Digging Deeper: Pardon-Forgiven

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on April 16, 2025

 

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)


PARDON-FORGIVEN

 

As a mother, I often think about the moments in life when I’ve had to make tough choices for my children. When I picture the story of Barabbas being pardoned in the Bible, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion. Barabbas was a criminal—a murderer—and yet the crowd chose to set him free instead of Jesus! The choice seems so unjust. Barabbas was guilty, yet he walked away without paying for his crime, while Jesus, who had done no wrong, was sentenced to die on the cross.

This moment isn’t just a story from history—it’s a reflection of God’s incredible grace and mercy.

For me, the story of Barabbas represents something deeply personal. It’s a reminder of how often we fall short—how we, like Barabbas, are so undeserving of forgiveness, yet God still chooses to set us free. Barabbas didn’t earn his release. He was guilty, and yet he walked away without consequence. Jesus took our place, just as He took the place of Barabbas. He took the punishment we deserve for all the mistakes we’ve made. The freedom Barabbas experienced that day is the same freedom Jesus offers to each of us.

We may not be in prison, but we are all trapped by our sin—and Jesus is the only one who can free us.

As a mom, this truth hits even deeper. I want my children to know that no matter how far they fall, no matter what they do, they are always loved, always forgiven, and always worthy of grace. Just like Barabbas, they are forgiven not because they’ve earned it, but because of God’s unending love. I want my children to understand that no matter what mistakes they make, God’s grace is enough to cover them.

It’s a truth I will strive to reflect in the way I love my children, my husband, and everyone around me. Every day offers a new chance to live in grace, to forgive, and to show mercy.

I pray you are reminded of the amazing gift of grace you’ve been given—one you don’t deserve. I pray God will help you see the impact you can have on those around you and inspire you to show others the power of His forgiveness and love. I pray God will help you be a living example of grace, patience, and compassion in your home and in every relationship and space you enter.

Lord, when we fall short, remind us of Your unending mercy, and help us to extend that same grace to others. May we always walk in the freedom You’ve given us, and may we never forget how precious Your forgiveness is—and the impact it makes.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: His Grace Took My Place

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on April 15, 2025

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And it is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. 

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)


HIS GRACE TOOK MY PLACE

 

I have a vivid picture in my mind of what I imagine Jesus looked like hanging on the cross. Blood dripped down His arms, His face, and the rest of His body—just hanging there, hanging on for life. I imagine what His cry out to God sounded like—the gut-wrenching cry of a child looking for their father when they’re hurt and desperate for His comfort. I imagine how immensely difficult it was for God to let it happen. To watch His only Son hang there, mocked, whipped, beaten—yet internally unblemished. All for the sake of everyone else’s sins, to offer them forgiveness they didn’t deserve. The very people who mocked Him—He was dying for them, to offer forgiveness and eternal life.

As a parent myself, I can’t fathom allowing that to happen to one of my own children. I can’t imagine not standing up for them when the world is knocking them down. I can’t imagine watching them suffer and not stepping in—sacrificing myself to ease their pain.

This is what I imagine grace looks like. It’s blood, sweat, and tears. It’s hitting rock bottom, feeling alone, not knowing where to turn—and then someone graciously steps in to help you pick up the pieces.

When I was in college, my best friend since second grade and I got into an argument—one that, to this day, I can’t even remember the true reason for. It drove a wedge in our friendship, and we never talked about it again. She moved to a different state, and we physically and emotionally grew apart.

But when she heard that my mom’s breast cancer had come back and hospice had been called in, she—without asking—made the six-hour drive by herself to spend the weekend with me, taking care of my mom. She literally came in with open arms, asking how she could help. She carried my mom’s weak and dying dog to the kitchen sink and gave her a bath. She helped me roll my mom over and change her tattered bed sheets. She went to the grocery store, bought food, and watched me spoon-feed my sweet mother.

It was a vivid picture of grace that I will never forget. In those moments, she was an answered prayer I never thought would walk through that door. That’s grace.

That is the kind of grace I want to walk with in this world—one where I forgive past hurts without question, one where I’m willing to step in when the world feels like it’s crumbling. Where I come in unannounced and can be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever I’m needed.

