Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Jesus Has Swallowed Up Death!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever watched a YouTube video of a black hole swallowing a star? If you look it up, you’ll see an animation of what it might look like. Even though it’s just a video, it’s kind of shocking! Stars are huge—sometimes thousands of times bigger than Earth. But a black hole can gulp them down like they’re nothing!

Does that sound crazy? Well, that’s kind of how God talks about death. Death is a huge problem—too big for us to handle. Since we are sinners, death had us trapped. But Jesus fought against sin and death. He went into the tomb and came out alive! His victory swallowed up death! And when death is swallowed, it loses all its power over us.

Do you ever worry about what happens when you die? Have you ever lost someone you really love? Don’t be afraid. Death has been defeated! It’s okay to be sad when someone dies, but we can also be joyful because Jesus has won!

His resurrection means we can think of death like sleep. On judgment day, Jesus will come back and wake us up! Our bodies will rise and join our souls in heaven, where we will live with him forever!

Death was a big problem, but Jesus’ resurrection was an even bigger victory! We still call death an enemy, but it’s an enemy Jesus already beat. And because he won, we win too. Thanks be to God!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, you rose from the dead in victory. You swallowed up death, so I don’t have to be afraid. Fill my heart with courage because of your victory. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What do we celebrate on Easter?
• Jesus won the victory over sin, death, and the devil. Because of his victory, where do we get to live with him forever?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• When you hear the word “victory,” what do you think of? What has Jesus given us victory over?
• Jesus will return on judgment day to bring all who believe in him to heaven. What do these verses tell us about what will happen on that day?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• These verses are often read at Christian funerals. Why do you think they bring comfort to people who have lost a loved one?
• How would you explain judgment day to a younger child or someone who doesn’t know much about the Bible?

Read: John 19:17-30

Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30

What’s So Good About Good Friday?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What’s so good about Good Friday?

Think about it. On Good Friday, Jesus went through so much pain. The soldiers spit on him. They beat him. They whipped him. They nailed his hands and feet to the cross.

On Good Friday, Jesus died.

On Good Friday, God the Father punished Jesus, his Son, for all the bad and hurtful things we do. On Good Friday, God the Father punished Jesus for all of the lies you’ve told your parents, for all the arguments you’ve had with your brothers and sisters, for all the bad things you’ve done at school or when nobody else was looking.

In that sense, we have to admit that what happened on Good Friday was our fault. It was our sins he carried. It was our punishment he took. On Good Friday, we have to face the scary truth about how much we’ve messed up—the bad stuff we deserve.

The day Jesus died was a dark Friday, a sad Friday—a really bad Friday.

So, why do we call it “Good” Friday? We call it Good Friday because Jesus wanted to do it. He didn’t have to, but he chose to do it because he loves you and me so much.

We call it Good Friday because when he died, Jesus won forgiveness for us. Our sins were nailed to that cross forever. God will never punish you because Jesus took your punishment instead. No matter how much you mess up, no matter how bad you think you are, God will always forgive you because of Jesus.

We call it Good Friday because we know the story doesn’t end there. Jesus died, but he didn’t stay dead. He came back to life on Easter Sunday. Jesus is alive! That means Jesus’ story had a happy ending.

And so does ours. Because Jesus died and came back to life, we will live too, even though we die. Because he died and rose again for us, we get to go to heaven!

Even though it’s hard to think about all the painful things Jesus went through on that dark Friday, we can be happy because of it. Because of what he did, we are forgiven. Because of what he did, we get to go to heaven.

That’s what’s so good about Good Friday.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for all that you suffered and sacrificed for us on that dark Friday 2,000 years ago. You are truly good. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What were some of the bad, painful things that people did to Jesus on the day he died?
• Jesus is God. He could have stopped them from hurting him. Why do you think he didn’t stop it?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• When you hear about all the mean things people did to Jesus and how much he suffered, how does it make you feel?
• Why does it make you feel that way?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Jesus said, “It is finished” before he died. What do you think he meant by “It is finished”?
• Think about this: Just like the day Jesus died, we can say that the day any Christian dies is a “good” day. Why do you think that is true?

