Strength for Today

What Do the Called Receive From God in This Life? | May 4 In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee, explores 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 and Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 32 to answer a crucial question: What do those who are effectually called by God receive in this life? Many people wonder what truly changes when someone b...

How Will People Believe In Jesus If No One Tells Them The Gospel? | May 3 In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN, explores Romans 10:9–15 and Westminster Larger Catechism Question 60 to answer one of the most important questions in Christian theology: Can someone be saved without hearing about Jesus? This devotional highlights the...

Can a Person Be Saved Without Believing in Jesus? | May 2 Can a person be saved without believing in Jesus? In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN explores Matthew 13:10–17 and Westminster Confession of Faith 10.4 to answer this vital question from a biblical and Reformed perspective. Jesus taught that not everyone who hears the go...

Can God Save Those Who Aren't Capable of Hearing the Gospel? | May 1 In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee, explores one of the most profound and comforting truths in the Bible: God's power to save those who cannot outwardly respond to the gospel. Drawing from Acts 2:39 and Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 10.3, this...

What Did You Do To Deserve God's Call? | April 30 What causes a sinner to be saved? In today's episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee, explores the powerful truth of 2 Timothy 1:8–9. You'll learn why salvation is not based on anything you've done, but entirely on the free and sovereign grace of God. This devotional unpacks the doctr...

What is Saving Faith Evidence of in a Person's Life? | April 29 In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee, explores Acts 13:48 to answer a crucial question about salvation and God's sovereign work. Why do some believe the gospel while others do not? The Bible says that as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. This po...

What Makes Some Say Yes to the Gospel? | April 28 Welcome to today's episode of Strength for Today with Pastor John Blevins from Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee. In this April 28 devotional, we explore 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 to understand why some respond to the gospel in faith while others reject it. God's Word reveals that it is not human wisdom or effort that brings salvation,...

How Does God Change a Heart of Stone? | April 27 Welcome to Strength for Today with Pastor John Blevins from Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville Tennessee. In today's episode, we explore Ezekiel 36:26-27 and the incredible promise that God gives His people a new heart and a new spirit. We also study Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 10.1 to understand how God effectually calls His people...

What Happens When the Holy Spirit Indwells a Person? | April 26 What happens when the Holy Spirit indwells a believer? In today's Strength for Today devotional, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee, explores Romans 8:9 and the life-changing reality of the Holy Spirit living within those who belong to Christ. This episode explains how the Holy Spirit indwelling...

Who Applies Salvation to Our Hearts? | April 25 Discover the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in today's episode of Strength for Today, hosted by Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN. In this devotional, we explore Titus 3:3–7 and the profound truth that salvation is not just offered—it is applied by the Spirit of God. This episode unpacks how the Holy Spirit per...

Will I Ever Be Free From the Struggle With Sin? | April 23 What will life be like when the struggle with sin is finally over? In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN, walks through Hebrews 12:22–24 and Westminster Confession of Faith 9.5 to explore the glorious promise of the believer's future state. The Bible teaches that in heaven...

What Did Christ's Mediation Really Accomplish? | April 24 In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN, teaches from 1 Timothy 2:5–6 and the Westminster Larger Catechism. The theme for April 24 is: What Did Christ's Mediation Really Accomplish? We explore how Jesus Christ, the one true Mediator between God and man, did not merely make sa...

Why Do Christians Still Struggle With Sin If They Are Saved? | April 22 Why do Christians still struggle with sin even after they are saved? In this April 22 episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN walks us through Galatians 5:17 and Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 9.4 to help us understand the ongoing spiritual battle believers fac...

Why Can't People Save Themselves By Simply Choosing God? | April 21 What does the Bible teach about the human will after the Fall? In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN, unpacks 1 Corinthians 2:14 and Westminster Confession of Faith 9.3 to show that fallen man is completely unable to choose spiritual good apart from divine grace....

What Kind of Freedom Did Adam Have Before the Fall? | April 20 In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN, explores the biblical and theological truth of human freedom before the Fall. Using Genesis 2:15-17 and the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 9.2, we ask the vital question: What kind of freedom did Adam have in the Garden o...

If God Is Sovereign, Do My Choices Still Matter? | April 19 In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN, explores a foundational question: If God is sovereign, do our choices still matter? Drawing from James 1:13-14 and Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 9.1, we discover how the Bible teaches both God's sovereignty and our responsi...

What Blessings Do We Receive Through Christ's Mediation? | April 18 In this April 18 episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN unpacks the powerful comfort of Psalm 121 alongside Westminster Larger Catechism Question 57. What benefits has Christ secured through His mediation? This episode explores how Jesus not only brings us redemption but a...

How Does Christ Rule By His Word And Spirit? | April 17 In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian (PCA) in Knoxville, Tennessee, explores what it means that Jesus Christ rules and reigns through His Word and Spirit. Drawing from John 14:26-27 and the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 8.8, we learn how Christ continues His mediatorial work by tea...

How Does Christ Act As Our Mediator Today? | April 16 What is Jesus doing right now for His people? In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN, explores the ongoing work of Jesus Christ as our Mediator. Drawing from Acts 20:28 and the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 8.7, we learn how Christ—both God and man—continues to apply t...

How Was Christ's Work Effective Before His Incarnation? | April 15 What does the Bible mean when it says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever? In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee, explores how Christ's redemptive work was effective even before His incarnation. Drawing from Hebrews 13:8 and the Westmins...

What Will Happen When Christ Returns? | April 14 What will happen when Jesus Christ returns? In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville explores 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 and Westminster Larger Catechism Question 56 to explain the glorious return of Christ. You will hear how the Bible promises Christ will come again in power to judge the worl...

How Does Christ Intercede For Us? | April 13 What does it mean that Jesus intercedes for His people? In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian (PCA) in Knoxville, Tennessee, explores Romans 5:1-2 and Westminster Larger Catechism Question 55 to explain how Christ continually pleads on our behalf before the Father. You'll learn how Christ's intercession...

What Does It Mean That Christ Reigns at God's Right Hand? | April 12 What does it mean that Jesus sits at the right hand of God? In this episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee walks through Daniel 7:13-14 and Westminster Larger Catechism Question 54 to explore the exaltation of Christ in His heavenly reign. You will discover the sig...

Why Did Jesus Ascend Into Heaven? | April 11 In this April 11 episode of Strength for Today, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, TN, explores the powerful meaning of Jesus' ascension into heaven from Acts 1:6–11. Why did Christ ascend after His resurrection? What does this exaltation mean for us today? We dig deep into Westminster Larger Catechism Question 53 to underst...

Why Is Christ's Resurrection Essential? | April 10 Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ essential to the Christian faith? In today's Strength for Today episode, Pastor John Blevins of Christ Church Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee, walks through 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 to show how Christ's resurrection proves the defeat of sin and death and secures eternal life for all who trust in Him. We'l...