Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: MATTHEW 14:25-33; HEBREWS 12:1-2 Lemarti woke up on the third day doubting his purpose here in the treehouse village. As a dendrology intern he felt lonely and useless. Was he wasting everyone’s time? Sure, he’d studied trees in his classes the past couple years, but these people had been researching—and living in—the forest for generations. Every day he discovered more things he still had to learn, and he felt like he just couldn’t keep up. He growled into his pillow, “How do I think about everything, Lord? What do I focus on? How do I find courage to be a part of this village?” He rubbed his face and sat up. So far Lemarti had managed to stick to traveling by stairs, ladders, and the swinging rope bridges built with planks. Today Kolufo, his guide and trainer, told him it was time to learn a new crossing method. “Look, it’s not that bad,” said Kolufo. “Sure, you’re standing on a rope. But there’s another rope to hang on to! Easy sneezy! Just walk across.” Lemarti surveyed the two parallel ropes that reached ten feet to the lab. “Easy sneezy,” he murmured, and grabbed the hand rope that stretched across at arm level. He slid one foot onto the bottom rope. His eyes shot to the forest floor one hundred feet down. The net just below him was almost invisible, and he didn’t quite believe it would catch him. He froze. “Lemarti,” groaned Kolufo. “You’ve got to stop looking around. Look ahead at the lab and walk toward it.” “I can’t help it,” Lemarti hissed. “I keep looking at all those other houses and then at the ground, and then I have a heart attack.” “Here, let’s switch.” Kolufo grabbed the rope and scooted across. “Okay, now you try, but this time, just look at me. If you look down or at all these cool treehouses or whatever, I’m going to take the best microscope. Come on.” Lemarti grabbed the high rope, took a deep breath, and stared at Kolufo. He slid his feet forward. The treehouse village disappeared. The space below him was gone. All he could see was Kolufo. This was exactly what he needed to do with Jesus—keep his eyes on Him, and everything else would make sense. Kolufo grabbed his hand and helped him off the ropes. • Amy Glendinning • Today’s allegorical story is inspired by Matthew 14:25-33. Jesus was walking on the sea, and then Peter started walking toward Jesus—on the water—until he looked at the powerful wind and waves, and he began to sink. But immediately, Jesus reached out and rescued Peter. Similarly, when we keep our eyes on Jesus, instead of on all the overwhelming things in our lives and the world around us, He helps us follow Him one step at a time (John 8:12; 15:5). But, even when we take our eyes off Jesus and fall, He is our safety net. He knows we won’t follow Him perfectly, and He died and rose again to forgive our sins and give us eternal life with Him. How could these truths give us comfort and courage as we navigate life in our broken world? • Can you think of a time you were overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do? Were there any ways Jesus redirected your focus back onto Him. • Have you ever had a moment where looking at Jesus helped the things in your life make sense? What was that like? • What are some practical ways you can keep your eyes on Jesus? Remember, none of us can do this alone. Who is a trusted Christian in your life who can remind you of Jesus’s power and love, point you to Scripture, and pray with you and for you, especially when life is difficult. And let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God....

READ: JOHN 1:9-13; ROMANS 8:16-17; 1 JOHN 3:1-3 Have you ever heard someone say they were “created to be” an artist or an athlete or a leader? Growing up, I believed I was created to write because it brings me so much joy and allows me to encourage others. Perhaps there’s something you enjoy doing that has come to feel central to your identity too. But what if we weren’t created to “do,” but to “be”? The problem with basing our identity around any earthly thing is that when that activity or relationship isn’t going well, it can feel like our value plummets. That doesn’t mean those things are wrong. Obeying God may even look like participating in those activities, but these pursuits aren’t why God created us. God created us to be His children. You are God’s daughter or son, simply because you have believed in Him and trusted in Jesus’s finished work on the cross. As God’s children, we recognize that we need God to take care of us, just as children need their parents to care for them. God delights in us, even when we stumble and require His helping hand (Zephaniah 3:17). He reminds us that our identity as His beloved, forgiven children will not be shaken even if everything else in our lives crumbles. Before we can do anything to glorify God, we must first root ourselves in our identity in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). That doesn’t mean everything will come easy—just look at Jesus. Fully God and fully human, Jesus lived the perfect life and yet experienced tremendous suffering. But He was willing to endure the cross because He loves us, and He was determined to make the way for us to become God’s children. When Jesus rose from the grave, He promised to always be with us. So we can take heart knowing that even when we experience suffering, even if the things we love to do are stripped away, we will never have to walk alone. As God’s children, we will always be treasured in His eyes. • Hannah Chung • What activities, relationships, or other aspects of your life have contributed to your sense of self? • What do you think it means that we weren’t created to “do,” but to “be”? • How does it make you feel to know that God sees you as His child? How might rooting your identity in God’s love for you affect the way you approach life? See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (NIV) 

