Read: Mark 11:1-10

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:1-10

Jesus, Save Us!

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

About a week before Jesus was put to death on the cross, he entered the city of Jerusalem in a most interesting way. He rode on the back of a donkey. But not only did he enter in an interesting way, the people who welcomed him said a most interesting thing. “Hosanna,” they said, which in their language meant, “Save us.”

By saying “Hosanna,” the people were counting on Jesus to be the one that God had long promised would come to the world and put an end to the power and rule of sin and death. They were hoping for nothing less than an entirely new world. They made this clear by connecting the arrival of Jesus with the arrival of the kingdom of David.

David was an ancient king in the Old Testament whose reign was a glorious one. King David was a picture and promise of the even greater king who would one day come to rule not just a little piece of land, but the entire world forever. Jesus was called the “Son of David” because he was an actual descendant of David and because he would complete God’s promises to David. Jesus was the great king who would save the whole world.

And that’s what Jesus did. He answered the cry, “Hosanna! Save us!” by not only dying on the cross for the sins of the world, but also by rising again to bring the promise of new life to all who believe in him. That’s why “Hosanna! Save us!” is something good to cry out before Christmas. We’re crying out to the Lord who has died and risen again, and we know our cry will not go unanswered. In Jesus we have God’s answer, “Yes, I will save you. I have saved you.”

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, together with the people outside of Jerusalem we cry out to you, “Hosanna! Save us!” You are the king we’ve been waiting for—a king who rules by dying, rising, and saving. Bless us as we put our trust in 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 did the people shout as Jesus came into the city?
• What kind of animal did Jesus ride as he came into the city?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What does the word “Hosanna” mean?
• When the people said “Hosanna,” what were they saying about who they thought Jesus was?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• The people didn’t just invent their opinion of Jesus. How does what they said connect their understanding to God’s written promises from the past?
• If Jesus had died but not risen again, he could not have been the promised Savior. Why is his resurrection so important?

Read: Isaiah 64:1-9

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains would tremble before you!
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,
you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Isaiah 64:1,3,4

God’s power is scary-good!

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

Isaiah was asking for something that seems strange. He is asking God to rip the sky open and make the mountains shake. Anyone who has been in an earthquake or a big thunderstorm knows that these are very scary things. So why would anyone want God to do something scary like that?

The answer the Bible gives is clear. When God comes in his power, he comes to be the God who saves.

This time of year, we begin to look forward to the coming of our God on Christmas. When Jesus was born, the true God entered our world. Jesus is true God and true man in one amazing person. And Jesus came with a remarkable mission. He came to take away our sin, and by doing that, he has made the end of all things sad and scary possible. He even defeated the scariest thing of all—death.

Isaiah knows that he needs God to save him. He knows that he has not always loved God with all his heart and he has not always shown love to the people in his life. Isaiah knows that even though every person is important to God, not a single one has been what God asks us to be. Isaiah knows this is why people die.

But Isaiah is confident and glad to know that his God is the one who does things for the good of others. He says, “No eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” As believers all over the world begin this time of waiting before Christmas, they all wait for the God who saves. He saves us with all the power he has, the kind of power that can shake mountains. In fact, when Jesus died to save the world from sin, the people who saw it said that the earth shook. God used all his mighty power to rescue all people from sin and even from death. All who believe in Jesus will one day die, but in the end, God’s power will raise us to live forever with the one who does good things for his people.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming down to save us. When you died for our sins the earth shook, just like Isaiah wanted. Give us faith to trust that you are the God who does good things for his people. Bless us today and 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

• What are some of the scary things Isaiah hopes God will do (in verse 1)?
• When Jesus died on the cross it was a scary thing. How did God use such a scary thing for our good?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• People dying is sad and can be scary. How does Jesus dying and rising again help us when people we know are hurt or maybe even die?
• Put in your own words how God uses his mighty power to do good things for his people.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• If God is powerfully at work in our lives, why do so easily forget him?
• “O Lord, we are the clay, you are the potter” (verse 8). What is Isaiah hoping God will “re-shape”?

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1 Thessalonians 4:14

Death is Like a Nap

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

Do you ask your parents a lot of questions? Did you know that asking questions is actually a good thing? That’s how we learn as kids. But it’s also important to understand that your parents can’t answer every question. Sometimes a parent has to say, “I can’t answer you now. Wait until I have more time.” Or “I just don’t know the answer to that.”

