Lord,
Prompt ________ to confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord. Let him believe in his heart that you have raised Jesus from the dead. Let him call on your name and be saved. Romans 10: 9, 13
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.Why don't you let us watch certain tv shows?
Many tv shows encourage us to do things that are wrong. Most of the time the people who produce the tv shows and the actors in the shows are not Christians. Because they don't know God, they will often do things on tv that are sinful. Some shows even encourage people to do wrong things. The bible says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do" Proverbs 4:23.
Activity:
Make a Top Ten list of your favorite tv shows. Thinking about the verse in Proverbs 4, decide which shows are good for you to watch and which ones might encourage you to sin.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Lord,
Give _______ a singleness of heart and put a new spirit within him. Take away his heart of stone and give him a tender heart instead, so that he will obey you. Let him know that he belongs to you. Ezekiel 11:19-20
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.Why do people worship idols instead of God?
Idols are simply pictures or statues of imaginary gods. Actually, most people who have idols don't worship the idols but the gods they represent. Anything that is more important to us than God can be considered an idol. As a Christian, do not let anything take your attention away from worshiping the one true God. Idols can include celebrities and possessions that you like a lot. If you're not careful, they can take the place of God in your life. But there is only one true God. He loves you and is the only one worth worshiping.
Activity:
Look at a magazine with a grown-up. What famous people are sometimes treated like gods in your country? In the world? Why is this wrong?
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Heavenly Father,
Teach ________ to steer clear of any music that smacks of sexual impurity or obscenity, choosing instead to sing and make music in his heart to you. Ephesians 5:3-4,19
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.The kids around me in class keep getting me into trouble. What can I do?
You can ignore the other kids who are causing trouble. If you don't give them your attention, they will probably stop trying to get you to do what is wrong. If this doesn't work, ask the teacher to change your seat. To do your best in class, you need to be quiet and listen carefully to the teacher. Remember, no one can make you do something wrong or break the rules. Other kids can pressure you, but in the end, you always make the decision.
Activity:
Write the letter I on a half sheet of paper and tape it to the inside of a folder or notebook that you use during the day at school. It stands for "I am responsible". Make a colorful border around the letter. Let it remind you that you are the one who needs to be in control of your own behavior at school.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Heavenly Father,
Equip ________ to control his/her body and live in holiness and honor--not in passionate lust like the example so often set by people who do not know you. 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.Why did Samson tell Delilah his secret?
Samson was in love with a woman named Delilah even though she was a friend of his enemies. When some of those enemies offered Delilah money to help them capture Samson, she agreed and asked him for the secret of his strength. At first, Samson gave the wrong answers, but Delilah finally got him to tell the truth, his strength came from God as part of a vow that included not cutting his hair. Samson let himself be tricked because he was blinded by his feelings for Delilah.
Be careful about your friends, choose them carefully. Even people you care about and like a lot may want you to do something wrong.
Activity:
Write a note in your prayer journal to pray about having good friends.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Father,
Today, let ____________ listen to your voice. Do not let him harden his heart, rebelling against you and testing your patience, Lord. Do not be angry because of his stubbornness; instead, soften his heart and protect him from the deceitfulness of sin. Let him be faithful, putting his trust in you just as firmly as he did when he first believed. Hebrews 3:7-14
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.When did all this Bible stuff happen?
Everything in the Bible happened hundreds and hundreds of years before even your grandparents were born. In fact, when you say what year it is right now, that tells about how many years have passed since Jesus lived on earth, and that's about when the New Testament was written. The Old Testament came to an end four hundred years before that. The events described in the Old Testament took place over thousands of years.
Activity:
Make a timeline of some of the big events in the Bible. You can make a picture on separate pieces of paper, or some on one piece of paper. Put the pictures in order of when they happened. Ask your parents to help you look up how many years ago each event occurred.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Lord,
Put people in ____________'s life who will gently teach her. Change her heart wherever it needs changing, so that she will believe the truth. 2 Timothy 2:25
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.I don't get it - why are people prejudiced?
The biggest reason for prejudice is fear of people who are different. People tend to fear or think badly of what they don't know or understand, including other people or their customs. We do not need to be afraid of such differences as the way people cook, dress, or talk. We need to appreciate these differences instead of judging or criticizing people for not doing things our way.
Some people also believe, wrongly, that certain kinds of people are better or more important than others. This is called racism. Every person who has ever been born is equally important and valuable. God wants you to love and respect others even if you don't know or understand them.
Activity:
Think of a person who is different than you, because of skin color, religion, or place of birth. Research online some things about that person that might help you see the world from their perspective. The next time you see that person, make an extra effort to talk and be friendly with them.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Dear Heavenly Father,
Teach ________ to fear you and worship you and listen to your voice. Do not let him rebel against your commands, but cause him to follow you, so that all will be well in his life. 1 Samuel 12:14
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.Why do I feel bad when I do something wrong?
When we do something wrong, we may feel bad because it hurt others. Or, we may feel frustrated because we didn't do what was best. Also, we may feel guilty because we have let God down. God wants you to do right, so he built a warning system in you to alert you when you are about to do something wrong. That warning system is called a conscience. Your conscience warns you that doing bad things will hurt if you do them. Your conscience is a gift from your loving God.
Activity:
Watch the movie Pinocchio and look for the character named Jiminy Cricket. Listen to the song he sings to Pinocchio about the value of a conscience.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Lord,
Fill _______________ with your Holy Spirit, that her life might be marked by kindness, goodness, and joy. Galatians 5:22
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.Why doesn't God give us some things we pray for?
