In Love

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 John 1-13

TO CHEW ON: "I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." 2 John 5-6

To “walk in love” means different things to different people. To some it means having a crush on a special person. To others it means having a best friend who is always there for you. To still others it means constant reminders of someone’s love in the form of gifts and nice things.

But really loving each other is not nearly as soft and fuzzy as the things above would make us think. It’s all about choices. It’s about not doing the unloving thing and doing the loving thing. It’s about actions. It's about loving things that we do whether or not we feel loving.

I Corinthians 13:1-13 tells us some of the difficult things a person who lives a loving life does or doesn’t do. Which ways to “walk in love,” below, are hard for you?

• Being patient
• Not being rude
• Being kind
• Not getting angry
• Not boasting
• Protecting others
• Not being proud
• Trusting others
• Not looking after my own interests first
• Being hopeful (positive)
• Not remembering bad things done to me (holding a grudge)
• Not giving up (persevering)
  

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me with (name the things you chose, above). Help me to make a habit of walking in love. Amen.

MORE: Love Lessons


Name one person whom you find easy to love.

What love attitudes and actions (from the list above) do you see in their lives?

What can you learn from them?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 

Read the Book!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

TO CHEW ON: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

Have you ever had a toy that needed putting together, or a complicated watch or camera? It came with an instruction book, right? That book had all the information you needed to put the toy together, to set the watch, or take photos with the camera. It’s a lot easier to understand how something works by reading the book than trying to figure it out yourself.

As Christians we have an instruction book too. It’s the Bible.

The Bible is no ordinary book. Though sections of it were written hundreds of years apart, and by many different people, it fits together and never gets outdated. Each part is necessary and useful in some way.

Some parts tell us stories about how God worked in the past. Some show us what God is like. Some help us to pray and worship. Some tell us the story of Jesus. And many parts tell us how to live in ways that please God.

If you haven’t been reading the Bible for yourself, give it a try. Start with the book of John – a book that’s all about Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for Scripture - the Bible. Please help me to hear it, understand it and obey it. Amen.


MORE: Life’s FAQs
Does the Bible have answers for life’s Frequently Asked Questions?
Below are some. Look up the bible references, then match each one to the question it answers:

1. How can I break bad habits?
2. What do I do when I’m afraid?
3. How do I handle worry (anxiety)?
4. What attitude should I have toward money?
5. How do I answer an angry person?
6. How can I know God?
7. What will happen to me after I die?


A. 1 Timothy 6:9-10
B. Proverbs 15:1
C. 1 Peter 5:7
D. John 11:25
E. Philippians 4:13
F. Psalm 56:3
G. John 14:6


ANSWERS

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Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Nesting Thoughts

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Philippians 4:4-9

TO CHEW ON: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4:8

You’ve probably heard the proverb, “You can’t stop a bird from landing on your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair.”


Our thoughts are a lot like that bird. The first time a thought occurs to us is like the bird sitting on our head. We can’t help that it landed there but we can choose what happens after that. We can choose to invite the thought to stay by thinking about it more, or shoo it away by replacing it with a better thought.

For example, suppose you stop by your best friend Jessica’s house to walk her to school. Her Mom tells you that she’s already left with Danielle. Immediately you have the thought: “Danielle’s trying to steal my friend.”

Now you have a choice. Do you encourage that jealous thought by telling yourself things like:

• I never could trust Jessica.
  
• Next time I see Jessica and Danielle I'll give them a piece of my mind.

Or do you replace it by thinking things like:

• I don’t know everything about the situation (truth thoughts).
• I can have more than one good friend (right thoughts).
  
• I don’t own Jessica - she needs to be free to walk to school with anyone she likes (noble thoughts).

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to recognize thoughts that don’t please You. Then help me to replace them with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Amen.



MORE: Thought-provoking
We can do something about the thoughts that come to us. Which activities below may lead to good thoughts? Which do you believe would lead to bad thoughts?



1. Go on chat rooms where people post put-downs.

2. Memorize Bible advice about your thoughts.

3. Read Christian fiction and stories of famous people who loved God (biographies).

4. Watch every new movie that comes out.

5. Listen to music with God-honoring lyrics.

6. Hang around with kids who swear.

7. Play violent video games.

8. Spend time online at Christian web sites for kids your age.

9. Go to church, Sunday School and club.


You might want to memorize today's TO CHEW ON verse. It's a good way to remind yourself about the thoughts to encourage and the ones to shoo away.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

- Philippians 4:8

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Dressed for War

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 6:10-18

TO CHEW ON: "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Ephesians 6:11


Why would anyone choose to wear a hot bullet-proof vest, a stiff camouflage uniform, a heavy helmet, weighty steel-toed boots, an uncomfortable gas mask and on top of all that carry a cumbersome weapon and ammunition? Only someone who needed a lot of protection - like a soldier in war.


