Love and do not be fooled (Wednesday, March 23)

Read: 2 John 4-11

-How does obeying God show that we love Him?

-What does John say that God commands us to do?

-What does John say about people that change the teachings of Christianity or teach false things about Jesus?

Pray that God gives you more and more love for Him and for other people in the world. Ask Him to help you understand how much He cares for you, and for help following His plan for your life. Pray that He gives you guidance so that you will be able to recognize when people are teaching things about Jesus that aren't true.

By Grace (Tuesday, March 22)

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10

-How does Paul describe what we were like before we were saved by Christ?

-Why does God save us?

-Using this passage, how would you define "grace"?

-If we aren't saved by good works, then why do we do them?

This is one of the most important passages for our faith. God saved us, not because of what we do but because of His incredible love for us. I hope that these verses encourage you!

Thank God for the grace that He showed you when He rescued you from sin and saved you. Ask Him to help you remember the price that He paid for you, and that it would change your life. Pray that He gives you guidance so that you can do all of the good works that He has planned for you.

You are protected (Monday, March 21)

Read: 2 Samuel 22:31-37 (This is a speech that King David gave near the end of his life)

-How does David describe God?

-What does God do for those who trust Him?

-Have you seen God working in your own life the way David saw it? How?

Yesterday in Sunday School we talked about David and Bathsheba, where David committed adultery and then murder. Yet here it is clear that David has never forsaken God. He knew that he was the one who was wrong - that God's commandments were perfect. This speech is given by someone who has messed up, but has run back to God.

Thank God that He is strong and powerful, and thank Him that He uses that strength to protect you and watch over you. Pray that God forgives you for mistakes you have made in the past the way He forgave David. Ask Him to guide you to live the life that He has planned for you.

Shut Up (Sunday, March 20)

Read: James 3:4-12

-Why does James compare a person's tongue to a small rudder that steers a huge ship?

-Think about this past week - who have you talked about negatively, or gossiped about? Who have you been mean or rude to? Whose feelings may have been hurt by something you said?

-Why does James say that we should "tame our tongue"?

-Look back at the people you have written about. This week, make it your goal to do the opposite of what you have done. If you have gossiped about someone in the past, say something positive about them to others. If you have been mean, go out of your way to be kind or polite. If you may have hurt someone's feelings, show kindness to them. Be intentional about how you talk to others.

Pray that God helps you tame your tongue. Ask him to help you stop talking negatively or gossiping about others, but instead to be kind with your words. Pray that this week you praise God with your mouth and that you use it to build others up as well!

He lifts you up (Saturday, March 19)

Read: Psalm 130

-Have you ever felt like you are "in the depths"? Like you are overwhelmed or don't know what to do? Who did the psalmist cry to when he felt like that?

-Why does the psalmist trust God? Why would he wait for Him or put his hope in Him?

-What will God do for His chosen people? Why is this good news for us?

Pray that God helps you through any difficult situation that you are going through. Thank Him that He has redeemed you from your sins, and that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sinfulness. Thank God that you can trust Him with anything, and praise Him for the blessings that He gives you in this life.

Flee (Friday, March 20)

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

-What do you think it means to "sin against your own body"?

-How does it change the way you look at your body and the decisions you make about your body when you know that it is a "temple of the Holy Spirit"?

-If you were "bought at a price", then how should that effect how you treat your body.

-Paul says you are not your own... whose are you? If you belong to someone else, how does that change the way you treat yourself?

Thank God that He paid the price to redeem you. Thank Him that you belong to Him and that He has made your body His temple. Pray that He helps you honor Him with your body and respect Him by fleeing from sexual sin.

Love it (Thursday, March 17)

Read: Romans 12:9-13

-What does sincere love look like vs. insincere love?

-What are ways that you honor other people above yourself? How could you get better at this?

-Paul says that we should be "joyful in hope, patient in affliction (suffering), and faithful in prayer", how do think you do at these three things? Set goals for yourself to improve at them.

-What does it mean to practice hospitality? How does that share God's love?

Pray that God gives you a heart that is full of love. Pray that He shows you the needs of other people and encourages you to put others before yourself. Ask Him to help you love other people the way He loves them.

It's All Good (Wednesday, March 16)

Read Genesis 1

-What do you notice about what God says after each thing He creates?

-What did God say about everything, when He looked at all that He had created?

-This chapter took place before sin entered the world. How do you think God meant for us to be different than we are now back when He first called us "very good"?

-If God made everything in creation, than what do you think is the purpose of creation?

Pray that God will show you how beautiful and "very good" His creation is. Ask Him to show you ways that you can live the way He meant for you to live. Finally, give glory to God in your prayer.

Grow Up (Tuesday, March 15)

Read Titus 3:3-8

-Can you tell the difference between the way you used to be before you knew Christ and the way you are afterward? What is different?

-In verse 3 he talks about the way we used to be - foolish, disobedient, enslaved by passions and pleasures.... So what changed? What is the event that he talks about in verse 4?

-What good things can you devote yourself to doing for your friends? family? people in your school? others?

-Why did Jesus come to save us?

This passage gives us a great comparison - before someone knows Christ they think they are in control, but they are really slaves of their passions and pleasures, slaves of envy and hatred. But after we know Christ, after we accept His mercy, we can truly start living as He created us to live. We obey Christ because we see just how destructive sin is.

Love One Another (Monday, March 14)

Aaaaaaaaand, we're back!!

Sorry for being out of touch for a week, but the Passion Challenge is back on track with daily devotionals!

Read: 1 John 3:11-20

-Why does John say that the world hates Christians?

-What is the difference between loving with "words or tongue" and loving with "actions and truth"? How can you show that difference in your every day life?

-Who are people in your life that you could go out of your way to love with real actions?

-Why should we love other people?

Pray that God opens you up to the needs of others. Pray that He shows you opportunities to love others in this world, and that non-Christians and Christians would see that love and be inspired by it. Ask God to love the people of this world the way He loves them.

The Enemy (Friday, March 4)

Read: 1 Peter 5:6-11

-Who is our "enemy"? What does he want?

-How does Peter say we should fight the enemy? Who do we depend on?

-What does Peter say to encourage us about suffering that we go through in this life?

-Why should we give God all our anxiety and worry?

Tell God about anything that is on your mind - worries, fears, praises, excitement, cast it all on Him. Ask Him for encouragement as you face the day. Pray that He gives you firm faith to help face temptation from the enemy. Finally, thank God that He will give you a perfect life without suffering after this one.

Attitude Check (Thursday, March 3)

Read Philippians 2:1-11

-Paul says that our attitude should be like Jesus'. What kind of attitude do you think He has?

-What do you notice about the attitudes of people in your school or in your life? Do you see more "selfish ambition and vain conceit" or more humility in the world?

-How could a change in your own attitude to be like Jesus change the relationships you have with your friends? What about your parents? Or people at school that don't like you?

Pray that God gives you an attitude like Jesus. Ask Him to help you be humble and look out for other people, instead of being selfish and only looking out for yourself. Finally, pray that God helps this attitude change the relationships you have with others for the better.

Bear Good Fruit (Wednesday, March 2)

Read Galatians 5:16-26

-What do the "acts of the flesh" have in common?

-Why does Paul say it is important not to give in to sin?

-Which fruits of the Spirit do you already have a lot of?

-Which fruits need more work?

Pray that God helps you avoid temptation. Ask Him for the strength to resist giving in to the "acts of the flesh", and pray that He helps you continue to show the fruits of the Spirit in your life.