The Daily Word - Devotionals from God's Word.: Recent Episodes
Trinity Church of Lake Nona
Daily encouragement and teaching from God's Word. Perfect for helping you center your mind and heart on Jesus as you start or end your day. The Daily Word is created by Trinity Church in Lake Nona.
Today’s Verse: Galatians 3:10-14 Today’s Song: I Need Thee Notes: We all know that it is more blessed to give than receive…but sometimes it is harder to receive than it is to give. Receiving implies needing…and we often don’t like to be needy. But Grace requires it. And God gives it.
Today’s Verse: Galatians 3:1-9 Today’s Song: Alas Did My Savior Bleed Notes: Don’t be bewitched! Here is a question: what kind of car did George Washington drive? Silly question, right? Cars weren’t invented then…but this is the same type of error the Galatians were making. In these verses, Paul argues that faith MUST proceed any type…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 3:1-5 Today’s Song: As The Deer Notes: Don’t be bewitched! Here Paul challenges the Galatians with one forceful question: did they receive the Spirt by works of the Law or by hearing with faith? As far as Paul is concerned every aspect of the Christian life grows out of and revolves around…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 3-5 Today’s Song: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Notes: Today we move into a new section: chapters 3-5. In the first two chapters, Paul has argued that grace is the gift of Christ. It is the amazing self-giving of Christ who has given himself for me, and now I no longer live but it…
Today we turn our attention to the book of Zechariah. The restoration of Jerusalem after the exile happened in three key phases: Phase 1: The rebuilding of the temple (536-516 BC) Phase 2: Ezra’s ministry of teaching (468 BC) Phases 3: Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the walls (445 BC) During the first phase, when they were…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 2:19 Today’s Song: Were You There? Notes: “So, tell me about the day you died.”Has anyone ever asked you that…me neither. But here, Paul tells us about his death. He actually died with Christ and now lives a new life. Today we think about that new life and what does it mean…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 2:16 Today’s Song: In Christ Alone Notes: Today we see that the most important thing about us…is not about us! And we begin to answer the three Massive questions that will shape, at the very least, how we understand Galatians…but also will shape how we understand all of life and reality: What does Paul…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 2:15-16 Today’s Song: O Holy Jesus Notes: Today we dive into Galatians 2:15-21. This is one of the most compressed and dense sections of all of Paul’s letters. Here Paul explains why he publically rebuked Peter and gives us the key steps to relational reconciliation. Step 1: Embrace the “we” Step 2: Confront what…
One of our primary goals for our Friday prayer time is not only to pray but also to point you to resources to help you pray. And one of the best is Matthew Henry’s A Method for Prayer, where he weaves together hundreds of scriptural phrases into a seamless garment of praise and petition. In today’s prayer,…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 2:11-21 Today’s Song: Cone to the Alter Notes: Today we look at verse 11-21. These are some of the most debated and difficult in all of Paul’s letters. So, I am not sure how deep we will dive in, but for today, lets focus on the dynamic back and forth between the…
Today we will spend an extended period of time praising God for who He is. Today’s pray time is inspired by Matthew Henry’s A Method for Prayer, where he weaves together hundreds of scriptural phrases into a seamless garment of praise and petition. Listen to today’s prayer slowly. Pause where you need it. Let these…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 1:13-2:21 Today’s Song: Holy, Holy, Holy Notes: Today we look at why Paul tells his story. We love stories. And we need to tell our story. The remarkable story of how God has changed us. But the danger is to try and make it more “impressive,” more “dramatic” by worldly standards. Here…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 1:16 Today’s Song: Amazing Grace Notes: Yesterday we saw how grace was working in Paul’s life, even before he was born. But what about the future? What does a life shaped by grace look like in the here and now?
September 11th is a day of tragedy for our country, and a day of celebration for our church. Today’s prayer is focused on Thanksgiving. September 11th is a day of sober remembrance, but for us, at Trinity Lake Nona it is also a day of gratitude, as we remember our first public worship service which was…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 1:8 Today’s Song: Holy, Holy, Holy Notes: Have you ever talked to an Angel? (That sounds like a lyric from a bad 90’s song.) Today we focus on verse 8, and Paul tells us when we should ignore angels, and what is the true standard for all our beliefs and experiences.
