Introduction
Definition of Discipline
Discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using words and actions, warnings and consequences to keep one on track. Christian discipline involves cultivating specific habits and practices like prayer, fasting and Bible reading to help believers grow closer to God and become more like Christ.
Discipline is a key quality that shapes how we work, live, behave and relate with others. It involves managing our actions and staying committed especially when challenges arise. Discipline includes Motivation and Attitude: the motivation to improve and push oneself, and an attitude of focus, selfcontrol and professionalism in pursuing a goal.
Definition of Self-Respect
Self-respect is pride and confidence in oneself – a feeling that one is behaving with honour and dignity. It is the foundation of how we treat ourselves and others, and how we present ourselves in the world. Self-respect, learned through Scripture, will cultivate a healthy sense of identity, self-worth and self-esteem.
Over the next 20 days of the devotional challenge, we will dive into three aspects of self-respect, namely Confidence, Compassion and Modesty. The first is about believing in oneself and one’s ability to make a positive impact. The second involves treating others with empathy and care, while the third is reflected in how we dress and present ourselves appropriately for different occasions.
Notes:
1. The duration of the devotional sessions is 20-30 minutes.
2. This leader’s guide is suitable for both online and physical discussions.
3. This leader’s guide is suitable for officers and leaders who lead a group or individuals who are not joining any of the discussion groups.
For officers or leaders who conduct the sessions in a group, keep in mind the following:
1. Have a non-judgmental attitude.
a. In the course of the discussion, some members may give answers that you, as the leader, know are wrong.
b. Don’t pounce on the answer or reprimand them – they will not want to continue participating.
c. Value the insight you are gaining into their true thoughts, so that they are able to share what they think openly rather than parroting “right answers” to you.
d. Accept the answer by saying something like, “That’s an interesting point of view. What do the rest of you think?”
2. Encourage participation.
a. Some members are chatty and assertive. Welcome their contribution but remind them to give others a chance to speak.
b. Other members are shy and quiet. Encourage them to share, but if they really don’t want to, don’t force them.
c. Try to give every member a chance to say something.
3. When summarising or concluding, highlight good answers that have been contributed and add insights from the leaders’ guide that the members may have missed.
Day 21: Discovering My True Self
Lesson/Learning Objective: To know our true identity as beloved children of God and live that out in a self-respecting way.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read 1 John 2:28–3:3
❖ Context: The letter of 1 John was written by John the Apostle, who also wrote the gospel of John and the book of Revelation. He was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. John wrote this letter for two purposes: to combat false teachings in the church, and to help believers be sure of their salvation. In today’s passage, John tells his readers that we can be sure of our salvation by persevering in Jesus, doing what’s right, holding on to the hope that when Jesus comes again we will be like Him, keeping ourselves pure, and turning away from sin.
❖ Materials: Laptop, phone, or tablet with internet, a guitar or other musical instrument (or you can sing a capella).
Activity:
❖ Learn this simple song together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojHxW3zMGyU
➢ The song can be sung as a “round,” with one group starting the verse during the chorus. Have fun learning it and singing it together.
❖ Today’s passage contains the verse found in this song. Let’s read it together.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: What are the two things John says we know, and what is the result of knowing them (2:29, 3:2-3)?
A: Firstly, John says that we know that God is righteous (v.29). In other words, God is morally perfect and knowing this means we’re able to evaluate if a person (including ourselves) has been born again. Those who believe in God will become like Him; they will do what is right.
This doesn’t mean that when you become a Christian you will immediately stop sinning. If means that you should be growing in righteousness. If you find that you’re becoming more sinful as a Christian, ask God or a trusted leader for help. If you find positive changes, keep walking with Jesus and growing in Christlikeness!
Secondly, John says that we know that when Jesus comes again, we will be like Him (3:2). That is the process of Christlikeness when brought to completion. Knowing about our future perfection gives us hope (3:3) because no matter what we’re struggling with today, victory is
already won and our story has a happy ending. Because of this hope we continue growing until the end.
2. Q: What does John say about who we are, and what are the results of having that identity (2:28, 3:1)?
A: In 2:28, John calls us, his readers, “dear children.” This was probably because John was very old (90-plus and exiled to Patmos island when he wrote this). Another reason was to emphasise that we are children of God. As children of God, John tells us to persevere in following and abiding in Jesus, so that when He comes again, we can stand confident and unashamed before Him.
I have a friend who, when younger, wasn’t allowed to watch TV until she’d done her homework. But she would “curi-curi” watch, and when she heard her dad’s car coming, she would quickly turn off the TV. But sometimes her dad touched the TV and found it hot, and she would be punished. When Jesus returns, will he find you “curi-curi” doing the things you shouldn’t do? Or will you be able to stand gladly before Him?
