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

A Question Answered

December 5, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Questions, questions, questions. Our lives are filled with questions we ask of God. How will I find the right husband or wife? Where should I go to college? Why am I not enjoying life more? How should I serve God? How can I live for God in my job? Will I make it? How long will I be in Singapore? What will happen after Singapore? Am I living within the will of God?

Mary questioned the angel Gabriel concerning the birth of the Son of God. She could not understand that message. So she asked: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” In other words, God’s plan didn’t fit her scientific knowledge as to the birth of a child. Mary’s preconceived ideas didn’t allow her to accept God’s plan. She didn’t reject it, but she did ask for an explanation. The Angel described the future miracle in these words: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God… For nothing is impossible with God.”

Keep on asking questions of God but don’t forget to listen to God’s words directed toward you. The Holy Spirit is present in our lives because of our faith in Jesus Christ. We can say and believe that nothing is impossible with God. This affirmation will bring God’s miracles into our lives. Are you willing and ready like Mary to say: “May it be to me as you have said.” In this way God’s answers will be worked out in your life. May this happen to all of us as we celebrate Advent.

Scripture
Luke 1:34-38

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Devotional

Christmas All Year

December 3, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Luke 1:67-79

“Praise be to our most precious Lord Jesus Christ, for he has come to redeem his people. ”

Christmas is supposed to be a time when families focus and reflect on the sacrifice made by our Lord Jesus Christ and the promise this holds for our lives. Yet, everyday, all we hear is how Christmas is a time of pressures… money for presents, family pressures, end of year deadlines and anxieties for the coming year. Some people seem to resent the Christmas season. “Why bother celebrating” they say, “… it’s just a day to show how much money you do or don’t have depending on the gifts you feel compelled to give.”

When young, you probably had a Christmas “wishlist” a mile long. But, it seems that as you get older, you wish for less and less. You have an inner peace from the Lord, knowing he meets your wants and needs on a daily basis. God promises that he’ll help you make the right choices in life or “carry” you whenever “you” select another pathway.

As a Christian the Lord takes care of all pressures. Sure, it’s still a lot of work to balance career, family and social obligations, but God promises “blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Christmas is a time to celebrate the warmth of love from family and loved ones; but, most of all, reflect and know that the everlasting Lord Jesus Christ died that we would know Christmas All Year.

“The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:13 and 14.

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!

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Devotional

Christmas: Mary’s Song

December 2, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Read: Luke 1:46-55

Mary certainly knew the scriptures. By any count, in this short hymn of praise to her Lord, Mary quotes from at least eight Old Testament passages, and alludes to about a half-dozen others.

In addition, Mary’s heartfelt expression reflects the attitude of several other scriptures. You might say Mary’s song is virtually saturated in scripture. Yes, Mary certainly knew the scriptures.

But who was she saying these scriptures to? Who were you speaking to as you read these verses?
It is important to reflect not only on Mary’s knowledge of scripture, but on her knowledge of the Lord. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”

You can’t help but be struck by the impression as you read these verses that Mary was speaking directly to and personally with “the Mighty One” who had done great things for her.

A. W. Tozer warned, “Scientists have lost God amid the wonders of his world; Christians are in
danger of losing God amid the wonders of His Word.”

Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my soul rejoices in God my Savior.”

May all our spirits soar so freely this Christmas! Praise God, the Mighty One of Israel!

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

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Devotional

Christmas: God’s Larger Vision

December 1, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Luke 1:41-45

What a glorious and impossible moment! Two cousins, Mary and Elizabeth, are visiting. Elizabeth, barren, too old to have a child, is pregnant! Mary, a virgin, is also pregnant! This could only be possible through the majesty and glory of Almighty God.

Elizabeth’s son will be called John, and will proclaim the way for the son of Mary, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Because of their faithful devotion to God, two improbable babies will be born and will change the course of history.

God’s vision extended beyond the happy meeting of Mary and Elizabeth. He was thinking of you and me even in that day a long time ago. For it is through Jesus that we can come to have a personal relationship with God, the Father of us all.

