Smithfield Student Ministry

Student Devotion Session 4: Serve The World/Love Others

2012-02-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: Philemon 1:4-6, "⁴ I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people."

When you hear the word "service", what comes to mind?

Do you think of acts of service? Chances are, this is where your mind goes first. When you hear the word service you probably think about cutting the grass for someone, or bringing meals to your shut-in neighbor, or going on a medical mission trip.

But there is another side of service. And that is an attitude of service. Acts of service are things you do. But you would not be inclined to do acts of service unless you had an attitude of service. It's an interesting twist, don't you think?

What makes an attitude of service? Well, read Philemon 4-6 to find out. Did you rad it? Do you see the answer? Now, you're probably saying, I don't see anything in there about service. Well, in one way you might be right. Paul doesn't actually mention the word service in this passage. However, he says a great deal about the attitude of service.

Paul says that Philemon's love for all the saints is widely known. And it is Philemon's love that makes him a servant. Why? Because you can't do acts of service without an attitude of service. And you can't have an attitude of service unless you first love other people.

Loving others means putting them above yourself. It means looking at meeting their needs as more important than meeting your own. Loving others is a humbling act. And it is this valuing of others in live that motivates service. If you want to have an attitude of service, pray that God would lead you to love others more.

Once the love of God for others is in your heart, you will naturally want to live out of an attitude and a lifestyle of serving. Your actions will speak to what is in your heart. And ultimately, God will be glorified because of it.

Student Devotion Session 3: Teaching What is Right

2012-01-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: Titus 2:11-3:2, "¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. ¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. ¹ Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ² to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone."

Imagine turning on the TV only to find that a major story was breaking. It appears there is a picture circulating across the media that show President Obama and Osama Bin Laden playing basketball together. Why would this be such a big deal? Because some things do not, cannot, go together. There is no way that President of the United States would be hanging out with a terrorist. It just wouldn't happen.

Presidents and terrorists don't mix. Neither do Red Sox and Yankee fans, oil and water, your mom and your Facebook profile, liberals and conservatives, cats and dogs... some things just are not meant to coexist.

Like godliness and ungodliness.

Read Titus 2:11-3:2. This passage is a letter from Paul to Titus. Titus was one of Paul's closest friends. Titus served as Paul's special representative to the Corinthian church and was tasked with taking up a large contribution for the church in Jerusalem. Paul trusted Titus, who seemed to have some really good administrative skills and a confident personality. From this passage in the letter, we see Paul teaching Titus the importance of walking in a godly manner.

Paul used some pretty straightforward teaching. He basically said, "Say no to all of the stuff that is not of God. Say yes to all of the stuff that is of God." Seems simple enough. But then some questions come up. First of all, how do we know what is godly and what is not godly? And secondly, how do we have the power to say yes or no?

Paul answered these questions in a a way that is pretty cool. The secret is found in verses 11-12. Paul said God's grace has been given to all, and that God's grace helps us know right from wrong. Paul also said God's grace teaches us to live the right way. It leads us to seek what is right and to turn from what is wrong. More importantly God promises to be with us on our journey. He promises to give us strength to do the right thing, day in and day out.

Godliness and ungodliness have no place with one another. Not in your life. Not in this world. Live in such a way that you say "no" to the things that lead you away form God and "yes" to things that build you up in God.

Student Devotion Session 2: Testify to the Gospel

2012-01-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: 2 Timothy 1:8-12, "⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day."

What does it mean to be ashamed of something? It means to be humiliated or embarrassed by it. Being ashamed of something is being fearful it might bring you down. When you are ashamed of something, you take actions to dissociate yourself from it out of fear of negative consequences.

What types of things cause a person shame? A person can be ashamed of something he or she did. Let's say a teenaged guy gets arrested for a DUI. This an act that would cause this guy to feel ashamed and embarrassed. The guy would rightly not want to be associated with his arrest. He would logically want to distance himself from it.

There are things that logically bring about feelings of shame and embarrassment. You can be ashamed of something you have don. You can be ashamed of something a family member has done. You can even be ashamed by the actions of a team, or a group of people, or a government, or some other element you might be involved in. Each of these specific entities can do things that would logically result in shame.

But you do not have an option when it comes to the things of God. You are not given a choice. You simply cannot live in such a way that you are ashamed of Christ, His story, or His presence in your life.

Read 2 Timothy 1:8-12. Paul says that even though that gospel had caused him to suffer, he would not stop talking about Jesus. Why? Because he is not ashamed of Christ.

Jesus has saved your life. He game Himself willingly, allowing people to punish Him in the most gruesome ways imaginable. He took the shame of the crucifixion on Him because of your sins. He wasn't ashamed of you. Yet, as you remain silent when you know you should stand up for Christ, you tell the world you are ashamed of Him.

You have been given one life. That's it. You have one chance to make it count for Christ. You cannot do that by being embarrassed or ashamed of Jesus. You simply do not have that choice.

Don't be embarrassed. Be bold. Be courageous. Be strong. Be daring. Live for Christ.

Student Devotion Session 1: Teaching By Example

2012-01-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: 1 Timothy 4:11-16, "¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. ¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

A band leader plays a measure of music, demonstrating the timing of the piece to the class.

A teacher works out an algebra problem on the board while the class follows along.

A dad teaches his teenager the ins-and-outs of carpentry by helping the teen measure, cut, and build.

A coach walks the offense through the play so his or her players can see where they need to go.

A mom shows her teenager how to make a special dish using an old family recipe.

What do these instance have in common? In each one someone is teaching someone else by example. Teaching by example is highly effective. It allows the learner to see exactly what he or she needs to do to be successful.

Read 1 Timothy 4:11-16. First Timothy is a letter from Paul to Timothy. If you remember your Bible stories, Timothy was a young guy that Paul ran into while on one of his missionary journeys. Timothy had a lot of potential as a spiritual leader. Paul was the wise, experienced, grandfather-type who took Timothy under his wing and helped him grow spiritually. In many ways, Paul set the example for Timothy, modeling what it means to live life on mission. But in this passage, Paul turned the tables a little on Timothy.

Paul was nearing the end of his life, so he took the chance to impart some wisdom to Timothy. Paul, who had long set an example for Timothy, urged the young leader to now make sure that he set an example for his followers. Paul basically said, "Look, kid, it doesn't matter how young you are; people are watching. You are expected to show them the right way." The same can be said for you.

You are to live a life that sets an example for all who watch you. How do you accomplish this? First, you need to know what is expected of you. You need to know the standards. This can only happen if you read and apply the Bible. Next, you must make sure you are a vocal and active communicator of what you read in the Bible. Quite simply, you need to make sure you take the opportunity to talk about God's Word and to live it out.

You are called to be an example. You are called to be a disciple-maker. If you live an speak the truth of the Bible, God will do the rest. The Spirit will work through you to reach others for Christ. Which, if you think about it, is really pretty cool.

Student Devotion Session 6: Horizontal Living

2012-01-08T07:20:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: James 1:21-24, "²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like"

Picture this image in your mind: A sunny day, wispy white clouds float by on a blanket of rich blue. Cruising down the Interstate, top down, music playing, a teenage guy. Not a care in the world. Loving life.

But suddenly he sees something that causes him to slow down. Up ahead a police officer is stopped in the road waving her arms, her car lights flashing. The guy puts on the brakes and as he comes to a stop, rolls down his window.

"Just wanted you to know the bridge is out up ahead," the officer kindly says.

"Whew! Thank you for telling me, officer," he replies, "Have a great day!" The young guy then proceeds to slam his foot down on the gas and peel off, barreling straight towards the collapsed bridge.

This story makes no sense, right? Why? Because if the guy were really given such instruction, he would pay attention; he would listen to the warnings and then obey them. In this type of scenario, everyone would heed the potentially lifesaving advice.

Why is it sometimes different with God's Word?

Read James 1:21-24. What is the first thing you see? Verse 21 says it takes humility to accept the Word of God. You see, humans struggle with thinking we know it all. But it is not enough to merely listen to the word and know what it says, is it?

Quite clearly verse 22 says that if you are only hearing God's Word and not putting it into action, you are fooling yourself. Like the guy speeding towards a broken bridge, full speed ahead, not doing what God teaches will only lead to disaster. You must hear God's Word and then let it impact every part of your life. These verses call you to live a life that reflects the teachings of the Bible.

What does your life reflect?

Student Devotion Session 5: Vertical Obedience

2012-01-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: John 14:15-24, "¹⁵ If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[a] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” ²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."

Jesus' words are pretty straightforward aren't they?

Those who say they love me show it by doing what I say. Those who say they Love me but don't do what I say don't really Love me.

How do these words make you feel? How are you tempted to respond? Do you feel like they are too harsh? After all, no one can obey Jesus all the time, right? You try, and for the most part you do pretty well. But, occasionally you slip up. Does this mean you don't Love Jesus? If this is the standard, does anyone really Love Jesus?

If you read this and think Jesus is harsh and maybe a little demanding, maybe that's not all that bad. Some of what Jesus had to say was a little harsh. See, we tend to turn Jesus into a wimp most of the time. We want Jesus to fix our problems and make us feel good when we feel bad. But most of the time we just want Him to stay out of our business. So, in this sense it's probably a good thing that Jesus rattles our cages a bit.

If this seems demanding, again, this is probably OK. Jesus does demand a great deal from us. He demands absolute loyalty and devotion. He expects to have no other competition for our affection. And here's the kicker, our obedience results from us being loyal and devoted to God. They go hand in hand.

Jesus doesn't ask for us to keep a list of do's and don'ts and to check them off one at a time. That's not obedience to Jesus. That's obedience to morality. Jesus expects us to give Him our hearts and in turn to take up His heart. He wants us to live as He lived, to view the world as He did to see people as His children. And to look at our lives as important pieces in His big-picture plan.

When we live this way, we are living obediently. And our obedience is a demonstration to God of just how much we Love Him.

Student Devotion Session 4: Vertical Worship

2011-12-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

Key Verse:

Psalm 103:1-12

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 103

Of David.

¹ Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Devotion:

Actions. Reactions.

Webster's defines the word action as "a thing done." An action can be anything, right? Standing up, throwing a paper airplane, or texting a friend are all actions. It's simple, really. Anything you do can be considered an action.

On the other hand, a reaction is defined as" a response to some treatment, situation, or stimulus." Basically, a reaction is a response to any action. Want some examples? Think about the actions we listed above. If you were to suddenly stand up in the middle of a nice dinner with your boyfriend or girlfriend, he or she might react with confusion. (or they might look at you like you've lost it.) If you were to throw a paper airplane in the hallway and hit your principle in the eye, his or her reaction would probably spell trouble for you. And if you were texting your friend to tell her that your crush just asked you to the homecoming dance, here reaction would be excitement.

The nature of the reaction depends on the nature of the action.

Read Psalm 103:1-12. This is one of the many Psalms written by David. You know David. The guy that killed the giant. The one who had to hide out from King Saul while Saul tried to kill him. The one who was said to have a "heart like God's." David was an awesome king, undoubtedly the best ruler Israel ever had. He wasn't perfect (You might remember the whole Bathsheba incident.) But he Loved the Lord. And many of his psalms reflect this Love.

If you go back and look at this psalm one more time, you realize something pretty cool. This psalm is all about actions and reactions. David lists some of the amazing things God has done, not just for David, but for the nation of Israel. David says that God forgives sin, heals diseases, satisfies desires, works righteousness for the oppressed, gives freely of His compassion while patiently doling out His anger, and so on, and so on. These are some pretty awesome actions. But what is the reaction?

David makes it clear: His reaction to all of God's actions is to lift up praise and worship to God. The appropriate reaction to God's Love is Love in return. How cool is that?

You have to ask yourself this question: "How have I been responding to all the ways God has shown me love in my life?" If your answer is anything less than giving God the praise He is due, you might need to spend some time examining your heart.

God had done so much for you. His actions demonstrate His Love. Does your reaction demonstrate praise?

Student Devotion Session 2: Love's Great Sacrifice

2011-12-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: Deuteronomy 6:5, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." & Leviticus 19:18, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD"

The books of Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell a similar story. In each of these books, Jesus is in the company of some of the Jewish religious leaders.

In Matthew and Mark's account, Jesus was asked by one of the Jewish religious leaders what the greatest commandment of the Law was. This guy was trying to trick Jesus, but Jesus turned it around on him.

Jesus actually answered in an amazing way. If he had answered incorrectly, or had given an answer that wasn't well thought out, the Jewish leaders could have accused Him of trying to abolish parts of the Law.

A lot was riding on Jesus' answer.

Before you go on, stop for a minute and read Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Sum up those passages in one sentence.

We might not get it now, some 2,000 years later, but at the time what Jesus did by putting these two commandments together was a big, big deal.

In answering the Jewish leaders this way, Jesus combined the emphasis of the first half of the Ten Commandments (obligation to God) with the second half (obligation to others). But Jesus did more than that...

Look back at Matthew 22. Compare verse 37 with verse 39. Circle the powerful word appears in both verses. Did you catch it? You should have circled the world Love.

The most amazing thing Jesus did was make His answer all about love. It wasn't about rule following. It wasn't about stale religion. Jesus said we mu;st love God, and love people.

Love God. Love People.

It really is that simple.

Think about any changes you might need to make in your life to begin to show more love and thankfulness to God. Think about any attitudes or issues you have that get in the way of loving others. Now, pray to God that He will help you put into practice the changes you need to make in your life.

Student Devotion Session 2: Love's Great Sacrifice

2011-12-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: 1 John 4:9-10, " 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

How far would you go to demonstrate your Love for someone? If your first thought was, "Depends on who were talking about," then you're probably like most people. After all, you Love people differently, don't you? Think of your distant cousin you only see once every few years. Your Love for him or her is different than your Love for, say, your mom, right? The lengths you would go to show your Love for your mom probably a lot greater than the lengths you would go to show your Love for your cousin. You'd give up a kidney for mom. For cousin whatshername? Uh... not so much.

Read 1 John 4:9-10. We're back with our good friend John the Apostle. As we mentioned in last session's devotion, John knew Jesus as intimately as anyone. He was one of Jesus' most trusted disciples. In fact, John was known as "the beloved disciple." As much as anyone, John grasped the significance of Jesus' identity and His mission. John knew that God sent Jesus to this world. John knew Jesus was God's most precious gift to His creation.

Why was Jesus such a precious gift? Because Jesus was God's answer to the question of how we as humans could once-and-for-all pay our sin-debt. You see, God is perfectly good. Any sin is a sin against Him and His standards. God is also perfectly just. And all sin must be punished. If God didn't punish all sin, He wouldn't be worth our devotion. God sent Jesus to pay the debt for our sins, clearing the way for us to have eternal fellowship with God.

How far would you go to demonstrate your Love for someone? Not as far as God did to demonstrate His Love for you. God sent His only son to die for you. And Jesus willingly obeyed. Why? Because God loves you. Jesus loves you. Even when you are unlovable. That is amazing love!

Student Devotion Session 1: The Source

2011-11-28T06:15:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: 1 John 4:7-8, "⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Think for a moment about a glass of water. If you had to identify the most essential property of water, what would it be? You would probably say, "The essential property of water is its wetness."

Think about fire. What would you say was its essential property? While you might list a few different things, fire's essential property would have to be "heat."

Sugar is sweet. Ice is cold. Water is wet. Fire is hot. And God... Well, God is Love.

