Read: Exodus 3:1-15

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.”
Exodus 3:1-12 (selected verses)

The Burning Bush and the Big Job

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

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear . . . ” Are you singing along? “Happy Birthday” is one of the most well-known songs ever! Usually, after you sing to the birthday person, they blow out the candles. But have you ever seen one of those candles that won’t go out, no matter how hard you blow? It’s called a “trick” candle! The person keeps blowing, but the flame just won’t disappear.

Our reading today has something even cooler—but there’s no trick! “There, the angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in flames of fire coming from a bush! But even though the bush was on fire, it didn’t burn up!” (Exodus 3:2).

Whoa! Can you imagine seeing that?

God appeared to Moses in this amazing way and then told him to take off his sandals. That might sound a little strange, but back then, people took off their sandals to show respect in a super special place. And this was definitely a holy place—because God was there!

Moses had no idea that his life was about to change forever. When the angel of the Lord appeared to him, he was just taking care of some sheep. But God was about to give him a HUGE and important job.

God told Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the Israelites go. But this wasn’t going to be easy. Pharaoh had been using the Israelites as slaves for a very long time, and he wasn’t just going to say “Okay, sure!”

Moses asked God, “Why me?” That’s a pretty good question! Why would an ordinary guy like Moses be picked for such a big job? Well, the answer is simple: Moses had a BIG and powerful God. The same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses wasn’t going to have to do this alone. God was going to help him every step of the way!

And guess what? That same powerful God is with YOU, too! You don’t have to face life’s challenges or battle your sins alone. Just like Moses, you have everything you need—because you have GOD. Jesus battled sin for you!

You might not see a burning bush, but you can open the Bible and read about his power, his love, and his promise, “I am always with you.”

Closing Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for always being with me. Please keep me close to you every single day. Forgive me when I forget to trust you. Make my faith strong and help me remember that you have amazing plans for my life. 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 was special about the bush Moses saw?
• Who was with Moses to help him do something hard? Who helps you make good choices?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Has someone ever asked you to do something that felt too hard? How did you feel?
• What happened when you tried to do that hard thing? Did someone help you?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Moses had the same God as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What does that tell us about God?
• Moses had a big job, but God was with him. What is something hard in your life right now that you can ask God to help with?

Read: Jeremiah 26:8-15

Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard.”
Jeremiah 26:12

Speaking the Truth in Love

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

“Being a pastor means saying something when no one else will.” That’s what a professor who taught future pastors once said. When Jeremiah finished speaking the message the Lord had given him, the people in the temple got angry. They grabbed him and wanted to kill him! Why? Because he told them the truth—God’s truth. He warned them that ignoring God and disobeying him would lead to disaster. But people don’t like to hear hard truth, especially when it shows them, they’re doing something wrong. The people in Jeremiah’s day were happy with their lives, but they had turned away from trusting the Lord and his promises. Even though they had a history of ignoring or killing God’s messengers, God still sent them one anyway.

Think about that—even though God knew these people had ignored him before, he still sent them someone to speak his Word. Why? Because he still loved them! What if he had just let them keep going down the wrong path, leading them away from him forever? But he didn’t. Instead, he loved them enough to warn them, to try to bring them back into his forgiving love. If God is still speaking, that’s good news—even if the message is tough to hear.

This is the kind of God you have: the One who keeps sharing his promises with people who don’t always listen; the One who keeps sending messengers, hoping his Word will take root in their hearts; the One who sent his perfect messenger, Jesus, to take on the punishment that was really ours.

Even if you’re not a pastor, sometimes you might have to say something hard because you care about someone. That can be scary! But trust that God will give you strength. Remember, God’s truth always comes from his love. He wants to bring people back to him! God bless us as we speak his truth in love!

Closing Prayer:

Lord God, you speak to us through your Word because you love us. Turn us from sinful ways with the word of your law. Forgive and restore us with the word of your gospel, perfectly fulfilled in Christ. Fill us with your love so we can share your truth with others. In Jesus’ 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 people angry at Jeremiah?
• Why is it sometimes hard to tell the truth?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• True or False: People always like hearing the truth.
• Why does God keep sending people to share his Word, even when many don’t listen?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• What’s the difference between just telling the truth and telling the truth with love?
• How can rules and discipline from your parents actually be a good thing?

