Reminder: Youth bake sale on Sunday (1/19). Please reach out to Pastor Joe about contributing a dessert.

Thursday (1/16/2025)

Dwelling in the love of God leads to fruit in season, while rejecting His ways leads to death.

Psalm 1:1–6 (ESV) — 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

1) Share about a time when you got to see the fruit of growth (full pear tree, golden wheat field, tomato plant, etc.)

2) Where in the Gospel of John does Jesus confirm that being connected to Him is what produces Spiritual fruit?

3) Knowing Jesus’ words in John 15, plan for how you can mediate on God’s Word this week & so be connected.

Friday (1/17/2025)

Even the apostles, in all the good that they did, didn’t earn their way into eternal life or positions of authority.

Luke 10:23–24 (ESV) — 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

1) Were the apostles somehow better than anyone else Jesus could have chosen? Why did He choose them?

2) Some believers have great gifts or important ministries, but does that make them better than other Christians?

3) Pray for God to give you a humble heart that uses your gifts to serve others while letting Him receive all praise.

Saturday (1/18/2025)

We can take no credit for the good we do, since it all comes from Christ, the great gift-giver.

Ephesians 4:4–10 (ESV) — 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

1) Friday, you prayed for your gifts to be put to use. What are the gifts/talents you have been given? By whom?

2) V.7 mentions Christ’s gift. Though He gives many gifts, what is His one ultimate gift? (His life/righteousness)

3) Where might we confess the truths mentioned in this passage together as a church? (In the Apostle’s Creed, etc.)

Sunday (1/19/2025) – Prayer and Praise Requests

1) Praise God for opportunities to come together as local Christian youth and enjoy fun, fellowship, and Scripture.

2) Pray for all those recovering from illness, surgery, and even grief. Ask for God to comfort them.

3) Ask for discernment in how best to serve others using the gifts God has given you in this new year.

4) Pray for safe travels for our family as we celebrate Anderson Christmas down in Arizona.

5) Lift up the Church across the world, especially our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted for their faith.

Tonight (1/19) will be a youth-only NERF WARS and study at Christ the King. We will be inviting students 6-12 from other local youth groups to join us. NERF guns, ammo, glasses, and pizza provided. Invite a friend or two to join in on the fun and let Pastor Joe know if you plan on coming.

CTK Family Devotions Week #72

Main Topic: God Judges Hearts (1/4) — (True Christianity Book 1, Chapter 33)

Reminder: These devotions are only a tool to use to help you run family devotions in a way that your family needs. Whether you do it daily, tie it to a prayer or sharing time, or have everyone read these verses on their own time is up to you. My aim is to equip you all to be in the Word as a family by giving you Scripture and questions to consider. Each day you will find a main idea to consider, a Scripture passage to read, and some questions to ask to help discuss the reading and tie it to the main idea. Reminder: Youth-only then young families on Sunday the 26th

Monday (1/20/2025)

God looks at hearts in a way that we cannot. Even when it seems like we can see motivations, God knows best.

1 Samuel 16:1–7 (ESV) — 1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

1) Have you ever wrongly assumed that someone was good or bad at a task based on their looks? Share your surprises.

2) Since we can’t judge hearts, how do we treat others? (Assume well, but also give them Christ, who gives a new ♥)

3) When does the Lord work on your heart? (Through His Word) Let Him work by exposing your needs & giving strength.

Tuesday (1/21/2025)

On one hand: Manasseh, the wicked king, received mercy and grace when he repented.

2 Chronicles 33:10–13 (ESV) — 10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. 11 Therefore the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

1) Have you ever seen someone ignore God’s Word like Manasseh? Have you ever “paid no attention” to God?

2) What did it take to “shake awake” Manasseh? (Being captured). How might God allow you to be shaken awake?

3) Ask for a heart that is quick to listen to God’s Word and a spirit that is “awake” now, not only after disaster.

Wednesday (1/22/2025)

On the other hand: Pharaoh was judged by God because he didn’t truly repent, but hardened himself.

Exodus 9:27–30 (ESV) — 27 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” 29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.”

1) To process Pharaoh’s stubbornness, watch a video clip of the song “The Plagues” from the Prince of Egypt film.

2) How did Moses know that Pharaoh didn’t truly want to repent? (God told Him). Do you ever pretend to repent?

3) Repentance is a gift from God, but it is a gift that can be resisted. May God soften our hearts when He speaks!

Have requests for food or activities for this week’s youth-only study at CTK? Let Pastor Joe know!

Thursday (1/23/2025)

God alone can change hearts by His grace, but the prideful and hard hearts of the wicked will lead to destruction.

Proverbs 21:1–4 (ESV) — 1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. 3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

1) Share about times you thought you were making a good decision, but it ultimately turned out to be a bad one.

2) Can we be expected to know everything about the future? Can God? Should we listen to His commands?

3) Together, praise God that He shows you how much you need Him before meeting all of your needs (now+forever)

Friday (1/24/2025)

Saul’s proud heart ignored parts of God’s commands and led to his judgment.

1 Samuel 15:17–23 (ESV) — 17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”

1) Re-read v.22. What good things might we today try to do instead of actually obeying God’s major commands?

2) Was God unjust to remove Saul as king of Israel? Why or why not? (God set Him apart, just like His people).

3) Saul had a rough downfall after this. If you know anyone struggling with God’s ways, reach out to them now.

Saturday (1/25/2025)

While David started in pride, he ultimately repented after his wicked census and humbly sacrificed to God.

2 Samuel 24:18–25 (ESV) — 18 And Gad came that day to David and said to him, “Go up, raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up at Gad’s word, as the LORD commanded. 20 And when Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. 21 And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be averted from the people.” 22 Then Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Here are the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. 23 All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.” 24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.

1) Did God treat David better than He treated Saul when both fell into their various sins? (He called both to repent)

2) Which verses shows the different response David had to God’s call for obedience when compared to Saul? (19)

3) God’s forgiveness comes at the cost of Christ’s own blood. Ask that His blood may cover your sins & give you true life.

Sunday (1/26/2025) – Prayer and Praise Requests

1) Lift up all those preparing the FLY convention and all of us at CTK who are preparing to go & be in the Word.

2) Pray for all those recovering from illnesses and operations. Ask for God’s will to be done for them and you!

Tonight (1/26) will be a youth-only study at Christ the King. Students entering 7th grade through college are welcome. Arrive anytime 4:30pm onwards. Main activities start at 5pm and run until 6:30pm.

Food, fellowship, games, and a lesson time in God’s Word. Invite a friend or two to join in on the fun.

ALSO: This is our fourth night for a young family small group. Know a young couple or couple with young kids? We’d love to host them at CTK from 6:30–7:30 PM. Babysitting provided while we study the Word!