Browsing Tag

teenager

What Dodgeball Can Teach You About Reading the Bible

Posted on August 8, 2019

As a teenager, there is nothing more fun than taking a dodgeball and hurling it with all your might toward a player on the opposing team. Follow that up with the awesome feeling you get when that dodgeball produces that satisfying smack as it hits your target’s body. Playing dodgeball can be a lot of fun, but did you know that you can learn a lot about reading your Bible by playing dodgeball?

There’s A Goal

In Dodgeball, you have a goal. You have to hit as many of the other team’s players with a ball before they hit you and you’re out. We should approach reading the Bible that same way, with a focus and a goal. Reading the Bible shouldn’t be a boring aimless task, but it should have a purpose.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Phil 3:14 (NIV)

For example, you could read the Bible with the idea in mind that you want to know what God says about your future and the plans He has for your life. You could find verses in the Bible on that topic. Having a goal and a focus like this when reading the Bible helps it from becoming dull and boring.

The Game Changes You

Another thing that can be learned from dodgeball games is that the game changes you. When you start the game, you smell good and your clothes are nice and clean. Usually, by the end of the game, the players are sweaty, and they definitely don’t smell good.

In the same way, that is how we should be after reading the Bible. There is great power available to you in the Bible. It has the power to change your life. The words in the Bible can encourage you when you’re having a bad day. The Bible can also challenge you to be more than you ever imagined you could be. Reading the Bible will change you because the Bible has the power to change your life!

Heb. 4:12 “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective];” (AMP)

The Bible has power in it to change your life! Get into the habit of reading the Bible with a purpose and getting to know God through His word. If you do, it will change your life!

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Pray: God, I thank you for your word. I thank you that it is alive and full of power. I thank you that I can get to know you through your word. I purpose to make reading the Bible a priority in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Youth Group Discussion Questions – What Dodgeball Can Teach You About Reading the Bible
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How to Make Reading the Bible Less Overwhelming

Posted on November 30, 2015

Do you ever feel confused when you read the Bible? You’re not alone. Reading the Bible can be confusing at times. Its a spiritual book and the truths contained in it take time to dig out.

The good news when it comes to reading the Bible is that you’re not doing it alone. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will give special help to you and will be your teacher. He will show you truths as you read the Bible.

A good thing you can do to help you is to start thanking God for the Holy Spirit and His help in your life. Begin to believe that He will be your teacher and show you things.

As you start doing this, it will help make reading the Bible less overwhelming and will help you to understand what you’re reading easier when you realize that you’re not doing it alone. You have a helper and a teacher to help you navigate through Bible reading.

He will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. – John 16:13

So as you read the Bible, remember that you’re not doing it alone. You’ve got the help of the Holy Spirit to help you understand and show you things.

Thrive Teen Devotional: Take a Turn for God in Just 5 Minutes a Day One great way to make reading the Bible less overwhelming is to use a devotional book. Here’s one that we like!

If you’re a youth leader and you’re looking for resources to share on reading the Bible, here’s a great one for you!

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Why Words Are Like Legos

Posted on August 10, 2015

Did you ever play with Legos as a kid? I remember when I was growing up that playing with Legos was one of my favorite things to do. There wasn’t enough time in a day to build all the towers, houses and cars I wanted to build. I just loved building stuff with Legos.

In a way, the words that we speak each day are a lot like Legos. Our words can build or create new things. Each word we speak creates what we see each and every day.

The Bible says in Mark 11:23 that we can have whatever we say.

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. – Mark 11:23 (NKJV)

Our words build or create where we go in life, good or bad. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:21 that death and life are in the power of the tongue.

The words we speak build what we have today. If you don’t like what you’re seeing in your life, check up on what you are speaking each day. If you speak words of defeat, words that say you’re worthless, that you’re a mess, and that you’ll never amount to anything, that is exactly what you will build in your life. I encourage you to realize the power of your words and to make the decision to speak words that build good things in your life.

What you speak out sets the tone for your life – Joel Osteen

What a Thrown Away Apple Computer Can Teach Us About Value

Posted on June 3, 2015

Image Credit: Ed Uthman Wikimedia Commons

If you’ve been watching the news recently, you’ve seen some talk about an Apple computer that someone threw away. The crazy thing about the computer was that it was worth about $200,000. The computer the person threw away was one of the first Apple computers made and only about 50 of original computers exist still today.

The lady who threw the computer away didn’t realize the value of the computer. She thought it looked like junk and she discarded it. She had no idea she was getting rid of a $200,000 computer. View Article.

Lots of times this is a lot like how we view ourselves. We often get down on ourselves because of something dumb we said or did. We might not feel that we look the right way or have the right friends. This leads us to want to treat ourselves like junk, instead of realizing the true value we have.

See our value isn’t in what we do, what we wear or who we hang out with. Our true value comes when we realize what we’re worth. We find that worth in what the Bible says about us.