Here’s today’s difficult question: “What do I say to someone at a funeral when their loved one dies?” What about a friend in school who loses a grandparent to death? How can you find the words? What should you say to yourself when death makes you cry?

Don’t believe everything you see in movies. People don’t wander the earth when they die or cross over to the land of the dead and live there… so long as people remember them in the living world. That’s just not true.

The Bible tells us the truth today. The apostle Paul says, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” God tells you that death is a sleep and Jesus will one day wake us up from that nap. Do you know why? Because Jesus woke up! He took a three-day nap after his death on Good Friday’s cross and woke up early Easter morning. And guess what? He’s never going to sleep again! So don’t be afraid to nod off at the end of your life. Jesus will gently wake you up in time so you won’t be left behind to miss a thing!

So, the next time you’re wondering what to say, don’t overthink it. Say this, “We believe that Jesus died and rose.” Remember what that means. It means that your grandpa, your mom, your friend, or anyone who died in Jesus isn’t actually dead. They’re taking a nap and they are safe. Someday, Jesus will wake them up. And one day, he will bring us all to be with him.

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to die and rise so that I can have certainty that when I die, I will be in heaven. Please give me the simple words of truth and comfort to speak to others when they lose someone they 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

• In today’s devotion, what is death like?
• What do you think heaven is going to be like?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why do plants, animals, and people die?
• Why don’t we need to be afraid of death?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Name two things that make death kind of scary to think about. How does Jesus overcome those fears?
• Life on earth is pretty short (70-80 years is average). Heaven is for eternity. Why is that important to remember as we go about our days on this earth?

Read: Matthew 25:14-30

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
Matthew 25:14

Don’t Be Afraid to Work

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

Do you like to work? Maybe you want to say “No!” It’s a lot more fun to play and do things that we want to do, right? But actually, work is a good thing! God gave it to us a privilege and a blessing! Just think of how a little two-year-old girl imitates her mom and dad, picking up things around the house, pretending to clean and take care of baby dolls. Think of how a little four-year-old boy likes to work on projects outside with his parents. In Eden, God blessed Adam with the work of caring for the garden. To Adam, that work was a joy and a privilege.

When God gives us work to do, he also gives us the abilities to do it. That’s the truth that Jesus talks about in today’s Bible lesson. It’s a story about a wealthy master. He was rich, but he was also very generous, kind, and loving. Can you guess who that might be? It’s God! And this master gives his servants some of his wealth to take care of. He says, “I want you to be in charge of this and put it to work for me!” Can you guess who the servants are? That’s us!

God has called us into his service, and he has given us brains and talents. Think of the special skills and abilities you have. God calls us to use them and put them to work for him.

Maybe that means putting a portion of our allowance or our birthday money back as an offering to support the work for Jesus. Maybe it means we use the energy God has given us for more than just playing. Maybe it’s serving Jesus by helping to clean up around the house without being asked.

Is work always going to be easy and fun? No, not always. There are days when we get lazy and don’t want to work. That’s why it helps to remember Jesus and his work on the cross. It wasn’t easy, but it paid off! He forgives us when we get lazy or don’t want to work. He calls us back to work for him again. That’s when we realize, “Wow, I get to work for God today!” We get to use everything God has given us for him. What a joy it is to work when we do it for Jesus!

Closing Prayer:

Gracious Lord, accept our service
for the sake of Christ, your Son;
lo, our hope abides now only
in the righteousness he won.
Bless and save us, help and guide us,
watch to comfort and restore,
till in heav’n we rest rejoicing,
praising you forevermore. Amen.
(Christian Worship 748:3)

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 does everything we have come from?
• Name something you can do really well because God gave you the ability.

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What is your favorite talent God has blessed you with?
• How might you use that talent to serve God this week?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• How does Jesus’ forgiveness change the way you think about your money, time, and talents?
• Come up with three ways you can use your talents to serve Jesus (one for church, one for home, one for school).

Read: Isaiah 1:10-18

Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 1:13,18

Why do we do it?

