WINTER 2026 - DESIGNED TO FLOURISH

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

-Psalm 92:12-15

INTRODUCTION TO WINTER 2026

As we have already stated, we will be continuing our focus on Flourishing Together in 2026. We have had an opportunity to digest the findings from our congregational survey back in the Fall of 2025. We also have enjoyed the year-long focus in 2025 on Flourishing. We took time in 2025 to explore 5 of the 6 Domains highlighted by the Global Flourishing Study led by Harvard and Baylor. It was a banner year for us!

As I have taken the time to more fully develop my own understanding of flourishing, I have felt led by the Lord to lead us in a more intentional and definitive effort in making disciples.

We will launch the year with this introduction – Designed to Flourish. We will begin with a refresher on the various domains highlighted and currently being researched by the Global Flourishing Study. We will then move to an introduction to Intentional Discipleship. We will spend the rest of the series learning from people who found pathways to flourishing in their relationship with God. Here we go . . . 

January 4, 2026:  Designed to Flourish!

Psalm 92:12-15

This Psalm, along with Psalms 90-91, forms a “mini collection” within Book 4 of the collection of psalms. Most scholars believe these three psalms are connected to the figure of Moses. The language of these psalms has precedent and shared vocabulary with passages in Deuteronomy and Exodus. In our text for today, this psalm paints a portrait of a flourishing person – in fact, it points to the permanence of fruit-bearing in the life of a faithful person. We will use this passage to refresh our conversation about human flourishing.

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

We are returning to Daily Bible Readings! This week’s texts are to serve as reminders of the Six Domains of Human Flourishing that introduced to us in 2025. Take this week to assess your growth and development across these past 12 months in these areas: Happiness and Life Satisfaction, Character and Virtue, Meaning and Purpose, Mental and Physical Health, Close Social Relationships, and Financial and Material Stability.

January 5:  Matthew 5:1-12

January 6:  Colossians 3:1-17

January 7:  Psalm 8

January 8:  Romans 8:31-39

January 9:  1 Corinthians 13

January 10:  2 Corinthians 9:6-15

January 11, 2026:  The Path of Life

Psalm 16

As we discussed last Sunday in the sermon, choosing the wrong path can be a disastrous decision for anyone (Proverbs 14:12). The collection of Psalms begins with the fundamental assessment that God watches over the “way of the righteous” but the “way of the wicked leads to destruction” (Psalm 1:6). Today we will learn together about the path God desires for all of us to take --- the Path of Life! His desire if for us to live! To thrive! To flourish!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

This week, we will focus on choosing the right path for abundant living. God has designed us to thrive and flourish in every season of life. This involves more than just the decision to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. That is certainly the fundamental and essential decision! However, we then embark on a lifetime of decisions where we must choose the right paths consistently. This is the essence of intentional discipleship.

January 12:  Deuteronomy 30:11-20

January 13:  Psalm 1

January 14:  Psalm 84

January 15:  John 14:1-14

January 16:  Matthew 4:1-11

January 17:  Matthew 7:24-29

January 18, 2026:  Radical Obedience

Genesis 22:1-18

In some ways, the story recorded in Genesis 22 flies in the face of everything we think we know! Why would God command Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac? Certainly, the pagans of Abraham’s day practiced child sacrifice, but would the God of the Bible require this as well? Obviously, there is more going on in this story than what appears on the surface. Abraham will be forever known as our “father in the faith.” This story cements his legacy as a man of faith. There is much to for us to learn about obedience, about faith, about testing, and about God!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

This week we will read through 1 John together. Notice how the Apostle John challenges us to give consideration to the commands of God in our every-day lives. We demonstrate our love for God and our love for others through obedience to God’s leadership in our own lives. Just as Abraham demonstrated a radical obedience in his life, we must do the same.

January 19:  1 John 1:1-2:2

January 20:  1 John 2:3-14

January 21:  1 John 2:15-27

January 22:  1 John 2:28-3:24

January 23:  1 John 4

January 24:  1 John 5

January 25, 2026:  Pathway to Purpose

Exodus 3-4

These two pages of Holy Scripture recount the famous story of the calling of Moses to become the deliverer of the People of Israel from bondage in Egypt. The story begins with Moses working for his father-in-law, Jethro. It culminates in an unforgettable encounter with God at the burning bush. Moses eventually answers the call of God in his life and moves his family to Egypt. We will focus on both the redemptive purpose of God at work in the “Big Story of Redemption” as well as the individual responsibility of Moses (and us) in finding meaning and purpose in serving God.

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

God’s actions reveal purpose and intentionality. He created the universe, and it exists as a manifestation of His will. He created human beings to live purposefully in His creation. He calls human beings to live lives filled with meaning and purpose. As we learn to live in relationship with Him, we learn the value of loving Him, loving others, and truly seeking His Kingdom in our lives.

January 26:  Genesis 1:1-2:3

January 27:  Psalm 19

January 28:  Exodus 3

January 29:  Matthew 22:34-40

January 30:  Matthew 6:25-34

January 31:  Matthew 22:34-40

February 1, 2026:  True Confession

Psalm 51

We don’t know the historical context of all of the Psalms. However, the introductory preface provided for Psalm 51 unmistakably provides the setting for this one. David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) is the backdrop for this psalm of confession and repentance. Unfortunately, we are all too acquainted with sin. We know about sin not just because of stories like this one. We are acquainted with sin because of our own failings. Today in this message, we will acknowledge our own sinfulness. We also will learn how God has provided the possibility for cleansing and restoration through the practice of repentance and confession.

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

This week we will spend time reading and reflecting on a selection of Psalms. These texts remind us of the reality of our own sinfulness and its effect on our lives. These psalms also point us to the continued need for repentance and confession in our individual journeys with God. His grace is sufficient and His cleansing power is truly effective!

February 2:  Psalm 6

February 3:  Psalm 23

February 4:  Psalm 32

February 5  Psalm 38

February 6  Psalm 130

February 7:  Psalm 143

February 8, 2026:  Worship God!

Isaiah 6:1-8

God has designed human beings with the unique capacity to worship Him. We have been created in His image, thus there is a longing in every human’s heart to connect with our Creator. Worshiping God is at the very heart of our relationship with God. As we engage God in worship, we encounter His Divine Holiness. Our continued experiences of worship shape us toward a life of holiness. We cannot consistently encounter God in honesty without recognizing His call for holiness in our lives. He is holy and He calls us to a life of holiness.

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

This week we will focus on what it means to worship God as believers. God’s people are uniquely equipped to worship Him. We are to spend time in His presence, praise Him, give thanks to Him, express our love for Him to Him, and serve Him. He is our God and He is to be adored and worshiped!

February 9:  Exodus 34:1-7

February 10:  Psalm 29

February 11:  Psalm 96

February 12  Psalm 42

February 13:  John 4:21-24

February 14  Romans 12:1-2

February 15, 2026:  Faithful Witness

John 1:19-28

The ministry of John the Baptist bridges the gap between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. He was akin to an Old Testament prophet, but he was a contemporary of Jesus. He played a unique role in the grand story of redemption. In the sermon today, we will give consideration to the special place he has in the story of Jesus. However, we will also learn about our own calling to be faithful witnesses to Jesus in our era. Inherent to our journey on The Jesus Way is the responsibility to point others to this life-giving path as well!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

We bring this season to an end by reflecting on the call of God in our lives to live as witnesses to our world. Jesus has sent us into this world as His representatives. We are to give faithful expression to the Gospel with our lips and our lives!

February 16:  Acts 1:1-11

February 17:  Matthew 5:13-16