Read: Hebrews 4:14-16

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15

He Gets Us

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

Recently, I heard someone say that all the problems in the world come from people feeling alone and unloved. Maybe that sounds like an exaggeration, but I think he’s onto something. Think about how God created the world. Adam, Eve, and everyone who came after them were meant to live in a perfect and loving friendship with God and each other—forever! But then sin entered the world, breaking everything. It separated us from God and put up walls between people. What happened next? Loneliness. Hurt. Broken relationships. In other words, a world full of people feeling alone and unloved. If anyone was going to fix this, to stand in the gap and bring us back to God, it had to be God himself—Jesus.

The book of Hebrews makes it clear that this is exactly what Jesus does for us. He is our High Priest. Back in Bible times, priests had a big job—they made sacrifices to God for the people and also shared God’s messages with them. They were like a bridge between people and God. But Jesus is the great High Priest of all! He became the bridge that connects sinful people to a perfect God. Have you ever felt far from God? Look at Jesus and see—God couldn’t be any closer! In Christ, he became one of us, taking on flesh and blood and facing every single temptation we do. But here’s the amazing part: Jesus never sinned. He never once fell for the devil’s tricks and lies like we do. He knows what it’s like to be human. He gets us! But he lived perfectly in our place.

Jesus is our great High Priest who left heaven to offer the ultimate, once-and-for-all sacrifice—himself—on the cross. He destroyed the barrier of sin and brought us back to God. Now, we can go to God with confidence, knowing that through Jesus, our brother, God loves us completely. We are not alone. We are not unloved. Through faith, we are joined to Jesus and loved by God forever. And because of his amazing love, we can share it with those around us, showing them that Jesus understands them too.

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, you are our great High Priest. Thank you for becoming one of us, succeeding where we have failed, and bringing us back to God. Help us to come to you boldly and to share your love with the people around 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

• How do you feel when you’re by yourself? How do you feel when you’re with your friends?
• Who is always with you, no matter what?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What was the job of priests in the Old Testament?
• How is Jesus like those priests? How is he different?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Old Testament priests had to keep making sacrifices for sins over and over again. Why did Jesus only need to die once to take away all sin forever?
• How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus understands what it’s like to be human, just like you?

Read: Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
Luke 4:1-2

Jesus Fights for You!

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

Still dripping from the waters of his baptism, the Holy Spirit hurled Jesus into the wilderness—not for rest and relaxation, but to go toe-to-toe with the old evil foe. For forty days, he wandered in the desert with nothing to eat. And then, the devil came with his temptations.

It’s a simple thought that worms into our minds and then spreads like wildfire: “Can you really trust God?” The devil wanted Jesus to doubt God’s words. At his baptism, God had declared, “You are my Son, whom I love!” But now, the devil whispered, “Are you sure? You don’t look like God’s Son. You’re weak, hungry, and all alone. If God really loved you, wouldn’t he take better care of you?”

That’s exactly how the devil works! He used this same method with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and he does the same to us today. He sneaks thoughts into our minds that spread like wildfire: “Can you really trust what God says?” He tempts us to chase short-term pleasures instead of trusting God’s long-term plan. He tells us, “Go ahead, take what you want. You deserve it!” He convinces us to be greedy, selfish, and impatient. And let’s be honest, we’ve all fallen for his tricks more times than we’d like to admit.

That’s why this gospel reading is so amazing! It’s not just a “how-to” guide for defeating temptation. It’s about Jesus, our champion. He didn’t just come to show us how to be strong—he came to be strong for us. He left behind the glory, power, and praise of heaven to live a life of perfect humility and obedience. Where Adam, Eve, and every person in history have failed, Jesus was perfectly victorious.

And here’s the best part: Jesus gives that victory to you. He didn’t just fight the battle against the devil—he fought for you. By God’s undeserved love and the Holy Spirit’s power, his victory is now yours!

So, the next time you feel tempted, remember: Jesus already won. Trust him. When you fail (and we all do), turn to him for forgiveness. He is always ready to love, restore, and strengthen you!