In 3:1, John continues talking about our identity as God’s children, His beloved sons and daughters. But having this identity doesn’t mean we won’t face tough times, hostility or persecution, especially from unbelievers. So, we must be prepared for negative reactions when we choose to be obedient to God.
3. Q: What are some practical actions we can do from Questions 1 and 2? Will you do them and live out your identity as God’s beloved child?
A: Some practical actions include:
Checking if we’re born again. Have your members taken that crucial step to become children of God? If they have, test them against John’s word: “everyone who does what is right has been born of Him” (2:29). Let's examine ourselves to see how we’re doing and whether we’re growing as we should.
Checking if people we listen to are born again. Some messages sound very spiritual and attractive, like “God loves you” and “God wants to bless you” etc. But are these people practising what they preach? How about friends who are always inviting us to do fun stuff? Examine their lives to see if they do what is right and ask God for wisdom on whether to accept or reject their invitations.
Keep purifying ourselves. Remember that we have the great hope of being made perfect like Christ. So let’s keep purifying ourselves. Are there any sins you need to repent of? Confess them to God and receive His forgiveness. It can be difficult to stay pure, but don’t give up.
Keep following and abiding in Jesus. Have you been attending Church, Youth fellowship, and so on? To follow God, we should not neglect gathering with fellow believers. Have you been reading His Word and growing in prayer? To abide in Jesus, we
must let the Word change our lives and stay close to Him by constant communication through prayer.
Be prepared for opposition. Don’t be surprised when friends laugh or call you “holy boy/girl” or “Jesus Freak” when you start becoming serious about your faith. Some may not understand, while others will ridicule you. Count the cost and choose to follow Jesus anyway because He is worth all the trouble.
Conclusion:
❖ Encourage your members to act on one or two things discussed in Question 3. Ask them to put it into practice in the coming week to grow in confidence and self-respect.
❖ Close in prayer.
Day 22: Making His Music
Lesson/Learning Objective: To allow God’s Spirit to transform us into His image-bearers and have more confidence in ourselves.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
❖ Context: As mentioned in Day 2, Paul founded the Corinthian church and wrote the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians. Today’s passage is part of his letter where he defends himself and his ministry against false teachers in Corinth. These are the Judaizers who wrongly taught that Christians must follow the Old Testament laws to be saved. Paul explained that Moses veiled his face, but it was shining after he met God in Exodus 34:29-35. This similar veil blocks the Jews from seeing the truth of the gospel. However, when a person believes in Jesus, the Holy Spirit sets them free from such spiritual blindness. In this freedom, we are transformed into God’s glorious image as we focus on following Jesus.
❖ Materials: A large piece of cloth, like a bedsheet or curtain.
Activity:
❖ Ask for two volunteers to hold the cloth; the rest are divided into two groups.
➢ Get the two groups to sit on the floor facing each other with the cloth dividing them. Sit about one meter away from the cloth.
➢ While the cloth is up, each group sends a representative to the front to sit right in front of the cloth. Do this as quietly as possible, so the other group can't guess who the person is.
➢ On the count of three, drop the cloth. The first representative to name their opponent wins. The loser goes over to the other group.
➢ Play for 5 to 10 rounds. The group with the most people wins.
❖ In this game, the identities of the representatives were “veiled” by the cloth. When the cloth dropped, they were “unveiled,” and they could recognise one another.
❖ For online, you may play by turning the camera on and off.
➢ Each group selects a representative and they turn off their videos.
➢ On the count of three, the representatives turn on their videos.
➢ The first person to correctly identify the other group's representative wins. The loser goes over to the other group.
❖ In today’s passage, Paul writes something about us having “unveiled faces.” Let’s read it together.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: What does today’s passage say about who the Holy Spirit is and what He does?
A: Firstly, the spirit is God. Like a sandwich bread, today's passage starts and ends with the statement “The Lord is the Spirit.” Here we touch on a deep mystery, the doctrine of the Trinity. Because Jesus is the second person of the Trinity and the Spirit is the third person, they are co-equal with one another and with the Father.
You may explain the Trinity with this diagram. Human beings are one dimensional in terms of personality (one being is one person) but God is three dimensional: one being in three persons. For example, a cylinder is 3D but when cut across three ways, it becomes 2D in the form of a circle (cross-section), a rectangle (longitudinal section) or an oval (oblique section).
We ask, “How can it be one object with three shapes?” in the same way we are confused by God, who is one being in three persons.
A Cylinder Cross-section Longitudinal section Oblique section
Explanation 1: The Circle is not the Rectangle, the Rectangle is not the Oval, and the Oval is not the Circle. They are all different shapes. Similarly, the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father. They are all different persons.
Explanation 2: And yet, if the 2D shapes were alive, those shapes would be all they could perceive of the Cylinder. Therefore, it is accurate to say that for them, the Circle is the Cylinder, the Rectangle is the Cylinder, and the Oval is the Cylinder. Similarly, Christians believe that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is also God.