READ: ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8; ROMANS 8:28-30, 38-39; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4-10 Here it is. Autumn. We see the first of the leaves beginning to change color. Even as they glow and look beautiful, the sight of them may fill some of us with a sense of dread. We know that as soon as the leaves fully change, they will begin to fall from the trees. Then the branches will be bare, the weather will turn chilly, and nothing will seem nearly as pretty or fun. But as the season changes, we don’t have to lose hope. God can use even our darkest, coldest, barest season for good. Jesus Himself went through the darkness, coldness, and bareness of death on our behalf; then He rose from the dead to bring us near to God and secure our resurrection when He returns. As we rest in the hope of what Jesus has done for us, God can help us grow so much, even in times when we feel like we are in a rut. He is at work in and through us even when we feel like we have nothing to offer. The coming of autumn doesn’t have to scare us. If we know Jesus, God is with us even now. He can use any season for good. When leaves fall, there is hope that they will come back again. It’s not the end for them. And when things end or change in our lives, there is always hope for something new. Even as the days get darker and the trees become bare and cold, there is hope for spring ahead. God will help you through this season, and as you lean into His love, you may even get to see how He uses it for good in your life. • Bethany Acker • Even in dark seasons, God is at work. Can you think of any ways you’ve seen God bring something good out of a difficult time, either in your own life or someone else’s? • We won’t always see the good things God is doing through our dark seasons, but we can know that He is with us and He will never leave us. How could this be an encouragement in your life? • During the darker, colder months of the year, it’s normal to feel more sad, lonely, or anxious than usual, and God invites us to process these feelings with Him and the people He has placed in our lives. If you find yourself experiencing an overwhelming amount of depression or anxiety, who is a trusted Christian adult you can talk to? • If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT) 

READ: PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13; COLOSSIANS 3:1-4; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 No one understands! I’m a failure—useless. People would be better off without me. I didn’t want to feel like this, but the thoughts came anyway. Would anyone notice if I was gone? Have you ever felt like this—hopeless and discouraged? If you’re a child of God, Satan is going to want to stop you. What better way to stop you from serving God than to make you feel useless and like a failure? But what does God say in His Word? In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul writes something shocking: “Give thanks in everything.” Paul, the man who had faced more discouragement than most—the man who had been beaten numerous times, imprisoned, stoned, shipwrecked, mocked, and who was struggling with a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)—tells us to give thanks! Not only that. He goes on to say it’s God’s will for us to be thankful. Didn’t Paul feel discouraged? Absolutely! He admits he wasn’t naturally thankful or content; it was something he had to learn (Philippians 4:11). When Paul told us to give thanks, he knew it would be hard. He knew heartache, pain, discouragement, and depression. But he also knew God. Hopelessness is not what God wants for us. And He doesn’t leave us alone in our despair—He came to us in Jesus. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can know that all the hard things we go through are temporary, and our struggles don’t define us. When we give thanks to God, it turns our focus onto Him and the abundant hope He has given us through Jesus. If we dwell on our difficulties, we will be discouraged, but when we turn to God, thanking Him in every situation, we experience His joy. Is it easy to give thanks during the hard things? When your friends betray you, when your mom is in the hospital, and when you don’t fit in? No, of course not. But the reason God calls us to thankfulness is because He loves us and wants to point us to Christ. He is the true source of joy. • Priscilla J. Krahn • What are some good things God has brought out of difficult things in your life? • How does the gospel, and looking forward to Jesus’s return, affect how we understand God’s call to give thanks in every situation? (For more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus" page.) • If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless, who is a trusted adult you could talk to today? Give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (CSB) 

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27; GALATIANS 5:13 Whether we have known Jesus for a long time or a little while, we are part of His body—the church— because He saved us through His death and resurrection. But we may mistakenly think we can’t do important things in the church until we’re adults. Thankfully, I wasn’t even a teen yet when I learned that was not true. I grew up in a very small church, so small that there were never enough adults to do everything. That was good for me—when they let me become a Sunday School teacher at only twelve years old. Obviously, they felt desperate. No adult was available, so they were kind of stuck. The crazy thing is that I loved it, the little kids loved me, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I loved telling the kids about the God who loved them, and the class grew. I learned that I was an important part of the body of Christ. The church needed me, and I needed them. You might not be part of such a small church as I was. You may not see obvious needs in front of you. But I encourage you to look for ways you can serve, because your siblings in Christ need you. This will require you to depend on the Holy Spirit in ways you may not have done intentionally before. But as you rely on His love to serve others, looking to Jesus—the one who served you by laying down His life for you—His love will overflow from you, and He will help you grow in spiritual maturity. Think about things you could do and enjoy doing. Greet people? Prepare food? Sing or play an instrument? Help with technology? Set up chairs? Do yard work? Organize food and clothing donations? Create art? Teach children? Give a friend a ride to youth group? Ask God to show you where He is inviting you to serve…and watch what He’ll do through you. • Lisa Bouma Garvelink • If you know Jesus, then you are part of the body of Christ, and God has given you gifts and abilities you can use to serve others in the body. How might God be inviting you to serve? In addition to talking to God about this, who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk to? Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT) 

