At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 7/5

Day 1: Galatians 1:1-10
Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians because he was shocked at how quickly they had turned away from the gospel (6-7). Just as Saul turned from the Lord in 1 Samuel, this New Testament church was drifting away. We live in an “evil age” (4) with people who want to distort the gospel (7), and we often struggle with seeking to please people instead of God (10). Ask God to help you clearly see the ways that you are tempted to abandon his Word and ways. And ask his Spirit to help you walk worthy of the gospel He has given. 

Day 2: Galatians 1:11-24
The gospel is God’s power to save and change us. Paul was utterly transformed by God’s power. He went from a church-destroyer to a church-planter (23). And the people praised God because of Him (24). If we are to faithfully follow Him, we need to grasp the truth that following Jesus is never an addition to our old life; it is something totally new. We have a new family, a new King, a new mission, a new power, and a new joy. This means that leaning back into who we used to be is not only foolish, but unhelpful to those around us. Ask God to help you live so that people “glorify God because of [you]” (1:24).

Day 3: Galatians 2:1-10
Part of the reason that we can’t live to please others is that the church can include “false brothers” (2:4). We always want to love our neighbor, but we must also do this in a way that aligns with loving the Lord with our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:29-31). People must never become our gods. Sometimes holiness and godliness will offend. This does not make them less holy or godly; it makes them a more costly act of worship.

Day 4: Galatians 2:11-14
Even pillars like Peter can crumble under pressure. This should be a warning to all of us: we are always capable of sin and error. We are not saved because we are wise or capable, but by grace alone. And when we sin, we must lean on grace all the more. We must ask God to forgive us, restore us, and continue to grow us into his likeness. Ask God to help you see your own sins and failures, and ask Him to help you respond with repentance and renewed dependence on Him. 

Day 5: Galatians 2:15-21
We are called to holy lives characterized by good works. But can this kind of living save us? No, “by works of the law no one will be justified” (2:16). The gospel is that God saves sinners. We must say, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (2:20). It is good to try hard, but trying can’t save us. It is good to do good things, but doing good can’t save us. We must let go of self-reliance and trust in the Lord to do his saving work. Ask Him to renew your love for Him and understanding of the gospel today.

Catechism Connection: 20
God did not save us because we are great. He saved us because He is great: “Out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, God chose some for everlasting life, and he entered into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of their state of sin and misery and to bring them into a state of salvation by a redeemer” (WSC 20). Praise Him for his mighty gospel-power! Praise Him for our Redeemer!

Monthly Memory: Galatians 3:7
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 6/28

Day 1: 1 Samuel 11:12-15
In many ways, Saul started his reign as king of Israel with wisdom and obedience. In these verses, we read about Saul’s first battle after becoming king—it was a success! And, sadly, it might have been the high point of his leadership. We will continue in 1 Samuel in a few weeks, and we will see Saul struggle, fail, and fall. But before turning there, let’s pause here to consider our own lives and ask the Lord to help us press on faithfully. To help us do that, we will spend the rest of this week in 1 Timothy 4.

Day 2: 1 Timothy 4:1-5
We should be sad, but not surprised, when people turn away from the Lord. This passage lists many different ways that this can look, but I think it is worth it to look closely at two categories: a seared conscience so that we accept what is wrong (2) and an unhealthy, unwise rejection of what is good and right (3). We can all be tempted from the inside or conditioned from the outside to see the world differently than God sees it. If God calls something evil or wrong, we must agree. It is time to scrape the callouses off of our conscience and agree. And if God calls something good, we must not call it wrong or evil. In other words, we need to ask God to help us be a people who know his Word and are willing to submit ourselves to it. 

Day 3: 1 Timothy 4:6-10
Do you “train yourself for godliness” (7)? This training is the mission of your life. We grow strong through exercise. We gain knowledge through study. Likewise, we gain godliness through the training program of the Holy Spirit. Would an observer of your life say that you are actively training for godliness?

Day 4: 1 Timothy 4:11-14
We are called to “set the believers an example” of what it looks like to follow Christ. And this must touch every area of our lives, leading “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (12). How can normal, struggling people like you and me do this? One of God’s gifts to us to succeed is his Word. In fact, we are called to “devote [ourselves] to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (13). God works through his Word. In our church and in our homes, with the congregation and with our families, we must be devoted to the Word. 

Day 5: 1 Timothy 4:15-16
The Christian life is not a hobby. It is an all-encompassing, fully-transformed way of living. That is why Paul can call us to “immerse” ourselves in God’s Word and ways (15). And we must keep a close watch on our lives so that we don’t drift. And this is good for us and for all who listen to us (16). Do you want to save your family members, your co-workers, your classmates, and your friends? God’s pattern for salvation is a life immersed in his Word and ways. 

Catechism Connection: 2
The Word is our weapon to defeat the enemy. The Word is the bread that fuels our lives. The Word is the powerful tool of God to train us for righteousness. “The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him” (WSC 2).

Monthly Memory: 1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 6/21

Day 1: 1 Samuel 10:1-8
When Samuel anointed Saul as the future king of Israel, he shared many amazing things that would soon happen. God confirmed Saul as the new ruler through amazing signs. However, it is also important to see that God still took full ownership of his people. Samuel told Saul, “The Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage” (1). Israel still belonged to the Lord as his heritage. God is the owner and ruler of all things. And we should live our lives understanding that we are taking care of what belongs to Him. Ask God to help you live as his servant today. 

Day 2: 1 Samuel 10:9-16
Saul had an amazing experience through the power of God. He was given a new heart and God’s Spirit rushed upon Him. However, he did not come home boasting about his experiences. He waited for Samuel to tell about what God had done. When God works in our lives, it is good to share. But we must be careful not to boast or act pridefully about God’s grace toward us. Ask God to help you to act humbly, rather than pridefully, as a result of his kindness toward you. 

Day 3: 1 Samuel 10:17-27
While yesterday’s reading shows that Saul could act humbly and wisely at times, today’s reading shows the first hint of his lifelong struggle with fear. God again supernaturally affirmed Saul through the casting of lots, but when it was his time to step forward, he hid in the baggage. We can also struggle to take on the responsibilities that God gives to us. But God will give us strength to obey his call. Ask Him to strengthen your obedience today. 

Day 4: 1 Samuel 11:1-11
God gave Saul victory against Israel’s enemies. Saul responded rightly to the situation, but it was “the dread of the Lord” that fell on the people so that they fought. God gave the victory. Still today, we must respond obediently to God’s command and call. And we must remember that He is the One who wins the battle. He gets the credit. He gets the praise. Pray of a prayer of praise today. List many of God’s great works in your life.

Day 5: 1 Samuel 11:12-15
Saul was installed as king of Israel. This caused Saul and all the men of Israel to rejoice greatly. But the people still were acknowledging their true King. Note that Saul was giving God credit: “today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel” (13). And notice that the people sacrificed to worship the Lord. While God has many great servants in this world, He is the only true Hero. While there are many good examples to follow, there is only one Lord. Ask God to help you honor Him more fully with a life lived for his glory. 

Catechism Connection: 103
When we ask God, “May your will be done in earth as it
is in heaven,” we are asking Him to work in the world and in us. We ask “that God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven” (WSC 103). We must know Him better to follow Him more closely. And we need his help to submit to Him as our true Lord and King.

