Category Archives: Devotional

A youth devotion is an opportunity to plumb the depths of a deeper spiritual life by using a story, illustration, or real life experience to illustrate a Bible principle and entice the reader to apply it in a very personal way.

Devotional

Devotional: New Car Christianity?

May 16, 2011 kensapp Leave a comment

Congratulations. I am giving you a brand new car. It’s reliable, efficient, and runs well. It can take you anywhere you need to go.

Are you excited?

But there are a couple conditions.

You are only allowed to use the car one day per week. The rest of the week it must remain at my home and you are not allowed to use it.
The one morning per week when you can use it, I will come to your house and pick you up. You can ride with me in the passenger seat and follow me wherever I go. We will only go the places I want to go and do the things I want to do. After a few hours, I’ll drop you off back at your home until our special day next week when we will do the same thing.

Unfortunately, this is the same thing we do when we become Christians.

We give Jesus our life. We have a new life, filled with possibilities. All things are possible. Jesus can take us to incredible new places and enable us to do things we never dreamed possible. He can take us anywhere we need to go.

But when we give him our life, we place conditions on it.

You can only have my life, but only one day a week – on Sunday. The rest of the week my life is mine to live as I wish.
On Sunday, I’ll decide what church activities I will attend and Jesus, you can be there with me. But remember, I am in charge. I am in control. You are merely a passenger as long as it is convenient. You cannot make decisions. All the choices are mine to make.

Then after you have had your time with me I’ll take my life back and see you again next week. If you are lucky, I might give you a call once in a while, but only if I need something.

Have you given Jesus a car, or have you given him your life?

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

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Devotional

Why

January 19, 2011 kensapp Leave a comment

By Bob Perks famous for his “I Wish You Enough” newsletter. Join it. You’ll love it.

I think of all the questions we ask, “Why?” may be the the most powerful.

We ask it of God…”Why?”

Then we wait patiently expecting an answer.

He does answer, but most of the time we choose not to hear Him.

It’s a filter we humans have that helps us to only hear what we want to hear.

When I ask God “Why?” I hear Him say, “Why not?”

I believe He does it because he created us to think on our own.

It forces us to come to a decision, react to it and do something about it.

But…We don’t always do something about it.

“Why?” Because taking action gets us involved. Getting involved is
not our first choice. We always want to know “Why?” but we also want
to know who to blame. Blaming someone else is easier than taking on
the challenge ourselves.

“God, why did that happen?”

“Why not?” God says.

“Someone should do something about that!” we respond.

God says, “You are someone.”

“Why me?”

God says, “Why not?”

Then we stop asking God and lose faith.

Why? Because when we don’t get the answer we want, it must mean that
God doesn’t exist. The God we want to believe in gives you everything you
want.

No, my friend.

He gives you everything you need.

But He expects you to go get it.

Look around you right now. Everything you see was once simply a thought.
The chairs, tables, rugs, computer, lights…everything.

Everything also came from the earth. God created the earth and everyone in
it…including you.

So, everything came from someone who asked, “Why?” heard, “Why not?”
but the difference was, they did something about it.

The next time you ask God, “Why?” expect to get involved with the solution.

“Why not?”

“I wish you enough!”

Personal Note: “Why?” and “Why am I here?” Are two of the most often asked questions from youth. This is a great response for youth leaders to answer those two questions. Bob has a lot of insightful thoughts on the Christian walk that I Find very useful when working with Youth. Check out his website at www.bobperks.com

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Devotional

Going over the Edge

September 9, 2010 kensapp Leave a comment

A youth sat frightened on the edge. It was only yesterday that she was taken from the valley to the mountaintop and now she was being asked to step out again. She was being asked to leave her most recent camp-out. Now she was being asked to leave her perch and abseil down the side of the cliff.

She had become well acquainted with her new position. It was predictable. It was comfortable. It was safe. She was sheltered from the uncertainties of life. She sat on the edge and looked at the rope, hanging from a tree and leading into the unknown. She looked at the equipment she was to wear. The rope was so thin and flexible. The equipment, at times, was uncomfortable.

She thought…
“This is no place for a woman to be! There’s nothing solid. You have no power over the wind. You’re at its mercy, it blowing you in new directions. Anyway, how is a woman supposed to be comfortable in that equipment and hanging from that tiny rope. Surely she had heard wrong! Everything she had known told her it was a bad idea. Everyone she talked to thought her crazy. That is except for God. As a matter of fact, it was God’s idea. That’s what bothered her. It bothered her because up to now, she had been happy where she was. Besides, she knew the type of people that did these things. They were crazy, radical, always going over the edge. They didn’t care what others thought of them, they just did things. She didn’t understand them and she didn’t want to– especially first hand! She’d rather watch! After all, the smart ones are those who don’t take risks. They are secure and stable. Aren’t they?”