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you defeated the devil and his temptations for us. Help us trust in your perfect strength when we face temptations. Forgive us when we fail and restore to us the joy of your salvation. 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

• Where was Jesus when the devil came to tempt him?
• Jesus was hungry after not eating for forty days. What did the devil try to get Jesus to do?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How did Jesus fight back against every one of the devil’s temptations?
• What did God promise you when you were baptized? Why is that promise important when you feel tempted or fall into sin?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• The devil wanted Jesus to doubt that God loved him. How does the devil try to make us doubt God’s love when life is hard?
• Which is harder to say no to: something fun right now or something good that takes a long time? Why?

Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-13

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? . . . Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”
2 Samuel 12:7-9,13

You Can’t Hide from God!

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

Have you ever played hide and seek? It’s fun when you find the perfect hiding spot, and no one can see you! But imagine playing hide and seek against God—do you think you could win? No way! God sees everything and knows everything. That’s exactly what Adam and Eve learned when they tried to hide from him after they sinned. Spoiler alert: It didn’t work!

In today’s lesson, King David made a big mistake—he sinned. But instead of admitting what he did, he tried to cover it up by making more bad choices. He thought he could keep it a secret from the people around him. But there was one BIG problem—he couldn’t hide from God!

Because God loved David, he didn’t let him stay stuck in his sin. God sent the prophet Nathan to talk to David and help him see his mistake. When Nathan told him the truth, David finally stopped hiding and admitted his sin. And do you know what happened next? God forgave him—right away!

Sometimes, we might think we’re “off the hook” if we don’t get caught doing something wrong. But hiding sin never really works—it can make us feel guilty, and it hurts our relationship with God. That’s why it’s so important to be honest, confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness. And when we do, God is always ready to forgive us, just like he forgave David!

So, instead of trying to hide, let’s thank God for putting people like Nathan in our lives—people who help us do what’s right. Most of all, let’s remember that Jesus already paid for all our sins on the cross so that we can be forgiven and live forever with him in heaven!

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, I’m sorry for the times I’ve disobeyed you and hurt others. Thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and always being there for me. Help me to be honest about my mistakes and trust in Jesus for forgiveness. 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 God feel when we sin, and why does he want us to confess instead of hiding?
• What should we say to God when we sin? What does God promise us when we tell him the truth?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why is trying to hide our sins from God a bad idea? What happened when David tried to hide his sins?
• How does it feel to hear the words, “You are forgiven”? Why is that such an amazing blessing?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Nathan helped David by telling him the truth about his sin. Why is it sometimes hard, but also loving, to help a friend see when they’ve done something wrong?
• Are there any hidden sins in your life right now? Take a moment to pray—ask God to help you confess them, turn away from them, and trust in his forgiveness!

Read: Luke 6:27-38

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
Luke 6:27-32

Love Your Enemies

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

Imagine what you would do in these two scenarios as you are walking out of the door for school.

Scenario 1: A parent says, “Make sure to be nice to your best friend and to listen to your favorite teacher.”
Scenario 2: A parent says, “Make sure to be kind to the kid who makes fun of you on the school bus and compliment the girl who started a horrible rumor about you last week.”

In the first scenario you would probably respond, “Sounds good, and I love you mom.” In the second scenario you might respond, “No way! They don’t deserve it.”

In our reading for today Jesus calls us to do good to others even if they don’t deserve it. This message is so impactful from Jesus because he didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk. Throughout his life he never sinned once even though he was tempted in every way. He loved his enemies, yet they put him to death on a cross where he paid for the sins of the whole world. Then three days later he rose from the dead and declared victory over sin, death, and the devil. This is what we call grace. Grace is God’s undeserved love for all people. And for you.

That gives us a completely new perspective on how we treat other people regardless of how they treat us. Jesus was willing to sacrifice his own life for us even though we are unlovable. He overcame evil with good. We can show grace to others even when they hurt us or mock us. We can love our enemies because God first loved us.