Everything a soldier wears helps protect him from the enemy. His camouflage uniform makes it easy for him to hide. His helmet, vest and boots protect his head, chest and feet. His gas mask filters out poison or germs from the air. His weapon helps him defend himself or even take more land for his country.

Christians have to be just as prepared to fight against the devil. But what exactly are we fighting against? (Ephesians 6:12) We are not fighting against a]_____ but against the b]_____, against the c]_____ against the d]_____ and against the e]_____.

"The Armor of God" - Artist unknown, Lillie A. Faris, Standard Bible Story Readers, 1925-28

It sounds scary. But God gives us spiritual armor to use. What part of your armor have you put on by doing the following (Ephesians 6:14-17):
1. Do you live by truth not lies and deceit? _____
2. Are you careful to live in ways that are right? _____
3. Are you willing and eager to tell people about Jesus? _____
4. Are you trusting that God is with you and is helping you? _____
5. Have you asked Jesus into your life and accepted salvation? _____
6. Do you love and memorize God’s word? _____

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to put on Your armor and then live in alertness, always ready to ask for Your help. Amen.

MORE: Dress Protected
War isn’t the only time people need to wear clothing that protects them. Match the protective clothing with the people who would wear it.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
1. Padding to protect much of the body, and a helmet. ____

2. A suit that covers every part of your body and face, and gloves. ____

3. A pressurized body suit which provides you with oxygen. ____

4. A net over your face and neck, a coverall and gloves. ____

5. A mask covering your mouth and nose, a gown and gloves. ____

PEOPLE NEEDING PROTECTION
A. Beekeeper
B. Doctor or Nurse
C. Astronaut
D. Scientist in a germ lab
E. Hockey or Football Player

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Thorn

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

TO CHEW ON: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9


Do you or someone you know have any of the following:

- crooked teeth    
- epilepsy          
- poor hearing
- diabetes
- poor eyesight

These are what Paul might have called a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). You know that a thorn poking into you won’t kill you. But it hurts just the same. When there's a thorn in your shoe and you're trying to walk it's annoying, always there, and not easy to ignore.


What’s your thorn? Perhaps it’s something you were born with like an oddly shaped nose or ears that stick out. Maybe it has come as a result of treatments for a disease like cancer. Maybe for as long as you can remember, you’ve had diabetes or epilepsy. You can live with your problem, but it interferes with what you’d like to do and makes you feel like an oddball.

What do you do about thorns? You may be tempted to feel sorry for yourself, whine and complain. Or you may avoid others and hide your problem so you won’t get teased and made fun of.

Paul did two things about his thorn. First he 1.______________________ (2 Corinthians 12:8). He knew that God had the power to take his thorn away.

"For this thing I besought the Lord," by Charles J. Staniland

When God answered ‘no,’ Paul determined to 2._______________________ (2 Corinthians 12:9,10) . He did this because he knew when he succeeded in spite of his problem, God would get the credit.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I bring my thorn to You. I pray You will take it away, or show Your power through me if Your answer is ‘no’. Amen.


MORE: Living With Thorns
1. If you or someone you know has a serious illness or condition (like cancer or epilepsy or diabetes), find out all you can about it.

2. If it’s your friend who is in this situation, put yourself in their place. What are some things you could do for them to make their thorn easier to live with.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Way Out

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Corinthians 10:6-13

TO CHEW ON: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." I Corinthians 10:13


Temptations come in a variety of ways and at different times.

If you’re writing a test at school, are you tempted to sneak a peak at someone else’s answers. If you’re in the store, are you tempted to slip something from the shelf into your pocket? If you’re hanging out with friends, are you tempted to go along with the crowd, even if what they’re doing is wrong? What tempts you? ______________


Paul wrote two letters to the church in Corinth. In the first one (1 Corinthians), he talked about temptation. He explained how, when we’re tempted, sometimes it seems impossible to resist. But God has promised to give us something – what is it? (I Corinthians 10:13)
__________________________

Dealing with temptation involves at least two things:
1. Realizing that what you face is a temptation.
2. Remembering that you don’t have to give in to temptation. With God’s help you can find a way out.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me be alert to temptation and the way out of temptation. Amen.


