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Sunday, April 20, 2014
He is Risen!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Short Bible Plans Developed Specifically for Easter
Prepare Your Heart for Easter with the Bible App
With Easter just a week away, now is the perfect time to focus your heart and mind on Christ through His Word. The YouVersion Bible App offers several Easter Plans designed to help you reflect, grow, and prepare spiritually during this special week.
Featured Easter Plans
1. My Utmost for His Highest: Holy Week
A special edition of Oswald Chambers’ timeless devotionals, encouraging a deeper, more passionate walk with God.
Duration: 7 days | Publisher: Discovery House
2. Our Daily Bread: The Hope for Easter
Quick daily devotionals chosen to bring peace, comfort, and encouragement through God’s great love.
Duration: 7 days | Publisher: Our Daily Bread
3. The Story of Easter
Follow the biblical account of Jesus’ final week on earth, His prayers, prophecies fulfilled, and His ultimate victory over sin and death.
Duration: 7 days | Publisher: LifeChurch.tv
Other notable plans:
- Love to the Uttermost: Holy Week with John Piper (9 days, Desiring God)
- Seven Mile Miracle Easter Devotion (7 days)
- For the Joy Set Before Him (8 days, Just Joy Ministries)
- The Children’s Guide to Easter (7 days, 4Soils)
- Matt Maher – The Overflow Devo (7 days, The Overflow)
- The Artist Bible: Easter (8 days)
- Red-Letter Day (12 days, LifeChurch.tv)
Easter Stories for Kids
Teaching children about Easter has never been easier. The Bible App for Kids includes two new stories:
- “It Is Finished” – Tells the story of Jesus’ sacrifice in a way children can understand.
- “A Happy Sunday” – Celebrates the power of His resurrection.
The app is completely free and available on iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire, with nearly 3 million downloads to date.
Inspire Others with Easter Art
YouVersion has created custom artwork to accompany the Verse of the Day for each of the seven days leading up to Easter.
- Free to download
- Shareable on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or anywhere you want to inspire others
Make This Easter Meaningful
Use these resources to:
- Deepen your faith
- Teach your children about Jesus
- Share the hope of Christ with friends and family
“Align your heart and mind toward Christ this Easter and watch His light shine through your life.”
Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith – Part 5
Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith – Part 5
Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 6:1–7 (NKJV)
Introduction
In Part 4, we saw the widow’s faith produce a miraculous provision from God. Now, we explore another instance of “ridiculous faith” through Elisha and the floating axe head. This story reminds us that God honors faith that acts boldly and trusts Him with the seemingly impossible.
The Floating Axe Head
In 2 Kings 6, some prophets were cutting down trees near the Jordan River. One man’s borrowed axe head fell into the water — an incident that could have ended in despair. But instead of giving up, the man sought Elisha’s help, demonstrating faith in God’s power through His prophet.
Elisha’s response:
“Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it in there, and the iron floated” (2 Kings 6:6).
Notice: The solution seemed absurd — a stick making a heavy iron axe float? That’s “ridiculous faith” in action. But God used Elisha to demonstrate that no situation is too small or too impossible for Him.
Lessons from Ridiculous Faith
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Faith Acts in the Moment
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The man could have panicked, blaming circumstances or giving up. Instead, he ran to Elisha immediately. Faith acts without delay.
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God Uses Unlikely Tools
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The floating axe was restored by a stick, illustrating that God often uses ordinary, unexpected methods to accomplish the extraordinary.
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Faith Magnifies God’s Glory
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This miracle reminds us that God’s power shines brightest when we trust Him with the impossible, even in small, everyday matters.
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Application for Today
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Trust God with your small emergencies. Sometimes what seems trivial — a broken relationship, a lost job, or a financial struggle — is an opportunity for God to show His miraculous power.
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Step out boldly. Ridiculous faith requires stepping forward with trust, even when logic says otherwise.
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Be persistent. Just like the man sought Elisha immediately, don’t delay in bringing your concerns to God.
Conclusion
The floating axe head reminds us that God is faithful, creative, and powerful. Ridiculous faith doesn’t mean blind faith; it means trusting God when the solution seems impossible, unreasonable, or unconventional.
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26).
Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith - Part 4
Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith – Part 4
Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 4:1–7 (NKJV)
Introduction
Faith is often tested in ways that stretch our understanding and push us beyond what seems reasonable. Elisha’s ministry provides multiple examples of this “ridiculous faith” — moments when God calls His people to act in obedience, even when the circumstances seem impossible.
In 2 Kings 4, we encounter the story of the widow of one of the prophets. She faced a dire situation: her husband had died, and creditors were coming to take her two sons as slaves to settle debts. Her resources were nearly gone, and yet Elisha gave her instructions that seemed unusual and even impractical at first glance.
