DEEPER_FAITH KIT
A 40 DAY DEVOTIONAL AND READING PLAN FOR STUDENTS
PURPOSE CHURCH STUDENT RESOURCE
EVERYONE EVERYWHERE FOLLOWING JESUS
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries
START SOMETHING TODAY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER! _HSM Pastor Eric
© 2015 Purpose Church Student Ministries
www.purposechurch.com/students
Published June 2015
v 03
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible.
DEEPER_FAITH KIT
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries DEEPER_FAITH KIT
PAGE TITLE 01 INTRODUCTION 02 COVENANT 05 SALVATION 06 BAPTISM 07 SCRIPTURE 08 PRAY 09 SING 10 COMMUNITY 11 SERVE 12 TITHE 15 DEVOTIONALS / READINGS 96 WHAT'S NEXT?
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries DEEPER_FAITH.
I am so glad you picked up or downloaded the Deeper_Faith Kit. My hope is that over the next 40 days, you encounter God in a brand new and powerful way. If you commit to 15 minutes every day, I’m convinced you will experience life-change like you have never known before. I cannot wait to see how God deepens your relationship with Him through this process. The Deeper_Faith Kit was birthed out of a burden God put on the hearts of Rob (HSM Worship Leader) and myself (HSM Pastor). With the help of so many Student Leaders, Adult Leaders and Purpose Church Staff, what you see before you is a resource I believe will make an incredible impact on your relationship with Jesus. We are excited about reaching and discipling students everywhere through this kit.
Over the next 40 days you will have the opportunity to experience: 1. Devotionals by Adult Leaders, Student Leaders, and Purpose Church Staff. 2. Readings from the Psalms, the entire Gospel of John, and all of Romans. 3. Access songs, articles, videos, books, and more to help you grow in Christ.
Beginning on page 15, you will find 40 days of devotionals. We invite you to take the Deeper_Faith challenge, which is a daily commitment to read one devotional, one chapter in the bible, and check out one resource for 40 days straight. As you take this challenge and begin this new life-transforming habit, I know God will heal you, restore you, inspire you, challenge you, convict you, and shape you. By taking the challenge, you will have decided to start something today that will change your life forever! Once you complete the Deeper_Faith challenge, let your Adult Leader and your Pastor know so we can meet up and celebrate what God has done in your life.
Before you jump in, I want to briefly explain the basics of following Jesus, in other words, WHY and HOW we:
• Follow Jesus [ pg. 5 ] • Sing to God [ pg. 9 ] • Get Baptized [ pg. 6 ] • Live in Community [ pg. 10 ] • Read Scripture [ pg. 7 ] • Serve God and Others [ pg. 11 ] • Pray to God [ pg. 8 ] • Tithe & Live Generously [ pg. 12 ]
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you… because your love is better than life.” _Psalm 63
With love,
Eric Holmstrom Student Ministries Pastor // High School Pastor // Purpose Church // [email protected]
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 1 COVENANT_TOGETHER.
As you embark on the Deeper_Faith challenge, it is important you do not adventure alone. In fact, before you even read one devotional or chapter from the Bible, we want you to ask: one Adult Leader and one Student Supporter to hold you accountable and encourage you as you take this challenge.
Once your Adult Leader and Student Supporter agree to hold you accountable in the Deeper_Faith challenge, we want you and them to sign the covenant below as a promise together before God. DEEPER_FAITH STUDENT
You are committing to taking the 40 day Deeper_Faith challenge: daily spend time with God through one devotional, one chapter of Bible reading, and one provided resource related to that day’s devotional. HSM ADULT LEADER & STUDENT SUPPORTER
You are willing to support this Deeper_Faith Student, by encouraging them and holding them accountable to this commitment.
______Deeper_Faith Student Adult Leader Student Supporter (Printed Name) (Printed Name) (Printed Name)
______Deeper_Faith Student Adult Leader Student Supporter (Signature) (Signature) (Signature)
______Today’s Date Today’s Date Today’s Date
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 2 FIX THESE WORDS OF MINE IN YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS.
_DEUTERONOMY 11:18
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 3 THE BASICS OF FOLLOWING JESUS
WHY & HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 4 WHY_FOLLOW JESUS.
If there was one Bible verse that would win a popularity contest, it is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” Packed into this well-known sentence is the entire Gospel, the center of God’s heart and message for you and me. God created the world and from the very beginning desired to be in a relationship with humanity. He wanted an authentic relationship, so He gave each of us the ability to choose Him or choose ourselves. We all too often choose ourselves which creates brokenness and a fractured relationship with God, others, and our world. So God sent His son to make it crystal clear that He has not forgotten about us or abandoned us. God has always lovingly pursued us, so much so that He showed it in the greatest way by dying for us. Following Jesus means we surrender everything to God—our way of living, thinking, desires, passions, and all we are—because His plan for our lives is much better than ours could ever be! The Psalmist, David, had a moment where he realized this and all he could say was, “God’s love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). We surrender to God because He gave up everything for us. We surrender to God because we were created for this—a relationship with Him! When you are saved by grace your life will have purpose, meaning, hope, healing, community, and adventure when Christ is at the center of it. You will be able to walk through seasons of suffering, persecution, pain, and doubt knowing God is with you! Eternal Life begins the moment we enter into a relationship with God—is made perfect in Heaven—and will continue forever! Jesus loves us, has always loved us, and will always love us! He can be trusted with your life because He created it. Have you surrendered your life to Jesus and received His salvation and forgiveness? Jesus has invited the whole world to follow Him. Are you? HOW_FOLLOW JESUS.
1. ADMIT - First you have to be honest and admit that you are broken and no matter how hard you try, there is no way for you to be right with God apart from His love, forgiveness, and grace. (Romans 3:23) 2. BELIEVE - Next you need to believe that Jesus Christ gave up His life for you and that only through Him can you know God. (Romans 6:23, John 14:6-7) 3. CHOOSE - Lastly, you need to choose Him! You have a clean slate, a brand new life, and the Holy Spirit lives in you. You have been forgiven and made right with God—now go and live like it! (John 5:24, Romans 8:14-17, 1 Corinthians 5:17-21) If you just surrendered your life to Jesus and received His salvation, make sure to let your Pastor and an Adult Leader know! We are so proud of you for making the most important decision of your life! Welcome to the family of God!
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 5 WHY_BAPTISM.
The church has been baptizing followers of Jesus for over 2,000 years as a reminder to the world that God takes lost, broken, and dead people and finds them, fixes them, and brings them back to life! Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward reality that God has changed your life. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person!” You do not need to “have it all together”—because who does? You do not need to have been a Christian for years in order to be baptized. If you love Jesus, then it is time to get baptized! Baptism begins with two questions, “Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?” and “Are you ready to live for Jesus and follow Him wherever He leads?” If your answer to both of those questions is yes, the Pastor baptizing you will dip you under water and as you are coming out of the water you will hear everyone watching cheer you on. As Paul talks about in Romans 6:4, going under water is a reminder that sin equals death and we are drowning apart from God. In order to be right with God we have to believe that Jesus died for our sins and so our life of sin must die as well. Coming out of the water is a reminder that just as Jesus defeated death, sin, and Satan by rising from the grave, so we are forgiven, have new life, and are made right with God through Christ. The cheering you will hear is an important reminder that you were never created to follow Jesus on your own. You are a part of a family now. There is no such thing as an “only child” in the family of God! Do you want to go public for Jesus? HOW_BAPTISM.
1. Ask yourself these two questions to determine if you are ready for baptism: • Is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior? • Am I ready to live for Jesus and follow Him wherever He leads? 2. Research more about baptism by visiting pfbpurpose.com/hsm and clicking on the “Baptism Information” link on the left sidebar. 3. Contact Courtney our HSM Coordinator and let her know you would like to get baptized. 4. Meet with your Pastor to talk about and schedule your baptism!
COURTNEY ROMERO HSM Coordinator [email protected] (909) 629-5277 ext. 3038
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 6 WHY_SCRIPTURE.
In Deuteronomy 11:18, God gives a very important command to His people whom He wants the best for and deeply loves. “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” Through Scripture we encounter our Creator. God has revealed Himself through His love letter to us, the Bible. Reading Scripture should not be viewed as a chore, but as an opportunity to connect with the God who created us, loves us, and has a purpose for our lives. When we connect with God through Scripture, we are inviting Him to comfort, convict, and change us in whatever ways He knows we need. The Bible should be understood as a library with a variety of genres God uses to speak to us; poetry, historical narrative, letters, biography, prophecy, etc. The Bible is composed of 66 books divided into two larger sections. The 39 Old Testament books tell the story of God including creation, the law, and the experiences of Israel, who are the people of God. The 27 New Testament books tell the story of Jesus, the explosive growth of the early church, how we are to live, and Jesus’ plan to return! HOW_SCRIPTURE.
We recommend you read Scripture using the S.O.A.P. method. It is an easy and memorable way of digesting what you are reading. Having a daily time of prayer and reading the Bible is key to spiritual growth. Reading the Bible can seem a little intimidating, however the “SOAP” method will help you connect with God!
S - SCRIPTURE Read a passage of Scripture. If it is your first time reading the Bible we suggest starting in the Gospel of John. Read a section, paragraph, or entire chapter. It is more about quality than quantity. Write down one verse that stands out to you.
O - OBSERVE Write down anything that stands out to you in your reading. Where? Who? What? Do not be scared to underline and write notes in your Bible.
A - APPLICATION Apply what you have learned to your daily life. Ask yourself this question, “How can I apply what I read to my life today?”
P - PRAY Spend time talking with God; thanking Him and asking for help as you attempt to live out what He has taught you.
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 7 WHY_PRAY.
In Luke 5:15-16, we see the news about Jesus spreading and in the midst of this busy and exciting time, we learn an important life habit that Jesus was known for. “Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus prayed often. Not just when he had time or was bored or worried—Jesus deliberately and intentionally got away with God and prayed. Praying is another great way to not only share your heart with God but for Him to speak to you. Prayer is a two-way street. Most of us spend the majority of our prayer time talking, but it should not be like that. It should be so much better. For most of us, if we’re honest, prayer is the most boring part of our relationship with God—when in reality it could be the most exciting! Prayer is about conversing with God Almighty! No fancy words or big vocabulary needed —all God is looking for is to meet with you. HOW_PRAY.
A great acronym to help you start praying is A.C.T.S (similar to the prayer Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13). Use this as a road map or guide (not a strict structure). It will ensure you are praying holistically. Next time you are talking with God, try praying in this order:
A - ADORATION “Praise be to God!” -Psalm 68:35. Tell God how much you appreciate Him. Express your love for Him. Praise His power and majesty, creativity, forgiveness, everlasting love. Recognizing who we are talking to is step one when we converse with God.
C - CONFESSION “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us…” -1 John 1:9. Tell Him where you have fallen short. Be specific. Thank Him for the forgiveness you have in Christ and ask for help and strength to turn away from temptations.
T - THANKSGIVING “Glorify Him with thanksgiving.” -Psalm 69:30. You have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Thank God for His love, His faithfulness, His patience, and anything else that comes to mind. Express gratitude for what He is doing in your life.
