere,” but its official name is Lakeview Drive. It’s a scenic six-mile stretch overlooking Fontana Lake in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Bryson City, North Carolina. After the road goes through a 1200-foot-long tunnel blasted out of a granite mountainside, it abruptly stops. The government had spent millions of dollars until environmental concerns discovered later ended the project.

Jesus, who was a carpenter by trade, once told a construction parable about counting the cost of following Him. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower,” He asked. “Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28). Another parable follows about a king who considers the cost of going to war, and it makes the same point. Speaking to the “large crowds . . . traveling” with Him (v. 25), Christ wanted them to understand that there was a cost to sincerely believing in and following Him.

Following Jesus only because of what He can do for us is a “road to nowhere.” But following Him for Him—turning daily from sin and self-focus to live for Him and His kingdom (carrying our “cross,” as He put it in v. 27)—changes everything. The cost must be counted. But He’s worth it.

Reflect & Pray

What has believing in and following Jesus cost you? Why is nothing worth more than truly knowing and following Him?

Beautiful Savior, please help me live for You more than anything else. Nothing could ever compare with the goodness of knowing You!

For further study, read No Matter the Cost.

Today’s Insights

Jesus said it would require self-denial and sacrifice to follow Him (Luke 14:26-27, 33; see 9:23-24). Christ wants us to consider carefully the radical commitment He demands. To “hate” (14:26) family and one’s own life is hyperbolic language, which means that no one is to take precedence over Jesus (Matthew 10:37-39).

The rich young ruler wouldn’t pay that price (Luke 18:18-24). Peter exemplified the high cost of discipleship in his outburst: “We have left all we had to follow you!” (v. 28). There’s a cost to following Christ, but those who’ve committed to following Him will be blessed and “will have eternal life in the world to come” (v. 30 nlt).

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Today’s Devotional

Could eight minutes change someone’s life? In a world where meaningful connections can be rare, author Jancee Dunn proposes the power of an eight-minute phone call. She believes such brief calls can help us connect with family and friends. Studies show that such calls a few times a week help reduce depression, loneliness, and anxiety. And Dunn cites the research of other experts who affirm that minor relationship adjustments can profoundly affect our well-being and that of others.

This insight aligns with Proverbs 12:25, which states, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” In this verse, anxiety refers to a person’s emotional response to a threat to their well-being. Being anxious can also stem from fear and uncertainty about the future. For believers in Jesus, reassuring and encouraging words can help transform others’ anxiety into cheerfulness and lead to real life (v. 28). Those words can also provide signposts to help others “choose their friends carefully” (v. 26).

Let’s pray and ask God who might need an eight-minute call with encouraging words based in Scripture. Though brief, this simple act of connection might just be the spark He uses to lighten someone’s load, brighten their day, and offer them hope and healing.

Reflect & Pray

How can you share Scripture-based words of hope with others today? Why is it vital to share the hope of Christ with those who are anxious?

Dear Jesus, please help me speak words of kindness and hope to those who are anxious and lonely.

For further study, read A Peaceful Heart.

Today’s Insights

Although some sections of the book of Proverbs (such as chs. 3-5; 31:10-31) clearly go together, it’s most often the case that each proverb stands alone. We must slow down to read them. The verses contained in Proverbs 12:21-28 include eight seemingly unrelated sayings, yet there’s a common theme.

Seven of these eight proverbs employ antithetical parallelism, where a truth is put forth and then contrasted with its opposite: the “righteous” contrasted with the “wicked” (v. 26), the “lazy” with the “diligent” (v. 27), “lying lips” versus “people who are trustworthy” (v. 22). The last verse of the chapter uses synonymous parallelism that builds on the stated truth: “In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality” (v. 28).

As we read and meditate on these proverbs, their wisdom will build us up. We can ask God to show us who, in turn, might need to hear encouraging words from Scripture.