Conclusion: Despite the above, there is only one Cylinder, not three cylinders. Similarly, Christians believe in only one God, not three gods.
Secondly, the Spirit gives freedom (v.17). If you believe in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you which sets you free. This is freedom from the veil that covers human hearts and keeps us from understanding the gospel. The Holy Spirit will make the truth known to you, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).
Thirdly, the Spirit is glorious (v.18). It is His and Jesus’s glory that we are gaining more and more of, as we are transformed into Jesus’s image, becoming more and more like Jesus.
2. Q: How are we being transformed into Jesus’s image?
A: It is said that we are changed by whatever we worship. If we pursue money as our highest goal, we become more greedy. If we pursue pleasure, we become more lustful. If we pursue power, we become more controlling, and so on. If we worship Jesus, then we will become more and more like Him.
Verse 18 says that we are transformed as we reflect Jesus’s glory with unveiled faces. Once the Spirit has cleared away the veil, which is the blindness that keeps us from seeing who Jesus is, we’re able to truly know and love Him. In this unveiled, unblocked relationship we are transformed into His image.
3. Q: What should we do in response and to be continually transformed?
A: Some suggestions are:
(i) Ask the Spirit to set you and your friends free. If you don’t yet believe in Jesus, ask the Spirit to remove the veil from your eyes. If you believe in Jesus, you have a measure of His freedom and the abundant life He gives. However, there may be addictions, character flaws or struggles with sin. Bring them to God and ask the Spirit to fill those areas. Also, start praying for your non-Christian friends. Ask the Spirit to remove the veil so they may see the truth of the gospel.
(ii) Recalibrate your heart. What have you been pursuing? Now is the time to repent and make Jesus your desire and pursuit. If you’re chasing money, pleasure or power as the main things in life, they’ll soon become idols and distort the image of God which you bear, though they’re not evil in themselves.
(iii) Worship Jesus. Contemplate His goodness and reflect His glory. Gather with others who love Him too and be mutually encouraged. Spend time daily in prayer and reading His Word. Let His Word renew your mind, changing the way you perceive things. Love Him, obey Him and follow Him.
(iv) Bear God’s image to the world. These are the reflection questions from the article. See others as people who bear God’s image and treat them accordingly. See yourself as one who bears God’s image and choose to say and do things that will make His love clear to everyone around you.
Conclusion:
❖ Of the four things in Question 3, which one resonates the most with their hearts?
❖ Encourage them to act on one thing the Holy Spirit is nudging them to do, as practice for gaining self-respect.
❖ Close in prayer
Day 23: Underestimating Ourselves
Lesson/Learning Objective: To see ourselves as God sees us, so that we have confidence and live out that victorious identity in the world.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read 1 Samuel 15:10-18.
❖ Context: 1 and 2 Samuel tells the story of Samuel, the last of the Judges, along with stories of the first two kings of the united kingdom of Israel, Saul and David. Today’s passage is near the end of Saul’s reign and it begins with God expressing regret that He had appointed Saul, because Saul had disobeyed His instructions to completely wipe out the Amalekites (v.10-11).
Samuel confronted Saul with his disobedience, but Saul tried to justify his actions (v.15). After today’s passage, Samuel gives Saul one last chance to explain himself, but when Saul insisted that he did nothing wrong, Samuel delivered God’s judgment rejecting him as king.
❖ Materials: None.
Activity:
Instruct your members to walk around the room aimlessly.
When you shout, “Squad!” they are to respond, “Sir, yes, Sir!”
You will then give them a task. Invent a creative one, like:
“Go outside and bring me a blade of grass.”
“Draw a chicken on the whiteboard.”
“Hop around the room on one leg.”
“Stand up and sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ as loudly as you can.”
For online, use the above or other creative tasks like “Type ‘The Boys’ Brigade in Malaysia’ in the chat.”
After you give the task, they respond with, “Sir, yes, Sir!”, immediately do it and report back when they’re done.
The first person, or first three etc., to report back gains a point.
Debrief them:
Who got the highest number of points?
They are the winner! (Cheer and clap or give a small prize.)
How did they win? What was the secret to their success? (The answer is prompt obedience! In this game, success comes only through obedience. If you refuse to listen to the gamemaster, you cannot succeed.)
In today’s reading, King Saul, also learns that in God’s eyes, success is defined in terms of obedience to Him.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: What can you learn about King Saul’s actions and his character? Write down at least two actions and what they reveal about the kind of person he was.
A:
Action: He disobeyed God’s instructions.
Character: Self-centred, not God-centred (v.11).
Action: He set up a monument in his own honour.
Character: Proud and vain (v.12).
Action: He thought he had followed God’s instructions when he had not.
Character: Ignorant of God’s command and presumptuous of his own innocence or goodness (v.13).
Action: Tried to excuse his disobedience by claiming that the animals were kept as sacrifices to God.