S - SUPPLICATION “Make your requests known to God.” -Philippians 4:6. Tell God what you want, no matter how minuscule or ordinary, audacious or outlandish, it seems to you. Is any request too small or too big for God? Be honest and open about your worries and concerns.
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 8 WHY_SING.
In Psalm 98:1, the Poet David declares, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” A thousand years later, we find Paul echoing a similar sentiment in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” The people of God have been singing their love, adoration, and concerns to Him since the beginning of time. Singing is a beautiful way of expressing ourselves to God. Singing is intimate, personal, and important for every believer—both corporately and privately. Singing to God is not solely reserved for those moments when life is working out. In fact, singing to God is a kind of worship we do all the time because despite our circumstances, God is worthy to be praised! HOW_SING.
Whether it is on your mobile device, in the car, or at church with your community, singing to God should be a regular rhythm in your relationship with Him. Take a walk, ride your bike, workout, go on a hike, take a drive, play worship music, and sing along. God will show up in awesome ways when we praise Him. Also, as a part of the body of Christ, we need to regularly worship God together in community. It is important for us to worship God alone and also with others on a regular basis. There are a variety of songs and artists out there who produce songs of praise, lament, joy, and longing for deliverance. Download some worship songs and schedule regular times to sing alone and with your Purpose Church family.
Here are some great worship artists and bands to check out: • Hillsong [United] [Young & Free] • David Crowder • Christy Nockels • Chris Tomlin • Jesus Culture • Phil Wickham • Urban Rescue • For All Seasons • The Advance • Jarret LeMaster • Ryan Hall
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 9 WHY_COMMUNITY.
Early in the Old Testament, God chose the nation of Israel to bear His name and live by His law. His followers would come together, read scripture, remember His faithfulness, and reinvigorate their passion to serve Him. This was all done in community—everyone coming together with one purpose and one desire. As it says in Deuteronomy 6:5, "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your strength." The writer of Proverbs 27:17 offers this insight, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." In order to chase after God with everything we have, we must do so within a community that reminds us of God’s love and strength for us. We must live in a community where we help one another, pour into one another, learn from each other, and encourage one another to go deeper with God. There is no such thing as an “only child” in the family of God. You were created for community, not going at it alone! Psychology and science has echoed what God has said all along, humanity is hard-wired to be known and know others—we are relational! There’s always room for one more person in the global and eternal family of God! HOW_COMMUNITY.
Back when the church was in its infancy, many people were coming to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, but it did not stop there. Look what it says in Acts 2:42, "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals, and to prayer." Continuing in verses 44 and 45, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." In a nutshell, living in community is about loving others well.
1. Show Up - Make an intentional effort every week to plug into Student Ministries on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. 2. Be Honest - Community only happens when we are honest about the struggles and pains we are going through. When you are building relationships, be open and vulnerable with others about what your dealing with and how they can pray for and support you! 3. Invest - Your Small Group is a great place for you to be mentored by an Adult Leader and also by your peers. Invest in those relationships while at church and also outside of church by simply hanging out together. 4. Accountability - Ask your Adult Leader and a peer to hold you accountable to making Christ the center of your life and for your Church community to be a huge priority in your schedule.
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 10 WHY_SERVE.
How does God want you and me to live? What does God desire us to be passionate about? Micah 6:8 gives us a clear picture of what God expects of us in terms of how we we live out our faith. “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” These three characteristics describe the heart of God; justice, mercy, and humility. They also describe the kind of heart-transformation Jesus does in each of us when we allow Him to be the Lord of our lives. God longs for our hearts to beat for the things His beats for! We need to be people who actively pursue justice, mercy, and humility in our decisions and actions. We serve because God served us and continues to serve us. Our God has shown us justice, mercy, and humility so we in turn can receive His love and share it with the whole world—our friends, classmates, teachers, parents, siblings, neighbors, Small Group, etc. We love and serve because God has gone all the way to love and serve us! HOW_SERVE.
Here are a few different ministries and ways to go about serving your community on a regular basis. Our hope is that these ideas will spur you on towards making sacrificial service a regular part of your worship to God and lifestyle! Contact Pastor Eric or Student Ministries Assistant Courtney to find out more about any of these opportunities to serve or others that are not listed below.
1. Student Ministries - Talk with your Pastor or an Adult Leader about how you can serve the students in your ministry. 2. Purpose Church - We have tons of ministries here at Purpose Church— greeters, Kids Ministry, Senior Adults, human trafficking, work projects, international and local missions, etc. You can find out more and plug into these ministries. 3. Homeless Ministry - The 4th Saturday of every month from 12-5pm, Purpose Church serves the homeless in our community with clothing and food. 4. Your School - Find or create your school’s Christian/Bible Club and become a leader in that group. Help your club share the gospel and encourage your school with Christ’s love. Your club can also serve your community through service projects. 5. Spiritual Grandparents - Connect with your Small Group’s Spiritual Grandparent(s) and ask them how you can serve them.
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 11 WHY_TITHE.
In the first book of the Bible, one of the central characters has a very important conversation with God. Jacob, who was so close to God that they actually wrestled, made this vow to Him recorded in Genesis 28:20-22, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” Jacob recognized in this vow that God is the giver of all things; talents, personalities, blessings, and even our money. God calls us to be stewards, which is a biblical term for managing our money wisely. If everything we have ultimately was given to us by God then it actually does not belong to us, but rather God is loaning it to us—expecting us to manage it well. As a steward or manager of God’s resources, He calls us to give 10% and above back to Him—which is the Church, the body of Christ. God has been so generous and loving with us, we are commanded by the Apostle Paul, to “not to be arrogant nor to put [our] hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put [our] hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” Tithing is a spiritual discipline that reminds us everything we have belongs to God. Through our tithing, we are able to bless the ministry God is doing in our local church, community, and world! God will use your generosity to grow you as a follower of Jesus. The more we are generous, the more we are aware of God’s generosity towards us! HOW_TITHE.
1. Step One - Every time you make money (job, babysitting, allowance, etc.), determine what 10% of that is and set it aside for your tithe. • For example, if you make $10 a week, then you would tithe $1 or more depending on what you feel God is leading you to give. If you babysit one night and make $50, you would tithe $5 or more. 2. Step Two - Decide if you want to tithe once a week or once a month. • It does not matter which you choose, the important part is that you commit to a schedule of tithing and stick to it. 3. Step Three - When you attend your weekly Purpose Church service, make sure to bring your 10% tithe with you either once per month or every week. • You can also give online by visiting purposechurch.com/giving or through our downloadable church app: Purpose Church.
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 12 ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD BREATHED.
_2 TIMOTHY 3:16
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 13 DEEPER_FAITH 40 DAY CHALLENGE
EVERY DAY: 1 DEVOTIONAL EXPERIENCE 1 CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE 1 RESOURCE TO CHECK OUT
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 14 DAY 1 D Be the Light DEVOTIONAL Lisa Toney // Associate Executive Pastor
“And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars. And he said to them, “Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’” So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands.” _Judges 7:16-19
When do you remember being in a very dark place? How did it make you feel? How was it different when light broke through? What stands out to you in this passage about their lights?
When God called Gideon to lead Israel against their enemies, He wanted to show that a small army empowered by God was more effective than the largest armies in the world. But notice how they fought – without weapons that an army would normally use. They fought with shofars and lamps! They fought with weapons that the world would consider ineffective, yet triumphed mightily over their enemies. They shouted as loud as they could, sounded the shofar, and broke the vessels that held the fire so that their lamps burst through with brightness. This breaking of the lamps of clay holds a powerful metaphor for us. If we too are "earthen vessels" holding the fire of God – the Spirit of God within us, then a "breaking" of our earthly desires is necessary for His inner light to burst through.
Victory can come out of brokenness. Our old life or self, when truly crucified and broken, will give way to the release of the Lord's Spirit of God in our lives. The death of our Lord has broken the power of our self-life, since we were crucified with Him. Walking in that awareness brings light and victory.
Commit in prayer to being the fire of God in this world. Live the difference. Be the difference. Be the light.
GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD R Psalm 19 S Kathy Troccoli READING SONG bit.ly/1yTxUW7
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DAY 1 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: PSALM 19
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 16 DAY 2 D Fleeing Temptation DEVOTIONAL Michelle Hines // Student Leader
“Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.” _Psalm 19:12-14
As humans we all deal with temptation, and as Christians we deal with even more. Jesus has commanded us to stay away from certain activities, thoughts, and actions to save us from the pain that the world can bring to us (like in the story of Adam and Eve). The tempting nature of the world around us makes it easy to forget our values; society can corrupt us. Therefore, as Christians it is hard to stay away from temptation and even harder to forgive ourselves once we have given in. However, God - loving and almighty - forgives us of our shortcomings. The only one who should have control over your life is God. With God in the center of your life temptations do not seem as big or as difficult to overcome. We all have to face adversity, but with God we can get through anything. Remember that our God is a loving God, one that is on our side and wants to see us succeed. All we have to do is focus on Him and lead a life worthy of our calling. God has given us the most precious sacrifice, His one and only son, and we as Christians should seek to please God. God is willing to help us stay away from what we struggle with, whatever that temptation may be; all we have to do is open up and let him in. If God is truly the center of your life your words as well as your actions should please God. Remember that it is okay if you mess up, God forgives us. We need to forgive ourselves, learn from our mistakes, and grow in our faith. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus. Remember that God sees everything you do. Next time you make a decision stop and think: would God be pleased with what I am doing? Do not worry about what others may think or do; choose God’s way and trust that he will work things out for the good of you and those that love Him. Life is hard, but when the Lord is with you nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26)!
Reflection Questions: 1. What is something you struggle with and how can it be prevented? 2. What can you do to stay focused on Christ? 3. What does having God at the center of your life look like?
HEAVEN IS OUR HOME R John 1 Q C. S. Lewis READING QUOTE bit.ly/1IOFetR
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DAY 2 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 1
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 18 DAY 3 D God’s Timing, Not Mine DEVOTIONAL Courtney Romero // Student Ministries Assistant
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD”. _Psalm 27:14
Have you ever asked God to answer a prayer, but He didn’t? Are you waiting for the right job, relationship, or direction in life to be given or revealed to you? Sometimes it isn't a question of IF God will answer our prayer, but WHEN He will answer it. The answer may be “no”, or it may be “yes”, but the important thing to remember is that it’s all in His timing.
I have experienced God’s perfect timing in my life more times than I can count. Shortly after we were married, my husband and I chose to move in with my parents to pay off our student loans. There were many sacrifices we had to make, such as not having our own space and waiting longer before trying to have a baby. We paid off the loans in a year, and the day we moved into our own place again, we found out we were pregnant. Right then, we knew it was God’s perfect timing; we were back on our own, and had an extra room for our baby who was on her way. From that point, we were able to save money for the next year and a half, and have the opportunity to buy our first house.