Some of you can probably relate very well to this young woman. You know how she feels don’t you? You’ve been there. You’ve gone over the edge. You were uncertain, scared, having second thoughts even!

But I am talking about more than just learning the ropes. I am talking about the Christian life. You know the imbalance you can have by having one foot on the rock and the other in the unknown. You know the imbalance you can have when you have one foot in your will and one foot in God’s will. You’ve hung on to the rope for dear life. You know the butterflies that seem to swarm in your stomach when changes are in the “air”.

Hopefully at this stage of your life, changes will be in the air. Maybe you are in the midst of a decision and it has upset your entire way of life. It’s scary isn’t it. You are nice and comfortable and then you hear the call to step into the unknown. You hear the call to: … take a stand. … forgive. … change the way you live. … share Christ with someone. … sacrifice time or money or even yourself. … work in full time christian service. A battle begins within. Your heart may say yes, but your feet may say no. You may make up excuses and cling to the edge.

Walking the edge can be most uncomfortable of all.

Don’t feel alone. All of us are frightened by change. Everyone would rather stay at the edge and watch then step out into the unknown.

Noah did: “Build an ark? Yeah, what’s an ark? As a matter of fact, what is rain? What was that? THUNDER? Okay Lord!”
Abraham did: “So Lord, if I’ve got this right, you want me to take my only son up to that mountain and offer him as a sacrifice? I thought you said my descendants would be as numerous as the sands of the sea?” But early the next day he left, gets to the mountain top, ties Isaac down and then hears God say “Wait, Look behind you” BAAAAAH BAAAAH
Moses did: “Pick up the snake by its tail? Come on now. Everyone knows you pick a snake up by its head so it can’t bite you. Do you think I am crazy or something.” PSSSSS PSSSSS “Okay. Wow, look, it became a staff again!”
David did: “Goliath? You’ve got the wrong person God! I’m just a kid? But okay… How could I miss such a big target” SWOOSH! THUD!
Daniel did: “One way trip to a Lion’s den? “Nice kitty. Nice kitty.” ROARRRRR. “Oh, you have your jaws locked? Sorry, I don’t do dental work!”
Christ did: “Father, if there is any way, let this cup pass from me” “Lord, not thy will but thine be done.”

Eventually, you have to decide as they did! God’s will or yours?

All the above knew that the only thing worse than stepping out was the thought of denying God. When you step out, things won’t be as comfortable as before. The people watching make fun of you. The wind is uncertain and the rope is thin, sometimes you may have to just shut your eyes and hang on. You may even let go, or may not have the strength to hold on. Don’t worry. Christ will never let you fall. It isn’t easy, but its much safer being in God’s hands than in that of the world. God knows what he is doing. Ask Moses, or Noah, or Daniel or anyone else who has followed God.

Better yet, ask Jesus. He left His security and hung from a tree so that you might be washed clean of your sin by his blood.

Oh yeah, I last saw that young woman scaling a very impressive cliff with a gleam in her eye.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Devotional

Spiritual Gardening

June 7, 2010 kensapp Leave a comment

In the Beginning, the Garden

According to Genesis, life on earth started in a garden. The Bible is filled with references to gardens and gardening or farming. Psalm 1 begins with a tree planted by the water, which yields its fruit in season. Solomon talks about the seasons of life. Most of the parables of Jesus refer to growing things. Jesus prayed before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then in John 19:41 we are told the place of crucifixion on the cross, where Jesus was nailed to “a tree”, was near a garden. On Easter morning the two women mistook the resurrected Savior for the gardener.

Spiritual Lessons from the Garden

Biblical metaphors reference planting and harvesting, seeds and soil, vines and plants, fruitfulness and barrenness. All of these carried meaningful and profound truths easily understood by people whose day-to-day relationship with growing things was fundamental to their existence. Even though many of us may be city-slickers today, most of us still have some connection to the garden and the nature beyond our doorsteps. And those same truths are easily grasped today. There are many lessons to be learned from the cycle of life in a garden or gardening on a farm.

Personal Truths I’ve Learned from Gardening

You must sow if you want to harvest.
You reap what you sow.
The life is in the seed. You can create the right conditions for growth, but you cannot guarantee that it will sprout or that growth will occur.
There is a time for planting and a time for harvest.
There are seasons of life.
A plant always reaches for the light.
Roots sunk deep can sustain the plant through times of drought.
There are weeds and pests that seek to use the plant for their own ends and may destroy it in the process if we are not diligent in our care.
That which is left behind, which dies can be used again as nourishing soil for new growth.
A gardener cares for his plants and at times cuts off and prunes so that maximum fruitfulness can take place.
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the tending of the plants that we fail to smell, taste, and enjoy the fruits of our labors.
From a single seed can spring forth and abundance.
You sometimes you have to let some of the fields rest (lie fallow) so that that they can be more fruitful later.