I pray that as you read these words, you feel challenged to do the same—to embrace the grace you don’t deserve and offer it freely to others, just as God has offered it to you. I pray you are patient, understanding, and forgiving, even when it’s difficult. Look past the faults and flaws of others, just as God looks past yours. I pray your heart will be filled with compassion—and that you can’t help but exude the love of Christ in all that you do.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Clear Your Conscience

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on April 14, 2025

 

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:23 (NLT)


CLEAR YOUR CONSCIENCE

 

Have you ever done something you definitely thought twice about—but did it anyway? A choice where your conscience immediately stepped in moments after you made the decision, and you instantly felt guilt? That’s how I imagine Pilate felt moments after he handed Jesus over to the Roman soldiers. He knew Jesus was innocent, yet he gave in to the peer pressure of the crowd and surrendered His life.

In our daily lives, we are all faced with choices—sometimes making the right decision, other times making slightly wrong ones.

Perhaps our decisions aren’t as momentous as Pilate’s, but often, we make choices knowing they go against what we believe and what we know to be true. We say things we know we shouldn’t. Instead of being peacemakers, we engage in gossip at work. Maybe the sin you’re struggling with feels heavier than gossip. Owning up to your guilt and asking for forgiveness is a powerful step toward healing, recognizing the truth in Romans 3:23: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

This verse reminds us that no one is perfect—we all make mistakes that separate us from God. Yet, in acknowledging where we fall short, we open the door to His grace and mercy. By humbling ourselves, seeking forgiveness, and sincerely repenting, we find peace and restoration. Forgiveness not only restores our relationship with God but also lifts the burden of guilt from our hearts.

I pray that as you begin your week, you continue an open dialogue with God—admitting your wrongs and walking in the truth that His forgiveness is real. I pray you’re reminded that through God’s love and grace, we don’t have to carry the weight of our failures alone. He offers us forgiveness and the chance to start over.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Rise and Walk

Avatar photo Sarah Jefferson on April 11, 2025


“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

Mark 2:11 (NLT)


RISE AND WALK

 

Jesus’ command to the paralyzed man was simple, yet life-changing. This man had spent his life dependent on others. He had no control over his situation. Then, in an instant, everything changed.

Can you imagine what that moment felt like? After years of being unable to walk, suddenly his legs were strong. He didn’t just stand—he jumped up! And as he picked up his mat and walked out in front of the amazed crowd, he carried with him a powerful testimony of Jesus’ healing.

But Jesus’ words weren’t just about physical healing; they carried a deeper message. Just as the paralyzed man was unable to move before Jesus spoke, many of us are stuck in spiritual paralysis. We remain in the same struggles, bound by fear, guilt, or past failures. Yet Jesus calls us to rise.

He doesn’t just forgive us—He empowers us to live differently. He calls us to walk in faith, leaving behind whatever has held us down. The mat that once carried the man became a symbol of his healing. Likewise, the burdens we once carried can become testimonies of God’s power in our lives.

What is Jesus asking you to get up and walk away from today? Is it fear? Doubt? A habit that holds you back? Jesus has the power to heal and restore, but we must respond in faith.

Take time today to reflect on areas where you feel stuck. Ask Jesus to speak into your situation. When He calls you to stand, trust Him—because His words bring life.

Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders, and Collins.  She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she is a high school English teacher Mt. Paran Christian School. When she’s not teaching, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.

 

Digging Deeper: The Power of Jesus’ Words

Avatar photo Sarah Jefferson on April 10, 2025


“Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?”

Mark 2:9 (NLT)


THE POWER OF JESUS’ WORDS

 

When Jesus looked at the paralyzed man, His first words were not what people expected. Instead of immediately healing his body, Jesus addressed his spiritual condition: “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

This statement shocked the religious leaders. They believed only God had the authority to forgive sins, and they considered Jesus’ words blasphemy. But Jesus was revealing something greater than physical healing—He was demonstrating His divine power to restore both the body and the soul.

We often come to Jesus with our external problems, asking Him to fix what we can see. But Jesus cares just as much—if not more—about what’s happening inside our hearts. The man’s greatest need was not just to walk; it was to be spiritually restored.

Then Jesus went even further. To prove that He had the authority to forgive sins, He also healed the man’s physical body. His words carried both power and proof. When Jesus speaks, things happen.

Are you trusting in the power of Jesus’ words? When He says you are forgiven, do you truly believe it? Sometimes we hold on to guilt and shame even after Jesus has declared us clean. But His words are not empty—they have the power to change our lives.

Spend time in Scripture, listening to the words of Jesus. Let them sink deep into your heart. Because He says you are forgiven, you are forgiven. Because He calls you to peace, you can trust that He will provide it. His words are true, effective, and life-giving.

 

Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders, and Collins.  She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she is a high school English teacher Mt. Paran Christian School. When she’s not teaching, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.

