Berea Update for April 3, 2026
We come to Easter this year not in a quiet or easy season—but in the middle of real burdens, real questions, and real need. For many of us, there are things in our personal lives that feel heavy. For us as a church family, there are things that feel unsettled. There are moments when we don’t fully understand what God is doing, and moments when the path forward doesn’t seem clear. And yet, this is exactly why Easter matters.
Easter is not just a celebration we revisit once a year—it is the reminder that God meets His people in the middle of brokenness, not outside of it. The cross was not the interruption of God’s plan—it was the center of it. What looked like loss became the means of redemption. What felt like silence gave way to resurrection. That same truth anchors us now. We do not gather this week because everything is resolved. We come because we know where to go when it isn’t. We come to the One who brings life out of death, clarity out of confusion, and healing where there has been hurt. The hope of Easter is not that we avoid trials—it is that Christ meets us in them and carries us through.
This week, more than anything, we need to pray. On this past Wednesday night, we walked together through seven different types of prayer—learning that prayer is not just one thing, but a relationship with God that meets us in every part of life. Over the next seven days, the devotional below is designed to help guide us through those same movements—one day at a time. My encouragement to you is simple: don’t rush this week. Slow down. Make space. Come honestly before the Lord. Because the same God who was at work through the cross and the empty tomb is still at work today—and He is able to bring the healing, clarity, and peace that we so deeply need.
Upcoming Events
1. This Sunday is what gives us as believers such hope! We'll be celebrating Easter together with a Sunrise Service at 7:30 AM down at the Resurrection Garden (weather dependent). During that service, I'll be preaching a message called "Of First Importance" from 1 Corinthians 15. Then, we'll have a breakfast immediately following in the Family Life Center. During the normal morning worship service at 10:00 AM, we'll be in Mark 16:1-8 for a message called, "He is Risen!" A decision about the location of the Sunrise Service will be determined on Saturday mid-day based on the weather forecast. The final decision will be sent out via email/text tomorrow afternoon.
2. The 2026 Operation Christmas Child Kick-Off will be held on Saturday, April 11 at 9:00 AM here at the church in the Gathering Area. Come hear what's coming in 2026, and also we'll be joined by a real-life shoebox recipient who will share his story. Snacks will also be provided! Come for a sweet time of fellowship together!
3. There will be a baby shower for Elioena Stevens on Saturday, April 11 at 4:00 PM at 218 E. McCreight Ave in Springfield. Ladies, please plan to attend a special time of worship, fellowship, and a short devotional, along with food and refreshments. Parking is limited, but you are encouraged to park at the nearby Family Dollar or at Walgreens.
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel this week as we celebrate Easter! Pray that hearts and minds are softened to the Word of God and the truth of the Gospel!
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
Day 1 — Adoration: Lifting Our Eyes to God
Revelation 4:11 (ESV): "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Prayer begins not with us—but with God. Adoration is simply praising God for who He is. It’s not about what He has done for us, but about His character—His holiness, His power, His wisdom, His goodness. In seasons of uncertainty or tension, our instinct is often to look inward or outward. But Scripture calls us to look upward first. When we see God clearly, everything else begins to fall into proper perspective. Adoration re-centers our hearts. It reminds us that God is not shaken, not confused, and not absent. He is worthy—always.
Reflection Question: When you pray, do you begin with your needs, or with who God is?
Day 2 — Thanksgiving: Remembering His Faithfulness
Psalm 103:2 (ESV) "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
Thanksgiving is intentionally remembering what God has done. It’s easy to lose sight of His faithfulness when we’re walking through difficult or uncertain moments. But Scripture calls us to actively recall His goodness. Not just the big, obvious moments—but the daily ways He sustains us, provides for us, and carries us. Gratitude reshapes our perspective. It guards our hearts from discouragement and reminds us that the same God who has been faithful in the past is still at work today.
Reflection Question: What are specific ways you’ve seen God’s faithfulness in your life recently?
Day 3 — Lament: Bringing Our Pain Honestly Before God
Psalm 13:1–2 (ESV): "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?"
Lament is the language of honest faith. It is bringing our grief, confusion, and questions directly to God. Scripture does not call us to pretend everything is fine—it invites us to come honestly. Lament is not a lack of faith; it is an expression of it. It says, “God, I don’t understand—but I’m still coming to You.” In seasons like this, lament gives us permission to be real with the Lord. We don’t need polished words. We don’t need perfect prayers. We simply need to come.
Reflection Question: Is there something you’ve been hesitant to bring honestly before the Lord?
Day 4 — Contrition: Confessing and Turning Back
Proverbs 28:13 (ESV) "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."
Contrition is confession—agreeing with God about our sin and turning back to Him. When we slow down in prayer, the Lord often reveals areas of our hearts that need to change. Our natural tendency is to minimize or justify. But Scripture calls us to something better: honesty and repentance. Confession is not meant to crush us—it is meant to free us. God meets a humble and honest heart with mercy. This kind of prayer keeps our hearts soft and our relationship with God clear.
Reflection Question: Is there anything in your life the Lord may be prompting you to confess and turn from?
Day 5 — Petition: Bringing Our Needs to God
Philippians 4:6 (ESV) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Petition is simply asking God. It is bringing our needs, concerns, and desires before Him. Sometimes we hesitate to ask, as if our requests are too small—or too big. But Scripture invites us to bring everything. God is not distant. He is a Father who listens. Petition is not about controlling outcomes—it is about expressing dependence. We ask because we trust Him, and we rest in the fact that He knows what is best.
Reflection Question: What is something you need to bring before the Lord instead of carrying on your own?
Day 6 — Deliverance: Crying Out for God to Act
2 Chronicles 20:12 (ESV) "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
Deliverance is a deeper cry for God to intervene. It comes from a place of recognizing that some situations are beyond our ability to fix. In this passage, God’s people are facing something overwhelming—and their response is to look to Him. That is the heart of this kind of prayer. It is not passive—it is desperate dependence. It acknowledges that only God can change what we cannot. And it places our hope fully in Him.
Reflection Question: Where in your life do you need God to intervene in a way only He can?
Day 7 — Guidance: Seeking His Direction
James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
Guidance is asking God to lead. After we have worshiped, thanked Him, brought our burdens, confessed, and made our requests—we come to Him with open hands and say, “Lord, lead me.” This kind of prayer requires humility. It means we are willing not just to receive direction, but to follow it. God does not promise to show us every detail of the future—but He does promise to give wisdom to those who ask. He leads step by step.
Reflection Question: Is there an area of your life where you need to stop leaning on your own understanding and seek God’s direction?
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
Families are encouraged to participate in the week-long prayer devotional above. Our kids need to see and hear us praying!
Have a great weekend! Hope to see you Sunday when we can all shout, "He is Risen!"
Mark