It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. – 2 Cor 3:5 (NLT)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. – Eph 2:10

The Bible has lots of great things to say about your value. You’re important and created to do good things. So when the feelings come that say you’re not worth much or that you’re junk, remember that to God you have great value.

God’s 4 Overlooked Lifehacks

Posted on March 2, 2015

Lifehacks are awesome! There is nothing better than finding a smarter or more efficient way to do something. One of the best lifehacks I’ve seen is one where you charge a phone without power using a watermelon. It sounds nuts, but its really impressive! I had no idea that a phone could be charged without power. That is just one of hundreds of examples of great lifehacks. Have you ever thought about the fact that God provides us with some lifehacks in the Bible?

God has come up with some great ways to make our lives easier. So let’s check out four of the lifehacks God offers us in his word.

Jesus. This is the most amazing lifehack God provides us with. See our sin keeps us from God. If we’ve sinned in anyway we can’t experience heaven or a relationship with God. God did what we were unable to do. He gave us Jesus who paid the price for our sins. Jesus is the ultimate lifehack. If we will believe that Jesus is Gods son and confess him as our Lord the Bible says we can have eternal life. That is great news. Jesus is the ultimate lifehack!
“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heartthat God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
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Love. It can be really hard to love someone who hasn’t treated you the right way. If someone has been mean to you the last thing on you mind is showing them love and kindness. However, God has you covered in this area. He’s provided you the love you need to be kind to others. The Bible says in Romans 5:5 God has put his love in our hearts.
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” – Romans 5:5 (NIV)
That means God has given you the love you need to be nice to those who give you a hard time or bully you. God gave you the lifehack of love.
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Tithing. Tithing is giving 10% of your income to your church. It might seem strange to give such a large part of the money you make to your church. However, it’s amazing how much God is able to bless you as you give. God has a way of providing in supernatural ways for you if you put Him first in your giving.
“The Lord All-Powerful says, “Try this test. Bring one-tenth of your things to me. Put them in the treasury. Bring food to my house. Test me! If you do these things, I will surely bless you. Good things will come to you like rain falling from the sky. You will have more than enough of everything.” – Mal 3:10
Tithing is an awesome lifehack. God tells us to give our money to Him not because he wants to take things from us, but because He wants to get more to us. Tithing puts you into partnership with God. If you choose to tithe you’ll be blessed beyond what you can imagine!
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Peace. Most people aren’t living with peace in their lives. They’re stressed out, wondering if they’ll be able to juggle all their priorities. They might be worried if the guy they like will ask them to prom, or if they’ll fail giving their Oral Comm speech. However, if you tap into God’s lifehack of peace, you don’t have to get stressed out like everyone around you. You can keep your cool, knowing that God is on your side. He’s not going to let you down.
If you put your trust in God, He will come through for you. He won’t leave you without hope or without comfort. You can find peace in knowing that the God of the universe is looking out for you!
“I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. – John 14:27 (NLT)
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God has provided some awesome lifehacks in the Bible. Don’t be afraid to tap into those hacks to get help. Doing things God’s way isn’t always what seems easy or makes sense, but if you follow after God He will reward your life richly!

Similar Teen Devotions

Tips For Dealing With Bullying

Posted on August 29, 2013

Bullying is becoming more and more common these days among teenagers. In fact, one in four kids in the U.S. are bullied on a regular basis according to bullyingstatistics.org. So more likely than not, you or someone you know has felt the effects of bullying.

So what are some things you can do to help combat bullying in your school?

Pray – it sounds absolutely crazy, but sometimes the best thing to do in these situations is to pray. Pray that God will give you wisdom to know how to deal with the situation. Pray for those who are bullying that God will open their eyes to see what it is they’re doing (Eph 3:17-23)
Love – this is super crazy. It does work. Walking in love is a great way to combat bullying. If you respond in love, it gives the bully no fuel to the fire. Kill them with kindness, it works.
Tell – If someone is being abused physically against their will, you are justified in telling a teacher, principal or faculty member at your school.

These are a few suggestions to help with dealing with bullying in your school. Never underestimate the power of praying for those who are bullying others. More than likely, the person bullying is really hurting inside. You might be the person that God could use to help heal them. You may even end up with the opportunity to lead them to Christ!

4 Scriptures That Will Change Your Life

Posted on August 26, 2013

Scriptures Can Change Your Life

It can seem kind of strange to think that reading some scriptures could actually change your life. You’re probably thinking, winning a million dollars or something like that could change my life, but some scriptures, probably not. You might be thinking the Bible is old and hard to understand…how could something like that change my life?

Well, believe it or not, the Bible has the power to change your life. In Hebrews it describes the word of God like this, “For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” – Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) The Word of God is powerful. It has the power to change things in your life.

One of the best decisions you can ever make is to spend some time getting to know what the Word of God has to say. It can literally change your life!