Our sinful nature will always want to treat people how they deserve to be treated. But through Christ working in us, we start to see they are no different than us. They need Jesus too. Then we can show them grace and offer a glimpse into the love of our heavenly Father!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, you always loved all people including your enemies. Forgive us for the times we have not shown love to others but have been more concerned about giving them what they deserve. You showed us amazing grace when you died for us to save us from our sins. We ask that you guide us to share your grace with our friends and enemies. 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 call it when we disobey God? (sin)
• What term from our devotion do we use for God’s undeserved love? (grace)

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why is it easier to love your friends than your enemies?
• How does God’s grace lead us to be loving to both our friends and our enemies?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Even though we weren’t there when Jesus was nailed to the cross, why can each of us say we are responsible for Jesus’ death on the cross?
• Think about specific people in your life who you have a hard time getting along with. What are specific actions you can take with them to follow God’s commands to love our enemies?

Read: Genesis 45:3-15

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
Genesis 45:4-8

Good From Evil

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

Take a moment and type into a search engine the words “crown tapestry front / back” and see the pictures. Depending on what side of the tapestry you are looking at, it may look like a complete mess or a beautiful design. The same is true about life depending on what you are experiencing at the moment.

As an overconfident teenager, Joseph couldn’t have imagined the messiness that would soon enter his life. In an ugly display of jealousy and hatred, Joseph’s brothers sold him to slave traders who were heading to Egypt. Alone and afraid, Joseph found himself in a land far away from everyone he loved. Even worse, he was thrown in prison for something he didn’t do.

Fast forward some years later. Joseph was out of prison and serving Pharoah as a high ranking official. Then something unexpected happened. His own brothers arrived one day in Egypt looking for food. This could have been Joseph’s moment to get revenge on his brothers. He had the power to put them in prison or even have them put to death.

Instead, he did something incredible. He forgave them. Even though Joseph’s life at times seemed like a mess, God let him see the other side of the tapestry. God used the evil actions of his brothers to help save Joseph’s family. With his high position of power, he moved his entire family to Egypt where they would have plenty of food and land so they would live and not die. God displayed to Joseph how he overcomes evil with good. This motivated Joseph to do the same for his brothers.

Like the backside of a tapestry that looks like a mess, we are often led to doubt and question why God allows challenging and difficult times into our lives. We may even want to seek revenge and hold grudges against those who wrong us. The story of Joseph is a good reminder for us as God’s children that God works all things for the good of those who love him. Inspired by God’s undeserved love and his forgiveness to us, we forgive others even when it is hard. We pray and ask God each day to give us the courage and strength to overcome evil with good.

Closing Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, you are truly an all-knowing and all-powerful God who works all things for our good. Most importantly you sent your Son to forgive us for our sins. Help us to follow his example by forgiving others so that we might overcome evil with 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

• How does it make you feel when other people are mean to you?
• What does God want us to tell other people when they say they are sorry?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Do a quick review of the Ten Commandments. Which one did Joseph’s brothers break in our devotion for today? How have you broken that commandment before?
• Why is it so hard to forgive others when they treat us unfairly? How does the life of Jesus help motivate us to forgive others, even our enemies?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• How does holding grudges affect our personal well-being and our relationship with others?
• What are we asking God when we pray “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” in the Lord’s Prayer? What does that mean when we withhold forgiveness from others who apologize to us?

“A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Strength in Weakness

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

Have you ever gotten a thorn or wood splinter in your finger? Did a parent try to dig it out for you? Ouch! Splinters aren’t a lot of fun and can hurt a lot!

Josie knew her upcoming surgery in the hospital wasn’t going to be fun and even a little painful. Her friends and family showed her as much love as they could. Her classmates wrote her a card before the surgery. Her family spent the night before watching her favorite movie and eating her favorite foods. When she arrived at the hospital some very nice nurses came and made sure she was comfortable and gave her a heated blanket. After surgery, her family took her out for ice-cream, and she got a triple scoop.

Today’s devotion talks about thorns and pain. We don’t know what the apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. Maybe it was something that hurt his body. Maybe it was something that hurt his mind or soul. Regardless, it was a chance for the power of Christ to rest upon him. If imperfect friends and family can show their love to someone who is experiencing difficulty, how much better can a perfect and mighty God show his love and power when someone is experiencing difficulty.

The apostle Paul saw his weakness as strength because it was a chance for the power of Christ to work. He even went so far as to boast in his weakness! When we experience “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions”—bad stuff—may we see them as moments for the power of Christ to rest upon us.

Remember this: when we are weak, then we are strong. Christ-strong.

