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Learn 5.2 Devotionals (for Sunday 2/20) – Thursday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I can talk to God.
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 close should my relationship with God be?
Read about It
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Take a moment and place two fingers on the side of your neck where you can feel your pulse. Your pulse is your heart beating, pumping blood throughout your body. It’s constant and it’s absolutely vital for living. Without your heart beating, you could not live. There’s no way to separate your heart beating and you from living.
God wants His relationship with you to be as consistent as your pulse. Conversations with God should be as easy as breathing, as easy as your heart pumping blood. They should be a natural part of who we are and what we do. God wants you to be so close to Him and in such a deep, personal relationship with Him, that you wouldn’t feel right if His presence were taken away. As we grow closer to God, we begin to understand more of who He is and how He works. We begin to walk confidently in every situation we face, and we can be joyful and thankful no matter how difficult the circumstance because we’ve come to rely on God in every part of our life. We know that He will be with us through our difficulties.
Talk about It
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Question 1. What do these verses say is God’s will for those who belong to Christ Jesus? Answer 1. God’s will is that we are to be thankful in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
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| Question 2. What is something that you don’t think you could live without?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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| Question 3. How does your answer to Question 2 compare to trying to live without a relationship with God?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
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| Question 4. How can having a relationship with God help us be joyful and thankful in all circumstances?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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| Question 5. How can you “never stop praying”?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
God, thank You for loving me the way You do. Help me to always be pursuing You, every day of my life. There’s nothing else in this life that I want, except You. Amen.
Learn 5.2 Devotionals (for Sunday 2/20) – Wednesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I can talk to God.
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 take my needs to God?
Read about It
Read: James 5:13–16
Do you know that when you pray, you are talking with the one and only living God? Do you know that when you pray, you are talking with the only One who has power over everything in the universe? He is the One who has power to heal, power to forgive, and power over everything. When we have a relationship with God, when we pray and rely on Him, He uses His power to help us because we are His children.
Because He is the God who desires a relationship with us, we can go to Him at any time with any need that we have. This doesn’t mean that we should just go to God with a big wish list of everything we want, like a new car and a million dollars, and assume He will give us everything. It does mean though, that because He loves us, He wants us to come to Him with our needs, in faith, and trust Him to take care of us. When we pray, God responds and things that would otherwise be impossible can happen as a result of our prayer.
Talk about It
| Question 1. What do these verses say to do when you’re sick or going through hard times?
Answer 1. Pray and ask for prayer (James 5:13–14)
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| Question 2. How does James 5:14 describe one way to pray for the sick?
Answer 2. “Call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14)
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| Question 3. What’s different about praying to the one and only God instead or someone or something else?
Answer 3. God exists. He cares and He has power to help.
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| Question 4. How does knowing that you can talk with God about everything, including your problems, make you feel?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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| Question 5. What situations are you or someone you know facing that you want to talk with God about?
Answer 5. Answer will vary. |
Pray about It
God, thank You that You have all power and all authority and yet You still desire a relationship with me. Help me to be faithful to come to You every day. Amen.
Learn 5.2 Devotionals (for Sunday 2/20) – Tuesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I can talk to God.
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 should I talk to God?
Read about It
Read: Matthew 6:5–8
Can you imagine what it would be like if you were required to speak with big fancy words every time you wanted to talk to an adult? What would happen if you didn’t know the right words? Or what do you think it would sound like if you spoke only in one monotone voice like a robot when you tried to talk to them? It wouldn’t allow for a whole lot of real conversation, right?
When we talk with God, He wants us to be ourself. We don’t have to use memorized prayers or big fancy words. We shouldn’t try to impress others when we pray, and we shouldn’t say words that are memorized without actually meaning what we’re saying. God wants us to talk to Him with our own words, and say exactly what we’re thinking and feeling, in a respectful way. He sees us and knows us and simply wants us to come to Him because He loves us and desires a relationship with us.