Read: Luke 19:28-40

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:40

Don’t Make the Rocks Have to Sing for You

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Did you know that Jesus liked rock music? On the Sunday before he died, Jesus entered Jerusalem in a very special way. He rode on a donkey while people laid palm branches and coats along the road.

That may sound a little strange to us, but it was like rolling out the red carpet for a celebrity today. The people were welcoming Jesus as a king. And as the crowds cheered him on, they sang, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38)

They were singing Psalms that talked about the coming Savior. They were saying that Jesus was the promised Savior. They were calling him a king.

But some of Jesus’ enemies didn’t like that. They didn’t believe that he was the promised Savior or king. They hated Jesus, and it drove them crazy to hear the people singing those songs to him.

So, they went to Jesus and told him to make the people stop singing.

“I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

See, Jesus liked rock music!

Actually, he liked the songs the people were singing to him even more. Jesus loves it when his people sing praises to him. He deserves to be praised!

That’s what he meant when he said, “The stones will cry out.” On that Palm Sunday, 2,000 years ago, Jesus was going to be praised one way or another. If the people didn’t sing out, God would make the rocks sing!

Do you know what Jesus likes even more than rock music? He loves your music. He loves it when you sing praises to him at church. He loves hearing your voice sing his praise.

Sometimes, though, we get embarrassed. Maybe you don’t want people to think you’re weird, or maybe you don’t like the sound of your voice. So, you don’t sing very loud at church, or maybe you don’t sing at all.

But Jesus loves you. He loves the sound of your voice. He isn’t embarrassed to call you his friend. In fact, he loved you so much that he went into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday because he was going to die for you on Good Friday.

So, don’t be embarrassed to sing praises to him. Don’t make the rocks sing for you!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, you are awesome! Thank you for riding into Jerusalem to die for me on the cross. Help me to never be too embarrassed to sing my praises to you. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is your favorite song to sing to Jesus?
• Why do you like that song?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• When we sing our songs of praise in church, we do it for Jesus, but who else does it help when we sing?
• Why should we never be embarrassed about Jesus or our faith in him?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. Just five days later, Jesus would be hanging on the cross. What does it tell you about Jesus that he rode into Jerusalem, knowing exactly what was waiting for him on Good Friday?
• A friend tells you, “I don’t sing in church because I can’t sing. Nobody wants to hear my terrible voice.” What would you say in response?

Read: Philippians 3:4-14

Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 3:7

True Value

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Do you know anyone who collects sports cards, Pokémon cards, or other cool collectibles? Andy collected baseball cards when he was a boy in the 1980s. In 1985, he spent his newspaper route money to buy packs of baseball cards and was super excited when he pulled out five rookie cards of a young player named Mark McGwire.

In 1998, Mark McGwire broke the single-season home run record. His rookie card became super valuable—each one was worth thousands of dollars! Now an adult, Andy thought about selling his cards. Then he thought, “If they’re worth thousands now, just imagine what they’ll be worth in a few years!”

So, Andy didn’t sell any of his Mark McGwire rookie cards. But then, in 1999, rumors started that McGwire had cheated by using steroids to become bigger and stronger. In 2001, another player broke his home run record. Just like that, the value of his cards crashed.

The same cards that were once worth thousands were now only worth a few dollars each.

The apostle Paul once thought he had something really valuable, too. He thought he was earning his way to heaven by being a good person and doing everything right. He thought God loved him because he followed all the rules and was better than others.

For a long time, Paul believed all the good things he did were worth a lot.

But then something happened. Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to a place called Damascus. Jesus showed Paul that he had it all wrong. Paul realized that, even though he thought he was good, he was actually hurting people and making bad choices. He learned that he couldn’t earn God’s love—because God already loved him!

Paul discovered that God loved him no matter what. Even though he had messed up, Jesus had already taken his punishment on the cross. God forgave him completely.