The Call to Ridiculous Faith
Elisha told the widow:
“Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour out from the vessels; when each is full, set it aside” (2 Kings 4:3–4).
Notice how her faith was tested: she had to trust in God’s provision before seeing any tangible results. She could not pour water into vessels she did not have, nor could she predict how God would multiply what seemed like nothing.
Ridiculous faith often requires:
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Obedience without full understanding – Trusting God even when instructions seem unusual.
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Persistence in the process – Continuing to act faithfully, step by step.
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Dependence on God’s power – Acknowledging that the solution comes from God, not human effort.
The Miracle and Its Meaning
The widow obeyed. She gathered all the vessels she could find, poured the small amount of oil she had, and God multiplied it so that she had more than enough to pay her debts and provide for her family (2 Kings 4:7).
This story teaches us:
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God honors faith that acts in obedience. Faith without action is incomplete (James 2:17).
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God can multiply even the smallest resources. What seems insufficient in our hands is more than enough in God’s hands.
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Ridiculous faith requires trust over reason. God often calls us to step into the impossible to experience His miraculous power.
Application for Today
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Trust God with your “empty vessels.” Whether it’s finances, relationships, or opportunities, bring what little you have and trust God to multiply it.
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Take steps of obedience immediately. Don’t wait for perfect conditions; act in faith now.
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Expect God to exceed your expectations. When we obey God, He provides abundantly, often in ways we could never imagine.
Trust God with your “empty vessels.” Whether it’s finances, relationships, or opportunities, bring what little you have and trust God to multiply it.
Take steps of obedience immediately. Don’t wait for perfect conditions; act in faith now.
Expect God to exceed your expectations. When we obey God, He provides abundantly, often in ways we could never imagine.
Conclusion
The widow’s story reminds us that faith may sometimes seem ridiculous, but obedience paired with trust unlocks God’s miraculous provision. Today, God is calling you to step out in faith, pour out your resources, and watch Him multiply what seems impossible.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith - Part 3
About SpringHill Church
Thanks for joining us today during this message. SpringHill Church exists to reach people far from God and bring them to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. For more information about our church please click on the link below to visit our website.Visit Site
God can do exceptional things with your exception!
Scripture
2 Kings 4:1-2 NIVThe wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil."
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Notes
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT YOU REALLY NEED, GOD IS WHAT YOU NEED.Scripture
2 Kings 4:2 NIVElisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil."
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Notes
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH?Notes
Stop waiting for what you want, and start working with what you have!Notes
2) OFFER GOD WHAT YOU HAVE AND TRUST HIM TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED.Scripture
2 Kings 4:3-7 NIVElisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."
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Notes
When she offered what little she had, God gave her everything she needed and then some!Prayer Requests
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Listen To Previous Messages
If you would like to download or listen to this message or previous messages in this series or other messages from our archives, follow the link below or visit iTunes and search for SpringHill Church or Pastor Brad Mullins.Listen
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith - Part 2
“Elisha: A Tale of Ridiculous Faith – Part 2” titled “Ridiculous Commitment”
🕊️ Main Theme: Ridiculous Commitment
Elisha’s story is a powerful example of radical and unwavering faith. He left behind a comfortable life to pursue God’s purpose, demonstrating total surrender and commitment.
📖 Key Scriptures:l
- 1 Kings 19:15–16, 19–21 – Elisha is chosen and anointed by Elijah.
- 2 Kings 2:1–11 – Elisha refuses to leave Elijah, showing loyalty and spiritual perseverance.
- 1 Corinthians 1:27–29 – God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.
🔥 Key Lessons:
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Elisha’s Background:
- Called to a life of significance.
- Embraced God’s call and allowed it to shape his life.
- Chosen by God, not based on status but on willingness.
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Obstacles in Ministry:
- Faced monotony and spiritual testing.
- Refused to abandon his calling despite Elijah’s repeated offers to leave him behind.
- Demonstrated loyalty and faithfulness.
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Total Commitment:
- Slaughtered his oxen and burned his plow—symbolizing no turning back.
- Made an irrevocable decision to follow God.
Elisha’s Background:
- Called to a life of significance.
- Embraced God’s call and allowed it to shape his life.
- Chosen by God, not based on status but on willingness.
Obstacles in Ministry:
- Faced monotony and spiritual testing.
- Refused to abandon his calling despite Elijah’s repeated offers to leave him behind.
- Demonstrated loyalty and faithfulness.
Total Commitment:
- Slaughtered his oxen and burned his plow—symbolizing no turning back.
- Made an irrevocable decision to follow God.
💬 Reflection Question:
What in your life represents your “oxen” or “plow”? Are you willing to “burn” it to fully embrace God’s calling?
🙏 Conclusion:
Elisha’s ridiculous commitment is a model for us to obey God completely and without reservation. Like Elisha, we are called to let go of the past and step into a future shaped by faith.
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