Talk about It
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Question 1. How do these verses describe the way hypocrites pray? Answer 1. They love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. (Matthew 6:5)
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| Question 2. Why do you think verse 7 says not to “babble on and on”?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
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| Question 3. What kind of prayer does this passage say that God the Father rewards?
Answer 3. Private prayer (Matthew 6:6)
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| Question 4. Why do you think God wants real and personal conversations with you instead of fancy words you don’t understand or memorized prayers you don’t mean?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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| Question 5. How do you feel about being able to go to God just as you are?
Answer 5. Answers may vary. |
Pray about It
God, thank You for seeing me, knowing me, and loving me. I come to You just as I am. Help me to always have real and personal conversations with You so that our relationship can always be growing. Amen.
Learn 5.2 Devotionals (for Sunday 2/20) – Monday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I can talk to God.
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 I talk to God when I’ve made a mistake?
Read about It
Read: Luke 15:8–10
This is how God feels about us. He knows that we have all messed up and sinned. We have all walked away from what He desires for us. However, because He loves us, and because we are so valuable to Him, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross to ensure that we could have a relationship with Him. No matter how far we feel like we’ve strayed or how bad we think we’ve messed up and sinned, He wants us to come and talk with Him about it and ask Him to help us!.
Talk about It
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Question 1. What is something that was lost that you spent a long time looking for? Answer 1. Answers will vary.
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| Question 2. How did you feel when you found the item that had been lost?
Answer 2. Answers may vary.
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| Question 3. How is God like the woman in today’s Scripture passage?
Answer 3. Answers may vary.
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| Question 4. What is the connection between how hard you search for a lost item and how important that item is to you?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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| Question 5. How does coming to God after we’ve messed up help us grow closer to Him?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
God, thank You that I can come and talk with You even when I’ve messed up. Help me to always to be quick to turn to You and to come back to You when I’ve sinned. Thank you for always being willing to forgive me and help me live for You. Amen.
Harvest Celebration 2022
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Learn 5.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 2/13) – Thursday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I put God first.
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 is keeping me from putting God first?
Read about It
Read: 1 John 2:15–17
Have you ever seen someone place a cookie on a table in front of a child, and then say to the child, “I need to step out of the room for a minute. If that one cookie is still there when I come back, I will give you a second cookie.”
It’s interesting to watch what the child does. Sometimes the child gobbles up the cookie. In that case, the child may enjoy the cookie but misses out on getting a second. But, when you see a child refuse to eat the cookie in order to get a second cookie, it just makes you want to jump up and cheer because they got something so much better!
Sometimes it can be difficult to choose the things of God over our immediate desires. When we have friends or family who do things that look like fun, but go against God, it can be difficult to say no to that temptation. However, when we honor God in the choices we make and choose to put Him first, we receive something far better than the short-term pleasure of a sin that leads to destruction. We must be willing to sacrifice the things in our life that distract us from God’s very best for us, because “anyone who does what pleases God will live forever” (verse 17).
Talk about It
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Question 1. In these verses, what does the Bible warn us not to love? Answer 1. “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you.” (1 John 2:15)
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| Question 2. What does the Bible tell us about the things of the world?
Answer 2. “This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.” (1 John 2:17)
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| Question 3. Why is what God wants for us better than what we may want for ourself?
Answer 3. Answers may vary.
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| Question 4. How does putting God first help us to receive God’s very best for us?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
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| Question 5. What are you allowing in your life that is distracting you from putting God first?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
God, thank You that what You desire for me is so much better than what I could ever imagine. Help me to always choose You and Your ways. I want to put You first in every part of my life. Amen.
Learn 5.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 2/13) – Wednesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I put God first.
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 is most important to me?
Read about It
Read: Matthew 6:19–21
Have you ever been in an attic filled with boxes and trunks? Many times these boxes and trunks are filled with things people valued at one time. They placed items they thought were treasures inside the trunks. But, after years in the attic, dirt, dust, rust, and moths have damaged or destroyed things that were once important.