In the end, Paul realized that what he thought was so valuable was actually worth nothing. But in Jesus, he found a treasure that would never lose its value.

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, please forgive me for all the times I treat other things as more valuable than you. Help me remember that your love is the greatest treasure of all. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is something you really love, or think is important? Can you think of anything even more important than that?
• Why do you think some people might care more about things like toys or money than about Jesus?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What do you think it means that God loves you just because you’re you, not because of anything you do?
• Name at least one way you show that you love God.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why do you think Paul called the things he tried to do to earn God’s love “garbage”? What do you think he meant by that?
• What are some “good things” you do because you love God? How do those good things show God’s love to others?

Read: Luke 15:1-3,11-32

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Luke 15:11-20

The Dirty Job That Made Us Clean

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Back in 2005, a show called, Dirty Jobs made its TV debut. The show showed all kinds of gross jobs, like cleaning dirty escalators and checking out smelly sewers.

In our reading for today, Jesus told a story about a son who left his family and wasted all his money on things that didn’t matter. Then, there was a big famine, and the son needed money. He ended up with a nasty job—feeding pigs! He was so hungry that he almost ate the pig food! But then, he realized he could go back to his dad, say sorry for what he had done, and stop living that yucky life.

This story sounds a lot like us. Maybe you’ve never had to eat pig food, but we all have sin in our lives that keeps us away from Jesus. Maybe it’s lying to your parents or wanting things that your friends have. Maybe it’s cheating on your homework or being rude to adults. We need to say sorry for our bad choices and come back to God.

God’s Son had the dirtiest job of all. He took all the sins of the world and died on the cross to take them away. He gave up his life so we could have forever life with God in heaven. His dirty job made us clean.

It’s hard to understand how much God loves us. We don’t deserve it, but just like the father in the story, our heavenly Father runs to us and is happy to welcome us back when we mess up. He loves it when we follow his way because he knows it’s the best way.

A love like that should be shared! We have a job to do. It’s not dirty, but it’s really important. The world is full of sin and sadness, and we have the message of hope to share.

There’s so much joy in saying sorry and turning back to God. We don’t have to stay in the yucky stuff because God has washed us clean with his love. So, go and tell everyone about the Father’s love! Let them know we’ve been washed clean. What a great story to share!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Father, thank you for loving us even when we make mistakes and wander away from you. Just like the father in the story, you are always waiting for us to come back with open arms. Thank you for forgiving us and making us clean through Jesus, no matter how far we’ve gone. Help us to share your love and forgiveness with others, so they can know how much you care for them too. Amen

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Have you ever made a mistake and needed to say sorry? What did you do to fix it?
• How do you think the dad felt when his son came back home after making bad choices?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How can you show love and forgive others like the dad did?
• When you mess up, how do you feel knowing that God will forgive you and still loves you?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Have you ever felt lost or unsure? How did you find your way again?
• Why is it important to remember that God loves you, no matter what?

Read: Isaiah 12:1-6

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” . . . Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Isaiah 12:1-2,5-6

Shout It Out!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There’s something super special about hearing kids sing to God. When kids sing, they have so much joy and energy, and you can hear them from miles away! It’s one thing when they sing in church or at home, but it’s even more fun when they just can’t help but sing God’s praises out loud, even in public!

In today’s Bible reading, the prophet Isaiah shares a song of praise for God’s love and forgiveness. In verse one, Isaiah talks about how God was angry. Why was God angry? It was because of the people’s sins. Sin is when we do things he really doesn’t like. It’s not what he created us for. So, how is this reading a “song of praise” if God was angry? The praise comes because God saved the people from their sins.

Even though we mess up sometimes, God still loves us. Because of his love, mercy, and grace, he has saved us from our sins. Jesus died on the cross to take away all the wrong things we’ve done. Now, we can say sorry when we mess up and thank God for all the amazing things he has done for us.

The people in the Old Testament sang praises for God saving them from Egypt. In the New Testament, people sang praises for Jesus’ miracles, death, and coming back to life. Today, we can sing praises for all the things Jesus has done for us too! We can shout out, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation!” (Isaiah 12:2).