Spiritual Lessons from Jesus Related to Gardening

Jesus knew how to prepare soil for planting – Luke 14:35
Jesus understood that location and the type of soil was important – Matthew 13:8
Jesus understood that a seed must be planted and die before new life can come forth from it – John 12:24
Jesus understood that the farm was often a group effort and that different people had different roles – John 4:38
Jesus knew that the life was in the vine – John 15: 1-4
Jesus knew that the plant must be pruned to become more fruitful – John 15:1-4
Jesus knew that some plants might produce fruit a little slower and sometimes you had to wait before the harvest – Luke 13:6-9
Jesus knew that some plants, regardless of how long you waited would never produce fruit and were best removed to make way for others – Matthew 21:18-19
Jesus knew that even the smallest of seeds, with proper care can become a great canopy to shelter others through the storms of life – Matthew 13:31–32
Jesus knew that sometimes we need to simply sit back and enjoy the time God has given us, rather than worry and toil our life away – Matthew 6:27-30

Applying Spiritual Lessons from Gardening

Seeds of truth sprout in our hearts, are nourished and grow in maturity and fruitfulness. Like the vine, we stretch ourselves toward the light and bask in the warmth of the sun. We sink our roots deep in the Word and draw vital sustenance as branches attached to the vine and thus producing abundant fruit. There are times for planting and times for harvest, times of quick growth and times of strengthening, times of lush active life and times of dormancy and waiting, times of morning glories and night fragrances. The cycle of the harvest is the cycle of life – the rhythm of God’s timing and God’s care. It is God’s timing and all our busyness and frantic activity will not hasten the ripening of the fruit or produce the sweet taste of the harvest. We can create, and must create, the conditions and make sure all the right things are in place, but only God can make us grow and then make us fruitful. There will be storms and blights and famine, but the same storms bring life nourishing water. The blights and the famines make the times of abundant harvest so much more delightful. Then, there are those delightful times, when the Spirit flows from the source into all the areas of our life and fruit is produced in ever increasing measure.

Spiritual growth takes time. Spiritual maturity is not instant. It’s a slow gradual process of growth that will continue all your years. There are no shortcuts. And even if there is life and growth, fruitfulness is not guaranteed. Fruit appears in season when the conditions are right. When you try to ripen fruit quickly it loses it flavor. The same is true with us.

And for each of us there is some area of our life where you are not yielding all you could, places where you might prefer the rocks and be content to tolerate the thorns. Tilling the soil in our hearts, pulling the weeds, breaking of the tough ground can be hard work. But God is the divine Garner and wants to produce a life of joyful harvest in you if you will simply allow Him into the garden of your life. Invite Him in. There is work to be done, but there will also be times to taste and see that the Lord is good. – time to enjoy the harvest of His work in your life.

Spiritual Gardening 101

Need a little help in getting started with spiritual gardening? Need a manual on spiritual gardening? Check out the many lessons on the website Creative Youth Ideas about spiritual growth and spiritual fruit. There is also a youth camp / youth Bible study series shown below.

Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on
“Fruit of the Spirit”?
Live the Fruitful, Abundant Life Jesus Promised. This Bible Study and Camp Curriculum covers, in 7 1-hour sessions, what it takes to grow spiritually in Christ, the goal of which is to be fruitful in our Christian walk – to live a life worthy of God’s calling.
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Devotional

His Love Endures Forever

January 12, 2010 kensapp Leave a comment

By Rob Heverling (robhev@yahoo.com)

Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Have you ever received something and didn’t deserve it.

Probably one of my favorite commercials this past Christmas was one where a girl was sitting in front of the Christmas tree tearing opening her gifts. She opens up this one gift and her eyes just light up and in that moment you knew she just got something she probably wanted for a long time but had to wait till this day to get.

After looking at the gift for about 3 seconds her appearance changes as she begins to recount the events of the past year. Apparently she had not been such a good girl. She looks at her parents and says “you spent to much take it back” Her parents look shocked as they ask her “what do you mean?”. She goes on to explain that over the past year she was not the best of kids and even goes as far to list some of the bad things she had done like forging notes because she skipped school, reading her sisters diary etc.. she doesn’t deserve the gift and they spent way to much and they need to just take it back.

