Day 1
Read 1 John 2:15-28
There’s always a choice. And the way you choose is partly decided by knowing if it’s your faith or your parent’s faith. Is it your faith or your friend group’s faith? And the way you really know isn’t by what you say, but it’s by what you do when no one else is around.
Let’s have a moment of honesty, would you say that your faith has transitioned from your parent’s faith or something you’ve just always believed, TO ACTUALLY YOUR FAITH?
When did it happen for you if it did?
If you don’t think it has, what’s holding you back?
Take some time to process these questions with the Lord. It might take a while to come to an honest answer.
Day 2
Read Joshua 24:14,15
To serve the gods of those nations was how the world thought then. When we say the world. What we are saying is the philosophies, ideas, and beliefs the world ascribes to about how life should be lived. And there is a choice you make between God and the world. Will I date God’s way or the world's way and what does that look like? Will you have friendships God’s way or the world's way? Will I view gender God’s way or the world's way? Will I view morals God’s way or the world’s way?
How often do you feel like you struggle between God and the world?
What’s the biggest pull for you to go the world's way instead of God’s way?
Do you believe God’s way is better than the world’s way? Why?
Process these questions with the Lord. Journal on your phone or in your journal as the Holy Spirit shows you new things about yourself and God.
Day 3
Read: 1 John 2:15,16; Proverbs 16:25; Proverbs 19:23; Psalm 37:4; Deut. 11:26-27
The lie is that if you choose the world's way you’ll find what you’re looking for and you’ll find happiness. But everything the world offers is temporary. It’s a trap!
Have you ever believed the lie that if you follow God, you’re missing out?
When was the last time you believed this? What was the situation?
How are you navigating it or did you navigate it?
How did it go or is it going?
What does God say about your situation? Listen or look to scripture and answer honestly.
Day 4
Read : 1 John 2:15,16; Proverbs 16:25; Proverbs 19:23; Psalm 37:4;
Deut. 11:26-27
Why would you choose God’s why? Why would you choose to deny yourself what you want to make God happy?
Well, it depends on what you believe. What do YOU believe?
The Bible teaches us that every person wants to live their own way. Essentially to be their own god or serve something that will allow them to live the way they want. This is called SIN. To live life your way, on your terms, and inevitably break the laws God has given on how we should live as people on His earth.
If you look at how the world is going, you can see that people left to their own desires ruin everything. But God so loved the world. Not the cute cuddly world, but the messed up, sinful, world that was His enemy. He loved you and me. He loved you so much that He sent His only begotten son Jesus, that whoever-WHOEVER believes in Him can have eternal life. This isn’t just a belief with knowledge. It’s also a choice to acknowledge HE is God, He is the only one who can save you, AND that His way is the best way.
Looking at these verses, what does the world's way get you?
What does God’s way get you?
What do you believe? Write it down here as a declaration of your CHOICE!
Week 2
Day 1
Read Acts 1-9
Usually, we think about Paul as the one who wrote most of the New Testament, but here we see that He’s throwing CHRISTIANS IN PRISON! But it wasn’t just ‘cause he’s mean, he’s passionate about the law of God!
What are you passionate about?
Have you ever had something you were so passionate about you were willing to do ANYTHING to get it?
If you were to rate your passion for God on a scale of 1-10, what would it be?
Take a moment and think about your last answer. Ask the Holy Spirit to increase your passion for God not matter what level you’re at!
Day 2
Read Acts 9:10-16
Just because you’re passionate about something, doesn't make it easy to follow through on it. There are a lot of things that can try and hold us back.
What holds you back from being open about your passion for God?
Why does this person or thing hold you back?
If someone told you there were having the same problem, how would you advise them?
Ananias obeyed in the middle of fear and it set into motion the greatest missionary the world has ever seen. What could your courage bring about? Dream with the Lord for a minute and write it down.
Day 3
Read: Acts 9:17-20
God had a plan for Saul, but it wasn’t activated until someone “laid hands on him”. Someone else’s prayer activated Saul’s (Paul’s) passion in the right direction.
Who around you is passionate about God?
What can you learn from them?
What do they do that shows you they are passionate about God?
CHALLENGE: Talk to that person or people and ask them to pray for you to have passion. Take it further by asking them to mentor you for while!
Day 4
Read : Matthew 16:24-27; Ephesians 3:14-21
Do you think that you have ever had “empty” or “misplaced” passion about something? What was it?
Do you think it’s important to surrender our own way?
Why is it important to build your relationship with God every day?
Do you believe that God can use you to make a difference? (Remember Ephesians 3:14-21)
What are some steps we can take to do that? Write them down here.
Week 3
This video is a longer lesson because we wanted to dive deeper into this topic. We believe there is an intentional effort for the devil to attract you, a teenager, into witchcraft and the occult and we want you to know what is, why it's dangerous and what GOD SAYS! So grab some snacks, your notebook, Bible and pen and get ready to jump in to GOD vs WITCHCRAFT.
