Dillon Community Church

Day 1: Faithful in the Ordinary

Devotional

Most of us are waiting for the big moment. The powerful prayer. The message that feels like it was written just for us. And while those moments are real gifts, they can quietly become the thing we chase instead of God Himself. Paul closes his letter to the Corinthians not with a dramatic call to action, but with something far more grounding. He talks about giving, relationships, and showing up consistently. It is almost surprising in its simplicity. But that is exactly the point. God is not primarily in the business of giving you extraordinary experiences. He is in the business of making you more like Jesus. And that kind of transformation does not happen in the highlight moments. It happens in the Tuesday afternoons. The quiet commutes. The small choices nobody sees. This is actually great news. You do not need a mountaintop experience to grow. You just need to be faithful today. Show up. Give. Love the people in front of you. Trust God with the ordinary, and watch what He does with it over time. You are not behind. You are not missing out. God is already at work in the everyday moments of your life. The question is whether you are paying attention.

Bible Verse

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:58

Reflection Question

Where in your daily routine might God already be forming you in ways you have been too distracted to notice?

Quote

"The type of transformation that we're talking about here, it happens over time through small, everyday, ordinary, arguably boring decisions that you make day in and day out."

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for chasing experiences instead of chasing You. Help me to see the ordinary moments of my life as the very place where You are doing Your deepest work. Amen.

Day 2: What Your Wallet Says About Your Faith

Devotional

Money is one of those topics that can make people uncomfortable in a church setting. But here is the thing: Scripture addresses money and possessions over 2,300 times. That is more than heaven and hell combined. God is clearly not shy about it, and neither should we be. Paul instructs the Corinthians to give generously, give consistently, and give in proportion to what they have. These are not fundraising tactics. They are spiritual disciplines rooted in something much deeper: trust. When we give off the top rather than from the leftovers, we are making a statement. We are saying, "God, I believe You will provide." When we give consistently, we are building a habit of dependence. And when we give generously, we are reflecting the character of a God who held nothing back, not even His own Son. Generosity is not about impressing anyone. It is about loosening the grip that money can have on our hearts. It is a practice that slowly, faithfully reorients our lives away from self and toward others. You do not have to be wealthy to be generous. You just have to be willing. Start where you are, and trust God with the rest.

Bible Verse

"Now about the collection for the Lord's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." - 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Reflection Question

Are you giving God your first and best, or are you offering Him what is left over after everything else is covered?

Quote

"Do we give God the leftovers? This is just what we have left. Here you go. Or are we giving out of the first and best of what we have, trusting that he will continue to provide?"

Prayer

Father, help me to hold my resources with an open hand. Grow in me a generous Spirit that reflects Your generosity toward me. Amen.

Day 3: Every Relationship Is an Opportunity

Devotional

Relationships are hard. Even in the church. Maybe especially in the church. The Corinthians had grown critical of Paul. They were drawn to more impressive teachers and had begun to dismiss the very person who had poured his life into them. Paul could have responded with frustration or defensiveness. Instead, he responded with longing and love. He did not see the relational tension as an obstacle. He saw it as an opportunity. An opportunity to depend more fully on God. An opportunity to model what it looks like to love people who are difficult to love. That is a perspective shift worth sitting with. What if the hard relationship in your life right now is not a problem to be solved but an invitation to grow? What if the coworker who grates on you, the family member who misunderstands you, or the friend who has pulled away is actually an opportunity for you to reflect the grace of Jesus? This does not mean conflict does not matter or that boundaries are not real. It means that even in the mess of relationships, God is at work. And how we respond says a great deal about who we are becoming. Let love lead. It always has more to say than frustration does.

Bible Verse

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:13

Reflection Question

Is there a difficult relationship in your life right now that you have been treating as a burden rather than an opportunity for growth?

Quote

"Paul doesn't see the relational challenges within this church as an obstacle. He sees it as an opportunity, an opportunity that drives him into further dependence on the Lord and an opportunity to continue to set an example for them."

Prayer

Jesus, give me eyes to see the people in my life the way You see them. Help me to respond with grace where I have been responding with frustration. Amen.

Day 4: Standing Firm in a Shifting World

Devotional

Culture moves fast. And if you are not paying attention, it will quietly shape you in ways you never intended. Paul urges the Corinthians to stand firm, to be on guard, and to live with an eternal perspective. He is not asking them to be rigid or fearful. He is asking them to be anchored. There is a big difference. When you know what you believe and why you believe it, cultural pressure loses some of its power over you. You can engage the world around you without being swept away by it. You can hold your convictions with confidence and still treat people with genuine kindness. But when you are not grounded, you become reactive. You either absorb everything culture offers or you retreat from it entirely. Neither posture reflects the kingdom life Paul is describing. Standing firm is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It is about being the most rooted. It is about knowing that what you are living for actually lasts, and letting that reality shape every decision you make. You were not made to drift. You were made to stand. And you do not have to do it alone. God is with you in the holding.

Bible Verse

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." - Hebrews 4

Reflection Question

In what area of your life have you been drifting with the cultural current rather than standing firm in what you know to be true?

Quote

"Learn how to read culture. If you don't learn to read culture, you will be susceptible to following wherever the cultural winds blow."

Prayer

Lord, anchor me in Your truth when the world around me feels unstable. Give me the courage to stand firm and the wisdom to know the difference between conviction and stubbornness. Amen.

Day 5: Strong Humility: The Life That Changes Everything

Devotional

We live in a world that rewards self-promotion. Platforms are built on visibility. Status is currency. And even in the church, it is easy to measure significance by how much attention we receive. But Paul holds up a different kind of person as the model for kingdom living. Stephanus was not the most impressive figure in the room. He was the one serving. He used whatever influence and resources he had not to elevate himself but to lower himself in service to others. That is what Paul calls the church to. Not weakness. Not passivity. But strong humility. The kind of strength that is secure enough to serve. The kind of courage that does not need recognition to keep going. This is the life that is quietly contagious. You do not have to be loud to make an impact. You just have to be faithful, generous, rooted, and genuinely loving. That combination stands out in a world that is desperate for something real. Your labor is not in vain. The way you parent, the way you show up at work, the way you treat the person who cannot do anything for you in return. It all matters. It all lasts. Live like it does.

Bible Verse

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord's people. I urge you to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it." - 1 Corinthians 16:15-16

Reflection Question

Where in your life could you trade the pursuit of recognition for the quiet, faithful practice of serving others?

Quote

"Stephanus doesn't use his status to elevate himself. He lowers himself in the service of others. He puts others above himself. That's what I want for you. That's his plea for the church. That's what being strong and courageous and loving will lead to, a life of strong humility."

Prayer

Father, make me more like Jesus. Give me the humility to serve without needing to be seen, and the strength to keep going even when no one notices. Amen.

‍

*Devotions written from sermon given by Pastor Ryan Leeds and compiled using Sermon Shots.