Read 1 John 4:7-8. John knew a thing or two about Love. John was one of the Jesus' closest companions. Along with Peter and James, John was in the "inner circle" of disciples, a group that Jesus went to great lengths to teach and mentor. John was there at nearly every important episode in Jesus' life. John understood Jesus and His message of love and redemption. So when John says "God is Love," we ought to pay attention.

There are a lot of things we could say about God. He has so many wonderful attributes that make Him worthy of our praise, love, and devotion. He is perfectly wise, powerful, good, just, forgiving, merciful, holy, compassionate... the list goes on. If you think of God and His attributes as an ever-flowing, eternal river that runs throughout time and history, the source of that river must surely be His LOVE.

If you know God, you know LOVE.
God is the source of all LOVE!

Student Devotion Session 6: Isaiah's Response

2011-11-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Student Devotion Session 5: Jonah's Response

2011-11-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: Jonah 1:1-4; 3:1-6; 4:1-3

Jonah 1:1-4

New International Version (NIV)

Jonah 1

Jonah Flees From the LORD

¹ The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

³ But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

⁴ Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.

Jonah 3:1-6

New International Version (NIV)

Jonah 3

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

³ Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. ⁴ Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” ⁵ The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

⁶ When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.

Jonah 4:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

Jonah 4

Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion

¹ But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. ² He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. ³ Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Devotion:

When people ask you to do something, your response says a great deal about your relationship with them. Do you say, "yes" and agree to what is asked? Or do you say, "no"? It depends, right? If it's your mom or dad asking you to take out the trash, you will more than likely say, "yes." The reasons for this can range from respect to fear of punishment. But even fear of punishment says something about your relationship. You know your mom or dad is going to follow through with any threat of punishment. Again, your response depends on your relationship.

Read Jonah 1:1-4; 3:1-6; 4:1-3. This is not the whole story of Jonah. It is a record of his responses to God. You know the story of Jonah. God called Jonah to minister to Nineveh. What happened next isn't pretty. Jonah fled. Storm rolls in. Jonah goes overboard. Fish swallows. Fish throws up. Jonah heads to Nineveh. Jonah would inevitably do the work God wanted him to. But not after experiencing some harsh consequences. And not without a bad attitude.

Think about Jonah's responses. Is it true that something about his response speaks to his relationship with God? That would seem to be the case. See, Jonah put his needs first. This says that Jonah valued his own insecurities and fears more than he valued his service for God. While Jonah, eventually got it right, he still managed to get it wrong in the end through selfish thinking.

God is constantly calling you... through His word, through His creation, through His spirit, and through others. How are you responding to His call? How does a positive response communicate your love for Him? How does a negative response affect your usability for God's work?

Challenge yourself to commit to a positive, immediate response to God's call on your life. How can you be making a difference for Christ today?

Student Devotion Session 4: Not a Timid Response

2011-11-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

Key Verses:

Acts 25:23-26:32

New International Version (NIV)

Paul Before Agrippa

²³ The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. ²⁶ But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. ²⁷For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Acts 26

¹ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: ²“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. ⁵ They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. ⁷ This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. ⁸ Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

⁹ “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

¹² “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,^[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰ First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. ²¹ That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.²² But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— ²³ that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

²⁵ “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶ The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

³⁰ The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. ³¹ After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

³² Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Think for a moment about the brakes on your car. It's probably the first time you've thought about them in a while... maybe ever. And that's exactly the point. Your brakes are pretty important. They are not just important to the function of your life. After all, when you go flying down the Interstate, at some point you'll need to stop. And unless you want that stop to be the result of a horrific crash, brakes come in handy.

Whether you think about it or not, you place your life's security in the brakes of your car over and over again. You probably don't think of that when you apply pressure on the left pedal. You simply trust that they'll work. Because of this, you have the confidence to drive at very high rates of speed.

Keep this example in your head as you read Acts 25:32-Acts 26:32. (Yeah, it seems like a lot to read, but it's a really cool story.) This story is one of the last chapters in the record we have of Paul's life. Paul had been arrested and was being taken before various Roman officials as part of his trial process. In this passage, Paul is speaking in front of King Agrippa and his sister Bernice.

Think back to what you just read in Acts. Think about how Paul conducted himself. Isn't it amazing how boldly he stood up to Agrippa? Paul didn't miss a beat. He preached to this powerful King as if he were just another guy. How could Paul be so courageous in that situation?

As Christ-followers, when we know the certainty of God's call on our lives, our responses to God become automatic. We don't think, we react.
This certainty allows us to move with God, acting and speaking as He leads us. In the same way you don't often think about the brakes in your car, our response to God should be just as automatic.

When we see a stop sign, we press the brakes and stop. Every time. Often without thinking. When we see an opportunity to make a difference for Christ, we should respond immediately. Every time. God expects us to join Him and time there is a need. Do you live like Paul? Are you fearless? Do you respond when the opportunity arises?

Student Devotion Session 2: As You Go...

2011-10-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: John 4:10, "Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'”

Opportunity.

Think about that word for second or two. What meanings come to mind? Maybe it means something kind of like good luck, or good fortune. Like, "Jenny's car broke down, giving me the opportunity to be the hero and offer her a ride home." Or maybe it brings to mind the positive possibilities of the future... as in, "Going to college increases the potential for a meaningful job opportunity."

The truth is that both of these meanings are important-especially when it comes to living out God's call to be on mission with Him. Opportunity to make a difference is all around you. And living on mission for God provides you with ample opportunity for impacting the world.

But there is one important thing about opportunity worth mentioning: An opportunity must either be seized or missed. To seize an opportunity is to realize the potential of the moment. To not seize an opportunity is to miss it. Any potential is then lost.

Keep this idea in mind as you read John 4:1-26. That sounds like a lot of scripture to read, but it flows quickly. Why? Because this passage is an amazing retelling of an encounter Jesus had with a woman. But not just any woman. This woman was a Samaritan, and Jesus was a Jew. Why does that matter? Well, Samaritans and Jews literally hated one another. That is one reason Jesus' conservation was so shocking to this woman. The other reason was because during the course of their conservation, the woman figured out that Jesus was the Son of God. Which, you know, is a pretty shocking thing to realize.

Jesus' conservation with the Samaritan woman led to many in her town coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. This couldn't have happened if Jesus had not seized the opportunity to have a meaningful, life-on-life interaction with this woman.

Jesus commanded His followers to live life on His mission. But He did more than that. He followed it up with His actions. Jesus practiced what He preached.

Do you seize opportunities to impact the world in Christ's name? Or do you let them pass by you? What will it take for you to become more committed to using your life to make a difference for Jesus? Pray to God today, asking Him to give you the strength to make the best of the opportunities He puts in your path.

Student Devotion Session 1: What is the Call?

2011-10-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Matthew 16:24-26, "²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Richard "Rip" Hamilton, LeBron James. What do these celebrities have in common? Each of these athletes surrounds himself with a tight-knit circle of followers. The key to each of these groups is that it is made up of people who have known each other since childhood. When Rip Hamilton made it big in the NBA, his group of friends from his neighborhood made it big with him. When Dale Jr. is at home taking a break from NASCAR, he is usually with his group of childhood friends. LeBron James is a little different; his friends actually form a management group that handles much of his business ventures.

While they may differ somewhat, one thing is true: for the friends of these celebrities, being a follower has its benefits. Life as LeBron's business manager is probably better than working a regular nine to five job, right?

Read Matthew 16:24-26. Jesus had a lot to say about being a follower. He did not promise fame. He did not promise fortune. He did not promise comfort. But look at what He did promise: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

There are two truths in this scripture passage worth mentioning. First, Jesus absolutely, positively commands that we follow Him. There is no other way around it. Christ does not desire your lukewarm commitment. He expects 100 percent of your devotion. Second, He expects your devotion knowing full well the cost of following Him. Jesus knows your road will be tough. He knows following Him is not easy. So, why does He still command us to be His disciples?

The answer is easy: Jesus knows that following Him leads to life... Life free from the penalty of sin... Life free from the power of death. Jesus longs for you to follow after Him, and to lead others to do the same.

While it might not have the same privileges of this world, following Jesus does have its benefits. So... what are you waiting for?

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Six - Sharing His Glory

2011-10-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Psalm 96:1-13, "¹ Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
² Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. ³ Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. ⁴ For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.⁵ For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. ⁷ Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.⁸ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.⁹ Worship the LORD in the splendor of his^[a] holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.¹⁰ Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. ¹¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.¹² Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.¹³ Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness."

What's the difference between the burrito at your favorite Mexican restaurant and the shady microwaveable ones you buy by the bag-full from the freezer section of your local grocery store? It's the same exact difference between a feature length movie released in theaters and a bootlegged version downloaded from the web. There's just something different about the real thing isn't there?

More often than not, the authentic original article is worth the extra money, time or energy that separates it from a knock-off variety. Whether it's clothes, cars, or food, the real thing earns our praise while the sub-par versions usually serve as a punch line in a joke.

God is the same way. What? Seriously...Keep reading.

Read Psalm 96:1-13. It immediately becomes obvious that the psalm is an amazing testimony of praise of God. The Israelites lived in a world much like ours in at least one significant way: They were surrounded by a culture that embraced multiple gods and religions. So, in a way, the psalmist was saying that God was worthy to be praised because He is the real thing! Not some impostor, God really is "the God who made the heavens." God is righteous and will judge the nations. Because of this, the psalmist says He is "most worthy of praise." (verse 4).

Part of following Christ is living your life in such a way that you are constantly giving praise to God. Your actions, words, inner thoughts, and outward emotions should reflect a worldview that is influenced by your love for God and for His Son. When you live this way, you will actually lead others to recognize God's greatness.

Your life can be a testimony to God's glory. After all, He's the real deal, worth every bit of your praise and service.

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Five - The Mission's Cost

2011-10-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: John 12:23-26, "²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

Take a moment and think about the answer to the following questions:

What do you hold most dearly? What is the one thing you value about all else? What is the one specific thing you hold on to most?

Don't move on without stopping for a moment and thinking about your answers.

Got it? How did you respond? Did your answer take the form of an object, such as your i-phone, your electric guitar, your laptop, or your car? Or maybe your answer took the form of a relationship; maybe the thing you value the most is your parent or parents, your siblings, or maybe even your best friend. However you responded, hopefully you were able to think of one thing you particularly value above all else.

Your answer to the question "What do you hold most dearly?" actually reveals a lot about your priorities. It may not seem like it at first, but your answer says a lot about how you view the world. Keep that though in mind as we pause for a moment.

Stop and read John 12:23-26. Jesus was in Jerusalem for a special celebration called the Passover Feast. The passover celebrated the Lord delivering the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Shortly before this passage, Jesus' followers had heaped praises on Him as he entered the city. Yet, Jesus knew His time was drawing to an end. In this passage, Jesus' words let us know that He knew exactly the sacrifice He would soon make on the cross.

Look back at verses 25-26. Jesus basically says we cannot follow Him if the thing we hold most dear is our own life. Jesus is helping His followers (and that includes you) understand that their lives should be totally committed to God literally! You should view your life as if it belonged to God. You should treat your life as something that is to be given over, sacrificed for God to use and direct in order to draw glory to Himself.

You cannot follow God if you hold too dearly to this life. To be the greatest credit to God's Kingdom you should view your relationship with Christ as most important, above all else in your life. Only then will you be able to fully embrace your role as a part of His mission.

How can you begin to let go of your life, giving yourself over to God to be used as He sees fit?

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Four - Called and Sent

2011-09-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 7:57-8:4

^"57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. ¹ And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ² Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. ⁴ Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went"

When you think about "being sent" by God on mission with Him, what do you think about? Do you think about missionaries working in far away exotic places? Do you think about people who leave their careers to start churches? Do you think about short-term mission trips like the ones your youth group probably takes? While these are certainly all examples of being sent, it's important for you to understand that being sent out on mission with God doesn't just mean moving to another country or planting churches.

There's more to being called and sent out than organized mission experiences. You can be sent out in the simplest of ways. For example:

Take a second and read Acts 7:57-8:4. Now, you are picking up at the end of a long story. Stephen, a member of the early Jerusalem Church and a Christ-follower, was testifying to the true identity of Jesus before one of the Jewish courts. The Jews were so furious at Stephen for claiming Jesus was the Song of God that they dragged Stephen out and killed him. That's what you read about in verse 57. Stephen boldly spoke the truth about Christ no matter the cost. But that's not where I want you to pay attention.

Focus on Acts 8:4. Paul and the other anti-Christian Jews were running these Christ-followers out of Jerusalem. Yet, verse 4 gives us a glimpse of the character in these individuals. These followers of Christ didn't allow persecution to keep them from carrying out God's mission. As they were forced out of Jerusalem, they continued to share with others about all Jesus was doing. That's pretty amazing, isn't it?

These believers found themselves in a circumstance they could not control. You probably find yourself in these types of situations often. After all, you don't have a lot of choice about going to school do you? While you're there, why don't you treat your school like a mission experience? Consider what it looks like to be called by God and sent to your school as a light for God's kingdom.

You don't have to go to a far away country. The biggest opportunity you have is right in front of you each and every day. Don't miss your chance!

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Three - Christ's Commission

2011-09-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Matthew 3:16-17, "¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Chances are, if you're reading this you're a teenager. And if you're a teenager, you're actually in a pretty cool time of your life. While it's hard to see it, now, you are doing things that will shape your future, long after your teenage years over. Many of the decisions you make in the next, few years will affect the path you choose after high school, which, in most cases, affects your career, who you will marry, where you will live...Big decisions right?

The coolest thing is that you will reach a point, years down the road when you can look back and identify the truly important moments in your life. You will be able to point to two or three moments as the ones that really jump-started the process of shaping the person you will have become.

Believe it or not, Jesus had one of these moments. Read Matthew 3:11-17. This passage is Matthew's version of Jesus' baptism. At the beginning, you see John the Baptist talking about the coming Messiah, God's Son who will take away the sins of the world. All of a sudden, Jesus is on the scene. John realizes Jesus is the promised Messiah while John is initially hesitant to baptize Jesus, he agrees and Jesus is baptized.

Go back and read verses 16 and 17 again. This is the reason God desired for Jesus to be baptized. Most people in John's day were baptized as a way of symbolizing their repentance from sin. Jesus was perfect, therefore He did not need to symbolize repentance So why be baptized? Verses 16 and 17 tell us Jesus' baptism was God's way of showing the world that the time of Jesus' ministry had begun.

Notice the two things that happened: the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, anointing Him for God's work. And God validated Jesus' identity and mission by audibly recognizing Jesus as His Son. So, as we look back at Jesus' life and ministry. His baptism was one of those monumentally important moments that shaped His life to come. Looking back, it was the start of His true purpose and mission on this earth.

You will these moments, too. Moments where God uses you. Moments you will look back on and realize how important they were to your overall spiritual development.

The real question is, will you be ready when your moment comes?

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Two - The Great Commission

2011-09-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Matthew 9:35-38, "³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Do you see him over there? The old man by the trashcan with his head resting against the wall. See him? No...don't bother him; he's sleeping. Just watch. Watch what's about to happen...

See that woman walking towards him? The one on her cell phone? Yeah, her. She walks past here every morning. And he's usually there. The truth is that she's not really on her cell phone. She's faking it so she doesn't have to look at him. When he asks her for change or for food it makes her so uncomfortable. So today she's pretending to talk on her phone so he won't bother her.