Closing Prayer:

Gracious Lord, we thank you for being strong when we are weak. Help us to see the power of Christ resting upon us that like Paul, we would even boast in our weakness. 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

• Share a time when you were really hurting. How did people care for you?
• When someone else is hurting, what is something nice you can do for them?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why did Paul boast about his weakness?
• Name one Bible story where people were scared and weak, but God did something strong.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Every person has a “thorn” that hurts them. What’s yours?
• How can God make you strong in the moment you are weak?

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:1-11

Good and Bad Days of Fishing

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

Have you ever gone fishing? Do you like to fish? For most people, the best part about going fishing is actually catching fish. On a day when the fish are really biting, and you spend the day busily reeling in fish after fish, it can be a lot of fun. However, on a day when the fish aren’t biting, and you are just sitting bored on the shore or in a boat, fishing isn’t a lot of fun.

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus is about to give some fishermen a new job. But first he wants them to know that he is in control of fishing. They had been fishing all night but hadn’t caught a single fish. It must have been boring and frustrating. Jesus tells them to put out to deeper water and miraculously their nets are full of fish. There were so many fish that their nets began to break and had to call other boats to help them!

At first, Peter is afraid, but Jesus assures him that from now on he will be a fisher of people. Those fishermen then all left their nets behind and began to follow Jesus.

Some days it is hard to be a “fisher” of people. We tell others about Jesus, and they aren’t interested. Maybe they make fun of us or don’t want to listen to us.

Other days it is easy to be a fisher of people. People are happy when we talk about Jesus with them. They have a smile on their face as we tell them about Jesus who loves us.

On good days and bad days remember who is in control. Whether the fishing is easy or hard that same Jesus who brought all those fish to Peter is still in control as you work as a fisher of people. We aren’t afraid because God is gracious and in control.

Closing Prayer:

Father of all, you call us from our daily life to follow you and be fishers of people. Help us to not be afraid but to trust your mighty power as we live for 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 was Peter’s old job?
• What was Peter’s new job?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Explain why fishing is either (pick one): hard and boring, or, easy and fun. (Then repeat, substituting “fishing” with “fisher of people.”)
• If Jesus called ordinary fishermen to follow him and share him with others, how does that give you hope for being a “fisher of men”?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• For real fishermen strategy and skill is important. For fishers of people, it is more important to trust God’s mighty power. Why is it important to trust God’s mighty power as we are fishers for people?
• You aren’t a professional fisherman. God has given you other jobs to do like student, teammate, sibling, babysitter, etc. How can you be a “fisher of people” as you do your jobs?

Read: Isaiah 6:1-8

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
Isaiah 6:1-6

Friendly, Not Fearful

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

When you go to church who do you expect to find? You see the pastor who is always happy to see you. Probably you see a friend or two that you can talk to before or after church. Maybe you see some other familiar faces of people who are glad you are there. We know that church is God’s house and so we expect it to be a friendly place where we will see friendly things.

This wasn’t the case for Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah sees a vision of God’s house and God’s throne and he is terrified. It was a scary scene: There are seraphim angels, each with six wings flying around the throne of God. Their voices boom as they cry out, “Holy, holy, holy.” They are so loud that the doorposts of the house shake and rattle. Billowing smoke surrounds Isaiah.

But it isn’t the angels or the smoke that terrifies Isaiah. What terrifies Isaiah is that he is a sinner before a holy God. More than that, Isaiah lives among people who are sinful and now he is in God’s house standing before a holy God! Isaiah knew that God was perfect and that he was not, and Isaiah knew that God was special and that he was not.

As Isaiah cries out in fear, an angel grabs a hot coal from the altar and touches Isaiah’s mouth. This hot coal doesn’t burn Isaiah’s mouth, but it takes away Isaiah’s sin. The altar was a place where sacrifices for sins were made and because of the sacrifice of Jesus, Isaiah’s sins were all forgiven. Isaiah didn’t have to be scared anymore because God forgave all his sins. He could be in God’s house and not be afraid because his sins were paid for.

It is the same reason we go to church. Our sin ought to scare us. But then, Jesus touches us with the tip of the cross and says, “See, your guilt is taken away, your sin is atoned for.” That changes everything! We smile at each other and are glad to see each other because in God’s house, we know that our sins are forgiven.