Looking back on the time we spent living with my parents, we realized that it wasn’t all about paying off student loans; but that God had a bigger plan and purpose for our stay with them. For that year, my parents saw how we interacted as husband and wife and how God was the leader of our marriage. They were able to see us serve in the church and get excited to share about what God was doing in not only our own lives, but in the lives of others. Ultimately, my parents began coming to church with us which developed into a weekly commitment. They began to grow in their relationship with Christ and with each other. God knows what He’s doing and I smile at seeing how God’s timing for the first few years of our marriage was absolutely perfect.
Sometimes you have to put aside your immediate wants, hopes and dreams, so that God can give you bigger ones. Wait on the Lord. Be patient. Trust in God’s perfect timing. When He answers you, you’ll finally understand why He made you wait.
Reflection Questions: 1. What are some areas or things in your life that you can give over to God and trust in His perfect timing? 2. Have you experienced God’s perfect timing in your life?
WHILE I’M WAITING R John 2 S John Waller READING SONG bit.ly/1o6OstR
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DAY 3 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 2
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 20 DAY 4 D True Delight DEVOTIONAL Calli Dye-Schmidt // FLOOD Assistant
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” _Psalm 37:4
As a young girl I would claim this verse in hopes to be a BIG STAR someday. If you read this verse, it sounds like you get whatever you ask for. As I have grown in my walk with Jesus I have learned that he does bless his people in exponential ways but not always the ways WE desire. The definition of the word desire is to wish or long for; to want. Our world offers so many things to want or wish for, but our Creator ultimately knows what will benefit us most. Our desires may put us in harmful situations or further us in our relationship with Jesus.
Through the years my desires have drastically changed because God has changed my heart. Becoming a big star doesn’t even sound exciting anymore, I love singing and worshipping. Any opportunity to sing or lead worship is a privilege. It’s not about me being the center; it’s now about how Jesus can be seen through me. As you continue to grow in your relationship with Jesus and seek him in all you do, he will put different passions and desires in your heart that you thought you might never have or want.
It says in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”
I am so thankful for a God who wants the ultimate best for His children.
Reflection Questions:
1. What are YOUR desires? 2. How have you seen God change your heart and the things you want? 3. Can you look at your life and thank God for changing your ways to His ways?
TRUST IN YOU John 3 Lauren Daigle R S bit.ly/1KGr9Oo READING SONG
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DAY 4 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 3
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 22 DAY 5 D DEVOTIONAL Better Than Life Eric Holmstrom // HSM Pastor
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” _Psalm 63:1-5
I can’t get this Psalm out of my mind. It nags and bothers me. I read Psalm 63 the other day and immediately felt a sense of desire and longing for something greater. I read it over and over and over again and quickly recognized that I could read it with ease but if I was honest with myself; I was in no way able to write it! Have you ever thought about that. We read Scripture and every once in a while find one of its authors saying audacious things like “earnestly I seek you” or “your love is better than life.” We read those words and think they are nice and admire their faith, but this time, I felt God nudging me to think deeper about this poem. Am I at a depth with God where I could honestly write these words? Am I seeking God earnestly and wholeheartedly believing his love is better than life? How do I get to that place in my relationship with Jesus?
I know this: It is not about having it all together. King David, the poet behind these words, was no perfect man. Some of his greatest sins are recorded and will be re-told until the end of the world. David could not hide from God then and his brokenness is not hidden now. David wasn't always righteous or always the good guy, so these words did not come out of some fake “I have it all together” thinking.
I know this: It is about a “long obedience in the same direction” as Eugene Peterson, one of my favorite authors, says. How do we have the kind of intimacy with God that leads us to earnestly seek Him? Thirst for Him? Know Him to be better than life? It all begins today, in this moment. Don’t wait for some magical camp high, rededication night, or after you make that bad decision this weekend for the hundredth time.
Instead, right now, begin seeking God with all you got! Don’t wait for the feelings to come or for you to have enough time. Jesus loves us right where we are—but He loves us too much to allow us to stagnantly remain there. God desires a deeper faith with you today than you two had last year, last month, even last week! When you and me seek Him daily and consistently, we will find ourselves desiring Him more, loving Him more, longing for time with Him and eventually saying, “your love is better than life.”
You will desire what you choose to chase after!
BRIGHTER Hillsong R John 4 S Young & Free READING SONG bit.ly/1Fmg4jP
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 23
DAY 5 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 4
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 24 DAY 6 D Never Fatherless DEVOTIONAL JP Gonzalez // Adult Leader
“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation…” _Psalm 68:50 As I meditate on the notion of being fatherless, I reflect on my relationship with my earthly father and my personal experience as a father of three children. I look back at the great memories built with my earthly father and acknowledge the challenges we have collectively endured as a family. I think about my past failures and successes as a father and how they relate to my relationship with my biological and heavenly father. I think of the day my father permanently left home to start a new life and how that shaped my image of fatherhood. Although difficult and life changing, this significant event became a starting point to an amazing journey of spiritual discovery and revelation. For many years after my earthly father's departure, I eagerly searched for a "true" fatherly figure and a purpose in life. I believed that if I discovered either I would attain comfort and peace. Little did I know that God had put that desire on my heart and wanted me to seek Him out with all my strength, mind, heart and soul (Matthew 12:30). I started my journey by searching in all the wrong places. I easily became influenced and involved with negative people and situations that brought on many consequences and challenges. I saw myself slowly shifting into a role that veered from God's eternal will for me and my family. What was I lacking?
This process began by establishing a working definition of an ideal fatherly figure. I examined my brokenness and looked at the positive characteristics of the ideal father I desired. What I ended up finding were the characteristics of my heavenly Father. Through the scriptures and His church, I was finally able to see that the Father of Lights is loving, caring, giving, gracious, forgiving, dependable, self-sacrificing, and a protector. I realized that my heavenly Father was always by my side and I was not alone during my moments of pain. In time, I was healed and afforded the opportunity to forgive my earthly father, and the burden of always striving to be a perfect father to my children was lifted. I learned that our Heavenly Father has promised us that He will neither leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8) regardless of our earthly parental circumstance. Jesus is a father to the fatherless and has fulfilled His fatherly role to perfection by taking on the cross and providing His people with the Holy Spirit to guide us in this world. In those spiritual truths, I find comfort and guidance as child of God and as an earthly father.
Reflection Questions: 1. Do you view God as your Heavenly Father? Why or why not? 2. How has your Heavenly Father guided and strengthened your spiritual walk?
JUST LIKE YOU John 5 Lecrae R S bit.ly/1cuzPpf READING SONG
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 25
DAY 6 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 5
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 26 DAY 7 D DEVOTIONAL Trusting in the Lord Chris Lopez & Rob Schwandt // Adult Leaders “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” _Proverbs 3:5-6
Have you ever asked yourself, what does God want me to do? Or, where does God want me to go? What job or career does God want me to pursue? These questions crippled me with fear and anxiety. I wanted to do the right thing, but didn't want to disappoint God or others.
When I read Proverbs 3:5-6, the last sentence stood out to me, "...he will make your paths straight." I love this part. It reveals to me that God is faithful and he will direct me to where I need to be, but look at everything that needs to happen BEFORE God directs our paths: "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all of your ways acknowledge him..." Many young Christians want God to show them the way, but they want God to follow their path; not His path. When you realize you're at this crossroad, it's here where I found myself asking those questions about college, career and basically how important is it to follow God's way and not my own. I was stuck. I didn't want to mess it all up.
This passage is so important, I think, in a young person’s life and walk with Christ. I still hold on to this passage everyday and it’s one that has been written on my heart and my mind. It is a fundamental belief in our walk with Christ. This is where we begin and where we continue to grow in Christ. This is where we learn to let go of ourselves, the things we think we know, the things we hold on to in this world, and give it all to the Lord and put our TRUST and FAITH in Him. It is something that requires surrender to Him. This passage, I guess you can say, is all about surrender. As you read this passage, ask the Lord to let you know what you are still holding on to (hurts, habits, hang-ups, addictions, insecurities, future fears, relationships, etc.) and to help you surrender those things to him. When you surrender to the Lord, you are also saying that you are choosing to trust him. He is the one who has given us our talents and abilities. He is the one who has provided the opportunities to succeed. If our heart's desire is to honor, love and serve Him with the talents and abilities He has given us, then step confidently.
Reflection Questions: 1. How often are we surrendering? What do we surrender to? 2. What does this verse look like or mean to you? 3. Are you willing to trust Jesus and entrust him with everything?
NOTHING I HOLD ON TO John 6 Will Reagan & R S United Pursuit READING SONG bit.ly/1Hfam1w Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 27
DAY 7 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 6
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 28 DAY 8 D DEVOTIONAL Blessings and Trials Gene Scarborough // Ministry Support Pastor
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” _Isaiah 40:31
This verse brings me great comfort and joy for it talks about waiting on the Lord and His plans and by doing that you'll gain strength so not only will He comfort you but He will strengthen you, and you’ll know it is by His grace not anything you do. It was written to God's defeated people under worldly domination. In a time when people were losing all hope.
In 1993 my wife was diagnosed with cancer. It was a time that was very trying, very hard because we didn't know if she was going to make it through. Even with all of our prayers we did not know what to do, this verse reminded us to wait on God and His plans.
In the world today we don't want to wait. Everything is instant; Instagram, Facebook, texting, emails, everything is ready and available at the click of an icon! Google answers come right away! So when trials and hard times come we want answers and prayers answered now! We expect prayers to be answered right after we say “Amen!” God can do that but doesn’t always choose to. I found in my life that He chooses growth in me. Waiting is not just passing time but it is waiting for His timing, leadership, and guidance—slow down and have confidence in Him. To focus on Him and His plans and allow Him to strengthen you. Shall is a powerful word, He uses that several times in the promise of what He's going to do. God's plans are so much grander than ours, His blessings are bigger than we can imagine So don't jump ahead—wait, expect, trust He has a plan, Life is a journey, moments in time that will define you, allow God to use you through all circumstances—good and bad. What you may think is a tragedy may be a blessing. What you may think is a weakness God can use for strength.
Reflection Questions: 1. Have you ever had to wait on God? If so, what was that like? 2. Do you ever wonder why God waits? 3. Have you had blessings in disguise?
BLESSINGS R John 7 S Laura’s Story READING SONG bit.ly/11dICfG
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 29
DAY 8 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 7
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 30 DAY 9 D Gracious God DEVOTIONAL Emily Gunstream // Adult Leader
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” _Isaiah 42:16
When I read this verse, I’m left asking, how can you be so gracious, Lord? Sometimes, there are things in life that speak for themselves. Lengthy words to further describe them cannot do justice—things like grace and redemption and new life. In this passage, God says He will “lead the blind in [a new way]”, referring not only to those who are physically blind, but spiritually blind. To the outcast, the hopeless, the lost: God is declaring that He will guide them into something new. Redemption is that something. The imagery that this verse paints in my mind is like someone turning on a light for a friend that cannot see where he or she is going. This person is gracious toward their friend and wants them to be able to see what they know is possible outside of the dark that surrounds them. Light is possible, even in the darkness and they know where the light switch is located.