Now, look again. See the teenaged girl with the torn jeans coming this way? Her name's Cassie. She's pretty, don't you think? Well, the truth about Cassie's life isn't pretty at all. Her dad's a drunk. He took-off a couple of years ago. Her mom works so much Cassie hardly sees her. Most days Cassie's barely holding it together, herself. But watch what she does when as she nears the old man. See her reaching into her bag? She's pulling out a blanket she brought from home. See, she passed by the old man yesterday and noticed he was shivering. So today she brought him a blanket.

See how she drapes it over him? Soft, so as not to wake him. Watch her lift his hand and put it under the blanket so he'll be warmer. See how she stares at him before she walks off? Makes you wonder what she is thinking...

What if I told you she was praying? She prays for him a lot, actually. She doesn't know his name. He doesn't know her either. But she prays for him. She prays that God would keep him safe. That he would know someone cares for him. That he would know Jesus cares for him. That he would know she care for him.

And there goes Cassie...Off to who knows where.

Cassie doesn't have all the answers. And she doesn't make all the right choices. But she tries. And she cares. She cares for the lost, the sick, the lonely, the outcast, the broken-hearted. Cassie cares for those forgotten.

Why?

Because she loves Jesus. And Jesus care for the forgotten, too.

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session One - God's Global Mission

2011-09-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Psalm 67: 1-7, "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him."

If you've had the fortune/curse of putting together a complex piece of furniture (or watched as your mom or dad struggled through it), you know how important the plans are. If you miss even one step, the whole thing may fall apart. There's nothing more frustrating than getting to the end of a project only to find you put something on backwards or upside down.

The stakes are higher if you help another person put something together. Not only do you have to make sure you're both on the same page, there's the added pressure of building something for someone else. You want to make sure you do a good job as they will be happy with their new creation.

While we don't actually know who wrote this psalm, it's safe to say they were thankful for God's blessing. This psalm seems to be more of a prayer than a hymn and while songs or prayers like this were usually sung after successful harvests, this psalm has a deeper message.

God read verse 1 again and think to yourself how you might summarize it in one sentence. A good summary might read something like, "The psalmist is praying for God's good favor, or blessing" simple enough. Now there's the cool part. Read verse 2 and again, think how you might summarize it in one sentence. You might have come up with something similar to, "The psalmist want all the people of the world to know of God and His ways." Put these two verses together and an awesome picture appears.

The psalmist wants God to bless him and his people. But this petition for blessing is not out of a selfish desire, it's so that others might see the Blessings God has poured out, give God glory for these blessings, and desire to be similarly blessed. The goal of the psalmist's prayer is so God would be glorified.

When you build a piece of furniture or fix a bike, you have to follow a plan. A set of rules. A guide that has the big picture in mind. God's mission to reach the world is the same way. He has a plan. And the coolest part is that you play a major role in His plan. He has chosen you, your friends, your church, and all Christ-followers everywhere to be one of the main ways God spreads His story of love, grace, and redemption. Do you take this responsibility seriously? Do you live in such a way that your life follows God's plan to share His love with all the world? What changes do you need to make today in order to be on mission with God in all that you do?

Student Devotion Week 48: The Church Eternal: The New Jerusalem

2011-08-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Harps, clouds, and white-lots of white. That's the picture most of us have when we think about heaven. To be honest, heaven has always seemed kind of gaudy to me. I mean...pearly gates and streets of gold? If this is our picture of heaven, then it's not going to be much of a motivational factor in the life of the Church. Who wants to go to a place where you have to sit in a choir loft for all eternity?

The truth is that heaven is going to be a place more magnificent than your wildest dreams. The Bible says that when Christ returns and takes us home, he's going to make everything new. All the pain and frustration we deal with now-and all the things that cause them-will be gone. Can you imagine what it will be like to not have to deal with sin anymore, to never have to wrestle with your thoughts again, to live in a place where you can see Jesus with your very own eyes?

If heaven seems boring to you, then you don't have a very clear picture of it. This week we're going to look at the eternal future of the Church. We're going to have to use our imaginations, but the Holy Spirit has given us some guidelines in Scripture to help us understand a place that's so amazing we don't even have the words to describe it.

Student Devotion Week 46: The Church Prepared: John's Vision

2011-08-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Have you ever seen a dead church? It's kind of depressing. I know of one. It's small, and the cemetery next to it is the only part that still gets visitors. Through an open doorway, you can see the pews and the place where the pulpit used to be. Those windows might have once held stained glass, but the church is dead. No one meets there anymore, and who knows what happened to the people. It's a sad commentary, but it ought to remind us of the spiritual battle we're all involved in. It should also make us perk up and stay alert to Satan's plans to destroy us however he can.

Jesus will never abandon a church without a fight. The book of Revelation is about a vision John had while exiled on the island of Patmos. Through this vision a message was sent to seven churches, challenging and encouraging them to stand firm. The stakes were huge; they could have lost it all or gained a crown of glory.

Jesus is returning one day, and he'll do everything he can to make sure we're prepared before he comes. That means he sometimes has to tell us things that are hard to hear, but it's for our own good. And when we obey his commands, we can be confident that he'll bring about all he's promised. This week we're going to examine what Jesus said to those seven churches-and find out how we can protect our own.

Student Devotion Week 46: Your Role: Peter and the Priesthood of Believers

2011-08-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Peter 2:9, " But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

I don't know how your family does it, but in order to accommodate all the people at my family's Thanksgiving, we had a kiddie table for anyone under 18. I never liked the kiddie table. I felt I was missing out on everything just because I wasn't old enough. All I wanted was to be a big person.

I'm sure the Old Testament Jews also felt this way since almost non of them were allowed in the Temple. It wasn't that they weren't old enough; they weren't holy enough. Only the priests could go before God.

This week we're going to consider an important Christian belief called the priesthood of the believer." It means that when you become a Christian, you become a priest of sorts. Instead of there being only a few priests who go before God for us, as believers in Jesus we all get full access to God. In the early Church, Peter was the one everyone looked to for spiritual guidance. But he was adamant about helping people understand that he wasn't the only one who could communicate with God. We all can listen and talk to God through Jesus Christ. Together we're all a "holy priesthood."

Student Devotion Week 45: Every Opportunity: Paul Preaches in Prison

2011-07-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 28:28, "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

God uses us in amazing ways, and many times we don't even see it coming. A few years ago I was preaching at a summer camp on a college campus. One night I went backstage to help counsel the students who responded to the invitation to become Christians. But I stopped in the restroom on way. As I entered the bathroom, a young guy followed me. After a few awkward pleasantries, he said, "I've never really been saved before." He told me this in the bathroom. (I definitely didn't see that one coming!) So, after we walked out of the restroom, I had the privilege of introducing him to Christ.

When we left Paul last week, he was just getting to Rome. In Acts 28 we find out that, just as before, Paul was going to be in jail for a long time. For some people this would've been a huge letdown. But for Paul? No problem. He didn't allow pesky details like imprisonment keep him from faithfully sharing the gospel every day.

Opportunities to serve and share Christ are everywhere. The trick is learning to see them. Once we realize that we can literally serve Christ 24/7, things get interesting. This week we're going to try to follow Paul's lead and learn how to take advantage of every opportunity we find to serve Christ.

Student Devotion Week 44: An Indirect Path: Paul Sails For Rome

2011-07-22T05:23:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 27:43, "But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land."

Carnivals are fun. As a kid I looked forward to going to the carnival every year because I'd get to ride the Scrambler. Have you ever ridden the Scrambler? It flings you left and right, back and forth, all while moving in a huge circle. It was fun... unless you'd eaten a funnel cake right before you got on.

Often our Christian journey resembles the Scrambler. You expect it to be a calm journey that moves predictably from one stage to the next. But what you actually get is a sudden move to the left, then to the right, then forward, then backward.

In Acts 27:27-28:6 Paul went through a journey sort of like this. Amazingly, he endures a huge storm, a shipwreck, and a snake attack. Paul thought Rome would be his big obstacle, only to find that his journey to get there would be just as eventful. But God was in control, and God is in control even when we can't discern the reasons for our trouble. Our job is to stick close to God, hold on tight, and trust him even though we don't always understand where we're going.

Through it all, we can serve Christ along the way. So get ready, your Christian journey might be a lot more exciting than you thought. Oh, and you might want to skip that funnel cake.

Student Devotion Week 43: Testimony in Chains: Paul's Arrest

2011-07-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 26:29, "Paul replied, 'Short time or long-I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."

Joni Eareckson Tada has on e of those stories that just amazes. After a diving accident left her a quadriplegic at age 17, Joni found herself facing a life much different than the one she thought she was going to live. Yet her disability wasn't strong enough to keep her from serving Christ. She's written more than 30 books and traveled to more than 40 countries. She's also a sought-after speaker, as well as an advocate for the disabled. It probably wasn't the life Joni had in mind when she was a teenager, but her ministry has reached millions.

When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances that force us to change our plans, we have two choices. We can either choose to give up, or we can choose to continue to serve Christ-no matter what.

When faced with a particularly difficult time, the apostle Paul chose to serve Christ. In Acts 24 through 26, we find the story of Paul's imprisonment and trails. Paul could have given up at any point-he faced some pretty tough circumstances. But he stayed true to his calling and continued to preach the message of Jesus Christ. Paul couldn't see the future, but he knew God had plans for him-even in jail. How would you have responded?

This week we're going to face on of the hardest questions of life: How do we serve God when things don't go our way?

Student Devotion Week 42: Equipping For Ministry: Letter To The Ephesians (Part 2 of 2)

2011-07-08T19:18:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 4:15, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."

I didn't enjoy a particular high school English class. My teacher always made me revise my essays. She was never satisfied with my first tries, and she rarely gave out compliments. Ugh! I don't even like thinking about it. But looking back years later, I now have to say that it was probably one of the best teachers I ever had. Why? Because she actually challenged me to learn something-and I did. In fact, I learned a lot.

Teachers aren't there to be our buddies but to make sure we learn things we may not even want to learn. Without them, we'd never become the people God wants us to be.

Still writing from prison, Paul tried to help the Ephesians understand the different kinds of leadership in the church. He was helping them see that certain people were called to teach them and to lead them. If they were going to grow in faith, then they'd have to follow these people and work toward growing as Christians.

We tend to view learning from our church leaders in the same way I viewed learning from my English teacher: "Do I have to do this?" How many sermons have we dutifully sat through without actually learning anything? But if we submit to doing the work, then we'll find we can accomplish more than before. This week we're going to look at how our pastors and teachers help equip us for life.

Student Devotion Week 41: One In Christ: Letter to the Ephesians (Part 1 of 2)

2011-06-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Ephesians 2:19, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household."

Have yo ever wondered how you ended up in your family? I've wondered that about my family. I'm completely different from my parents, and I'm also fairly different from my brother. So how did we all get thrown together? We do have one major thing in common: Our last name. Whether we like it or not, we're all in the same family. And as different as we are, we have the same blood linking us.

The same is true for the Church. The New Testament church was made up of an assortment of very different kinds of people who had previously lived separate lives. What could possibly connect all these people? They now had the same bloodline-the blood of Jesus. Because of Jesus' sacrificial death, everyone who places their faith in Christ-regardless of their race, gender, or cultural background-is a part of the Church.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he began to build his family-the Church. And it was composed of people he loved and who love him. But the members of his family would also love each other. While imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus to help them understand their common lineage in Christ. Through this letter Paul tried to help the Ephesians see that all people are welcomed into the church family regardless of their differences.

Student Devotion Week 40: Faithfulness at Great Cost: Paul's Parting Message To The Ephesians

2011-06-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 4:7, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."

I know of a youth group in which the students were in the habit of becoming very emotional during their Wednesday night service. Being emotional isn't wrong, but they seemed to get emotional for no reason. The youth minister decided to test them. So he preached an impassioned talk and then asked if any of them wanted to come forward and accept Christ. The altar area was full of students! Suddenly he stopped the service and informed the teenagers that everything he'd just told them was wrong. Not a bit of it was supported by Scripture. They'd become emotional about something that was completely fake.

This danger isn't new. At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul was headed back to Jerusalem. On the way he stopped and met with the elders of the Ephesians church. He gave a farewell speech and warned the Ephesians to beware those who preach false teachings about God. Paul wouldn't be around to protect them anymore, so they had to learn to protect themselves.

We must also be on guard against false teaching. As you continue to mature in your Christian faith, you'll probably encounter false teachers. Unless you test the teaching against Scripture, you'll find you're like that youth group: Looking spiritual but having no substance.

Student Devotion Week 39: Spiritual Opposition: The Riot In Ephesus And Paul's Third Missionary Journey

2011-06-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:8, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Whenever I think of demons, those stone gargoyles found on old buildings come to mind. They have big fangs and ugly faces, but they're definitely stone. It's kind of hard to think of something like that as being a real threat in my life. Isn't a belief in demons about as outdated as the buildings where those gargoyles sit? Surprisingly, no. Demons are real, and they take every opportunity to stand in your way spiritually.

In Acts 19:21-41 Paul and his fellow travelers faced some pretty significant opposition. But look closer. The real reason behind the opposition was spiritual; these people were worshipers of a false god. They wanted nothing more than to be rid of Paul and his companions-by any means necessary.

You may not have to deal with physical opposition, but you'll definitely have to deal with spiritual warfare. You're in for it whether you like it or not. But how do you fight an invisible enemy, and what do spiritual battles feel like?

This week we're going to look at the invisible war Christians fight and hopefully find answers to some of your questions. Try to see beyond the visible this week and recognize what's really happening in the spiritual realm.

Student Devotional Week 38: Giving: Paul's Instructions To The Corinthian Church

2011-06-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Bono, lead singer of the band U2, once said during a song, "The God I believe in isn't short of cash." He was criticizing phony TV preachers for stealing money from unsuspecting people. Lots of people have the same feeling. I meet people all the time who assume the only thing the church is after is their money. But Bono brings up a good point: If God can bless everyone, then why do we have to give-to God or to anyone else for that matter? Can't God just bless people? The answer is that it's not about the money.

We've received so much from God, it's only right that we honor him by giving some of it back. And as we give our resources away, it reminds us that the God who gave them to us in the first place will provide what we need. From cover to cover, the Bible records how people honored God by giving back to him. And we can still do this today through our local churches.

The early churches exemplified this concept of giving back to God by giving their money to help other churches that were in trouble. Paul not only taught his churches about giving, but he also gave them an opportunity to give an offering that he personally delivered to the Jerusalem church.

The generosity of the early churches is an example we follow today. This week we're going to look at why we need to give God our time, energy, and money.

Student Devotional Week 37: Spiritual Gifts: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 4 of 4)

2011-06-02T16:58:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:11, "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

Maybe it's been a while since you put a puzzle together, but have you ever really studied a puzzle's pieces? They look like something out of a Picasso painting with their multiple legs, odd-shaped curves, and no hard edges (except for those blessed border pieces). No pieces seem identical. They all have a unique place to fill in the big picture, and the portrait won't be complete until every last one of them is in place.

God's Church is made in much the same way-as a puzzle. When you become a part of the Church, you receive a spiritual gift of some kind. One person may be given the ability to lead, another the ability to encourage, and still another the ability to make people feel welcome. No matter who you are, everyone gets a gift.

The Church functions like it's supposed to when all of us, like puzzle pieces, fit together and do our parts. Leave a piece out, and it's just not the same. Because you have this gift, you're a very important-even indispensable-part of the Church. Paul made this a top concern when he was teaching his churches so they'd understand that no one can walk alone. Churches aren't filled with spectators but with unique Christians, each with a role to play in the spiritual masterpiece of the Church.

This week we're going to look at what spiritual gifts are and how to determine which gifts you have.

