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Author: Nathaniel Colt

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Live 10.2 Devotionals (for Sunday 8/27) – Monday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

We can learn and grow together.

 

Faith Verse

Ephesians 4:3 (NLT)

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

 

Question of the Day: What happens when we study the Scriptures together?

Read about It

Read: Acts 17:10–15

Have you ever played a game of Telephone? The game begins when someone whispers a sentence to someone else. That person passes on what they heard to the next person and so on. Usually by the end of the game, no one knows what the first sentence was because it was repeated so many times.

To know the truth, you would need to ask the source of the message, the first person. The people of Berea in today’s Scripture heard the message that Paul passed to them. Rather than just accepting it, they went to the Source—God’s Word—to see if what Paul told them was right.

The Bereans read the Scriptures to find the truth and test what they heard. If Christians today want to grow in their faith, like the Bereans, they should study the Scriptures together so that they can also know the truth. If we study the Scriptures together, we can become a community of friends who learns and grows together in the things of God.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. How did the Bereans respond to Paul’s message?

Answer 1. They listened eagerly to what he was saying. (Acts 17:11)

 
Question 2. How often did the Bereans study the Scriptures to test Paul’s message?

Answer 2. They searched the Scriptures day after day. (Acts 17:11)

 

Question 3. What would happen if you simply believed everything you heard and never studied God’s Word for yourself to see if what you had heard was true?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.
Question 4. How can studying God’s Word together help our faith grow stronger?

Answer 4. We can become a community of friends who grows together in the things of God.
Question 5. What happens when we study the Scriptures together?

Answer 5. We learn and grow together in the things of God.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, help us to want to study Your Word every day. As we spend time together growing in our relationship with You, help us to grow in our friendship with each other too. Amen.

 

 

Posted on

Live 10.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 8/20) – Thursday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

Our prayers are powerful.

 

Faith Verse

Ephesians 4:3 (NLT)

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

 

Question of the Day: Is praying with other believers important?

Read about It

Read: Acts 2:42–44

The Early Church understood the power of praying together. Several times in the New Testament, we read about the believers who gathered in one place to share meals, fellowship, and pray together. They devoted themselves to these things. That means that they were committed to doing it because it was important to them. They were also like a family, and they cared for each other like a family. Praying together was a normal part of their life. As they spent time with God in prayer, they saw Him answer their prayers in amazing ways. They were able to celebrate those answers together.

When we pray with other believers, we should pray for them with concern in our heart—like they are our own family. We can help each other believe God for big and amazing things.  Our prayers are powerful when we agree together to pray for what we believe God wants for us. Just like these Christians almost two thousand years ago, we should pray together.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. According to today’s Scripture, what did the believers devote themselves to?

Answer 1. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, sharing meals including Communion, and prayer. (Acts 2:42)

 
Question 2. What does it mean that they were devoted to praying?

Answer 2. It means that they were committed to praying because it was important to them.

 
Question 3. Why do you think it was good for them to pray in one place together?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. What do you think happens in a Christian’s life when they don’t spend time praying together with other believers?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. Is praying with other believers important?

Answer 5. Yes. Like the Early Church, we should be devoted to praying with other Christians.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, help me to make it a priority to be together and pray with other believers. I believe that You can and will do miracles when we devote ourselves to praying together. Amen.

 

 

Posted on

Live 10.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 8/20) – Wednesday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

Our prayers are powerful.

 

Faith Verse

Ephesians 4:3 (NLT)

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

 

Question of the Day: How can praying together help us?

Read about It

Read: Matthew 18:19–20

A dogsled team is a group of dogs that pulls a sled across the snow. Their harnesses help them stay unified and running in the same direction as a team. Imagine how difficult it would be to pull a heavy sled if the dogs were running in different directions. But when they run together as a team, they are better than if they tried to do it alone.

That’s kind of like when we pray together with other Christians. Praying together shows that we are unified and part of the same team. We believe together for God to answer our prayers. Praying together can benefit us in many ways. It can encourage us and build our faith. When we share our needs with other believers and we listen to the needs of others, we can grow closer because we are praying in unity.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. What does verse 19 say we should do when we pray to God with others?

Answer 1. Agree (Matthew 18:19)

 
Question 2. What happens when two or three people gather together as Jesus’ followers and pray?

Answer 2. The Bible says that Jesus is “there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)

 
Question 3. Who are some people that you can pray with?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. How can you make praying together with other believers a regular part of your life?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. How can praying together help us?

