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.