Student Devotion Session 4: Getting the Word Out

Key Verse: Romans 10:14, "14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

What if you had a magic box that contained an unlimited supply of money?

I mean it... truly unlimited. Every time you reached in your hand to pull out a stack of bills, a new stack took its place. This would give you unlimited pleasure, right? But wouldn't you want to share? Think about what you could do for your family, your friends... even strangers. Then think about how you could change the world. You would have the power to dramatically impact people's lives for the better.

The life-changing story of Jesus is the same way. You have it in you... Give it away! If you really believe it, how can you keep it to yourself?

Student Devotion Session 3: In The Nick of Time

Key verses: Romans 5:6-10, "6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"

How could you possibly deserve God's salvation?

After all, you don't bring a whole lot to the table.

God's moral standards are pretty high...as in, perfection. Pretty sure you don't live up to those.

God expects to be first in your life. Nothing else should come before Him. You probably don't always keep your end of the bargain there, either.

God created you to live for Him, to testify to the world about His greatness through your words and actions. Hmmm...Your words and actions don't always line up with God's plan, do they?

So how can you possibly be saved from the consequences of your sins? How can you expect to experience a life in heaven after this life on earth has ended?

Stop for a second and read Romans 5:6-10. You don't get very far before you come face to face with an amazing truth. When Christ died for you, He knew you were ungodly. He had no illusions. He did not think you would to be perfect only to get disappointed once He finally got to know you. He knew you had nothing to offer. That's what verse 6 means when it says you were powerless. Verse 8 says that God knew you were a sinner when He allowed His precious, only Son to be murdered in your place. Yet, God loved you so much that it was worth the price to Him.

It's true. There is nothing you can ever do to justify it. He doesn't expect you to be able to make it worth His while. You never will. What does God expect?

God expects you to believe in and love Him. He expects you to stop living for you and to start living for Him. He expects you to help others see that this amazing gift is for them, too. And He expects you to continuously turn back to Him when you goof up. And considering all Christ gave up for you, this doesn't seem like too much for God to expect from you.

Student Devotion Session 2: Everyone Blows It

Key Verse: Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

What is sin? Some words have lost their meaning, sin seems to be one of them. When you hear the word sin, does it have an impact on you? Does it paint an accurate picture of rebellion against God? When you hear that Jesus saved you from your sins, you should be able to immediately visualize how horrible sin is. Still need help?

Student Devotion Session 1: Something for Everyone

Key Verses: Romans 1:14-17, "¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

What if you woke up one morning to find an epidemic is sweeping over your community. Some sort of killer virus is infecting people, so they would only have a few days to live. The community is in chaos. People are scared to go outside. Fear has set in. People are hysterical. No one knows what to do. But here's the catch: You are the only one who has the cure. Somehow, someway, you hold the antidote that will completely heal people of the disease. How cool is that?

What would you do? Well, it's obvious right? You'd keep quiet! No need in causing a fuss. I mean, what if someone didn't want to be healed? And how would you get the antidote to them? You wouldn't want to go knock on their door. After all, they might be eating dinner. And what if they didn't believe you? What then? See, you're better off keeping the antidote to yourself, right? Right...

Read Romans 1:14-17. Romans is a cool book; it is actually a letter written by Paul to the Christians in Rome. Paul wanted to visit the Christians there, to teach them and encourage them. So, before he came to visit, he sent them a letter. The Book of Romans is one of the most amazing books of the Bible. It contains an incredible summary of Paul's theology. In just a few chapters, Paul explained in amazing detail the power and importance of the gospel. It is a book no Christ-follower can afford to pass over.

In the passage you just read, Paul explained to his readers that nothing could make him keep the power of the gospel to himself. Paul understood that the story of Jesus is life to those who hear and believe. He wasn't about to keep it to himself.

Keeping the story of Jesus to ourselves is like keeping a life-saving antidote away from dying, diseased people. You wouldn't keep medicine from a sick person. Why do you hesitate to tell people about Jesus?

God's salvation is available to all people. But they must be told in order to believe. What are you waiting for?

Student Devotion Session 6: Guide to Life

Key Verses: John 16:12-15, ¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Waves crash, soaking you to the bone as you jam you sandaled feet under the side of the raft. You white-knuckle the T-grip of your paddle, hanging on for dear life as the momentum never stops. Everything is swirling and churning... a constant battle to suck you under, hurl you into the air, or sweep you away. White water rafting is one of the greatest adrenaline rushes you can experience.

What gives you the confidence to plunge down the snaking river with little more than an inflated piece of rubber and sticks of plastic? Even a boat full of beginners can make it safely through the rapids with the help of a leader. A professional river guide knows every inch of your journey. He or she knows the unseen dangers and the right speed and direction needed to hit all of the currents in order to have a safe and fun trip. As long as you trust the instructions called out and respond accordingly, not only will everything be fine, it will be an incredible adventure.

Read John 16:12-15. The Holy Spirit knows everything that you'll ever need to know as you journey through life. He's not just making things up on the fly; He's telling you precisely what the creator needs you to know. You can trust Him; He'll never steer you wrong.

Like a river guide, God isn't going to overwhelm you with details of your entire journey. Once you're on board with where He is headed. He'll give you some basic instructions. You'd freak out if you knew everything you would face; but as you go, your confidence in the Spirit's guidance will grow, your response time to His direction will quicken, and you'll make it through any rough waters. Your life is rushing past. Whatever it is that tries to suck you down, knock you out, or carry you away, know that you don't have to go with the flow. Trust the Spirit God has given you and life will be an incredible adventure.