God’s plans are larger than the events of “today”. Mary and Elizabeth were simply parts of a bigger picture that only God knows.

This Christmas, we must recognize that God may use us to affect something or someone years from now. Are you preparing yourself today so that God can use you tomorrow, next week, or a year from now? Pray today that God will help to give you a larger vision of His plan for you.

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

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Devotional

Christmas: God Speaking through us

November 30, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Luke 1:13-15

Zacharias, a man in his old age and Elizabeth his wife, a woman well along in years, had never been able to bear children. Now here is an angel, none other than Gabriel (who in his own words stood in the presence of God) telling Zacharias that his wife would bear a son.

But this would be no ordinary son. This was to be John of prophesy who would go ahead of the Messiah, preparing the way for the Lord.

What future parents would not be thrilled to hear that their child was to be a joy and delight and, above all would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth!

But wait a minute, doesn’t the Holy Spirit come into our lives at our acceptance of Christ as our Savior? We did say that this was to be no ordinary son. John was to be the fulfillment of a miracle; a man prepared by God for a wonderful mission hereon Earth, to proclaim the coming of the Son of God. He was filled with the Holy Spirit so the Holy Spirit could speak through him!

Let our prayer this Christmas season be that the Holy Spirit will be able to speak and work through us to proclaim Christ to the World.

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

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Devotional

Christmas: A Question Answered

November 29, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Questions, questions, questions.

Luke 1:34-38

Our lives are filled with questions we ask of God. How will I find the right husband or wife? Where should I go to college or university? Why am I not enjoying life more? How should I serve God? How can I live for God in my job? How long will I be in this job? What will happen tomorrow? Am I living within the will of God?

The questions go on…

Mary questioned the angel Gabriel concerning the birth of the Son of God. She could not understand his message to her. So she asked: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” In other words, God’s plan didn’t fit her understanding as to the birth of a child. Mary’s preconceived ideas didn’t allow her to accept God’s plan. She didn’t reject it, but she did ask for an explanation.

The Angel described the future miracle in these words: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God… For nothing is impossible with God.”

There are powerful lessons for us to learn from this encounter between Gabriel and Mary.

Keep on asking questions of God but don’t forget to listen to God’s words directed toward you.
We can say and believe that nothing is impossible with God because the Holy Spirit is present in our lives through our faith in Jesus Christ. This affirmation will bring God’s miracles into our lives.

Are you willing and ready like Mary to say: “May it be to me as you have said.” In this way God’s answers will be worked out in your life. May this happen to all of us as we begin to celebrate Advent.

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

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Devotional

Scars

July 22, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

“I’ve discovered something” I said.

“See, even as we get older we continue to learn,” he replied with a chuckle.

I took my dog, Phil, to the vet yesterday. When the doctor came into the room he was limping.

“Should I ask how you are doing?” I said.

“Oh, it’s my knee. They want me to really appreciate the operation I’m about to have so they delayed it another month so I could suffer more,” he replied.

It was then for the first time I actually showed my scar to someone.

“Look, I had an operation on my arm.”

My wife has been telling me that it really didn’t look bad. It was healing very nicely.

When I showed it to him and his assistant they said, “Eeeeeewe! That’s awful!”

So much for healing nicely.

That’s when I discovered something.

“Doc, when I was a kid and fell I remember showing all my friends because I thought it was “cool.” Having a scar at that age was like having a battle injury so you had to share it.”

I then pointed to a scar at the hairline on my forehead.

“That’s when I got hit with a door!” I said proudly.

“That explains so much, Bob,” he said laughing.

“Then I went into young adulthood and vanity took over. I was in a band and never wanted anything to scar this beautiful face of mine,” I said struggling to get it out without laughing.

“Now, at 59, I just now joined that group of older folks who are proud to compare operations, aches, pains and how many meds I have to take just to get through the day.”