Day 1
Read Genesis 3:5
What did the serpent (the devil) entice Eve with?
Why do you think the idea of being like God was desirable?
What are ways we can try and be like God?
According to the video, how does witchcraft invite us into being our own god?
TO DO: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways you've tried to make yourself "god". Repent submit to HIs will for your life.
Day 2
Read John 10:1-10
Jesus says if you come into the gate ANY OTHER WAY you are a thief. How does witchcraft enter the "gate" of the spiritual realm the wrong way?
Why would someone want to enter the gate some other way?
How is witchcraft idolatry? (we talked about it in the video)
Do you think someone can participate in witchcraft without it really looking like it? How?
(hints for the above question: Think Astrology, horoscopes, and manifestation).
Have you, unknowingly participated in witchcraft? Take time to repent now!
Day 3
Read Deut. 18:9-14; 1 Sam. 15:23
Witchcraft and rebellion are synonymous (the same).
From what you've learned about witchcraft so far, why does God consider rebellion witchcraft?
When we think rebellion, we can think of yelling at God or completely rejecting Him. How can rebellion also look in more subtle ways?
Have you ever dabbled in witchcraft? This could include oija boards, going to a psychic or any other means of accessing spiritual power for your own purposes.
If you have, you need to repent and shut the door on the demonic influence you have invited in.
To Do: Say this prayer. God, I'm sorry for trying to go around you to access power for my own purposes. ONLY you are the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. Please forgive me. I reject and renounce every illigetimate way interacting with the spiritual realm. I reject and renounce my desire to be my own God. YOU ARE GOD. I send every demonic influence out of my life, every curse I've allowed in and every demonic influence must go in Jesus name by the power and blood of Jesus that He poured out on the cross. I am your child, and I choose to follow only you. Jesus, I recommit my life to you. In Jesus' name, amen.
Day 4
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11: Acts 8:18-19
God is better, more powerful, and more good than the devil. And to be clear the devil isn't good AT ALL. But God is infinitely good!
Look at the gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians and see how the devil tries to replicate these gifts.
YOU HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THESE GIFTS AND YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THEM WHEN NEEDED AND GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THAT'S AMAZING!
To Do: Use the attached file to take the spiritual gifts test and start seeing what spiritual gifts you might have! start talking to your parents and pastor about it.
Go deeper: learn more about the Holy Spirit by watching the interview with Layla Nahavandi about the Holy Spirit.
Week 4
Day 1
Read: Romans 5:20; Romans 2:4
God’s grace is an undeserved blessing and favor. HE WILL BLESS IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR MESS. I literally would be in the middle of disobeying Him and He’d bless me. And you might think, why? His kindness is to lead us to repentance!
Is there an area of your life you know God is calling you to change or repent about?
Have you confused God’s blessing in your life for God’s approval?
What blessings are you seeing in your life right now?
Thank God for His grace in your life. Make a list of things you are grateful for.
Day 2
Read Psalm 25:1-14 *focus on 14
When I learned how to talk to God like a friend. When I learned to rest in His presence and recognize His presence it changed everything for me. When I learned that, I’ve been alone, I’ve been bored, but I’ve never been lonely.– Pastor Joshua Knudsen
Has your relationship with God transferred from your parent’s or pastor’s relationship with God, to your relationship with God?
Do you know what it looks like to make Jesus your friend?
God wants you to know Him in a special way. Take time right now to talk to God like a friend. Tell Him about the randomest parts of your day!
Day 3
Read: Proverbs 14:12
I’ve seen how other people live. I’ve seen other religions. I’ve seen atheists. I’ve seen people who party. People who live good lives but without God. I’ve seen people who are spiritual. I’ve tried to do things my own way and make my own choices without Him. It fails every time.— Pastor Josh (again)
Do you trust that God’s way is better?
If so, do you live like His way is better? How does that look?
What have you seen that characterizes the life of people who do life their way?
Take time to talk to God. Ask if there are areas in your life you’re doing your way instead of His.
Day 4
Read : Psalm 16:1-11
One of the things that would trip me up in middle school and high school was watching people do whatever they wanted, date whomever they wanted, say whatever, watch whatever, I mean no restrictions. They were eating fruity pebbles and I ws eating raisin bran! I’d see them laughing and I just felt like I was missing out.—(yet again) Pastor Josh
Have you ever looked at other people’s lives that don’t follow Jesus and found yourself jealous of them?
What do you want that they have?
Why do you think God says n”o” to some of those things?
Take time to thank God for keeping you safe even when it’s hard. Recommit your trust to him.
It is the limitation of the string that allows a kite to fly. God is not limiting you, He’s helping you soar.