God turns the light switch on for us because we wouldn’t know how to get out of the darkness without Him. He makes the “rough places into level ground” and brings us to Himself. He doesn’t leave us defenseless, wandering around in the dark. He doesn’t have to do any of this either; He could leave us alone. But, to continue to guide us and be patient with us shows His immeasurable love towards us. The patience required to guide a blind person, especially someone who may be stubborn, unkind, and unwilling for any help, reveals just how vast God’s affection is for us. God is always willing to help us because that is His character: “These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” He guides us into new life, full of light and level ground, and promises never to leave us.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does this verse say to you about how God cares for you?
2. How does this verse change your perspective of God?
IMMEASURABLY MORE R John 8 S Rend Collective READING SONG bit.ly/ODEuz6
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 31
DAY 9 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 8
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 32 DAY 10 D The Comparison Trap DEVOTIONAL Tina Fisher // Seniors Ministry Assistant
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” _Jeremiah 29:11
I LOVE to take pictures and I LOVE to Instagram. There’s something exhilarating about making my life known to others. However, there are mornings when I’d wake up, check Instagram and think, how on earth did my picture at the Dodger game get less ‘likes’ than so-and-so’s picture of their dog?!?! With that first thought, more dangerous thoughts follow: My friends must not like me very much… That Dodger game wasn’t that great after all… I wish I had a dog… My life sucks…
We can all recognize how destructive my train of thought is—while doing something as harmless as Instagramming, for a split second, I’ve lost sight of all the good that God has placed in my life.
Essentially, my discontent didn’t spring from Instagram; it sprang from COMPARISON. I was so busy looking at other people’s lives, trying to decide how I measure up, I’ve forgotten to look to God. In comparing myself to others, I’ve forgot that our Father has plans for me. Plans that He designed specifically for my well-being; plans that would not be fulfilled if I constantly yearn for my life to look like other people’s. Comparing myself to others made me unhappy, ungrateful and unsure of myself (and God). I have to learn to trust in God’s plans so that I can combat these destructive thoughts and feelings of inadequacy. When I remember that God has a purpose for me, it frees me from the trap of comparison and allows me to celebrate the life that I am living. Do you have faith enough to believe that God has a good plan for you?
Reflection Questions:
1. How does falling into the ‘comparison trap’ affect your faith in God’s plan for you?
2. What is ONE practical way you can adjust your lifestyle so that you’ll compare less and trust more?
COMPARISON IS THE THIEF John 9 OF JOY R A Nathan W. Pyle READING ARTICLE bzfd.it/1c2VoTo Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 33
DAY 10 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 9
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 34 DAY 11 D Let Your Light Shine DEVOTIONAL Amy Frazier // Adult Leader
“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” _Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)
It’s easy to find yourself getting buried under dogma or a list of rules in your faith. Now that you have made a decision to live your life for God, all around you are opinions on how to live, what to read and watch, and whom to call your friends. There are study guides and sermon series that all chime in. These can all be beneficial at times, but when I am really seeking answers about how to live I go straight to the original source. My source of knowledge and instruction is Jesus Christ himself. And, thankfully for us, He spends a big chunk of time in Matthew’s gospel teaching hundreds of people exactly how to live a life that pleases God and shows love to others—It’s called the Sermon on the Mount. You can find the whole thing in Matthew 5-7. It’s definitely worth a read.
In the verses above, Jesus was reminding His followers that we are called to bring our light to all the dark places. Once He puts His love in our lives, He doesn’t want us to hide that away. He’s calling us to live LOUD and BRIGHT, being generous with our lives and our love and our time.
But how do we do that? Start small if this is new to you. Simply talk to someone who looks like they could use a friend and a smile. Offer to help, even before you are asked. Start paying attention to the hurts of others. Our love can help heal a lot of pain, even if you, too, are hurting. Sometimes God wants to begin healing our own pain by using us to bring love into the lives of others. We all belong to each other, so let’s start today by loving a little deeper, shining a little brighter, and opening your heart a little wider. Your light will never be extinguished if you do!
A CITY ON A HILL R John 10 S The City Harmonic READING SONG bit.ly/1AjdMTB
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 35
DAY 11 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 10
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 36 DAY 12 D Just Jesus DEVOTIONAL Brian Holland // FLOOD Pastor
“Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” _Matthew 6:1-5
First of all notice what the disciples did in this passage. They did one thing, that which every disciple of Jesus today is called to do: FOLLOW. Where Jesus went, the disciples followed. Today it is so easy to claim to be a Christian and yet never see anything come from that declaration. In fact, the majority of Americans still refer to themselves as Christian and yet it just doesn’t seem like it’s true. It seems like things would look completely different if everyone who claimed to be following Jesus was actually following Jesus. Friends, we are not called to be a “Christian” but rather a “follower” of Jesus. He calls us to be his disciples. And our one job as followers of Jesus can be summed up in this one thing: to follow Jesus, wherever He goes. That means that we will obey Him in everything because we will follow wherever He goes, staying away from those things that He stays away from. So, follow.
Second, there is a danger lurking, especially for those of you who have been brought up in the church. Look at the response of the people in Matthew 6 when Jesus showed up teaching: “What’s this wisdom that has been given Him, that He even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him (Mark 6:3). They were blown away by the wisdom and miracles of Jesus, but then they began to remember that they “knew” Jesus. They even remembered that Jesus was the town “handyman” that they would often call upon to fix things around their homes. So because of their familiarity with Jesus, they were offended by the things that He said because they couldn’t see Him for the God that He really was because to them He was just Jesus.
So always approach Jesus with a sense of anticipation and excitement. Spend time with him and look for the ways that He is accomplishing the miraculous in and around you. Spend time with him to get to know his heart and then walk with him to witness first-hand His power and ability. You see, Jesus is anything but just Jesus. (John 17:24)
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD R John 11 V Louie Giglio READING VIDEO bit.ly/1HsAg7i
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 37
DAY 12 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 11
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 38 DAY 13 D The Rocks and The Flowers DEVOTIONAL Elijah Kaak // Student Leader
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” _Matthew 6:26
When we look up at the sky at night, what do we see? We should see a ray of stars, more than we could ever count. This vast spread of stars is just one example of God’s beauty. It is something that we as humans could never dream of exploring. We could spend hours looking up at God’s artwork, and yet, most of us barely take any time at all to glance at it. We go about our day being busy humans; sleeping, working, eating, etc. But somehow we never stop and smell the roses.
This is actually more important than it would originally seem. If we just thank God for the things in our life like family, and food, then we forget the whole other part to our Lord’s work. But some day, these things that give us hope today will either be gone, or simply discourage us, but finding thanks and hope in God’s creation can open our hearts to a whole other kind of hope. The fields behind our home, the animals that protect us, or vast sky—these things can bring back our hope, they can show us God.
Have you ever looked at creation and felt a sensation of happiness come over you?
This is God, through every plant, animal, or rock, trying to tell us a single truth:
I am here. I am with you.
So tonight, after the moon comes out and the sound of the TV is off, sit on your porch. Sit there for a while, look at the stars, and think about them, look for patterns, spot shooting stars; the time will get away from you, trust me.
And remember: God made this, and He made you.
STARS David Crowder R John 12 S Band READING SONG bit.ly/1Hfb7HT
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 39
DAY 13 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 12
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 40 DAY 14 D You Are Loved DEVOTIONAL Katlyne Stiles // Student Leader
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” _Matthew 10:29-31
Jesus says that "you are of more value than many sparrows." These birds were very common in Israel during biblical times and very often sold for less than one cent. We often see birds, especially little tiny sparrows, as a common things we often ignore and avoid as they fly right over the the ground. They go largely unnoticed and are not seen as valuable in any form by the average man. But God sees these seemingly pointless birds as a beautiful, talented, and unique creature that is just as loved as an eagle or a hawk. In His eyes both the sparrow and eagle are seen with the same value. Some days you may feel like sparrows and others you may feel like the eagle. It is important to always remember that God values you—even if you feel like a sparrow.
Many of us feel that we are not good enough to go to church or to be loved by Jesus, we feel that we are less valuable than sparrows. We feel that we have made too many mistakes that are too large to ever be forgiven. This is not true! He created you in His perfect image! When He was putting you together in your mother's womb He was probably saying something like this to all of His angels, "did you all see that cute and awesome child I just made? That kid is my most prized possession and I will always be here for them. When they smile, I smile. When they cry, I cry with them. But yeah, I love that child down there and I hope they always remember that."
Whenever you feel worthless—YOU’RE NOT!
But we all get like that sometimes, so tell yourself:
I AM WORTH MORE THAN BIRDS!
And remember this: happy flights little birds, Jesus loves you!
YOU ARE MORE Tenth Avenue R John 13 S North READING SONG bit.ly/1lu7wyH
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 41
DAY 14 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 13
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 42 DAY 15 D Don’t Be Afraid DEVOTIONAL Gregg Svalstad // Associate Executive Pastor
“The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” _Matthew 14:24-27
What were the disciples focused on? The hugeness of the storm, the strength of the wind, the darkness of the night…how small and weak they were against it all….And what did all of that produce? FEAR! And so Jesus responds, “Don’t be afraid.” This is one of the 365 times in the Bible that God tells us not to fear. One for every day of the year! God knows us and how often we face the storms of life—how often we fear.
We all have fears. I don’t appear to be a fearful person. I love roller coasters, whitewater rafting, hiking to the top of Half Dome and standing right at the edge…but that doesn’t mean I don’t have fears. My fear of failure keeps me from stepping out to depend on God, My fear of rejection keeps me from speaking out the truth. My fear of what you will think of me keeps me from telling you all my fears.
Wherever we find ourselves and whatever causes us to fear, Jesus says, “Take Courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus wants to take our eyes off of all those things that cause us to fear and to fix our eyes on Him. Jesus says to you and to me—you have the storm and you have Me…recognize which is more powerful.
When the storms and fears of life hit, no matter how small you feel—fix your eyes on Jesus who is big enough, strong enough, and powerful enough to overcome it all.
Reflection Questions:
1. What fears immobilize you?
2. How can you fix your eyes on Jesus today?
FIX MY EYES For King R John 14 S & Country READING SONG bit.ly/1GmSaqH
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 43
DAY 15 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 14
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 44 DAY 16 D Try Faith DEVOTIONAL Jesse Hunter // FSM Pastor
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” _Matthew 17:20
Lacking Faith can seem like a daily struggle, but it’s so important to trust in Him. Do we truly evaluate each obstacle or hardship in our lives and say, did I have Faith during that hardship? Did I rely on Him? Am I actively seeking to grow my Faith? Asking these questions will help us evaluate our daily Faith and grow as we walk by Faith with Jesus.
If we start small in practice we can grow to amazing strength and size. The mustard seed is only 1-2 mm in size, but the plant can grow up to 20 feet in a matter of 1-2 years. It doesn’t need much water to grow, but a little goes a long way. The soil doesn’t need to be that great either; it can still grow in whatever soil it’s placed in. I know there have been many times I have lacked Faith and have thought, how do I get through this? There are even times the situation is so small, yet I still worry about it. The best question I can ask myself during an anxious moment is:
How can God grow my faith in this specific situation?
