Author: Nathaniel Colt

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Live 10.3 Devotionals (for Sunday 9/10) – Wednesday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

We can solve disagreements with God’s help.

 

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 should we react when another Christian is at fault or offends us?

Read about It

Read: Colossians 3:5–15

When we face problems, it can be easy to become frustrated and angry when we can’t find the answer we’re looking for. Maybe you’ve tried to build something, and the pieces didn’t fit right, so you threw it down and it broke. Or maybe you said unkind words in an argument. In these times, our sinful nature likes to creep up. Sometimes, we do things that don’t show the love of God. Because we are human, these things can happen in the church when there are big disagreements.

Our Scripture today can help us keep our thinking right when we face those tough challenges, especially in the church. Because we know that God’s plan matters most, we should want to treat each other the way He wants us to. We need to be sure that we are patient with each other, forgiving each other, and making allowances for each other’s faults. Even when we have big disagreements, we can trust God to help us, and we can make every effort to work together for a solution in peace.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. What do today’s Scriptures say matters more than our ethnicity and background?

Answer 1. Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:11)

 
Question 2. What are some things today’s Scripture says we should clothe ourselves in?

Answer 2. Tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12)

 

Question 3. Why is it sometimes easy for us to lose our patience in the middle of a disagreement?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. What does it look like to treat others with kindness and respect in the middle of disagreements?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. How should we react when another Christian is at fault or offends us?

Answer 5. We should make allowances and forgive. (Colossians 3:13)

 

Pray about It

Dear God, thank You that even in the middle of difficult disagreements, You are here to help us. Help us to love each other and treat each other the way You want us to as we work to find a solution that honors You. Amen.

 

 

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Live 10.3 Devotionals (for Sunday 9/10) – Tuesday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

We can solve disagreements with God’s help.

 

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 should we respond to spiritual leaders?

Read about It

Read: Hebrews 13:17–21

In our world, there are all kinds of authority figures. In your home, there are parents and guardians who are there to help you grow and do the right thing. In school, there is a teacher who makes sure you are taught the things you need to know while you are in their classroom. A judge is an authority figure whose job is to help settle legal disputes.

God has given authority to pastors and leaders to help your church grow in His way and function the way that He wants. These leaders are responsible to God for leading the church in peace and making difficult decisions when there are big disagreements. When there is something difficult happening in the church, we can look to God for wisdom. We can trust our leaders to help us come to a solution.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. What do today’s Bible verses say is the work of spiritual leaders?

Answer 1. To watch over us (Hebrews 13:17)

 
Question 2. Who are some of the people in your life that are authority figures?

Answer 2. Answers will vary.

 
Question 3. Why do you think God has placed authority figures in your life?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. Why has God given leaders to each church?

Answer 4. God has given authority to pastors and leaders to help your church grow in His way and function the way that He wants.

 

  

Question 5. How should we respond to spiritual leaders?

Answer 5. We should follow their leading and make leading a joy for them. (Hebrews 13:17)

 

Pray about It

Dear God, thank You for the godly leaders in our church. We ask You to give them wisdom to lead us the way that You want. Amen.

 

 

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Live 10.3 Devotionals (for Sunday 9/10) – Monday

 

Key Ideas

 

Faith Fact

We can solve disagreements with God’s help.

 

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: Who can we go to for help when we have a disagreement?

Read about It

Read: Acts 15:1–11

Did you know that people don’t always agree with each other all the time? It’s true. Think of the last time your family was trying to decide what movie to watch or game to play. Your family members probably had different ideas. You probably had to talk it out, give reasons for why you thought what you did, and then, make a final choice. Sometimes a grown-up helps to decide how things should be.

This is like what happened in today’s Scripture reading, but it was about something much more serious than what game to play. There was a disagreement about what needed to happen for a person to be saved and become part of God’s family. So, after some long conversations, the church saw that they needed to talk about it with the leaders—the apostles and elders. God used those leaders to speak wisdom about a tough disagreement. When we don’t know how to solve a problem with another believer, we can do the same thing. We can ask for God’s wisdom, and we can trust godly leaders to help us.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. What happened between the men from Judea and Paul and Barnabas?

Answer 1. They had a disagreement and started arguing. (Acts 15:1–2)

 

Question 2. When they couldn’t come to an agreement, what did the church in Antioch do?

Answer 2. They sent Paul and Barnabas to talk to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about the question. (Acts 15:2)

 
Question 3. When have you had a disagreement with someone, and how did you handle it?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. Why is it sometimes hard to solve a disagreement?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. Who can we go to for help when we have a disagreement?