Answer 5. It can encourage us, build our faith, give us opportunities to share our needs, and help us grow closer to other Christians.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, thank You for placing other believers in my life who can encourage me and help my faith grow. Help us to make a regular habit of praying with each other so that we can be unified. Amen.

 

 

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Live 10.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 8/20) – Tuesday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

Our prayers are powerful.

 

Faith Verse

Ephesians 4:3 (NLT)

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

 

Question of the Day: Should Christians pray together and trust God even in the worst situations?

Read about It

Read: Acts 12:6–16

Can you imagine what Peter must have been thinking when he realized he was free from prison? People were praying for him, and God chose to help Peter in a way that he probably never imagined. He had been chained to guards and the chains fell off his wrists. The angel even reminded Peter to put on his coat as he was walking out of the prison cell, past the guards, and past the iron gate that opened by itself.

Other followers of Jesus had been praying and believing that God would help Peter. But even they were surprised when God answered in a way that they may not have imagined. God is greater than we will ever be able to understand, and He helps us in ways that are far beyond what we could even dream about. When we pray together, we can trust that the God of the universe will move in supernatural ways because that’s what He does. He is the God who hears our prayers and answers us.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. What are some things that happened to Peter in this story that only God could have done?

Answer 1. God sent an angel to him in prison. (Acts12:7) The chains fell off Peter’s wrists. (Acts 12:7) Peter was able to pass by both sets of guards, and the iron gate leading to the city opened by itself. (Acts 12:10)

 
Question 2. Where was the first place Peter went after the miracle happened?

Answer 2. He went to Mary’s house where people had been praying for him. (Acts 12:12)

 

Question 3. When was a time that someone prayed with you for God to help you and He did?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. Why is it sometimes hard to believe God for big things when we pray?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. Should Christians pray together and trust God even in the worst situations?

Answer 5. Yes. God can hear and answer our prayers for help like He helped Peter.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, thank You that You work in amazing ways. Help us to grow together as the Church, trust You for big things, and believe that You will answer. Amen.

 

 

Posted on

Live 10.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 8/20) – Monday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

Our prayers are powerful.

 

Faith Verse

Ephesians 4:3 (NLT)

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

 

Question of the Day: Why is it important for us to pray together for other people?

Read about It

Read: Acts 12:1–5

King Herod was finding and hurting Christians. He had Jesus’ disciple James killed. Then he had Peter arrested and several guards to watch him in prison. Herod was determined to keep Peter from escaping from prison. Peter was in prison even though he had done nothing wrong. But Peter served a great God, and he had a group of believers praying for him.

When the people of God, the Church, join together and pray, God can do miracles. Our prayers can make a difference for our friends, families, or even people we don’t know who may be going through hard times. Even though there were soldiers guarding Peter, they were no match for the power of God. When we pray to God and pray with others together in unity with faith, amazing things can happen.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. How many soldiers did King Herod assign to guard Peter?

Answer 1. Four squads of four soldiers each, which adds to sixteen soldiers were assigned to guard Peter. (Acts 12:4)

 
Question 2. Where was Peter while the other believers were praying for him?

Answer 2. He was in prison. (Acts 12:5)

 

Question 3. How was the church praying for Peter?

Answer 3. They “prayed very earnestly for him.” (Acts 12:5)

 
Question 4. Why did the church pray for Peter while he was in prison?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
 

 

Question 5. Why is it important for us to pray together for other people?

Answer 5. When we ask God and pray with other believers together in unity with faith, amazing things can happen.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, thank You that we can come to You with anything we need. Help us not to forget to pray for those who are going through difficult times. We ask that You would help them and do miracles in their lives. Amen.

 

 

Posted on

Live 9.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 8/13) – Thursday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

I can trust God’s plan.

 

Faith Verse

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

 

Question of the Day: How can we see Jesus’ work in our life?

Read about It

Read: John 9:35–41

The man born blind was once again face-to-face with Jesus. Before this, he had already given a powerful witness of the Jesus he knew to the Pharisees. It seems as though God had given him spiritual eyes to recognize who Jesus was and the impact of what He had done. The man had faith in Jesus as his Healer, and that gave him the boldness to stand up for Jesus.