Monthly Memory: 1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 6/14

Day 1: 1-4
Saul is handsome and tall. He is obedient to his father. And he continues on his task even when there are obstacles. It seems that Saul had qualities that made him a good candidate for a leader. However, as we continue to read, we will see that he does not make the most of the gifts God had given to him. We can learn from this. We may have opportunities and potential, but in order to be successful, we must live lives of obedience and faithfulness. Ask God to help you use your gifts to honor Him.

Day 2: Verses 5-10
Here we see the beginning of Saul’s decline. His servant rightly thinks it would be wise to seek the man of God. But instead of seeing God’s prophet—Samuel—as someone speaking for the Almighty, they understood him as someone who might have a supernatural insight on where to find the donkeys. And they both thought that they must pay to hear God’s voice. In our lives, we must be careful of thinking too little of God’s majesty and power. Yes, He cares about the in’s-and-out’s of our daily life, but we must never approach Him as someone who works for us. Ask God to help you remember that He is your Lord.

Day 3: Verses 11-17
Samuel was listening to God’s voice. And he was willing to obey. Remember that Samuel had been upset about the idea of a king, but he still obeyed when God called him to help install the king. Do you trust God enough to follow after Him even when He works in ways that don’t line up with your plan? Ask God to help you obey Him even when it is difficult or when you don’t understand.

Day 4: Verses 18-25
Saul is confused by how Samuel is speaking to him. And he must have been even more perplexed when he found out that food had been specifically set aside for him ahead of time. You see, Saul had been focused on finding the donkeys, but God was working out all the details to bring Israel its first king. We can be thankful that God sees and knows all. In his sovereignty, He is working out all the details of life. Jesus said that not even a bird falls to the ground apart from the Father’s permission (Matt 10:29). And, in Saul’s life, not one donkey ran away outside of God’s plan. And, for those who belong to Christ, not one day passes without God working out all things for our good (Rom 8:28). 

Day 5: Verses 26-27
Samuel asked Saul to stop his journey to hear the Word of God. God still speaks today, and He has given us his Scriptures so that we can hear his voice. He calls us to slow down our journey and listen. We all have places to go and things to do, but when God calls us to pause because He has something to say, we must stop to listen.

Catechism Connection: 4
Saul and his servant had let their view of God bend too low. They needed to believe, “God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth” (WSC 4). God loves to help us with our everyday issues. He can help us find our “lost donkeys.” But we must never treat Him like a wish-granter or lucky-charm. He is the Lord.

Monthly Memory: 1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 6/7

Day 1: 1-3
Samuel was a godly man, but his sons did not follow in his footsteps. Certainly, they had been raised to know God’s Word and to honor Him. However, they had turned away. This must have grieved Samuel. And when kids grow up and live ungodly lives, it still grieves parents today. But God can bring home the wanderers. God can rescue the lost sheep. Pray today that God would keep you following Him. And pray that your family would pursue Him as well.

Day 2: Verses 4-6
Since the lives of Samuel’s sons weren’t characterized by the faithfulness that is required of God’s leaders, the people were calling out for a king. The sin of Samuel’s sons led to the sins of the people. While we are all responsible for our own sin, we need to see that our sins don’t operate in a vacuum; they affect others around us. When Samuel experienced disappointment because of the people and because of his sons, he turned to God. Where do you go with your discouragement? Bring how you really feel to the Lord. He hears. He cares.

Day 3: Verses 7-9
God doesn’t give up on his people. But He does allow us to experience the consequences of our choices. The punishment for our sins fell on Christ, but there are still consequences—broken relationships, loss, pain—that we experience as forgiven sinners. Israel had been continually rejecting God’s kingship, and now God was giving them what they asked for. Ask God to help you and your family not to reject Him as your ruler today. His ways are the way to joy.

Day 4: Verses 10-18
The people thought that an earthly king would make their lives better. But Samuel explained the high cost that would accompany a king. The king would take a portion of the people’s family, land, time, wealth, and more. Today, God’s people can still think that it will be worth it to pursue life their own way rather than God’s way. There is a price tag for everything we do: it will cost us to follow Christ or to follow our own way. Pray that God would give you and your family the wisdom to choose his ways.

Day 5: Verses 19-22
In today’s passage, the people underline their real desire: to be “like all the nations” (20). They had bought into the lie that they should be like everyone else. We all want “a king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles,” but they were missing the fact that God was doing that for them. Who had rescued them from Egyptians, Midianites, and Philistines? The Lord. Will you trust the Lord to lead you and your family? He can do it better than any counterfeit king. Ask Him to help you trust Him and his ways.

Catechism Connection: 36
As we grow in godliness, we grow in joy, assurance, and peace. However, when we choose sin, the consequences can include a loss of “peace of conscience” and “joy in the Holy Ghost” (WSC 36). God may, for a season, turn us over to the consequences of our sins, so that those consequences will drive us to our knees and press us toward Him (WCF 5.5).

Monthly Memory: 1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 5/31

Day 1: 1-4
For twenty years the people mourned as a result of their sin. But this wasn’t all bad. God used their brokenness to bring them back to Himself. They decided to destroy their idols and serve the Lord only (4). All of us have the sinful inclination to worship idols. These might include self, comfort, wealth, reputation, pleasure, and more. However, if we are to find our ultimate comfort, our eternal wealth, a righteous reputation, and perfect pleasure, we must seek after the Lord alone.

Day 2: Verses 5-6
The people confessed their sins and turned away from them. In 1 John 1:9, we read, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” But confession can be hard. We don’t want to bring our sins into the light. However, hiding sins or pretending to be righteous only brings pain and fear. God knows who we really are. And He can handle our sins. As you pray, begin to confess your sins to Him. It is the way to be made clean.

Day 3: Verses 7-11
When the people began to pursue God, their enemies began to pursue them. Like the Philistines, Satan often responds to harm us when we seek God’s face. The devil is a real enemy who hates you because you belong to God. However, God is stronger and He is with us. Samuel prayed and the Lord protected. Likewise, we can trust that God hears our prayers, and He is able to defend us from our enemies. So ask Him to fight for you today.

Day 4: Verses 12-14
God brought Israel out of their troubles with the Philistines. And this peace came when they turned back to Him. To remember God’s work in saving them, Samuel set up a stone to mark the way that God had powerfully rescued them. We need these reminders of God’s good work. Why? Because hard times will come again. And we need to be reminded that God is strong for us, that God loves us, and that He is able to save.

Day 5: Verses 15-17
In the good times, God’s people had a good leader: Samuel. He moved through the land to judge the people. He pointed them to the Lord. He reminded them of God’s Word. He called them to continue to kill sin. Thank God today for the spiritual leaders that He has given to you for your good. Perhaps parents, mentors, friends, teachers, pastors, elders, or peers. 

Catechism Connection: 98
“Prayer is offering up our desires to God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and with thankful acknowledgment of his mercies” (WSC 98). Today, when many of us pray, we do a lot of asking. However, the catechism helpfully points us back to the reality that in the Lord’s Prayer confession is an essential, central part of praying. And though it can be hard, confession leads to joy because we can better acknowledge God’s mercies.