Over these last few days, I have been thinking about this very question. Although the answer seems simple, we are promised that giving God control and letting him take control of our situations will work! Give Faith a try! In the event you feel anxious, stressed or worried, place your trust in Him. Walk day-to-day and know He is in control! When we put our Faith in Him, we are promised growth just like the mustard seed! Small Seed, Big Tree.
Grow your Faith, by practicing letting Him have ALL control in every situation.
He will get you through!
WALK BY FAITH John 15 Jeremy Camp R S bit.ly/1HsAATs READING SONG
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 45
DAY 16 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 15
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 46 DAY 17 D Snuggle With Jesus (Part 1) DEVOTIONAL Bekah Schwandt // Adult Leader
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” _Mark 4:39
Do you ever feel like you are just spinning your wheels? Trying to juggle too many things? Trying to maintain control of your life as it whirls in chaos around you? Somehow we have been trained to believe that if we can just multitask better, be more productive, be a more effective problem solver, etc—we will be able to keep ourselves afloat and can remain in full control of our situation and circumstances. This had been my belief and understanding of how to cope with the many stresses of life for far too long—until recently, when God completely rocked my boat!
I was recently having a heart-to-heart conversation with a good friend of mine, and I was sharing some of my deepest struggles, fears, and anxieties with her. As I opened up to her about my situation, I was hoping that she would be able to offer some advice on what I needed to do—which direction to go—what action to take next. And yet her response took me by complete surprise.
Rather than giving me the easy-fix-it answer I was looking for, this friend looked at me with a deep concern in her eyes and said, “Oh my dear, you really need to rest.” I stared back at her, wondering if I had some terrible dark bags under my eyes or something. She continued, “Can’t you hear yourself frantically spinning your wheels, trying to grasp at anything and everything in an attempt to maintain impossible control of your surroundings?”
“I suppose so,” I responded thoughtfully.
Referencing the story from Mark 4, she explained, “I can just see you out on the deck of that boat in the middle of the storm. You are trying with all your might to steer the boat through the crashing waves, while also grasping to keep the sails, ropes, and rigging in order so that the boat does not capsize. No wonder why you are so stressed out and overly anxious! You are trying to control way too many things! Meanwhile, Jesus is calmly sleeping down below in the stern, and He just wants you to come down and rest with Him. He is the Almighty God and is in total control of the storm that surrounds you, and you need to trust Him enough to simply snuggle up and rest in Him. He will take care of the rest.”
IN MY ARMS John 16 Plumb R S bit.ly/1Kiigxi READING SONG
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 47
DAY 17 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 16
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 48 DAY 18 D Snuggle With Jesus (Part 2) DEVOTIONAL Bekah Schwandt // Adult Leader
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” _Mark 4:39
As I wiped the tears from my eyes, I felt such relief deep within my soul. This was an entirely new posture and approach for me in my relationship with the Lord. I have always believed that the more I can do and accomplish in my day-to-day life (even if it IS for God), the more pleased He will be with me. And yet I had completely missed the incredible truth that He simply longs for us to just rest in Him so that HE can handle the storms in our lives!
Yet even after hearing this profound message from my friend, I caught myself immediately feeling guilty at the idea that I would potentially be sleeping on the job. How could I justify the idea of taking a nap when there is so much that needs to get done? Who else will do it all if I don’t?
But then I looked back at Scripture and saw that when the disciples frantically ran down into the stern of the boat, they woke Jesus in a panic, saying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” To me, this honest yet somewhat sarcastic question implied a lack of faith and fear that Jesus was not actually going to save them. As awful as that sounds, I have no doubt that my prayers have totally sounded like that a time or two! Then, after calming the storm, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” As I read this, my initial feelings of guilt were immediately wiped away because I was reminded that Jesus WANTS us to seek Him for shelter, trust in His almighty power, and ultimately allow His glory to shine through us. He doesn’t need me to steer the boat—He can do that all on His own! Jesus simply wants me to come snuggle up and rest in Him.
Reflection Questions: 1. What area(s) or situation(s) in your life are you trying to handle all on your own? 2. Do you believe that God is powerful enough to save you from the storm? Why or why not? Do you trust Him to do so? 3. How can you take on this new posture of snuggling up and resting in Jesus? What would that look like in your life?
IN MY ARMS John 17 Plumb R S bit.ly/1Kiigxi READING SONG
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 49
DAY 18 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 17
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 50 DAY 19 D DEVOTIONAL Mission Statement Chris Frazier // Adult Leader “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” _Luke 4:18-19
Luke tells us about this super tense moment just as Jesus was about to explode on the scene, where Jesus gets up in synagogue and starts reading from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah’s talking about this person, the Messiah, that God would send to transform the lives of the Jews and bring in God’s kingdom. He finishes reading the passage, puts down the scroll, says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” He knows exactly who he is (the Messiah) and what he came to do (change the world), and He let everyone around Him know it too. This didn’t go down well. These were people He grew up with who expected Him to follow after His dad Joseph and become a carpenter, not the Messiah. They started whispering to each other, “Ummm… did Jesus, Joseph’s kid, just say what I think he said? Who does he think he is?!”
Jesus had a choice. He could have listened to everyone around Him telling Him who they thought He should be. He could have bought into their expectations and went back to making high quality furniture at a reasonable price. But Jesus wasn’t about to walk away from His mission, the mission God set for Him at the beginning of time and that Isaiah wrote about 800 years beforehand! He stepped up and told them, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown.”
This infuriated pretty much everyone in town. The group, now a mob, dragged Him to the nearest cliff to kill Him but, in one of the coolest, ninja-style miracles ever, He ends up walking right through the crowd, leaving them all behind. He doesn’t stop there. He proceeds to spend the next three years doing exactly what He said He would do: giving hope to the poor, releasing the captives, giving sight back to blind people (with mud and spit!), and setting the oppressed and marginalized people around Him free. He transformed the lives of Jews all around Him and started a movement that would transform the world.
God has a plan for you, one He’s had in mind since before you were born. It’s a plan that might be dangerous. It’s a plan that people will try to talk you out of. It’s a plan you might not even believe in right now. But if you step up, if you fight the urge to give in to mediocre expectations, if you go for the best instead of “good enough” you just might see God use YOU to change the world!
EYES ON THE PRIZE R John 18 S Sara Groves READING SONG bit.ly/1A45Fdp
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 51
DAY 19 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 18
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 52 DAY 20 D Follow Me DEVOTIONAL Adrian Pichay // JHM Pastor
“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” _Luke 9:57-59
As we grow deeper in our faith we quickly realize that the life of a believer is not an easy one. Though God’s love and grace is all around us we still face challenges each and every day. We often are called to make sacrifices in our lives that are difficult or push us outside of our comfort zone. In Luke 9, Jesus has three encounters with people who want to follow Him. One word to describe a person who follows Jesus is a disciple. In each of the three conversations that Jesus has he gives us some clues about what it means to be one of his followers. These clues can help us know what to expect when we follow Jesus in our own lives.
Before you read this section of verses, know that Jesus will use two metaphors to describe His point. It might take you a couple times of reading it before you understand what they mean. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right away, it’s fun to try and figure out what Jesus is saying. Write down what you think Jesus means in the three spaces below and then I’ll give you some info about what I think it means.
Read Luke 9:57-62 a few times.
In conversation #1 Jesus tells us that a disciple will be ______. In conversation #2 Jesus tells us that a disciple will ______. In conversation #3 Jesus tells us that a disciple doesn’t ______.
I would say that the three answers Jesus gives to tell us about being a disciple are that; a disciple will often be (1) uncomfortable, a disciple will (2) see Christ as most important and follow Him now, and a disciple doesn’t (3) look back and dwell in the past.
As I mentioned earlier, following Jesus isn’t easy. He tells us this Himself. Walking with God comes at a great cost, but His plans for our life are always better than anything we could plan. As you think about your life remember that Jesus wants you to follow Him now, He wants you to know that it won’t be a comfortable journey, and that we shouldn’t look back—but, we shouldn’t worry because he is going to be walking right alongside us!
WE WILL FOLLOW R John 19 S Jars of Clay READING SONG bit.ly/1edFEPp
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 53
DAY 20 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 19
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 54 DAY 21 D Shameless Audacity DEVOTIONAL Rob Schwandt // Adult Leader
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” _Luke 11:9-10
Where did you learn to pray? Who taught you how to pray? When I reach deep into my memories, I can’t say someone sat me down and taught me how to pray. However, I did learn by copying my parents’ example, my youth pastor’s example, and pretty much anyone else I have heard pray.
Read Luke 11:1-13. This section of Scripture is most famously known as The Lord’s Prayer. I’ve heard this many times and there is great content in this prayer; it covers all the bases. But how many times have you ever prayed and it seems like a script? It is like you’re going through the motions? I have felt this way about prayer many times, that is until I read this passage. So what was revealed to me? Jesus tells the disciples a story about a neighbor coming over to ask for food. And then there’s a phrase that Jesus used in the story that forever changed the way I view prayer: “shameless audacity”.
Shameless: Not caring about what others think about you or being so convinced about what you are doing is right, that you are willing to face whatever comes your way. Do you love God so much and have complete faith in Him that you can shamelessly ask for Him to provide and protect you? And when God does not immediately answer your prayer, will you continue to be faithful? Pray to God honestly to help you trust Him completely so that you can pray shamelessly.
Audacity: Willing to take bold risks.
Do you ever pray for God to do the miraculous? Or is it always something small, predictable, and limited? Do you let your past of God not answering your prayers stop you from taking risks? Pray honestly to God for the big, the bold and the miraculous for your life, your family, your friends, and for HSM!
GIVE ME FAITH John 20 For All Seasons R S bit.ly/1Fmi7EF READING SONG
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 55
DAY 21 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 20
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 56 DAY 22 D The Stumble to Be Humble DEVOTIONAL Andrew Haynes // Student Leader
"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” _Luke 14:11
One of the most dangerous deceptions for a true follower of God is pride. For one to whole-heartedly commit to their faith in God; they must first leave their own pride at the door—with no intention of circling back. Having deep pride in one's self can easily branch out to other conflicts that could restrain or cease a close relationship with God.
Instead of allowing pride to take hold of your faith, you should instead practice humility by seeking or at least listening to what God and your community in Christ may be trying to teach you.
True faith has no room for a prideful mind. You are gifted with the chance to grow in maturity, knowledge, and faith once you allow your own pride to be replaced with a new-found humility in the name of your Lord and Savior.
Reflection Questions:
1. What would it look like for you to pursue humility rather than pride?
2. How could you practice humility?
3. Could you rely on anyone to hold you accountable to staying humble?
4. How would your peers react if you were more humble?
I AM PERFECT John 21 Tim Kressin R V bit.ly/1cNgfuT READING VIDEO
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 57
DAY 22 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: JOHN 21
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 58 DAY 23 D The Running Father DEVOTIONAL Eric Holmstrom // HSM Pastor
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” _Luke 15:20
I can picture Jesus sitting around that table. He’s got a bunch of friends and new acquaintances on either side and they are eating together, sharing conversation, laughing, and all of a sudden some of the religious elite sneak into the party and begin talking under their breath. They comment and sneer about the kind of people Jesus is hanging out with. They can’t believe this Rabbi would spend time with those people. And just then, Jesus catches eyes with them, they’ve been discovered, but before they can slip out the back door, Jesus uses this moment to share the most important story He ever shared. He knew His captive audience was ready. He had been waiting a long while to tell this story and now was the time. The sinners, tax collectors, and religious elite were all in the same place and each of them needed to hear this.