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Today’s Devotional

Physician Christian Ntizimira sensed God’s calling to provide end-of-life care in under-resourced areas of his home country of Rwanda. Colleagues often didn’t see the value of such care because “these patients were already considered hopeless.” But Ntizimira found that for patients and their families, his “presence offered a rekindling of hope when all seemed lost.” Ntizimira is grounded in his work by the conviction that Jesus’ death and life can transform how we approach death because “the death of Christ is the source of life.”

In 2 Timothy, the apostle Paul testified to how the reality that Jesus “destroyed death and . . . brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (1:10) changed how he understood his suffering. Though Paul was a prisoner facing possible execution (2:9), Jesus’ resurrection grounded him in his calling—to point others to salvation through Christ (v. 10). For “if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him” (vv. 11-12).

Dying with Jesus doesn’t just mean what happens at believers’ literal deaths. In his letter to the Romans, Paul explained that, as symbolized in baptism, believers are united with Christ’s Spirit in His death and resurrection life (Romans 6:4-8).

Because Christ lives in us, even when we face death’s terrors, we can live for and witness to Him.

Reflect & Pray

When have you unexpectedly witnessed hope? How can believers witness to Christ’s resurrection?

Merciful God, please help me witness to the love and hope of Jesus.

Learn more about being a witness by reading Faithful to the Gospel.

Today’s Insights

Paul encourages Timothy to endure hardship for the sake of the gospel (2 Timothy 2:3) and reminds him to “remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead” (v. 8). The faith of believers in Jesus is anchored in Christ’s death and resurrection. The apostle reminds us that those who endure suffering for Jesus’ sake will reign with Him, but those who reject Him in the face of persecution will be rejected by Him (v. 12; see Matthew 10:22, 32-33; Hebrews 10:38-39).

We can endure suffering because of the faithfulness of Christ. And even when our commitment isn’t as consistent or strong as it should be, He’ll still be faithful: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). In the face of death, we can witness for Jesus because “the one who calls [us] is faithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

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Today’s Devotional

The freelance project wasn’t working out well. The clients were demanding what seemed to be the impossible, and I was stressed and discouraged. My first reaction was just to walk away from it, which would mean not getting paid for the work I’d done—and also eliminating the possibility of future projects with them. Then the thought came to me: Have you prayed to God yet?

Mentally slapping my forehead, I realized that I’d neglected to ask God for help! And so I prayed . . . and immediately felt better. Nothing had changed—the project remained challenging—but I felt peace wash over me. Now I knew I could rest in God: I’d just do whatever I could and leave the outcome to Him.

Perhaps David felt the same way when he submitted his fears and worries to God. In Psalm 6, he starts off describing his anguish at being hounded by his enemies (vv. 3, 7). But as he continued turning to God for help, he felt reassured: “The Lord has heard my cry . . . the Lord accepts my prayer” (v. 9).

That truth came with the hope that he would be delivered, in God’s time and way (v. 10). Prayer isn’t some feel-good technique, but it’s a direct connection with the all-seeing, all-powerful One who will help us in His time and way. Feeling down or discouraged? Just pray—God hears.

Reflect & Pray

What troubles or worries are you facing now? How can you remind yourself to keep bringing them to God?

Dear God, thank You for hearing my prayers for help. Please grant me peace, for I know I can leave my troubles in Your mighty, loving hands.

For further study, listen to Praying with God.

Today’s Insights

Though the occasion isn’t identified, David’s calamity in Psalm 6 is clear: “Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?” (vv. 2-3). The weightiness of the situation also comes through in verses 6-7: “I am worn out from my groaning. . . . My eyes grow weak with sorrow.” From the aches and ashes of his distress, David’s prayers arose (vv. 4-5), and God heard them (vv. 8-9).

The same principle is in play in 1 Samuel 1. Hannah, who was childless and oppressed with grief, cried out to God (v. 10). He answered her (vv. 17, 20), and she responded in praise to His goodness (2:1-10). When we’re in trouble, discouraged, or worried, we can come to God in prayer and be assured that He hears us and will answer according to His will.