Closing Prayer:

Dear holy God, our sins separate us from you. However, because of the sacrifice of Jesus our sins are taken away. Make us always glad to go to your house and worship you as our holy God. 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 things that Isaiah saw in God’s temple that terrified him?
• What do you see in church that reminds you that God loves you?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why are our sins a problem when we stand before God?
• What did God do to take away our sins?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• What can you learn from the angels’ song that God is “Holy, holy, holy”?
• How can you be friendly and confident in God’s love for you at church?

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 3:14-15,4:1-2

God Knows What We Need to Hear

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

I wonder if Timothy was disappointed in what it was like to be a pastor.

When Timothy was young, the apostle Paul must have told him stories like:
• How Jesus once appeared to him in a flash of light and called him to faith!
• How Paul once debated with philosophers in Athens.
• How he was once jailed but suddenly released from jail by a miraculous earthquake.
• In one city, people were so upset that he was preaching about Jesus that Paul had to be put in a basket and lowered out of a window in the city walls at night!
So much of Paul’s life of sharing Jesus had been dangerous, exciting and amazing.

Now Timothy was a pastor, too, and Paul wrote some instructions and encouragements for him. He didn’t tell Timothy how to escape angry mobs, travel around the world or perform great miracles. Paul’s advice seems much more ordinary: “Preach the Word.” Hold to “sound doctrine.” “Correct, rebuke and encourage.” Tell people the things you’ve known “since you were a little child” learning the stories about Jesus.

That’s still perfect advice. Because what do people need most? It’s not to hear exciting stories or how to live an amazing life. We need to know about how God saves us from our sins. It’s such a simple message that even a little child can learn it: Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again. But it’s so important we need to keep going back to it every day. We need to see our sins (so they don’t take us away from God!), we need to learn how to say thank you to God with the way we act, and we need to know above all that God loves us and will never leave us.

Timothy needed to hear that. We do, too. Keep learning about Jesus. Go back again and again to the simple truths of the Bible you were able to recite as a little child. And on the days when our lives seem extraordinary and exciting—or they feel ordinary, or even a little boring—we’ll know that through all of them, God tells us everything we need to know about our salvation and has given us everything we need to serve him.

And that’s just what we need to hear!

Closing Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for teaching us about the salvation we have in Jesus. Never let us get tired of hearing it! And bless us with lives filled with every good work as we say “thank you” for your love. 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

• Paul says even little children can learn about Jesus. What is something you know about him?
• What are some ways you thank a pastor or Sunday School teacher for telling you about Jesus?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What are some ways we can “continue in what you have learned” about Jesus?
• Describe a time you shared the simple truths about Jesus with someone.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Paul describes people as having “itching ears” that want to hear things that are different from the Bible. What are some false ideas about God that people are “itching” to hear?
• Paul said all Scripture is “God breathed.” That means he inspired human authors to write the words he wanted them to write. Why is that such a comfort?

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. Jesus said to them, . . . “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Luke 4:16-30

Jesus Seemed Ordinary!

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

A lot of people have made up stories about what Jesus was like as a child. In one, he makes little toy birds out of clay, then uses his power to make them alive. In another, when he sees a boy bullying someone, he strikes him dead on the spot—only to make him alive again when his parents get mad! Those stories aren’t true, but it’s not surprising that people wonder what the Son of God was like as he grew up as a young boy.

Truth is, Jesus grew up just like you. It seems that Jesus went to church with his family, learned to be a carpenter like his stepfather Joseph, showed respect for his parents and loved studying the Bible and talking with people about God’s promises. That’s a wonderful thing: God chose to live an ordinary life, much like yours. He knows what it’s like to be a son, a brother, a neighbor.

Being ordinary brought a challenge, though. When Jesus told the people in his hometown that he was the promised Savior, they refused to believe it. In fact, they got so angry they tried to kill him! They were convinced that someone they knew so well couldn’t possibly be the Savior.

There’s a similar challenge that we face. Many of us have known that Jesus is our Savior for as long as we remember—even from the time we were little children. In a sense, we’ve “grown up with Jesus.” It can be easy for us to forget how incredible and life-changing the Gospel message is. We’ll never try to throw Jesus off a cliff, but when we’re faced with doubt or trouble or sickness or fear, we might not think he has anything special to offer us.

