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Learn 6.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 3/20) – Thursday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We grow 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 are you unique??
Read about It
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:18–26
The human body is incredible. Many different parts come together to make your body. All of those parts work together to do simple tasks like sitting, raising your hand, or eating your favorite snack.
The Church, also called the body of Christ, is like that, too. God has given each of us different gifts and talents, and we need to work together. No gift or talent is greater than another, but when Christians work together it creates something beautiful.
Talk about It
Question 1. What happens when people don’t work together? Answer 1. Answers will vary.
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Question 2. In the church, what are some different gifts and talents that a person might have?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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Question 3. What are some things that can be done only when Christians work together?
Answer 3. Answers may vary.
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Question 4. How can you encourage someone who has a different gift or talent than you?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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Question 5. How can you help someone who is going through a hard time?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
Dear God, thank You for our different gifts and talents and how we all need each other. Use me to encourage others to use their gifts for You. Help me grow in the gifts and talents You have given me. Amen.
Learn 6.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 3/20) – Wednesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We grow 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 has someone encouraged you?
Read about It
Read: Hebrews 10:24–25
Here is a special job just for you: you need to fold one thousand paper airplanes. That would take a very long time. Now imagine having ten friends help you by each folding one thousand paper airplanes. That seems like a lot more fun. When one of you gets tired or wants to give up, someone is there to encourage them to keep going. Also, you can complete the task faster if you have help.
Living as a Christian is like this too. Spending time together, laughing, talking, and learning are all important. Christians need each other and these experiences help us bond. Then, we have people we can look to for help when life gets hard. It is important for us to have people who love us, encourage us, and help us grow in our faith.
Talk about It
Question 1. Why is meeting together with other believers important? Answer 1. Scripture tells us to meet together. (Hebrews 10:25)
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Question 2. How can you encourage another Christian?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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Question 3. How can Christians motivate each other “to acts of love and good works”?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
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Question 4. What does it look like when you get together with other Christians?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
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Question 5. What kind of encouragement do you need?
Answer 5. Answers may vary. |
Pray about It
Dear God, thank You for my church and for my friends at church. God, help me and my church friends to grow together in our walk with You and help us encourage each other. Amen.
Learn 6.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 3/20) – Tuesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We grow 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 shown love to others this week?
Read about It
Read: Romans 12:9–10
Have you ever seen someone do something nice because they wanted something in return? In life, you are going to experience that sometimes. It may be hard to know if someone’s actions are sincere. Romans 12:10 says to love others with “genuine affection.” When we love others, we shouldn’t just love them for what they can do for us, but we should love them because God loves them.
Also, we should honor and encourage each other. When someone is in need, we should look for ways to help, even if that might be inconvenient at times. We can show love in our everyday life by how we interact with and care for others.
Talk about It
Question 1. What do you think the phrase “genuine affection” means? Answer 1. Answers may vary.
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Question 2. How do you know if someone’s actions are genuine?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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Question 3. How do you show honor to someone?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
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Question 4. When dealing with others, why is it important to “hold tightly to what is good”?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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Question 5. How can you ensure that you have “genuine affection” for others?
Answer 5. Answers may vary. |
Pray about It
Dear God, thank You so much for loving me. Help me share Your love with others. Help me to follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in showing love to others. Help me love others as You do. Amen.
Learn 6.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 3/20) – Monday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
We grow 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 encourages you to be the best person you can be?
Read about It
Read: Proverbs 27:17
Who is your best friend? Best friends are pretty special. A best friend is someone you can talk to, someone who will always be there for you. You love spending time with them, learning about their interests, and sharing life with them.
Proverbs 27:17 says that friends sharpen each other. What that means is that our best friend can help us grow closer to God. Not only should our best friend do that for us, but we should do that for them too. God gives us people in our life to help us, and we need each other!
Talk about It
Question 1. What do you think the Bible means by, “a friend sharpens a friend”? Answer 1. Answers will vary.
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Question 2. How should this verse impact the way we choose our friends?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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Question 3. How do you help your friends grow closer to God?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
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Question 4. Why is helping each other grow closer to God important?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
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Question 5. Who is a friend you could encourage this week?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
Dear God, thank You for my friends and for the people in my life who want the best for me and challenge me to grow. God, help me to be a friend and encourage my friends to grow closer to You. Amen.