Student Weekly Devotional Week 36: Communion: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 3 of 4)

2011-05-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 2:32 "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."

Little cups filled with grape juice. Little pieces of bland bread. Must be communion time again. We've all probably participated in communion, but do we actually understand what's going on? In the rituals supposedly included cannibalism-at least that's what some had to eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus. I guess to an outsider it does sound strange, but communion is an intimate and precious thing to a Christian.

Jesus asked us to regularly take part in communion. It's a continual reminder of Christ's sacrifice and constant union with us. If we don't keep this in mind, then we could miss out on the spiritual impact that communion can bring. Paul taught the churches to practice communion, but he had harsh words for those who failed to approach the communion table properly (for example, the Corinthians).

Does communion make sense to you? It's one of the church's most intensely personal traditions. This week we're going to spend some time looking at what happens when we take communion. Why did Jesus tell us to keep doing it? what's it about anyway? Look deep this week; there may be much more going on than you've ever imagined.

Student Devotion Week 35: Accountability: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 2 of 4)

2011-05-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Galatians 6:1, "Brothers, if someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

I never would've survived high school without my best friends. Together we had some of the best years of our lives, but we also kept each other from straying away from Christ. We were accountable to one another.

In week 9 we figured out that if we're going to have integrity as a church, then we can't let sin go unchecked. That's easy enough when we're the problem, but it gets a little harder when we have to tell someone else what they're doing in wrong. That's where accountability comes in.

As Paul planted churches, he didn't forget about them once he left. While he traveled, he routinely kept track of them and even made return visits to make sure they stayed healthy. So when Paul found out the Corinthians were allowing sin to go unchecked, he wrote a letter to keep them accountable to their commitment to Christ.

Every now and then we'll have friends who stray off the path. When that happens, we need to be there to help them get back on the right track, just like we'll need them to help us. I know it sounds unpleasant, and it can get messy. But when we actually start holding each other accountable, you'll be surprised how much it helps your own spiritual life. Instead of dealing with sin on your own, you can tackle it with the help of your Christian friends. But it starts when we're honest about our own lives and open to listening to others when they confront us.

Ready? Let's figure out how we can hold each other accountable this week.

Student Devotion Week 34: Internal Divisions: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 1 of 4)

2011-04-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Romans 12:16, "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."

Have you ever felt betrayed-like when you found out your best friend was talking about you behind your back? It's worse-much worse-than finding out your worst enemy is trashing you. We expect that kind of treatment from our enemies but not from our friends. As Christians I believe we're ready to fight spiritual forces that are set against us and even people who don't believe in Christ. But it's a shock to realize you'll often end up fighting other people in your church.

Paul experienced this firsthand. While on his third missionary journey, in Ephesus, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. After wading through angry mobs of pagans in town after town, Paul found out that the believers in Corinth were fighting amongst themselves. The same thing happens today. Almost all of us know of a church that's split over some trivial matter like the color of the carpet. What's going on? Satan will never fight fair. If he can sabotage churches, then he's more than willing to do so.

This week we'll look at some internal problems that cropped up in the New Testament Church and see how God wants us to deal with them today. Any conflict can be defeated when we allow Christ and his truth-not our prideful opinions-to be our guide.

Student Devotion Week 33: A Night's Vision: Paul in Corinth

2011-04-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 18:9-10, "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.'"

While I was on a mission trip to Mexico, some policemen rounded up a bunch of guys in our worship service and led them outside-they walked right past me. One policeman told me they were some local gang members causing trouble. I asked if they could stay, but I was ignored. Too bad, I thought. I wish they could have heard the gospel. Suddenly I felt God leading me to tell these guys about Jesus. My response to God was that talking to gang members was not my spiritual gift. God didn't buy it. So, scared to death, I went to the parking lot to chase down 12 gang members and tell them about Christ.

My situation was a cakewalk compared to what Paul endured. As he traveled on his missionary journeys, people routinely wanted to kill him. This always makes me wonder if Paul ever got scared. The answer must be "yes," since in Acts 18 Paul received a special vision from God reminding Paul that God would always be with him. Armed with that confidence, Paul never wavered as he preached and taught.

God may ask us to to do things that are frightening, but he'll always be with us. And while our fear may not go away completely, we can have faith in God that he won't let us down. This week we'll look at how to find courage in the midst of difficult ministry moments.

Student Devotion Week 32: The Unknown God: Paul in Athens

2011-04-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 17:31, "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Imagine you get a chance to travel back in time and explore your favorite period of history. It sounds great at first, but then try explaining your world to the people living in that time. How would you describe electricity to someone from the Middle Ages? Those people would have a hard time understanding you because they have no frame of reference. Since they've never even imagined some of the things you're describing, they'd probably give you some funny looks. In Acts 17:16-34 Paul found himself in a similar situation as he tried to explain Christ to the people in Athens, who had no frame to reference for a resurrected Messiah. While some people thought Paul was crazy, Paul got through to the Athenians by finding out what they knew and starting from there. Witnessing to people isn't easy; but if we love them, then we'll do our best to paint a clear picture for them. There are people around you who have no idea what a personal relationship with Jesus is-or how to have one. And you may be the only person they know who can tell them. What will you say? Like Paul, this week we're going to figure out a game plan so we can meet people where they are and take the gospel to those who may have never heard Jesus' name.

Student Devotional Week 31: The Church Expectant: The Return of Christ

2011-04-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

As a kid, I could never sleep on Christmas Eve. I was too excited. who knew what would be waiting for me under the tree when I got up? Would I get all the things I asked for? Expectation is a powerful force in our lives. It gives us hope, makes us excited, and helps us overcome obstacles and setbacks. But as believers, we aren't waiting for a present under a tree; we're waiting for the return of Christ!

As Paul traveled on his missionary journeys, he wrote to the churches he'd visited or helped start. These letters would eventually become many of the books of the New Testament. While on his second missionary journey, Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. Like a child on Christmas morning, the members of the church were anxious for the return of Christ. But they also had some questions, such as, "What happens to those people who died before Christ came to earth?" Paul answered their questions in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

When Jesus comes again, everything will change. We'll get new bodies, we'll see our loved ones who have died, and we'll live forever with God. In the meantime God has given us a task to accomplish, and it may not always be an easy one. But if we keep our eyes focused on heaven, then we'll remember what we're fighting for. We should never settle for sin.

This week we'll look at the future of the Church and how that future helps us live here and now.

Student Devotion Week 30: A Unified Church: Letter to the Philipians

2011-03-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or van conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." It challenges me anytime I see a large group of people coming together for a common purpose. When this happens, it shows that something is more important than their differences-something that transcends personal ambitions. God is trying to build that same spirit of unity in us. One of the things Paul stressed in the prison epistles of Philippians and Ephesians is the unity of church. But how do such different people act in concert? By imitating Christ and following the example he set. What an incredible unified body we'd be if everyone in the church were to follow this example. One day this will be a reality, and we're all going to see it. But until then, God is busy building that unity among us. We're going to take a look at the unity of the church and discover that God truly desires for us to put aside our differences and come together as one universal Church. It's going to require some changes on all parts. But the result will be a sight that will do more than simply confound divisive politicians; it will change the whole world.

Student Devotion Week 29: Singing in Jail: Paul & Silas in Prison

2011-03-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 16:30-31, "He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Have you ever hit your funny bone? You know what I'm talking about, although I'm sure this isn't the technical name for it. Often when I hit my elbow, first I feel a shooting pain, but right after I also have a desire to laugh. My arm hurts, but it makes me laugh, too. It's weird how pain and laughter can coexist. It doesn't make sense, but it happens.

This week we're looking at an equally improbable event. Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison, but they they led a worship service from their jail cell. How can someone experience such pain yet still sing? Our reaction to bad situations is one way we show a lost world that Christ is real. When we're able to see Christ in the midst of our pain, we find strength where others find only emptiness and despair.

Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, if we turn our troubles over to God, then we discover that God walks with us in the fire. And when we step out of the flames in one piece, everyone marvels at the fact that God provided help in our time on pain. God can help us become people who react like Paul and Silas did. The bad news is that is usually takes a lot of tough experiences to build that kind of character. But we have to start somewhere. And we don't have to do it alone.

Student Devotion Week 28: Going to Macedonia: Paul's Vision

2011-03-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 16:9-10,"During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

Wouldn't it be great if we had road signs for life, such as College, Turn Here or Character Work Next Four Months? They might not make life easier, but we'd be a little more confident about which choices to make. These signs would be helpful in our spiritual lives as well. But, unfortunately, there are no such signs.

Some people believe following God is easy; it's usually anything but easy. One of the frustrating aspects of following God is that we often don't know where we're going. We may have one idea about how to serve God, only to discover God wants us to do something else. This can be frustrating and even discouraging if we're not careful.

So often we can see only the next step in our journey. And our limited perspective means we don't always know what's best for us. God, on the other hand, can see our entire journey. Therefore, when God asks us to make sacrifices or change our plans, it's always in our best interest to obey. The result honors God and brings us to the best possible place in our lives.

Don't think you're alone in this. Even the apostles had experiences like ours. Acts 16 records a story of how Paul went through some frustrations before he finally discovered God's will concerning the next phase of his ministry. This week we're going to look at how Paul dealt with this change of plans and see what resulted. So put on your traveling shoes; we're about to make a detour.

Student Devotion Week 27: Preaching & Teaching: Second Letter to Timothy (Part 2 of 2)

2011-03-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 4:12, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

When you say the word preaching, images of ministers spitting out messages about hellfire and brimstone may come to mind. If it doesn't, then realize that for a lot of people in our culture, that's the only image of preaching they know. Examples of bad preaching are numerous: Televangelizing crooks, sandwich-board-wearing prophets, and finger-pointing bigots. But the heart of the Church lies the gospel-the message of grace and new life through a relationship with Jesus.

God chose to reveal this message of hope to the world through you and me, followers of Christ. There's no Plan B. We're it! So the preaching and teaching of the Church is a top priority-not just for preachers, but for all of us. Paul knew this, and he wrote to young disciples, like Timothy, to make sure they understood the importance of the teaching of the Church. Paul wouldn't be around forever, so he made sure to pass on that message to others who could faithfully preach it to a new generation.

We need to make sure we're receiving good teaching and passing it on to others. Without the teaching of the Church, our beliefs would be reduced to the opinions of the latest charismatic leader.

The true message of the Church stands the test of time and isn't changed by the ideas of our culture. This week we'll look at why this is important and how we fit into the task of preaching and teaching today.

Student Devotion Week 26: The Bible: Second Letter to Timothy (Part 1 of 2)

2011-02-27T17:54:00.002-08:00

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Authority is one of those words we don't particularly like. Who wants to obey people in authority? But think about what life in our country would be like without it. With no laws, people would do whatever they wanted. Imagine driving without traffic lights or stop signs. It would be chaos.

We also need a foundation-something solid to stand on, something that won't break in the midst of our problems. Our culture asks Christians, "What makes you right and everyone else wrong?" It's an honest question. The answer is we don't base our lives on our opinions or our desires. We base our lives on the Word of God. As Paul trained leaders for his churches, he spelled out why Scripture is so important for Christians. The Bible is God's unchanging foundation that shows us what truth is. It's authority of our lives.

When God tells us through Scripture that something is right, it's right. We know this because God inspired his Word and made sure it was passed down to us accurately and unchanging for thousands of years. The foundation of the Church is also the foundation of our lives. This week we're going to look at the place Scripture has in our daily lives.

Student Devotion Week 25: Qualified Leaders: First Letter to Timothy Part 2

2011-02-20T07:39:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 3:16, "16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."

Most televangelists bug me. Have you ever actually listened to these guys? Some are great people of God, to be sure, but others are charlatans with a lot of charisma and very little depth. And many are masters at bending Scripture to suit their needs. It seems few of these preachers are interested in truly teaching people the Word of God; most of them seem more interested in receiving people's money.

Unfortunately, from time to time leaders who mirror the lack of character displayed by some televangelists will creep into the Church. And it's a problem that was around long before television was invented. Paul understood the danger. In his last letters, he left clear commands about how to evaluate people who want to be church leaders.

False leaders have always been a threat to the Church. But God is faithful to send us qualified leaders who can truly teach the Bible and instruct us how to be better followers of Christ.

This week we're going to look at the qualifications for being a leader in the church. We need to know this information so we can weed out the false teachers from those who can really help us. We also need to know this because God may call us to be leaders one day.

Student Devotion Week 24: Prayer: First Letter to Timothy Part 1

2011-02-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 2:1-2, " I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

Have you ever read about elections that were decided by only a handful of votes? It happens all the time-even in elections for the President of the United States. And with such small margins of victory, few would deny that every vote is important. Therefore, no one can honestly say it doesn't matter if he votes or not. Voting is a right and a privilege of American citizens. No matter who you are, once you turn 18, you get that right and the power that comes with it.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have something even more powerful (and you don't have to wait until you're 18 to use it). God tells us our prayers are incredibly powerful-a stronger force than you've ever dreamed of having. Combined with the prayers of other Christians, our prayers are an amazing force in the world.

Paul knew the importance of prayer. Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy while Paul was imprisoned in Rome, anticipating the end of his life. Looking back on his ministry, Paul knew unmistakably that the prayers of the churches were the foundation of his spiritual successes. He wanted Timothy and all of his churches to never forget how tremendously powerful the prayers of the saints are.

This week we're going to look at both the prayers of the Church and our personal prayer lives. Maybe you've never really thought about your prayer life; maybe it's just something you do. But with a force this powerful, we should expect that supernatural.

Student Devotion Week 23: Spiritual Parenthood: Paul's Second Missionary Journey and Timothy

2011-02-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 16:5, "So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in number."

Babies require a lot of attention...in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. If you don't believe me, ask a new parent.

Spiritual babies are the same way: They also require a lot of attention. When people come to faith in Christ, they don't wake up the next morning with all the answers. In fact, new believers' questions keep multiplying. So it's a good thing there are mature Christians around to help them.

In addition to our biological parents, God provides spiritual parents to show us how to grow in Christ. Your spiritual parent may be your pastor, youth minister, or a good Christian friend. Spiritual parents are crucial to your spiritual growth.

Paul played this role for a young man named Timothy. In Acts 16 Paul, already on his second missionary journey, decided to bring Timothy along. Paul became Timothy's spiritual parent and helped him mature in the faith.

As you grow spiritually, God desires for you to parent other young believers. In fact, you should always have at least two types of people in your life: Someone who's disciplining you (a "Paul"), and someone you're disciplining (a "Timothy"). This week we're going to see how the early Christians parented each other so we can begin to do the same.

Student Devotion Week 20: Healing A Rift: The Jerusalem Council

2011-01-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 15:8-9, "God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith."

From a football rival to y9our nation's sworn enemy, it;s hard to love anyone who isn't on your side-for whatever reason. The tension between two groups can grow from a minor rivalry to anger, hatred, and even violence that's sustained for centuries. This was the case for the Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were called by God to be his chosen people, and everyone else wasn't. Therefore, Gentiles, the name given to any non-Jew, were typically excluded from most Jewish ceremonies and were considered unclean.

So imagine the surprise of the Jewish Christians when Gentiles began receiving the same Holy Spirit they'd received. "You mean, God loves them, too?" Paul and Peter had begun ministries to bring Gentiles into the new Church. But with the inclusion of Gentiles came a huge problem for the Jews: "How do we get along with the same people we've always excluded?" In Acts 15 we read about a heated discussion among Paul, Barnabas, Peter, James, and other apostles and elders of the church concerning this very problem.

