COGS Devotions

This week, Connor and Matt share a glimpse into our youth's powerful weekend away at Zeteo Youth Ministry Conference in Altoona, PA. Luckily, the weekend's theme also connected with this week's COGS Devotions topic--God's Law and how it shows His love AND a better way for all of us. Give it a listen and learn how God is alive and active in our Youth Ministry as well as how his Word sparks new life in each of us!

After overcoming some technical difficulties, Connor sits down with Carolyn Haskell to discuss a small and important story in the Exodus narrative, where Moses' father-in-law Jethro confronts him and shares some new ideas about leading! This biblical passage has shaped much of the modern study of leadership, and it offers tremendous insight for people who lead in any capacity (a.k.a. EVERYONE)

Our God does not forsake us--and that doesn't just mean he is always with us! God has a long history of providing for his people in tangible ways that not only remind them intellectually that he loves them, but shows this important truth concretely. This week, Reuben stops in and shares tremendous wisdom and insight into God's provision and how it shapes our identity as his people!

For many of us, we live day-to-day longing for powerful displays of God's Miraculous Power; however, this week's guest--Machana--has seen God's Miraculous Power first-hand in her own life. Listen in to hear Machana's powerful story and disarming vulnerability about her own Red Sea experience and how God makes his power and deliverance real in the lives of his followers even today!

In this week's COGS Devotion, Connor and Pastor Lisa discuss Israel's "identity story"--the narrative of the Plagues and especially of the Passover. This passage contains some dark themes, yet in the midst of the darkness, the brilliant light of Christ shines through this incredibly important story.

This week, Connor sits down with Matthew Gettle for a hearty conversation about an amazing God who saves through the most unlikely of people. Moses takes a few hits in this one, as do some of the major cultural stories that shape us--but on the other side, we believe this story of God's Power and Mercy gives each of us a much more meaningful and life-giving narrative for the road!

This week, Connor and Reuben sit down to discuss one of the first instances of God's matchmaking in the Bible. Of course, this passage is about so much more than just romantic love, so listen in on the conversation about how God's purposes are always for his glory and humanity's good!

Connor is joined by one of his closest friends--Matt Gettle--for an interesting conversation about a passage that is troubling in many ways--Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22. Nevertheless, this passage is inspired by God, so Matt and Connor wrestle with how this passage speaks to us today and how it reflects God's character and plan. We hope you are blessed by this conversation!

This week, Reuben and Connor sit down to talk about God's promise to Abraham--one of the most significant passages in the whole story of Scripture. Often, we experience God's blessing and respond in praise, but this passage helps us to see a basis for worship even when God's promises don't appear to be coming true in our lives.

This week, Lisa and Connor sit down to talk about how the Bible addresses one of the universal questions most often heard on the tongues of philosophers and everyday people alike--How can there be a good God when I/others have suffered so much? Spoiler alert: neither the Bible nor Lisa and Connor attempts to explain why suffering occurs--they only point us to the "who" that gives peace and hope in the midst of it.

Listen in as Reuben returns for his second time on our COGS Devotions. Connor and Reuben dive into the conclusion of the Scriptural "protohistory," the story of the Tower of Babylon--discerning in this ancient story tremendous wisdom for those of us trying to live faithful and God-honoring lives in the twenty-first century.

This week, Connor and Abbie sit down to talk about an often-troubling story from the Bible--Noah and the World-wide flood. They sit for a little while in the darkness, but they also talk about the unmissable beauty and light in the story. There is tremendous power in this ancient story for our lives as 21st century Christians--we hope you are as blessed by this conversation as we were!

This week, Connor reflects on the story of the Fall found in Genesis 3. He sees in this story the very basis of much of human life after the Fall--our temptation to make bad decisions to achieve a personal goal and our temptation to justify bad decisions through blame and cover-up. Finally, he closes with a communal prayer of confession, recognizing that because of Jesus' obedience, we are healed when we confess our sins to God instead of hiding.

Join us this week as Connor and Lisa share in a 15 minute conversation about the amazing and important truth that all human beings are created in God's image. They discuss the individual responsibilities we have as image-bearers as well as the responsibility we have to honor other image-bearers. If you would like to participate in The Gospel Project and see God's word transform your life, please contact Connor, Abbie, or Lisa to find a group and time that works for you!

Tune in for our first ever COGS Devotion to coincide with our launch of the Gospel Project! This week, Connor is joined by Reuben as they share in a conversation reflecting on what it means to have creative power and authority over our lives, and how we can ultimately orient our lives toward Christ. The primary text for this week's lesson was Genesis 1:1-13. During the conversation, Connor also reads Colossians 1:15-18 (CSB).