Today’s Verse: Galatians 1:6 Today’s Song: Before the Throne Notes: Today we move into the heart of the letter. And we begin with anger! In a second Paul moves from praise to anger…have you ever done that? Why? What motivated it? Why does Paul? These are the key questions for understanding this passage. Reading Challenge: Read…
Today’s Verse: Galatians 1:4 Today’s Song: When I Survey Notes: What is your story? What is our story? What is THE story? Your story…our story…THE story is the story of a rescue operation. Christ rescuing us from this present evil age.
Today’s Verse: Galatians 1:1 Today’s Song: This is My Father’s World Notes: Today we begin to dive into the text. And at the very beginning we see Paul forcing us to choose sides: are we of man or are we of God? And he contrasts what we do and what God does. So no matter who we are or what…
Today’s Verse: Galatians Today’s Song: Amazing Grace Notes: Today we think about the relationship between grace and “gift.” The primary way Paul speaks about grace is in the context of the self-giving of Christ. So how does the concept of “gift” shape how we think about grace? What is the appropriate response to the indescribable…
Today’s Verse: Galatians Today’s Song: Gracious Redeemer Today we begin a devotional series on the book of Galatians. And for these first few episodes, we will be getting our bearings. I think Galatians is a perfect letter to study at this time? Why? This is Paul’s most explosive letter, his most passionate letter, but is this what…
Thanks for listening! We will be on a two-week break and will return on August 17th. I have really enjoyed preparing these daily meditations on Scripture and learned so much in Psalm 119. For our next series, we will focus on the book of Galatians. This is Paul’s most explosive letter, and I can think of no…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:176 Today’s Song: Come Thou Fount Notes: Today we come to the end of Psalm 119. And we meditate on the reality of the Good Shepherd who seeks his lost sheep.
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:169-176 Today’s Song: Holy, Holy, Holy Notes: Today we come to the final section of Psalm 119. And fittingly, it is a great final cry. Here we have a: 1. A cry to be heard. 169-170 Biblical praying often begins here, with a cry to be heard. Even though there is a deep intimate…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:153-160 Today’s Song: Revive Me Notes: The theme of this section is revival. I am not sure what you think of when you think of revival, but this is one of the most repeated cries of this Psalm. Here is a call for life.
Today’s Text: Psalm 119: 137-144 Today’s Song: When I Survey Notes: Today we look at a new section: 137-144. Some things just go together…peanut butter and jelly…peanut butter and chocolate…really, peanut butter and just about anything. Here we have the psalmist giving us two things that fit together perfectly: God’s grace and our weakness. This section…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119: 129-136 Today’s Song: Gracious Redeemer Notes: Today we look at the second part of Psalm 119:129-136. The theme of this section is LIGHT. We see the light of His Face through the light of His word. But in this section, we are shown how. We are nourished by His grace (131-132) and then liberated…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119: 121-128 Today’s Song: Gracious Redeemer Notes: Today we look at the second section of Psalm 119:121-128. Here we are given a survival kit for hard times. Here are my study notes: 125–128: 126: they have “treated your commandments as void of significance” that is how they have broken it; they have utterly…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119: 121-128 Today’s Song: Give Me Jesus Notes: Today we move into a new section: Psalm 119:121-128. Here we are given a survival kit for hard times. Here are my study notes: 121–124: His conscious is clean; he has done what is right and just; He has lived faithfully to the word; right…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119: 118-120 Today’s Song: Holy, Holy, Holy Notes: This section teaches us how to be weird…in a good way. Here are the study notes: Set Apart (113–115) Supported (116–117) Serious (118–120) Today we look at how serious God takes our holiness. 1. He Rejects (118) 2. He Removes (119) 3. We Tremble (120)
Today’s Text: Psalm 119: 113-115 Today’s Song: I Surrender All Notes: This section teaches us how to be weird…in a good way. Here are the study notes: Set Apart (113–115) Supported (116–117) Serious (118–120) What does it mean to be different? Inward: what you love and what you hate: challenge- help us to love what you…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119: 105-112 Today’s Song: Rock of Ages Notes: This is one of the most practical sections of Psalm 119. Today we are focusing on the second two sections: B2: Life’s Trials: (109-110) He is in constant danger. He is surrounded by the wicked. A1: A Loving Heart (111-112) He balances both inward delight and outward…
We are dedicating Friday’s for prayer and fasting. Today we are going to orient our prayers around Psalm 107. In Psalm 107 God is calling for all the redeemed to gather in a four-part choir to sing His praise. There are four groups and each group is given their own part to sing. Group 1:…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:97-104 Today’s Song: Come Thou Fount Notes: Today we look at Psalm 119: 97-104 Paul calls us to not be conformed by the world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This Psalm tells us how. Here we have a compressive survey of what the word can do for our minds. This…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:89-96 Today’s Song: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Notes: Today we continue our look at Psalm 119: 89-96. And we ask: How do we experience this security and stability? Here is the Charles Spurgeon Quote: That Word which has preserved the heavens and the earth also preserves the people of God in their time of trial. We…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:89-96 Today’s Song: He Will Hold Me Fast Notes: Today we move into a new section (89-96). Here the keyword is “forever” and we learn about our stability (89-92) and our security (93-96). This is a great gift, especially at times like this.