Character: A slippery, fast talker with little integrity (v.15).
Action: Doubled down and insisted upon his innocence; redefined “Completely destroyed” to mean “All, except the best of the livestock.”
Character: Stubborn, proud, and unable to admit guilt (v.15).
2. Q: What did Samuel say to King Saul, and why did he do so (v.14, 17-18)? List down at least two things he told Saul and his possible reasons for saying them.
A:
(i) Samuel asked King Saul about the sounds of livestock in order to give him a chance to admit that he had not killed them all as God had commanded (v.14).
(ii) Samuel said that Saul originally had low self-esteem (“small in his own eyes”), and yet God had raised him up and appointed him as king (v.17). This is to remind Saul of his humble beginnings and that he had his position and success not by his own merit, but by God’s grace.
(iii) Samuel reminded Saul of God’s original command to completely destroy the Amalekites and wipe them out (v.18). Samuel said this to refresh Saul’s memory and correct his ignorance, since he still thought he was innocent when he had in fact disobeyed God.
[Note: At this point, if the question of how God could command an evil act like genocide comes up, allow them to discuss and share their opinions. You may use the extra material below “On foreknowledge” and “On genocide”.]
3. Q: How did Saul see himself and was he aware of his flaws? How do you see yourself and do you have self-respect?
A: In this passage, Saul showed no signs of self-awareness. He disobeyed God’s instructions yet felt he hadn’t done anything wrong (v.13,15). He had an inferiority complex (v.17) which led him to do vain things like building a monument to make himself appear superior (v.12). He was a self-pleaser and people-pleaser, not a God-pleaser.
Let your members answer the second part of the question, and encourage them to be open, honest and vulnerable. Some may be balanced, others have blind spots, others too negative about themselves. Gently help them to see the false fronts they’ve erected due to pride, vanity, fear of rejection, etc.
As for how God sees them, you may refer to Day 21 and 22 again. Other points include that they are:
A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Whatever bad history you may have, in Jesus you can start anew with a clean slate.
More than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Even though you may experience failure and struggles from time to time, you can hold on to the fact that because of Jesus’s love, you will ultimately be winners in life.
Free men and women (Romans 6:6). If you believe in Jesus, you are no longer a slave to sin. You’re free! You have the capacity to resist temptation and stay pure.
His handiwork (Ephesians 2:10). As another version says, you’re His masterpiece!
His friends (John 15:15). Isn't that mind-blowing? The Almighty Creator of the universe calls you His friend!
Conclusion:
❖ There are more verses which describe how God sees us.
❖ Encourage your members to choose one verse which speaks to them and memorise it to increase confidence in their identity.
❖ Consider asking them to make a bookmark or design a Canva post or wallpaper to keep in their wallets and phones, as a reminder of who they are in Christ.
❖ Pray for them, that they’ll let the Father define them with His love, fill them with the Holy Spirit, and Jesus to send them out into the world
Extra material: On foreknowledge
How can God, who has perfect foreknowledge of the future, feel regret? He would have known that Saul would be disobedient to Him beforehand and so should not have appointed Saul in the first place.
To answer this question, we must understand that foreknowledge does not preclude the giving of grace and opportunity; neither does it preclude the feeling of regret when that gift is misused or abused.
For example, I may be able to foresee that my son will disobey me. But I will still give him a chance to obey, for instance, by telling him to study hard for his exams. And when he disobeys and fails the
exam, despite my foreknowledge of his disobedience and failure, I can still feel sorrow and regret. That is like God’s regret of Saul’s appointment as king.
On genocide
Before today’s passage, God commanded Saul to utterly wipe out the Amalekites, including their babies, children, and livestock (1 Samuel 15:3). This is extremely disturbing to us, because genocide is seen today as a war crime and a great evil. So how could a good God have given such a seemingly evil command? This is a difficult question, but consider the following points:
(1) God is the giver of life, therefore He has the right to take it away.
Just as it makes no sense to accuse God of murder when each person’s life and death are in His hands, so also does it not make sense to accuse God of genocide when the continuation or extinction of every race is in His hands.
(2) The Amalekites threatened the very existence of God’s people.
Although Israel did nothing to them, they attacked for no reason just after Moses had led them out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 17:8-14).
Other times when they attacked Israel before the time of today’s reading can be found in Numbers 14:45, Judges 3:12-14, and Judges 6:3-5.
Other times they attacked Israel after the time of today’s reading can be found in 1 Samuel 30:1-6 and Esther 3:5-14. In Esther, the plot to kill all the Jews was instigated by Haman the Agagite, a descendent of King Agag, an Amalekite.
Therefore, when it came to the Amalekites, Israel had to kill them or be killed by them. History shows that if they were not wiped out, they would continue to attack and threaten the very existence of God’s people as a nation.
(3) By threatening to destroy God’s people, they also threatened God’s promise.