I have overheard older folks trying to out do their friends by claiming their pain is worse or they have had more operations than the other.

The winner is the one who is in worse shape, I guess.

Then there are those at any age, who use physical and emotional scars as an excuse. The kind of excuse that holds them back, limits them, provides a crutch for why they are’nt happy or where they would like to be at this point in life.

“Too tall”…”too short”…”too fat”…”too thin”…
“my parents”…”my family”…”ever since my divorce”…”ever since we had children” and on and on.

All scars that never heal because we keep picking at them.

I swore I would never do that, yet, today I didn’t even hesitate to show Doc my scar.

It’s okay. I see it as reverting back to my childhood.

If you are of the Christian faith, I suggest that you turn to the One who bore the scars of death for you.

Then you will have no excuse.

What scars do you have?

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

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Devotional

Gather or Scatter

June 10, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

I love playing games, not all the time but sometimes. It’s easy to get burned out playing them too much so I try to only play them once in a while.

One game I never want to play again is 52 pick up. I’m sure most of us are familiar with 52 pick up. We probably learned it from our mean older brother or sister who one day approached us all nice and friendly. For a moment it seemed like they were your best friend as they asked you if you would like to play a game. Sure you said, what shall we play? How does 52 pick up sound they reply? You’re just so happy that they would even ask that you let down your guard and you say “yes”. That’s when you find out just how rotten older siblings can be. They take the whole deck of cards, all 52 and they throw them into the air scattering them all over the floor in a huge mess. As they walk away they say with a grin, “okay pick them up”.

You know as Christians we have to be careful of making messes with our lives. Jesus said “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” There are lots of times in our lives when we think we’ve finally got it together. We swear that this time it’s going to be different, I’m going to live for God no matter what. But what happens? In a couple of days or weeks we find that were right back in a rut.

Why? I think the most important reason is because we fail to act on what we claim is true. In other words, we say we believe in God but it’s not evident in the way we live our lives. I mean how many times have we heard that lust is wrong? Yet we look for images on the web or the television that cause us to lust. What about swearing? We know from God’s word that it’s wrong to swear so why do we do it? And what about coveting? We know that it’s wrong too yet still we want what we want and we act as though we could never be happy till we get it.

We’re supposed to be the light of the world, the ones who carry the message of hope and love to the lost. When we tell them we’re saved and that they need what we’ve got do you think it’s going to mean anything when they see how we really live? You don’t act any better than them and you’re going to tell them they need what you’ve got. Hey don’t blame them if they don’t take you seriously because honestly neither do you.

When Christians live this way they aren’t helping they’re hurting, they’re not gathering instead they’re scattering. In order to truly change we need to stop playing the same old games with our faith. Quit doing what you know from God’s Word is wrong and do what is right. Is it easy? No! is it hard? Sometimes, but that’s the cost of sacrifice. Until you’re willing to truly give up the junk in your life. Until you’re willing to put your life under God’s microscope and say Lord help me to hate what you hate and love what you love. How much gathering do you really expect to get done? How much change should you really expect?

The reason we struggle so much is because deep down inside we really don’t want to change. Our sinful nature is at war with the Spirit inside us trying to get us to do what we know is wrong. It’s the voice inside that says it will make you feel good if you just give it a try. Your faith is what gives you the strength to live above your emotions though. It’s what should drive you to do whats right not because it feels good or because it feels right but because you know it’s right and it’s what God wants you to do. If by faith you can’t live above your emotions then I ask you how strong is your faith?

2 Corinthians 5:7-10 “We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. “

Contributed by Rob Heverling (robhev@yahoo.com>

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Devotional

Underdogs

June 2, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

1 Samuel 17:45-47 ‘David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

When you think of underdogs one can’t help but think of sports. Their are so many stories in the sports world of teams who were told they never have a chance of winning and yet they went on to beat the odds and end up shocking the world. I’m sure I could list tons of teams who were told they never had a chance, or why even show up? but as they say in the sports world “that’s why they play the game”.