READ: GENESIS 1:26-30; PSALM 139:13-16; EPHESIANS 1:4-8; 5:1   I stare at my face in the lake below. I watch the ripples of the water grow. A precious human made by God above On whom He pours out His unending love.   Who am I to serve the powerful King, The creator God over everything? Why did He choose me? I don’t understand What He thought when He chose me with His hand.   But then, in my heart His voice I can hear. He speaks quietly, but His words are clear. “I love you, my child. Why do you not see You are a living reflection of me?”   “You are always mine whatever they say. I will be with you and will guide your way.” I smile as the tears flow down from my eyes And I look up at the breathtaking skies. • Brooke Morris   • It’s so easy to believe the lie that we’re worthless because of what others say about us or what we think about ourselves. Even though you might not like yourself at times, God always loves you. In fact, He even likes you! He created you on purpose, and He wants you to be with Him forever. That’s why He became human, died, and rose again—to take away the sin that separates us from Him. How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus sacrificed His life for you? • Every person is made in the image of God, and everyone has value! And, if you are a believer in Jesus, then you can also reflect God’s glory because you are His child and you have the Holy Spirit, who fills you with God’s love and helps you live in His good ways. When we’re feeling discouraged, how can these truths give us hope? So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) 

READ: JOHN 8:1-11; ROMANS 3:23-24; 8:1 Unable to speak, the woman felt fear pulse through her as heavy hands pushed her toward the temple. “We’ll see what the teacher has to say about this,” one of the religious leaders jeered. Despite the scorching heat and the sun shining in her eyes, the woman was cold. Not like this, she thought. A foolish mistake, and I’m paying for it with my life. Too shocked to cry, she felt her heart beat frantically. No escape, she thought, shivering as she turned away from the prying eyes surrounding her. “Teacher,” said one of the leaders, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” The crowd of men carried rough rocks in their hands, ready to throw. Silence. The woman glanced at Him, and He met her gaze—not with the cruel eyes of condemnation, but with compassion. She had to tear herself away from His gaze; for in that glance, she knew He could read her innermost heart and thoughts. She understood this was the man—Jesus—who she had heard rumors about. Stooping down, Jesus wrote in the sand, reflecting before finally breaking the ache of the silence: “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Silence fell once again. Anticipating the pain, the woman winced as she heard the thud of a rock colliding with the ground. Only it didn’t hit her. One by one, the stones were cast down, and the religious leaders walked away, until she was standing alone with Jesus. “Woman, where are they?” Jesus asked. “Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she replied. “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” Joy and relief flooded her. Jesus had set her free. • Cindy Lee • Today’s story is how one author imagines John 8, when some religious leaders tried to trap Jesus. Consider taking some time to read this passage slowly. What do you notice about Jesus? • Jesus came, not to condemn us, but to save us (John 3:16-17). We have all sinned, and we all need Jesus’s forgiveness just as much as anyone else. Because Jesus died and rose again, we do not need to pay the price for our sin because He paid it for us. How can this truth affect the way we view our own sin, as well as the sin of others? “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” John 8:11 (CSB) 

READ: ROMANS 6:1-23; 8:1, 11 There’s nothing worse than feeling stuck in an endless cycle of sin. These sin cycles steal our life, slowly consuming us until we don’t even recognize ourselves. Pornography is a sin that is very difficult to give up, feeding the cycle of frustration and self-hatred. Thankfully, there is one who can break that cycle. Jesus helps you break the power of pornography, or any sin in your life, in a few ways. First, He offers forgiveness to those who know Him. Because Jesus lived a perfect life—then took our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross—He removed God’s righteous wrath from us and gave us His righteousness before God. In other words, when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sin. He sees Jesus’s perfection. How does that help break our sinful patterns? By killing our self-hatred. Yes, it is right to mourn sin, and it’s okay to be frustrated with yourself and to bring those frustrations to God. But that doesn’t mean that you have to live there. Jesus came to bring an end to that mourning (2 Corinthians 7:10). By recognizing that Jesus has forgiven us and thanking Him for His incredible grace, we stop dwelling on our own sins and start to meditate on God’s goodness. Second, God also gives us help through Jesus’s resurrection. God’s power raised Jesus from the dead, and that same power lives in you if you know Jesus. God’s power, through the Holy Spirit, is the only way to defeat sin. You can always ask God to remind you that His Spirit lives in you and can defeat sin for you. You can also find hope knowing that, because of Jesus’s resurrection, you will one day be resurrected from the dead, free of sin and brokenness forever. Lastly, Jesus gives us community. Find a trusted Christian you can confess your sin struggles to, and ask them to keep you accountable. After all, breaking the power of pornography is often a group effort. Ask them to remind you of Jesus’s forgiveness and His power that lives in you. God is stronger than any sin, and He can bring healing. • Taylor Eising • What sin cycles do you struggle with? Who can you talk to about it? How does Jesus help you break it? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.) • How could you help your friends when they are stuck in a sin cycle? The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 (NLT) 