So, “Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy . . . for great is the Holy One . . .” (Isaiah 12:5-6). Be brave and bold, just like little kids who aren’t afraid to sing loud and proud. The world needs to hear the good news about Jesus, and it’s too good to keep to ourselves. Jesus is the best news ever, so let’s shout it out!

Closing Prayer:

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 576)

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What’s your favorite song to sing about Jesus?
• Can you think of something amazing that God has done?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why do you think God is upset about sin?
• Can you remember a time when you told someone about Jesus who didn’t know him?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Do you feel it’s harder to talk about Jesus to others now that you’re older? Why or why not?
• Are there any Jesus songs you used to sing when you were younger that you really liked? What makes you still want to sing it?

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

Learning from the Past: Don’t Make the Same Mistakes!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Can you think of a time when history repeated itself? Sometimes that’s a good thing—like when a country recovers after hard times. But sometimes it’s bad—like when wars keep happening in the same places.

In today’s reading, Paul warns the Corinthians not to repeat the mistakes of the Israelites. He tells them not to worship idols, like the Israelites did, and reminds them that just because they follow Jesus, it doesn’t mean they won’t be tempted. The Israelites believed in God too but still messed up by worshiping idols, making bad choices, and complaining.

Does history repeat itself in your life? Do you ever complain? Maybe you don’t like what’s on your plate at dinner, or maybe your friend gets to go on a great vacation, and you think, “That’s not fair! We never get to do anything fun!”

The truth is, no one is perfect. Even though you believe in Jesus, you’ll still struggle with sin. Sometimes it feels like the devil tries harder to pull us away from doing the right thing!

But don’t worry—you’re never alone. The Israelites weren’t alone. The Corinthians weren’t alone. And you aren’t alone either!

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “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 endure it.”

Did you hear that? God is faithful. You don’t have to fight temptation alone—God will always help you.

Maybe he helps you by teaching you to be thankful for the food in front of you. Maybe he helps you feel happy for your friend instead of jealous. Maybe he reminds you of the blessings he’s already given you!

Ask God to help you have a thankful heart. Ask him to help you make good choices and trust him every day!

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for always being faithful. Thank you for showing me through the Bible how you have helped people for generations. Please forgive me when I complain or forget to be thankful. Help me to see all the blessings you’ve given me and trust you always. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Have you ever complained about something? What was it?
• Who forgives you when you complain?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What does it mean to be thankful (or have gratitude)?
• How can you show that you are thankful and grateful in your life?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Do your friends tend to encourage others or complain more?
• How can you help your friends have an attitude of gratitude, too?

Read: Philippians 3:17-4:1

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
Philippians 4:1

A Cross-Shaped Life

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Paul made a bold statement: “Join with others in following my example.” They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so you copy those you admire most. Paul invites the people in Philippi (as well as us reading this devotion) to follow his example, but should he really be saying that? Don’t you think Paul remembered that he had blood on his hands? Before he believed in Jesus, he was a proud persecutor of the Church. He had hauled off who knows how many people to prison or even death simply for trusting in Christ as Lord. Then one day, the Lord Jesus knocked Paul off his donkey, changed his heart, and brought him to faith. That’s when the trouble really started. Now a tireless missionary spreading the gospel, Paul endured a shipwreck, beatings, persecution, and a constant thorn in his flesh—all so he could tell people about Jesus’ love.

We can learn a lot from Paul’s example because his story is our story, too. I’ve never been shipwrecked or beaten up for my faith. But Paul wasn’t the only one who needed Jesus to change him. Once, we were separated from God, stubborn and thinking we didn’t need him, until the Lord Jesus stepped in to save us. Jesus carried his cross (and all of your sin!) to Calvary where he followed God’s plan of salvation all the way to death. He didn’t try to escape the suffering, but with you on his heart, Jesus locked his eyes on a middle cross. While we were still his enemies, he forgave our sins, gave us faith in him, and then turned us loose into the world to share his love with others.

