Expect Unexpected Encounters (Tuesday, March 1)

Read: Acts 8:26-40

-What did God tell Philip about why he was supposed to go on this journey?

-Have you ever encountered someone like the Ethiopian, who doesn't understand what the Bible says?

-Are you prepared to share about Jesus if someone is confused?

After Philip left the man, he returned home and spread the news of Christ, bringing Christianity to Ethiopia. As a result of this man's evangelism, Ethiopia became a Christian nation, one of the first, and continues to this day. Imagine the impact you can have by just sharing the good news of Christ with one person!

Pray that God gives you confidence to share the Gospel, even when you may not expect the situation to come up. Pray that God leads you where He wants you to be so that you can impact people the way He led Philip to the Ethiopian. Finally, pray for the message of Jesus Christ to spread through Harrisonburg and to the entire world!

There is a Cost (Monday, February 28)

Read: Luke 23-26

-What do you think it means to "lose our lives for Jesus"? Does this mean physical death?

-Jesus asks us to "deny ourselves" in order to follow Him. Why is that so hard to do?

-Do you ever feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about Jesus or being a Christian? Why?

-If we are going to deny ourselves, we have to give up our own desires and trust God's plan. Would you be willing to give up your plans and trust God instead?

Pray that God would help you deny yourself and follow Him. Offer Him your whole life, all of your actions, decisions, and words. Ask Him to help you pursue Him every day. Pray that His will would be done in your life.

Comforter (Sunday, February 27)

Read John 14:15-21

-Why do you think Jesus wants us to obey his commandments?

-How would accepting the Holy Spirit make you different from the world?

-What are the two names for the Holy Spirit used in this passage? What do you think each of those names means?

-Do you have a hard time understanding the Holy Spirit? What makes it difficult?

-How can we be comforted by knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us on earth?

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you counseling and truth. Pray that He gives you wisdom to make good decisions and Godly choices. Also pray that He deepens your relationship with God. Finally, ask that He would make you more aware of His presence and His will for you.

One Way (Saturday, February 26)

Read John 14:1-7

-Why did Jesus say He was leaving His disciples?

-Where is He going?

-What does Jesus mean when He says He is "the way, the truth, and the life"?

-Why should this passage encourage us to tell our friends about Jesus?

Pray that you can get comfort knowing that Jesus has prepared a place in heaven for you. Also, ask God to give you a passion for telling others about Jesus, so that they can have a relationship with Him as well.

Where does your help come from? (Friday, February 25)

Read Psalm 121

-The psalmist starts out saying "I lift my eyes to the hills", giving us the image of someone in a valley. He often uses the idea of a valley to show tough times, suffering, loneliness, and pain. What are some of the valleys that you have been through in your life? Are you going through one now?

-What do you usually go to when you are hurting? Is there an activity or a person that you turn to?

-Why does the psalmist want us to look to God for our help? What makes God different from those activities or people we usually depend on?

Think about all of the stories about God that we have looked at in both the Old and New Testament. Has God ever failed to deliver one of His promises? We may not always understand why something happens, or why we feel the way we do, but when we trust God we are trusting the One who knows everything and has promised to watch out for us.

Pray that God would help you depend more on Him than on yourself or anything else. If you are going through a "valley" in your life, ask Him to give you strength to get through. Thank Him for watching over you and pray that He helps you develop an even closer relationship with Him.

You're not alone (Thursday, February 24)

Read: Hebrews 10:23-25

-What "hope" is the author talking about when he mentions the "hope we profess"?

-What kinds of "love and good deeds" can you show to other Christians to encourage them?

-Do you feel like Harrisonburg Baptist Church and this youth group do a good job of encouraging you and others? What could be done differently? What could you do differently?

-Why is it important to "not give up meeting together"?

The word "spur" that the author uses is the same word that we use when we talk about horses. When a horse starts dragging or falling behind, we spur it on, encouraging it to keep going. Think about how you can encourage others when they face tough times or feel hurt.

Pray that God gives you opportunities to love and encourage others. Also pray that you will resist temptation to hurt others or contribute to conflict, but will instead spur others on. Finally, ask God that this youth ministry would be a place of encouragement and joy for you and all others who are a part of it.

Faith > Law (Wednesday, February 23)

Read Galatians 3:1-5

Sometimes we believe that we have to do good things in order to get to heaven. This actually makes us feel more comfortable - like heaven is something that we can get on our own. But in reality, Paul tells us that we have to have faith in God, and that faith alone will save us.

-What do you know about God's law? What are some of the things that He commands?

-Have you ever felt like God loves you more when you do good things?

-Does this mean that God's law is useless now? What reason is there to keep following it?

Pray that God will help you trust Him completely. Ask Him to help you not rely on the good things that you do. Pray that you will follow His law so that you can be an example of a Christ-like life to those you know.