READ: GENESIS 1:26-27; 2:24; MATTHEW 5:27-30; 6:22-24 Most people do not realize how harmful pornography is. For many, porn consumption is considered a normal part of adolescence, and some say that it’s a healthy expression of sexuality. And God wants us to be healthy, right? Well, yes, He does. And that’s exactly why He warns us in the Bible that lust, in any context, is a sin. And sin is damaging. Whenever we lust after a person, we are dehumanizing somebody who has been made in God’s image. We are taking that person and, in our minds, using them for our own gain instead of viewing them with selfless love and honoring the dignity that person has as an image-bearer of God. You may not know this, but porn consumption fuels the sex trafficking industry. There is a good chance that the people in those pictures or videos did not consent to that lifestyle; they were likely threatened, coerced, or otherwise forced into producing pornographic content. Even if the actors in some content did consent, viewing porn from any producer supports the entire industry, including those who engage in sex trafficking. The good news is that Jesus lived a sinless life for us, despite the temptations He felt (Hebrews 4:14-16). He died on the cross to take away our sin and resurrected from the dead to give us victory over sin and death. If you or someone you know is struggling with porn, there is hope. If you know Jesus, you have the power of His resurrection living inside you, and He is there to help you fight sin every step of the way—even when you fall. All your sins— past, present, and future—are forgiven in Christ. Lean into His incredible, ridiculous grace. • Taylor Eising • Pornography, and every form of lust, are not good because they are outside of God’s good design. He created sex to be shared and enjoyed by a husband and wife within marriage. But lust and pornography warp the good gift of sex God has given us. Thankfully, Jesus offers us freedom. If you struggle with lust, who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about it? If you don’t struggle with this temptation, how can you support your friends who do? • In Christ, we are dead to sin (Romans 6:6-7, 11, 15-23). How does this affect the way we battle with temptation? • What are some ways you can pray for those involved in sex trafficking? And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (CSB) 

READ: LUKE 15:11-32; JOHN 8:30-36 The walls of Andrew’s cell were closing in on him. Only this time, it was no figure of speech. He had heard of other prisoners being crushed by their prison cells, and it terrified him. Since he was a boy, Andrew had never known anything but the Prison of Self. He had been born there, along with everyone else who comes into this world. From ancient times, this dungeon had housed countless people, young and old, rich and poor. But now, for Andrew at least, time had run out. Andrew screamed for help as he huddled in the middle of the shrinking chamber. From experience, he knew the walls were soundproof, so it was useless to call for aid. He was truly alone. Andrew began to picture the moment when the walls squeezed together for the last time, but it was too horrible to imagine. He tried the door again, but it was locked and wouldn’t budge. Before this, Andrew had lived in three different sections of the Prison of Self. He began in the block called Self-Righteousness. Considering himself a good person, he refused to admit that he’d ever done wrong. In his pride, he hated correction and considered it weak to be meek or humble. But after a while, he grew tired of always acting good and transferred to the ward of Self-Indulgence. That block had large, beautiful rooms filled with luxuries, modern conveniences, and entertainment of all kinds. For a time, Andrew enjoyed himself there but soon found that his lavish room was still a prison cell. Every morning, he got up to a day of hard labor, for Self is a terrible master. And every night, he returned to the confines of his cell. Now he was in his third and final cell, Self-Pity—dimly lit and depressing. And it was starting to crush him. Would it all end like this? Did nobody care? In desperation, Andrew recalled that a man named Jesus often walked the prison halls, offering freedom. Many convicts rejected Him in mocking unbelief, but now Jesus was Andrew’s only hope. “Jesus! Jesus, save me!” he cried out. The door of His cell was yanked open, and a hand reached in. Andrew grabbed it and was pulled out just as the walls closed with a crash. Beyond the borders of Self lies a vast country with wide plains, mighty rushing rivers, and peaceful woodlands. It is the country of the Christ-life, and all who have been rescued from Self may freely enjoy this good land. Andrew has. • Jonathan Baker • What are some ways that living for self can make us prisoners? (Proverbs 29:25; 1 Timothy 6:9) • In today’s allegorical story, which prison cell did you relate to the most: Self-Righteousness, Self-Indulgence, or Self-Pity? How so? • No matter which prison cell we’re stuck in, Jesus wants to set us free (Romans 6:6-7; 8:2). He loves us so much that He died on the cross and rose from the grave to save us from sin and death. And once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we don’t have to let sin control us anymore—thanks be to God! It’s true that we’ll continue to struggle with sin until Jesus returns, but the Holy Spirit will help us continue to turn away from sin and walk in God’s good ways instead. How? By relying on God instead of ourselves. Instead of self-righteousness, we can be honest about how we fall short of God’s glory—and rest in Jesus’s perfect righteousness (Romans 3:23-24; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Instead of self-indulgence, we can be honest about all our needs and desires—and rest in His perfect peace and joy (Philippians 4:4-13). Instead of self-pity, we can be honest about all our pain—and rest in His perfect compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3-5; 7:10). What questions do you have about these things? Who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk to about this? “If therefore the Son [Jesus] makes you free, you will b...

READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; ROMANS 8:1-2; GALATIANS 5:1 Have you ever felt weighed down by this world? Like you were a slave to the sin and pain of the past? I’ve been down that road too. And all it led to was anxiety and exhaustion, the exact opposite of what God wants for His people. Every day, I’d wake up fearful, feeling as if I still hadn’t been cleansed from some sin in my life—dragging the past into the future. There was no rest or peace in me, only a vicious cycle of pain and mental torment. Satan had been feeding me the lie that I was a slave to my thoughts and sin. As a result, I felt helpless to live the life God desired for me. But, through God’s Word and insight from godly Christians, it became easier for me to stop feeling condemned by the past. The truth is, because I know Christ, I am no longer condemned; I am no longer a slave to sin (Romans 6:6). Because of Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, the chains that were once holding me have been released. I am forgiven in Christ through faith in what He did for me. Now, each day, the Holy Spirit is working in my life through the process of sanctification, helping me to live the life Christ has for me because I know His promises. I’ve learned that a life lived in light of the forgiveness of Jesus results in true peace. I may not always understand God’s forgiveness or His love, but I’m thankful for His constant, never-failing guidance that ultimately leads to an abundant, joyful life. When we’re forgiven in Christ, God doesn’t want us to be worried about our past sins. In fact, God doesn’t want us to worry about anything, but instead He wants us to present our requests to Him, the God of peace (Romans 16:20; Philippians 4:6-7). • Nathan Fisler • Have you ever been in a constant state of misery? What kinds of thoughts were going through your mind? • It can be so easy to worry about the past, even if we know Jesus has already forgiven us. Thankfully, He knows we need lots of reminders, and He always wants us to come to Him for help. What are some Bible verses you can use to battle against the devil’s lies? Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to when you’re struggling? [Jesus said,] “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:10 (CSB) 

READ: COLOSSIANS 2:6-10; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:12-16; 1 JOHN 4:1-6 One summer, I was a bored 13-year-old who needed something to do. So, I decided to offer piano lessons at my family’s home. After all, I’d had almost two years of piano instruction myself—though I wasn’t taking lessons or even practicing much at the time. My grandmother had given us her out-of-tune piano; I could teach kids to play on that. I’d created a summer job! I haphazardly made a sign and planted it at the end of our driveway miles out in the country. The next day my brother asked, “You’re teaching piano lessons this summer?” His question sobered me: Who was I to be teaching the art of piano playing? I simply wasn’t qualified. Later that afternoon, I removed the flimsy sign. Not all who present themselves as “experts” or (in my case) teachers belong in that position. This is especially important when it comes to offering insight into Scripture or what God wants for His followers. When we put our trust in Jesus, believing the gospel (or good news) that He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave to save us, we receive God’s gracious forgiveness, eternal life, and His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit guides us in understanding the Bible and discerning right from wrong. Encouragement from faithful Christ followers helps too. But what happens when those we look to for help send a message contrary to the gospel? Like my friend who said, “God wants us to have nice things.” (Maybe?) Or the woman who suggested the Bible teaches reincarnation, the concept of one person living many lives over and over. (What?) Some say God desires to bless His people with great financial wealth. (Really?) Or, “If you desire to get married, God will certainly bring you a spouse.” (Always?) We will occasionally hear confusing teachings. Thankfully, when we do, we can look to Jesus. As we read His Word, His Spirit will help us understand what God really says. • Allison Wilson Lee • What teachings have you heard that cause you to wonder, “Does the Bible really say that?” Have you ever asked someone which Bible passages lead them to think the way they do? • Why is it important to read God’s Word for ourselves and prayerfully test whether someone’s instruction aligns with Scripture—as seen through the lens of the gospel? (More on our "Know Jesus" page.) And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NLT) 

