2026 THEME — “SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE”                      

MARCH THEME: SEEING SCRIPTURE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

It is still yet to be seen what God might do with a man or woman who fully surrenders to the authority of His Word. Not someone who merely agrees with the Bible, quotes it, or carries it—but someone who truly submits to it as the final authority over every decision, attitude, and direction in life. Imagine a life where God’s Word speaks louder than your feelings, louder than culture, louder than fear, and louder than your own understanding. That kind of surrender is rare today, but it is exactly the kind of life God delights to use. The real question is not whether God is able to do great things—it is whether we are willing to place His Word above everything else and live as if it is absolutely true.

SUNDAY’S SERVICE SUMMARY

This morning’s service reminded us that all year long we have been asking God to help us see life from His perspective—first prayer, then stewardship, and now Scripture—and the clear message today was that the Bible is not optional, not merely a religious book, and not mainly about us, but the very revelation of Jesus Christ. Through Scripture, testimony, and songs like “The Anchor Holds,” “Jesus Is All the World to Me,” “In Christ Alone,” “Without Him,” and “Word of God Speak,” we were called to anchor our lives in God’s unchanging Word when everything else shakes, to recognize that without Jesus we would be hopelessly lost, and to surrender the noise of self, fear, pride, and human opinion so Christ can be central again. From Luke 24:27 we saw that all Scripture points to Him, that life grows confusing when self competes with Scriptural authority, that Christ at the center brings clarity and stability, that the goal of Scripture is not mere information but transformation into His image, and that the true work of the Word is to make Christ increase while self decreases.

Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart

When the Bible Stops Being About You

Luke 24:27, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Many believers unknowingly approach the Bible the same way they approach a tool meant to fix problems. They open it searching for answers to their situation—my stress, my decisions, my fears, my comfort. But when Jesus walked with the discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus, He showed them something that completely changed the way Scripture should be read. Instead of focusing on their confusion or disappointment, Jesus explained that the entire Bible ultimately points to Himself. The Scriptures were never meant to revolve around our lives. They were given to reveal Jesus Christ. When we forget that, the Bible becomes something we consult occasionally for advice or encouragement. But when we realize the Bible is about Christ, every passage becomes an opportunity to know Him more deeply.

The Problem of Reading the Bible for Ourselves

One of the easiest mistakes believers make is reading the Bible mainly for personal benefit. We want guidance, reassurance, or direction. While Scripture certainly helps us in those ways, its primary purpose is not self-improvement—it is God-revelation. When we read only for what helps us, we naturally gravitate toward the passages that comfort us and quietly ignore the ones that challenge us. But the disciples on the Emmaus road were reminded that the Scriptures—from Moses through the prophets—were all pointing toward the coming Savior. The more we understand that truth, the more we realize that every page of Scripture ultimately reveals Christ’s character, mission, and glory.

Seeing Christ Changes How We Read Everything

When Christ becomes the center of Scripture, the entire Bible begins to look different. Stories we once read as isolated events suddenly connect to God’s greater plan of redemption. The sacrifices of the Old Testament begin to point toward Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The prophecies of the prophets become promises of the coming Messiah. Even the struggles of God’s people begin to show the need for a perfect Savior. When Isaiah encountered God’s holiness in Isaiah 6:5, he immediately saw his own condition more clearly: “Woe is me! for I am undone.” Seeing God changed how Isaiah saw himself. The same thing happens when we see Christ clearly in Scripture. Instead of approaching the Bible simply to confirm our thoughts or solve our problems, we begin to see our lives in the light of His holiness and grace.

Scripture Becomes a Meeting Place

When the Bible is approached as a duty, reading it can feel routine. But when we realize the Scriptures reveal Christ, reading becomes an encounter. Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures… and they are they which testify of me.” The purpose of Scripture is not merely to deliver information; it is to reveal the Son of God. Every time we open the Bible, we have the opportunity to know Christ more deeply—His mercy, His authority, His compassion, and His truth. Instead of simply collecting verses, we begin discovering the heart of the Savior. Over time, the Bible stops feeling like a task and begins to feel like a conversation with the Lord.

Imagine someone visiting a beautiful national park filled with mountains, rivers, and breathtaking views. But instead of looking at the scenery, they spend the entire time staring at the map in their hands. The map is useful—it helps guide the journey—but it was never meant to replace the experience of seeing the landscape itself. In a similar way, many people focus only on what the Bible can do for their situation instead of seeing the greater reality it reveals. Scripture is meant to guide us, but its ultimate purpose is to lead us to the glory of Christ. The Bible was never meant to revolve around us—it was given to reveal Jesus Christ. When we approach Scripture searching only for personal benefit, we will read selectively. But when we approach Scripture looking for Christ, the entire Bible opens in a new way. Every page begins pointing toward the Savior. Every passage reveals something about His character and His work. And the more clearly we see Him, the more our own lives begin to change.

Warfare Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus, forgive me for approaching Your Word with a self-centered perspective. Cleanse my heart from the habit of reading Scripture only for my own comfort or advantage. Open my eyes through Your Spirit so that I may see Christ clearly in every passage. Break the pride that keeps my focus on myself, and reshape my life around the authority and beauty of Your Son. Let Your Word renew my mind and transform my heart so that my life reflects Christ more faithfully each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Challenge

Before opening your Bible today, pause and pray: “Lord, show me Jesus in this passage.” Read slowly and ask what the passage reveals about His character, His purpose, and His work. Then consider how seeing Christ more clearly should shape the way you live today. Because when the Bible stops being about us and becomes about Him, our hearts begin to change.

MONDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS                                                                                       

Ann Stanley  

Bobbi Jackson

Britany Smith ~ Breast Cancer

Mateen – Kim Mcclain’s Sister

Amy Garner’s Dad

Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s

Angela Bryan’s Sisters

Annette Ford

Bentley Smith – Broken Leg

Brando Echarte

Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers

Christopher Kelley

Danny Jarrard  

Darlene Kelley – Cancer Treatment

Darlene Wiggins

Debbie Foskey 

Deon Lotter

Don And Carol Franklin – Mae’s Cousins

Don Franklin’s Daughter, Darlene, Son, David

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Ed Adkins – Friend of Brian Edwards

Ed Franklin’s Son In Law – Heart Surgery

Eric Magnusson’s Mother

Eric Ward

Friend of Linda Hodge

Gayle Sparks

Gloria Young

Jake Jenkins

James Burnette

Jean Partee

Jean Partee’s Sister

Jessica Headrick  

John McClain’s Mother

Joni Oberhage

June Cronan

June Cronan’s Sister

June Davis

Kailey Bateman

Kim McClain’s Daughter, Amanda

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda & Mateen

Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom

Linda Mays

Lonzo Christian 

Lori Blount’s Mother

Mary Williams

Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom

Mrs. Franklin 

Nancy Brown

Nora Allison

Paul Bateman

Phillip Roach – Linda & Luther’s Son – Cancer

Ron And Johnnie Barry – Friends Of Ashton & Glenda Bateman

Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA

Roy Roach

Sandra Mitchell

Scott Lanier 

Scotty Nix

Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shelnutt’s

Steve Michaels

Tammy Shelnutt

Tom Witcher