3 MORE Reasons Why Jesus Is Better Than Santa

Devotion for teens on why Jesus is better than Santa

During the Christmas season last year we talked about three reasons why Jesus was better than Santa. However, we felt there had to be way more than three reasons Jesus was better than Santa. So here are three MORE reasons Jesus is better than Santa.

  1. Jesus gives better gifts. Sorry Santa, Jesus has got you beat in the gift department. Santa gives gifts that wear out and get old. Jesus gives us gifts that last forever. His gifts include eternal life, healing, peace, love and joy to name a few. These gifts don’t wear out, get old or need a gift receipt. The gifts that Jesus gives can change your life.
  2. Getting on Jesus’s nice list is easier than getting on Santa’s. Santa’s nice list is all about the things you do. Its about being a nice person and doing good things. If you do enough good things, then you’ll be placed on Santa’s nice list and get presents. Jesus does things differently. To get on Jesus’s nice list, you don’t have to work hard and do good things, you simply have to believe in Jesus and confess him as your Lord.“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
  3. Jesus is what Christmas is all about. Sorry Santa, you are cool and your red suit is awesome, but Christmas is all about Jesus. This holiday is all about celebrating our savior, who came to the earth as a baby. His teachings, his life, and his sacrifice on the cross brought us salvation. Santa is a great guy, but he’s not the reason we celebrate. Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas!

This Christmas season, don’t forget to give thanks for what Christmas is really about, Jesus. Jesus is why we celebrate. He’s the reason we give gifts, sing songs, and eat way too much! Jesus is the best gift you can give this Christmas season. So as you’re getting together with friends and family, take time to find out if the people you love and care about have accepted Jesus as their savior. If they haven’t, this is a great time for you to give them the opportunity. Don’t be afraid this Christmas season to share what Christmas is really about, Jesus.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wanted to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. Here at StudentDevos, we have so much to be thankful for. We’ve got an awesome God that we serve, friends, family, and of course lots of great food to enjoy over a Thanksgiving meal.

We’d also like to say how thankful we are to have great readers like you that encourage us to keep writing devotions. Thanks for your support. We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 

4 Things to Learn From Sarah

Teen Devotion on the Faith and Life of SarahDo you remember hearing about Sarah in Sunday school? Or maybe you’ve read the story about her in the Bible. She might seem kind of lame because she lived so long ago and you might feel that its hard to relate to her life and story. However, Sarah’s life can teach us four important lessons.

1. Sometimes you have to give things up. Sarah had to give some things up. She was living in the land of Ur. She probably had a nice house. She had friends, family and probably a few awesome places she liked to shop. She was probably very comfortable where she was. But then something crazy happened. God lead her husband Abraham to leave the country they lived in and told Him to go to the land He promised Abraham. What that meant for Sarah was saying goodbye to all her friends and family. Can you imagine how hard would that be? She had to leave everyone she knew and travel to this land that God provided.
The great thing is that Sarah did it. She gave up what was comfortable around her to seek God’s plan for her and her husband’s life. She chose to follow after God and not after stuff. And she is an awesome example we can look up to in regards to trusting God.

2. Its okay to doubt. God told Sarah that she would have a child. Not that big of deal, except for the fact that Sarah was 90 at the time. She was way past the age to have kids. Sarah went to far as laughing out loud when she heard the news that she would have a baby.
This is encouraging because it shows us its okay to have doubts. Its how you channel those doubts that is important. For example, sometimes when God leads us or directs us, we can have a moment where we doubt what God says. We might think that its impossible. But we shouldn’t stay in the place of doubt.
The good news is that Sarah didn’t continue doubting. She might have doubted at first, but then she chose to believe what God said. Because she believed God, she had the baby just like God had said.
By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said.  – Hebrews 11:11 (Message)

3. Following God isn’t always easy, but its always worth it.
Most likely, Sarah would have enjoyed taking the easy route. She could have avoided living in tents for lots of years. She could have enjoyed getting to live in an awesome house, but she decided instead to trust God and go for an eternal reward for serving Him.
Hebrews 11:9 – By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. (Message)
Sarah knew that by trusting God, she would get awesome rewards. She put aside comfort and trusted in God. God rewarded her with a son and become an ancestor of Jesus. Many times following after God isn’t the easiest option. The good news is that following after God always brings great rewards.