Monthly Memory: Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 5/24

Day 1: 1 Samuel 5:1-8
The Philistines had captured the Ark in battle. They assumed that this meant that their God, Dagon, was powerful over Israel’s God, Yahweh. But they were wrong! It wasn’t long until Dagon was bowing before the Ark and breaking apart. Beyond this, God was making the Philistines sick and sore with horrible growths on their bodies. But instead of seeing that the God of Israel was worthy of worship and bowing like Dagon, the Philistines sent the Ark away. It is tragic when we respond wrongly to God’s glory. Pray that God would help you and your family respond to his greatness with praise.

Day 2: 1 Samuel 5:9-12
The Philistines passed the Ark from city to city. Everywhere it went, God humiliated the Philistines. He humbled them. Eventually, they decided that they had to send the Ark back “to its own place, that it may not kill [them] and [their] people” (11). The Philistines had made God their enemy and now they wanted to escape from his power. Thank God that though we were once his enemies, He has reconciled us by his Son (Rom 5:10). Praise Him that He has overcome our sin and brought us close to Him in love.

Day 3: 1 Samuel 6:1-9
The Philistines realized that they had sinned. So instead of simply sending the Ark back to Israel, they decided to send a “guilt offering” of gold with it (3). Just like in chapter 4, they remembered what God had done to the Egyptians and that memory still haunted them. However, instead of bowing to the Lord, they sent his Ark away. They wanted to keep their own gods (5). Ask God to show you his glory and to help you kill your idols.

Day 4: 1 Samuel 6:10-16
God brought the Ark back to Israel and the people rejoiced when they saw it. However, they didn’t just rejoice; they also worshiped. When God does something great, we should be glad. But, more importantly, we should be glad in Him. What are the good things that God has done in your life? How has He blessed you? List some of these and worship Him for his joy-giving kindness.

Day 5: 1 Samuel 6:17-21
Sadly, the Israelites worshiped God, but not in the way that He wanted. Instead of following his clear instructions about how to treat the Ark, they looked in it. And they were killed. They asked, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” (20). They had worshiped in a way that pleased them rather than in the way God required, and there were consequences. Consider your worship: Do you come to worship thinking about what will work best for you? Or do you come asking what the King commands from you?

Catechism Connection: 50-52
“The second commandment requires receiving, observing, and keeping pure and whole all the religious worship and ordinances that God has appointed in his Word” (WSC 50). This means that we must not worship Him in any way other than what is appointed in his Word (WSC 51) because of “God’s sovereignty over us, his ownership of us, and the zeal he has for his own worship” (WSC 52).

Monthly Memory: Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 5/17

Day 1: Verses 1-4
The Israelites faced a terrible defeat in battle, and this caused them to ask an important question: Why has God defeated us? Their elders understood that God was in control, but they didn’t understand what God would make clear later in 1 Samuel 15:22—that God is not pleased by empty actions of “worship.” He desires obedient love. So when the people brought the Ark to battle with the belief that this would put them on God’s “good side,” they missed the point. We make this mistake today by believing that our religious acts can put us in God’s good graces. Pray that God would give you a heart for obedient love rather than empty religious activities.

Day 2: Verses 5-9
The Hebrew people became confident when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the battle. And the Philistines remembered what had happened to the Egyptians. The Israelites should have remembered their journey out of Egypt too. Had they forgotten how God had destroyed the Israelites who had rebelled against God in the wilderness (Num 16)? God is great and powerful. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov 1:7). Does your life reflect that you fear God today? 

Day 3: Verses 10-11
The Israelites trusted in the Ark, but apparently did not trust in the laws that were kept within the Ark. The people appear to have been missing a vital faith of their own. They had evidence that Moses and Aaron had walked with God, but where was the evidence of their own faith? James said, “I will show you my faith by my works” (2:18). Can your family and friends see your faith by how you live?

Day 4: Verses 12-18
This passage shows the sad end of Eli’s ministry. He had done some things well, but he had allowed his sons to defile God’s holiness. He had failed to stand for God’s character at the tabernacle in his life, and he had seen the Ark of God lost at his death. At that point, his chapter in the story was complete. But until that day, Eli could have repented. Many in Scripture from Manasseh to Paul turned back to God. We can repent too. Consider your life and pray a prayer of repentance asking God to turn your heart and life to Him more and more. 

Day 5: Verses 19-22
Phineas’s wife is crushed by the loss of her family, and devastated at the loss of “the glory.” She seemed to understand that the Ark was not simply a mascot, but a real marker of God’s real glory in her world. Israel apart from the glory of God was a sad and empty place. And that emptiness could not be filled even by a good gift, like a son. What makes your life “full”? Are you living to “to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord” (Ps 27:4)? Do you ask, with Moses, “Show me your glory” (Ex 33:18)?

Catechism Connection: 47, 87
Let Eli be an example to all of us: today is the day to turn away from our sin. There is no reason to wait. And this repentance will press us into greater “awareness of the mercy of God in Christ,” and change us so that we are now “purposing and working constantly for a new obedience” (WSC 87). This is the way to joy.

Monthly Memory: Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 5/10

Day 1: Verses 1-3
During Eli’s day, the Word of the Lord was exceedingly rare. Today, especially in our culture, God’s Word is more available than ever. Hebrews 1 tells us that in the past God spoke in many ways, but now he has spoken to us through his Son. And 2 Timothy 3 explains that all Scripture is breathed out by God—it is his voice, his Words. Take some time to thank God that his Word is not rare today. And ask Him to help you and your family to feast on his Book because we don’t live on bread alone, but on every word from God’s mouth (Matt 4:4). 

Day 2: Verses 4-7
Samuel was hearing the audible voice of God, but did not grasp that. And we are no more perceptive than he was. We would never know or recognize God without his work to reveal Himself to us. God speaking to us in a way that we can grasp is grace: an unearned gift. Pray that God would, by his Holy Spirit, open your ears more and more to what He has to say. Ask Him to reveal Himself to your family and to help you know Him. 

Day 3: Verses 8-9
It took a little while, but eventually Eli understood what was happening. As an older and more experienced believer, he pointed Samuel toward the Lord. And he developed Samuel’s understanding. We all need people to point us to the Lord and encourage us to respond to God’s voice. Who are the people who have pointed you to God’s Word? Thank God for them. Who are the people that God has called you to point toward Him? Pray that God would help you faithfully lead them toward Him today.

Day 4: Verses 10-18
When Samuel hears the Lord this time, he responds with the wise words Eli had given to him. Samuel understands that he is a servant. God is the Lord—the Ruler—and Samuel must listen and obey. When God tells Samuel the tragic news about Eli’s family, Samuel conveys that message to Eli even though he is afraid. And then we see what might be Eli’s best moment when he says, “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him” (18). Eli also understood that he too was a servant of God and lived that out as an example to Samuel. Pray that God would help you follow Him as his faithful servant today.

Day 5: Verses 19-21
Look at the amazing ways in which God made Samuel a successful prophet. First, God was with Samuel. And the Lord empowered what Samuel spoke by not letting any of “his words fall to the ground” (19). God “established” Samuel as someone who worked for Him (20). And, finally, God appeared again. Was it in a pillar of fire? No. Was it on a mountain-top accompanied by lightning? No. This time God “revealed himself… by the word of the Lord” (21). Pray that God would work in your life and make you successful for Him by the power of his Word.

Catechism Connection: 35, 2
This chapter shows Samuel growing, being sanctified. Sanctification is God’s work “by which we are renewed… in the image of God and by which we are enabled more and more to die to sin and live to righteousness” (WSC 35). And God does this through “the Word of God… to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him” (WSC 2).