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

Why do we do the things that we do as Christians? Why do we go to church? Is it something we just do because we have to? Because Mom and Dad say we should? Why do we give offerings in church? Is it because we’re supposed to? Because everyone else is? How about the church service? Why do we confess our sins every church service? Why do we say the creeds and the Lord’s Prayer? Why do we sing hymns? Is it just because that’s what we’ve always done?

It’s important that we understand why we do the things that we do as Christians, because God wants our heads and hearts to be in worship too!

That’s what God was telling his people in today’s lesson. God told the Israelites how to worship him. He gave them instructions to follow and explained why they were to follow them. God wanted his people to worship him with their hearts. But somewhere along the line, God’s people stopped thinking about what they were doing and why they were doing it. They just went through the motions of worship and didn’t live like Christians when they weren’t at church.

What God talks about today is important for us to remember. Going to church, giving an offering, and saying the right things in the service isn’t what makes us Christians. It’s important that we know, not only what we do, but why we do it.

We go to church each week to hear and learn the most important message of all: God forgave all our sins through Jesus. He’s strengthening our faith every time we listen to his Word. We confess our sins and receive forgiveness, we say prayers, sing hymns, and recite what we believe. Why? Because all of this points us back to that truth. We give an offering to God as a way to say “Thank you, Jesus, for all you’ve done for me.”

So the answer to the question “Why do we do the things that we do?” is actually pretty simple: because Jesus did what he did. He showers us with his grace, love, and forgiveness each time we come into contact with his Word. He sends the Holy Spirit to give us power to serve God and to serve others.

So, why do we go to church? That’s where we hear about Jesus. Why do we give an offering? That’s where we say, “Thank you Jesus.” Why do we sing songs, pray prayers, and recite words? Because those things let us proclaim Jesus! Why do we do what we do? It’s all about what Jesus has done for us.

Closing Prayer:

Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith. Increase our love for you and your Word. 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 the one thing we hear every week when we go to church and Sunday school?
• What is your favorite hymn to sing?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why does God want us to give offerings to him? How is that true even for children?
• How does God strengthen your faith?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why is it so important that we understand why we live the way we do as Christians?
• Agree/Disagree: God gave me my church so that I can show Jesus how much I love him by coming every week.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark!

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

Today’s devotion is about a very special day—so special, it’s the only one of its kind. It’s the day when Jesus is going to come back to our world. It hasn’t happened yet, and we don’t know when it’s going to happen exactly. But here’s a clue: “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” It will come like someone who is trying to break into your home. Why is nighttime the best time of the day to do that? Because it’s dark, and a thief hopes you’re asleep and won’t be able to see him. That is a scary thought! A lot of people are afraid of the dark because they are afraid of what they can’t see.

If you can’t see this big day of Jesus’ return, should you be afraid? Absolutely not! Today’s devotion gives three really good reasons why you shouldn’t be afraid.

1. We are children of the light and of the day. We don’t fear the dark because we don’t live in the darkness. We live in the light of Jesus! If we are near to Jesus, we can be surrounded by darkness, but it can’t touch us. He is always there with us.
2. We have faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. A breastplate is a piece of armor that protects your heart. A helmet protects your head. If you are wearing those two things, you are covered! Our faith in Jesus and what he did for us is like a breastplate. The love that he shows to us, self-sacrificing love, covers and protects us. And we have the hope of salvation! Paul says God has salvation waiting for us on the last day, not punishment. Because Jesus died for us, we get to look forward to living with him. So we should see salvation coming!
3. We have encouragement from each other. If you are ever afraid of that coming day, just turn to another follower of Jesus for some strength and encouragement. And share that same kind of encouragement with them! Build each other up with the good news that we can look forward to salvation!

Closing Prayer:

Lord God, you tell us the last day will come like a thief in the night. Help us to be children of the light who are not frightened or afraid of that day, but people who are looking forward to the salvation you will bring to all whose faith is in Jesus and the death he died for them. 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

• Sometimes darkness is scary. Are you afraid of the dark? Give at least one reason why.
• The next time you are in the dark, what is one thing you can remember in your head that will help to lessen your fear?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Paul mentions we should wear “faith and love as a breastplate” and “the hope of salvation as a helmet.” How do faith, love, and hope protect us in a dark world?
• Paul calls us “children of the light and of the day.” Does that fact make it harder or easier to stay awake and clear-minded?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• After today’s devotion, what would you say to someone who says, “We don’t know when Jesus will come back, so we shouldn’t think about it at all”?
• Why is it important for Christians to encourage and build each other up before Jesus returns?