Now to be called an underdog you have to meet certain criteria, you have to lack more skill than your opponent, you have to be weaker, or you have to make less money than your opponent. Payroll seems to be everything in the sports world these days so if your team doesn’t have a high payroll or enough star talent and you some how walk into the playoffs then you might be an underdog. If one of your star players is injured and can’t make the big game you could be an underdog. If you don’t have home field advantage and a first round bye that could make you an underdog too.

With so many possibilities out there any team could be an underdog on any given day. So why do we make such a fuss when it comes to underdogs? Why do we find them so hard to not route for? Probably because we love to hear stories of people or teams who beat the odds when everything was stacked against them. We like knowing that some times the little guy can come out on top in the end.

We all have experienced moments when it seemed like their was no use in trying, when we felt like we should just cut our loses and run. But underdogs never give up, they never throw in the towel, they always have hope leading them on. I mean that’s what being an underdog is all about isn’t it? It’s about having hope even when everyone else has given up all hope. It’s about believing in yourself and God when everyone else chooses to throw in the towel.

Take David for instance. Here’s a guy who by the worlds standards never had a chance when he went up against Goliath. I mean Goliath was huge, he was over 9 feet tall. His armor and his helmet alone weighed about 125 pounds. That’s probably more than what David weighed soaked and wet. The shaft of Goliath’s mighty spear weighed another 15 pounds. This is crazy! Who in their right mind would even want to take a shot at this giant Philistine.

Goliath would come out every day for 40 days and shout at the Israelites mocking them and how did they respond? verse 11 says Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. They wanted nothing to do with this giant.

Luckily for the Israelites David enters the scene. David was a man who feared know one, except God that is. He knew that it was God who determined the victor not man. It’s hard to believe that of all the people who would dare to stand up against the giant it would be a lowly inexperienced shepherd boy. I mean other than protecting some sheep in the field from wild animals his resume was pretty small. It’s not like he had a long list of past experiences he could fall back on. Yet he got the job to take on this Philistine.

The king offered David his best armor but David was so young and small that he could hardly move with it on. Instead he decided he was going to take on this giant with God as his shield and protector. He didn’t need any armor because God was going to fight for him, God was going to give him the victory. I love his words in verse 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

If only we could have as much faith as David did when we face our giants. If only we believed that God could help us overcome any obstacle like David. We know what God has done in the past, we’ve seen what he can do in the present, why do we doubt what he can do in the future. He’s the same God yesterday, today and always.

The problem is that we are not the same as we were yesterday, today, and always. We allow our faith to falter, we get out of step and out of touch with God and we like the Israelites get scared when the giants come on the scene. The giants only look big when we allow our God to become a small part in our lives. When you’re not giving God the time he deserves then be sure that even the smallest of giants can look GIGANTIC.

1 Samuel 17:46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

Thanks to Rob Heverling (robhev (at) yahoo.com) for graciously sharing this with us for the website. Drop this brother in Christ an email and let him know you appreciate him!

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Devotional

3 Nails + 1 Cross = Salvation 4 All

March 18, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

3 Nails + 1 Cross = Salvation 4 All

by Robbie Heverling
Used by Permission

John 3:16-18 “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

One of the things I remember most about going to my grandma’s house as a kid was a picture she had on the wall. It was an old picture of Jesus on the cross. There was no one else in the picture just Jesus hanging there on the cross. The sky was black like smoke and his body a pale white as he hung there in his loin cloth. You could see no blood because let’s face it nobody is going to hang a picture of a bloody Jesus in their house. He looked all alone as he hung on that cross. He looked as though everyone had deserted him. His body just hung there lifeless. The price had been paid and not one person knew enough or understood enough to know what had just happened. They still didn’t get it, they wouldn’t get it…that is not until Sunday.

I myself didn’t get it for years, I mean I knew that it was Jesus on the cross, I knew that he died on the cross, I knew that’s what we celebrated every Easter but for some reason I just didn’t get it. I didn’t understand any of it. Why did he die?