 

God Knows Your Direction

Kevin Burrell on April 9, 2025

 

“I go east, but God is not there. I go west, but I cannot find Him. I do not see Him in the north, for He is hidden. I look to the south, but He is concealed. “But God knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” 

Job 23:8-10

 

GOD KNOWS YOUR DIRECTION

 

Have you ever experienced a tragedy or painful loss in your life and cried out to God, only to be met with silence? Have you ever searched desperately for God’s will, not knowing which direction to turn or what to do, only to feel like you’re wandering in spiritual circles? I certainly have.

In this haunting passage from Job 23, we meet a man who knows that feeling all too well. Job’s world has shattered—and it happened in one day. All his children and servants are suddenly killed, all his wealth wiped out, all his livestock gone, and his health in ruins. He searches in every direction for God but finds only absence. Still, with amazing faith, he declares:

“But God knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”

This is the tension of the Christian life: walking through the fire and still choosing to believe in God’s refining work. Let’s be honest—when we suffer, it’s easy to project our human logic onto God. We imagine He must be angry with us, distant, or indifferent. We think in terms of cause and effect: if life is falling apart, we must have done something wrong. However, that isn’t the case at all. God is not like us. His thoughts are much higher. His ways are far greater. His love is not based on our performance. His presence is not proven by our prosperity.

Job’s friends made this mistake. They tried to explain his suffering with shallow theology, assuming “sin” must be the cause of Job’s calamity. However, Job knew better. He didn’t understand what God was doing, but he trusted that God knew. And that trust was his rock-solid anchor.

Trials are not the evidence of God’s absence; they are often the training ground of our faith. Hardships strip us of our illusions and drive us to the core of who we truly are—and, more importantly, whose we are.

God doesn’t always reveal His will in ways that make immediate sense to us. Sometimes, like Job, we look in every direction for God and see only shadows. However, while we’re searching, God is shaping. He is working. He is not playing hide and seek—He is purifying, preparing, shaping, and refining. Because God has one goal: to shape you and mold you into the image of His Son, Jesus. And He uses whatever means necessary to accomplish it.

Listen closely: Imagine for a moment standing where Job stood: everything you have is wiped out in one day. No family, no resources, no home, no income—and your body is ravaged with oozing boils and mangy disease. However, in that unimaginable darkness, Job clings to this profound truth:

“But God knows where I am going.”

Wow. Don’t miss that. That is not capitulation—it is confidence. God sees what you cannot. And when the testing is complete, you will shine like gold.

Are you in a season where God feels distant? Are you facing trials that seem to have no reason? Don’t let God’s silence shake your faith. Let it strengthen you. Remember:

God is not missing. He is molding.
God is not absent. He is active.
God is not punishing. He is purifying.

Gold isn’t made in comfort—it is made in fire. God will walk through the fire with you. Trust Him today.

Be Worth Being.

Love God.  Love People.  Live Sent.

Kevin

 

Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 44 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper: Faith that Moves Obstacles

Avatar photo Sarah Jefferson on April 9, 2025


“They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head.”

Mark 2:4 (NLT)


FAITH THAT MOVES OBSTACLES

 

The scene in this passage is one of desperation, determination, and deep faith. A paralyzed man needed healing, and his four friends were convinced that Jesus was the answer. But when they arrived at the house where Jesus was teaching, the crowd was so large that they couldn’t even get near the door.

Many people might have given up at that point. They could have said, “Maybe next time,” or “We tried, but it’s too difficult.” But these men refused to let obstacles stop them. Instead of turning away, they found another way—by climbing onto the roof, tearing through it, and lowering their friend directly in front of Jesus.

This is the kind of faith that moves mountains. It’s a faith that doesn’t quit when things get hard. These friends didn’t just believe Jesus could heal—they acted on that belief with bold determination.

How do you respond when you face obstacles in your spiritual life? Do you press forward in faith, or do you get discouraged and give up? Just like these friends, we are called to be persistent in seeking Jesus, even when challenges arise.

T.B. LaBerge wrote, “The greatest tragedy in humanity is when we do not wrestle with God. When we become so apathetic that we are but a limp rag doll in the hands of a mighty lover who wishes that we fight back; that we embrace Him and choose to find truth.”

Think about the people in your life who need Jesus. Are you willing to bring them to Him, even if it requires effort and creativity? Faith is not just about believing—it’s wrestling to put faith into action, trusting that Jesus is the answer.

 

Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders, and Collins.  She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she is a high school English teacher Mt. Paran Christian School. When she’s not teaching, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.