Monthly Memory: Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 5/3

Day 1: Verses 1-11
In chapter one, Hannah prayed out of her distress. And here in chapter two, we see her praying out of her joy. The time is always right for prayer. As Paul taught, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17). The Bible talks in different places about our inclination to forget about God when things are going well. However, we must see that God is the great giver of every gift. And it is good and right for us to pray praise back to Him. What will you praise Him for today? 

Day 2: Verses 12-17
Eli’s sons were employed as priests. They had the tasks of helping people worship and seek the Lord. However, their actions did not line up with their assignment. Rather than serving the Lord, they used the gifts of the people to serve themselves. They pressured the people to do wrong and “treated the offering of the Lord with contempt” (17). Though they worked in the Lord’s house, they were far from the Lord’s heart. We must all be careful not to mistake coming to church with loving the Lord. Take a moment to examine your own heart. Pray with David: “ Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Ps 139:24). 

Day 3: Verses 18-21
Samuel stands as a stark contrast to Eli’s sons. They didn’t honor the Lord, but Samuel “grew in the presence of the Lord” (21). And he was encouraged in this growth by his family. His mother supported him every year by making him a special robe to be used as he served the Lord. In what ways can you support your family in seeking and serving the Lord?

Day 4: Verses 22-26
I am haunted by the words in verse 22: Eli “kept hearing” about the evil constantly committed by his sons. He became aware of the pattern of their lives and he continued to hear about it. Finally, he confronted them, but “they would not listen to the voice of their father” (25). We must not wait to lovingly, but firmly confront our own sin or sin in the lives of those whom God has given to us. Galatians 6:1 says, if anyone is caught in sin, “you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” Pray that God would give you wisdom to fight sin in your life and in your family. 

Day 5: Verses 27-36
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). Here we see the consequences of sin in Eli’s family. However, in this judgement, there is also the promise of a coming Messiah. These corrupt priests will one day be replaced with Jesus—the Great High Priest. God promised, “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever” (35). Thank God for Jesus.

Catechism Connection: 100-107
God has given us the Lord’s prayer to help us pray with praise, dependence, and confession, asking for guidance and God’s will to be done. Pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly and consider what each part means for your life. 

Monthly Memory: Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 4/26

Day 1: Verses 1-8
Choosing not to follow God’s design leads to pain and heartache. In this passage, we see a man with two wives. And we see weeping, rivalry, conflict, and disappointment. After all, in Genesis 2:24, God said, “A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” From the start, God had always intended that families would be built from one husband and one wife. It is crucial for us to seek to follow God’s plan; it is the way to joy! And at the same time, it is important to know that God continues to work in the lives of imperfect people. Ask God to give you the strength to follow his commands and principles even when it is hard.

Day 2: Verses 9-11
Hannah took her disappointment to the Lord. She brought Him her honest emotions and longings. Hannah did not come pretending to have her life organized perfectly. She did not come with perfect words and counterfeit contentment. She came with her real pain. And this kind of truth-telling prayer pleases God. We don’t need to pretend when we come before Him. He is ready to hear what is really on our hearts. What is on your heart that you need to bring before the Lord today? 

Day 3: Verses 12-18
At first, Eli didn’t understand Hannah’s prayer. However, when he took time to understand, he was able to encourage her and pray for her. This was a clear encouragement to Hannah in her distress. Eli couldn’t answer Hannah’s prayer, but he could pray with her. And when she went away, “her face was no longer sad” (18). Who can you serve today through encouragement and prayer?

Day 4: Verses 19-20
Hannah’s worship did not require God to give her what she wanted. She went and worshiped the Lord before He had answered her prayer. This is an important lesson for us today: God is worthy of our praise regardless of our situation. We may be distressed and disappointed, but He is still good. As you pray today, list some things that give you reason to praise and thank God. He is worthy of worship every day, no matter what. 

Day 5: Verses 21-28
Hannah brought her son back to the tabernacle when the time was right. She gave back to God what He had given to her. And her worship was pleasing in the sight of God. And, it was also a gift to her son. Did you notice the last verse of the chapter? “And he worshiped the Lord there” (28). The son saw his mom’s worship and it taught him about the Lord and how to respond rightly to the King of kings. 

Catechism Connection: 98-99
The Westminster Shorter Catechism gives a beautiful definition of prayer: “Prayer is offering up our desires to God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and with thankful acknowledgment of his mercies” (WSC 98). We offer our desires to God—pouring out our hearts to Him—in trust, with confession, out of thanksgiving. And we trust Him no matter what.

Monthly Memory: Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 4/19

*We just finished Acts and next week we’ll start 1 Samuel. But this week, I wanted to offer encouragement from Scripture to be in the Word as a family at home. - Kelly

Day 1: 2 Timothy 3:12-17
Paul wrote to Timothy and told him to “continue in what [he had] learned and [had] firmly believed, knowing from whom [he] learned it and how from childhood [he had] been acquainted with the sacred writings” (14-15). Every family should have the goal to know the sacred writings (the Bible) from childhood. And this learning should be tied to the character of the parents or grandparents teaching the Bible in the home. This way their lives show the power of Scripture. Pray that God would help your family grow to be more and more committed to the Word.

Day 2: 2 Timothy 3:12-17 (again)
It’s good to look at this passage again because it not only shows the importance of learning the Bible in the family, it describes the power of the Bible. Scripture is “breathed out by God” and is useful to make us godly (16). Beyond that, God uses the Bible to equip us for every good work. If the Bible is God’s tool to form us, we must make a habit of being shaped by the Bible. Ask God to give you a love for the Word and a passion to share it with your family.

Day 3: Deut 6:5-9
Here we read the Greatest Commandment and God’s call to put this commandment on our hearts. And how can we tell if we have taken God’s command to heart? We teach God’s truths “diligently to [our] children” (7). Those who love God are called to teach his ways in the home. Ask the Lord to help you diligently teach his Word at home.

Day 4: Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (again)
What does it look like to diligently teach God’s Word and ways to our families? Talk about them at home, on the road, at night, and in the morning (7). Place reminders all around—wherever you spend time. This way you will never forget to be in the Word together. Put a Bible at your kitchen table to use at meals. Put memory verses on your mirror or in the car. Put Scripture songs in your playlists. Make it impossible to avoid the call to share who the Lord is with your family.

Day 5: Psalm 19:7-14
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that doing family worship or Bible-time is a chore. Remember what God’s Word accomplishes: it revives the soul (7), enlightens the eyes (8), is sweeter than honey and more valuable than gold (10). Family-time in the Scriptures is a gift to all involved. Ask God to deepen your love for his Word.

Catechism Connection: 1-2
We were given life to glorify God (WSC 1), but without Scripture we are not fully equipped to do that. “The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him” (WSC 2). Let’s be in the Word together in our homes! God desires to speak to us and to shape our families through his Word. Will we listen?

Monthly Memory: Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 4/12

Day 1: Verses 1-10
God rescued Paul from a shipwreck and then from the bite of a venomous snake. Those sound like very unpleasant experiences, but those experiences opened doors for Paul to share the rescuing God with others. He wanted everyone to experience the goodness of God. And, in this case, the people responded kindly. This doesn’t always happen, but it does make sense that showing kindness in the name of our Lord can open doors. And we all know people need to be encouraged, helped, and served. Who can you show kindness to today?