 

Faith can give us spiritual eyes to see Jesus as well. When we trust what God has done for us, we can boldly proclaim it wherever we go. Even though we haven’t been able to be face-to-face with Jesus like the man, we can see His work in our life. Through faith, we tell others about His mercy so they can see Jesus too. By trusting Jesus like the man born blind, we can also see His work and great plan unfolding in our life and lead others to Him.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. What did Jesus do when He heard about the way the Pharisees questioned the man and threw him out of the synagogue?

Answer 1. He went to the man and talked with him. (John 9:35).

 
Question 2. What did the man do when Jesus told him who He was?

Answer 2. He worshipped and believed in Jesus. (John 9:38)

 
Question 3. How have you seen Jesus work in your life?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. How have you helped others to see Jesus?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
 

Question 5. How can we see Jesus’ work in our life?

Answer 5. By trusting Him

 

 

Pray about It

Dear Jesus, I believe in You. Even though I haven’t seen You with my own eyes, I have seen all You have done in me through faith. Help me to always share the great works You have done with others so that they can see You too. I can’t wait for the day that I get to see You face-to-face and worship You. Amen.

 

 

Posted on

Live 9.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 8/13) – Wednesday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

I can trust God’s plan.

 

Faith Verse

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

 

Question of the Day: What can Jesus healing our brokenness lead to?

Read about It

Read: John 9:24–34

The man declared, “I was blind, and now I can see!” His healing was the reason for his rejoicing and powerful testimony. Jesus specializes in fixing broken lives. The man confirmed his condition of blindness to the Pharisees. Now that Jesus had healed him, he could celebrate. He was blind, but now he could see. That was still his story, even the second time the Pharisees questioned him.

 

We can have a similar testimony to the world as Jesus brings healing to our life. When things get hurt in our life, it’s an opportunity for Jesus to heal and for us to tell others about it. We know that when we ask for Jesus’ mercy, He always hears us and knows what is best. Jesus’ healing of our brokenness can lead others to Him as people see our fixed life and heart. His work in us is our testimony of what Jesus can do.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. Because of Jesus, what could the man now do?

Answer 1. See (John 9:25)

 
Question 2. What does brokenness look like in people’s lives?

Answer 2. Answers will vary.

 

Question 3. Where did the man who was blind believe Jesus was from?

Answer 3. He was sent from God. (John 9:33)

 
Question 4. What did the Pharisees do to the man who was blind after he told them the truth about Jesus?

Answer 4. They threw him out of their synagogue. (John 9:34)

 
Question 5. What can Jesus healing of our brokenness lead to?

Answer 5. Other people believing in Jesus

 

 

Pray about It

Dear Jesus, I thank You even for the broken things in my life. I pray that You can use them to create an amazing testimony. I know that everything in my life can help others come to You when I let You fix my brokenness. I celebrate already because of what You are going to do to heal and restore me and those I love. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

 

 

Posted on

Live 9.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 8/13) – Tuesday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

I can trust God’s plan.

 

Faith Verse

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

 

Question of the Day: Why should we show mercy when it doesn’t make sense?

Read about It

Read: John 9:13–23

Sometimes, it’s not easy to understand God’s plan. We often think He should heal in a certain way or restore broken lives in a way that makes sense to us. The Pharisees certainly felt this way. According to them and what they understood from the law of Moses, Jesus shouldn’t have healed this man on the Sabbath. They couldn’t figure out this simple act of mercy that Jesus had shown the man, so they couldn’t rejoice in the man’s healing.

God’s offer to people is mercy. But, mercy is sometimes difficult for us to understand because we look at everything through our understanding. We look to see if someone deserves mercy before we give it, or we blame someone’s brokenness on their choices. God gives mercy as a gift when we ask. Our world is full of people who need compassion. Even when it doesn’t make sense to others, we should show mercy just like Jesus did.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. Why did the Pharisees think Jesus wasn’t from God?

Answer 1. He healed on the Sabbath. (John 9:16)

 
Question 2. Why do you think that the Pharisees were so confused?

Answer 2. Answers will vary.

 

Question 3. Why do you think God has mercy for our brokenness?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. What are some ways we can show compassion to others?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. Why should we show mercy when it doesn’t make sense?

Answer 5. We should see others like Jesus sees them and give the gift of mercy.

 

Pray about It

Dear Father, You are a kind and merciful God who heals and loves us. I don’t deserve all that You give me. Thank You for Your mercy toward me. Help me always to show mercy and compassion to others. Even when it doesn’t make sense to others, help me show the same grace and mercy You have shown to me. Amen.