 

Digging Deeper: Jesus Sees Our Faith

Avatar photo Sarah Jefferson on April 8, 2025


“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’”

Mark 2:5 (NLT)


JESUS SEES OUR FAITH

 

This passage is unique because Jesus doesn’t respond to the faith of the paralyzed man—He responds to the faith of his friends. Their belief, determination, and action led to their friend’s life-changing encounter with Jesus.

Imagine the love and commitment these friends had. They carried him through the streets, struggled through the crowd, and even broke through the roof just to place him before Jesus. They didn’t just believe in Jesus’ power—they acted on it. Their faith wasn’t passive; it was bold and persistent.

What does this tell us about the nature of faith? Faith isn’t just about believing for ourselves; it’s also about interceding for others. Sometimes, people in our lives are too weak, broken, or discouraged to seek Jesus on their own. In those moments, our faith can help carry them to Him.

Who in your life needs to be brought to Jesus? Maybe it’s a friend struggling with doubt, a family member going through hardship, or someone who feels distant from God. Your prayers, encouragement, and actions can help bring them closer to Him.

Just as the paralyzed man’s healing began with his friends’ faith, God can use your faith to impact others. Be persistent in prayer, in love, and in bringing others to Jesus—no matter the obstacles.

 

Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders, and Collins.  She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she is a high school English teacher Mt. Paran Christian School. When she’s not teaching, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.

 

Digging Deeper: Making Use of the Time

Avatar photo Sarah Jefferson on April 7, 2025


“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

Ephesians 5:15-16


MAKING USE OF THE TIME

 

I have the pleasure of teaching 10th-grade World Literature. In our devotions, we have been reading the book Sit, Walk, Stand by Watchman Nee. At the young age of 17, Watchman Nee was radically saved. Just two years later, he began his ministry—sharing the gospel, teaching the Bible, and writing about our Jesus. From 1922 to 1950, he wrote 62 volumes.

What’s worth noting is that Watchman Nee didn’t do all of this in the kind of environment we live in today. He was sharing the gospel in China, where it was against the law to speak about Jesus. Eventually, in 1952, he was imprisoned for doing so, and he would later die in prison.

During one of these devotion times, a student asked me, “Mrs. Jefferson, do you think it’s harder to be a Christian in a Christian school or a public school?” While many of you reading this may not be wrestling with that particular question, it’s certainly one worth sitting with. If we broaden it, perhaps the deeper question is: Is it easier to be a Christian here in the United States compared to other places in the world? Is it easier in the South, or even in the Acworth/Kennesaw area?

The more I’ve thought about this, the more I believe the real question we should be asking is, “What are we doing with this great opportunity we’ve been given?” Ephesians 5:15–16 implores us: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

If we belong to the Lord, then through the work of His Spirit in sanctification, He will bring every area of our lives under His authority. It may be a slow process, but as 2 Corinthians 3:18 reminds us: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Let’s aim to impact this world for Christ, understanding that how we live truly matters. We are not aiming for perfection, but we should look different today than we did yesterday, last month, or even last year.

 

Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders, and Collins.  She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she is a high school English teacher Mt. Paran Christian School. When she’s not teaching, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.

 

Sermon Based Study Guide – April 6, 2025

Avatar photo C.A. Phillips on April 5, 2025

Week of April 6-12, 2025

QUICK REVIEW: Looking back at your notes from this Sunday’s message, what part of the message had your name on it? What encouraged you? What challenged you?


LET’S GO DEEPER

 

  1. Read Mark 2:1-12. Describe the faith of the friends carrying the paralytic. What did they believe about Jesus?

 

  1. The paralyzed man’s friends went to great lengths to bring him to Jesus. What does this teach us about the kind of friends we should surround ourselves with?

 

  1. Consider the impact your closest friends have on you. Do your closest friends bring you closer to Jesus or take you further from Jesus? Is there anything you need to change about who you spend the most time with?

 

  1. The friends didn’t let the crowd stop them. Instead, they got creative and found another way to bring their friend to Jesus. What obstacles sometimes keep us from seeking Jesus for ourselves or helping others come to Him?

 

  1. What did the friends see as the paralytic’s greatest need? What did Jesus see as his greatest need? How should this guide our prayers and response to people in need?

 

  1. We may not carry physical mats for our friends today. But how can we still be “mat carriers” for others?


CHALLENGE

Think of one person in your life who needs encouragement or to experience Jesus’ love. This week, take an intentional step—whether through prayer, an act of kindness, or sharing your faith—to help bring them closer to Jesus.

 

PRAY

Close in prayer, thanking God for the friends, faith, and forgiveness He provides. Ask Him to help you be bold in overcoming obstacles and bringing others to Him.