There was once a man who had two sons. Jesus begins the story with this father figure who we discover loves his two sons and yet each of the boys choose to rebel against him and go their own way. The religious and irreligious are the two sons and Jesus is the Father in the story. The younger son wishes his father dead and asks for his inheritance. The father grants it and after squandering all of the money and sloshing around life aimlessly, the younger son decides to come back to the father as a slave— an attempt to earn his way back. The father sees the younger son while he is a long way off, rehearsing his speech. At once the father runs as fast as he can towards his lost and dead son and welcomes him back into the family. The father throws a party and the older son cannot understand why his dad would do this which turns his confusion into anger. The father runs towards his second son and also invites him back into a restored relationship with Him.
Jesus tells this story at this moment to make it crystal clear to everyone around that table, and to you and me, that God is running after all of us. We each run away and do our own things and yet our gracious God knows how to chase, pursue, and invest in us, His kids. He is passionate about you and me and will relentlessly seek after us! God is our running Father! How has God been chasing after you?
COME AS YOU ARE R Psalm 63 S David Crowder READING SONG bit.ly/1LyYBZ1
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 59
DAY 23 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: PSALM 63
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 60 DAY 24 D Be An Andrew to Your Generation DEVOTIONAL Glenn Gunderson // Senior Pastor
“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” _John 1:35-42
I love Andrew in the Bible! Kimberly (my wife) and I love him so much that we named our second son after him! Just about every time you see Andrew in the Bible, he is inviting someone to meet Jesus. The first time we meet him in John 1:35-42 he is introducing his brother Simon (soon to be Peter) to Jesus. The Bible even says that “The first thing Andrew did” after meeting Jesus was to find his brother and tell him.
This is also God’s plan for us. His purpose for our life is for us to go to heaven and to take our oikos with us. Oikos is the Greek word for household. It means the 8-15 in what we call our sphere of influence—the people we go to school with, work with, members of our family, people we socialize with, etc. Peter was in Andrew’s oikos, so when he found out how to go to heaven, the first thing he did was to make sure that Peter would go there with him!
Be an Andrew to your generation!
Follow Jesus and determine to influence your friends to follow Him also!
Reflection Action:
1. Make a list of the 8-15 people in your oikos. Pray for them and ask God to show you how to influence them to follow Jesus and join you someday in heaven.
STRANGERS Christian R Romans 1 V Motivational Video READING VIDEO bit.ly/1L6VGEU
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 61
DAY 24 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 1
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 62 DAY 25 D Jesus Desires You DEVOTIONAL Nicole Padilla // Adult Leader
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” _John 4:13-14
Jesus never grows tired of you! He desires to hear your voice, to know your heart, to meet your needs, to satisfy you. Where are you? Will you meet with Him at the well?
1: Jesus makes time to sit and talk with you (v 6). Although Jesus was tired from His journey, He intentionally sat down and waited at the well for this woman to show up. He wanted her to experience His love and forgiveness.
2: Jesus wants to give you better than what you need (v 13-15). The woman had a problem—she was thirsty. Jesus had the solution—living water. Although the woman only wanted physical water, Jesus met her greater need; eternal life with Him. Sometimes God answers our prayers in ways that don't make sense, but it’s always better than what we originally dreamed.
3: Jesus will call you out on your sin so that you can know Him more (v 16-26). This woman just met Jesus and He's already calling out her sin. That’s embarrassing and painful. Yet, Jesus does it so that He can reveal that He is the Messiah and she can know that He is the Savior! Be grateful that God does not leave us in our sin nor is He content with our current relationship with Him. He wants to take us ever deeper into His love and reality. Let him take you there even if it means bringing your sin to light.
4: The women shared with others what Jesus revealed to her in their one-on-one time and so should you (v 28). Don't be afraid to share with your friends and family what Jesus has done in your life! It’s true, not everyone will believe (v 39), however YOUR story, YOUR testimony will encourage others to seek God out for themselves.
5: Others will be saved by you sharing what Jesus has done in your life (v 42). What if this woman never shared about her experience with Jesus? Some of her family, her friends and her neighbors would have never been saved. What if you never share your experiences with Jesus? Remember, its not your fault if people don't accept Jesus. They have to experience Jesus for themselves just like you did. All you can do is show them the way. After all, what did the people say, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
WHERE YOU GO I GO R Romans 2 S Kim Walker READING SONG bit.ly/1FmiEGz
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 63
DAY 25 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 2
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 64 DAY 26 D What If God Delays? (Part 1) DEVOTIONAL Nicole Padilla // Adult Leader
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” _John 11:25-26
Mary, Martha and Lazarus know frustration firsthand. They were some of Jesus’ closet friends. They walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, laughed and cried with Him. They saw the heart and love of God the Father displayed through the ministry and life of Jesus the Son. When Lazarus became ill, Mary and Martha knew exactly who to go to when they needed a miracle.
The first thing to remember when you are waiting for God to answer your prayer is to continue seeking Him (v 3). Mary and Martha trusted that Jesus would intervene and change their situation because they knew Jesus’ character and remembered how He had been faithful to them in the past. They saw the signs and miracles of Jesus and believed that He was the Messiah. Remember how God has answered your prayers in the past. Remember how He has spoken to you and came through for you in previous situations. Hold on to that reality!
Second, remember how much God loves you in your time of waiting. Verse 4 says that Jesus loved his friends. We are not simply friends of God. Our relationship with Him is much deeper. We are His children (Galatians 3:26); we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10); we are His reflection (2 Corinthians 3:18). He delights in you (Zephaniah 3:17). He enjoys you (Psalm 149:4). He desires you (Song of Solomon 4:9-10). For real. He has nothing but infinite purpose and love for us because he is the source of that purpose and love (Isaiah 55:11). Nothing we do will ever take away His love (Romans 8:37-39).
Third, what if Jesus is delaying His response to your prayer for your sake rather than for the sake of the one whom you're praying for? In verse 14 Jesus straight up tells His disciples He's glad He did not respond immediately to Mary and Martha’s prayer. Why? So that the disciples may believe. What if God is delaying His response to your prayer because He desires you to have greater faith, greater trust, greater love for Him? What if the whole purpose of prayer is for you to believe what you're praying for and whom you're praying to? Whats the greater miracle: healing a sick man or raising a dead man to life? Which one would you rather see your Jesus do? Which one would make you a believer?
_Part 2 of Nicole’s devotional continues tomorrow.
I WILL WASTE MY LIFE R Romans 3 S Misty Edwards READING SONG bit.ly/1di0Mnq
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 65
DAY 26 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 3
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 66 DAY 27 D What If God Delays? (Part 2) DEVOTIONAL Nicole Padilla // Adult Leader
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” _John 11:25-26
Fourth, Jesus ALWAYS comes (v 17). He ALWAYS answers even if it’s days or years since we first asked that prayer. Yes, its frustrating, confusing and painful when Jesus delays in responding to you. But, take heart, His plans for you are not for evil, but for peace, hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). He will show up in your life and answer you in the most perfect way.
Fifth, do you still trust Jesus when you're walking through the valley of the shadow of death? No doubt, Martha and Mary are in one of the darkest and most painful times in their life—their brother is dead. If only Jesus had arrived sooner He could have been healed and all this pain avoided. It’s at precisely this moment that Jesus asks Martha and Mary a tough question. He asks them if they believe in Him—if they believe He is the resurrection and the life (v 25-26).
Sixth, your God is a God who will go through it with you, whatever it is. Jesus will be with you in your brokenness, in your pain, in your struggle, in your temptation. Yes, He is 100% God but He is also 100% man and He was just as sad and brokenhearted as Mary and Martha. One of Jesus’ closest friends just died. Mary and Martha are weeping in pain and sorrow. And so does Jesus. It blows my mind that before Lazarus was even sick, Jesus, being God, knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Literally in minutes a miracle was going to take place—Lazarus would live again. Yet, Jesus still stopped everything in His life to be with His friends exactly where they were. Where are you right now? What’s your struggle, pain or temptation?
Jesus is right there with you.
Lastly, do you want to see the glory of God in your life? Jesus asked Martha this very question right before He answered her prayer. “...If you believe, you will see...” said Jesus (v 40). Do you believe? Do you believe Jesus is God, the Savior of the world? Do you believe He loves you? Do you believe He can and will intervene in your life and answer your prayers?
Believe so you can see!
I WILL WASTE MY LIFE R Romans 4 S Misty Edwards READING SONG bit.ly/1di0Mnq
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 67
DAY 27 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 4
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 68 DAY 28 D Out Of My Comfort Zone DEVOTIONAL Peter Torry // Executive Pastor
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” _John 21:15 Peter was a fisherman! He loved being out on the Sea of Galilee and after the death and resurrection of Jesus, Peter was not real sure what he would do next. He had been following Jesus for the last three years and did not expect that Jesus would die. And the resurrection was puzzling, too. So Peter went back to Galilee along with the other disciples and did what they loved to do—they went fishing. Jesus showed up! In fact, He made the disciples breakfast. Then Jesus took Peter and walked back down to the shore of the lake where the fishing boat and the nets were. Jesus asked Peter a very pointed question, “Do you love me more than these?” I can see Jesus standing there and pointing at the boat and the nets—they were the things Peter really loved—and Jesus wanted to know if Peter loved Him more than he loved all of these fishing things! Jesus asked him three times in all and after each question said to him, “Feed my lambs,” or “Feed my sheep.” Jesus was asking Peter to do something that Peter did not have any training in, probably did not want to do, and was certainly something that would make him uncomfortable. Jesus was asking Peter to change from being a fisherman to become a shepherd.
Jesus likes to ask us to do things that are out of our comfort zone. He doesn’t do it all the time, but occasionally we will get this sense that God wants us to do something and it just is out of our comfort zone. God does that in my life. Sometimes it is talking to someone about who Jesus is. Sometimes it is helping someone in need. Sometimes it is fun. Sometimes it is exciting. And often it is hard. But when I obey and do what Jesus wants me to do, it is always rewarding and fulfilling. Over my life I have been in a lot of uncomfortable situations. I have smuggled Bibles into China and worshipped in underground house churches. I have had lunch in a Palestinian refugee camp with members of the Hamas terrorist group. I have been at the University in Gaza talking to teenagers who have just returned from training to be suicide bombers. Not always the most comfortable situations. But in everyone God was at work and in the end there was not just excitement but a real sense of fulfillment knowing I had obeyed God.
Reflection Questions: 1. If Jesus asked you if you loved those things in your life more than you loved Him, what do you think you would say? How would you feel? 2. If Jesus wants you to do something with your life that you are not sure would be very comfortable for you, how would you respond?
