Browsing Tag

teenager

The Skinny on New Shoes and Genuine Faith

Posted on April 21, 2013

Devotion for Teens - Genuine Faith

If you were asked to choose between wearing a brand new pair of Nike shoes or wearing some shoes from the bargain store, which would you choose? If you’re like most people you’d chose the brand new Nike shoes.  That’s because for most people, the ‘off brand’ or ‘generic brand’ just doesn’t cut it. They want the real thing. They want something authentic or genuine.

In the same way, your faith should be something that is genuine and authentic in your life. Paul gives Timothy a pat on the back for his genuine faith in 2 Timothy 1:5.[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. (NLT)[/quote]

Here’s a few things genuine faith looks like:[list type=”bullet”]

  • Genuine faith is sold out to God
  • Genuine faith is fresh and active
  • Genuine faith doesn’t blend in – it lets God change the way you live.
  • Genuine faith isn’t boring or outdated
  • Genuine faith believes that the things God says in the Bible aren’t suggestions, they’re a way of life.
  • Genuine faith doesn’t compromise
  • Genuine faith causes action
  • Genuine faith isn’t based on feelings

[/list]

Genuine faith looks different than off-brand or generic Christianity. It acts differently than off-brand Christianity. So, how does your faith rate? Is is generic or authentic?

 Listen: Dangerous by Group 1 Crew

You’re In The Army Now

Posted on April 11, 2013

youth devotion

People enlist in the armed service of the United States every day. When they do, they sign up and make a commitment to serve. They’re provided with new clothes. Their old identity as nerd, athlete, or dodgeball hero is all gone. They just become a soldier. Then they go into basic training where they endure physical challenges that get their bodies in shape and their minds in line with the rules of the service. In exchange for all this, the government feeds, clothes and houses them during this time and pays their way.

Did you know that as a Christian, you have been enlisted as a soldier representing the Kingdom of God? You no longer represent yourself. In God’s Kingdom, He will clothe you, feed you and provide for you. He also will train you through the Word of God through your pastor’s teaching and your personal devotional time. There are some hard things you have to endure in your soul (mind, will and emotions) and your flesh- like forgiving people and being kind when you don’t feel like it.

Paul wrote a letter to Timothy and encouraged him:

2Timothy 2:3-4 – “Therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one who wars tangles with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who chose him to be a soldier.”

The purpose of hardness we endure is to get us in shape. We don’t always feel like praying or reading our Bible, but we know we have to spiritually fit to combat the attacks of the enemy, the devil. In order to win the battles of life, we have to submit to being trained or disciplined by God’s Word so that we win! Just like a soldier in Basic Training, it’s not always joyful- but it reaps a great reward. We learn how to live as a team, rather than just for ourselves.

[Tweet “To win in the battles of life, we have to submit to being trained or disciplined by God’s Word – @studentdevos”]

Hardness does not include sickness or depression. God never trains us with these- these are attacks of the enemy, the devil. We’re never to endure sickness or depression. Soldiers aren’t trained with these things.

You may be trained through a job with a tough boss. You may be trained in school with a tough teacher. You may be trained through a irritating brother or sister to walk in love and forgive. Just remember, every time you submit to this training and respond correctly, you’re getting in better shape all the time to be a good soldier in God’s army.

Pray: God, I realize I am not my own and you bought me in order to put me in Your army (the church) and represent you to this world. I’m a peace-keeper, I’m resisting the enemy and his attacks with the weapons of Your Word in my mouth. Help me submit to the training because it’s making me a better soldier.

 

Living Like a Superhero

Posted on April 5, 2013

Devotions For Teens - Live Like a Superhero

Who was your superhero growing up? Superman who could fly? Spider man who could climb walls? These were often men who looked just like anybody else- but then were transformed into an entirely different person. With this different identity came the power or ability to do superhuman things others couldn’t do.

Do you know you have been made a superhero by Jesus? When you accept Jesus as your Savior, your old identity died and you were made brand new. With this identity change came power and ability to do superhuman things- like lay hands on the sick and see them recover and speak with new tongues and lead people to become new creatures through Jesus.

2Co 5:17 – “So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

When you become a Christian, you don’t just join a club. You become a brand new creature- a superhero! God’s Spirit comes to live in you and give you power and authority to be a hero to the people around you.