This is God’s promise to bless all nations through Israel (Genesis 12:1-3), which was ultimately fulfilled by Jesus. The Amalekites threatened God’s salvation plan for the whole world and would continue to threaten it unless they were wiped out.
(4) The commanded genocide of the Amalekites was God’s judgment upon them.
This foreshadows and points to the final judgment, which is described in terrifying scenes of death and blood (Revelation 14:17-20).
Just as there would have been no escape for the Amalekites if Saul had obeyed God’s command in today’s reading, there will be no escape from God’s judgment when that day comes.
(5) Today, we can be sure that God will not command any Christian to commit genocide.
This is because on the Cross, Jesus took God’s wrath and judgment upon Himself on our behalf (Romans 5:9).
Whilst Saul was a disobedient king, Jesus our King was obedient to God even unto death on the Cross.
Whilst Saul failed to exhaust or complete the judgment that God required upon the Amalekites, Jesus exhausted and completed the judgment that God required upon us all, by taking it upon Himself.
Day 24: Respect for Life
Lesson/Learning Objective: To know that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and allow that truth to shape our self-perception and self-esteem.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read Psalm 139:13-16.
❖ Context: Psalm 139 is a hymn of praise, one of the 73 psalms written by David, the shepherdboy who grew up to become king of Israel. The first and second stanza described God’s omniscience and omnipresence. Today’s reading is in the third stanza, where David describes how God shaped and formed him even while he was still in his mother’s womb (v.13-16). This stanza ends with David proclaiming the preciousness of God’s thoughts and the constancy of His presence.
❖ Materials: Play-Doh, plasticine, clay or dough. For online, get members to prepare the materials beforehand.
Activity:
If you don’t want to buy plasticine, you can make your own dough. Mix two parts flour with one part salt and one part water, and you’ll have dough! Keep it in a Ziploc bag or airtight container so that it won’t dry out.
Give each member a bit of dough and ask them to make something that represents themselves or how they’re feeling today.
o Give them 5-10 minutes to shape the dough.
o Then, ask each member to show the group what they’ve made and why.
Each of you took care to shape it into something that represents you or how you’re feeling today.
In today’s reading, David writes about how God took similar care to form and shape something… but what did He make? Let’s read it together.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: What does this passage say about God’s actions in respect to David’s physical body (v.1316)? List down two things.
A: Firstly, God knit David together in his mother’s womb. This refers to God forming and shaping our physical bodies as we developed from a zygote (a single cell fertilised in the ovum), to an embryo (at multicellular stage), to a foetus (with major organs formed), and finally into a baby, who is born.
Secondly, God made David fearfully and wonderfully It is amazing when you study how complex our body is, with all its tissues, organs and systems. All parts are interconnected and working together to keep us alive and healthy, and they all grew from a single cell!
Thirdly, God wove David together. This again refers to God forming our physical bodies. The word “wove”, raqam in Hebrew, means to embroider and weave coloured threads with great skill and fine craftsmanship. Note that the “depths of the earth” is just a poetic metaphor for the mother’s womb.
2. Q: Apart from forming David’s physical body, what else does God do in this passage? List two other things.
A: Firstly, God created David’s inmost being. “Inmost being” is kilyah in Hebrew, which means the kidneys. In Hebrew, the heart was considered the centre of a person’s thoughts, emotions, intentions, wisdom, and rationality; whereas the kidneys were associated with the person’s deepest emotional movements, secret thoughts, and moral discernment. So, God forms not only our physical bodies, but also the emotional and intellectual parts.
Secondly, God could see into the secret and hidden places. With modern technology, we can now see the baby in the mother’s womb using an ultrasound scan. But in David’s time, how a baby developed was all very mysterious. No man could see how it happened. But God sees and knows all things, and nothing is hidden from Him.
Thirdly, God ordained David’s days before he was born. God is the Alpha and Omega; He sees the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end (Revelation 1:8). Whatever troubles we may go through in this life, we can take comfort in knowing that God is in control because He ordained our days before we were born.
3. Q: What do you dislike about yourself, physically or character-wise? How does this psalm change the way you see yourself?
A: Your members are likely going through hormonal changes at this age. Physically, they may have growth spurts, voice changes, and acne breakouts. They may think they’re too fat, too thin, too short, too tall etc. Emotionally, they may be more self-conscious, easily embarrassed, have sudden mood swings, romantic crushes etc.
Help them see that they’re beautiful and precious in God’s eyes (Isaiah 43:4). Even though they may have imperfections, their heart, soul, mind, and body are intricately designed by God. Remind them that they’re a work in progress. As they continue to follow Jesus, they will grow into self-confident men and women, renewed by God.
Conclusion:
Some questions may arise about people born with disabilities, like Down syndrome, autism etc. Are they also “fearfully and wonderfully made”?