There’s only one answer for that: Listen to his Word as if you’ve never heard it before. Understand again what God has done for you in Jesus. Do you feel like your faith is running on empty? Jesus is there to fill you back up. Do you feel imprisoned by guilt? Hear again about Jesus’ forgiveness, and he’ll set you free. Do you feel like no one loves you? Jesus will show you how much God loves you—so much, he’d die for you. It’s a message you know well, but it’s anything but ordinary!

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you have given us the privilege of knowing you so well. Forgive us for the times we take you for granted. Help us every day to see you with new eyes and hear your message with new ears! 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 preached in his hometown. Why was that hard for him to do?
• What did the people there try to do to Jesus?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What’s one way Jesus showed he is true God in this reading?
• Jesus refers to both the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian. If you know either of those stories, describe what they’re about. If not, read the accounts of 1 Kings 17:7-16 and 2 Kings 5:1-19.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Jesus said he came to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy: bringing freedom for the prisoner and setting the oppressed free. Was he speaking literally or figuratively? How do you know?
• Everyone thought they knew Jesus so well that they were convinced he had nothing special to offer them. Describe a time you felt the same way.

Read: Isaiah 61:1-6

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners . . . to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Isaiah 61:1-5

Jesus Came to Fix the Things That Matter Most

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

You probably aren’t poor—at least, you’ve probably never had to dig through the garbage for food. I hope none of you go to prison! Even if you’ve felt some heartbreak before, you’ve probably never been captured or had your hometown destroyed.

But can you picture all those things? Have you seen images on TV of people suffering those things? Can you imagine how it must feel to have a hunger that seems like it will never go away, or feel completely trapped and unable to escape, or like everything you’ve known has been destroyed and there’s nowhere safe?

If you haven’t, you will someday.

God uses those images as pictures of sin and guilt. When we’re caught in a bad sin, it’s like we’re starving to feel good again. Sometimes the sinful things we do break up friendships or destroy important things in our lives, and we can feel like we’re locked up in a prison of our own making or standing in the ruins of what used to be our lives.

But God didn’t just want people to have powerful pictures of their suffering. He had the prophet Isaiah tell people a time was coming when someone would come from God to undo all those problems: He’d preach good news for the poor, freedom for captives and comfort for the broken-hearted. He’d build up the broken-down cities and give them wealth and success. Have you felt that kind of glory and success?

You have! Those are pictures of the forgiveness Jesus brings us. God doesn’t promise us that when we have faith in Jesus, he’s going to give us everything we want. But he does want us to know that Jesus will fix the things that matter. The things that truly matter. He sets us free from sin and guilt! He promises us life in heaven! He gives us everything we need, including his strength to rebuild some of the broken things in our lives.

The people in Isaiah’s day must have been filled with joy when they heard those promises! May Jesus give us joy every day, too.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, there are parts of our lives that are hurting and broken. Help us cling to the forgiveness and the hope we have in Jesus. Show us the way you fix our greatest problems now and keep us in the faith until you bring us to heaven, where there are no problems left. 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’s one of the pictures for sin and suffering that Isaiah used that made a lot of sense to you?
• Is there a picture Isaiah used that confused you?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Isaiah used pictures for great suffering and guilt. Come up with your own picture to describe what it feels like to feel guilty or alone.
• Isaiah also used pictures to talk about what forgiveness feels like. Come up with your own picture to describe what it feels like to be forgiven.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• What would you say to someone who said that today’s bible reading proves that if you believe in Jesus, all your problems will go away?
• Where do you see Jesus in this passage?

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 62:1-5

Funny Names, Faithful God

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

Which of the following names do you think are towns in Michigan:
New Mexico
Truth or Consequences
Kalamazoo

Funny sounding as they may be, all of them are names of towns in Michigan. You may know someone with a different—maybe even funny-sounding name. If so, you have probably wondered what that name means.

Today’s Bible reading has two funny-sounding names. They are Hephzibah and Beulah. They sound funny to us because they are Hebrew names. Hephzibah is a name for the Jewish people, God’s chosen nation, and it probably makes you wonder, “What does Hephzibah even mean?” Beulah is a name for the land that Israel lived in, and it probably makes you wonder, “How did it get to be called that?”