Here are some great places to start reading:[list type=”check”]

“What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
“For nothing is impossible with God.” “ – Luke 1:37 (NLT)
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1 (NLT)

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These are just a few suggestions to get you started reading the Word. There are many other good scriptures out there, so just start reading and you’ll find that as you spend time thinking about these scriptures they will become more exciting to you. They’ll stop just being boring words on a page, but will come alive to you.

Pray: God I thank you for your Word. I thank you that it is powerful and life changing. I ask for your help in reading the Bible. Help it to become more real to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen: Promises by Sanctus Real

Prayer Tip #2 – Don’t Pray Alone

Posted on August 14, 2013

Getting started praying can be tough at times. You might not feel like you know what to say to God or just feel a little silly praying in general. One way to make praying easier is to ask someone else to join your prayer time. The Bible gives us an example of this in Matthew.

When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. – Matthew 18:19 (Message)

This verse says God goes into action when we come together to pray. That’s exciting to think about, and shows us there is power when we come together to pray. The Bible shows us there is something special when people find a promise in the Bible and pray it out together.

When praying with someone, be careful to not pray alone with someone of the opposite sex. Prayer is a really cool thing, but praying alone with someone of the opposite sex can lead to some intense emotions and feelings. Rather than doing something you might later regret, avoid praying alone with the opposite sex.

Prayer is an awesome thing. So freshen up your prayer life by finding a good friend or mentor in your church or youth group that you can get together to pray with. The Bible says that God goes into action when we pray together.

Similar Devotions for Teens

How To Be a Nerd (Success at School)

Posted on May 29, 2013

You might really be questioning our sanity here at Student Devos by this post. How to be a nerd? Why would you want to be a nerd in the first place? Nerds are not cool, unless you’re talking about the candy. Then by all means be a nerd.

Being a nerd might not be your goal in life, but we do have some tips that might help you out with your school work. It probably wont make you a hardcore nerd, but at least it might help you out a little with your school work and grades.

Here’s our top 3 tips to nerdy bliss:

#1 – Show up. Yep. Not exactly groundbreaking there, but simply showing up for class every day will help improve your grades. Not only showing up physically(body in the seat) but show up mentally(mind there, listening to the teacher). Showing up every day is the #1 thing that will set you apart from others. No matter how boring the teacher might be or how much you’d rather talk to friends, showing up and paying attention in class makes a huge difference in your grades.

#2 – Do what’s asked. How many times have you watched someone do the wrong worksheet or the wrong problems on the assignment? It’s important to pay attention to the requirements given by your teacher. If you do what they ask, you are guaranteed to get better grades.

#3 – No slacking/excuses. If you didn’t do the homework, don’t make excuses about why it isn’t done. Just take responsibility. Own up to your actions and be proactive. If you know that for some reason you’re not going to get an assignment done, talk to your teacher. Find out if you can make up for it, or have an extension. If you’re really trying, your teacher will usually be glad to work with you.

These are our tips on how to be a nerd. Hopefully, you’ll be able to put some to use and get your nerd on!

Related Youth Resources

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How to Deal With Suicidal Thoughts

Posted on May 13, 2013

I remember many times as a teenager feeling worthless. I struggled with an extremely low self-esteem. I felt that no one really cared if I existed and I thought about taking my life at times.

I’m going to share with you a few things that I did to help me overcome thoughts of suicide.

I read the book, You Are God’s Best! by T.L. Osborn. I read this book over and over and over again. I had to feed myself with thoughts that I was important and that I mattered to God.
Everyday will be a battle. Everyday I was bombarded with thoughts that I didn’t matter, that I was ugly, gross and unimportant. I had to learn to not be so hard on myself and just accept who I was. It took me some time to develop a healthy picture of myself, so don’t get discouraged if it takes you a while.
Don’t fight alone! I tried to fight this battle alone. I did eventually overcome, but I think I would have had quicker results if I would have asked others for help. I could have had accountability and support when I was going through such a hard time.
Stay busy – Keep yourself busy. Get involved at your church. Ask if you can help out by cleaning or making copies. Help your neighbor lady plant her garden. Volunteer at the local food pantry. Do something to keep yourself busy. The more you stay isolated and alone, the more you will have to battle negative thoughts.
Ask God’s help – You aren’t built to do things in your own ability and strength. Rely on God. Ask Him for help, strength and wisdom to get through your day.

I want to encourage you that if you do struggle with thoughts of suicide, to take the scary step and ask for help. Talk to a teacher at school or a pastor at your church. They have resources that will help you fight this battle.

Finally, suicide is not a good solution to your problems. God has a special plan and purpose for your life. He’s got a unique plan for your life that only you can accomplish. When you think that your life doesn’t matter…that is a lie. It does. It matters to God and it matters to others even if it doesn’t feel like it at times.

Get yourself into God’s word and get yourself some help from a trusted adult and you’ll be on your way to overcoming the battle of suicidal thoughts!

Listen: Gold by Britt Nicole

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