This is a difficult question, but you may point to Nick Vujicic’s testimony. He has tetra-amelia syndrome and was born without arms and legs. However, he is today an international
evangelist after accepting Jesus at age 15 and struggling with depression, anger, and attempted suicide. You can watch his testimony together here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIKeqjr2QgM.
❖ From Nick’s life, we can say that yes, those born with disabilities and genetic disorders are also fearfully and wonderfully made. While they may face limits, they can still live a life that reflects God’s image and glorifies Him.
❖ Encourage your members that if someone like Nick can positively live out of the truth that he is “fearfully and wonderfully made,” they can too.
❖ Close in prayer
Day 25: A Life Worth Living
Lesson/Learning Objective: To be challenged to be born again of the Spirit and live a new life committed to Jesus.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read John 3:1-17.
❖ Context: As mentioned in Day 9, Jesus’s public ministry can be divided into three phases: Obscurity, Popularity, and Rejection. Today’s passage occurs early in Obscurity, where Jesus receives a night visit from Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin who believed that Jesus was a good teacher from God. As they converse, Jesus teaches him about being born again. Nicodemus is perplexed, and Jesus rebukes him for his lack of understanding and faith. In verse 14, Jesus says that he must be lifted up “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness” foreshadowing His own crucifixion. After that, He utters the famous John 3:16 verse and explains the implications for those who believe and those who don’t.
Materials: None needed.
Activity:
Play a few rounds of “The Wind Blows” with your members:
Arrange the chairs in a circle, with one less chair than number of members.
Ask one person to be “It”. “It” stands in the middle of the circle and everyone sits down.
There is a call-and-response that goes:
It: The wind blows!
Everyone: Blows what?
It: Blows everyone who ___________!
“It” has to think of characteristics like “wears glasses,” “is a boy,” “has the Target badge,” “likes football” etc.
Whoever fits the description has to move to a different seat; in the ensuing movement, “It” grabs a seat.
The rule is no moving to a seat next to them. Force them to move further.
The person who has no seat becomes the next “It” and a new round begins.
For online, play this game in the group chat:
“It” types, "The wind blows for everyone who..."
Participants who fit the description type "Me!" in the chat.
The last person who replies will be the next "It" in the chat.
To make it more interesting, "It" sends a description in a private chat, and the person who fits the description has to respond in the group.
In today’s reading, Jesus uses the metaphor of the wind blowing to describe something. Let’s read it together.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: Jesus mentions the “Kingdom of God” twice in this passage (v.3 and 5). What is the “Kingdom of God”?
A: A kingdom is a place where a king rules over his subjects. So, the Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God. God created everything, so everything is under His rule. For example, if I throw a stone, it will obey God’s laws of physics, gravity and so on. Now are there any exceptions? Is there anything that isn't under God’s rule, that doesn’t obey God’s laws? Give your members a chance to answer.
The only thing that doesn’t automatically obey God’s laws is the human heart. God’s law says don’t steal, but still we take things that belong to others. God’s law says don’t lie, but still we say things that aren’t true. A person who enters “into the Kingdom of God” chooses to come under His rule. He becomes their king, and they become His subjects. If you choose not to submit to Jesus’s rule in your life, then you remain outside the Kingdom of God.
2. Q: What does it mean to be “born of water and the Spirit” (v.5)?
A: There are several interpretations for this. Some say “water” refers to the Spirit washing away our sins. Others think it means baptism. My personal view is based on the next verse, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (v.6). “Water” then is a metaphor for physical birth from the amniotic sac in our mother’s womb, in contrast to spiritual birth from the Holy Spirit.
Before a person can enter the Kingdom of God, they have to be physically born. Then, they need to be spiritually born of the Holy Spirit to receive eternal, spiritual life. This is the “new life... abundant and eternal, a life worth living” described in today’s devotional.
3. Q: Do you have this “life worth living”? What should you do with this new spiritual life as a way of respecting what God has done in us?
A: For non-Christian members, gently encourage them to invite Jesus into their lives. Use the ABC prayer in Day 5. For members from Christian backgrounds, ask if they have made a personal choice to follow Jesus and encourage them to do so.
For members who have given their lives to Jesus, point them to verse 8 about the “wind blowing”. As Jesus said, we can’t see the wind, but we can hear its sound; similarly, we can’t see the Holy Spirit, but we should be able to see the effects of His work in our lives. Do they see those effects?
If they don’t, now is the time to recommit their lives to Jesus. Ask God to continue transforming them. Are there areas which are still resisting God? Now is the time to bring them before God,
demolish strongholds, arguments, and take every thought captive and make it obedient to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Conclusion: Close in prayer.
Day 26: Defining Failure
Lesson/Learning Objective: To learn what it means to act in faith, knowing it will make a positive difference.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read Hebrews 11:24-34.