READ: PROVERBS 27:17; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:10-18; HEBREWS 10:24-25; 1 JOHN 1:7 We serve an incredibly intentional God. Even though God alone can satisfy our needs, He still designed us to be in Christ-centered community. The most natural place to seek that community is in a local church. But what if the youth group feels exclusive or there aren’t many teens in the congregation? As a teen, church was a lonely place for me. It was difficult to connect with other teens during the service, and most of them didn’t attend my school. At youth group, it felt like everybody was already satisfied with their existing friendships. And when there were changes in church leadership, the number of teens in the congregation shrank. Then at last, in my junior year of high school, God gave me the courage to participate in more youth events, reach out to the teens who served alongside me, and even start a Bible study with those new friends. Several strangers transformed into what I believe will be lifelong friends. While churches are meant to resemble the family of God, we live in a broken world where no perfect community exists. However, we are still called to pursue community because God designed us to grow together and encourage each other, and through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He places us in His family together. In fact, we can even experience God’s presence through healthy relationships with other believers. God offers to guide us and comfort us as we pursue godly friendships. He calls us to be prayerful about who we invest time in and what kinds of friendships we seek, relying on Him to help us every step of the way. While this process still takes courage, the blessing of godly community is worth it. • Hannah Chung • Do you have godly friends in your life who encourage you to become who God has created you to be? If so, how can you prioritize these friendships? If not, consider how God might be calling you to connect with other believers. Even though this may require going out of your comfort zone, it helps to remember that God is with you and will provide everything you need. • If you’re already part of a godly community, is there anyone God is calling you to invite into this community, perhaps someone who might otherwise be overlooked? • Consider taking a moment to talk to God about all this and ask Him to help you notice opportunities to invest in godly friendships in your life. Write down whatever comes to mind. [Jesus said,] “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1–7:4 One of the things I like most about autumn in New England is the county fairs. They have something for everyone. Blue ribbons for quilts and pies. Unusual poultry breeds and lop-eared bunnies. Giant pumpkins. Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, skateboarding, and live bands. Pigs racing for Oreo cookies. And food. Lots of food. Caramel apples and barbecued chicken and warm apple crisp. But for me the most interesting part is the pulling contests. I can sit for hours watching farmers urge their teams of horses or oxen to pull increasingly heavy loads of concrete blocks. The team that pulls the heaviest load wins a prize. But mostly the honor. Some drivers use whips. Some only their voices. I always root for the gentle drivers. I still remember one team years ago that was driven by a young teen. His oxen were a stunning pair. Perfectly matched in color and markings. They looked great together. Then they started pulling. It was immediately obvious that the ox on the left was much stronger than the one on the right. Instead of going straight to the end of the prescribed course, the team pulled to the left and out of bounds. With one more try to go, they somehow managed to cross the finish line. But the more weight was added, the faster they turned to the left. After a mere two or three rounds, they were disqualified. They were unequally yoked. The apostle Paul specifically warns Christians not to be unequally yoked. Does that mean you can’t have a lab partner who is not a Christian? Or play basketball with non-Christians on your team? Of course not! But if we’re partnering with someone for gospel work—serving others and proclaiming Christ—we should be equally yoked. And that includes dating and marriage. In these places, a Christian partner matters. But Jesus doesn’t leave us to make these decisions alone. Jesus loves us, and if we know Him, His Holy Spirit lives in us, giving us guidance and discernment about who to partner with as we do His work together. • Carol Raj • Who are some gospel partners God has put in your life right now? How are you working together? What are some ways you can encourage and strengthen each other? (Hebrews 10:23-25) Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 (WEB) 

READ: LUKE 5:31-32; 19:1-10 Ever feel like people don’t like you? That loneliness feels horrible. Even worse? When people say you deserve that loneliness because of something you did. That’s what Zacchaeus must have felt every day. He cheated people out of money, so his whole town shunned him. When Jesus came into town, Zacchaeus didn’t stand in the crowd to watch Him. He climbed a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus. And as the Savior passed that way, the story takes an unexpected turn. Jesus called out to Zacchaeus: “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today” (Luke 19:5). By saying He wanted to go to Zacchaeus’s house, Jesus was basically telling everyone that Zacchaeus was His friend. The crowd was shocked: Why would Jesus ever want to be friends with such a bad person? Weren’t there people who had lived better lives and deserved to spend time with Jesus? The crowd was completely missing the point. Jesus said He “came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10). He didn’t come to tell all the “good” people how good they were. He came to rescue the people who weren’t doing so good. He came for the cheaters, the liars, and the sinners. And, because of Jesus, sinners’ lives are changed. After Zacchaeus met Jesus, he gave more money away than he’d ever taken. For being Zacchaeus’s friend, Jesus had to pay a price. People talked about Him behind His back and rejected Him because He spent time with Zacchaeus. Even greater than that sacrifice, Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave so that Zacchaeus could be with Him forever. The very best news of these verses, and of the whole Bible, is that Jesus did this for you too. The reality is, there are no “good” people. We all mess up; we all sin. Sinning makes you feel horrible about yourself, and others are often quick to judge you for your struggles. When you’ve been told you’re unworthy because of what you’ve done, remember this: Jesus didn’t come for those who thought they deserved Him. He came for Zacchaeus, who knew he didn’t. And He came for you too. • Thom de Boo • What makes you feel unworthy? Can you think of any moments when you’ve made others feel like outsiders, like they deserved loneliness? Consider taking some time to pray, bringing Jesus whatever hurts or wrongs come to mind and thanking Him for His great love and forgiveness. [Jesus said,] “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT) 