Answer 5. We can ask for God’s wisdom, and we can trust godly leaders to help us.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, thank You that You generously give wisdom to those who ask. Help us to look to You when we disagree with other people who also love You. Amen.

 

 

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

 

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: How does studying and applying Scripture with others help me?

Read about It

Read: Romans 15:1–6

In a brick wall, there is a type of cement that is used, kind of like a glue, that helps to hold the bricks together. The bricks may be very strong, but the whole wall can only be strong if that cement holds the bricks together. This is a little like the way Scripture can work in our life. As we study Scripture together, it can hold us together. It helps us to be strong in the Lord, and it also helps us to have a strong relationship with those we study with.

The Scripture verses today talk about how important it is to encourage each other and build each other up in learning God’s ways. The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait for God’s promises to happen. When we study God’s Word together and apply it in our everyday life, we can be stronger together and bring glory to God in the way that we live.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. According to today’s Scripture reading, what are the Scriptures meant to do in our life?

Answer 1. The Scriptures are meant to teach us and give us hope and encouragement. (Romans 15:4)

 

Question 2. What do these verses say we should help other believers do?

Answer 2. We should help them do what is right. (Romans 15:2)

 
Question 3. Who are some people in your life that can build you up in the Lord?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 

Question 4. Why do you think it’s important for believers to be unified and strong in the Lord together?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. How does studying and applying Scripture with others help?

Answer 5. It allows us to grow stronger together and bring glory to God through how we live. There may be additional answers.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, thank You for the people You have placed in my life who help to build me up in Your Word. Help us to be strong together and serve You with all we do. Amen.

 

 

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

 

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: Why is it important for us to study God’s Word with other believers?

Read about It

Read: Hebrews 10:23–25

Have you ever noticed sports players on the sidelines responding to a big play in a game? They don’t just sit back and ignore what’s going on. Normally, they’re excited and yelling at their teammates to encourage them. Why? Because they’re a team. They practice together, sweat together, work out together, study the plays together, and cheer each other on. They do it all for that “big play” moment on the field.

God wants this for His children. We, the Church, are a team. When we study God’s Word together with other believers, we help to motivate each other and encourage each other in our relationship with God. We can help each other be strong in both the good times and the bad times. We can help push each other not to give up, especially when we may feel discouraged.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. What does today’s Scripture say is something we should think of?

Answer 1. We should think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)

 

Question 2. How does meeting together with other believers help us grow?

Answer 2. It helps us encourage one another in our relationship with God. (Hebrews 10:25)

 
Question 3. How is meeting together and studying God’s Word together like a team getting ready for a big game?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. What are some ways you could be together with other Christians and help encourage them in God’s Word?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. Why is it important for us to study God’s Word with other believers?

Answer 5. When we study God’s Word together with other believers, we can help to  motivate each other and encourage each other in our relationship with God.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, thank You for Your promises that can be trusted. Help me to be the kind of person who can motivate and encourage others in following You. Amen..

 

 

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

 

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: Does having other Christians in our life help?

Read about It

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

Have you ever had a hard fall? If you have, you know it can be painful. Having someone to help you makes it easier to get back up. Have you ever sat close to a friend after playing outside in the snow? You know that being in the cold by yourself isn’t very warm. Being in a pair, a group of two people, makes life so much easier.

When we surround ourself with other believers who are serving Jesus, praying, and spending time studying God’s Word, it’s harder to fall away from following Jesus. Studying God’s Word with other people will make our relationship with God stronger. We can help each other understand parts of God’s Word that He’s explained to us. And we can stand together against Satan, our enemy.

Talk about It

 

Question 1. Why does today’s Bible reading say that two people are better off than one?

Answer 1. Because they can help each other succeed (Ecclesiastes 4:9)
Question 2. What do the verses you read say can happen to someone who is trying to stand alone?

Answer 2. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

 

Question 3. When was a time that you tried to face something alone when you should have asked for help?

Answer 3. Answers will vary.

 
Question 4. What are some things you can do to encourage other Christians in their relationship with God?

Answer 4. Answers will vary.

 
Question 5. Does having other Christians in our life help? How?

Answer 5. Yes. Answers will vary to the second question.

 

Pray about It

Dear God, help me to surround myself with other people who are following You. Help us to grow in our faith as we seek You together. Amen.

 

 

Posted on

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.