Joshua Kennedy's Weekly Devotion

Opening / Introduction Jesus’ calling of the disciples happens at the very beginning of His public ministry. That matters. Even in His earthly ministry, Jesus did not choose to minister alone; He called men to walk with Him, learn from Him, and labor beside Him. That shows us something important: Kingdom ministry was never meant to be carried by a single person. The body of Christ works through many members, each joined together for His purpose. Both Mark 1:16–20 and John 1:35–42 portray this call powerfully. In John’s Gospel, Andrew first encounters Jesus and brings Simon to Him. Then in Mark’s account, Jesus gives the direct summons: “Come, follow me.” What began as an encounter became a life of discipleship. Somewhere along the way, many people have reduced Christianity to church attendance, religious language, or simply believing certain truths about Jesus. But to be a Christian is to be a follower of Christ. Faith in Jesus is the beginning, but real discipleship means we no longer...

Introduction What does it really mean to be spiritually grounded? For many, Christianity begins and ends with salvation: accepting Jesus, attending church, and striving to be a good person. But the call of Christ goes much deeper than that. It’s not just about believing in Him; it’s about following Him. Somewhere along the way, we’ve unintentionally separated being a believer from being a disciple, as if they are two different paths. But Jesus never made that distinction. In His mind, to believe in Him is to follow Him. From the very beginning, growth has always been a part of life. A child is born completely dependent, but that dependency is not meant to remain. Before long, that child is reaching, pulling up, and eventually taking those first steps. Why? Because they see others walking and something inside them compels them to do the same. The same is true spiritually. When we are born again, we begin dependent on Christ, and that is right. But over time, we are meant to grow, mature...

As we conclude our series, Crucified with Christ, we move from the gravity of the cross to the glory of the empty tomb. We often treat the crucifixion and the resurrection as two separate historical dates on a calendar, but for the believer, they are a singular, simultaneous reality. To live the Christian life is to understand that the "old man" didn't just go into retirement—he was executed so that a "new man" could take his place. The Great Exchange: Galatians 2:20 The foundation of our walk is found in the merging of death and life. Paul writes: "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..." This is the "Great Exchange."  When we die to self, we don't become empty vessels; we become conduits for His resurrection power. We still inhabit these earthly bodies, but the engine driving us is no longer self-will—it is a relationship built on absolute trust in the Son of God. Baptism as a Li...

The Cross as God’s victory, not defeat There are two ways to look at the cross. One way sees weakness. A failed Messiah. A shameful death. A tragic ending. But heaven tells the truth: the cross is not God’s defeat—it is God’s victory. What looks like loss is actually triumph. What appears foolish is, in reality, the wisdom of God breaking into a world blinded by pride, power, and self-salvation. Paul says it plainly: “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18) The Cross Confounds the World’s “Wisdom” The world trusts in intelligence, influence, persuasion, and self-improvement. We live in an age where people believe the right argument, the right book, the right strategy, or the right motivational speech can fix what’s broken inside. But Paul confronts that illusion: human wisdom can explain a problem without curing it. Words can inform the mind, but they cannot resurrect the heart.
Arguments c...