This week we're going to look at how the early Church responded to God's call to love all people, not just the ones they were comfortable with. The challenge for the Jewish Christians is also our challenge today as God calls us to love and include everyone-even the ones we see as being on the "other side."

Student Devotion Week 19: Supporting Missionaries: Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch

2011-01-16T06:12:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 14:23, "Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust."

Before the lofty days of digital photography and fancy computer programs, we had slide projectors. On Sunday nights when I was a kid, missionaries who were home on a break (some called furlough) would come to church and show us a slide show about where they'd been and what God had done in their ministries. You can probably imagine how boring this was for me. I wanted amazing stories of angels, narrow escapes, and exorcisms, but the missionaries never shared those. Instead, it was just the same old stories about people being saved, lives being changed, and communities being transformed by the love of Jesus.

Of course, I'd totally missed the point. They weren't flashy, but those missionaries were literally the heroes of the faith standing before me. These people had left all the cushy comforts of home and traded them for a chance to serve Christ on the front lines and share the gospel. And while they may not have wowed me with their presentations, their spiritual impact was tremendous.

In Acts Paul and Barnabas came home from their mission trip to give the early Church their version of a slide show. Supporting missionaries who come to your church may not be a top priority for you, but it is to Jesus.

This week we're going to see how we can support those who are called to serve on the mission field, even when we're not.

Student Devotion Week 18: Reaching the Lost: Paul's First Missionary Journey

2011-01-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 13:2-3, "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off."

If you've never been outside the United States, it's tempting to assume everyone around the world lives like you do. My first mission trip to Mexico cured me of that delusion. I had the privilege of helping build small houses for people who lived in huts made out of garbage-literally. Until then, I'd never thought about the needs of those who lived so far away from my day-to-day existence. But once I saw their needs, I could never forget them. Even though their physical needs were striking, they had deeper needs than the physical ones.

This week we see God sending out missionaries to reach a lost world as Paul embarks on his first missionary journey. Some pretty amazing things happen on this trip. But the most important thing is that the message of Christ is preached to people who'd probably never heard it before. The influence of the gospel is beginning to be felt outside Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.

God never forgets about the needs of non-Christians, and God wants them all to come to faith in Christ. In order to accomplish that goal, God is sending us-all of us. No matter who we are or what our spiritual gifts are, all of us are to be involved in reaching non-Christians with the message of Jesus Christ. And until those needs are met, we all have a job to do. So pack your bags. It's time to get going.

Student Devotional Week 17: A Growing Church: The Church at Antioch

2011-01-02T15:23:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 11:21, "The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord."

I don't know about you, but I'm continually amazed at how quickly babies grow. You see them one month, and they're small and helpless. Then just a few months later, they're walking, talking, and generally creating havoc wherever they go.

Amazing.

Most of us have stopped growing by now, so maybe we don't appreciate this as much. I'm sure God meant for babies to stop growing at a certain point, but not the church.

In Acts 11:19-26, we see the Church multiplying and growing exponentially as the gospel moves into new areas. This growth is explosive as the Church tears down the barriers of cultural prejudice, geographical isolation, racial division-to be continually expanding and bringing more people into the knowledge of Christ.

The same Holy Spirit who inspired this expansion is continuing to work in us today. Many of the barriers faced by the early Church members still threaten us, but they can be torn down just as easily through the Holy Spirit power.

This week we're going to find out that God wants to use us to reach the world by multiplying the number of believers in our churches.

Student Devotion Week 16: From Jews to Gentiles: Peter and Cornelius

2010-12-12T07:54:00.001-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 10:39-40, “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen."

It's hard for me to believe people once thought the earth was flat or that it was the center of the universe. Imagine you'd believed that the earth was flat all of your life. How much would it have changed your reality if someone told you the world was actually a big ball circling a gigantic star and that all those tiny pinpricks in the night sky were stars hundreds of times bigger than the earth?

I imagine the Jews in Acts felt the same type of reality check when they found out that God wasn't interested in them only, but wanted to save the whole world. They saw themselves as "the chosen people," but now God was calling them to open the doors to allow non-Jews to receive salvation in Jesus Christ.

In Acts 10 we read that God gave Peter a specific vision to make him realize that Salvation was for all people, not just the Jews. The result of this revelation was an explosion of evangelism that quickly moved beyond Israel's borders and began to echo around the world. That shockwave is still expanding as the gospel is shared with people who've never heard it.

Some people say the gospel is too exclusive since it requires belief in Jesus. On the contrary, the gospel is one of the most inclusive of all faiths because it's open to anyone who believes.

Student Devotion Week 15: The Apostle to the Gentiles: The Conversion of Saul

2010-12-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 9:4-6, "He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

You can't talk about the New Testament without talking about Paul. In fact, Christianity wouldn't be the same without the life, writings, and influence of the apostle to the Gentiles. Something happened in the life of this one man that served as a turning point in history. Acts 9:1-19 records the amazing conversion of this great man-the transformation from "Saul the zealous Pharisee" to "Paul the crusader for Christ."

Paul's influence cannot be measured. Fulfilling God's will from the beginning, Paul got to be God's vessel to take the message of salvation to all people-not just the Jews. Paul was the first missionary to the rest of us. Part average Joe, part fierce debater, and part loving pastor, Paul's unique character and background made him the perfect choice as the apostle to everyone. Furthermore, God inspired Paul in the writings. He ultimately left behind 13 letters in our Scriptures.

As you read the book of Acts, you see the depth of conviction of this persecutor-turned-true-believer. And he's everywhere: In the marketplace talking to ordinary folks, in the synagogue debating religious leaders, and on the road spreading the gospel from Asia to Europe.

This week we're going to look at the conversion of the Church's first and greatest theologian, and find out why God is still using Paul in our lives today.

Student Devotion Week 14: An Amazing Conversion: Philip ant the Ethiopian

2010-11-28T07:27:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 8:32, "This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth."

Learning to drive is an interesting experience. Typically your parent or driving instructor will take you to some deserted road or parking lot for behind-the-wheel training. Driving seems easy-press the gas to go, use the wheel to turn-but a little more finesse is involved. After a few lurching starts and screeching halts, hopefully you start to get the hang of it. Or at least your instructor prays you do before he gets whiplash.

Learning new skills takes time. The disciples had to take some time to learn to walk in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of God present with them all the time meant they'd experience amazing new opportunities and an intimacy with God they'd never experienced before.

The same can be true for us as we learn to walk in the Spirit. But as it was with the first disciples, it will take some trial and error for us to work out the kinks.

This was certainly true for Philip, one of the seven chosen to help the apostles. This week we'll learn how the Spirit worked within the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian. Each day we'll tackle a different aspect of the story and pick ways we can learn how to respond to the Holy Spirit in our own lives. You never know-by the end of the week, you might be part of a similarly amazing story.

Student Devotion Week 13: God's Perfect Plan: The Dispersion of the Church

2010-11-21T07:22:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 8:4 "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went."

Have you ever seen those Magic Eye Pictures? You know, the ones that look like just a bunch of jagged colors but when you stare at them in a certain way, a picture will supposedly leap out at you in 3-D? I never could see the picture; in fact, staring at it just gave me a headache. But other people would swear that right in front of me-in the midst of a bunch of chaos-was an incredible picture. I have to say it's still hard for me to believe.

Sometimes our lives will look like those pictures: Completely random jagged edges, and totally incomprehensible. But the Bible is very clear about the fact that even when things seem totally out of control, God has his firm hand on history. God is able to work every circumstance for his purposes and his glory-at all times. In Acts 8:1-8 we see the early church face a huge wave of persecution. It looks bleak for the fledgling body of believers as they're scattered everywhere. But this period of turmoil would serve to spread the gospel faster than anything else in the book of Acts.

Even when we believe nothing can be done, God can still do whatever he wishes in order to fix the situation. As we think about God's sovereignty this week, watch how God brings a perfect plan to fruition out of what looks like complete chaos.

Student Devotion Week 12: The Martyrdom of The Saints: The Stonging of Stephen

2010-11-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Acts 7:55-56, "55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Tertullian, a church leader in the second century, said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." He was living through times of intense persecution, yet he saw the Church continue to grow and thrive. No matter how many Christians lost their lives, the Church continued to expand.

This kind of persecution began with the martyrdom of Stephen. When faced with a mob that wanted to destroy the fledgling Christian Church, Stephen gave bold witness to Jesus Christ. In response to the enraged mob stoned him. His death wouldn't be the last, either. Throughout the history of the early Church, people gave their lives for the gospel: Stephen, James, Peter, Paul. Yet the Church continues to multiply again and again.

This kind of martyrdom does not exist just in the Bible. As you read this, people all over the world are still giving the ultimate sacrifice in order to spread the gospel of Christ. You and I may never be asked to make that sacrifice, but daily we'll be asked to give our lives to Christ as we serve him wherever he chooses to use us. This week we're going to ask the question: Would I be willing to give my life for Christ? Until we understand the sacrifice of past saints, we won't be able to follow in their footsteps today.

Student Devotion Week 11: Shared Ministry: Choosing the Seven

2010-11-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Moses was tired. He'd been listening to one disagreement after another. I imagine him mediating a dispute between two people who claim to have created manna soup, and both want the patent on the recipe. The Israelites had been coming to Moses with these kinds of questions all day, and the line still wrapped around the tent-twice, "This is ridiculous", he thought. "I can't keep this up." But he was the leader of Israel-wasn't settling disputes his job? If so, then how does the leader of a million people wandering in the desert go on a vacation?

Next in line was Moses' father-in-law who had some advice of his own, "Moses, share the load. It's not all up to you." So Moses did, and he got that vacation.

Just like Moses, the apostles figured out early on that they couldn't do ministry by themselves. So God helped them choose others to share the ministry of his kingdom. Everyone in the early Church had a part to play in ministry.

This week we're going to think about the shared ministry of the Church. Whether you know it or not, God has a place for you to serve, and the whole concept of church won't work unless you get involved. It's time we all got off the pews and into the game.

Student Devotion Week 10: An Invincible Church: Persecution of The Apostles

2010-10-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 5:29, "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men!'"

Let's think for a moment about all the religious that have come and gone. There were Egyptian gods, that whole druid thing, and how can we forget all those Greek gods?

But then there's the church. Not only has the Church stood the test of time-spanning more than 2,000 years of history-but multitudes of people have also tried to destroy it without success. Bibles have been turned, apostles executed, and entire empire tried to wipe out the Church-all to no avail. The Church continues to thrive. Why? Because Jesus is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Impostors fade away while Christ remains.

The situation has been the same from the Church's beginning. In Acts the apostles were threatened by religious and government authorities, thrown in jail, and beaten. But none of this put a dent in God's unfolding plan for his kingdom in the world. The Church continued to grown through all of the opposition.

Today's Church is the same way. Christians around the world are persecuted, and the Church of Jesus Christ still stands. Yet most of us don't see the Church as the invincible body it is.

Student Devotion Week 9: Integrity: The Key to Our Witness

2010-10-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Peter 1:15, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do."

Mahatma Gandhi was an influential Hindu leader in the early twentieth century whose life and teachings are still followed by many today. He often referred to Jesus with terms of praise, prompting someone to ask Gandhi if he wanted to become a Christian. In reply, he said, "I like your Christ: I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." His sentiment is shared by many. How many people have been driven away from church because some Christians talk like believers but never live out the faith they preach?

The reality is that if we don't live what we say, then we lose our credibility in telling others about Jesus. When Christians lack integrity, everyone loses. What's integrity? Having integrity means being honest. It means saying what you mean and meaning what you say. And it's more important than you know. In the early stages of the Church, God went so far as to kill one couple who purposefully lied to their church. What happened to them was pretty drastic. But their lack of integrity threatened the Church.

As Christians we have to be diligent about making sure our lives reflect our beliefs. And since we're a part of a larger body, we have to help each other live out our beliefs as well. Even if we live correctly, when other believers are hypocrites, it hurts our witness. So this week we're going to talk about the integrity of not just our lives, but of the Church as well. Whether you like it or not, we're all in this together.

Student Devotion Week 8: One Community: Sharing Among Believers

2010-10-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

Growing up in my church, the word fellowship meant some sort of post-worship-service gathering that involved food and coffee. And that was about it. It seemed pointless then; but looking back, I can see how important those times were. A church is a family made up of different types of people. And the only way such a diverse group can become a real family-and not just a crowd-is by spending time together.

This week we'll see the members of the early church giving money to one another, sharing their possessions, and taking care of each other. This is what a real church family is supposed to look like. But how do we get there?

In every church God wants to build something called community, the sense that we're all connected in a real way. Serving each other, helping, loving, and giving are all ways we express real community.

Believe it or not, this can be the most exciting and life-changing aspect of your church experience. But community isn't easy to come by. It takes a deliberate choice to be a part of the people of God. Once you join, the benefits are endless. This week we're going to look at how to build real community in our own churches.

Student Devotion Week 7: Physical Opposition: Peter, John, and the Sandhedrin

2010-10-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." Hebrews 10:39

At the entrance to the Coliseum in Rome stands a huge iron cross. It was erected to commemorate the countless number of Christians who were killed for sport in that place and throughout the Roman Empire. Scary as it may seem, throughout history people have given their lives just for claiming to be Christians and refusing to deny Jesus. And while the Coliseum may seem millions of miles away from your daily life, persecution and death are a present-day reality for many Christians around the world today. Peter and John knew this kind of persecution. In Acts 4:1-12 they were thrown in Jail just because they were preaching the gospel. And that was just the beginning. Our lives may never be at risk simply because we're Christians. But one of the things we'll have to deal with is opposition. Jesus said that since people hated him, they'd also hate us for no other reason than because we love God. It seems odd, but it happens. You've probably already experienced people excluding you or making fun of you just for your beliefs. This week we're going to look at some responses to physical threats and how we can best use these situations to be witnesses for Christ.

Student Devotion Week 6: Silver or Gold I Do Not Have: Healing of the Beautiful Beggar

2010-10-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

You've seen the signs: Caution! Men at Work. Speeding Fines Double When Workers Present. Orange signs, cones, and barricades-these are the everyday things that let us know what's ahead.

Did you know God is always working? There are no flares or flashing lights that call us to look. We have to be sensitive to the opportunities around us. We have to sense God's Spirit moving in us. We have to learn to be aware, to be alive to the possibilities.

Peter and John sensed an opportunity one afternoon while they were on their way to pray. They saw a man who needed new legs. They saw a man who needed a handout to get his meal for the day. But they saw something more. They saw a man who needed Jesus. They knew from their own experience that if they could introduce this beggar to Christ, then he'd have all he really needed.

This week we're going to be challenged to see where God is at work and join God.

Student Devotion Week 5: The Church's Message: Peter Speaks

2010-09-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 2:32, "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."

"Man raised from the Dead!" It sounds like a headline you'd read in the National Enquirer. But this fact is the basis for Christianity. The heart of the gospel isn't a list of rules or regulations. It's Jesus' message that we need-and can have-new life. And this new life is available to anyone who believes Jesus died and arose from the dead.

In Acts 2:14-33 Peter follow up the incredible baptism of the Holy Spirit with an awesome Pentecost sermon. He speaks the truth about the Holy Spirit-that God had promised it and kept that promise. And then Peter boldly proclaims that the Jesus they'd all watched die is alive again. More than anything else, this defined the beliefs of the apostles and the early church. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity because Christ would still be dead.