Listen to how God’s peace replaces worry when we draw near in prayer.

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Today’s Devotional

Do you ever feel like a fraud? You aren’t alone! In the late 1970s, two researchers identified “imposter syndrome” as the condition of doubting one’s skills, talents, or abilities and interpreting oneself as a fraud. Even successful and brilliant people struggle with inadequacy, worrying that if anyone peeked behind the curtain of their lives, they’d see how much they don’t know.

Paul exhorts the people of the first-century church in Rome to be humble: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3). We understand the importance of not elevating our abilities. But when we doubt our own value, we go too far, robbing others of the gifts God wants us to use to serve Him. To think of ourselves with “sober judgment” (v. 3) is to have a sane estimation—a realistic regard—for what we offer. Paul nudges us to overcome our hesitancies, to embrace who we are “in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of [us]” (v. 3). In this way, God’s body of believers may be built up (vv. 4-8).

Rather than degrading our offerings with imposter syndrome, let’s embrace God’s giftings within us. By gratefully accepting His grace, we can think neither too highly nor too lowly of ourselves. In doing so, we please our Father and build up Christ’s body of believers.

Reflect & Pray

Where do you struggle with imposter syndrome? How can God offer you faith to overcome?

Dear God, please help me to see myself the way You see me, in accordance with the measure of faith You give.

For further study, read For When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong.

Today’s Insights

Paul’s call for us to have “sober judgment” (Romans 12:3) regarding our abilities and giftings comes just before he compares Christ’s church to “one body with many members” (v. 4). Everything we have is a gift, including our faith (v. 3) and our talents (vv. 6-8). A proper self-awareness recognizes that we’re neither worthless nor indispensable. We’re not worthless because we’re created in God’s image and redeemed by His Son who died for us.

And we’re not indispensable because all our gifts and abilities come from Him in the first place. He equips all who believe in Him to serve Him and others. But it’s essential that believers do this work together, as one body. Such interdependency requires love, which the apostle highlights in the next section. “Love must be sincere,” he wrote (v. 9). When we accept God’s grace, we’ll see ourselves as He sees us and “be devoted to one another in love [and] honor one another above [ourselves]” (v. 10).

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Today’s Devotional

Two pilots fell asleep in the middle of their flight over Indonesia. While the commanding pilot had permission to nap once the plane reached cruising altitude, he woke up to find that his copilot had also dozed off. The two were asleep for about thirty minutes with more than 150 passengers and crew on board and while at approximately 36,000 feet altitude. The plane had veered off course, but thankfully the plane still arrived at its destination safely.

Human pilots may snooze mid-flight, but we can rest assured that God never falls asleep.

This is the comfort offered to us in the words of Psalm 121. In eight verses, we’re reminded that God is omniscient, or all-knowing about our life; omnipresent, or present all throughout our day; and omnipotent, or all-powerful and can protect us. The psalmist declares that our help comes from God (v. 2). He is our keeper and shade (v. 5), and He guards us from all evil while preserving our soul (v. 7).

God never gets tired. “He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber” (v. 3). “The Lord will watch over your coming and going,” the psalmist concludes “both now and forevermore” (v. 8).

When we’re wondering if God has forgotten us, we can rest assured that He’s at the wheel. He’s always awake and watching over us.

Reflect & Pray

Why does it sometimes feel like God is asleep? How does it comfort you knowing that He’s always alert and aware of what you’re experiencing?

Almighty God, thank You for always watching over me.

Discover A Prayer for Wondering If God Is There.

Today’s Insights

All adult male Israelites were to come to the temple every year to observe three national feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). The journey was a perilous one, with travelers vulnerable to the treacherous mountain terrain, weather, wild animals, and robbers. As they journeyed into Jerusalem, the travelers sang from an anthology of fifteen “Pilgrim Psalms” or “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120-134).