Sunday Encounter 3/20/22
Join us for worship and God’s Word.
Sunday Encounter 3/20/22
Join us this morning for worship and God’s Word.
Learn 5.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 3/6) – Thursday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I serve others.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Question of the Day: Why should I serve people who are difficult to love?
Read about It
Read: Luke 6:27–36
Loving your enemies and praying for people who hurt you seems like a crazy thing to do, right? Sometimes, people are just plain mean, and they do things that are wrong and hurtful. When you think about it, who really wants to be kind to someone who is mean? And yet, in the Bible verses today, Jesus said to do exactly that.
The Bible says that when we do good to others, without expecting anything in return, our reward in heaven will be great. The way Jesus wants us to treat people is very different from how others react to being wronged and hurt. It can be shocking to our enemies. And it can make them wonder what is different about us. That may give us an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them.
Talk about It
Question 1. How does the Bible say we should treat those who treat us poorly? Answer 1. “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” (Luke 6:27–28)
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Question 2. Why should we be compassionate to others?
Answer 2. Because God the Father is compassionate (Luke 6:36)
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Question 3. Why is it difficult to serve those who treat us poorly?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
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Question 4. How do you think serving others, even our enemies, can help them see and understand who Jesus is?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
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Question 5. How can you show God’s love to someone who treats you poorly?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
God, thank You for loving me even when I don’t treat You the way You should be treated. Give me a heart to serve those around me who are difficult to love. Help me to be an example of the love You have shown to me. Amen.
Learn 5.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 3/6) – Wednesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I serve others.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Question of the Day: What kind of attitude should I have when serving others?
Read about It
Read: Matthew 20:26–28
Even though Jesus is God, He was willing to leave heaven to come to earth and to be born. He could have demanded the best room in town and the most beautiful clothing money could buy. He could have lived His life on earth as a king, with money and riches and people waiting on Him hand and foot. But, He chose to hang out with all kinds of people. Some of those were outcasts, and He humbly lived His life here serving others and showing them God’s love.
Serving isn’t always fun. Sometimes it means doing things that we don’t really want to do, like scrubbing the toilets or letting someone else get the first pick. Serving requires putting others before ourself and having the kind of heart that wants others to have the best, even if it costs us. When we choose to put others first, we are showing them who Jesus is and our actions are showing them an example of Jesus’ love.
Talk about It
Question 1. What does the Bible say a leader must do? Answer 1. A leader must be a servant. (Matthew 20:26)
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Question 2. How did Jesus show us the ultimate example of serving?
Answer 2. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)
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Question 3. Why is it sometimes difficult to serve others by putting them first?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
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Question 4. When has someone put your needs ahead of their own?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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Question 5. How do you think people feel when a leader takes on the role of a servant?
Answer 5. Answers may vary. |
Pray about It
God, help me to have the kind of attitude that puts others first. Give me opportunities to serve others and show them who You are. Amen.
Learn 5.4 Devotionals (for Sunday 3/6) – Tuesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I serve others.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Question of the Day: How can serving others show them God’s love?
Read about It
Read: 1 John 3:16–18
A lifeguard’s job is to stand or sit by a body of water and carefully watch for people who are having trouble swimming. Once the lifeguard spots someone struggling, they immediately dive in to rescue the person. What good would lifeguards be if they just looked like lifeguards but did nothing to help those in danger of drowning?
Jesus is kind of like our lifeguard. He left heaven and gave His life for us. This shows us what real love is. There’s no doubt that He loves us, because He showed us by His actions. He wants us to show others the kind of love that He showed us. Jesus said that people would recognize His disciples by the love they show each other (John 13:35). When we show others we care by serving them, we are showing them an example of the kind of love that God has for us.
Talk about It
Question 1. How do we know what real love is? Answer 1. Jesus gave His life for us. (1 John 3:16)
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Question 2. How does God’s compassion for us help us show compassion to others?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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Question 3. How can we let others know we love them without just saying it?
Answer 3. We can show love through our actions.
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Question 4. How can we make sure we are always watching for people we can serve?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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Question 5. How do you think showing love by your actions helps people understand the kind of love God has for them?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
Jesus, thank You for showing me what real love is by giving Your life for me. Help me to always be ready and willing to show Your love to those around me by how I live. Amen.