Then there is a brief pause with the parents just looking at her and finally the dad breaks the ice and says “but honey we didn’t spend a lot on you” the whole thing ends with both parents looking at each other in silent victory and the girl sitting on the floor with this silly smirk on her face because she just told everyone some of the worst things she had done over the past year and still got something she didn’t deserve.

It can be a humbling experience when we receive things we don’t deserve.

I can remember times in my own life when people have given out of love because we were struggling and after just feeling like “God I don’t deserve this”. They’re were people out there way worse off then us but yet for some reason my family was thought of.

It’s one thing to receive gifts when we’ve been good, or generous, or even a hard worker those kind of gifts we will easily take and sometimes even expect. But what about when you have done nothing or when you have been rotten, miserable, hard to live with or lazy. Those are the times when we find gifts hard to take.

Maybe that’s why most people find it hard to receive the gift of God’s son. Because God gave that gift when we were at our worst. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He didn’t wait for us to deserve it and he didn’t try to cheapen it like the girls parents in the commercial. He sent the whole gift and he paid the whole price for us. One life for many lives Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Because of that one sacrifice that Christ was willing to make on the cross all of us can have the gift of eternal life.

And what do we have to do to get it? Nothing, because it’s a gift Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The gift of the Christ is probably one of the hardest gifts for the people of the world to take because really we don’t deserve it and yet God sent him anyways. When were willing to humble ourselves and admit our mistakes like the girl in the commercial and come clean with God, then and only then can we share in this great gift that God has given. God is holding out his gift for you, all you got to do is believe it and then receive it. For one can’t truly have this gift unless they reach out and take hold of it.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Devotional, Parents Ministry

Christmas – An Earthly Stepfather for God

December 19, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Scripture: Luke 2:1-5, 52

Although God was the real Father of Jesus, Jesus also needed an earthly “stepfather.”

God needed a godly man to take the responsibility to raise Jesus in the right way. He fulfilled the demands of his society as he went to his own town to register in a census. He worked in order to feed and cloth him. The task of a father is very demanding, but also rewarding. Jesus and Joseph worked side by side in a carpentry shop and “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Even today, fathers are in a sense stepfathers to they children raise.

For they do not belong to them, but to God. The task of raising a child of God is no less difficult than raising the Son of God. Imagine how inadequate Joseph must have felt raising the Son of God! ! !

Joseph made many mistakes we can be sure. No father is perfect but the Heavenly Father. We can trust that when we are inadequate He is fully able to meet all the needs and demands that raising a child requires. Many men spend considerable amounts of time away from their families because of work, but God is fully able to care for your family.

Raising children as a mother is no less difficult!

Children take a moment to be thankful for your father and mother.

Fathers and mothers take a moment to ask God to continue to help you raise your children in the right way so that they might also “grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Christmas Collection
Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

Get more than 200 creative ideas for planning a Youth Christmas celebration or Christmas Party party. You can immediately download my best Christmas Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Devotional

Christmas – What gift would I give Him?

December 18, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

by Bob Perks

This holiday season I have been on a special mission.
I call it “In search of the Waltons at Christmas.”

So many people seem to be struggling this year
with family relationships. I have overheard them in the
malls and department stores.

“Well, I’m not spending much on him this year. I don’t
even like him. I’m doing this because I have to!”

One woman filled with the spirit of giving said: “I’ll
buy this and keep it upstairs. If she doesn’t have
something for me I’m not wasting my good money on her.”

Although the Waltons had typical brother/sister clashes
mixed with a few inter generational disagreements, they
were very much intact as a family. I believe many viewers
tuned in longing for that special place where all problems
were resolved in an hour.

My search recently took me to a local church where I sat
thinking about the meaning of it all. After about ten minutes
a father and young child about five years old walked in
breaking the silence and disrupting my meditative state. In
reality the peace and quiet nearly lulled me off to sleep.

“Daddy, look the manger!” the young boy said.

“Is that Santa over there?” he asked pointing to one of the
three wise men.

“No, son. They are the Three Kings bringing presents to
Jesus.” replied Dad.

“Christmas presents?”

“No. I guess you can say they are birthday presents.
Remember we told you that Christmas is really our
celebration of the birth of Jesus.”

The young boy paused for a moment seemingly satisfied
with Dad’s answer. Then, as children will do, asked the
unanswerable question that warms your heart and often
puts you in your place.

“Daddy, what are we giving Jesus for His birthday this year?”

Silence. Then drawing on the wisdom of the ages and
the creative parental genes that make us what we are,
Daddy said…”I don’t know. Ask your Mom.”