THE CROSS BEHIND THE WALL Romans 5 Christian Persecution R V in China READING VIDEO bit.ly/1PvnLw5 Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 69
DAY 28 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 5
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 70 DAY 29 D How To Have Jesus Stories DEVOTIONAL Peter Torry // Executive Pastor
“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)” _John 21:20 After breakfast, Jesus took Peter on a walk. We know that they were walking because Peter turns and sees that a disciple was following them. So Jesus and Peter had to be walking. But the disciple who was following them was said to be, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Who was that disciple and what was so special about him that it was said that he was “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? This disciple was John. Yes, this is the John that wrote the Gospel of John. But what was so special about him? This verse tells us two things about John that made him special to Jesus.
First, he was following Jesus. I don’t mean that he was following Jesus in the sense that he was trying to do the things that Jesus taught. I mean that he was following him so close that Peter turned and saw him. He was close enough to Jesus to hear His words and then be able to write them down. Second, John had leaned back on Jesus at the last supper. Once again he was close enough to Jesus that he could hear every word Jesus spoke and then was able to record them for us.
So what’s the point? It is simply this, if you want to tell stories about Jesus, follow Him closely. Lean on Him often. What do I mean by that? Two things. Listen to the words of Jesus! That means reading the Bible often and regularly. The Bible is the word of Jesus! Second, listen to people who talk to Jesus! Listen to godly people. Often I like to listen carefully to people when they are praying. I can learn so much when I hear them talking to Jesus. I can hear how they have reverence for Him. I can often hear faith in their voice—faith that Jesus is listening and will answer them. And those things are very encouraging. So follow Jesus closely. Listen to Him talk and then talk with Him. And listen to godly people. Their wisdom may be just what you need to have a good Jesus story to share with a friend!
Reflection Questions: 1. How often do you read the words of Jesus in the Bible? 2. Do you do it often enough that you know His stories? 3. What are your two most favorite stories about Jesus? 4. Do you have stories about how Jesus has helped you or worked in your life? 5. Have you shared those stories with others?
WHY READ THE BIBLE R Romans 6 V Explore God READING VIDEO bit.ly/1cNgWEu
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 71
DAY 29 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 6
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 72 DAY 30 D No Perfect People Allowed DEVOTIONAL Rob Schwandt // Adult Leader
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. _Acts 9:13-15
Who is the good Christian kid in your school? The goody-two-shoes in your Small Group? Who do you know has their life all together? Your parents? Grandparents? Your Pastor? Believe it or not, do you know what all of these people have in common? They are NOT perfect. They have all made mistakes. Maybe not the same mistakes, but they are not perfect people.
There was a man named Paul. He is considered one of Jesus’ most passionate followers, teacher and mentor of some of the greatest early church leaders and writer of a lot of the New Testament. BUT, just like you and me, Paul had a past; and not a very admirable one at that.
Read Acts 9:1-31. The story starts where Saul, Paul’s former name, was on a killing spree. He was seeking out the early followers of Christ to kill them. (Talk about doing the EXACT OPPOSITE of what Jesus would want!) But yet, God got a hold of Saul’s heart and attention. God wanted to use him. Yes, Saul, the murderer of people who followed the Lord Jesus! So what was revealed to me? No matter what we’ve done, God can redeem us from our past and use our future to glorify Him! There is nothing that can separate us from His love. God uses our failures, regrets, worries and doubts for His glory; to give us purpose for our un-perfect lives. No Perfect People Allowed!
Take some time to pray and reflect on these things: • Admit to God that you have made mistakes, and that you are not perfect. • Realize that God wants to use you and your story for His Glory. • Ask God to place someone in your path to share your story with—and watch God use you for His purpose!
REMIND ME WHO I AM R Romans 7 S Jason Gray READING SONG bit.ly/1AjhxZk
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TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 7
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 74 DAY 31 D Nothing Can Separate Us DEVOTIONAL Sarah Holmstrom // Adult Leader
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” _Romans 8:38-39
Growing up, I was plagued by fears. I was afraid that I wasn't living up to all that God expected of me. I thought I was disappointing Him all of the time. I tried to please Him through my actions and by checking things off of my endless divine to-do list. If only I joined more bible studies, prayed out loud more frequently, remembered to tithe every week. It never felt like enough.
Even more terrifying, I feared that maybe God had left me. I assumed that God was tired of helping me and tired of my mistakes. I still remember falling to my knees one morning, sobbing, feeling utterly alone and shameful—I begged God to show up. I feared that perhaps Satan had won the battle for my soul. I felt unsaved, unloved, and unlovable. But those were all lies!
Once I began digging into scripture, I got to know God as my loving Father. He reminded me to cling onto the hope that He has given us through His Word. He will never leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6). We are His beloved children. He has adopted us into His family. When we believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths that He is Lord, that's it (Romans 10:9). There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn His love or make Him love us more. There is nothing, no one, no sin, no wrong done to you, no thought or fear—NOTHING can take His love away from you. I pray that you walk away today feeling blessed to be a part of the family of God. Walk in confidence. Trust that you are God's child and that you can call Him dad. He adores you and planned you long ago! (Ephesians 1:5)
Reflection Challenge:
1. Set a timer for 5 minutes as you quiet your heart and listen for God's voice. 2. Ask Him to speak to you. Maybe you need to be reminded of His love. 3. Ask Him to reveal your true identity in Him.
HOW HE LOVES R Romans 8 V David Crowder READING VIDEO bit.ly/1bsKrnT
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TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 8
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 76 DAY 32 D Living Sacrifices DEVOTIONAL Jacob Cohen // Student Leader
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” _Romans 12:1-2
It is easy to be affected by our world today. But verses 1-2 tell us to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices" and to not "conform to the pattern of this world.” It is important to stay strong in your faith no matter what other people do or say. You will encounter many difficulties and struggles in life, but God will give you strength to overcome them. The Bible also commands us to humble ourselves before the Lord.
Do not think of yourself as better than someone else, because we are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
God has given us each unique talents. We are to use them to glorify His name and further His kingdom. Our love for each other must be sincere. It is easy to simply say we love each other but we must actually love our brothers and sisters the same way Jesus loves us. Always remember God has given YOU a specific purpose in life, seek what that is and obey the call.
Reflection Questions:
1. When you read Romans 12:1-16, what stands out to you?
2. How do these words change the way you think about your life?
THE DEATH CRAWL R Romans 9 M Facing the Giants READING MOVIE bit.ly/1IOJ06v
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TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 9
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 78 DAY 33 D DEVOTIONAL Not Everything Is Beneficial Chanel De Los Reyes // Adult Leader
“"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.” _1 Corinthians 6:12
I am going to be honest here, this devotion is as much for me as it is for you.
In a world full of grey areas, this verse really hits home to me. As a Christian, there are so many things I can get away with that aren't sin, per say, but they also don't benefit my life at all. I tend to try and justify the things that aren't right by saying things like, "its ok, this movie is PG-13 and I'm over the age of 13 so its totally ok to watch." The reality is the movie was full of sex, cussing and violence. Think about some daily decisions we make. What TV shows or movies do you watch? What friends do we hang out with? What kind of physical activity do we get into with our boyfriends and girlfriends?
Many answers to these questions are things that are ok to watch or people that are fine to hang out with. But lets dig a little deeper. How are these TV shows and movies benefitting our lives—our walk with Christ? Are these things that I am starting to get addicted to? These friends, are they solid friends that are uplifting and encouraging my life, or are they causing me to stumble? Is my relationship glorifying to God? Does it make me want to push some boundaries? In Proverbs 27:17 it says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Let’s try and take a stand to surround ourselves with things and people that will build us up in Christ. Let's not just do things that are permissible, let’s live and make decisions that are going to benefit us. Let us have the only thing that masters our lives be the God of truth, love, mercy and grace!
Reflection Questions:
1. What areas in your life are you pushing the boundaries?
2. Who is one person in your life you can step up and sharpen?
3. Who is God calling you to encourage and support by the way you live?
A PROBLEM THEN, A PROBLEM NOW R Romans 10 A Warren E. Berkley READING ARTICLE bit.ly/1HsC3cp
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TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 10
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 80 DAY 34 D Everyone Has Their Limits DEVOTIONAL Chris Gonzalez // Student Leader
“O death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” _1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Every one reaches their limit when life is just too much. Things are too stressful and you just want to give up. Life isn't easy and it's not supposed to be but your never going through it alone. God tells us to come to him and He will give us rest. In the hardest times the hardest thing is to trust it to God. It's not always as simple as just asking God for help, you have to give it up to God and trust He will provide.
God gives us victory through our lord Jesus Christ, and even when the weight of the world is crushing us He can handle it all if only you give it up. Whether you’re going through the roughest period of your life, or you just had a bad day, or maybe just feeling a little discouraged—remember we are victorious through Christ!
“Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” _Matthew 11:28
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you been pushed to your limit? What was the first thing you sought for relief?
2. How do you handle being pushed to your limit? Would you say that way of handling that stress is effective or counter-productive?
3. Have you ever seen God give you victory in an amazing way? What does it feel like?
IT’S NOT OVER YET Romans 11 For King R S & Country READING SONG bit.ly/1HfeEpA Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 81
DAY 34 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 11
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 82 DAY 35 D True Strength DEVOTIONAL Kyle Cohen // Student Leader
“Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” _2 Corinthians 12:10
I have never been a very physically strong individual. My body felt weak for a long time, but I did my best to work around it. Everything changed when I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called dermatomyositis, a disease that attacks the muscles. At first I was relieved to know that the muscle weakness I've dealt with for most of my life wasn't my fault. However, seeing my parents so scared and concerned for me made me very nervous. This was something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. How was I going to deal with this? There was only one thing I could do. I had to keep moving forward. Look on the bright side. I sometimes forget how lucky I am to have such amazing support from family and friends who have been praying for me since they first found out about this disease, especially my parents because without them, this disease may have never been diagnosed. They helped save my life and I am forever blessed because of it.
It's been almost a year since I've been diagnosed. One thing I've learned throughout this experience is that when faced with frightening problems, it never hurts to smile. I'm positive that, had I been stressed out, my recovery would have taken more time. Although be careful, when faced with a trial, don't pretend it doesn't exist. Face it head on with everything you've got. My weaknesses throughout my life are what make me stronger in the end. I've gained many blessings through the support of my friends and family. My faith in God's gracious plan for my life is something that cannot be shaken.
My faith makes me strong, not my muscles. My faith is something no disease can stop!
GIVE US FAITH Romans 12 The Advance R S bit.ly/1di1FMD READING SONG
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TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 12
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 84 DAY 36 D Flawless DEVOTIONAL Lisa Patterson // Children’s Director
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” _Ephesians 2:8-9
When MySpace was the popular social media sight my homepage profile read, He gave His all and died for me. I want to give my all and live for Him. As awesomely ‘spiritual’ as that sounds, how easily I can get that twisted in my own thinking. A more accurate posting of my life would read, He gave His all for me. I strive to be the best I can be, I work as hard and as long as I can, saying ‘yes’ to every good thing that comes my way so that He’ll be pleased with me. When I can’t measure up to the high standards that I’ve set for myself, I pray that He’ll strengthen me, change me, and help me become more of the woman that He created me to be. The cycle goes on, I work longer, try harder, and do more and more and more—until I collapse. It is in that sweet place of self-defeat that Jesus whispers, “I love you and I’ve been waiting for you.”