MORE: Temptation Exits
What things below might be “a way out” of temptation for you?

- Close your eyes or look the other way.
- Leave.
- Just say "no."
- Change your activity to get your mind off the tempting thing.
- Remind yourself, Jesus sees everything you do.
- Pray.
- Be quiet and say nothing.
- Speak up, even if it takes a lot of courage.
- Say a Bible verse you’ve memorized.

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The War Inside Me

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 7: 14-25

TO CHEW ON: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Romans 7:15

What happens when someone says, “Close your eyes and don’t peek”? Do you have a big urge to open your eyes and DO exactly what you’ve been told NOT TO DO?



That seems to be what happens when you concentrate on the things God tells you not to do. You know that disobeying our parents, stealing, lying and being jealous are things God tells you not to do. But have you ever found that the more you concentrate on those ‘don’ts’ the more you find yourself doing them?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul talked about the way people tend to act and feel this way. It is what makes it more natural for us to disobey God than obey Him. Later we feel sorry that we did what God said we shouldn't.

How do we escape from this circle of knowing we shouldn’t do something but doing it anyway? Paul gives us the answer.



Write the last words from Romans 7:25 in the blanks below:

“Thanks be to God – through ____________ __________ ____________ ____________.”

Some things that will help you escape the cycle of sinning:

A. Admit your sin to yourself and to God.
B. Ask God to forgive you.
C. Ask the Holy Spirit to alert you to when you take the first steps toward sin.
D. Ask Jesus to change you from the inside.

PRAYER: Dear God, Your power to change me helps me break habits of sinning. Thank you! Amen.



MORE: What If You Sin?
What things should you do when you sin? What things shouldn’t you do?

1. Get down on yourself and be discouraged for a few days.

2. Admit and confess your sin to God.



3. Memorize Bible verses that remind you of what pleases God.

4. Give up, because living for God is too hard.

5. Apologize to people you’ve hurt or wronged.

6. Accept God’s forgiveness and love.


ANSWERS




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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jailed

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 28:11-16; 30-31

TO CHEW ON: "Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 28:31

Three months after the shipwreck Paul, his guards and companions set sail again. Soon they arrived in Rome. When they got there, the soldiers took Paul to a house.

"Arrival at Rome" by Johann C. Weigel, 1695

For two years he had to stay in that house with someone guarding him all the time.

"Paul preaches at Rome under guard" - Artist unknown

Even though he was a prisoner, Paul didn’t whine, sulk or feel sorry for himself. What did he do? (Find the words for the blanks in the word bank below - Acts 28:31)

He __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of __ __ __ and __ __ __ __ __ __ about __ __ __ __ __

God   Jesus

preached   kingdom

taught

You are probably not in a physical prison. But some things can make you feel as trapped as if you were. Things like being sick, being bullied, and failing at school can have you hoping and praying to be set free.

What is your prison? Pray that God will be with you, that you will feel Him beside you and that you will be set free!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please be with me even when I’m in a place where I’d rather not be. Amen.

"And they pulled me up out of the well"
Illustrationsby Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

MORE: Bible Jailbirds
Paul was not the first person from the Bible to spend time in jail. Unscramble the names of these Bible characters and match them with their crime.

A. Caught and jailed after his hair was cut. __ __ __ __ __ __

B. Put in prison to silence them from talking about Jesus. __ __ __ __ __ & __ __ __ __

C. Jailed because his master’s wife lied about him. __ __ __ __ __ __

D. Accused of being a deserter and put in a dungeon. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

E. Jailed because he condemned King Herod for living with his brother’s wife. __ __ __ __


NOJH the Baptist (Matthew 14:3-4)
HEOJSP (Genesis 39:17-20)
HMRIEJEA (Jeremiah 37:11-16)
NSMOAS (Judges 16:20-21)
REEPT & HOJN (Acts 4:1-3)


ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Too Scared to Eat!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 27:27-44

TO CHEW ON: "Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” (Acts 27:34)

Have you ever been seriously scared or nervous? Perhaps it was the time your team had to play the championship game, or you had to perform a solo in a piano recital, or you were driving through a snowstorm and the car started sliding all over the road.

Our bodies respond to fear in a physical way. How does your body feel when you are nervous or afraid?