And just like it was for Paul, so it will be for us. There will be obstacles as we follow Jesus. There will be enemies of the gospel that try to stop us. Our lives will take on the shape of the cross. But don’t give up, because when we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can trust that even hard things will draw us closer to him. Even when life is difficult because we’re Christians, follow Paul’s example and remember—just like Jesus, we know there’s always resurrection on the other side of the cross.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you carried your cross to Calvary and died to pay for our sins. Thank you for rescuing us, even when we were your enemies. Thank you for the privilege of following you. Give us your strength to keep going, even when hardships come. Remind us of your great love and your promise that you work all things for good. In your name, we pray. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What did Paul want the Philippians (and us) to do?
• Who carried the cross to Calvary to take away our sins?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What hard things did Paul go through because he was telling people about Jesus?
• When Paul was tired or hurting, what helped him keep going? What helps us when we feel the same way?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• How can tough times actually be good for us?
• How can we live like Paul and show Jesus’ love to others?

Read: Luke 13:31-35

‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day.
Luke 13:32-33

Your Stubborn Savior

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What stops you from reaching your goals? There are so many answers to that! Maybe you don’t feel smart enough, don’t have enough money, or think others have better opportunities. It’s true—some things are out of our control. But I’m not just talking about school or sports goals. What about our faith? Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” We say God’s Word is important, but what keeps us from listening to it—or sharing it? We know God gives us everything we need so that we can be generous, but sometimes we still worry there won’t be enough to go around. What stops me from putting God’s Word first? Excuses stack up faster than laundry! “I’m too tired to go to church.” “I’m too busy to help others.” “I don’t want to share what I have.” What gets in the way? The answer is simple—me.

Look at Jesus’ love in the gospel! He stepped into a world full of excuse-makers like us. The Pharisees warned him that King Herod wanted to kill him. Did Jesus run away? Nope! Instead, his determined feet kept walking. People told him to stop preaching and go somewhere else, but Jesus’ stubborn voice wouldn’t stop sharing God’s love. Why? Because his greatest desire was to gather God’s children, like a mother hen protecting her chicks. Jesus’ love was so great, his mission so unstoppable, that he kept walking, kept preaching—until those same stubborn feet were nailed to a cross and that always-inviting voice fell silent in death. But he didn’t stay silent. On the third day, Jesus reached his ultimate goal—rising from the dead to bring us life!

When we remember Jesus’ unstoppable love, it changes us. The devil and our selfish hearts will try to distract us, but we keep listening to God’s Word because Jesus loves us enough to speak it. We give generously because Jesus gave up everything to save us. Jesus didn’t let anything stop him from rescuing you. Nothing could stand in his way—not fear, not excuses, not even death!

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you never let anything stop you from going to the cross and rising again to save us. Fill our hearts with your courage so we can follow you boldly. Help us push aside distractions and stay close to your Word. In your name, we pray. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Jesus said he wanted to gather people like a mother hen gathers her chicks. Why does Jesus want to bring us close to him?
• Who warned Jesus that King Herod wanted to hurt him?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How does Jesus feel when people don’t listen to him or follow him?
• What can you do when things try to take your attention away from God’s Word?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• What does Jesus’ determination show us about who he is? What does it show us about his love for us?
• Jesus knew he had to die (crucifixion) before he could come back to life (resurrection). How does knowing we will live forever with Jesus help us when life is hard?

Read: 1 Samuel 17:4-11,32-40,45-59

“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.”
1 Samuel 17:47

Jesus, Our Giant Slayer

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What an unlikely hero! If you had to guess who would win this one-on-one battle, who would you pick? A nine-foot-tall giant soldier, covered in armor, trained for war since he was a kid . . . or a teenage shepherd boy with no armor and no sword? Sounds like an easy choice, right? The Philistines laughed, and the Israelites shook with fear. Back then, battles were sometimes settled by sending out just one warrior from each side to fight. Whichever warrior won; his army won the whole battle! And humanly speaking, there was no way that David—young, untrained, and mostly unarmed—could take down the mighty Goliath.