Read: Matthew 5:1-12

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:1-12

It’s All Backward

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

Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) has these things called “hashtags.” It’s basically a way for people to stamp their messages with a theme or an overall idea. #blessed is one of the more popular options out there. The common thread for using that tag #blessed is usually connected to some kind of success story.

We have strict standards of when that word “blessed” applies. Misusing it and applying it to situations where it doesn’t fit just waters-down its meaning and value. And if you do see someone using it in tough situations, it will probably throw you for a loop.

In today’s devotions, Jesus says “blessed” 9 times in 12 verses. As you look through that list of what being #blessed looks like, a few things are probably going to jump out at you. It’s all backward!

But Jesus isn’t making an announcement here: “You have to be these things to be blessed.” No, he is saying that his faithful followers are blessed even when they are experiencing something awful. Even in the lowest low or the darkest dark this life can throw at you, Jesus says you are blessed in spite of the present terribleness all around you!

Is Christ worth it? We give up nothing. We gain everything. It might mean someone laughing. You’ll ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” Who better to tell us that than Jesus? He looked at us in our sad state and wanted to do something about it. He wanted to give us all the spiritual blessings we crave but could never get on our own. And so to give you those blessings, and so many more, he took all of your sins and the curse that comes with them to the cross… and he forgave every last one of them, so you could truly be called “blessed.” So “rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven!”

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you call us blessed, even when we are facing tough times. Thank you for giving us the blessings of being part of your kingdom now and 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

• Where was Jesus when he taught this lesson?
• Jesus said, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in ___________.”

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Ask your mom or dad (or an older brother or sister) what “blessed” means.
• How do you think people reacted when they heard what Jesus was saying for the very first time?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Which one of these “blessed” things Jesus mentions do you struggle with the most?
• How can you rejoice and be glad even when tough things are happening to you?

Read: Revelation 7:9-17

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
Revelation 7:9-12

Life is Hard

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

“Mom… I’m hungry.” “Dad, I’m so thirsty!” “It’s so hot outside. Can we go to the pool?” Every kid listening to this has said something that sounds like that. The right response from Mom or Dad is a good dad joke (“Hi Thirsty, I’m Dad.”), but those questions are getting at something true and important to understand: life is hard. You eat a good breakfast, but then you’re hungry again before lunch time. Drink as much chocolate milk as you want; you’re going to be thirsty again before you know it. Summer means time off from school and fun, but then it’s 100 degrees outside and you can’t do the things you planned on doing.

That’s just scratching the surface though. Then you remember there’s pain, like when you scrape your knee on the sidewalk. There’s frustration that you can’t get the hang of riding your bike or your best friend is hanging out with her other “best friends.” We cry because things hurt; we are sad because we lose things and people we love. No wonder the angel in Revelation calls this time on earth “the great tribulation!” Life is hard sometimes!

But the picture in Revelation 7 is one of joy and praise. The angel tells John that this huge group of people in heaven, so big you could never count them, have come out of the great tribulation. Now they get to shout a song about God’s victory. They are wearing pure, white robes. Robes they washed in the blood of Jesus, our Lamb, who felt the pain, frustration, and tears we feel. He experienced those things so we could look forward to standing in that choir, singing this glorious song, washed clean of every sinful stain! He gave up his life for ours, like a shepherd for his sheep, so he could be our shepherd forever in heaven.

Yes, life is and will be hard sometimes. But eternal life isn’t hard. Because your Lamb, Jesus, is at the center of it all… and he will keep you fed, satisfied, and safe. The tears he wipes away from your eyes will be the last tears you ever cry… forever!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, sometimes this life is hard. It is filled with pain, loss, and hurt. But you promise that someday you will bring us out of this great tribulation and into the joy of heaven. Thank you for washing us clean in your own blood so we could join you in that joy. 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 the name of this special place described in the story?
• Everyone in heaven was wearing white robes. How did those robes become white?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How could you use this part of the Bible to comfort someone who’s going through a tough time?
• Explain what a “great tribulation” is in your own words.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why do you think now is called the “great tribulation”?
• What kind of things does earth have that heaven won’t have?