- You can’t eat.
- You get sick to your stomach.
- You feel shaky.
- You get a headache.
- Your hands get cold and clammy.
- Your face gets red.
- You bite your nails.

The 275 passengers with Paul had been in the storm for 14 days. They were terrified the whole time. Many of them hadn’t eaten anything and were growing weak.

"The Storm" by Johann C. Weigel, 1695

But Paul had heard from God. Now Paul told everyone on board to let go of the fear that upset their stomachs and to eat, for God had promised him no one would be hurt in any way.

God has promised to be with us in our storms as well. When we’re in the middle of them we too have a choice. We can choose to stay fearful, or to trust God and relax. And that means relax so completely that even our bodies will tell the difference.

(And did God’s word to Paul come true? It sure did!

The next morning someone saw land in the distance. Though the wind was still blowing strong, the sailors cut the anchors loose, hoisted the sail, and headed for the beach.

Before the boat got there, it hit a sandbar.

"But the ship hit a sandbar" - Illustration by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

As the pounding waves broke the boat into pieces, the centurion guarding Paul ordered everyone to swim for shore. Many grabbed onto planks or parts of the ship and paddled for their lives.

"Paul shipwrecked in a storm" by F. T. Lix

Everyone made it to land!)

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to relax in Your care for me. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Boats

Find out about boats in Bible times:

• What were they made of?

• How were they powered?

• How did sailors find their way (navigate)?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Storm

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 27:13-26

TO CHEW ON: "Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called a 'Northeaster,' swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.” Acts 27:14,15

At last Paul was getting his wish. He was on his way to Rome to appear before Caesar. Perhaps he was hopeful Caesar would rule that all the accusations the Jewish leaders had made against him were false.

"Paul heads to Rome" - Johann C. Weigel, 1695

Much of the trip had to be made by ship. The first part of Paul's voyage was smooth.

"Sailing the Mediterranean by ship" - Artist unknown (from H. D. Northrop's Treasures of the Bible - 1894).

But after the ship left Crete a storm came up. Quickly the sea became so fierce there was nothing the captain and crew could do. They were at the mercy of the wind and waves

Everyone was terrified. Everyone, that is, except Paul. Why was Paul not afraid? Acts 27:23-24 (Choose one):

1. An angel had told him they would all be saved.
2. He had a good eye for weather and could see the storm was breaking up.
3. God had told him he would be swallowed by a fish.

Sometimes we find ourselves in storms. They might be literal storms - a snowstorm, tornado or flood. Or they might be a bad thing that feels like a storm - an accident, sickness or death. God does not keep storms away from us. But like God was with Paul, he will be with us in our storms.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to trust You in every kind of storm. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Your Storms
1. What is the worst storm you’ve ever been in?
Describe it. How did you feel? What happened?

2. A “Storm Psalm” - Next time you are in a storm, read Psalm 91 to remind you that God can protect and save you.


ANSWERS



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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Never Too Young

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 23:12-22

TO CHEW ON: “Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, ‘Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.’” Acts 23:17

Have you ever thought you have to be grown up to be used by God? Perhaps Paul’s nephew felt that way. Then came the day he overheard a secret plan.

He heard forty Jewish men promising each other they wouldn’t eat or drink until they’d killed Paul. They would ask the Roman commander to bring Paul to a special place. They would hide along the road Paul would take. When Paul and the soldiers came by, they would pounce on Paul and kill him.

The boy went straight to Paul with news of this plot.

"Paul's nephew" - By Johann C. Weigel, 1695

Paul sent the boy to the commander, to tell him what he’d heard. As a result Paul was never sent to the meeting that day. Because his nephew did what he could, Paul’s life was saved.

Have you ever thought you were too young for God to use? You aren’t you know. God uses people of all ages. The main thing is be obedient and do the things He tells you.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You that You can use people of any age. Please use me today. Amen.


MORE: Bible Kids "Who Am I?"

Can you identify these Bible kids that God used? Use the names and references at the bottom to help you.

