Wednesday, March 9, 2016

YOUTH: How do you plan a devotion?

As with my last post on prayer, while I was doing youth counselor training we talked about the importance of ending events with a brief devotion. Along with prayer, you always want to take time to be in the Word when you get kids together. It helps create good habits and teaches them to connect it with their lives.

The leaders at this church wanted their youth to take responsibility for that task, but were at a loss as to how to help them. Of course, they could always just buy a book, but why not help them be a little more creative and personal? I created a short devotion lesson plan and form to help in planning.

Sample
Here's my sample devo using the outline from the simple lesson plan:

Opening - Turn to face the person on your right. As we say the invocation, put the sign of the cross on their back. (In the name of the Father, who created us, the Son, who redeemed us, and the Spirit, who strengthens us.

Bible Verse - James 1:22-24
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

Topic or Theme of the Verse - Let your faith show in what you do!

Something to Think About

Describe the life or actions of a hearer and a doer. How are they different?
What does it mean to be someone who looks at your their in a mirror and immediately forgets it?

Describe the life of somebody who lives like they don't care?



Look at the lyrics of the song. It's not about the world, it's about YOUR world. We can let our faith shine on one person at a time. How?

What can we change this week to let our faith shine a little brighter?

Prayer (ACTS form)
(Go around the circle. Squeeze the hand of the person on your left when you are done praying.)

Dear Heavenly Father, you are almighty and awesome!!
We are sorry, Lord, that we do not use the gifts you gave us to your glory. We are sorry that we wait for others to do the work you have called us to do. We confess that we are sinful and what we wish we could do, we cannot and do not do. Thank you so much for forgiving our sin through your son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for our friends and family and all the others you put in our lives to remind and help us keep our focus on you. Father, we ask that you give us wisdom and courage to be hearers and doers so that we can show your love to those around us every day. And we pray you hear our requests......
All this we ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Closing Blessing - Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his face upon you and give you peace.

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