Knowing The Word

Weekday devotionals by The Rev. Reagan Cocke

Devotionals

Daily Devotionals

Romans 8:9-11, Being in the Spirit Part II (the mind)

As we read these verses (9-11), we see that Christian living doesn’t just happen. It takes what we call “mental effort,” a concentrated exercise of the mind to focus on God’s way of being human. That is all right here in summary in verse 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. What we learn, by regular and disciplined practice, to think ab

3 hours ago2 min read

Romans 8:9-11, Being in the Spirit Part I

Thus, Paul writes verses 9-11: 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. [Since it is the Spirit alone who brings one into relationship with Christ, there can be no relationship with him without the Spirit. This is where the “free will” argument disintegrates.] 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life

1 day ago2 min read

Romans 8:5-8, The Work of the Spirit

Tom Wright, Senior Research Fellow, Wycliffe Hall University of Oxford According to Tom Wright, "the first four verses of Romans 8 launch Paul’s exposition of the work of the Spirit. They form a platform for the rest of the chapter, and in particular for the rest of verses 5-11. Verses 1-4 have as their main theme the claim that “there is no condemnation for the Messiah’s people” because “the law’s proper verdict, giving life, is now fulfilled in them.” This life is the activ

2 days ago2 min read

Romans 8:3-4, What God has Done for Us

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, Those who are Jews by birth come to realize that belonging to the one whom the resurrection has identified as Israel’s Messiah means both the fulfillment of their aspirations as loyal Jews and the radical redrawing of their identity as the people of God. When someone comes to be “in the Messiah,” by baptism

5 days ago3 min read

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About Rev. Reagan

Reagan Winter Cocke was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He received a B. A. and a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania where he also met his wife Stephanie.

After a decade practicing architecture, Reagan answered the call to ordained ministry, attending Wycliffe Hall at the University of Oxford where he studied theology, graduating with distinction. He served as an assistant rector at Church of the Advent in Brownsville, TX, before coming to St. John the Divine in Houston, TX, where he has served for nearly two decades.

At St. John the Divine, Reagan has overseen ministries ranging from Adult Education to Prayer Ministry to the Contemporary Service. He currently oversees Youth, Children's, and Family Ministries. He leads several Bible studies and has written a number of devotionals for the congregation.

In his spare time, Reagan enjoys playing pickleball, painting, traveling, cooking, and entertaining alongside Stephanie. They have two children: Catherine, who lives in Austin, and Winston, who lives with them in Houston.

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Knowing the Word

weekday devotionals by The Rev. Reagan Cocke