There is something so comforting and so freeing when I step away from the chaos of life and just hang out with Jesus—doing nothing! It is in those quiet moments that I am keenly aware of one simple truth; He intimately loves me; nothing I do or don’t do will ever change His love for me. He knows about my flaws, my sin, my defects, and yet He still is crazy in love with me. That is why He chose the cross, because He loves me and desires to have an eternal relationship with me! I don’t have to, nor does He want me to work to measure up. I don’t measure up and He knows it! But guess what?
He is crazy about me and desires to hang out with me.
Because of the cross I am forgiven and in His sight—I am flawless!
Reflection Questions:
1. Where in your life are you trying to measure up and earn God’s favor? Why?
2. Will you commit to spending time each and every day, just hanging out with Jesus
FLAWLESS Romans 13 Mercy Me R S bit.ly/1IJvTF7 READING SONG
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TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 13
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 86 DAY 37 D He Guards Our Hearts DEVOTIONAL Camryn Texeira // Student Leader
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." _Philippians 4:6-7
This piece of scripture has been so important in my life and my walk with Jesus Christ. Whenever I begin to stress out about a situation, I realize that I'm trying to do everything on my own. Instead of feeling anxious, I need to pray about these situations. When I read these verses, I ask God to take my life in His hands and to take away my anxiety. Through repeated prayer, God brings peace to my mind and guards my heart from stress.
It is especially important to remember that God always has a plan for you. No matter how difficult or stressful a situation may seem, God has an overall plan for you that will triumph over any trouble you are facing. Reading over this piece of scripture can be so helpful when giving your troubles to the Lord. It is a reminder that He is the Giver of peace. It is also a reminder to pray, and pray a lot!
Prayer is so important to maintain a personal relationship with God and it gives us the peace of mind that He always provides. So, read Philippians 4:6-7 when you are having a rough day. Always remember to trust in God, and most importantly—pray.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can you remember to pray instead of stress?
2. What can you do to make sure God takes control of your life?
3. Why do you think God allows so many difficulties in our lives?
4. Is it hard for you to let God control all your stressful situations? Why or why not?
5. In what ways can you make your relationship with God stronger?
YOU’RE GOING TO BE OKAY R Romans 14 B Holley Gerth READING BOOK amzn.to/1HsCnYU
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TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 14
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 88 DAY 38 D DEVOTIONAL More Than Just A Song Cheryl Demus // Adult Leader
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” _Colossians 3:23
If you have been to church, youth group, or a Christian camp, you’ve probably stood and joined in with others as musicians began to play and people began to sing—it’s called worship. The question I want you to ponder today is, What is worship? Sure, worship of God can involve singing, but is singing the only way to worship God? If I join the others and stand and sing, but I don’t think about or maybe don’t mean the words I’m singing, is it still considered worship?
Let’s start by defining worship. worship (noun): feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for God. worship (verb): show reverence and adoration for God; honor with religious rites.
God is the creator of the universe; He’s the reason we have life (I don’t know about you, but my heart continues to beat and I continue to breathe even while I’m sleeping). God is Holy. He sent His son to die so that our sins can be forgiven and we can have a relationship with Him. For those reasons and countless more, He is worthy of our worship, and singing in church is not the only way we can/should express ourselves in worship. Here are a few for you to look up:
Sing: Psalm 95:1-6 Be Still/Quiet: Psalm 46:10, Ecclesiastes 5:1 Raise Your Hands: Psalm 63:4 Say Thanks: Psalm 100:1-4 Kneel: Psalm 95:6 Pray: James 5:13
God wants more than just your songs; He wants all of you (Romans 12:1-2)! This includes everything—your lunch break, homework, life with friends, chores at home, the way you treat/speak to your parents, siblings and teachers, job, sports—everything!
During Christian gatherings, when the music begins to play, I encourage you to sing as a way of expressing thanks and worship to God for who He is and for all He has done. Try expressing yourself in a way that might seem weird or intimidating at first (kneel, write a prayer, draw a picture, raise your hands, be still and listen, think about the lyrics), and when the gathering is dismissed, I challenge you to remember that the way you live your life should also be an act of worship to God.
THE HEART OF WORSHIP Romans 15 Matt Redman R S (with chord chart) READING SONG bit.ly/1EVuCnp Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 89
DAY 38 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 15
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 90 DAY 39 D DEVOTIONAL Fearless Adventure Victoria Anderson // Student Leader
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and mother Eunice and now I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” _2 Timothy 1:5-7
If you read 2 Timothy 1, it becomes clear that first, Paul and Timothy must have been the sweetest friends ever. Secondly, I’m convinced that this applies to every single person who believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior. And thirdly, how about that girl power? Lois and Grandma Eunice—great faithful women of God!
Whenever I read these verses I feel the fire of God stir up in me. I feel a sense of unknown and of adventure. It is a huge reminder/awakening of what I am capable of through Christ. God didn't put fear in me but instead power and love and self-control.
Like what? Me? Powerful? That’s crazy! But I’m also filled with an indescribable amount of love? That’s also crazy! And to make things even better I've been given the gift of self-control, able to keep my cool so Jesus can shine through me even more? That’s again so crazy! It makes me want to go out into the world and spread His name and His love in every nook and cranny of our world. I want to go out into the world and spread Jesus’ name as a missionary in places that seem so incredibly scary and hard to live in. God’s promise inspires me: He will never fuel me with fear. I can go out lovingly and powerfully in His name!
Am I living my everyday life without fear and using the gifts that Christ has given me?
Are we fanning the flame of God in our hearts?
We must stay in the Word, earnestly pray, and live passionately each day. We live in a beautiful world created by the one and only God—we get to have a personal relationship with Him—how crazy is that!
Is your faith alive and exciting?
JUSTICE BLOG Romans 16 Katie Davis R B bit.ly/ZFUruA READING BLOG
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DAY 39 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: ROMANS 16
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 92 DAY 40 D The Power of Prayer DEVOTIONAL Geoff Pino // Adult Leader “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.” _James 5:13-14
Prayer—it is something that we as a culture struggle to truly engage. We want everything instantaneously, microwave Christianity—as I’ve heard it been called. Sure, we’ll pray for a moment here and there, and squeeze in some time with God before an occasional meal or before bedtime. But how often do we realize how powerful pray is and can be? This passage shows the significance of prayer in a variety of ways. It highlights seasons of trouble, happiness, sickness, sin, and even how Elijah’s prayers affected the weather. Seems old-timey and maybe too outdated to still be real? Think again. I’ve seen firsthand, miracles happen through prayer: marriages saved, cancer disappear, families reconciled, and hearts stirred and won to Christ. The common denominator was Christ followers being in prayer, asking God for his presence, for His will, and for Him to move. He did—and He still does!
An important thing to remember with prayer is that it is a two way conversation between you and the God who created everything. That means we spend time talking with Him, asking Him questions, but also listening. The last thing on that list is perhaps the most overlooked. In Luke 6:12, Jesus goes away to a mountain side and prays the whole night, in the morning he appoints the 12 disciples. We don’t know exactly what that time looked like, but I imagine that He was asking His Father about who should be a disciple, praying over them, and listening for what the Father had to say. So, while praying the whole night for something might seem crazy, I hope you start small, with a do-able amount of time. Set aside some time to come before God, knowing that you can be 100% yourself, and have dialogue with Him. I know there are times where we feel like God isn’t hearing us, but I think there are three possible responses to our prayers. He can say yes, no, or not now. Also, one of the things we probably do often in prayer is begging God to change His mind on something, when we should be asking for everything according to HIS will. YOU can change this world through prayer!
Reflection Questions: 1. What has your prayer life looked like recently? Areas of strength/weakness? 2. What are some things that seem impossible in life? 3. Who are 5 people or 5 situations that are outside of your control that you could consistently be praying for?
PRAYER Psalm 139 C. H. Spurgeon R Q bit.ly/1HffHG9 READING QUOTE
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DAY 40 JOURNAL
TODAY’S DATE: ______
DEVOTIONAL NOTES:
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READING NOTES: PSALM 139
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Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 94 THE WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE.
_HEBREWS 4:12
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 95 CONGRATS.
Congratulations! You have completed the Deeper_Faith challenge. We are so proud of you for starting and finishing the race!
Here’s the best part, this is only the beginning.
You may have not noticed, but you not only committed to this task and completed it, you also cultivated a new habit, a new rhythm in your life. 40 days ago you decided spending time with God daily would be a priority and you have now successfully begun a new life-long transforming-habit of saturating yourself in God’s presence on a regular basis. There is no better way to spend your time. We are confident that over these past 40 days, God has used the devotionals, Scripture readings, and the resources at the end of each devotional to challenge your faith, inspire you, and shape you into the person He created you to be.
Now we have one more challenge for you: Don’t stop!
Continue spending time with Jesus daily. Allow God to continue drawing you closer to Himself. Continue reading Scripture, praying, singing, living in community, serving, and tithing.
Continue seeking God first—fixing your eyes on Jesus! WHAT’S NEXT?
1. Call your Adult Leader, Student Supporter, and Pastor. • Let your team of people holding you accountable know that you completed the 40 day challenge. They want to take you out, celebrate, and share what God has done in your life. 2. Commit to a Bible reading plan and try out a 365 day devotional. • “You Version” has a great app for your mobile device or tablet with a variety of different reading plans and Bible translations. • We encourage you start in Matthew (first book in the New Testament) and read straight through Revelation (last book in the New Testament). • Check out these two popular and highly recommend 365 day devotionals: [1] Jesus Calling by Sarah Young [2] My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers 3. Encourage someone else to take the 40 day Deeper_Faith Challenge. • Share with them how God worked in your life and offer to be their Student Supporter as they take this step of faith and adventure with God.
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries 96 DEEPER_ FAITH KIT? The Deeper_Faith Kit is a 40 day challenge that will create an unbreakable habit inside you to spend time with God everyday. We created the Deeper_Faith Kit as a resource for students who want to understand the basics of following Jesus and then actually begin doing so on a regular basis through devotionals, reading Scripture, and checking out amazing resources that relate to each devotional. We invite you to start something today that will change your life forever! And it is our desire that after taking the 40 day challenge, you would be closer to Jesus and more passionate about sharing the Gospel with your friends and family than ever before. We are praying Jesus does an amazing work in your heart and life as you embark on this
WHAT IS THE WHAT journey! _HSM Pastor Eric START SOMETHING TODAY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER!
Deeper_Faith was envisioned and developed by the brilliant, amazing, talented, and incredibly committed Student Ministries FAITH Adult Leaders, Student Leaders, Purpose Church Staff, and the fairly average HSM Pastor Eric. Together they worked countless hours creating content, devotionals, designing, and editing what you now are reading. Our hope is that the Deeper_Faith Kit helps us reach and disciple students everywhere, beginning with you! TEAM DEEPER_
DEEPER_FAITH DEEPER_FAITH KIT ONLINE PURPOSECHURCH.COM/STUDENTS
Deeper_Faith Kit // Purpose Church // Student Ministries