Read: Romans 3:19-28

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Romans 3:23,24,28

Two Things That Are True About You

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

Just because someone says, “Only kids like hot dogs” doesn’t mean it’s true. There are lots of hot-dog loving kids, but lots of adults like hot dogs too. Or what if you said, “Everyone who likes hot dogs also likes hamburgers”? Is that true? What about that one person who likes hot dogs but doesn’t like hamburgers? Here’s the point: It’s hard to say something that is true about everyone. Someone likes the color blue. Others like green. Or red. Everyone is different.

In our lesson from Romans, Paul says there is one thing that is true of everyone in the entire world: all have sinned. The Bible says this truth in many different places. In Isaiah: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” In the Psalms: “There is no one who does good, not even one.” The Bible is clear. Every human being is a sinner. Say it with me, “I am a sinner.” And that sin makes us fall short of God’s glory.

But listen to something else that Paul says, and it is also true, even though it sounds like it shouldn’t be: “All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” It means even though you’ve been bad and done wrong, you are still right with God. How is that possible? Because Jesus made everything right on the cross.

Think hard about this: All have sinned, and all are saved. All have fallen short of God’s glory, and all are redeemed by Christ. How is it possible for both of these things to be true at the same time? This is the beauty of what Jesus has done for us: he takes our sin on the cross and replaces it with his holiness.

When it comes to being right with God, get what “we do” out of the picture. Get what Jesus has done for you in the picture! He’s made me right with God. You are right with God! It’s what everyone in our world needs: salvation, full, free, in Christ.

By faith alone, you are his! Lord keep us steadfast in this truth.

Closing Prayer:

Christ Jesus, you saw a sinner like me and saved me. Now I stand before my God forgiven and set free. May my entire life be lived to your glory! 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

• Some people try to get to heaven by working really hard and being a really good person. They don’t think they need Jesus to get there. Why is that a big mistake?
• Jesus didn’t use money to buy us back from sin, death, and the devil. What did he use instead?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• “Grace” means “undeserved love.” Based on what we just read together, why was Jesus’ love to us undeserved?
• “Redemption” means “to buy something back.” The Bible says that Jesus “redeemed” us. What did he buy us back from?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• “Justify” is a way of saying, “Not guilty.” If “all are justified freely” by Jesus and found not guilty of our sins, why won’t everyone go to heaven?
• Some people would say that we must make our decision for Christ in order to be saved. Why is that actually impossible to do?

Read: Matthew 22:15-22

The Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him [Jesus] in his words. “Teacher,” they said, “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Matthew 22:15,18-21

You Live in Two Kingdoms

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

The Pharisees’ trap was set.

If Jesus had said it was right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar, the Jews would turn on him. The Jewish people hated Caesar and his Roman empire. If Jesus came out in support of this tax, he would have lost a lot of respect from his fellow people.

But if Jesus had said you didn’t have to pay taxes, he would have had a different group upset with him. The Romans would have heard him, thought Jesus was going against Caesar, and reacted with severe punishment.

Jesus sniffed out their trap and said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And with those words, Jesus avoided the trap! The Jews couldn’t be mad at his answer because he glorified God. The Romans couldn’t be mad either because he promoted paying taxes to Caesar. It’s a win-win for Jesus… and one loss, for Jesus’ enemies.

What is Jesus teaching us? As long as we live on earth, we live in two kingdoms at the same time. We live in “Caesar’s kingdom,” the kingdom ruled by governments and officials. We also live in “God’s kingdom,” the kingdom ruled by the King of kings and Lord of lords. Both kingdoms are good, and both kingdoms are established by God.

Caesar’s kingdom is concerned with order, justice, and a smooth-running society. Being a good citizen of this kingdom means things like paying taxes (“giving back to Caesar,” as Jesus says), obeying laws, and being a useful part of society. This kingdom is all about being a good person.

God’s kingdom is concerned with the Word of God, giving glory to God, and saving souls. Being a good citizen of this kingdom means, first of all, realizing that we don’t deserve to be a part of it! Pause and reflect on how amazing it is that sinners like us are welcomed into the courts of heaven. It’s not because we’ve earned it. It has everything to do with Jesus, the King, bringing us in! This kingdom is all about Jesus who was the perfect person who perfectly obeyed for us.