Psalm 121, often referred to as “The Traveler’s Psalm,” is one such song. It acknowledges the Israelites’ safety and security concerns and highlights God’s protection of them. This psalm is dominated by the Hebrew verb shamar, translated “watch[es]” (vv. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8) or “keep” (v. 7). The word means “to preserve,” “to guard,” “to watch carefully over,” “to care for.” As we tread through life’s uncertainties and dangers, we can be assured that we’re under God’s watchful eyes. He journeys with us, keeping us in His protective care.

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Saturday, November 22, 2025 – TREASURED POSSESSION – John 12: 1-8

Our Daily Bread Focuses:  Worship

Today’s Devotional

My father first locked eyes on my mother at a party in London. Next he gate-crashed a second party, then organized a third, just to see her again. Finally he asked Mum out for a country drive, picking her up in his old Rover sedan—his treasured possession.

Mum and Dad became sweethearts, but there was a problem. Mum was about to move to Peru to become a missionary. Dad took her to the airport, then five months later arrived in Peru himself—to propose to her. And the best part of the story? He’d sold his beloved Rover to pay for the plane ticket.

If you would’ve asked Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, what her most treasured possession was, she’d have shown you a precious bottle of “expensive perfume” (John 12:3). And if you’d have been at the party she and Martha threw for Jesus (v. 2) and watched her lavish that bottle’s contents on his feet, you’d have known just what Christ meant to her. He was that precious, that valuable.

For my mother, Dad selling his car wasn’t just about a plane ticket. It was a sign of how much he valued her. And Mary’s actions had deeper meaning too—she was preparing Jesus for His burial (v. 7). Like her, when we sacrifice for God what we treasure most, we take part in His redemptive work by echoing His great sacrifice for us.

Reflect & Pray

What treasure would you give up for God? How would you feel in Mary’s place, when Jesus revealed the deeper meaning of her actions?

Dear Jesus, You’re more valuable to me than my most treasured earthly possession.

For further study read, Lazarus Comes Back from the Dead—and That’s a Problem.

Today’s Insights

Through her actions, Mary of Bethany displayed how precious Jesus was to her. Several things are worth noting in this account. Her devotion was costly: “Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume . . . . It was worth a year’s wages” (John 12:3, 5). Furthermore, the scent of the perfume (v. 3) matched the fragrant aroma of her devotion to Christ. But the striking scene of lavish devotion was disrupted by the response of Judas Iscariot.

“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” he asked (v. 5). Judas, who would later betray Jesus (v. 4), was a deceiver who covered his motives with pious words (v. 5); he was a hypocrite and a thief (v. 6) who would betray Christ for thirty pieces of silver (four months’ wages). But Jesus had the last word when He replied, “Leave her alone” (v. 7). Christ, who surrendered all for us, still desires that we treasure Him over everything.

Consider what Mary’s actions tell us about worship.

Visit go.odb.org/112225 to learn more about what Mary’s actions tell us about worship.

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THIS WEEK’S INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT BY SISTER CLOVIA

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GIVE IT TO GOD, THEN GO TO SLEEP

The Bible says God never sleeps nor slumbers and is always available to hear our prayers.   God works the night shift, not you.   Don’t spend another sleepless night trying to figure out your issues. Trust that the Lord is working out all things for good, our good, and His glory.  

When you trust that God is sovereign, you can have full assurance of God’s plan.  There’s actually nothing to worry about because there’s nobody higher than God.  No one is greater or more powerful than God.  

God never sleeps.  He has no limits.  God doesn’t get tired.  He has all the power and all the authority.  It makes no sense for both of you to be up all night worrying about your problems. 

If you can’t sleep, talk to God. If you are stressed, don’t!  Go to sleep and let God be God! Exercise the utmost patience, strength, and faith in Him because He has already worked it out!

Good night, sleep tight.  Awake, full of peace and joy with the morning light! 

“I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me,”.  — Psalm 3:5
                                   

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CHRISTIAN-BASED MOVIE FOR THE MONTH

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***The Daily Devotionals are taken from Our Daily Bread Ministries and the Scriptures are from the BibleGateway.***

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