4. Never leave your wingman.
Sarah proved that she was faithful. She had the opportunity to be a queen. Pharoah liked her and wanted her to be his wife. However, Sarah stayed with Abraham. She stayed faithful when it might have been easier to say yes to a home, riches and being a queen. Despite all that, Sarah stayed by Abraham’s side.
It might be easier at times to not stay with the people or church that God has put into your life. It might seem like it would be easier to just ditch those people. However, there are benefits to being faithful. Sarah’s life proves that. Stick with the people that God has placed in your life.

These are just four things that can be learned from the life of Sarah. She was an awesome woman that trusted God and paved the way for Jesus to be born. She trusted God when it might not have always been what was comfortable or felt easy. So the next time you happen to read the story of Sarah, don’t just skim over it, but realize that she was an amazing woman who did great things for God!

What Pop Tarts Teach Us About Friendships

Teen Lesson on Friendships

Pop Tarts are one of the best foods on the planet! Whoever created them was a genius. From the frosting to the filling, Pop Tarts are just plain awesome. Did you realize that the yummy goodness of Pop Tarts could teach you about friendships?

One great thing about Pop Tarts is that there isn’t just one flavor to choose from. There are tons of filling flavors. There are Strawberry, Cookie Dough, Blueberry, Cherry, Hot Fudge Sundae and S’Mores just to name a few.  Just like Pop Tarts, there are tons of varieties of friendships. Some are really deep and will last a lifetime. Others are just fun and for the week of Spring break. Its easy at times to be frustrated with a friendship. You might wish that it was more meaningful, or something was different about that friendship. Instead of becoming unhappy with the friendships you have, you can cheer yourself up by realizing that like Pop Tarts, friendships come in lots of different flavors. It would be silly to get upset over the fact that your Cherry Pop Tart wasn’t a S’More flavored one. Yet, lots of times we do that in friendships. We get mad that our friendship isn’t the way we want it to be. Rather than getting upset, choose to be grateful for the friendships you have.

I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with whatever happens. – Phil 4:11 b (ERV)

Another great thing about Pop Tarts is that they’re wrapped in foil. This keeps the pastry fresh for when you’re ready to eat it. That’s a lot like friendships. Friendships sometimes take time to unwrap. It may take some time to discover the true friends that you have around you. Never get frustrated feeling like you don’t have anyone or any true friends. Perhaps its just time for you to look around in your life for someone that could be a friend that you need to unwrap so to speak and get to know. Friendships take time to develop. Don’t become discouraged if it takes you a bit to find some true friends in your life.

Pop Tart flavors come and go. Some flavors have been retired. Other flavors are just used for an anniversary or birthday of Pop Tarts. New flavors of Pop Tarts come out from time to time. The same is true of friendships. Some friendships go. While it isn’t always easy in seasons when it doesn’t feel like you have lots of friends, you can take comfort in the fact that there are seasons in life. Some seasons you find that you have more friends than others. Don’t become discouraged when you feel that you have fewer friends. Its just a part of life. Other seasons of your life, you will have more friends. Just choose to have a good attitude and not let the seasons of life get your down.

Finally, if you’re in need of friends, know that God is always there. He’s a friend that will never leave you. If you need to talk, get things off of your shoulders, you can go to God. He’s always ready to listen and bring you comfort.

Just like Pop Tarts, friendships are an awesome part of life. They both bring lots of flavor and fun to our lives. Choose to enjoy both friendships and maybe even a Pop Tart this week!

