We reflect on a week marked by two heavy anniversaries: 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks and one year since the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We talk about remembering evil honestly, viewing current events through a biblical lens, and recognizing the spiritual battle beneath what we see around us. From Charlie Kirk’s public faith and the response to his death to the lasting impact of 9/11, we challenge believers to stand firm in truth, reject fear and accusation, and remain faithful even when following Christ comes with a cost.

QUESTIONS

1. When tragedy or evil dominates the news, what shapes your response first: culture, emotion, or Scripture?
2. Where might God be asking you to stand firm in truth even when it comes with a cost?
3. How can you recognize evil clearly without partnering with hatred, fear, or accusation?
4. What does it look like for you to “never forget” and keep moving forward on mission with God?

READ MORE ABOUT

• Our struggle not being against flesh and blood in Ephesians 6:10–12
• Recognizing people by their fruit in Matthew 7:15–20
• The accuser of the brethren in Revelation 12:10–11
• Not giving the devil a foothold in Ephesians 4:26–27
• Forgiving others because God forgave us in Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13
• Shepherds guarding and leading the flock in Acts 20:28–31 and 1 Peter 5:1–4
• The Word of God as living and sharper than a two-edged sword in Hebrews 4:12
• Counting the cost of following Christ in 2 Timothy 3:12 and John 15:18–20

We talk about relational patterns that turn disagreements into permanent divisions, including unrealistic expectations, avoidance, passive-aggressive communication, gossip, pride, and unresolved offense. Through the conflicts of the apostle Paul with Peter, Barnabas, and Mark, we see that it is possible to confront wrongdoing, disagree strongly, and even go separate ways without destroying the relationship. Humility, honest communication, personal responsibility, and a commitment to peace can preserve trust and leave the door open for future reconciliation.

QUESTIONS

1. How do you typically respond when conflict or disappointment enters a relationship?
2. Where do you need to own your part in a conflict, even if the other person never does?
3. How can you speak with honor about someone even when the relationship has changed?

READ MORE ABOUT

• Working for peace in Matthew 5:9
• Confronting conflict with truth and humility in Galatians 2:11–14
• Receiving honest correction from a faithful friend in Proverbs 27:6
• Handling sharp disagreement without dishonor in Acts 15:36–40
• Speaking well of people after conflict in 1 Corinthians 9:6 and 2 Timothy 4:11
• Living at peace as much as it depends on you in Romans 12:18

As we prepare to become empty nesters, we process our thoughts and feelings about grief, changing roles, and the different ways we walk through transition. We share how to make room for the sadness without allowing it to determine your direction, fill the silence with God’s presence, and intentionally invest in your marriage and purpose. No matter what you are being asked to release, the way you let go will shape what comes next.

QUESTIONS

1. How are you responding to the natural changes taking place in this season of your life?
2. How can you make room for grief without allowing it to determine your direction?
3. What are the new quiet spaces revealing about your relationship with God, your spouse, or others?

READ MORE ABOUT

• Letting go of one season to follow God into the next in Matthew 16:24–26
• Grieving with others and honoring their emotions in Romans 12:15
• Husbands living with understanding toward their wives in 1 Peter 3:7
• Filling quiet seasons with God’s presence and wisdom in Psalm 46:10 and James 1:5
• Keeping your marriage intentionally strong in Genesis 2:18 and Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
• Releasing what you cannot keep to receive what God has next in John 12:24–26