❖ Context: For the context of Hebrews, see Day 5. Before today’s passage, the writer defined faith and listed heroes of the faith such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah. The list continues with Joseph and Moses, and in today’s passage, he elaborates on Moses’s story: his renunciation of his position as prince of Egypt, self-identification with the Hebrew slaves, observation of the first Passover, and the freed Hebrew slaves crossing the Red Sea on dry land (v.24-29). Then, the writer lists down the fall of Jericho, the sparing of Rahab and summarises other heroes’ victories (v.30-34).
❖ Materials: A sheet of A4 paper, whiteboard or mahjong papers, marker pens.
Activity:
Prepare the following clues on small slips of paper:
o Moses and the Red Sea
o The blood of Passover lamb on doorframes
o Marching around the walls of Jericho
o Gideon and the fleece
o Samson pushing down temple pillars
o David fighting Goliath
o Daniel in the lion’s den
o Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire
Ask for volunteers who are confident that they know the Bible stories well.
o Show the first volunteer the first clue.
o For online, tell the clue through private message.
o The time is one minute to draw the scene on the whiteboard for all to guess.
o For online, point the camera to the artist. Let others guess.
o After the round is over, summarise the Bible story for all. Make it interactive and get members who know the story to contribute. This is so everyone knows the gist of the stories for the discussion later.
o Call for the next volunteer and play another round.
Today’s passage mentions all of these Bible stories. Let’s read it together.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: What are some common themes from these Bible stories (v.24-34)? List down two things.
A: Firstly, faith. All acts were done by heroes and heroines in the Bible, not out of their own strength or cleverness, but because they trusted in God.
Secondly, success. Most of these events had a victorious ending such as the Israelites’ escape through the Red Sea, the defeat of Jericho, and so on. To balance this, after today’s passage the writer also lists down events where the person of faith suffered greatly and died, as faith doesn’t always guarantee a positive outcome (v. 35b-38).
Thirdly, righteousness. It was by faith that Moses made the righteous choice to forsake his position as a prince of Egypt and identify himself with the Hebrew slaves. Rahab’s act of welcoming the spies would’ve been seen as an act of treason and betrayal by the rulers of Jericho, but in God’s eyes it was a righteous act.
2. Q: Look through the list again. Choose one that interests you and write down one thing it teaches you about faith.
A: There are many heroes and heroines listed. Some possible answers include:
“Moses chose to give up his position as a prince of Egypt and took up leadership of the Hebrew slaves instead. From this, I learnt that faith sometimes means doing what is right even when it is unenjoyable and unpleasant.”
“The Israelite army marched around Jericho for seven days before the walls fell. From this, I learnt that faith sometimes means doing things that don’t seem to make logical sense (marching around a city is not good military strategy) out of obedience to God.”
“Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den because he continued to pray to God even though the king had made a law against prayer. From this, I learnt that faith means obeying God’s law before any other law.”
3. Q: What have you done by faith that resulted in a positive change?
A: For Christian members, they may share how God has been working through them, helping them bear the fruit of the Spirit, shaping their character into Christlikeness, etc. For non-Christian members, it might be tricky. If they have a story to tell, just listen and respond appropriately.
If they have testimonies to share, rejoice with them. If they have faith stories but without results, encourage them that acting in faith doesn’t always guarantee a good outcome. Today’s passage only includes the positive stories, but there are negative ones too. Often we won’t know the full effects of our actions and may be there to plant a seed in someone’s life. Rather than worrying about the results, we act in obedience to God and leave the rest to Him. God’s definition of failure is also different from ours. As long as we persevere in faith and repent of our sins, God can continue working in us.
Conclusion:
❖ Reaffirm their faith with a song like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDeA-SAlklU.
❖ Encourage your members not just to sing about their faith, but live it out! Act in faith like the heroes we’ve talked about today.
❖ Close in prayer.
Day 27: Words and Actions
Lesson/Learning Objective: To discipline ourselves to say “Yes” to what God tells us to do and to follow through.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read Matthew 21:28-32.
❖ Context: Today’s parable was told during Passion Week during Jesus’ last days before crucifixion. It’s the story about two sons; the first says he won’t do as his father says but changes his mind and does it anyway (v.28-29). The second verbally agrees but does not actually do the work (v.30). The point that Jesus makes is that sinners and outcasts of society are like the first son. Outwardly, they seem far from God; but when they heard John the Baptist preach, they repented and so entered the Kingdom of God. The chief priests and the Pharisees, however, are like the second son. Outwardly they seem righteous, but their refusal to repent reveals that their hearts are not right.
❖ Materials: None.
Activity:
❖ Play “Big fish, small fish” with your members.
➢ Ask your members to sit in a circle.
➢ “Big fish” means hold your hands 10cm apart. “Small fish” means hold your hands 30cm apart.
➢ Choose someone to start the game and move anti-clockwise. If the first person says “Big fish” the person on the right says “Small fish” and the next person says “Big fish” and so on, with the corresponding hand actions. If someone repeats (ie. “Big fish”, “Big fish”), the game changes direction and moves to the left.