We live in both kingdoms, Caesar’s and God’s. One kingdom has an earthly king. The other kingdom has the heavenly King. Both kingdoms are intended for your blessing—one for blessing now, and the other for blessing both now and forever. We want to be good citizens of both!

Closing Prayer:

King of heaven and earth, give me the wisdom to walk in both kingdoms. Help me be a good citizen in the world. Help me be a good citizen of heaven. Rule over my heart and all things in 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

• In what way can we be good citizens of Caesar’s kingdom?
• In what way can we be good citizens of God’s kingdom?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Jesus’ main lesson today was “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Think of a coin or dollar bill you have. Check the pictures and words on it. In what ways would Jesus’ words be different if he spoke them today?
• In what ways would Jesus’ words be the same if he spoke them today?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Caesar’s kingdom can only make use of the law, which says what is right and what is wrong. God’s kingdom has an additional tool: the gospel, which is the good news of Jesus and his love for us. How does that additional tool make God’s kingdom different from Caesar’s?
• How can Caesar’s kingdom be established by God if it’s ruled by human beings?

Read: Daniel 1:3-21

Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
Daniel 1:8-16

Eat Your Vegetables!

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

If parents let their kids choose dinner every night, how many families would eat nothing but boxed macaroni-and-cheese and ice cream? That might sound like a great menu, but even the most noodle-loving kids will tell you that you’ve got to have more in your diet than pasta and frozen foods. You’ve got to eat your vegetables.

Daniel chose to eat vegetables for a different reason than a healthy diet. He ate them because, when he was living in Babylon, the king told him to eat foods that God had told his people not to eat. The Israelites were supposed to avoid eating “unclean” foods, and they were definitely supposed to avoid eating foods used in the worship of false gods. In Babylon, Daniel and his friends were asked to eat food that would dishonor God. So they refused. They asked for vegetables instead.

What a risky move! When Daniel said no to the king’s diet, he could have lost his job, or even his life. But Daniel trusted in God to take care of him, because he knew that it was more important to honor God than it was to earn the approval of other human beings. For Daniel, honoring God meant eating his vegetables.

This wouldn’t be the last time that Daniel and his friends would be challenged to make a choice: follow God or follow human beings. God commands us to follow both when we can. We are called to honor our parents, our government, and anyone that God has placed in authority over us. But those in authority are people, and people are sinful, and sinful people can be wrong. When someone commands us to go against God’s will, we only have one choice: to eat our vegetables. That is, to honor God with our choices, even if it’s not the popular option.

Meanwhile, we learn from Daniel and his friends who faithfully served the government placed over them. We pray that our kings (or presidents, or members of congress, or teachers, or parents) on earth never go against what God says. He is King above all kings. What he says is the most important. Trust in him above everything else and remember… to eat your vegetables!

Closing Prayer:

King of kings and Lord of lords, you are the ruler of my life, and your kingdom is the entire world. Help me to always be loyal to you in what I think, say, and do, even when it is unpopular or difficult. 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 is it good to listen to our parents, our teachers, and our country’s leaders?
• When is the only time that we are supposed to say “no” to our parents, our teachers, or our country’s leaders?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• The Babylonians sometimes used food as a sacrifice to their false gods, then ate it afterward. That’s the kind of food Daniel wanted to avoid eating. Why?
• God blessed Daniel’s choice by giving him more health and strength than the people who were eating the royal food. Seeing how God worked in this story, what lesson do we learn for when we face a hard choice like Daniel did?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Maybe Daniel had another option: eat the unclean food when he was with the Babylonians, but don’t eat it when other Israelites were around. Good idea or bad idea?
• Sometimes it can feel like we’re in Babylon again: God’s people living in a land where “rulers” don’t honor him. What’s an example of “eating our vegetables” today, where we must choose to obey God when those in authority are promoting sin?

Read: Romans 1:16,17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:16,17

The Gospel Is Dynamite

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

Boom! In 1867, an explosion rattled the windows of a house on a crisp autumn day in Stockholm, Sweden. Alfred ran to the window to find a smoking pile of wood where his shed used to stand. His brother and his friends used the shed to make a liquid explosive which was powerful but dangerous. Alfred decided he needed to make explosives safer. He poured the liquid into a stick and covered it with a cap so people could control when and where it blew up. 150 years later, people still use Alfred’s invention. When construction workers need to make a hole in a mountain so a road can go through—boom! They use Alfred’s explosive. When people need to take down a concrete building—boom! They use Alfred’s invention. Can you guess what Alfred called his invention? He named it after the Greek word for “power,” which is dynamis. In 1867, Alfred Nobel invented dynamite.