The truths about Jesus in Peter's sermon have always been the Church's central message; it should be a message we claim for ourselves. Because Jesus is alive, we can have a relationship with him and he's working in our lives on a daily basis. IT gives us confidence in the hope that one day we, too, will be resurrected. This week we'll look at what the resurrection means to us on a daily basis.

Student Devotion Week 4: Baptism of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

2010-09-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." I Corinthians 6:19-20

It was dramatic . Rushing wind...pyrotechnics...crowds reeling in amazement...and one of the most effective sermons ever preached. This is how the Church was born at Pentecost. In one day more than 3,000 people began the church in Jerusalem.

Those believers were the start of something big. Since then the Church has faithfully passed the message of Jesus Christ from generation to generation throughout the ages. Eventually someone told you. The church you're now a part of grew from the message of Christ that the early Christians presented thousands of years ago.

The Holy Spirit of God made a surprise entrance at Pentecost, assuring us that from then on we'd be able to do things that used to be impossible. The Spirit now empowers us, guides us to the truth, teaches us, and helps us share our faith. With the Spirit, amazing things are suddenly a possibility.

As believers, one of our main tasks is to remain connected to the Holy Spirit. This week we'll look at how the Spirit helps us and find out how to take advantage of the many miraculous opportunities the Spirit gives us every day.

Student Devotion Week 3: The Church Founders: The Choosing of Matthias

2010-09-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that hte body of Christ may be built up." Ephesians 4:11-12

Every story has a beginning, and yours goes all the way back to the disciples. One disciple in particular, Peter, is a big figure inthe Church. He's depicted in paintings, he wrote a couple of books in the New Testament, and it's said he has this sweet gig at the pearly gates. But back in the book of Acts, none of this was on his radar. In fact, all the disciples were a little confused. Jesus had always made the decisions, but suddenly the disciples-a group of ordinary Joes-were alone. They must have thought, We're here, but what are we supposed to do?

They went to work anyway, starting with the decision to replace Judas. Jesus had selected 12 disciples; therefore, it seemed important to continue to have 12. The disciples prayed that God would show them the right person, and God did. Matthias was chosen to replace Judas.

From there it's all history. Everything was happening according to God's plan. Little did the disciples know they were the beginning of the Church of Jesus Christ. The church you attend today can be traced back to these original followers of Christ.

This week we're looking at the apostles, the people Paul referred to as the foundation of the Church. As we study them, try to put yourself in their shoes. Think about what it would've been like to see the early Church get started. Imagine how people might have treated them. Try to picture the kind of faith the apostles must have had.

Student Devotion Week 48: Nehemiah: Rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem

2010-08-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 3:12, "In fact, everyone wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Have you seen the television show during which a whole house is completely torn down and rebuilt from scratch? Viewers love to see the transformation that takes place during a rebuilding process.

Nehemish was the original extreme makeover man, but instead of rebuilding a house, he tackled an entire city wall. A Jew living in exile in Persia, Nehemiah served as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I. He not only checked the wine for poisons, but he also served as confidant to the king. When Nehemiah heard the walls of Jerusalem had been torn down, he wept, morned, and fasted. Then he spent the next four months praying about the situation. During that time God formulated a plan in Nehemiah's mind for rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. God also began molding Nehemiah into a spiritual leader.

Prayer played an important part in Nehemiah's life during the rebuilding of the walls. When he was given permission to return to Jerusalem, enemies of the Israelites mocked Nehemiah's plan. But his response was to pray. When those enemies threatened to attack the workers during the rebuilding process, Nehemiah prayed again about the situation. Then when rumors created discouragement among the workers, Nehemiah once more took the matter to God in prayer.

Nehemiah's passionate vision for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem led him to discover a new level of trust in God. His spiritual leadership was stretched thin as he dealt with problem after problem, but each difficulty seemed to give him new strength. The real secret to Nehemiah's success was the thing his journey started with and centered on: Prayer.

Student Devotion Week 47: Esther: For Such A Time As This

2010-08-06T18:07:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Esther 4:14, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Pageants are a big deal. The winners receive scholarships, cars, or even modeling contracts. Have you ever heard of a pageant to choose a queen? While in exile with the Jewish people in Persia, Esther took part in such a pageant.

King Xerxes of Persia had given a banquet that lasted six months. At its conclusion, he called for his queen to come to the party wearing her crown. When she refused his command, the king became furious and banished her from his presence. the king's attendants suggested that a search be carried out for the most beautiful women in the kingdom. These women would be presented to the king and the one who pleased him most would become the new queen of Persia.

Esther hid her Jewish background and was chosen as the new queen. Haman, the king's Prime Minister, hated Esther's uncle, a Jewish man named Mordecai. Haman conceived a plan to wipe out all the Jews. When Queen Esther was informed of Haman's plan, she determined to stop him. She risked her life by entering the presence of the king and telling him about Haman's plan. Mordecai and the rest of God's people were saved, while Haman was hanged.

Esther's part in the rescue of the Hebrew people could be seen as one great circumstance after another, but God was in control of every event in her life. Your life isn't about being in the right place at the right time. Your life-like Esther's-is a testimony to the sovereignty of God.

Student Devotion Week 46: Daniel: Humble, Bold Pray-er

2010-08-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Daniel 9:19, "O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake. O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name."

Daniel faced a den of hungry lions because of his commitment to God. The king recognized Daniel's powerful prayer life when he said, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" God did rescue Daniel, and as his story continued to unfold, Daniel continued to pray and fast.

Daniel was grieved to learn of Jeremiah's prophecy that 70 years of desolation for Jerusalem would come to pass in Daniel's lifetime. Daniel started praying and fasting to God's people. First, he acknowledged God as a keeper of promises and confessed his sin and the sins of the Israelites. Next, Daniel recognized that the people of Israel were getting exactly what they deserved because of their disobedience and lack of trust in God. Then Daniel asked God to show mercy and turn his anger away from the sinful Israelites.

While Daniel continued to pray, a most amazing thing happened: The angel Gabriel appeared before him. The angel told Daniel his prayer had caused God to issue a message concerning one of Daniel's visions. God was also pleased with Daniel's devotion to prayer. And Gabriel even told Daniel that God loved him very much. Literally, Daniel was an object of God's delight.

Daniel was a humble man, and that meek spirit came across in his times alone with God. He was quick to repent, and he had a strong desire to seek God in all situations. Daniel was known for his character and integrity, and those qualities were strenghtened through his prayer life. Daniel's pryaers stirred the heart of his heavenly Father, who expressed both love and delight for his humble servant.

Student Devotion Week 45: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego: Standing in the Furnace

2010-07-25T18:07:00.001-07:00

Key Verse: Daniel 3:17-18, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were Daniel's friends. In fact, all four of them were exiles from Judah living in Babylon. During King Nebuchadnezzar's three-year training period. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were with Daniel. While Daniel got in trouble for his prayers, it was their failure to bow down to a gold statue that heated things up for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a huge gold statue built. At the dedication ceremony, he declared that when people heard the music, they were to bow down to the golden idol-except Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When Nebuchadnezzar heard of their refusal to bow down, he was furious and gave them one last chance to submit or face a painful death in a fiery furnace.

The confrontation between the king and these three young men was nothing short of classic. Nebuchadnezzar asked them what god could protect them in a blazing furnace, to which not just one but all three of them basically said, "The God we serve is able to save. But even if he doesn't, your majesty can be sure we'll never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you've set up."

They were willing to put their lives on the line for God. Why? Because obeying God and being faithful to him were more important to them than life itself. God did rescue Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from certain death in the burning furnace. And the bold stance by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego caused the king to issue a new declaration: "There is no other god who can rescue like this!" (Daniel 3:29, NLT).

Student Devotion Week 44: Daniel: Firm Convictions

2010-07-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Daniel 6:10, "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

Daniel's life was good. He was blessed with good looks. His family was well off. He was well educated. Then the Babylonians took over his country, and he was forced to live in exile. Daniel learned to make the best he could out of a bad situation.

Daniel was selected to go through special training in Babylon. He studied the language and culture of the pagan Babylonians, but Daniel never turned his back on God. Daniel kept his faith in God and his integrity, yet he still gained favor with the Babylonian rulers. That's when the trouble started.

King Darius was fond of Daniel, and he made Daniel his second in command. Some jealous peers decided to use Daniel's devotion to prayer to bring him down. The princes and administrators appealed to King Darius' vanity by having him sign a decree stating people couldn't pray to anyone except the king for 30 days. But Daniel kept on praying to God three times every day, just as he'd always done.

King Darius was trapped and forced to sentence Daniel to spend a night in a den of hungry lions. The next morning, the king raced to the lions' den and asked if God was able to deliver him. Daniel called out that he was fine because God had shut the mouths of lions. Darius issued a new decree that everyone in the kingdom should worship Daniel's God.

Student Devotion Week 43: Ezekiel: Sent To Warn

2010-07-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Ezekiel 33:9, "But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself."

Don't people frustrate you when their words don't match their actions? One celebrity campaigned against sport utiltity vehicles because they use too much gas, yet he flew in a private jet and rode in limousines. Are you ever guilty of speaking God's message but not living it? God instructed Ezekiel to live what he preached.

God chose Ezekiel to be a prophet five years after the babylonians took Judah into captivity. He was called a watchman by God and was given the task of speaking about God's judgment and the future hope for the restoration of God's people. God described Ezekiel's audience as hard-hearted and stubborn. God also warned Ezekiel of the danger of becoming like his audience. By simply "practicing what he preached," Ezekiel could avoid that danger.

Ezekiel used unique ways to present God's message. Once God told Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days to represent 390 years of Israel's sin. Then God told him to lie on his right side for 40 days to represent 40 years of Judah's sin. Ezekiel spent more than a year lying on his side.

God called Ezekiel to minister during some of the darkest days of Israel's history. His message was that God's glory had departed from his people but would one day return. Ezekiel offered the hope of restoration and future blessings from God. While Ezekiel spoke to hostile crowds, God called him to live what he preached. If he did, God promised to protect Ezekiel.

Student Devotion Week 42: Prophet Habakkuk: Live By Faith

2010-07-04T07:40:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Habakkuk 2:4, "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous will live by his faith."

Do you remember Job? He was a man who suffered and wanted God to answer his questions. Habakkuk is another Old Testament character who tried to question God. Job asked why God was punishing him; Habakkuk wanted to know why God hadn't punished the nation of Judah.

Habakkuk was a prophet during the closing days of Judah's history, probably during the reign of King Jehoiakim. The prophet watched as people violated God's laws without shame. The Israelites were living as if the God who miraculously delivered their ancestors had never existed.

The first part of the book of Habakkuk records two dialogues between the prophet and God. The conversations went something like this -

Habakkuk: God, how can you let the sins of Judah go unpunished?

God: I'm preparing the Babylonians as a way to Judge and punish Judah.

Habakkuk: God, why would you punish sinful Judah by using the pagan Babylonians?

God: I will punish both Judah and the Babylonians because sin cannot go unpunished.

The book of Habakkuk concludes with a beautiful prayer of praise sung by the prophet. Habakkuk acknowledged God as his source of strength in times of trouble. Habakkuk's questions caused him to experience God's wonder in a powerful way.

Student Devotion Week 41: Prophet Jeremiah: Chosen For Bad News

2010-06-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

When I was in college, a girl from my youth group was killed in a car wreck. I hadn't seen her in five years, but the news still shocked me. The wreck happened on a weekend, and on Monday I talked with a close friend of this girl. After I told her to pass on my sympathy to the girl's family, I made a startling discovery: she'd been out of town, and no one had told her that her friend had died unexpectedly.

The prophet Jeremiah knew what it was like to be the bearer of bad news. God called Jeremiah to speak out against the sin of the people and warn them that Jerusalem would be destroyed. Needless to say, his message wasn't very popular. People plotted to kill him.

Jeremiah's prophecies were so vivid, he cried over what was about to happen. He was even nicknamed "the weeping prophet." Jeremiah always held to God's promise of protection from his enemies-and God kept his promise. After the reign of King Zedekiah, Judah was invaded by the Babylonians, and the people were taken into captivity.

People love to hear about God's love and grace, but the truth about sin, judgment, and eternal punishment isn't very popular. God may call you to risk it all and speak his truth to someone. Don't expect to be congratulated. People may respond with anger. Even so, you can be confident you'll experience the presence and protection of God.

Student Devotion Week 39: Prophet Jonah: God's Compassion

2010-06-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Jonah 2:6, "To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God."

The city of Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire. God had seen the wickedness of the Ninevites and was preparing to judge that great city. They Ninevites showed disregard for God. They worshiped false gods. The Assyrians were vicious and did terrible things to their enemies. This evil and barbaric society was about to come under God's judgment. Enter Jonah.

The prophet Jonah was called to announce the judgment of God to Nineveh. He'd have to travel a great distance to get there. The prospect of meeting evil and cruel people face to face didn't appeal to Jonah, so he hopped on a boat and headed in the opposite direction. Running from the call of God may not have been about fear; Jonah may have actually wanted God to destroy Nineveh - the capital city of one of Israel's potential enemies.

Jonah's disobedience led him into a storm at sea and a trip into the belly of a great fish. In the dark and surely believing he'd die, Jonah finally realized that salvation is from God; he had no right to choose who'd hear the Word of the Lord.

When the big fish spit Jonah out, he went to Nineveh and spoke these few simple words: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned" (Jonah 3:4). Those words created such a revival that even the king repented and called all his people to do the same.

Why did God call Jonah to go preach in Nineveh? God loves all people, and he desires that everyone should have an opportunity to hear about him and respond to him. It's not for us to choose who hears about God. We're simply to Obey God and run to - not away from - his call.

Student Devotion Week 38: King Hezekiah: Repentance and Deliverance

2010-06-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 2 Kings 18:5, "Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him."

Israel was divided. The northern kingdom was still called Israel, and the southern kingdom was called Judah. The spiritual climate of both kingdoms was determined largely by the king in power. Some kings were good and led the people to worship the true God; other kings were evil and led the people away from God. Hezekiah was a good king.

Hezekiah ruled Judah for 29 years. He removed pagan shrines and led the people to worship God. A lot of good things were happening in Judah, but then trouble started brewing. Assyria conquered Israel, and then the king of Assyria set his sights on Judah.

The king of Assyria attempted to intimidate Hezekiah with a letter detailing his military victories. Hezekiah knew Israel had been taken into exile by Assyria, and Judah was now facing the same fate. But Hezekiah prayed God would rescue Judah from Assyria so everyone would know the Lord alone was God.

Soon, the prophet Isaiah visited Hezekiah and told him God had heard his prayer; Assyria wouldn't overtake them. God sent an angel to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 troops. When the Assyrians woke the next day and saw the dead bodies, they quickly returned to their homeland. And when the Assyrian king got home, his two sons killed him in the temple of his pagan god. God is always bigger than anything this world can throw at those who truly trust in him.

Student Devotional - Week 37: Prophet Isaiah: "I Saw The Lord"

2010-05-31T16:34:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

You may remember an experience with God that changed your life. Maybe you had an encounter with him at a youth camp, on a mission trip, or during a special service at your church. Wherever it happened, a powerful experience with God is unforgettable and life changing. That's how it was when the prophet Isaiah encountered God.

Isaiah was a prophet in Judah, the southern kingdom. He received his call from God through a direct vision. In his vision Isaiah saw the holiness of God, and he became intensely aware of his own sin. When God cleansed him of his sins, Isaiah was ready to accept God's challenge to be his messenger.