But here’s the thing—we’re not just speaking humanly.

Even though David was the one stepping onto the battlefield, he knew he wasn’t really the champion of Israel. He told Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty!” David knew God was the real warrior fighting for his people. Now, let’s ask again: Goliath or God—who do you think would win? The answer is obvious for anyone who has faith. No one can stand against the Lord when he fights for his people, even if he chooses an unexpected hero!

And guess what? We were in a battle too.

On our own, we didn’t stand a chance against the devil, the world, and our own sin. We were trapped—stuck in sin and death, separated from God. But remember, we’re not just speaking humanly! The Lord still fights for his people. He stepped out of heaven and into our world as the most unlikely hero of all—a tiny baby in Bethlehem, a man baptized in the Jordan River, God hanging on a cross, and finally, Jesus walking out of the tomb—alive again!

Because of his victory, we are free. Free from sin. Free from death. Free to live as God’s children. The enemy doesn’t stand a chance, because this battle belongs to the Lord—and that Lord is on your side in Jesus, our Giant Slayer!

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you have defeated all the enemies that stood against us. Thank you for your perfect victory! Give us comfort and peace, knowing that your power is always at work for us, through us, and in us. In your name, we pray. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Why were the Israelites so scared of Goliath?
• Who helped David to win the battle against the giant Goliath?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How could David be so confident as he walked out to battle?
• How does the Lord Jesus still fight for his people?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days. Jesus was tempted for 40 days. How are these stories related?
• How will it help you to remember that the almighty Lord is on your side in Christ?

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.
Luke 18:9-14

Grab On!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine you and your best friend are hiking up a huge mountain. The view is amazing, but then—you come to a super dangerous, narrow path along the edge of a cliff! You both move slowly, trying to be careful. But suddenly—one of you slips!

You’re hanging off the edge, gripping onto the rocky cliff for dear life. Your hands are getting tired. You know you can’t hold on much longer. Then, you see your friend reaching out a hand and saying, “Grab on! I’ll pull you up!”

But instead of taking the help, you think, “I can do it on my own. I’m strong enough!” You keep trying to pull yourself up, but no matter how hard you try, you just can’t do it.

Sometimes, we think we can do things all by ourselves. We might feel like we’re smarter, stronger, or better than others. And while it’s great to know our strengths, thinking we’re better than other people can lead to pride, which is a big problem.

That’s what happened in today’s Bible story. The Pharisee thought he was better than everyone else, including the tax collector. He believed he was good enough to get into heaven on his own. But here’s the truth—he wasn’t! Just like the man hanging off the cliff, he needed help.

The tax collector, on the other hand, knew he had messed up. He didn’t try to act like he was better than others. Instead, he asked God for mercy. And that’s exactly what God gave him!

The same is true for us. No matter how hard we try, we can’t save ourselves. But guess what? Jesus can! He’s reaching out his hand to us, ready to pull us up. All we have to do is trust him!

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, sometimes we try to do things all on our own, but we know we need you. Thank you for sending Jesus to save us when we couldn’t save ourselves. Help us to trust in you and not in our own strength. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Have you ever needed help with something? What was it?
• Who is always there to help you, no matter what?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Have you ever been really sure about something, but then found out you were wrong? How did that feel? Who is never wrong and always knows what’s best?
• When you feel bad about something you’ve done, like the tax collector did, what can you always be sure of?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Look at how the Pharisee and the tax collector prayed. What does Jesus want us to learn about how we should pray?
• Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” What do you think this means in connection to today’s devotion? How can we make sure we don’t become too proud?

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36

Seeing Behind the Curtain

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Do you know the story of The Wizard of Oz? Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion were SO excited to meet the great and powerful Wizard! They thought he could fix all their problems. But—uh-oh! —when they peeked behind the curtain, they realized he wasn’t really a powerful wizard at all. He was just a regular guy using tricks and props!