The Bible clearly tells us not to store treasures on earth where things can be destroyed, stolen, broken, or discarded. But, rather, our treasure should be in heaven. Jesus wasn’t saying we couldn’t have nice things, but that we need to make sure that what we most care about and put first in our life is God. When we treasure our relationship with God more than anything else, He becomes the desire of our heart, and what He has for us is better than any treasure we could have here on earth.
Talk about It
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Question 1. What can happen to your earthly treasures? Answer 1. They can rust. They can be destroyed, and they can be stolen. (Matthew 6:19)
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| Question 2. What can happen to your treasures in heaven?
Answer 2. They cannot rust, be destroyed, or stolen (Matthew 6:20)
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| Question 3. How is the location of your treasure related to your heart’s desires?
Answer 3. “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:21)
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| Question 4. When have you chosen to put God first?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
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| Question 5. How is putting God first better than putting any earthly treasures or possessions first?
Answer 5. Answers may vary. |
Pray about It
God, You are more important to us than anything else in this world. May every word we say, every thought we think, and every action we take show that You are number one in our life. Amen.
Learn 5.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 2/13) – Tuesday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I put God first.
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 put God first?
Read about It
Read: Matthew 13:44–46
The verses in today’s passage are two of Jesus’ parables that compare the kingdom of heaven, or God’s Kingdom, to things here on earth. The treasure hidden in a field and the choice pearl were both things of great value. They were so valuable that everything else was sold in order to gain them.
This is how it is with being a part of God’s family. Being connected with Jesus is more valuable than anything we have here on earth. Our life on earth is temporary. It won’t last forever. Yet, sometimes we live our life as we want, instead of putting God first. When we live our life for God, we are willing to give up anything we need to give up to gain the most valuable treasure of all, eternal life and a relationship with Him forever.
Talk about It
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Question 1. What did the man do when he found the treasure in the field? Answer 1. He hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. (Matthew 13:44)
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| Question 2. What did the merchant do when he discovered a pearl of great value?
Answer 2. He sold everything he owned and bought it. (Matthew 13:46)
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| Question 3. Why are eternal life and our relationship with God more important than anything else here on earth?
Answer 3. Our relationship with God and eternal life will last forever. Most things in this world will not last forever.
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| Question 4. How is my relationship with God the most valuable treasure of all?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
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| Question 5. What are some things in my life that I need to get rid of to ensure that I can have that treasure, a relationship with God?
Answer 5. Answers may vary. |
Pray about It
God, thank You for making it possible for me to have a relationship with You. Help me to value that relationship more than anything else here on earth. Amen.
Learn 5.1 Devotionals (for Sunday 2/13) – Monday
Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I put God first.
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 I put God first?
Read about It
Read: Deuteronomy 6:4–7
Professional athletes work hard to be 100 percent committed to their sport. They are careful to get up in the morning to exercise their body. They take great care in what they eat and drink, making sure to eat enough protein, vitamins, and minerals. They spend their days practicing drills, going over plays, and working to get better. If they fail to practice or do not train their body properly, they will likely not play well and could have to find a new profession.
An athlete’s level of commitment to the sport is similar to the level of commitment to God that the Bible says Christians should have. How we talk and what we do should always reflect a wholehearted commitment to God.
As you live for Him in every part of your life and love Him with all your heart, soul, and strength, He will help you and make sure that you have everything you need to live for Him!
Talk about It
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Question 1. How should we love God? Answer 1. We should love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
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| Question 2. How should you commit yourself to God’s commands?
Answer 2. “You must commit yourselves wholeheartedly.” (Deuteronomy 6:6)
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| Question 3. How often should we talk about what God expects of us?
Answer 3. “When you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7)
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| Question 4. What is one thing you can do to help you live wholeheartedly for God?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
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| Question 5. What is something in your life that may be keeping you from living wholeheartedly for God?
Answer 5. Answers will vary. |
Pray about It
Father God, I believe that You alone are God. I want to love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength. Help me to be fully committed to You in every part of my life. Amen.