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Learn 6.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 4/10) – Thursday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We serve together.
Faith Verse
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Question of the Day: Who is your neighbor?
Read about It
Read: Galatians 5:13–17
Who is your neighbor? When you think of this, you might think of the person who lives right next door to you. But did you know that your neighbor is more than just the person who lives next door to you? Your neighbor is pretty much anyone you come in contact with. We are told to “love your neighbor as yourself.” That means we are supposed to treat everyone we meet with the love and kindness we would like to receive.
Sometimes when we start comparing ourself with others, judging, or allowing little things to get in the way, we can build up a heart that becomes resentful to other people. In those moments, we need to pray to see our neighbors the way God sees them, as His children. We need to find ways to serve them and share God’s love with them. When we serve and love one another, we become unified!
Talk about It
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Question 1. Why do you think God wants us to love others as much as we love ourself? Answer 1. Answers will vary.
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| Question 2. What might get in the way of your efforts to show love to others?
Answer 2. Answers may vary.
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| Question 3. Why is showing love to your neighbor important?
Answer 3. The Bible tells us to. (Galatians 4:14).
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| Question 4. How can we treat others, even those who mistreat us, properly?
Answer 4. “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Galatians 5:16)
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| Question 5. What are some ways that you can love your neighbor this week?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
Dear God, thank You for my neighbors and the people I see every day. Help me show love and kindness to them and help me share Your love with others. Amen.
Learn 6.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 4/10) – Wednesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We serve together.
Faith Verse
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Question of the Day: What is a talent that you have?
Read about It
Read: 1 Peter 4:7–11
What are some things that you are really, really good at? Maybe it’s drawing, sports, encouraging people, or cooking. We all have abilities that sometimes are referred to as gifts or talents. These are things we’re really good at. Did you know that God can give you gifts too? You should use those gifts and talents to help serve others.
The Bible says we should use whatever talent or gift we have been given to serve other people. We should serve others not because we have to, but because we get to. We can serve others with a heart that shows them God’s love.
Talk about It
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Question 1. How should we love each other? Answer 1. Deeply (1 Peter 4:8)
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| Question 2. How do you think love covers sin?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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| Question 3. Why should we use the gifts God has given us to serve others?
Answer 3. The Bible teaches us to do so. (1 Peter 4:10)
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| Question 4. Why do you think God gives people different gifts?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
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| Question 5. How can you use your gifts to serve others this week?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
Dear God, thank You for the gifts You have given me. I pray that You would show me how to use my gifts so that others can learn about You and know how much You love them. Amen.
Learn 6.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 4/10) – Tuesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We serve together.
Faith Verse
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Question of the Day: How have you served someone this week?
Read about It
Read: Mark 10:45
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be a king or a queen living in a big castle with servants just waiting to do whatever you tell them? That would be pretty amazing, right?
We know Jesus is God’s Son which makes Him the Son of God and the King of kings. And yet when Jesus came to the earth, He was born as a baby in a manger. Because He came as a human, Jesus is identified as the Son of Man. He didn’t have a fancy castle or servants waiting on Him all the time. He came to earth to serve others and to die on the Cross so that our sins could be forgiven. Jesus showed us what it means to put other people before ourself. We can learn how to serve one another as we study what Jesus did for us.
Talk about It
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Question 1. Who is the Son of Man? Answer 1. Jesus
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| Question 2. What did Jesus come to do?
Answer 2. Jesus came to serve and to give His life as a ransom. (Mark 10:45)
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Question 3. Why did Jesus give His life? Answer 3. So that we could be forgiven
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| Question 4. How can you serve others?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
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| Question 5. Why is it important to serve people?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
Dear Jesus, thank You for dying on the Cross for me. I love You, and I am so grateful for Your love. Please help me to have a heart that chooses to follow You and to serve others with love and kindness. Help me to put others’ needs ahead of my own. Amen.
Learn 6.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 4/10) – Monday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We serve together.
Faith Verse
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Question of the Day: If you could have any type of lunch box, what kind would you have?
Read about It
Read: John 6:1–15
Imagine being the little boy in this story about Jesus. You give your lunch to Jesus and then watch Him take your lunch and feed thousands of people. That must have been a crazy and amazing experience.
Jesus took the small amount of food and did something incredible with it. Jesus has not changed. When we give what we have to Jesus and allow Him to use it, He is able to do amazing things. It may sometimes seem like we don’t have a lot to give, but when we are open to allowing God to use what we do have, He can do more than we ever could imagine.
Talk about It
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Question 1. Why did Jesus ask Philip about feeding the people who had gathered? Answer 1. He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. (John 6:6)
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| Question 2. How did Philip respond?
Answer 2. “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” (John 6:7)
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| Question 3. Who noticed the boy with his lunch?
Answer 3. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother (John 6:8)
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| Question 4. What did Jesus do after He took the loaves of bread and the fish?
Answer 4. He gave thanks to God and then distributed it (John 6:11)
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| Question 5. Why did Jesus have the disciples gather the leftovers?
Answer 5. Answers will vary.
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Pray about It
Dear God, thank You that You can take what I have and make something amazing from it. Help me have a heart like the little boy and be willing to give everything I have to You. Amen.
Palm Sunday Encounter 4/10/22
Join for worship and God’s Word.
Learn 6.3 Devotionals (for Sunday 4/3) – Thursday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We share together.
Faith Verse
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Question of the Day: When have you received healing?
Read about It
Read: Isaiah 53:5
This text written by Isaiah was written hundreds of years before what Jesus did for us. What He did is beyond incredible. Jesus never did anything wrong. Yet because of His love for us, He took upon himself the sins of the world. He was made fun of, laughed at, beaten, broken, and died on the Cross so that we could experience the gift of grace and forgiveness from sin.
