Plugged into Power

Stay connected to the Spirit and step boldly into God’s harvest field.

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”
(Luke 10:2)

Have you ever ridden in a Tesla? It’s a sleek and powerful car, but all that design and technology won’t get you far if it’s not plugged in. In the same way, we can look good on the outside by dressing up for church, carrying a Bible, and singing the right worship songs, but the real question is: Do you have power? I know too many people who are trying to live the Christian life unplugged, having the appearance of faith but missing the source completely.

In Luke 10, Jesus sent out 72 ordinary disciples to the towns He was preparing to visit. These weren’t the spiritual elites, but regular people just like you and me who were simply willing to go. He didn’t tell them to wait for better timing or get a ministry degree first. He told them to go, and they went. In their obedience, God’s power showed up: healings took place, lives were transformed, and entire communities were impacted.

The same is true today. Our families, workplaces, and neighborhoods are waiting for followers of Jesus to step out in faith and bring hope, one conversation at a time.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need everything figured out before stepping into the mission God has for you. All He asks for is a willing heart and the courage to obey. When you step out, the Holy Spirit provides the power. Like those 72, you’ll discover joy not from what you can do, but from what God can do through you. The harvest is plentiful, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!

Bold Step Challenge:
This week, ask God to show you one person in your path who needs His hope. Step out in faith and watch how God’s power flows when you’re plugged into Him.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve tried to live this life in my own strength. Remind me that real power comes from being connected to You through Your Spirit. Send me into the harvest field this week with courage, compassion, and joy, knowing that my greatest reward is belonging to You. Amen.

Listen to the sermon: Roll Up Your Sleeves

Part 1Part 2

Ministry Update from Mark

In 1986, I was just 21, fresh out of college and full of zeal—when God entrusted me with a tiny flock of fewer than 20 people on the corner of 44th and Paulina on Chicago’s South Side. The neighborhood was broken and dangerous, yet it was exactly where He called me. With nothing more than a Bible in my hands and a burden in my heart, the call was simple: preach the Word, love the broken, and be faithful.

Looking back now, I’m undone by what only God could do. From that fragile beginning came ripples that touched thousands of lives, planted churches, and spread the gospel far beyond anything I could have imagined. Recently, as I stood before that little church and whispered, “Thank You, God,” I was reminded: it was never our strength, never our plan—always His grace, always His faithfulness. And it still is.