Track 3 (Lesson #1) – Why Read The Bible?

Discipleship Track 3 (Lesson #1) – Why Read The Bible?

It seems that many people are in love with Jesus. They want to follow Him with their whole heart. However, part of following Jesus is getting to know the Word. To really follow Jesus, you’ve got to get excited about and become besties with the Word.

Main Points

  • Scripture makes you wise
  • The Words in the Bible are inspired by God himself
  • Reading the Bible helps you be equipped for what God has called you to do
  • The Bible shows us right from wrong

Growth Scriptures

Read these awesome scriptures about God’s word that help you see the importance of becoming a bestie with the Word.

Youth Leader Resources

If you’re a youth leader and would like to use this discipleship track for your youth group, download our Youth Leader Resource pack for this lesson! It comes with promotional material, a lesson outline based on the video above, powerpoint slides and discussion questions. This pack is a sure fire way to get your youth group established in the Word!

 

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Track 3 (Lesson #2) – What Makes The Bible Different?

Track 3 (Lesson #2) – What Makes The Bible Different?

Its important to become besties with the Word. The Bible isn’t a history or self-help book, but it has the power to change your life. Challenge yourself to get into reading the Bible and fall in love not just with Jesus but also with the Word of God.

Main Points

  • The Bible was written by many different people but still has the same theme (God’s plan to redeem or buy man back)
  • The Words in the Bible are inspired by God
  • The Bible has the power to change your life!

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Growth Scriptures

Here are a few scriptures that show what makes the Bible different.

Youth Leader Resources

If you’re a youth leader and would like to use this discipleship track for your youth group, download our Youth Leader Resource pack for this lesson! It comes with promotional material, a lesson outline based on the video above, powerpoint slides and discussion questions. This pack is a sure fire way to get your youth group established in the Word!

 

Are You Stuff-y? – Part Two

teen-stuff-devotionIts easy to get caught up in the pursuit of stuff. You may think that if you made the football team, life would be perfect. Or if you could just wear the right clothes, people would really see how great you are. Maybe you think that if you had a car then you’d be set because you could at least get away from your parent’s house and their rules.

Its crazy how easy it is to get trapped in the pursuit of stuff. Stuff really rules our lives a lot of the time. We make choices many times based on stuff. For example, you may choose to study to be a doctor at college because it pays more. Or maybe you choose hang out with certain friends and ignore others at school based on the stuff they have.

If most of us were honest, we would probably have to admit that stuff plays a huge role in our lives. It affects the job we take, the friends we have and many times it interferes with our happiness. We’re happy when we get a new thing, or mad because we don’t have enough stuff.

The book of Proverbs talks about something that is way better than stuff. Proverbs talks about wisdom and how wisdom is way better than stuff.

For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can compare with it. – Proverbs 8:11 (HCSB)

The thing that is better than stuff is wisdom. Proverbs 8 talks a lot about how great wisdom is. But what really is wisdom?

According to Merriam-Webster wisdom is: knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life. The natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand. Knowledge of what is proper or reasonable : good sense or judgment.

All of those things sound great. Being able to understand things that most other people can’t understand sounds awesome. And having good sense or judgement would be great too. The Bible encourages us to not seek stuff but rather seek wisdom. Its when we seek God and ask Him for wisdom that we can be truly rich and truly happy.

Decide this week to not just be consumed with getting stuff, but rather choose to ask God for wisdom. Ask God for wisdom in dealing with that tough teacher at school. Ask God for wisdom to understand your chemistry assignment. Ask God for wisdom when trying to decide which car to buy or what job to take. Getting God’s wisdom and help in life will make you a success.

Pray: God, I ask you for wisdom. I need your help and guidance in making decisions. I ask you to give me wisdom this week. I choose to not go after stuff but to go after wisdom. I know that as I do that, you will help me to become a success at life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Track 3 (Lesson #3) – What’s In It For Me?