Live today looking for opportunities to help people like a superhero. Extend your help, give a smile, pray a prayer, be friendly to the person who speaks badly about you. Keep your joy when your classmates gossip about you. You have the ability to live this life, because God Himself lives in you!

Say It: I am in Christ and am a new creature. The Holy Spirit lives in me. I look for opportunities to be a superhero to my world today in small ways and in big ways.

Listen: Who I Am In You by Addison Road

Prayer Tip #1 – Get to Know God

Posted on March 24, 2013

Youth Devotion - Prayer

Getting starting praying can seem a little overwhelming. You’re talking to God, the creator of the universe. What should you say? How should you say it? What if He thinks what you’re praying is dumb? Talk about pressure! All of these things can be things that stop you from praying. So, how should we pray?

Jesus’ disciples asked Him the same thing. “One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.'” – Luke 11:1 (Message). The disciples came to Jesus and asked Jesus for tips on how to pray. Jesus responded with verse two, “So he said, ‘When you pray, say, Father, Reveal who you are. Set the world right.” – Luke 11:2 (Message). Jesus’ first tip on prayer for the disciples was about getting to know God. He mentioned asking God to reveal who He was. The first tip to successful prayer is knowing who God is.

Knowing who God is will really help you when you pray. Think of it this way, until you know someone, you can’t really have a deep conversation with them. You can probably think of a good friend that you can talk about anything with. You can tell them anything and talk to them for hours. You can do this easily because you know who they are. The same is true in knowing God. Once you get to know Him its easy to talk to Him. Once you know who He is and what He has done for you, it becomes easier to pray.

So, I encourage you to spend some time getting to know God’s character. Boldness in prayer comes as a result of knowing who God is. As you get to know God, you’ll feel bolder when you go to pray. Learning to pray starts with knowing who God is.

Listen: Relentless by Hillsong United

 

Success For Teens – Lesson #7 (Learning)

Posted on March 2, 2013

Questions About Learning

  1. What is something you can do to ensure that you continue learning all through your life?
  2. Are there any areas in your life that you need to ‘adjust your course’?
  3. What are some ways you can invest in your future?

 
If you’d like to learn more, check out this audio lesson on learning from the Success Foundation.

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Five Technologies Teenagers Need

Posted on December 29, 2012

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As a teenager, you come across tons of technologies every day. It might be texting a friend or listening to something on your iPod, but more than likely you use tons of technology everyday. We’ve come up with five great technologies that we believe every teenager should embrace.

  1. You Version– this is an awesome online Bible resource. It comes packed with tons of features. For example, it offers apps for many of the popular phone and music players, allowing you to take the Bible with you wherever you go! Other cool features include tons of great Bible reading plans, listening to the Bible being read to you, and lots of great Bible translations. You Version is a must have for teens!
  2. eSword– this is available for download on PC. eSword offers you the chance to really dig into scripture. It offers multiple translations, dictionaries, concordances, and commentaries. That might sound super dull, but I found that this tool can really make reading the Bible way more exciting and help you understand some of those hard to read passages.
  3. Social Media– Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest to throw out a few are actually great ways to grow in your faith. Each platform opens up ways for you to share your faith with your friends. You can share a verse you liked from You Version and suddenly you can encourage 100 of your friends. Also, social media is a great way you can connect with others that feel the same way you do about God. Just make sure you’re always careful about where you share personal info.
  4. iTunes – this is an awesome way to encourage yourself in God. ITunes is packed with tons of great Christian artists who offer encouraging and uplifting messages about God. ITunes offers more than just music. Podcasts are a great free way to get encouraged. There are many podcasts out there to encourage and inspire your walk with God, like Studentdevos. Finally iTunes offers books that are reasonably priced. You are able to have tons of great Christian authors right at your fingertips. ITunes gives you lots of ways to grow spiritually as a teen
  5. Money Tracking App – a way to track your money is a really important tool. Whether you have a job, or just have a few dollars from a birthday or Christmas, you should start keeping track of your money now. With just a few dollars you can open an account at a bank and begin tracking your money. Mint.com also offers a great way to set and track financial goals. No amount of money is too small for you to start putting into place good habits. Make it a habit to start giving now. Give to your local church and watch how much God will bless you as you give. Start good giving and savings habits now. The habits you put in place today will set you up for success in the future!

These are some technologies that if used can really set you up for success in the future! Check them out and let us know what ones you liked!