Now, in Jesus’ time, people had lots of ideas about who he was, too. Some thought he was just a man from Nazareth. Others said he was a great teacher. But Jesus’ disciples knew the truth—he was the Savior! They saw his miracles and listened to his powerful words.

One day, Jesus gave three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John—a huge surprise. He took them up a mountain, and suddenly—BOOM! Jesus changed right before their eyes! His clothes shined as bright as lightning! And guess what? Moses and Elijah, two famous prophets from the Old Testament, showed up and talked with him. Then, a voice from heaven—God the Father—spoke: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him!” Wow! What an incredible moment!

Jesus didn’t always show his full power while he was on earth. Most of the time, he kept it hidden because he had a job to do—he had to suffer and die to take away our sins. But after three days, he showed his greatest power of all—he rose from the dead! And because of that, we can live forever in heaven with him.

Sometimes, we might wish we could see Jesus’ power like Peter, James, and John did. But guess what? We can! Every time we read the Bible, go to church, or hear about Jesus, we see his power at work in our hearts. His Word reminds us that he is our Savior, and through him, we have life forever!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, you are the Son of God! Thank you for suffering, dying, and rising again for us. Help us to listen to your Word and always remember how amazing you are. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What amazing things happened on the mountain in today’s devotion?
• Why did Jesus leave heaven and come to earth?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Name at least one way Jesus showed he was true man while on earth.
• Name at least one way Jesus showed he was true God while on earth.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why does it matter that Jesus is both fully God and fully human?
• When God the Father spoke on the mountain, he said, “Listen to him.” What are some ways you can make listening to Jesus a bigger part of your life?

Read: Romans 12:14-21

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Romans 12:14-19

Be Different

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Being different can be difficult. When a classmate trips and falls, do you join in laughing with everyone else? It is much easier to just go with the flow and fall in line, isn’t it? In our reading for today, God calls us to be radically different from the rest of the world. He guides us to be children of light in contrast to a world of darkness.

Here’s an example. The world says, “Don’t be a loser. Winning is the only thing that matters.” To get ahead, the world says it’s okay to talk down about others in order to make you look better. A person is considered a pushover if they don’t try to get ahead at the expense of someone else.

What a contrast God’s Word gives us! God directs us to bless those who hurt us. To be humble and to live in peace and harmony with one another. Not just with those who are our friends but especially with our enemies. To leave revenge in God’s hands and to avoid repaying evil with evil. God urges us to be different.

Here’s a question for you: How can we act in the way God wants us to when it is so hard? Is it by digging deep inside of ourselves? Think about how the sun and moon work together. The moon does not produce its own light source. Rather it reflects the light from the sun. In the same way, we reflect the faith the Holy Spirit works in our hearts so that now we reflect the love of Jesus out into the world. To both friendly and not-so-friendly people alike.

Why does God want us to be different? It is our way to show our gratitude and thanks to God for all he has done for us. As we live lives full of grace, forgiveness, and humility, it might lead those who hate us to ask why we live that way. Then you can tell them how God has transformed your life in Jesus!

Young Christians, be different! Let your light shine!

Closing Prayer:

Holy Spirit, we thank you for working faith in our hearts and leading us to live God-pleasing lives. Help us to be nice to others even when they are unkind to us. May we not only be kind in our actions, but may we use our words to tell others about their Savior. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• How does Jesus show he loves you?
• How can you show love to other people?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What are some hurtful actions school-aged children do to one another?
• How does the relationship between the sun and the moon remind us of our motivation for showing love to all people?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Is being called “different” a good thing or a bad thing at school? How does today’s devotion make it a good thing to be different?
• If someone asked you why you are nice to people who are mean to you, what would you tell them?

Read: Luke 6:17-26

Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
Luke 6:20-23

Turnaround

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

My teacher used to do something when many of us were fighting to be first. We would line up at the door to go to lunch or recess and many of us would be pushing and elbowing to be the first one in line and out the door. She would see our fighting to be first and say, “Turn around!” We all had to turn around in line, and she would then walk to the back of the line and lead the class out the other door starting with the kid who was in the back. Then all of us who were pushing and shoving to be first ended up at the back of the line.

