From Dead Battery to New Life

Are you like a car that’s polished on the outside but with no battery on the inside? Find out about God’s grace and new life!

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
(Ephesians 2:4–5)

A few months ago, I tried starting a car that had been sitting idle for a long time. It looked great on the outside—clean, polished, not a scratch on it—but when I turned the key, nothing happened. The battery was completely dead. No lights, no sound, no power. As I sat there, I couldn’t help but think: This is exactly what spiritual death looks like. You can appear “fine” on the outside—successful, put-together, even religious—but without the life of Christ in you, there’s no real power, no inner transformation.

In Ephesians 2, Paul doesn’t sugarcoat it: we were dead in our sins—completely unresponsive to God, spiritually lifeless, and unaware of just how lost we really were. We weren’t merely off-track; we were cut off from the source of life itself. And in that state, we were being shaped not by truth or love but by the cravings of our own nature and the influence of a broken world. We followed the culture without question and listened to voices that led us away from God’s best. It’s a sobering reality that highlights just how desperately we need a Savior.

“But God”—those two words change everything. God, rich in mercy, stepped in and made us alive with Christ. He didn’t wait for us to figure it out. He came to us in our deadness and jumpstarted our hearts with His grace. I remember when that shift happened in my life—when Scripture came alive, when I felt conviction instead of shame, and when I realized that God was inviting me into something new and powerful. That’s the power of grace.

If you're feeling stuck, dry, or just going through the motions, I want to challenge you: don’t stay there. Let God breathe new life into your soul. I invite you to listen to the full sermon at the link below—it’s a powerful reminder that you were made to live fully alive in Christ. Don’t settle for survival when God is offering resurrection. Are you ready?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for not leaving me in my spiritual deadness. Thank You for reaching into my life with mercy, grace, and resurrection power. Awaken my spirit. Stir fresh conviction, fresh hunger for Your Word, and fresh awareness of Your presence. Help me walk in step with You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen to the sermon: Made Alive

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Ministry Update from Mark

This past April 21, we marked a powerful milestone—170 years since the life-changing moment when a 17-year-old shoe salesman named Dwight L. Moody surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.

What makes this anniversary so remarkable isn’t just Moody’s personal transformation but how it all began. It started with an ordinary, unknown Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball who felt a quiet burden to share the gospel with the young man working in the backroom of a shoe store. Nervously, yet obediently, Kimball walked into that shop and spoke to Moody about Jesus.

That simple act of faith—uncelebrated and unnoticed at the time—set off a ripple effect that would impact millions of lives for generations to come. This anniversary isn’t just about looking back—it’s about looking ahead. Because the same God who called Edward Kimball to be faithful and D. L. Moody to be bold is still calling people today.

Why not you? Why not now?