There’s a big wall between people and God, as thick as a mountain. It’s called sin and it’s impossible to get through. Some people try very hard to get to God by doing the right things. That’s like trying to dig through a mountain with a spoon. Other people compare their right actions to others, and they decide they are better than others. That’s like trying to get through a mountain because it’s only one mile thick instead of two miles thick. We cannot get to God by doing the right things. We need God to blow up sin. So he did!

That is the gospel. The good news is that when Jesus came, he blew open a path so that people can get to God, only through him. Jesus did everything right, and he gave us his right-ness, his righteousness, which is so much more powerful than anything we could do. When the Bible describes the power of what Jesus did to open a way for us to get to heaven, it uses a Greek word, the Greek word for power. It says the gospel of Jesus is dynamis.

Boom! The gospel is dynamite.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating a way for us to come to heaven. Help us always trust your righteousness, your gospel, and its power. 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

• Whom did God send to create a way for us to get to heaven?
• What are some ways to get to heaven that don’t work? Which way works?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How would you summarize the gospel in your own words?
• What are some things that make the gospel more powerful than our efforts to get to heaven on our own?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Can you elaborate on the reason why Romans 1:17 says God’s righteousness is “by faith from first to last”?
• If you had some dynamite and a crew of construction workers at a church gathering, how would you design a demonstration to show how powerful the gospel is?

Read: Matthew 21:33-43

“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
Matthew 21:33-41

A Story about Working in God’s Vineyard

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

Jesus once told a story to people who didn’t like him. The story sounds a lot like an ancient song from Isaiah, chapter five. Just like the song in Isaiah, a man plants a vineyard. In Isaiah and in Jesus’ story, the man does everything necessary for the vineyard for grapes to grow. He picks good soil, plants good branches, and builds a watchtower to protect it. The people who didn’t like Jesus knew all about the story in Isaiah, and they knew that the owner was extremely patient and generous as he waited and waited and waited. After all that waiting, the owner never got any grapes. Everyone could see that the right thing to do was destroy the vineyard.

In both stories, the owner represented God and the vineyard stood for God’s people. Then Jesus added a new idea. The owner got some farmers to take care of his vineyard while they lived on the land. They were called tenants. God did that too. He sent leaders to take care of his people and live among them. The people who didn’t like Jesus, those people were the leaders. They were the tenants. So what did the tenants do in Jesus’ story about God’s vineyard?

They didn’t do their job. They didn’t give the owner any fruit. Whenever the owner sent someone to ask for grapes, the wicked tenants killed the messenger. In the same way, whenever God sent prophets to his people, often the leaders ignored them, made fun of them, and killed them. How did God react? He sent more. How patient he is! And when those messengers were killed, what did God do? He sent to the world his one and only Son, Jesus. How generous he is! Of course, people killed Jesus too. God knew they would, but he sent him anyway because that was how he would save the world from their sins.

Our God is extremely patient and generous to us too. We all ignore and disrespect God and his messengers. So what does God do? He is patient with you. He sent Jesus to forgive you. He gives you everything!

So when the patient, generous God who gives you everything asks you to listen to him and work for him, will you ignore him? Will you fight? No! Work hard for the God you love, for the God who loves you.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, help us to see how generous you are toward us. Make us appreciate your patience. Move us to love and work for you all our days. 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 the wicked farmers do wrong?
• What are some ways that God is different from those wicked farmers?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What parts of Jesus’ story would change if the tenants were good and faithful workers instead of wicked?
• How does Jesus’ story apply to us?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• It’s easy to be disrespectful, ignore, or fight with family members. What warning does today’s Bible story give about disobedience?
• Think of a way that God has been very generous and patient in your life. Then think of a way you can replicate it as you live out tomorrow.