Day 2: Verses 11-16
Finally! After a long journey through jail cells, assasination attempts, shipwrecks, and snakebites, Paul made it to Rome. God had orchestrated Paul’s journey so that he had numerous opportunities to share the Good News, but it certainly felt slow. And in our lives, it can often feel like God is moving slowly. However, we can trust Him to work in the right ways at the right time. Ask God to help you have patience to trust Him as He leads.

Day 3: Verses 17-22
Why did the Jewish people in Rome want to hear Paul share about Jesus? Because they knew that the Way was spoken against everywhere (28:22). This is an example of how Satan may want to work against the Lord, but what the enemy intends for evil, God intends for good (Gen 50:20). So many people had been speaking against Christianity that it created interest. Now many were interested in the source of the scandal. Can you think of anyone who might think following Jesus is so strange or out of date that they might love to hear you talk about it?

Day 4: Verses 23-28
When Paul got the chance, he shared about Jesus all day from all the Scripture he had available. He was making the most of this opportunity. And some of the Jewish people were convinced, while others disbelieved. This should encourage us: Paul did his best, but the results of his evangelism were up to God. Pray that God would help you to share your faith as best as you can, as much as you can, with all the scriptural support that you can. Ask his Holy Spirit to help you trust Him with the response.

Day 5: Verses 30-31
Paul lived in Rome for two years, paid his own bills, and welcomed any who came to visit. As he did this, he declared the Good News. I love this passage because, unlike much of Acts, this part is so… normal. Paul is in his house. Paul is paying bills. And Paul is sharing Christ. This is the kind of life that we should aspire to live when life is “normal.” The normal life that God gives can be every bit as missional as a life of jails, ships, riots, and all the rest that Paul experienced. Ask God to help you to live the life He has given you for his glory.

Catechism Connection: 39
As we wrap up Acts, let us press on to live in response to what He has taught us here. WSC 39 says, “The duty which God requires of mankind is obedience to his revealed will.” By his grace, let’s live for Him.

Monthly Memory: Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 4/5

Day 1: Verses 1-8
The beginning of Paul’s journey to Rome was slow and difficult. The “winds were against” them (27:4). They sailed “slowly” (27:7) with “difficulty” (27:8). In life, there are elements, like the weather, that are beyond our control. And these things can make life difficult for us. However, these difficulties and slow-downs can help us remember how great our God is. Nothing is outside of his control. Nothing is difficult for Him. Ask God to help you to rely on his strength when challenges arise.

Day 2: Verses 9-12
The journey transitioned from slow and difficult to “dangerous” (27:9). Paul advised the centurion not to press on, but to stay put. This would be safer. However, the centurion did not listen to Paul, and took the advice of the pilot. And here we see a glimpse of Paul’s humility. We read nothing of Paul arguing or being upset. When he didn’t get his way, he reflected the patient, humble character of Christ. Pray that God would help you to show Christ’s character when you don’t get your way. 

Day 3: Verses 13-26
The situation worsened: “neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned” (27:20). But God sent his messenger to instruct Paul, and this time the leaders listened when Paul spoke to them. He now had a track-record of being correct. The men knew that they should have listened before, and they would certainly listen now. In other words, God used Paul’s painful rejection to prepare the men to listen at this point. Even when He works in ways we don’t expect, He is in control.

Day 4: Verses 27-38
When the stakes were highest and the sailors were trying to escape on their own, the centurion and soldiers listened to Paul again. His credibility had been established and it held firm even in a life-and-death situation. And as the stressful situation unfolded, Paul used his credibility not for power or control, but to encourage and point to Jesus (27:35-36). Pray that God would give us a trustworthy track-record so that we too can point to Him in all situations. 

Day 5: Verses 39-44
The soldiers had a plan to kill the prisoners (27:42), and that was bad news for Paul. But God had worked in such a way, that the centurion—Julius—wanted to save Paul. Previously, he had been kind to Paul (27:3) and here he actively worked to save his life. God not only controls weather and opportunities, He also connects us to exactly the right relationships. He guides the “who” of our lives along with the “what,” “where,” and “why.” Thank God for the relationships in your life, and ask Him to use you to point those people toward Christ.  

Catechism Connection: 26
Acts 27 is a testimony of God ruling the world. And WSC 26 explains how Jesus carries out his kingly office, saying, “Christ carries out the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.”

Monthly Memory: Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 3/29

Day 1: Verses 1-3
Paul had been treated unjustly and had been in danger for a long time. However, he remained kind and patient in how he dealt with others. It would have been easy for him to lash out and complain, but he didn’t. And it is likely that those who heard his message were more open to what he said because of how he said it. He married charity with clarity. Would people describe you as a patient and kind person even in the face of adversity or frustration? Who we are has a lot to do with how people hear what we say.

Day 2: Verses 4-8
In Paul’s time and place, the supernatural was an assumed part of life. Everyone believed in God or gods. Therefore, Paul could ask, “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” (26:8). Every culture has certain shared beliefs, and Christians are wise to be aware of what those beliefs are. This allows us to find real common-ground as we share the truth about Jesus. What areas of common ground do we share with non-Christians in our culture?

Day 3: Verses 9-11
Though Paul knew the sinfulness of his past, he was not shy about sharing his story. He was open about his past sins because he wanted to make clear how God had changed him. In the modern church, there can be pressure to pretend to be perfect. However, the gospel is that Christ came into the world to save sinners. And Paul knew that it glorified God to be able to share that he was the worst of sinners (1 Tim 1:15), but God had changed him. Pray that God would make you appropriately transparent about how He has changed your life.

Day 4: Verses 12-23
Again, Paul shared the story of his conversion. And he openly shared the reason for his life now: to share the hope of Jesus with others. The purpose of his life was “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Christ]” (26:18). That is the purpose of each of our lives. Pray that God would help us to live according to our mission.  

Day 5: Verses 24-32
The defense that Paul was giving was actually a defense of the gospel. Instead of looking to free himself, he was seeking to free the souls of those who imprisoned him. And Agrippa could see that Paul was evangelizing. He asked Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (26:28). And Paul wasn’t shy in answering that he wanted all those who heard his message to become followers of Christ (26:29). There is no better time than now for each of us to live like this ourselves. Who can you share the Good News with today?

Catechism Connection: 35
One of the most compelling kinds of evidence of God’s work in the world is how He changes us. We are not who we used to be. “Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace by which we are renewed in our whole person in the image of God and by which we are enabled more and more to die to sin and live to righteousness” (WSC 35). When others see you being changed by Christ, they have good reason to believe in Him.

Monthly Memory: Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 3/22

Day 1: Verses 1-7
After a long period of waiting, Paul’s case was going to be heard again. And again the Jewish leaders came with charges against him that they could not prove (25:8). After two years in prison, the untruths kept on coming. Sometimes in life, God steers us through long periods of difficulty, disappointment, and pain. One day, God will make all things new and there will be no more heartache, but—until then—we can expect to experience hardships as we follow Christ. After all, Jesus’ life was full of pain too. Ask the Lord to help you endure with honor as you follow Him. 