1. I talked to an Egyptian princess, offering to get a nurse for her baby brother.

2. I gave Jesus my lunch of loaves and fishes.

3. I killed a giant with a sling and stones.

4. I heard God speak and later told God’s message to Eli, the priest.

5. I told my mistress God’s prophet could heal her master Naaman of leprosy.



A. A Hebrew slave girl (2 Kings 5:1-14)
B. David (1 Samuel 17:48-50)
C. A boy in a crowd (John 6:9-13)
D. Miriam – a big sister (Exodus 2:7 & 15:20)
E. Samuel (1 Samuel 3)


ANSWERS



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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jail Joy

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 16:23-34

TO CHEW ON: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16:25

What things would fill you with joy?
1. Getting a new pet.
2. Winning a contest.
3. Being teased about being a Christian.
4. Finishing a hard job.
5. Being arrested for helping someone.

My guess is you didn’t choose 3. and 5. But Paul and Silas were joyful even after helping someone and being put in jail for it.

After the Philippi officials beat them, Paul and Silas were locked in a jail cell for helping the slave girl. But they didn’t get angry, complain, whine or grumble. Instead they prayed and sang hymns.

What happened next gave them even more reason for joy. An earthquake shook the jail. Their chains came loose. The doors flew open.

"Earthquake in the prison" - Sir James Thornhill

The jailer, afraid that everyone would escape, was ready to harm himself.

"Paul and Silas with the Jailer" - Artist unknown

But Paul and Silas didn’t run. Instead they calmed the desperate jailer and told him no one was going to escape.

Maybe Paul and Silas’s reaction to their beating made the jailor curious. Maybe the prayers they prayed and the songs they sang made him want to know their God. Because the jailer then asked them a strange question. What was it? (Acts 16:30) 1.______________________________________________

The Philippian Jailer - Artist unknown

The jailor and his family accepted Jesus that night and were baptized. Then he and his family were also filled with (Acts 16:34) 2. ______________ .

When we live for Jesus He gives us this unexplainable joy. Things around us might be falling apart. We might be in big trouble. But still, we are joyful because we know Jesus is with us. He takes care of us and gives us joy even in the middle of problems,

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You that the joy You give us is stronger than the things that go wrong in our lives. Amen.


MORE: Jails
- Find out about jails in Bible times
- Look at a picture of Philippian jail ruins which may be the prison where Paul and Silas were kept.


ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

From Problem to Praise

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 13:6-12

TO CHEW ON: "But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith." Acts 13:8

What happens on mission trips but problems?

Barnabas and Saul (from now on called Paul - Acts 13:8), were invited by one of Cyprus’s government officials, Sergius Paulus, to talk about God. But one of the servants, Elymas who was a sorcerer told his boss not to listen to them and not to believe in God.

Then the Holy Spirit showed Paul whose side Elymas was on. So Paul went to him and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right.” To prove God’s power was behind his words, Paul told Elymas he would go blind - and he did.

The Conversion of the Proconsul - By Raphael, 1515-1516

When Sergius Paulus saw God’s power, he believed in God. Isn’t it just like God to turn a problem into praise!

We should not be surprised if we get resistance when we’re telling people about Jesus. Satan, Jesus’ enemy and ours, doesn’t want people to know about Him or trust Him. But we don’t need to fear Satan or be silenced by problems he puts in our way. Instead, we can pray for wisdom to know how to react. We can also pray for God to turn our problem into praise.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to trust Your power when problems come against me. Amen.

MORE: Sorcerers and Sorcery
1. - Look up sorcerer in the dictionary.
- What is sorcery?
- Are there still sorcerers today?
- Some storybooks have characters who are sorcerers in them. What do you think about reading such books?

2. Continue drawing Paul’s trip on the map by drawing a line from Salamis to Paphos where this story happened.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Angel Jail-break

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 12:1-12

TO CHEW ON: "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." Acts 12:5

Peter was in big trouble. After King Herod killed James, he arrested Peter. For days Peter had been in a cramped, uncomfortable jail, chained and guarded by sixteen soldiers.

The night before Herod was going to put him on trial Peter was asleep in his cell. He was awakened by strange man shaking him. “Quick, get up and get dressed!” the man said. The cell was filled with light even though it was the middle of the night. Then his chains fell off.

Peter's miraculous escape from prison - Artist unknown

I must be dreaming Peter thought as he pulled on his clothes, wrapped his cloak around him, and followed the man out of the prison. It was not until he had walked a block or two and his companion disappeared that Peter realized - I’m not dreaming. This is real. I was just set free by an angel!


He went to the home of his friends. What had they been doing while he was in jail? _____________ (Acts 12:5)

What do you do when things are desperate?
- Call an ambulance or the police?
- Call a doctor?
- Call a lawyer?
- Start a petition?
- Start an email campaign?
- Pray?