READ: ROMANS 6:6-14; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-21; GALATIANS 3:26-29 Who am I? I wrestled with this question quite a bit during my teen years. I often felt lost, and I sought to define myself through lots of different things: friends, hobbies, how I dressed, my athletic ability, my looks, the size on my clothes…the list could go on and on. And, from conversations I had with friends, I knew I wasn’t the only one. As teens, we struggle with identity so deeply that it can feel like an issue only teens deal with. As adults, we like to pretend that, just because we’ve reached a certain age, we’ve figured out who we are. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: we haven’t. No matter how many trips we’ve made around the sun, we’re still striving to define ourselves. Adults might do it a little differently—through parenthood, college diplomas, careers, houses, salaries, and so on—but we’re still doing it. All of humanity is on a constant search for identity, and it often feels futile. And you know why? Because the things of this world will always fail to satisfy us. No matter where we search for our identity, we will never find it until we realize that, ultimately, we can only find our identity in God. He is the only One who can accurately define us. When we look to the person and work of Jesus, we find both who we are now and who we are called to be. In Jesus, God showed us how much He loves us. Through Jesus’s death on the cross and His resurrection, He made the way for us to become His children. When God looks at us, He sees Jesus’s righteousness—not our sins or anything the world tries to say about us. We are completely forgiven. And we are new creations, called to be like Him and free to follow His good ways through the work of the Holy Spirit! So, the next time you feel lost and wonder who you are, look to Jesus. Your identity is secure in Him. • Alissa Griffin • How do you tend to define yourself? What things do you consider important to your identity? Are there any things about yourself you either wish were different, or you hope never change? • How do those things line up with what God says about you? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about this, telling Him about whatever comes to mind and asking Him to help you learn to see yourself more and more as He sees you. • What would you say to a friend struggling to define their identity? I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (CSB) 

READ: ISAIAH 25:8; HEBREWS 5:7; REVELATION 21:1-5   You say you keep all my tears in a bottle, keep track of them in your book. Do you write some of them small, for the tears I cry in private? Are others BOLD AND BIG for the tears that escape with intensity, with audible, soul-shaking sobs? Do you change the font, from broken-hearted to empty, from fearful to raging? Do you include each tear’s backstory or do the tears stand alone, telling their stories as only tears can? Or do you simply know, without a single word or commentary, and keep track of each one with a tally, a hashmark, simply because they’re a part of me— me, whom you love, eternally? • Abigail Aswegen   • Is it easy for you to cry, or is it difficult? Why do you think that is? We all have times when the tears won’t come, and sometimes we feel like we need to hide our tears. Yet, tears are a gift from God to help us process the hard things we experience in a world that has been broken by sin. Jesus cried while He was on earth—both for Himself and for us. And because Jesus died and rose again to take away our sin and heal our brokenness, He promises that when He returns, we’ll have no more need for tears. • God not only hears our cries, but records our every tear in a book, never forgetting what has hurt us. How does this offer a glimpse into His love for us? How could knowing that God sees and treasures up all our tears help us feel more free to cry when we need to? You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 (NLT) 

READ: ZEPHANIAH 3:14-17; EPHESIANS 2:1-9 Although my family hosted many guests in our home when I was a kid, the most memorable ones were strangers from Australia. Our house sat near a highway in a rural area. One afternoon, we spotted a young man and woman walking down the road. They wore heavy-duty backpacks and hiking boots. We said “hello” from our front yard, and my dad struck up a conversation. He invited them to eat with us, and as we made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we listened raptly to their stories of hiking across America. As a young kid, I wanted to entertain these special visitors from an exotic location, so I started tumbling and dancing around our living room. I turned flips and then did headstands on our couch where Mama and the Australian woman sat—hoping for their attention. Hoping to be noticed. Hoping to be delighted in. We all want to be seen and noticed, to be cherished and to be the cause of someone’s delight. God has created us that way, with a longing to be valued and to be assured of our value. The gospel gives us that assurance—that God loved us so deeply He sent His perfect Son to sacrifice Himself for us and to reconcile us with God. The gospel also gives us the bad news: that our sin separates us from God and that we deserve punishment for rebelling against God’s holiness. Understanding these gospel truths—that we deserve death for our sin and that God forged a way for us to be rescued by Jesus—draws us to trust in Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. To enter the relationship with God that He created us to experience. And to grow in that relationship for the rest of our lives. Zephaniah 3:17 assures those who trust in Jesus that God saves us, delights in us, and rejoices over us—no entertaining headstands required. • Allison Wilson Lee • Do you ever feel you work hard on doing things “right” to get God’s attention or earn His love? It’s easy to fall into this, no matter how old we are. But at the end of the day, living this way doesn’t bring the freedom God wants for us. Instead, Scripture tells us that God delights in His people. Is that hard for you to comprehend—that God is crazy about you? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about this, asking Him to show you how He truly feels about you. “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) 