They left right after that. Peace and quiet returned to this
great sanctuary leaving me to think about what that child
had to say. If I were there that sacred evening drawn by
the light of the star of Bethlehem what gift would I offer Him?

I really had no idea. First, I can’t begin to imagine kneeling
before Him in the presence of Joseph and Mary.

But a gift from me to Jesus? What thing of value could I
possible give to my Lord?

This was a thought that overwhelmed me. I pride myself
in having the ability to at least come up with options, choices
for people who share their personal problems with me. But the
thought of me having anything that Jesus would want brought
tears of sadness for I felt I had nothing to offer Him.

So, I did what the young child had done earlier. I turned to
my Father and asked…”Oh, God what could I possibly offer
your Son as a gift? I really have nothing of value.”

I sat quietly and totally oblivious to the world. A small voice
inside my soul said “The same thing He had given you. His Life!
Give Him your life. Not sacrificed on a cross. But lived to
honor Him.”

I wept openly.

Here is my message to you celebrating the birth of Christ
and to each of you who value your faith whatever it may be.

The greatest gifts exchanged this Christmas will not be
those found wrapped under your tree or shared in sacred
ceremony dedicated to your God. The greatest gift of all, more
valuable than gold, not traded on Wall Street, not
held in vaults for safe keeping…is YOU!

You are the greatest of all gifts given to this world, your family,
and your community. Your wealth is not in your checking
account, but your actions, your life, your spirit as you live a
positive, passion filled existence. That makes you valuable
beyond measure.

My gift to you this Christmas is this message. Sorry it wasn’t
wrapped in fancy paper. It was really much too big. It is about
your life. Now live it.

P.S. “Goodnight, John Boy!”

“I wish you enough!”

If you would like to receive Bob’s Inspirational
stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com
and submit your email address.

Christmas Collection
Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.Get more than 200 creative ideas for planning a Youth Christmas celebration or Christmas Party party. You can immediately download my best Christmas Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!
=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Devotional

Emmanuel – God with Us

December 17, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Scripture: Matthew 1:22-23 and Isaiah 7:14

Emmanuel – “God with us”

What a comforting thought. For the birth of Christ is representative of “God with us.”

From this point on in the lives of all men, God would be with us in a new and exciting way. First with Christ – the Son of God – walking with man, and after his crucifixion, the Holy Spirit living IN man. With Christ came the most complete union between God and man since the Garden of Eden.

God walking with man – what a marvelous thought.

God desires to be with us, to walk with us. Christ’s birth was the new beginning of the close communion with man that God intended when he created us.

Jesus Christ- God’s Son -GOD WITH US. What closeness, what comfort, what joy!

This is the joy, comfort, and assurance Ahaz should have had in the Isaiah 7 passage when God tried to assure him he was with him. Ahaz rejected God and decided to rely on man instead.

Emmanuel – God with us – is a promise and a truth; but it is only true for those that accept Christ and believe he is with them.

Reflect today on how God is with YOU, and as a family share what GOD WITH US means to you.

Christmas Collection
Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Devotional

Christmas: God Gifts us with his presence

December 16, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Scripture: Revelation 22:13

As we look forward to the excitement of Christmas in a child’s eyes, this is also a time to look back and reflect on the meaning of Christmas, as it has developed over the years.

I think Rev. 22:I3, some of the last words attributed to Jesus, seem to say it all. Before anything began,
Jesus was there. When everything ends, He will still be there.

This is true in your personal life.

In everything you begin and in everything you complete, be it successful, or in your eyes and others a failure, Jesus is there.

As a result of Christmas, so it is in our lives.

From your first breath to your last, Jesus is there and you are His. This is God’s gift to you, which we call Christmas.

Christmas Collection
Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Devotional

Christmas: God With Us

December 15, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Scripture: Zechariah 2:10

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.”

What a wonderful promise we are reminded of each Christmas!

For we know that God, through Christ, has come and is coming again to establish his Kingdom on Earth.

Christmas is truly a joyous time. Christmas gives us the opportunity to be with family and friends. But we must make the time to share the true meaning of Christmas with those we love. It is all too easy to become overwhelmed by the secular vision of Christmas, the one that only sees Santa Claus, parties, and presents.

I urge each of you to find the quiet time you need for your family and friends – a time for prayer, singing your favorite Christmas hymns, or simply enjoying a walk in the countryside. While you are enjoying activities together, you have the perfect opportunity to share your love of Christ with those around you. Through this personal time, quiet or not, invested lovingly with those you care for, you can make Christmas more enjoyable than you ever would while being caught up in the demands of shopping and socials.

God has given us his promise. Celebrate Christ’s coming. It is truly a marvelous promise.

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