When things are at their worst, when there’s no way out, when a bad ending is certain we can pray, just like the church prayed for Peter. The God who got Peter out of prison 2000 years ago is still our God today!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please remind me to invite You into all my desperate situations. Amen.

MORE: Angels
What do you think:
- Do angels exist?
- Have you ever seen one?
- Could you tell if someone was an angel and not just an ordinary person? How?

ANSWERS 

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Surprising Appearance

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 8:26-39

TO CHEW ON: "Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." Acts 8:35

Imagine you are an African government official. You are living shortly after Jesus died. You believe in God. In fact your boss, Queen Candace of Ethiopia, has just given you time off to worship Him in Jerusalem. Now you are on your way home. You’re reading more about God from a scroll (a Bible-time book of Scriptures) called Isaiah. The trouble is, it doesn’t make sense.

Suddenly a man appears beside your chariot. (But you’re on a desert road from Israel to North Africa. Where did he come from?)

"The Ethiopian Converted" - by O.A. Stemler & B.B. Cleaveland, 1925

He asks you what you’re reading. When you tell him you don’t understand it, he joins you in the chariot and explains it all as you ride along. He tells you the good news about Jesus. He even shows you that Jesus was the one you were reading about in the scroll.

He explains about getting baptized, and how it is a sign to you and others that you really believe in Jesus. When you pass by a desert oasis there is water and he baptizes you.

"Ethiopian Eunuch" by Johann C. Weigel, 1695

And then the stranger is gone – as mysteriously as he came.

This story shows us some pretty neat things about God. It shows:
1. God saw the Ethiopian man’s seeking heart and heard his questions.
2. God cared enough about him to send Philip to answer them.
3. God can break the laws of nature if He needs to.

The wonderful thing is we worship the same God. He still answers questioning hearts, sometimes in miraculous ways. Do you have questions about God, life and what’s happening to you? Ask Him to help you understand.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You that You see and answer the questions of seeking hearts. Amen.

MORE: SUPER-NaturalSometimes God breaks the laws of nature - of space, time and gravity (like He did when He took Philip to the desert and then transported him away from it). Match these SUPER-natural events, below, with the people involved:

" ______ and a Blind Man" - Artist unknown

1. The sun’s shadow moved backward (2 Kings 20:10,11)
2. A man with leprosy was healed by bathing in a river (2 Kings 5:14)
3. Someone healed blind eyes with mud (John 9:1-7)
4. A walking stick turned into a snake (Exodus 7:8-10)
5. An iron axe head floated on water (2 Kings 6:1-6)
6. Sea water piled up to form a wall (Exodus 14:22)

A. Israelites
B. Aaron
C. Elisha
D. Hezekiah
E. Naaman
F. Jesus


ANSWERS


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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

From Bad to Good

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 8:1-8

TO CHEW ON: "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." Acts 8:4.

Have you ever had to move because it wasn’t safe for you to live in your old home any more? That’s what happened to the followers of Jesus after Stephen’s death. Everyone, from people in government to neighbors, was out to get them. They were threatened, arrested, and many more were killed.

So they moved to other places in Judea and Samaria. Now there were no more big gatherings in the Jerusalem temple court. The large praise meetings stopped. There was hardly anyone left to go to the prayer gatherings and potluck dinners. Because of persecution the Christians left Jerusalem and were scattered all around.

"Conversions of the Samaritans" - Matthias Scheits, 1972

But they didn’t stop talking about Jesus. Everywhere they went, they spread the good news. Jesus had died for sins. People could be friends with God again. Everyone could live in Holy Spirit power. People could look forward to heaven when they died.

"Philip at Samaria" - Artist unknown, 1573

Many heard, and accepted Jesus. In a Samaritan city where Philip went , he explained about God’s power and people were healed. It brought joy to the whole city. Because of a bad thing – persecution – a good thing happened – more people heard about Jesus and accepted Him.

God can still bring good things out of bad. Your sickness and time spent in hospital may mean you get to tell your roommate about Jesus.

A flood in your city might help you meet people in a shelter who become lifelong friends.

Ask God to help you see even bad things as good gifts from Him.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You can bring good things out of bad. Help me to trust You for this in my life. Amen.

MORE: Your Bad to Good
- Name some bad things that have happened to you.

- What good things came out of the bad?

- What bad things are you facing now?

- Will you trust God to bring something good out of those bad things?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.