Day 2: Verses 8-12
Again Paul was bold in his defense because truth was on his side. He made it clear that he didn’t fear death (25:11). There is an unbreakable freedom that comes from knowing and faithfully following the Lord. He ordains the number of our days (Ps 139:16). He is the giver of life (Acts 17:25). And those who believe in Him will live even though they die (John 11:25). Even in prison or in death, God’s people are safe. No one can pluck God’s people out of his hand (John 10:29). Ask God to build up your faith in Him today.

Day 3: Verses 13-19
Festus explained Paul’s case to Agrippa, and he understood that it was all about one thing: Jesus. The dispute was about the fact that Paul claimed that Jesus was alive (25:20). Over several years and through all of his challenges in prison, Paul had kept the gospel message at the center. In our busy lives, we too must strive to keep the message of Christ, his cross, and his resurrection at the center.

Day 4: Verses 20-22
As Festus explained Paul’s situation, Agrippa became curious. You never know how a life lived for Christ will spark the curiosity of others. Paul had been sitting in prison, but now governors and rulers were coming to hear him speak about Christ. Like Paul, we can trust God’s timing. He will bring the right people at the right time to hear the Good News. Our job is to always be ready to give an answer for the hope in us (1 Pet 3:15).    

Day 5: Verses 23-27
Paul had essentially been vindicated at this point, but because he had appealed to Caesar, he would be sent to Rome. However, his judges were confused on what their judgement should be because they didn’t even have any charges against him. In one of his letters, Paul wrote to live life above reproach so that your opponents will be ashamed (Titus 2:8). It certainly looks like that was what he experienced here. Pray that God would help you to live purely so that none of the enemy’s charges can stick.

Catechism Connection: 76-78
Paul was a man of truth, and that is a great example for all of us. The Ninth Commandment “requires maintaining and promoting truth between one person and another, as well as maintaining and promoting our neighbor’s good name as well as our own” (WSC 77). And it forbids “anything that puts the truth at risk or is injurious to our own or our neighbor’s good name” (WSC 78). Most importantly, being people of honesty allows us to live without putting Christ’s name at risk.

Monthly Memory: Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This summer our out-of-town youth trip is to Panther, WV for Son Servants from July 20-25. I am so excited! Our church has been connected to this trip for a long time, but here is some helpful info about it.

What kind of trip is it?
Son Servants is a missions trip and a youth camp all in one.
It's a missions trip where there is meaningful work to be done like painting, repairs, and more. And it's a camp where students from different churches stay together, eat together, worship together, and play together.

The Son Servants website says the trip “has been described as an international trip in our own backyard!  While the location and culture are very unique, the people that we meet and serve are as authentic and welcoming as can be found.”

Who can go?
Students in middle school (rising 7th) and high school are encouraged to come!

St. Matthew’s Church is also sending a group on this trip, and we will get to partner with them as well. We are hoping to do an informational meeting together to help us all prepare for the trip.

What is the cost and process for registering?
As with most of our events, our generous church has made it possible for us to offer a discounted rate to all students. Beyond that, there are some ways to lower the cost even further. The simplest is to register early. Students can also lower the cost by bringing a friend from outside of our church. There is a reduced-rate for families with multiple kids participating as well. And, of course, if your family is in need of additional financial assistance with this trip, we can help.

Register by April 15 for the early price of $200.
Register by May 15 for the price of $250.

Reduced Costs: 

• Family: If two or more students from the same family register by April 15, the cost will be $175 per student. 
• Outreach: If a student and a friend (who does not attend DPC Youth or St. Matthew’s, but lives locally) register by April 15, the cost will be $175 per student. The idea here is to use this trip to help someone make a connection with the church. 

I am praying that God will assemble just the right team! Please let me know if you have any questions. And check out the pictures below!

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 3/15

Day 1: Verses 1-4
Here we see the Jewish high priest and his spokesman being more open to changes in Jewish culture from Rome than from Jesus. This is sad. Christianity is the historic continuation of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus is the snake-crusher promised to Adam, the Suffering Servant spoken of by Isaiah, and the Messiah that the people had waited to see. However, the gospel is foolishness to those who are perished (1 Cor 1:18), and it takes a work of God to give new life (Eph 2). Though the faith is reasonable, we cannot be reasoned into new life. Pray that God would give new life to the lost in your life.

Day 2: Verses 5-9
Paul’s crime was being a ringleader of Christians: he followed the Way. Jesus Himself had said this would happen: “Be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations” (Mark 13:9-10). Ask God to help you to be on your guard so that you are able to stand for his name and his kingdom.

Day 3: Verses 10-16
Paul is unashamed of the gospel (Rom 1:16). He declares that he worships God “according to the Way” (24:14). He was clearly associating himself with those who were saying Jesus is Lord. This offended the Jewish leaders because Paul was clear that Jesus is the God of the Bible. And it ran the risk of offending the Romans because they referred to Caesar as Lord. However, Paul was bold because he feared God more than man. Pray that God would help you unashamedly trust Him too.

Day 4: Verses 17-21
Paul’s defense was simple: he told the truth. Those who live righteously are as bold as a lion (Prov 28:1), and Paul had the truth on his side. He had not incited riots. He had not tried to cause problems for the Jewish people. Instead, he had been standing up for the resurrection of Christ and the hope of the gospel. There is great power in having nothing to hide. Pray that God would make you a person of integrity so that you can stand for Him in all circumstances.

Day 5: Verses 22-27
Paul continued his missionary mission for two years in prison. He was able to share with Felix and Drusilla. However, they didn’t respond at that time with faith. In fact, Felix heard the truth and was alarmed. To many this might seem like a disheartening failure. Paul was stuck in prison and no one we know of was coming to Christ. However, God’s plan was never in jeopardy. We don’t know how God will lead. And He might take us in a direction that we wouldn’t choose on our own. But his plans are good. They are good for us and for the world.

Catechism Connection: 23-26
We can’t save ourselves or others, but Christ can. And He does this as prophet, priest, and king (WSC 23). As prophet, He reveals to us “by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation” (WSC 24). As priest, he satisfied  “divine justice and [reconciled] us to God” (WSC 25). And He rules as our king by “subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies” (WSC 26).

Monthly Memory: Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 3/8

Day 1: Verses 1-11
The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, while the Sadducees did not. And this was a big disagreement within the council that was hearing Paul’s case. Of course, the gospel requires resurrection: the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of those who trust in Him. When Paul brought up this common ground with the Pharisees, violence broke out again and Paul was removed by the Romans. This kind of violent response against him was discouraging, but God gave him the encouragement and mission he needed at just the right time (23:11). Ask God to give you the encouragement and mission that you need to follow Him as well.

Day 2: Verses 12-15
Paul wanted his people to know Christ, but some of those same men wanted to kill Paul because of what he was teaching and doing. And some of the Jewish religious-leaders were in on this evil plan. This shows the unique posture of Christians toward the world. Others may hate us, but we want to love them. Others may want to harm us, but we want to help them. This is the counter-cultural life that Jesus commanded: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27). Ask God to help us to love those who don’t love us.

Day 3: Verses 16-22
An unlikely hero arises in this part of the story. The son of Paul’s sister heard about the plan to kill Paul, and he was brave enough to go to Paul and then the Roman tribune to report this in order to save Paul. God used this young man mightily to continue his gospel work through Paul. God can use you for his purposes as well. Ask the Lord to guide your steps as you seek to follow Him.
 