READ: LEVITICUS 27:30-34; MATTHEW 6:19-34; 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 Have you ever looked at someone, maybe in youth group, and thought, “I wish I believed like they do” or “I wish I loved God and church as much as they do”? First of all, comparing our walk with Jesus to someone else’s is rarely helpful because we can never know what is going on in another person’s heart or relationship with God. However, the desire to grow closer to God, to be more in love with Him, and to be more committed to church—those are good things! If I’m honest, when I was a teen, sometimes I didn’t feel that desire. But that’s when Matthew 6:21 caught my attention: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” And Jesus is the ultimate treasure! If my heart follows where my treasure (or my money) goes, that means the opposite is also true. I can choose to put my money into what I want to love. This was a game changer for me. Obviously, as a high school student, I wasn’t making a lot of money at my weekend job, but I began to budget with my heart in mind. I decided to tithe (which is the biblical Old Testament principle of giving ten percent of your income to your local congregation), and I picked an additional percentage of each paycheck to give to Christian missions and causes that piqued my interest. I even decided to spend some of my fun money on Christian books and Bible translations. Over time, I began to feel more connected to God, to His heart, and to His plan unfolding in my life, in my community, and around the world. Even now, when I feel distant or far from God, my knee-jerk response is to check my budget. I make sure I’ve done my giving this month, and I consider if I’m becoming too stagnant or routine and need to increase the percentage I give. It’s important to remember that, once we’ve put our trust in Jesus He is always with us, whether we tithe or not. But putting my money where my mouth—or my faith—is has truly deepened my relationship with God and my sense of His presence. • Abigail Aswegen • As Christians, we follow an incredibly generous God. He gave us this earth, the loving people in our lives, and the very breath we breathe. He loves us so much that He even provides the way to be saved from sin and death and live with Him forever through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. If we know Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in us and moves us toward generosity and giving to others to help with their needs. Consider spending some time in prayer, thanking God for His generosity and asking Him where He is calling you to give in this season of your life. [Jesus said,] “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV)  

READ: MATTHEW 22:36-40; JOHN 14:15-27; 2 JOHN 1:5-6 If you often go to church or read the Bible, you’ve probably been told over and over again, “Love the Lord your God.” But what does that mean? How do we do that? Should we just try to create positive emotions toward God and maintain that happy feeling for Him all the time? No, of course not! While feelings are an important part of love—and we will have times when we feel lots of love for God—love goes much deeper than feelings. Actions and choices are what ultimately define and sustain love. And God chose to love us first. He pursued His people in many ways in the Old Testament, and then Jesus came. As God the Son, Jesus obeyed and loved God the Father perfectly. Jesus died on the cross to take our sins upon Himself and to give us His righteousness before the Father, and then He rose from the dead to defeat Satan, sin, and death—making the way for us to be with Him forever. That’s a lot of love! For us, loving God means responding to His love by making choices that are in line with His good ways. Because God loves us, He gave us commands that reflect His goodness. And because of what He does for us, and in us, we can love Him by obeying those good commands. The problem is, none of us can do that perfectly. We all miss the mark. We fail to love God as He deserves to be loved. But the good news is, Jesus loved and obeyed the Father for us. And if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He has given us the Holy Spirit, empowering us to love God too. That doesn’t mean loving God will always be easy. And, just like loving anyone else in our lives, loving God doesn’t mean you can’t share feelings of anger or fear with Him when things get difficult. Quite the opposite! There are many examples in the Psalms of lament—of people calling out to God in anger and frustration—but that doesn’t mean they failed to love Him in those moments. In fact, by drawing near to God in their times of pain and anger, they were demonstrating their love and trust in Him. Many of the psalms even end with a reminder of how good God is. Whatever season of life I’m in—whether I’m lamenting like the psalmists or overflowing with joy and praise in the face of God’s goodness—when He reminds me of what He has done for me through Jesus, it leads me to love Him more and more. • Taylor Eising • God loves us so much that, even when we fail to love Him, He doesn’t stop loving us. In Jesus, He offers us forgiveness. Consider taking a moment to praise God for His amazing love! We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)