Read: Isaiah 5:1-7

I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.
He dug it up and cleared it of stones
and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit.
Isaiah 5:1,2

You Are God’s Garden

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

Imagine you wanted to make the most wonderful garden of all time with delicious vegetables and gorgeous flowers. You would find good soil and carefully plant seeds. You would pull weeds and put a fence around it so nothing could nibble the plants. You’d water it and wait. Gardening takes a lot of work and a lot of patience, but at the end of the growing season, what do you expect to find? Tasty food and fragrant flowers.

In today’s Bible passage, God planted a vineyard, which is a garden for grapes. God did a lot of work. He found a hillside with really good soil. He pulled out all the stones. He planted the best grape vines and made a tower to keep the vineyard safe. After all that work, God expected tasty grapes. But when he went to look at his plants, he found stinky, nasty, rotten things. Ugh. He did everything to help the garden, but it all went bad. How frustrating! Would you blame God for wanting to destroy his vineyard? Of course not.

God didn’t actually plant a garden. It’s a story to help us understand how God feels about people. He chose us to be believers. He paid for our sins by sending his Son Jesus. When we were baptized, God planted faith in our hearts. He protects us by sending parents to love us and angels to guard us. He gives us Bible stories about his faithfulness and promises that he’ll always love us. God is the best gardener. He has done everything to help us grow. So God expects to find beautiful things in us, fruits of faith like respect for people in charge, kindness toward people around us, and gentle words coming out of our mouths. But we all know he doesn’t find those things. Sometimes our attitudes are stinky, our words are nasty, and our behavior is rotten. God would be right to destroy us.

But here we are, not destroyed, not trampled. By some miracle, God still loves us. How amazing! It turns out God doesn’t love us because we’re good. He loves us because he is loving. He will be patient with us when we stink, and he will celebrate with us as we produce more and more fruits of faith. That’s what people do when they love God. And how can you not love a gardener as generous as God?

Closing Prayer:

Lord thank you for all you’ve done to grow my body and soul. Help me to love you more and more so that my faith produces lots of fruit. 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 God do to help his vineyard grow?
• What has God done to help you grow?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Explain why God was so frustrated with his vineyard.
• Think of how you are like the vineyard in today’s story. What is the same? What is different?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• How would you change the story of the vineyard (not the meaning) to appeal to an audience of teens today?
• How might you test to see if God’s work in your life is producing fruit?

Read: Philippians 2:1-11

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:1-4

Copycat

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

Ben was driving his older brother, Donn, crazy. Ben would copy everything Donn did. Donn stood up; Ben stood up. Donn waved at a neighbor; Ben waved at the same neighbor. Donn said, “Stop copying me.” Ben said, “Stop copying me.” Everything Donn did, Ben copied.

Donn didn’t like it so much when his younger brother copied him. It was a little annoying. Ben did it because he loved his older brother and wanted to be just like him when he got older.

Did you know that Jesus calls himself our brother? It’s true! At our baptism, God not only washed all our sins away, he adopted us into his family. And as part of God’s family, Jesus is our brother! That is why in the Bible reading today, Paul encourages you and me to copy Jesus, our brother, in our lives.

What does it mean to copy Jesus in our lives? Well, when we think of Jesus, we can think of how much he loved us. He loved you so much he did everything, even dying on a cross, so that you would know that he is your Savior and that your sins are forgiven. He really loves you a lot! Because Jesus loved us so much, now we can copy Jesus and show love to the people around us.

Or think of how Jesus always put you and me first in his life. His whole reason for coming to earth was that he could serve us and forgive all our sins. He put what we needed—forgiveness—before anything else. We can copy our brother Jesus by putting other people and what they need before our own needs because we love Jesus and them. We can seek to serve and help them in their needs.

And the best part is—Jesus doesn’t think it is annoying or silly when we copy him. In fact, he loves it. It is what he wants us to do—to copy him as we love and serve the people around us!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for putting me first in your life and forgiving all my sins. Help me to copy you in how I live my life and how I show love to others. 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 Ben doing that annoyed his older brother Donn so much?
• Who did today’s devotion encourage us to copy?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Can you think of a time when you tried to copy what someone was doing because they were doing a good thing? When was it? What were they doing?
• Normally, we might think of being a copycat as something annoying. How does being a copycat of Jesus show love?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Reread today’s Bible verses. What is the goal of “being united with Christ, being comforted by his love, and enjoying fellowship with the Spirit”?
• True or false: When you copy Jesus in life, you’re being a little Christ to others.