Day 4: Verses 23-20
God was now using the same kind of Roman soldiers who had crucified Jesus to protect Paul. This shows us that God is strong and able to work out his plan in just the way He wants. Everyone we meet in this episode, other than God, is limited. The would-be assassin can’t carry out their plan. The Romans need an informant to know what to do. Paul is basically locked up. But God carries out his plan, knowing all, and freely doing everything according to his will. Things in our lives might often seem to be going wrong. And bad things do happen. But we can trust that in all things—good and bad—God is working out his perfect plan in his perfect way.  

Day 5: Verses 31-35
Those who had intended to kill Paul had accidentally set up a meeting between him and the governor. Trying to silence him, they put him on the most high-profile stage of his life so far. Again, we see God’s plan being carried out. This does not mean that this was an easy time for Paul. But Paul knew that the very real difficulties of this life were nothing compared to the eternal weight of glory in Christ (2 Cor 4:17). Pray that God would help you to see that, even when it’s hard, following Him is always worth it.

Catechism Connection: 11
God’s providence is on display in this chapter as God worked through council disputes, family members, and Roman soldiers. In ways we could never imagine or plan, our Lord works though his “most holy, wise and powerful acts of preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions” (WSC 11). And we can trust Him.

Monthly Memory: Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 3/1

Day 1: Verses 1-5
In this chapter, we see Paul starting to share his testimony with those who were wanting to kill him. By sharing his upbringing, education, and past, he was able to share the story of how God had worked to change his life. Think about how God has worked in your life to bring you to him. What is your testimony? And pray that God would open doors for you to share that testimony with others. 

Day 2: Verses 6-11
This portion of Paul’s testimony includes his conversion experience. Notice how powerful the gospel is to save: God took a man on a mission of destruction and made him a disciple. Instead of fighting the Lord, Paul asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” (22:8). There is no one outside of God’s ability to save. There is no one who can run out of God’s reach or sin beyond his ability to save. Our hope is not in our inclination to seek or follow God, but in God’s mercy and grace to save us. Praise Him for the power of the gospel in your life.

Day 3: Verses 12-16
God’s plans never fail. Ananias told Paul that God had appointed Paul to know his will (22:14). In other words, God had scheduled an appointment to meet Paul on the road and to change his life. And the right response to God working in our lives is trust and obedience. That is why, in verse 16, Ananias tells Paul not to wait, but to act on his faith. When God works in our lives, it should spur us on to follow Him. What does it look like for you to actively obey God today? Ask God to help you not to wait, but to get to work in what He has called you to do.

Day 4: Verses 17-21
Paul’s past weighed heavily on him. And he was worried that his past sins had disqualified him from sharing the gospel effectively. But God used his past—filled with sin and evil—to show that Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners, even the worst of sinners (1 Tim 1:15). This is essential for us to know as well. God does not love us because of our own loveliness, but because of Christ’s perfect work on the cross. And those He saves, He sends (22:21). He has a mission for all who follow Him. Thank God that He saves by his grace. And ask Him to give you the wisdom and strength to follow wherever He leads.

Day 5: Verses 22-30
In this situation, those who heard Paul’s testimony responded with anger rather than faith. They hated his story and his message. When we share about the ways in which God has worked in our lives, we do not control the way that others respond. We trust the Holy Spirit with that. But regardless of the response, we must continue to share because we know that we conquer the enemy “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of [our] testimony” (Rev 12:11). 

Catechism Connection: 29-31
In Paul’s testimony, we see God effectually applying Christ’s redemption to him while he was on his way to persecute the church (WSC 29). Today, God still saves by “convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel” (WSC 31). 

Monthly Memory: Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Summer is an important discipleship opportunity for the students at our church. And it is also a time for a ton of fun. I hope you are as excited as I am! Here is what we have on the schedule for 2026!

Sunday Night Youth Group (most Sundays)
We will plan to continue to meet on most Sundays throughout the summer. Along with Bible study, one of the core goals of youth-group is to help the students build and maintain real friendships at church. Meeting consistently helps accomplish that goal.

Cereal + Scripture (6/3, 7/15)
We will meet a few times from 10:30-noon on Wednesdays. Since there is no Church Family Night during the summer, this event helps us fill that gap. This time is meant to give a strategic boost to students’ devotional life throughout the summer, and to give them a time to invite friends who might be free as well. There is also a special late-night edition of Cereal + Scripture that you can read more about below. 

Vacation Bible School (6/8-6/11)
Our youth will be key leaders at VBS. They did a great job last year, and I know that they will make a difference. This is a chance for them to serve and lead. I am thankful that younger kids look up to our middle and high school students.

Archery Mini-Camp (7/6-7/9) Mornings.
We are excited to offer a new event in the life of our church! This will be fun for those in our church, and it will be an excellent outreach opportunity. More details coming soon.

Late-Night Youth Event: Cereal + Scripture + Lasers + Icecream (6/24, 8pm-midnight)
Our All-Night event was a hit last year! But it was tough to find leaders to be there all night, and all of the students slept for the last few hours. Therefore, I would like to try a Late-Night event this year instead.

We will be have an epic night of laser-tag battles throughout the church building (not in the sanctuary). There will also be a late-night edition of Cereal + Scripture, and then... an ice-cream bar!

Youth Trip: SonServants (7/20-7/25)
Our students have been involved with this trip for a long time. Two of our youth went last year, but many of our current group haven’t experienced it yet (including myself), so I am excited for us to have the chance to go. This trip is a mix between a missions-trip during the day and a youth-camp in the evening. More details about registration, cost, etc. will be available soon.

Conclusion
I know that few families will be able to make it to all of these events. And I understand that many have other things on the schedule (from family vacations, sports, other camps, the OM Mission trip, General Assembly, etc). But I am hopeful that by getting this out to you all at the very beginning of March, you can mark your calendars and make the most of the discipleship opportunities that the summer offers to our youth.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 2/22

Day 1: Verses 1-16
Paul was convinced of how God was leading in his life. He knew that it would be painful. And this was confirmed time and time again on his journey back to Jerusalem. But in the end, everyone agreed: “Let the will of the Lord be done” (21:14). Following Christ will cost everything. Jesus said that those who live for Him will pick up their cross, denying themselves daily, and follow wherever He leads (Matt 16:14). That was true for Paul and it is true for us too. Ask God to give you the wisdom to know where He is leading and the strength to follow Him there.

Day 2: Verses 17-26
There was an ongoing discussion about the role of the Old Testament laws in the lives of believers. The church had concluded that God did not require Gentiles to become Jewish in order to be accepted as Christians. However, the Jewish people were still working through the ways in which Christianity had changed their lives as Jewish people. They were wrestling with questions like: What did it mean that Jesus had fulfilled the Law? Today, there are still questions to which the answers are not immediately clear. Sometimes we have to wrestle for a long time. But thank God that He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (1 Pet 1:3).

Day 3: Verses 27-32
Paul knew that his visit to Jerusalem would lead to hardships. His life was almost immediately at risk at the hands of the same city that had cried out to crucify Jesus. But this time, the Romans put a stop to the violence. God used the soldiers to protect Paul. His work wasn’t done. Trusting in God can be hard, and we don’t always know where He will take us. But we can always trust Him.