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:81-88 Today’s Song: The Lord is My Light Notes: Today we continue in (81-88) and learn a lesson on how to wait well. Waiting is something we all have to learn. Here we learn how to wait well in the midst of very difficult circumstances. In this section, there is a dynamic back…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:81-88 Today’s Song: Jesus, I Am Resting Notes: Today we move into a new section (81-88) and learn a lesson on how to wait well. Waiting is something we all have to learn. Here we learn how to wait well in the midst of very difficult circumstances. In this section, there is a…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:73-80 Today’s Song: Holy, Holy, Holy Notes: Today we continue to look at how this Psalm gives us a game plan to order our inner world. And we see the ways the Word deals with our discouragement, confusion, shame, sadness, unsteadiness, and fear.
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:73-80 Today’s Song: Revive Me Notes: In this section, we are given a plan for ordering our inner world. Because God has fashioned and formed us, we can fashion and form a healthy inner life. This is a great gift, especially at times like this.
We are dedicating Friday’s for prayer and fasting. Why? Historically, the church has fasted on Friday.Friday was the day Jesus was crucified. It was a day of humiliation. A day of bearing the sins of others. And historically it has been a day of collective fasting and prayer. Therefore, we dedicate Fridays to fasting and…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:65-72 Today’s Song: As the Deer Notes: Today we will take a closer look at what we learn about God’s goodness in the school of hard knocks. 65-68: Lesson 1 – School of hard knocks: God is God; God does Good69-72: Lesson 2- School of hard knocks: taking sides and learning the lesson;
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:61-64 Today’s Song: Rock of Ages Notes: Psalm 119:57-64 is framed around two great truths: 1. The Lord is my portion (57) 2. The earth is full of His lovingkindness (64) And it teaches us how to live in the light of these two realities. Today we will look at the second one: the loving…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:57-60 Today’s Song: I Need Thee Notes: Psalm 119:57-64 is framed around two great truths: 1. The Lord is my portion (57) 2. The earth is full of His lovingkindness (64) And it teaches us how to live in the light of these two realities. Today we will look at the first one. 57-60 gives…
Today’s Text: Luke 18:7 Today’s Song: Knowing You (All I Once Held Dear) Notes: This has been an extremely difficult few days for many people. But Jesus promises to bring justice to those who cry out. Today I am joined by a very special guest as we cry out together.
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:41-48 Today’s Song: Peace Be Still Notes: Again, today we look at Psalm 119:41-48. In this powerful section we are given both the words we need…and told what kind of people we need to be. And every day, we see, more and more, the need for people who live like this…and talk like…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:41-48 Today’s Song: Before the Throne Notes: Today we begin to look at Psalm 119:41-48. In this section, every verse begins with the word “And.” What we see here is that God has joined together certain things and we are wise to keep them together.