Track 3 (Lesson #3) – What’s In It For Me?

In almost everything we do in life, we want to know what’s in it for me. We don’t just do things to do them, we want to know what the benefit is for ourselves. This discipleship lesson takes a look at what is in it for us in terms of reading the Bible.

Main Points

  • Reading the Bible makes us wise and successful.
  • Reading the Bible keeps us from sinning.
  • Reading the Bible shows us who God is.
  • Reading the Bible shows us who we are.

What are some benefits you see to reading the Bible? We’d love to hear what you think!

Growth Scriptures

Here are a few scriptures that show what makes the Bible different.

 

Student Devos Recommends:

Living By The Book by Howard and William Hendricks.
This book has some awesome suggestions on ways to make reading the Bible more fun. It also makes reading the Bible seem way less overwhelming!

 

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sharing your faith

How to share your faith with others

It can be a scary thing to share your faith in Jesus with people. There can be lots of reasons why you might be afraid to share your faith with others. You might think, if I share Jesus at school, people might laugh at me, or think I’m weird. Or perhaps you might think, I’d share my faith, but I don’t know what I would say. Maybe you think that you just don’t know enough about the Bible to share your faith.

So, with that in mind, here are some tips for sharing your faith with others.

  1. Fly your freak flag – be bold in what you believe.  People at school will actually respect you more if you stand up for what you believe.  If  you are confident in what you believe, even if people don’t understand why you believe the way you do, they will respect you for having the courage to stand up for your beliefs.
  2. What you know is enough – You don’t have to be a pastor or a Bible scholar to share your beliefs with others.  Acts 4:13 – “They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education.” (Message)
    Peter and John didn’t have 17 years of Bible school under their belts when they shared with others.  They had just been with Jesus and relied on God’s help when sharing with others. When sharing your faith with others, know that what you know is enough.
  3. Focus on your story – What has God done for you?  Share those experiences.  Your story of what God has done for you is powerful.  Never doubt the power of simply sharing who God is to you.  You can really encourage and influence others by simply sharing what you know.

Sharing your faith with others can be a little scary sometimes.  Always know that you can rely on the power of the Holy Ghost when sharing with others.  The Holy Spirit on the inside of you can give you the words to say and help you when you get stuck.  Rely on His help when sharing your faith with others.  You can make a difference in your world.  God really wants to use you to do great things for Him.  Start by sharing what he has done in your life with others!

For fun, listen to Revolution by Worth Dying For or My Future Decided by Hillsong United
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Little Black Book on How to Win a Friend to Christ (Little Black Books)
This is a great book if you don’t love reading. Its short and to the point and most importantly, its got some great pointers on how to lead a friend to Christ!
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What Ice Cream Can Teach Us About Peace

Youth Bible LEsson on PeaceIce cream has to be one of the best foods on the planet. It tastes so good. It doesn’t matter what flavor or what topping you put on it, ice cream just tastes amazing.

Ice cream is used a lot too as a comfort food. If you’ve had a bad day at school, you can rush home and find comfort by eating a bowl or two of ice cream. If you’ve just broken up with your boyfriend or girlfriend, a pint of ice cream is just what you need! Ice cream really comes in handy when you need a little bit of comfort during a difficult time.

Just like ice cream is an awesome comfort food, the Bible can bring us comfort when we are facing difficulty. The Bible tells us that Jesus gives us peace.

I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.” – John 14:27 (ERV)

Jesus gives us peace. Just like ice cream can bring us comfort when we’re upset, Jesus can bring us peace too. When tough times come, we can look to Jesus. He tells us we don’t have to be troubled or afraid. Jesus has not left us helpless and alone. We’ve got Him to walk life together with us.

So in the midst of tough times remember that you can look to Jesus for peace.  Remember that He told you that He left us peace. We don’t have to live our lives afraid of what might happen. We can look to Jesus for peace and find comfort in Him!

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