It’s funny because through the years I find that I’m not the only one who doesn’t get it, there or others. I have talked to many of people, people at work, people on the street, people who go to church and people who do not, and I ask them “Why do you think Jesus died on the cross?” and like me when I was younger a lot of them don’t know. One women told me she went to church faithfully with her parents when she lived at home and when I asked her that question she looked at me and said “honestly I don’t know, why did he die?”

I have to admit I was thrown by her answer. I mean sure I didn’t know but then again I never went to church as a kid. How could this happen? How can a person spend most of their life going to Church and miss the whole reason why we even go to Church? I mean Jesus dieing on the cross and Jesus rising from the dead is the whole reason we go to church. There wouldn’t even be a church anywhere, if these two events recorded in history would have never happened.

It was several years ago when I learned why he died on that cross. You see he came to die for us. We were lost in our transgressions and sin and the bible says that the penalty for sin is death. We were supposed to pay for our own sins and the payment was supposed to be our very lives. We were to be separated from God for all eternity in Hell because we chose sin over the creator. But it was at this moment while we were still in sin that God really showed his love for us. He did the unthinkable, He sent his son Jesus to die in our place. He allowed Him who knew no sin to become sin for us so that we could be restored to God. Jesus became sin for us, he carried all the sins of the world to that cross, he allowed himself to be beaten, slapped, punched, and whipped so badly that his flesh hung off him like tassels. He was beaten so badly that if you looked at him you wouldn’t recognize him.

The picture of Jesus hanging on the cross at grandmas house was a nice picture of the death of Jesus yet it fails to even come close to showing the true price that was paid. Imagine yourself suffering for something you didn’t do, imagine being punished brutally, then imagine yourself being led to your own execution. Jesus didn’t imagine it, He lived it for you. Then as if the beatings and the floggings weren’t enough they made him carry his cross through the streets in front of everyone to the place where he would be executed.

The fact that he was even able to carry the cross after everything he already went through blows my mind, but he did. I wonder what kind of thoughts went through his mind as he saw the place of the Skull (or the place where he would be executed) approaching in the distance. Did he still dread it or because of the pain and suffering that he was going through did he look forward to it? Did he see the end in sight or did he fear the nails. Just a little more suffering, a little more pain and it would be over, surly he wanted it to be over. When he got to the skull they threw the cross on the ground and laid Jesus bloodied body on it. I’m sure that because of the beating he took and the shock he was in there was no fighting what was next. They placed the nail at his wrist and with a loud ring you could hear the hammer strike a piercing blow. His body cringing from the pain. Again they did the other wrist and then the feet. How could they not know what they were doing?

They had the son of God right in front of them and they missed him. He walked with them, talked with them, healed them,and forgave them. He did everything he could to prove to them who he was while he lived and what did they do in return, they spit on him as he hung on the cross, they insulted him and gambled for his clothes. As Jesus hung on the cross the pain had to be unbearable. The nails pushing against the nerves in the wrists had to feel like hot metal. Slowly he would pull himself up just long enough to get some air causing searing pain in the wrists because of the nails. Then he would allow his body to fall back down to rest his shoulders from holding all the weight of his body all the pressure now being placed on the feet. For hours he repeated these motions slowly up for air, slowly down for rest until he became so tired he could no longer pull himself up again. He hung there suffering and suffocating for you and me, paying the ultimate price for our salvation. One life for the lives of many but none of this means anything if your not willing to come to the cross and see the price that has been paid. He paid it all, he did all the work, all you have to do is believe.

Romans 4:7-8 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

Romans 10:8-13 ‘But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”‘

If you would like to receive the free gift of salvation that God has to offer pray this prayer

Dear Lord,
I know that I’m a sinner, and my sin separates me from you. Because you love me, you sent your Son Jesus to pay the penalty for my sin by dieing on the cross. Please forgive me of my sin. I except your free gift of salvation, please come into my life and help me to live for you. Amen

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