But He didn’t stay dead. Three days later, He defeated death and rose from the grave. He conquered not only sin, but also sickness and pain, making physical healing part of the Atonement. Atonement is a big word that means Jesus’ sacrificial death could make our relationship with God complete and good. Jesus rose from the dead and when He rose He was victorious over death and sin.
Because of what Jesus did on the Cross and because He rose again and defeated sin, death, and sickness, we can experience eternal life through Him. We can experience not only forgiveness from sin, but also healing. It’s amazing to think of what Jesus did for each one of us.
Talk about It
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Question 1. How does knowing Isaiah wrote this text hundreds of years before Jesus was crucified impact your faith? Answer 1. Answers will vary.
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| Question 2. How would you define the word atonement?
Answer 2. Jesus’ sacrificial death made our relationship with God complete and good.
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| Question 3. How does knowing what Jesus suffered make you feel?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
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| Question 4. How did Jesus suffer so people could be healed?
Answer 4. He was whipped and beaten. (Isaiah 53:5)
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| Question 5. When have you seen God heal someone?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
Dear Jesus, thank You for suffering and dying on the Cross for my sins so that I could have healing and peace. Please lead and guide me each and every day, and help me tell other people about Your love for them. Amen.
Learn 6.3 Devotionals (for Sunday 4/3) – Wednesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We share together.
Faith Verse
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Question of the Day: When do you spend time with Jesus?
Read about It
Read: John 6:43–59
Spending time with Jesus is important. When we spend time reading the Bible and in prayer, we grow to know more and more that Jesus is the Source of everything we need. We see in these verses that He talked about being the Bread of Life. Only through Jesus can we experience eternal salvation, grace, and forgiveness of our sins.
Jesus came to earth to die on the Cross for our sins. We can’t earn forgiveness or earn God’s love. He freely gave it to us through Jesus. When we ask Jesus to come into our life and forgive our sins, we experience that grace and love. We experience the gift of new life through Christ Jesus, and it is one of the greatest things we will ever experience. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and only through Him can we be saved.
Talk about It
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Question 1. What do you think Jesus meant when He called himself “the bread of life”? Answer 1. Answers will vary.
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| Question 2. What did Jesus say about anyone who believes?
Answer 2. They have eternal life. (John 6:47)
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| Question 3. How do you think you would have reacted to these words: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you”?
Answer 3. Answers may vary.
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| Question 4. What is God saying to you today from this devotion?
Answer 4. Answers may vary. |
Pray about It
Dear God, thank You that You are my Source and that everything I need comes from You. Thank You for loving me enough to send Jesus to die for me. Help me not take what Jesus did for granted. I love You, God. I choose every day to follow You and to put You first in my life. Amen.
Learn 6.3 Devotionals (for Sunday 4/3) – Tuesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We share together.
Faith Verse
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Question of the Day: What foods spark memories of people or events?
Read about It
Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
Has a smell ever made you remember something special? Maybe the smell of cookies fresh from the oven makes you think about Christmas time. Or maybe you tasted something, and it made you think of someone? Grilled hamburgers make you think about your grandpa. Sometimes smells and tastes have a way of doing that. They can remind us of things from our past.
When we take Communion, we stop and think about what Jesus did on the Cross for all of us and how much He loves us. Jesus died on the Cross so that we can be forgiven of our sins. Every time we take Communion, we have a chance to remember how much He loves us. We should also remember to tell others about Him so that they can experience His love and forgiveness too.
Talk about It
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Question 1. What are some emotions you may feel when you take Communion? Answer 1. Answers may vary.
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| Question 2. How does knowing Jesus died for you change your life?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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| Question 3. How would you explain the significance of Communion bread to someone?
Answer 3. It represents Jesus’ broken body. (1 Corinthians 11:24)
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| Question 4. How would you explain the significance of the Communion juice to someone?
Answer 4. It represents Jesus’ blood. (1 Corinthians 11:25)
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| Question 5. How does taking Communion help us remember Jesus’ death?
Answer 5. Answers may vary. |
Pray about It
Dear Jesus, thank You for Your promise of salvation and for dying on the Cross for my sins. I am so thankful for the love and grace You showed to each one of us. I love You. Amen.
Learn 6.3 Devotionals (for Sunday 4/3) – Monday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We share together.
Faith Verse
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Question of the Day: What is your favorite memory?
Read about It
Read: Matthew 26:17–19, 26–30
Jesus knew His death was quickly approaching. One of the last things Jesus did was meet with His disciples and share a very special meal with them. While they were eating, Jesus explained to them what each part meant and its significance. We remember this night through something we call Communion. When we take Communion, we remember what Jesus said and how He gave His life on the Cross.
It is powerful when a group gathers and stops what they are doing to reflect on what Jesus has done for them. His body was broken and His blood was shed so that every person could receive eternal forgiveness. Jesus modeled what Communion would look like with the disciples and how it can be shared together with all believers today. Communion reminds us of what Jesus has done for us, and it looks forward to His return.
Talk about It
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Question 1. What was the name of the festival that Jesus and the disciples were celebrating? Answer 1. The Festival of Unleavened Bread and Passover (Matthew 26:17)
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| Question 2. What did the bread symbolize?
Answer 2. Jesus’ body which was broken for us (Matthew 26:26)
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| Question 3. What did the cup symbolize?
Answer 3. Jesus’ blood which was shed for us (Matthew 26:27)
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| Question 4. Why is Communion important?
Answer 4. It reminds us of what Jesus has done for us and looks forward to His return.
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Pray about It
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving us the pattern of Communion to remind us of what You have done. Thank You that Communion also looks ahead to Your return. Jesus, I love You and thank You for dying on the Cross so that my sins could be forgiven. Thank You for loving me. Amen.