Day 1 – You Can't Drown A Dead Man (David Burrow, 1778)

Scripture: Colossians 1:18

“And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead…”

Devotional Thought:
Thomas Helwys died in prison because he dared to say what we now take for granted: Jesus is the head of the church, not kings, not governments, not political leaders. His dissent wasn’t for rebellion’s sake—it was for truth’s sake.
Helwys reminds us that when we love Christ, we must sometimes say "no" to worldly power. It’s a love that speaks up when others stay silent, even if it costs us something.

Reflection Question:
Do you let Christ lead your life and your church—or have you handed the crown to something else?

End in prayer.

Day 2 – The Crown Doesn’t Own the Church (Thomas Helwys, 1612)

Scripture: Colossians 1:18

“And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead…”

Reflection: When Tabitha died, the widows came forward—not just to grieve, but to testify. They didn’t have eloquent words or theological arguments. They brought what she gave them: clothes. Tangible proof of love. Stitches soaked in grace. These garments were more than fabric; they were a legacy of compassion.

The mourning of the widows reveals something deeper than sorrow—it reveals vulnerability. For many of them, Tabitha wasn’t just a friend; she was a lifeline. Her death wasn’t just personal loss—it was societal loss. With her gone, their security vanished too.

This reminds us how discipleship is meant to reach the margins. True Christianity cares for those others forget. Tabitha didn't ask for recognition. She simply loved in practical ways—and it changed lives.

Let’s ask ourselves: who around us needs that kind of love today?

Prayer: Jesus, open my eyes to the needs of the vulnerable. Make my heart soft to their stories, my hands ready to serve, and my life a witness to Your compassion. Help me to love not just with words, but with action. Amen.

Day 3: Faith Must Be Free (John Leland & James Madison, 1778)

Scripture: Galatians 5:1

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Devotional Thought:
John Leland didn’t seek to win votes—he sought to win liberty. Standing atop a whiskey barrel, he traded his political influence for a promise: that freedom of religion would be enshrined in the law of the land.

True love for neighbor means fighting for everyone’s freedom to seek God, even when they believe differently. Leland’s legacy is a Baptist tradition of defending religious liberty, not for control, but for conscience.

Reflection Question:
Do you see religious freedom as a right just for yourself, or a gift for all?

End in prayer.

Day 4: Conscience Over Compromise (Triennial Convention, 1845)

Scripture: Micah 6:8

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Devotional Thought:
When the Triennial Convention refused to send a slaveholding missionary, they knew it would fracture unity. But they chose conscience over compromise. Their love for the gospel meant standing against injustice—even when it came from within.

This wasn’t popular love. It was prophetic love—the kind that speaks the truth even when others would rather look away. That’s what it means to be baptized in Christ’s name: we carry His values, even when they clash with culture or convenience.

Reflection Question:
When has love required you to take a stand, especially among your own?

End in prayer.

Day 5: Dying to Self, Living for Others (Lottie Moon, 1912)

Scripture: Philippians 2:3–4

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition... Rather, in humility value others above yourselves... not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Devotional Thought:
Lottie Moon was dismissed for her gender but elevated by her faith. She gave everything for the people of China—not just her time, but her very health. Her life reminds us that love isn’t about status or recognition; it’s about sacrifice.

She didn't wait for institutional permission to love radically—she just obeyed Jesus. In doing so, she showed the world what a disciple really looks like.

Reflection Question:
What would it look like for you to live a Lottie-like love, bold, selfless, and obedient?

End in prayer.

Day 6: Preaching in a Valley of Shadows (Martin Luther King Jr., 1963)

Scripture: Amos 5:24

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Devotional Thought:
Dr. King loved the church enough to call it higher. He reminded Christians that the gospel was not compatible with segregation or silence in the face of injustice. His voice was often lonely, but it echoed the prophets—and the very heart of Christ.

His dissent was born from deep love—not just for the oppressed, but also for those doing the oppressing. He believed they, too, could be redeemed.

Reflection Question:
Is your love strong enough to speak up when the world (or the church) falls short?

End in prayer.

Day 7: A Love That Dares to Dissent (Now It’s Your Turn)

Scripture: John 13:34–35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Devotional Thought:
The legacy we’ve walked through this week isn’t about heroes on pedestals. It’s about ordinary people who dared to dissent—not for ego, but for love. Their love wasn’t sentimental. It was sacrificial. And that’s the kind of love Jesus modeled for us.

Now it’s our turn.

The world still watches. Still waits. Still wonders if the church will speak out when it matters. Will we love enough to dissent when truth is on the line? Will we carry forward a legacy not of nostalgia, but of mission?

Reflection Question:
When people look at you, at your life, your faith, your church—do they see love first?

End in prayer.