Isaiah was a prominent figure in the Old Testament. His words continued to have influence in the New Testament. He ministered more than 40 years in Judah, and during that time he gave many specific prophecies about the coming Messiah-prophecies that Jesus would fulfill more than 600 years later. Isaiah is quoted more than 50 times in the New Testament, yet his words fell on deaf ears while he was alive. His death was cruel: He was sawed in half during the reign of the wicked Manasseh.

If you understand Isaiah, then you'll see worship differently. In God's presence Isaiah received a mission from God. Isaiah was faithful to God's call until the day he died. You've probably experienced times of worship when God seemed near and powerful. In times like that, you can count on God's holiness convicting you of sin. Then get ready to receive a glimpse of God's call on your life.

Student Devotion Week 36: Prophet Hosea: Unfailing Love

2010-05-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Hosea 6:6, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

Hosea is the subject of one of the greatest love stories in the Bible. And he was one of God's prophets. Hosea was called to prophesy during the days before Israel was destroyed. God also asked him to do something very unusual. Hosea's obedience to God sent a strong message about the loyal, unconditional love of God.

The ministry of Hosea extended 45 years. He lived his early life in the prosperous land of Israel, but the sin of the people caused conditions in the country to deteriorate. The main sin Hosea speaks of in his book is idolatry. As a way to demonstrate the relationship between God and his people. God told Hosea to marry a prostitute by the name of Gomer. She was unfaithful and left Hosea. Later he found her on the slave market and restored her as his wife.

Hosea and Gomer represent God and Israel. Just as Hosea chose a sinner to be his wife. God chose Israel to be his chosen people. As Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea, Israel was unfaithful to God by worshiping idols. Hosea redeemed Gomer because of his love. That was a picture of God always loving his people with perfect love.

Have you ever tried to love someone who's hurt you? Maybe you were hurt by a parent, a relative, or a friend. Hosea felt that same pain. It's the same pain God feels. Our usual response to someone who hurts us is to stop loving that person. That wasn't what Hosea did, and that isn't how God responds to us. Be thankful for God's unconditional love. As a Christian, practice unconditional love in your day-to-day relationships.

Student Devotional - Week 35: Prophet Elisha: Equipped for God's Purpose

2010-05-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: I Thessalonians 5:24 - "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

I remember the first time I was asked to fill in for the morning disc jockey at a local Christian radio station. I'd been a deejay in the 80s, but today's technology made radio a new adventure. The regular morning person taught me the basic computer skills for the job. He prepared me well, but I was still nervous on my first day. I made a few mistakes, but the training helped me to keep the station on the air for four hours.

Elijah was a mentor to Elisha. While Elijah was hiding out from Queen Jezebel, God told him to anoint Elisha as the next prophet. The two men spent ten years together. When God took Elijah to heaven in a chariot of fire, Elisha was left to carry on the work.

When the time came for Elisha to do God's work without his mentor, Elisha picked up Elijah's cloak and struck the water of the Jordan River. The water parted, and the people watching knew God had called Elisha to be Elijah's successor.

God performed many miracles through Elisha; but most importantly, Elisha always spoke God's words in God's time.

You may be fortunate enough to have a mentor to train you to fulfill God's call on your life. Perhaps your mentor may be your youth minister or your parent. But the day will come when you must step out on your own and do God's work. You can trust God; He'll never call you to a task without giving you what you need to accomplish it.

Student Weekly Devotion Week 34: Prophet Elijah: Never Alone

2010-05-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

Key Verses: James 5:17-18, "¹⁷Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."

Sports fans love great match-ups like an all-star pitcher facing a home-run hitter or a great quarterback taking on a top defensive team. Sometimes the encounters become legendary-basketball's Larry Bird playing against Magic Johnson, or Muhammad Ali boxing Joe Frazier.

The Old Testament includes a story about a battle of historic proportions, and if they'd had big stadiums back then, this event would have been a sellout.

Elijah was fed up with the way the Israelites were wavering between worshiping God and Baal. So on famous Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the prophets of the false god. Big crowds gathered to watch 450 of Baal's prophets attempt to get their god to burn up a sacrifice. Then it was Elijah's turn. God answered his two-sentence prayer, and fire fell from heaven.

Because Queen Jezebel was a big follower of Baal, she vowed to have Elijah killed after he embarrassed the prophets of her god. So Elijah ran for his life. Then, despite his victory on Mount Carmel, his fear of Jezebel caused Elijah to feel depressed and alone. He even prayed for God to take his life. During that time God ministered to Elijah and helped him see he wasn't alone. God was with him at all times.

Today, we have something available to us that Elijah didn't have in his day: The Holy Spirit of God living in us. When we feel sad and lonely like Elijah did, we don't have to ask God to appear for our comfort, because he already lives in us. And that's a comfort you can always depend on.

Student Devotional Week 33: Prophet Elijah: The Provision of God

2010-05-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Kings 17:16, "For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah."

When Solomon died, the nation of Israel was shattered. Israel was made up of 12 tribes-each composed of descendants of one of Jacob's sons. The 10 northern tribes refused to follow Solomon's son Rehoboam. They chose Jeroboam as their king and abandoned the southern tribe of Judah. Meanwhile, Judah (along with the much smaller tribe of Benjamin) remained loyal to Solomon's son.

During this time of political tension, God began to raise up prophets to speak his words against the sins of the people. God spoke to the prophets in various ways, but each prophet was called to proclaim God's words to his people.

The prophet Elijah prophesied against the wicked King Ahab of the northern kingdom (Israel) and ended up fleeing for his life. God sent a drought to the region. Eventually, God sent Elijah to a poor window in the village of Zarephath. When Elijah asked her for bread, she told him she was down to her last bit of flour. Elijah told her if she'd bake him a small loaf of bread from her tiny supply of flour, God would provide for her and her son. The widow acted in faith, and God miraculously refilled her flour container each time she prepared a meal. When her son later died, the power of God brought the boy back to life.

God is always providing for his people. Sometimes we overlook the provision of God until we face difficult times. God took care of Elijah. He took care of the widow and her son. And he'll take care of you.

Student Devotional Week 32: King Solomon: The Dangers of Prosperity

2010-04-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Matthew 6:21, "For Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Have you ever thought about what you'd ask for if you were granted a wish? King Solomon was given an opportunity to ask God for anything.

Solomon became the king of Israel after the death of his father, David. One night during a dream, God appeared to Solomon and told him to ask for whatever he wanted. Without hesitation Solomon told God he wanted wisdom to govern and to know the difference between right and wrong. Because God was so pleased with the request, he gave Solomon both wisdom and riches.

Solomon's reputation for being a man of wisdom quickly spread thoughout the world. Soon people flocked to ask the king for wise counsel. Solomon's wisdom grew and so did his wealth and fame. He had wealth, and he had 1,000 beautiful women as his wives and concubines. But that's where the trouble started. All of those foreign women led Solomon to ungodly worship. By the time he was an old man, his heart had turned away from God. The wisest man who ever lived did the most unwise thing: He allowed his heart to turn from God.

Jesus warned about the dangers of prosperity. Paul said the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Solomon lost his perspective and allowed what he had to become more important than what he believed. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).

Student Devotion Week 31: King David: The Devastation of Sin

2010-04-16T11:29:00.001-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "¹⁹Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Psalm 101 was written during David's younger years. In it he spells out his position on holy living. He wrote that he'd be careful to lead a blameless life by staying away from evil. He also declared he'd keep a protective eye on the godly and not allow liars to enter his presence. David went so far as to proclaim that even those who served him would have to live a life above reproach.

When David reached middle adulthood, his high standards started to erode. One look at a beautiful woman and David quickly became an adulterer, a deceiver, and eventually a murderer. Sadly, he fell into a pattern of sin without feeling much guilt. Finally, when the prophet Nathan confronted him about his evil ways, David confessed his sin and repented. That's the end of the story, right? Wrong.

Today the entertainment industry floods television, movies, and music with stories of people sinning and suffering no consequences. That's not reality. David was forgiven, but he had to deal with family problems that resulted from his sin, including the death of some of his children and a rebellious son who almost cost him his throne. Look at David's later years if you believe sin comes without a high cost.

Sin is a big deal to God. God forgives freely, but negative consequences for sinful actions still affect not only you and those around you now, but also future generations. As it's been said, you're free to choose your actions, but your not free to choose the consequences of your actions. How you deal with sin is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a Christian.

Student Devotion Week 30: King David: Seeking God's Heart

2010-04-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: Acts 13:22 "After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'"

When David was young, he was a shepherd who looked after his father's sheep. He spent his days looking for grazing land, protecting the sheep from wild animals, and thinking. A shepherd's life is lonely, and David had a lot of time to think about God. As a musician, he took many of those thoughts and created some of the great passages in the book of Psalms. David had a heart for God.

During those years the Israelites were locked in a fierce battle with the Philistines. Their chief warrior was a giant known as Goliath. He stood nine feet tall and carried a spear with a tip that weighed 15 pounds. While David was delivering some food to his three brothers serving in the Israelite army, he heard the challenger from Goliath. David couldn't believe no one would fight this man who dared to defy the army of the living God.

With five smooth stones and a sling, David took on the giant. The years David spent in solitude as a shepherd prepared him for this battle. While he was experienced with a sling, a weapon he'd used to protect his sheep form wild animals, his greatest assets were a heart for God and a belief that with God anything was possible. Armed with courage and the Spirit of the Lord, David took down the giant with one stone.

The Bible states that David was a man after God's own heart. And his love for God had intensified during his lonely days as a shepherd boy. So when it came time to stand up to a pagan giant, David took the challenge because of his deep love for God.

David would soon become the king of Israel. God was preparing to use David in a powerful way.

Student Devotion Week 29: David and Jonathan: A Deep Friendship

2010-04-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: John 13:35, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The story of David and Jonathan is a story of true friendship. David was commissioned to calm King Saul's spirit with the harp. When David met Jonathan, Saul's son, they became instant friends. That friendship would be tested many times as Saul's jealousy of David grew.

God was with David. His victories in battle made him a celebrity. King Saul became jealous and tried many times to kill David. Once Jonathan talked his father out of a murderous plan. Another time Jonathan helped David escape from his father. Jonathan put his own life on the line for his friend David.

Because he was the oldest son, Jonathan was the heir to the throne of Israel. Yet Jonathan recognized the anointing God had placed on David, and he told him that one day David would be the next king. Jonathan was perfectly content with the idea of serving alongside David as second in command. But his wish would never come true. Both Jonathan and Saul died during a battle with the Amalekites, David mourned and fasted over the death of his good friend.

If you want to have good friends, then you have to be a good friend. David and Jonathan were willing to die for each other. David summed up his love for his friend in a funeral song he wrote about Saul and Jonathan (see 2 Samuel 1:17-27).

Wouldn't you love to have a friend like that? Are you willing to be a friend like that?

Student Devotional Week 28: King Saul: Israel's First King

2010-03-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 13:14, "But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command."

In one Episode of the television classic The Andy Griffith Show, Aunt Bea ran for city council. Her motto was that if the people of Mayberry wanted something, she'd do her best to accomplish it. Her opponent Howard Sprague pointed out that what people wanted wasn't necessarily what was best for them.

The period of the judges was coming to an end. Samuel, the last of the judges, was growing old. His sons were greedy and corrupt, not suitable successors. The people cried out for a king to lead them so they could be like other nations. Samuel told them a king would draft their sons for battle and make slaves of their daughters. He pointed out that a king would tax them and take their crops and cattle. Still the people cried for a king.

Saul became the first king of Israel at the age of 30, and he ruled for 42 years. A few victories in the early years of his reign convinced the Hebrews they'd made the right choice. Then things started going downhill. Saul showed impatience and a lack of respect fro the priesthood by offering his own sacrifice. Then, during a battle with the Amalekites, Saul disobeyed Samuel's instructions by not killing King Agag. The book of 1 Samuel records that God was sorry he'd made Saul king of Israel.

The overall failure of Saul's rule as king can be summed up in one word-disobedience. The Hebrew people were disobedient to God when they demanded a king, and Saul was disobedient in many of his actions while he was king. But God's purposes always prevail, and the best days in the history of Israel were about to begin.

Student Devotion Week 27: Samuel: Hearing God's Voice

2010-03-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 3:21, "The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word."

It's always been tough to be a godly young person, even in Old Testament days. Consider the life of young Samuel. He was raised in the temple by the high priest Eli and had to live around Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were also priests. To say these two sons were bad news is an understatement. They'd keep the best part of meat sacrifices for themselves, they seduced young women at the temple, and they had no respect for God. But even though Samuel was surrounded by band influences, he continued to do things that were pleasing to God.

When Samuel was very young, he heard the voice of God one night. The Bible states that visions and messages from God were rare in those days. And as Samuel grew, so did his reputation as a godly man and a man of wisdom. God continued to speak to Samuel and used him to prepare Israel for the transition from the period of the judges to the period of the kings.

One of the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:1, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them." John Wesley said Solomon's negative reference to old age was due to his looking back with regret over his teenage years.

Can God do great things in the life of a teenager? He certainly did with Samuel.

Is it possible for a teenager to resist negative peer pressure and live a life that pleases God? Samuel did that very thing his entire life.

Are you living y0ur life in a way that honors God? Will you be able to one day look back over your teenage years with no regrets?

Student Devotional Week 26: Hannah: Plea & Praise

2010-03-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 1:27-28, "'I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.' And he worshiped the Lord there."

Many churches hold baby dedication services once or twice a year. Parents stand with their babies at the front of the church and make a promise to both God and the congregation that their child will learn Christian beliefs and values. How would you react if, at the end of the service, a mother gave her son to the pastor and said that since she'd prayed for a child and her prayer was answered, she wanted to give him up to serve God? That's similar to what a woman in the Old Testament did with her son.

Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Childless Hebrew women were viewed as dishonored by God. And to add to Hannah's anguish, Peninnah made fun of her constantly for not having any children. During her yearly visit to the temple. Hannah poured out her soul to God in prayer. She made a vow that if God would give her a son, she'd dedicate him totally to God.

God answered Hannah's prayer for a son quickly and completely. She became pregnant and had Samuel, which means "heard of the Lord." Hannah also kept her promise. After Samuel was weaned, she brought him to the priest, Eli, for service to God. She literally gave her son to God.

Sometimes you may believe God isn't answering your prayers. But regardless of how you feel, the God of the universe will always hear your prayer. And God answers every prayer in his time and in his way.

Student Devotion Week 25: Ruth: Redemption and Blessings

2010-03-08T10:50:00.001-08:00

Key Verse: Philippians 2:3-4, "³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

It seems as though all the Bible characters we've studied over the past few months have been defined by either their obedience to God or their disobedience to him.

The story of Ruth helps us look at the role of obedience in the lives of God's people. In it we see how obedience leads to her redemption as well as the redemption of all humanity-including you.

Things were different for women in Ruth's day. When her husband died unexpectedly, Ruth was left with no security and no way to earn a living. Her Mother-in-law, Naomi, encouraged Ruth to stay in Moab with her own people. But Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi-whose husband had also died-led both women to journey to Israel. Ruth provided food for herself and for her mother-in-law by picking up bits of grain during harvest time in the barley fields. Then a man named Boaz-the man who owned the field-spotted her.

What was it about Ruth that caught the eye of Boaz? Could it have been her outward beauty? Her godly character? When Boaz asked about Ruth, people told him she'd returned to the land with her mother-in-law, Naomi. The foreman over the field workers told Boaz about Ruth's hard work in the field. Her character must have appealed to Boaz because he immediately went to talk with her, and he tried to help her as much as possible.