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:33-40 Today’s Song: Be Thou My Vision Notes: The past few sections have focused on external battles: the four-fold frustrations and dark nights of the soul. In this section, we move internally: to our internal battles. Here the great challenge is: to keep our heart (the battel for what we love) to keep our…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:25-32 Today’s Song: Holy, Holy, Holy Notes: 7-prayers for days of darkness: – In times of depression, we need divine truth revealed, grasped, and meditated upon. (25) My soul clings to the dust… Revive me life according to your word Teach me your statutes Make me understand the ways of your precepts (application of your word)…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:25-32 Today’s Song: The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation Notes: The beauty of the Psalms is that they give us a song for every age and stage…for every situation of life. In the passage today we are given a song and seven prayers for when we experience times of depression and…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:17-24 Today’s Song: Gracious Redeemer Notes: In the midst of life’s frustrations, why does the Psalmist ask for God to open up his eyes? How can that help? Listen to find out.
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:17-24 Today’s Song: The Lord is My Light Notes: Today we move into the third section of Psalm 119. In the Psalms there is a song for every season and situation. Here we see how to deal with four different situations of frustration and discouragement. 19: He is a stranger at home 20:…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:9-16 Today’s Song: Gracious Redeemer Notes: Verse 9 asks the most important question you can ever ask:What is the trajectory of your life?What is the path you will walk down? And verses 10–16 give the answer: A life totally absorbed in the Word. Notice: how the Word takes up the whole person: mind, emotions, will.…
Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your Holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in…
These are the eight keynotes that the singer of this psalms plays over and over. (nearly every verse has one of them and many sections use all 8!) So if you want to sing this song and experience it’s transforming power you have to tune your heart and mind to appreciate the nuances of these…
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:1-8 Today’s Song: He Will Hold Me Fast Notes: Verses 1-8 lay the foundation upon which the entire Psalm will be built. It is built on a rock-solid commitment to walking in the way of blessing, and it is built upon a rock-solid commitment to seeking the Lord. Questions to Consider: We need to believe confidently…
How to be a biblical bourbon barrel: Today’s Text: Psalm 119 Today’s Song: As The Deer Notes: Today we begin a new series on Psalm 119. Our goal is to help you become a biblical bourbon barrel. What does that mean? Listen to find out ?
God’s word is intrinsically valuable and existentially desirable….that is it…that is all I want to say today.
Today’s Text: Psalm 19:11-14 Today’s Song: May the Words of My Mouth Notes: Today we hear the third voice: the voice of the Lord’s servant. He tells us about the great benefits of studying the law and offers his life as a living sacrifice to God.
Today’s Text: Psalm 19:7-9 Today’s Song: Thy Word Notes: Today we look at the five different words for the Word. What are the words for the word? 1. Law – Torah; instruction; – Much more than legal regulations or stipulations (fatherly instruction) 2. Testimony: – What God bears witness about himself; his truth and his requirements; …
Today’s Text: Psalm 19 Today’s Song: This is My Father’s World Notes: Today we begin a series on Psalm 19. In this Psalm, we hear three voices, singing in harmony about the glory of the Lord’s revelation. CS Lewis said this was the most perfect poem he had ever read. Psalm 19 is one of the great “Word”…
Today’s Text: Psalm 37:3, 9, 11, 18, 22, 27, 29, 34 Today’s Song: This is My Father’s World Notes: Psalm 37 is all about inheriting the land. But when Jesus quotes it, he says “earth.” Why? Does He misquote it? Is he playing fast and loose with the scripture? No. Earth and land are two sides of…
Today’s Text: Psalm 37:4 Today’s Song: Give Me Jesus Notes: Psalm 37:4 What a God we serve, who commands us to delight! And then gives us what we desire!
Psalm 37 is essential background music for the Beatitudes. So today we will begin an extended look at it. Today is an introduction.
Today’s Text: Matthew 11:25-30 Today’s Song: Notes: What does it mean to be meek? As with all of the Beatitudes, Jesus is our ultimate example and we see that example in chapters 11 and 12.
Today’s Text: Matthew 5:5 Today’s Song: Come to the alter Notes: What is your strategy for world domination? If you were going to try your hand at world conquest, how would you go about it? Or maybe, you don’t want to take over the world…you just want your worldto operate smoothly. How do you go about that? Listen in, and…
Today’s Text: Revelation 21:1-5 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard…
All of the beatitudes are counter-cultural. But for us, Blessed are those who mourn, might be the strangest of them all. So what does Jesus mean? How can mourning ever be good? It is good if it leads to repentance. So today we look at Psalm 51 to discover how we can experience “good mourning.””