God is much wiser than we are. He knows what will happen if we get some of the things that we pray for. He can see all that is happening all over the world in every person's life all the time. He wants the very best for each of us. And he has a special plan for every person. So sometimes, God does not give us what we pray for because it could hurt us or turn us the wrong way.
At other times, God doesn't give us what we ask for right away. He wants us to wait patiently for his time. And sometimes, God has plans that we don't yet understand, so He waits or works something out that we cannot see. Remember that God will never ignore your prayers.
Activity:
Write down this passage from the Bible and memorize it: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Lord,
Remind ________ of the plans you have for him - plans to prosper him and not to harm him, plans to give him hope and a future. Cause him to turn to you for wisdom and guidance in all things, and listen to his prayers. Jeremiah 29:11-12
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.What is Prayer for?
The purpose of prayer is for people to get closer to God. When we tell God that we are sorry for our sins, thank Him for all He has done, and ask for His help, God begins to change us so that we love him more and see things from his point of view. Through prayer we can work with God to change the world. God, your loving Father , wants to meet your needs, to teach you how to live, and to be your friend. When you pray, you invite your Father in heave into your life and into your world.
Activity:
Make an invitation to God, asking him to be part of your life each day. Use construction paper, markers, stickers, or whatever other materials you may have. Fold the paper, and draw a picture on the front of your card. It can be a picture of anytime of day that you can pray and ask God to be part of your life. On the inside, write the words you would use for a regular invitation:
Heavenly Father,
Search ________, and know her thoughts. Protect her and place your hand of blessing on her life. Let her know that she is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that when you look at her - as you have done since even before she was born - you see your beautiful workmanship. Psalm 139:1, 5, 13-14
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.If I break something that belongs to someone else but fix it, do I have to tell what I did?
How would you feel if a friend broke something of yours and didn't tell you, even though your friend fixed it? You probably would be upset, especially if you found out later. Treating another person the way you want to be treated is called the Golden Rule. Jesus taught that this is the way we should always act.
Letting the person know what you did is not only telling the truth, it's also respecting that person. If you break something that belongs to someone else, it is important to fix it or to pay to have it fixed. But you should let the person know what you did and not try to hide it.
Activity:
Get a ruler and some small stickers that you can write on. On the twelve stickers, write short reminders of how to treat others -- "Respect others," "Tell the truth," "Be kind," "Be a good listener," etc. Place the stickers on the inch marks, and use your "golden ruler" to remind you how Jesus would like you to act.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Heavenly Father,
Clothe _________ with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let him be decent and true in all that he does, so that he will not spend time thinking about ways to gratify the desires of his sinful nature. Romans 13:14
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.If you don't like something a person wears, and they ask you if you like it, are you supposed to tell them the truth?
We are not supposed to lie, but that doesn't mean we have to be mean or hurtful. There are many ways to tell the truth. We need to learn tact, which is saying the truth in a nice way without hurting the other person's feelings.
For example, suppose you don't like a person's coat. Instead of saying, "That's ugly!", you can say something else, like, "That looks warm".
Activity:
Being tactful can take creativity and practice. Practice responding tactfully in these situations:
Lord,
As I raise _______, please be my shepherd and lead me. Gather me in your arms and carry me close to your heart, giving me grace and wisdom as you gently lead "those that have young". Amen. Isaiah 40:11
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.Why do we have the Bible?
God gave us the Bible because He wanted to talk to us in a way that we would understand. The Bible is a book, and we can read a book over and over. We can also share a book with a friend.
The Bible is like a map because it shows us the direction to go in life. The Bible is like a love letter because it tells us about God's love for us. The Bible is like food because it gives us strength to live. To find out what God is like and how He wants us to live, read the Bible.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Lord,
Fill ________ with the knowledge of your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, that she may live a life worthy of you and please you in every way. Amen. - Colossians 1:9-10
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.Why do my parents get mad at me if they have Jesus in their hearts?
Not all anger is wrong. We should be angry about the bad things in the world, a nd we should try to make them right. When children disobey their parents and do other things that are wrong, sometimes their parents get angry. Good parents want their children to do what is right, so they try to teach children right from wrong. Parents are humans and make mistakes. Even Christian parents who have God living in them and guiding them sometimes do what is wrong. That happens when they don't do what God wants them to do. No matter how your parents act, you should love them and pray for them.
Activity:
Do a role play with your mom or dad. You act like the parent, and your mom or dad acts like you. Pretend like the child has done something wrong, how would you, as the mom or dad act? After the role play, talk with your parent about how you feel when he or she gets angry with you.
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Lord,
As you do immeasurably more than all we could ever ask or imagine in _________'s life, let our entire family remember to give you the glory, for ever and ever! Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21
- adapted from "Praying Scriptures for your Teenagers", by Jodie Berndt ©2007.How can God be everywhere?
God is a spirit, not just a big person. That is, God is not limited to space and time. He has no body that can be neither here nor there. Also, God is all powerful and everywhere all the time. We human beings have physical bodies. That means we can only be in once place at one time. But God is not like that. He is everywhere, always ready to love, help, and listen to everyone's prayers.
Activity:
On a piece of paper, list the places you've visited: cities, states, perhaps even other countries. Maybe you've lived in more than one city already. Put down those places also. Now just think about some of the places you have not visited. God is there already -- he is God of the whole universe!
- adapted from "Fun & Active Devotions for Kids", by Tyndale Kids, ©2000.Ephesians 6:4
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Deuteronomy
6:5-7
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Proverbs 3:6
"in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight"
Proverbs 22:6
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."