October 12, 2025 - Remembering Jesus: The Unchained Word

Devotional

Day 1: Remember Jesus Christ: The Word of God Cannot Be Chained

No matter what circumstances we face, the living Word—Jesus Christ—remains unbound and unstoppable. Even when we feel restricted by our own limitations, fears, or the challenges of life, the power and presence of Jesus are never hindered. The Apostle Paul, writing from a prison cell, reminds us that while he may be chained, the message and reality of Christ’s resurrection and victory cannot be contained. This truth gives us hope and courage to endure, knowing that God’s work continues in and through us, regardless of our situation. [56:42]

2 Timothy 2:8-9 (ESV):
"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel “chained” or limited? How can you invite Jesus into that place today, trusting that His power is not limited by your circumstances?

Day 2: Jesus’s Faithfulness Endures Even When Ours Fails

God’s faithfulness is unwavering, even when we falter or feel unworthy. The promise of Christ is that He remains true to His character—steadfast, loving, and reliable—regardless of our moments of doubt or failure. We are reminded that our relationship with God is not based on our perfection, but on His unchanging nature. When we are weak or faithless, He remains faithful, holding us securely in His grace and love. [57:21]

2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV):
"If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself."

Reflection: When have you felt unworthy or distant from God? How does knowing that Jesus remains faithful encourage you to draw near to Him today?

Day 3: Living the Resurrection: Christ’s Power Is Alive in Us

The resurrection of Jesus is not just a past event but a present reality that empowers and transforms our lives. Because Jesus lives, nothing in our lives is beyond redemption, and the same power that raised Him from the dead is at work in us. This living hope calls us to embody resurrection life—choosing faith, hope, and love in our homes, workplaces, and communities, confident that God’s victory is ongoing and available now. [01:04:10]

Romans 8:11 (ESV):
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to experience Christ’s resurrection power today? What is one step you can take to live out that hope?

Day 4: Letting the Word Handle Us: Embodying Truth in Daily Life

Handling God’s Word rightly is not just about reading or quoting Scripture, but about allowing it—and the living Christ—to shape and transform us. When we let the Word handle us, our lives become a testimony to God’s truth, love, and hope. We are called to be people whose actions and words reflect the life of Jesus, offering authenticity and connection in a world hungry for real hope. [01:11:46]

James 1:22 (ESV):
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Reflection: What is one way you can let God’s Word “handle” you today—shaping your attitude, choices, or interactions with others?

Day 5: United in Jesus: Living Out Our Mission Together

As the people of God, we are called to unity in Jesus, loving across differences, serving the least and the lost, and announcing reconciliation in a divided world. Our mission is not driven by our own strength, but by the power of Christ at work in us. In a culture marked by division and polarization, we are invited to be different—living as a community transformed by Jesus, embodying His love and hope for all. [01:14:32]

John 17:20-21 (ESV):
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

Reflection: Who is someone different from you that you can reach out to in love or service this week, as a way of living out the unity and mission of Jesus?

Sermon Summary

Today is a day of rejoicing, a day the Lord has made, and we gather with grateful hearts to celebrate God’s faithfulness and generosity. We began by lifting our voices in worship, reminding ourselves that every day is a gift from God, worthy of our praise and gladness. This spirit of gratitude flowed into our Alabaster Offering, a tradition that has, since 1949, enabled the Church of the Nazarene to build churches, schools, clinics, and homes for missionaries around the world. Every cent given goes directly to these projects, with nothing taken out for administrative costs. This is a tangible way we participate in God’s mission, joining hands with believers globally to make Christ known in word and deed.

But as we give and serve, it’s easy to become busy talking about God, singing about Jesus, and even working in His name—yet sometimes we forget to truly center our lives on Him. I shared a personal story about forgetting to pick up my husband because I was so caught up talking about him. In the same way, we can be so involved in the activities of faith that we forget to connect with the One who is the heart of our faith: Jesus Christ.

Turning to 2 Timothy 2:8-15, we hear Paul’s words from a prison cell: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead… the word of God cannot be chained.” Paul, though physically bound, knew that the gospel is never bound. He urges us not just to recall Jesus’ name, but to remember His whole story—His humanity, suffering, resurrection, reign, faithfulness, and mission. The resurrection is not just a past event; it is a living power at work in us today. No chain—whether fear, guilt, grief, or addiction—can hold back the power of Christ.

Paul’s call is to let the word of God handle us, to be so transformed by Jesus that our lives embody His truth. In a world hungry for authenticity and hope, we are called to live as people who remember Jesus daily, who unite in His love, and who proclaim that the word of God cannot be chained. Suffering is not the end; resurrection has the last word. Weakness is not defeat; Jesus’ faithfulness holds us. As we surrender our chains to Him, we find freedom, unity, and purpose in His mission.