Today’s Text: John 15:1-10 Today’s Song: I Surrender All Notes: Today we look at another illustration fo what it means to be poor in Spirit. When Jesus says: Apart from me, you can do nothing. He means it. And the poor in spirit joyfully embrace it.
Today’s Text: Luke 7:1-10Today’s Song: Before the Throne Notes: Today we look at one of the best examples of what it means to be poor in spirit: The Roman centurion. His faith causes Jesus to marvel. Does yours?
Before the Beatitudes can paint a picture of us, we have to see them as a picture of Him. Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to be poor in spirit. Be encouraged by Him today!
Your soul is a lot like real estate. The three most important things are: location, location, and location. Psalm. 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.in all that he does, he prospers. Song: Holy, Holy, Holy Notes: Today we…
Psa. 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.in all that he does, he prospers. Song: Be Thou My Vision Notes: The great promise of Psalm 1 is that you can be fruitful in every season. What season are you…
Today we do a little exercise in meditation. Here is how it goes: Repeat the verse or phrase with emphasis on a different word each time. E.g., John 2:5: Whatever He says to you, do it. Whatever He says to you, do it. Whatever He says to you, do it. Whatever He says to you, do it. Whatever He says to you, do it. Whatever…
If you want to be happy…don’t do this: Psalm 1 Psa. 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; Song: I Need Thee Every Hour Notes: The Psalm, just like the sermon on the mount both…
Today we begin a new series on the Psalms. The sermon on the mount will challenge our minds, and the Psalms will encourage our hearts. And a good place to begin is in the beginning. So we will begin with Psalm 1. And interestingly enough, a book dedicated to prayer does not begin with prayer.…
Song: Nothing But The Blood Notes: Today we see another case study of Jesus bringing healing, but this time it is in response to the faith of others. Here we see that just because we have to be socially distant does not mean we have to be spiritually distant.
Mark 5:21-43. Part 2 Song: As The Deer Notes: Here we see two very different people both driven to Jesus in a moment of difficulty and desperation. They both come to Jesus…but Jesus demands more of them than they could ever imagine. He demands she speak up…and He delays in the middle of a crisis.…
Here we see two very different people both driven to Jesus in a moment of difficulty and desperation. If desperate times drive you to Jesus, then they are good gifts, because near him is the safest place you can be.
Mark 5:1-20 Song: Were You There? Notes: On Good Friday we think about how Jesus frees us. 1. There is a confrontation 2. There is an extermination 3. There is a transformation
Mark 5:1-20 Song: O Sacred Head Now Wounded Notes: First Jesus calms an external storm and then he calms an internal storm. In this man, we see one of Satan’s primary strategies: to kill whatever he can. If he can’t kill you, he will kill your joy, your hope, your peace. But don’t die before…
In his gospel Mark is showing Jesus’ victory over death and how Jesus dealt with death’s many invasions into human life. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, all the disciples believed that death was defeated, but the central question is why does its shadow still remain? To help us, Mark gives us 13 “case studies” in how…
Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Song: O Come to the Altar Notes: This verse is both a declaration and an invitation. It is a declaration that the Lord of Hosts is the victorious King of Glory. And…
To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. The trouble with times of trouble is that our hearts don’t believe what our heads know. So how do we make them believe? By seeking and seeing true beauty.
Song: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Notes: Here we see David’s strategy for making war on worry. If you have this you can stand up to anything. His fears are both hypothetical and actual. Fear flourishes in the soil of what if… 3 primal things all humans need: Safety Belonging Love Our only hope is…
The name of the Lord is our refuge. Here we run from bears and meditate on the four names of Jesus from Isaiah 9:6-7: Wonderful Counselor Mighty God Everlasting Father Prince of Peace His name is our refuge. His name is our rock. Run there and find rest for your soul.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation.” Ps 27:1 Jesus died in the darkness, so we can live in the light. The Bible begins with God bringing light into the darkness, and it ends with all darkness ultimately being defeated. But in the middle, there is a battle. One of the key plot tensions of…