Day 4: Verses 33-36
Arguments and complaints against Christ and his people don’t always make sense. The Roman tribune tried to gather the facts: What had Paul done? Why were the people so upset? But “some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another… he could not learn the facts because of the uproar” (21:34). If we are attacked for doing good and representing Jesus, we need to remember that He sees and understands the truth.

Day 5: Verses 37-40
In all the confusion, the Roman tribune had picked up some ideas about Paul that were clearly untrue. Apparently, some had been saying that he was “the Egyptian… who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness” (21:38). Today, there continue to be false assumptions and misunderstandings about Christ and his people. Ask God to help you to represent Him well even when people don’t seem to understand.

Catechism Connection: 102-103
As we follow Jesus, “we pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed, that the kingdom of grace may be advanced and ourselves and others may be brought into it and kept in it” (WSC 102). Since following Jesus is costly, “we pray that God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things” (WSC 103). He makes us able to follow Him well.

Monthly Memory: Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 2/15

Day 1: Verses 1-6
Notice that Paul was an encourager. He often experienced difficulties and pain as a result of following Jesus. He knew the importance of encouragement in the life of believers. Who has encouraged you most in your faith? And who are the people that you have the biggest opportunity to encourage? As we press on, let’s do it with an attitude of encouragement. 

Day 2: Verses 7-12
This is one of the places in Scripture that we see Christians gathered for worship on the “first day of the week” (20:7). And Paul, like many preachers, “prolonged his speech” (20:8). “Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer… he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead” (20:9). Although these people were living out God’s exciting story, it felt like “normal” life to them. We must remember that our normal lives are also part of God’s eternal plan. Ask God to help you live your chapter of his story with faithfulness. 

Day 3: Verses 13-27
Paul made an impact in Ephesus at this time, not by stopping there, but by meeting with the Ephesian elders as he passed by. Paul’s mission was taking him elsewhere, but God’s mission in Ephesus would continue. God’s church is not dependent on any person other than Christ Himself. As Paul moved on, he shared what God had called him to. And every believer should share Paul’s goal that we “may finish [our] course and the ministry that [we] received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (20:24). 

Day 4: Verses 28-35
We are not called to follow Jesus alone. We need a church, we need church leaders, and we need the church to hold on to sturdy summaries of the Scriptures. Why? Paul knew that in time “fierce wolves [would] come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (20:29-30). Churches keep us from wandering off alone. Church leaders protect us from wolves. And sturdy summaries keep us from “twisted things” that “draw away” God’s people. This is one of the reasons our church uses the Westminster Standards. Thank God for our church and for faithful summaries of his teachings.

Day 5: Verses 36-38
Christians love one another. The church is meant to be a family where we truly care for one another. As Paul prepared to leave, the church prayed, embraced, and wept. Thank God for putting you into a church family. Consider what it looks like for our church to love each other well. 

Catechism Connection: 7-8
We are living out God’s plan in the world today. We live where He has placed us (Acts 17), and on the mission to which He has called us (2 Cor 5). He is working out his “eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will… for his own glory” (WSC 7). He is providentially working in his creation (WSC 8). You are part of his plan; live for Him. 

Monthly Memory: Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 2/8

Day 1: Verses 1-10
Much of what Paul and the other disciples were doing in Ephesus was helping people who needed to continue to learn and grow. In the last chapter, Apollos was instructed by Priscilla and Aquila. Now, as Paul passed through the same city, there was a group that had believed in John’s message to repent and trust that God’s Messiah was coming. They had responded in faith, but they had not learned about the death of Jesus, his resurrection, or the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is a journey to know Him better through the Bible. So Paul followed up this experience by preaching the Word for months. Ask God to help us learn his Word and continue to grow.

Day 2: Verses 11-20
The sons of Sceva were trying to do God’s work without a real knowledge of God. They were imposters who were overpowered by demonic powers. This experience showed the followers of Jesus that were not playing a game. The life of discipleship costs everything. So they brought out the tools of their pagan practices and burned them in sight of all (19:19). Today, we pray that “the word of the Lord [will continue] to increase and prevail mightily” (19:20). And this means that our anti-Christian practices need to be destroyed as well. What does God’s Word teach about what we listen to, read, or watch? 

Day 3: Verses 21-27
Not everyone likes the change that the gospel brings. In Ephesus, it threatened industry and wealth, along with the reputation of the city. In following Jesus, we must be willing to count everything else as loss. Pray that God would help us stand for Him when the world says He is not worth it.

Day 4: Verses 28-34
Here we see a worship-battle. The people cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (19:28). They understood that Paul and the other Christians were saying that Artemis and other idols are nothing (1 Cor 8:4). And the truth is that the gospel does make exclusive claims. If Jesus is Lord, I am not. And Allah is not. And Artemis is not. We cannot follow Christ and live for someone or something else. Ask God to help you follow Him alone regardless of what others think or do.

Day 5: Verses 35-41
This riot ended when the people were presented with the possibility of consequences from the Romans: “we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today” (19:40). They didn’t understand that there is an authority higher than the Romans. Jesus said to fear the One who can kill the body as well as the soul (Matt 10:28). Pray that God would help us to live our lives following and fearing Him. We must care most about what He thinks of how we live.

Catechism Connection: 1-3, 28, 38
We exist to glorify and enjoy God (WSC 1), and the Word of God in the Bible is God’s way of showing us what to believe and how to live (WSC 2-3). Living the life of faith matters because Jesus is “coming to judge the world on the last day” (WSC 28) and believers will be “acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment and will be made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity” (WSC 38). 

Monthly Memory: Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

The goal of this simple prayer guide is to help our church unite in prayer for the next generation.

This matters. And your prayers will make a difference. Why? 

• Because we are in a fight. Paul famously speaks about the armor of God, but we often miss the conclusion of that section which says, that after picking up the sword of the Spirit, we must also be “praying at all times in the Spirit… with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Eph 6:18). Prayer is a God-given weapon in the hands of his church.
• Because prayer brings faith to the fight. 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” The act of prayer is an act of trust. We believe God hears.
• Because God responds to the prayers of his people. The Bible teaches, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power” (Jas 5:16). God responds to prayer by fighting for his people (Ex 15:13). He is mighty in battle (Ps 24:8). Victory belongs to the Lord (Prov 21:31). 

And we all understand that our young people desperately need God to actively intervene in their lives. We need God to keep them safe; to “lead them not into temptation.” We need God to give them direction, hope, and meaning; to have life abundant. We need God to give them faith, to give them wisdom, to give them joy.

We pray because we are in a fight, and we need God to work and win on our behalf.

So I am asking all of us to put in some hard work as we fight the fight of prayer. I’m asking you to take a few minutes, once a week, to S.W.E.A.T. while you pray for our kids and youth. Pray for their:

• Salvation. That they would come to know Christ and walk with Him for all of their days. That God would save them and keep them safe in relationship with Him  
• Wisdom. That they would not live as fools who destroy or waste their lives. That they would pursue the godly life because our God is true, good, and beautiful.
• Environment. That their homes and schools, along with our church would be Bible-saturated, gospel-rich, mission-filled, prayer-led, repentance-modeling, worship-inducing, and joy-fueling.
• Attentiveness. That they would not be distracted by the noise or busyness of the modern world. That their lives would be characterized by seeking the Lord through Scripture and prayer. 
• Team. That God would connect them to exactly the right people in exactly the right ways: friends, teachers, teammates, future spouses, coaches, pastors, employers, parents, and siblings.