God himself gave these names to his people and their land. Hephzibah means, “My delight is in her.” Buelah means, “married.” God gave these names to reflect his love for his people. Even though Israel kept on disobeying him and not trusting in him, God promised to remain faithful to Israel because he loved them.

Think about the way that you name your pets or how you named your stuffed animals when you were younger. Naming a pet or a stuffed animal was your way of establishing a relationship with that pet or that stuffed animal because you cared about it.

Now, what kind of relationship could sinners like you and I expect to have with the holy, eternal God? We sinners might expect to be his slaves because he is the King. We might hope to be friends with God. But God exceeds our expectations! We are more than servants of the King. We are more than just friends of the true God. God has made us his family! Or, as Isaiah put it, God has married himself to us because that’s how much God loves us!

So, you could go around calling yourself “Hephzibah.” Then, when people ask you about that funny-sounding name, you could tell them, “It’s because God delights in me.” You could ask your pastor to name your church property “Buelah” because God promises to stay faithful to his church, like a husband stays faithful to his wife.

You could make a case for those names, but maybe it’s just easier for you to live your life trusting this. You have the name “Christian.” And because of Jesus Christ, God rejoices over you and delights in you.

Closing Prayer:

Gracious God, because you delight in us, make us delight in you and your word. Make our words and actions shine in our lives that others may see your glory and trust in your salvation. 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

• God compares the way that he feels about you to the way that people feel at a wedding. How do people feel at a wedding?
• God promises to save his people. What does he save us from?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why did God care so much about Jerusalem?
• How does it make you feel to know that God says you are like a prized possession in his hand?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• God said that he was giving a new name to the land of Israel. Can you think of other people in the Bible who received new names from God?
• God compares his relationship with his believers to a marriage. People get married because they love each other. What is the proof that God loves you?

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

Baptism Is Bath Time

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

There are some really big words in our verses today—words like righteous, mercy, justified, grace, and heir. There could be a devotion on each of them! Instead, let’s focus on another word that is easy to understand and picture. Here it is—washing.

Washing sounds easy to do, but you probably know from personal experience that washing can be hard. Parents know how hard it is to wash their small children. Kids often don’t want to stop playing for bath time; so, parents often need to convince (and plead) with kids to be washed. Even when kids get to the bathtub, it’s not easy. Often, the parents are the ones who are applying the soap and shampoo, scrubbing the dirt, and then rinsing the children. All the while, the parents have to make sure that children are safe in water that’s not too deep nor too hot.

But, in the end, washing saves you from dirty appearances, from stinky smells, and from harmful germs. Because the children come out of bath time refreshed and renewed, it’s worth it.

And that’s why the apostle Paul referred to baptism as “the washing of rebirth and renewal.” When we were first born, each of us were covered in the germs of sin. In a spiritual sense, we were dirty and stinky. To make matters worse, like stubborn kids before bedtime, we didn’t think we needed to be washed clean.

But, like a loving parent, God took us to the waters of baptism. He applied his word to us—the spiritual soap that scrubs away sin. Then, God rinsed us clean. He washed us clean through baptism. In a sense, you’ve been reborn. Now, you’re brand new.

Eventually, a child realizes that bath time is not the end and heads off to bed knowing there will be a new day to laugh and play. It’s the same with baptism. Baptism is our spiritual bath time, and it guarantees that we can fall asleep and wake up forgiven and clean for the new day.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death and resurrection, you have saved us from sin and death. By baptism, you have given us the eternal life you won for us. Let me wake up tomorrow remembering I’m clean and ready to live a clean life until the day we wake up to an eternity with you in heaven. 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’s the one word today’s devotion was about?
• When Paul talks about “washing,” what is he talking about?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• God’s love and kindness appeared in Jesus Christ. What are some ways that Jesus showed kindness and love during his ministry?
• What are some ways you can show kindness and love this week?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Paul pictures baptism as a “washing,” a “rebirth,” and a “renewal.” Which word-picture do you like most? Why?
• At your baptism the words, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” were spoken. Why are the same words said at the start of every worship service?