When Boaz married Ruth, he saved her from a life of hardship. God's plan of redemption was also at work in the lives of Ruth and Boaz. Their son Obed was King David's grandfather-an ancestor to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world.

Student Devotional Week 24: Judge Samson: A Powerful Death

2010-03-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 2:4, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer."

Once again, God chose to deliver his people from their enemies. This time the action took place south of where Gideon lived, and the enemies were known as the Philistines.

One day an angel appeared to a couple from the tribe of Dan. He told them they would a long-awaited child-a son-and they should dedicate the child as a Nazarite. The angel also said their son would rescue Israel from the Philistines. This son the angel referred to was Samson.

Samson was an awesome physical specimen. He had the potential to be a great leader, but ego and self-centeredness would eventually bring down this mighty man of God. Early in his life, Samson insisted his father get him a Philistine woman to be his wife, even though her people worshiped the false god Dagon. Later, Samson's lust for Delilah blinded him to her efforts to discover and ultimately remove the secret to his strength-his long hair.

Samson, the powerful man of God, lived his final days blind and in captivity, like an animal. The Philistines mocked his former strength by chaining him to a device used to grind wheat in a mill. But with his hair growing back and his strength slowly returning, Samson prayed to God to allow him to take revenge on those who had blinded him. God granted his request, and Samson pulled down the pillars of the temple, killing more Philistines that day than he had in the course of his lifetime.

Samson's physical power was great, but he wasn't a great person. He went out with a bang, but a consecrated lifetime spent following God would have made a greater impact on history. Samson's life was unrealized potential that produced a whole lot of fizzle.

As a follower of God, are you realizing the potential God has given you?

Student Devotional Week 23: Judge Gideon: An Unlikely Hero

2010-02-22T06:25:00.000-08:00

Key Verses: Judges 6:15-16, "'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.' The Lord answered, 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.'"

Two hundred years had passed since the victories of Joshua in the land of Canaan. Many changes had taken place-most of them weren't good. The Promised Land was occupied by many enemies, and the Israelites were spending much of their time hiding in fear. During this time of oppression, God called out leaders known as "judges," or deliverers to rescue his people.

This was the time of a man named Gideon. God called on him to deliver the Hebrew people from a group of nomadic fighters known as the Midianites. God saw a mighty warrior in Gideon. Gideon, however, saw himself as a weakling. He told God he was the weakest person from the weakest family in the weakest tribe in all of Israel. God showed Gideon-through a series of signs-that he'd be the one God would use. Gideon was finally convinced.

When it came time for the big fight with the Midianites, Gideon felt pretty good about his army of 32,000-until God whittled the number down to just 300 men. Then God led Gideon and his tiny army to victory, and the people were delivered from their enemy.

Gideon was an unlikely hero-an average person who didn't think very highly of himself. His life was changed when the God of the ages touched him with the power of encouragement. God saw Gideon's potential and understood he was a person who'd always know that his ability to lead was a gift from God.

Student Devotional Week 22: Joshua: The Fall of Jericho

2010-02-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:30, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days."

The promised Land consisted of groups of small city-states; each was governed and ruled by a separate king. As the Hebrews' prepared to take the land, they had to fight not just one army but many armies.

Remember the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the battle of Helm's Deep and the huge fortified wall that protected the people of Rohirrim? They believed that no army could penetrate their walls and gates, but they were wrong and so were the people of Jericho.

The first battle took place at the city of Jericho, a city fortified by huge walls and gates. The prostitute Rahab hid the two Hebrew spies who sneaked into the city before the attack. Rather than scaling the walls of the city or attacking the doors with battering rams, God told his people to march around the city walls. So once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh day the Hebrew soldiers marched around Jericho. No doubt that sounded like a strange military plan to the Israelites. But Joshua had learned the importance of trusting God and obeying him without question. He led the people to follow God's instructions to the letter.

Once the walls came down and Jericho was conquered, the battle moved to the city of Ai. Here the Israelites were soundly defeated. Why? This setback was due to the disobedience of just one person. God was continuing to teach his people how to obey him completely. After a time of repentance, a second confrontation with the people of Ai ended in victory for the Israelites.

Joshua lived the rest of his life as leader of the Israelites. When he passed away at the age of 110, there was a void in the leadership of Israel. The people had learned to trust God through Joshua, but now they were going to have to learn to trust God-period. The era of the judges was about to begin, and some very dark days were ahead for the children of Israel.

Week 21: Rahab: Risk & Grace

2010-02-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:31, "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient."

Joshua was preparing his plan of attack in the land of Canaan. He decided to send two spies to look over the site where the first battle would take place. Joshua was especially interested in checking out the fortress city of Jericho. While in the city, the spies' cover was blown, and they were saved by the most unlikely of heroes-a prostitute named Rahab.

Many biblical scholars have speculated about the woman named Rahab. The most interesting discussion centers on the scarlet cord that eventually saved her life and the lives of her family. Some scholars believe the scarlet cord was used in Old Testament times to designate the house of a prostitute. But when she saved the spies from the king of Jericho, they promised Rahab her family would be saved when the Hebrew soldiers took control of the city. And the distinguishing mark used to signal her salvation was the scarlet cord that hung in front of her house. Just think: The very thing that marked her immorality would become the instrument of her salvation.

God can redeem anyone in any situation. A life of immorality can be instantly changed by a demonstration of faith. Rahab's confession of her belief in God saved her physically-and eternally.

Student Devotional Week 20: Joshua: Equipped & Exalted

2010-02-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Joshua 1:8 "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Imagine being a bricklayer one day and then the commander of an entire army the next. That's pretty much what happened to Joshua. Joshua served as Moses' assistant and simply did whatever he was asked to do. When Moses told Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land, Joshua accepted his new role the only way he knew how-with a humble spirit and willing heart.

Joshua would go on to be a fearless leader in the battle for the land of Canaan. His relationship with Moses was a big help because he saw firsthand the mighty work God did through Moses. That gave Joshua confidence to move forward in the conquest.

Joshua's most important relationship was with God, because that was the true source of his strength. God promised Joshua victory. God promised he'd never fail or abandon Joshua. With the staff of Moses in his hand and the promises of God in his heart, Joshua became Israel's fearless leader.

In our society, people seem to believe the way to the top is to push and shove everyone out of the way. Today a great leader is viewed as someone who is feared, but Joshua became a great leader by being a great servant.

During Jesus' ministry he said if a person wanted to be great in God's kingdom, then that individual had to first learn to serve. This spiritual example of leadership still applies today because godly leaders always have humble, servantlike hearts. If you want to lead, then learn to serve.

Student Devotions Week 19: Caleb: Firm Convictions

2010-01-25T12:49:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Number 14:24
"But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it."

The Hebrew people had escaped the slavery of Egypt and were preparing to enter the land promised to their ancestor Abraham. Because the land was inhabited, 12 spies were sent to check out the situation and bring a report back to Moses. Ten of the spies returned terrified of what they'd seen. They reported that the land was beautiful but that the enemies living there were too great to defeat. Two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, agreed the land was magnificent and that the enemies were formidable; but they added that God would bring victory to his people.

Caleb and Joshua tried to reassure the Israelites, but the report of the 10 negative spies carried more weight in the eyese of the people. The tide of public opinion had turned, and God's people were paralyzed with fear. Caleb and Joshua weren't respected for standing up for their faith and convictions.

Most likely, you know how Caleb and Joshua felt.

Having firm convictions today sometimes means being in the minority. Some one said if you're a Christian and follow the crowd, then you're going in the wrong direction. Jesus said, "Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:14). Standing for God may mean standing apart from the rest of the crowd-as Caleb and Joshua did.

You may sand out, but you'll never stand alone. Caleb and Joshua found peace in knowing God would be with them always. And just as God continued to use Caleb and Joshua, he'll continue to use you.

Student Devotional Week 18: Moses: Speaking on God's Behalf

2010-01-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: Exodus 24:3, "When Moses went and told the people all the Lord's words and laws, they responded with one voice, 'Everything the Lord has said we will do.'"

Moses had been a shepherd for 40 years when God spoke to him through a burning bush and called him to lead the Hebrew people out of captivity. This job was going to require a lot of public speaking, and it's safe to say that four decades of talking to sheep out in the middle of nowhere did little to prepare Moses for the awesome task before him.

Moses was quick to point out all the reasons why God's plan to save the people of Israel wouldn't work. First, Moses told God he was just a nobody. Then Moses said the Hebrew people wouldn't believe he'd really spoken to God. Finally, he protested by saying he wasn't a good speaker. God answered each of Moses' concerns and assured Moses he was the person to get the job done.

Just think how excited Moses must have been when he went to visit Pharaoh. Any confidence he had, however, was quickly destroyed when Pharaoh - and then the Israelites - rejected him and the plan from God. Down and almost out, Moses went back to God and wanted to know why the job was so difficult.

Eventually, Moses became the man God knew he could be, and he led the Hebrews on an amazing journey from Slavery to the Promised Land. Moses knew what God wanted him to do. Despite trouble of enormous proportions, Moses eventually completed the task. His success was ultimately due to his faith in God. You'll find success in the same way when God calls you to serve him.

Student Devotional Week 17: Moses: Sent by God, Reluctant to go

2010-01-11T12:34:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9
^"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

When the book of Genesis ended, the Hebrew people were living the good life in Egypt. Now the book of Exodus opens with them working as Egyptian slaves. So what happened during the 400 years between the two books? An Egyptian regime came into power that didn't recognize the importance of the Hebrews. In fact, the new Pharaoh enslaved God's people and used them for cheap labor. He also ordered all male Hebrew children to be killed in an effort to slow down their explosive population growth.

This is the world into which Moses was born. Jochebed-his mother-didn't want her baby to die, so she hid Moses in a basket in the brush. Then one of Pharaoh's daughters found Moses and adopted him as her own child.

Moses grew up as a prince of Egypt. But after years of living in privilege, Moses killed an Egyptian and fled both his lavish lifestyle and his homeland. His journey took him to Midian, where he married and settled into the life of a shepherd.

The life of a nomad might have been fine for some people, but not for a man with a call of God on his life. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush and told him he'd lead the Hebrew people out of captivity and into the Promised Land. With much reluctance and very little faith. Moses accepted the challenge and obeyed God. That simple act of saying "yes" to God started one of the most amazing human transformations ever recorded in the Bible.

Student Devotion Week 16: Joseph: From Prison to Palace

2010-01-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:6-7 (New International Version)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Helen Keller once said, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." The whole time Joseph was going from places of honor to places of dishonor, God was using those experiences to strengthen Joseph's character so he could one day manage the food supply for an entire nation. God's ultimate purpose was to save his chosen people from starvation.

Joseph was truly blessed by God. Things worked out well for him personally because he was appointed second in command under Pharaoh. God blessed Joseph in his finances, and he became a very wealthy individual. He was given nice clothes, use of the company chariot, and the opportunity to marry the Pharaoh's own daughter. On the spiritual side, God used Joseph to preserve the lives of his chosen people-the Hebrew nation. As we come to the end of the story about Joseph's life, do you believe Joseph could say all things had worked together for good?

The story of Joseph is one of the great stories in the Bible. Because of Joseph's faith in God and his unwavering ability to trust God in very difficult circumstances, God's will was done and his people were saved.

As with Joseph, God is working on your character. Each day things will come your way that will shape your tomorrow. Some days will be difficult; others will be full of joy. Some days will give you the opportunity to make a difference in someone else's life; others will involve others investing in you. Always remember Romans 8:28, "In all things God works for the good of those who love him."

Student Devotional Week 13: Jacob: Dealing With the Past

2009-11-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: "So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'it is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." Genesis 32:30

Years ago every town had some kind of fix-it shop. But in the twenty-first century, those kinds of stores are about as rare as an eight-track tape. Today most of us simply throw away something broken and buy a new one. But what about a broken relationship? Should we try to fix it or just forget about it and move on?

The second part of Jacob's story is all about dealing with broken relationships. First, he had to deal with his uncle Laban. After years of unfair treatment, Jacob left the land of his uncle under instructions from God. Laban wasn't happy about his daughters leaving, so he followed Jacob. Eventually Jacob and Laban made peace with each other after a face-to-face confrontation. Then Jacob dreaded the next encounter-the time had come to confront his brother, Esau.

By now, God had dealt with Jacob in many ways. Jacob wasn't the same young man who'd stolen his brother's birthright and blessing. A dream about a ladder to heaven, years spent working for his uncle, and a wrestling match with an angel had helped to strengthen both Jacob's character and his faith.

When he met Esau, Jacob bowed in submission. Then Jacob and Esau embraced each other in tears. God had changed the hearts of both men, and they reconciled.

Jacob's life is a testimony to the fact that fractured relationships can be fixed. God is the great healer, and he may be at work healing your broken relationships right now. The first step in the healing process could be letting God change you as he did Jacob.

Student Devotional Week 12: Jacob: Israel's Family Roots

2009-11-14T16:44:00.000-08:00

Key Verse:

Galatians 6:7-8 (New International Version)

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

Jacob was on the run from Esau because he'd tricked his brother out of both of his birthrighs and his father's blessing. One night, during his journey to his uncle Laban's house, Jacob had a dream. Of course that meant Jacob would have many descendents, which also meant he'd be looking for a wife.

Later, Jacob was convinced Rachel, the beautiful daughter of his uncle Laban, was definitely the woman for him. For seven years Jacob worked for his uncle so he'd have the opportunity to marry Rachel, when the day of the wedding came, however, Laban didn't put Rachel behind the wedding veil. Instead, it was his older and less attractive daughter, Leah.

After tricking his brother out of their father's blessing, Jacob had been tricked. So he worked seven more years for the right to marry his beloved Rachel. Was God trying to teach Jacob a lesson by allowing the deceiver to be deceived? Probably. But God's perfect plan was the most important piece of this puzzle. The 12 sons of Jacob would eventually become the pillars of the new nation. And the children of Leah, not Rachel, represented the most influential groups.

God's ways and his timing are perfect. The great people of the Old Testament had to learn that lesson and it's a lesson we're still learning today.

Student Devotional Week 11: Isaac: Jacob's Blessing

2009-11-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

Key Verse: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Remember how the differences between Cain and Abel led to conflict and eventually Abel's death? The story of Isaac's twin sons, Jacob and Esau, is similar and almost ended the same way.

The struggle between Jacob and Esau began while they were still in their mother's womb. God said this was a sign that the boys' descendants would become rival nations. This rivalry was clear as they grew older, partly because of the differences between the two. Esau was an outdoorsman; Jacob preferred staying inside. Esau's skin was rough; Jacob had smooth skin. Their father favored Esau; Jacob was favored by his mother.

The rivalry between the brothers grew when Jacob coerced Esau into trading his birthright for a bowl of stew. Things got worse when Jacob deceived his father into giving him a blessing meant for Esau. Esau then vowed he'd kill Jacob after Isaac died.

Much later in life, Jacob decided to try to make peace with his brother. They met after years of separation. But rather than try to kill his brother, Esau embraced Jacob and forgave him.

Looking at two brothers, it'd be easy to assume God would use Esau to keep his promise to Abraham, right? Wrong. God honored Isaac's blessing of Jacob and used him to continue his great work of salvation. Even when God's ways don't seem to make sense, remember that his plans are perfect. God always knows what he's doing.