Key Takeaways

1. True worship and service flow from remembering that every day is a gift from God. When we approach each day with gratitude, we open ourselves to God’s presence and allow our actions—like giving, serving, and singing—to become acts of worship that honor Him and bless others. This posture of rejoicing transforms ordinary moments into sacred opportunities. [28:33]
2. The Alabaster Offering is a powerful reminder that our resources, when surrendered to God, can have a global impact. Every coin and dollar given is multiplied by God to build His kingdom in places we may never see, teaching us that generosity is not about the size of the gift but the spirit in which it is given. Our giving becomes a testimony of God’s faithfulness and provision. [31:49]
3. It is possible to be so busy with the things of God that we forget to connect with God Himself. Like forgetting to pick up a loved one while talking about them, we can talk, sing, and serve in Jesus’ name yet miss the invitation to center our lives on Him. The heart of our faith is not activity, but relationship with the living Christ. [53:18]
4. Paul’s declaration that “the word of God cannot be chained” is a profound truth for every season of life. No circumstance, suffering, or failure can bind the power of Christ’s resurrection. Even when we feel faithless or defeated, Jesus remains faithful, and His living word continues to bring hope, freedom, and transformation. [56:42]
5. To “rightly handle the word of truth” means more than intellectual understanding; it is about letting the word of God shape and transform us. When we allow Jesus—the Word made flesh—to handle us, our lives become living testimonies of His truth, love, and unity. In a divided and distracted world, this embodied faith is the witness the world longs to see. [71:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:33] - Opening Worship: This Is the Day
[29:27] - Introduction to Alabaster Offering
[31:10] - Alabaster Offering Impact and History
[32:28] - The Origin of Alabaster Boxes
[33:47] - Participating in the Offering
[34:22] - Children’s Involvement and Giving
[35:38] - Invitation to Give and Worship
[36:38] - Worship: Heart of Worship
[43:03] - Worship: Forever He Is Glorified
[45:45] - Worship: How Great Thou Art
[48:43] - Reflection on God’s Greatness
[50:02] - Gratitude for Volunteers
[53:18] - Remembering to Center on Jesus
[55:59] - Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15
[58:38] - The Word of God Cannot Be Chained
[61:26] - Jesus: The Living Word
[64:55] - Remembering Jesus’ Story
[68:19] - Breaking Chains Through Christ
[71:46] - Letting the Word Handle Us
[73:54] - Living Out the Truth of Jesus
[75:15] - Remembering Jesus Daily
[77:27] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
[79:21] - Testimony: God’s Transforming Power

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Timothy 2:8-15 (ESV) — 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Observation Questions

According to Paul in 2 Timothy 2:8-15, what are the key things Timothy is supposed to remember and remind others about Jesus?
What does Paul say about his own situation in prison, and how does he contrast his chains with the word of God?
In the sermon, what was the purpose and impact of the Alabaster Offering as described? [[31:49]]
The pastor shared a story about forgetting to pick up her husband because she was busy talking about him. What point was she making with this story? [[53:18]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that “the word of God cannot be chained” even though he himself is in prison? What does this say about the power of the gospel? [[56:42]]
The sermon mentions that it’s possible to be busy with church activities and still miss connecting with Jesus. What are some ways this can happen in our lives? [[53:18]]
The Alabaster Offering is described as a way to participate in God’s mission globally. How does giving with a grateful heart change the meaning of our generosity? [[31:49]]
Paul urges Timothy to “rightly handle the word of truth.” According to the sermon, what does it mean to let the word of God “handle us” rather than just us handling it? [[01:11:46]]

Application Questions

The sermon began by reminding us that “this is the day the Lord has made.” How can you start each day with a posture of gratitude, even when life feels ordinary or difficult? What would that look like for you this week? [[28:33]]
The Alabaster Offering shows that even small gifts, when given to God, can have a big impact. Is there a resource (time, money, skill) you feel God is prompting you to surrender for His use? What’s one step you can take to act on that? [[31:49]]
The pastor’s story about forgetting to pick up her husband was a warning about being busy for God but not with God. Are there any “good” activities in your life that might be crowding out your relationship with Jesus? What could you do to re-center on Him this week? [[53:18]]
Paul says, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful.” When have you felt faithless or discouraged in your walk with God? How did you experience (or how do you need to experience) Jesus’ faithfulness in that season? [[57:21]]
The sermon talked about “chains” like fear, guilt, grief, or addiction that can hold us back. Is there a “chain” in your life you need to surrender to Jesus? What would it look like to take a step toward freedom this week? [[01:08:19]]
The call to “rightly handle the word of truth” is about letting God’s word shape us. Is there a specific teaching or story of Jesus that you want to let shape your actions or attitudes this month? How will you remind yourself of it? [[01:11:46]]
The sermon ended with a call to unity and living out the truth of Jesus in a divided world. What is one practical way you can be a person of unity and hope in your family, workplace, or community this week? [[01:13:54]]

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