Jesus came into our world to turn everything around. We have ideas about what is good and what is bad. We believe it is bad to be sad or poor. It is bad to be insulted or excluded. On the other hand, it is good to be rich and well fed. It is good to laugh and have everyone speak well of you. Jesus turns our thinking around. What we think is good and bad in life is not always what Jesus says is good and bad.

Are you sad right now or feel like you don’t have enough? Jesus reminds you that he will turn all things around. Do you feel like you have everything you need? Jesus reminds you that nothing in this life is forever. He can turn it around in ways you may never have thought of.

Ultimately, God promises to turn everything around when he returns to take us to heaven. Though our sin gives us every reason to be sad and death makes us all poor, God promises a great turn around as he brings us to the joys of heaven. In this place we will never be hungry or hurting but will laugh and find all our comfort forever. It will be the greatest turnaround . . . ever!

Closing Prayer:

Savior of all, you promise to turn everything around. Especially when life is hard, remind us of your power to save and promise of a perfect life with you forever. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Find the opposite of these words. For example: poor/rich. Sad / _____. Bad / _____. Hungry / _____. Life / _____.
• How will life in heaven be the opposite of living today on earth?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How did Jesus’ cross (Good Friday) and his empty tomb (Easter) demonstrate the greatest “turn around”?
• Discuss what makes you afraid of dying. How does focusing on life in heaven take away your fear?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Teens can be brutal when making fun of someone. When that happens, what takeaway from today’s devotion do you want to remember?
• Review the “opposites” from today’s Bible reading. Which one is hardest to believe? How will God make this turnaround happen in your life and forever in heaven?

This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:5-8

Planted by Water

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Matt planted a bunch of new trees and shrubs at the church one Spring. He loved his church and wanted to make an area look better with new plants. It worked! The plants were beautiful and the church looked better that Spring but then came the hot summer weather. The plants began to look bad and started to lose their leaves. Despite Matt’s best efforts to give them water and care, most of the plants dried out and died. A little investigation revealed that the area Matt hoped to make nicer had been a spot where the builder had dumped a lot of leftover bricks. Despite looking nice for a while they dried out because of the bad soil concealing junk underneath.

The prophet Jeremiah said that the one who trusts in man is like a bush planted in the wasteland. It may look good for a while, but it won’t last.

On the other hand, the one who trusts the Lord is like a tree planted by water. Even when the difficult heat comes it doesn’t worry as its leaves remain green and it continues to bear fruit.

It’s easy to trust the things of this world and for a while they look good. Maybe you trust your athletic abilities and that you will always get picked first. Maybe you trust that your friends will always be there for you and won’t ever hurt you or disappoint you. Maybe you trust that you will always be the best at music or singing. However, all these things only look good for a while. Eventually you won’t get picked first and the friend will hurt your feelings and there will be a better musician than you.

Putting our trust in Jesus means that we will never be disappointed. Jesus has always kept his promises, and he always will. Everything that he has said he will do will be done. There might be times when things are difficult, and the sun beats down. But like that tree planted by streams of water, God promises to nourish you through those difficult days with his Word.

You are that tree planted by streams of water. Trust in God’s good Word to sustain you.

Closing Prayer:

Mighty God, thank you for planting us by streams of water. Help us to not trust the things of the world but to rely on your certain Word to sustain us. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Describe what happened to the shrub planted in the wilderness.
• Now describe what happened to the tree planted by water (even when the heat comes!).

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Name something you’ve recently enjoyed, but you were disappointed because it didn’t last.
• When fun times don’t last, how does God’s promise help you stay happy?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• TRUE or FALSE. American culture idolizes what is young and beautiful (be prepared to explain your answer).
• A lifelong connection to God’s Word will keep your soul feeling young. If that’s true for you, consider a way to position yourself so you can better soak up the life-giving water of God’s Word.