➢ The game continues until someone makes a mistake:
■ Does the wrong action when saying the phrase
■ Says the phrase wrongly (e.g. “Fig Fish”)
■ Takes more than two seconds for his or her turn.
➢ Play a few rounds and those who made a mistake must do a forfeit like sing a song, do ten push-ups etc.
❖ Debrief: This game was difficult because our actions were opposite to our words. In today’s passage, Jesus tells a parable about two sons who each said one thing but ended up doing the opposite. Let’s read it together.
❖ For online, you may play the game “Actions Align with Our Words”.
➢ Setup:
■ Participants are split into small teams.
■ The host presents a series of challenges that require verbal commitments before execution.
■ Examples of challenges: solving a riddle, drawing something in 30 seconds, listing 10 items in a category, or completing a physical action like balancing an object.
′ Gameplay:
Round 1 - Making Commitments:
Before attempting a task, each member must declare what they will achieve within a set time limit.
Example: "I will name 8 capital cities in 20 seconds."
Round 2 - Execution:
Members must complete exactly what they committed to.
′ Twists & Challenges:
Halfway through a task, add on one simple task for the members.
Example: “Name 8 capital cities in 20 seconds, then do one squat.”
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: How do you evaluate the words and actions of the two sons (v.28-31)? Who’s right or wrong?
A: The first son was wrong to immediately refuse his father’s command. In our Asian culture, he disrespected his father and didn’t “give him face”. Yet in the end, he redeemed himself by changing his mind and doing what his father asked.
The second son gave a compliant verbal response, which was good. But in the end, he didn’t do what he said he would. This is clearly wrong, but there may be debate if the second son was worse than the first, or both were equally bad.
Jesus’ intention in telling this parable is in His question: “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” (v.31). To Jesus, actions speak louder than words. So, to align our evaluation with Jesus’ values, both sons did wrong, but in the end the first son was better than the second.
2. Q: In the parable, who do the father and two sons represent? If you were a chief priest of Pharisee, how would you feel?
A: The father in the parable represents God. The first son represents the sinners and outcasts of their society ie. tax collectors and prostitutes. (Tax collectors were hated because they collaborated with the colonising Roman Empire to line their own pockets and were seen as traitors to their own people. Prostitutes gave sexual favours for money and were looked down upon.) The second son represents the respected religious leaders of their society – the chief priests and the Pharisees.
If I were a chief priest or Pharisee, I imagine I would be very angry with Jesus. I’m a leader in the community, I have studied the scriptures since I was a child, and I teach others how to follow God’s law. I am a good person who loves God, and this guy dares to say that sinners and criminals are entering God’s Kingdom before me? I would be outraged and indignant!
3. Q: How can we apply this parable to ourselves?
A: Firstly, if you hear God telling you to do something – to stop telling lies, be kinder to your friends, reach out to that loner in your class, etc. – don’t say “No” to Him like the first son. Say “Yes” and do what He tells you. Let Him sit in the driver’s seat of your life and see where He will lead you.
Secondly, if you have given your “Yes” to God, follow through. Don’t be like the second son and fail at the point of action. Be a man or woman of your word. If you have promised God that you will do something – provided it’s not a bad thing – then make sure you really do it.
Thirdly, if you feel like an outcast, know that God sees you. He knows you and loves you. Just as Jesus welcomed the tax collectors and sinners into the Kingdom of God, so does Jesus welcome you. Come to Him today and let nothing hinder you. Then persevere in following Him for all your days to come.
Fourthly, if you think you’re very good, holy and close to God, be careful. Take care that you don’t become proud and judgmental like the Pharisees. Be open to God’s correction, which may come from the Bible, a sermon, a friend, or an impression in your heart. Don’t get angry and defensive, but repent and turn back to God.
Conclusion:
❖ Ask your members, “What is one thing that God is telling you to do this week?”
➢ Will they say “Yes” to God?
➢ Will they keep their word and follow-through on their commitments to Him?
❖ Close in prayer
Day 28: Beautiful to God
Lesson/Learning Objective: To understand that we're God’s special creation and take up responsibility as His co-regents to care for His creations.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read Psalm 8:4-9.
❖ Context: Like Psalm 139 in Day 24, Psalm 8 is also a hymn of praise written by David. He asks, in comparison to the glorious heavens, why human beings who appear much less glorious have such a special place in God’s heart (v.4). David describes the special position we have as “little lower than the angels,” “crowned with glory and honour,” and “rulers over the works of [God’s] hands” (v.5-6). He then lists out all earthly creatures under the rule of human beings as God’s co-rulers before concluding the psalm with praise.
❖ Materials: Small slips of paper.
Activity:
Prepare paper slips and write down different animals. Have a good mix of species: Earthworm
Snail Mosquito Rhinoceros beetle Hermit crab Hammerhead shark Parrot Penguin Kangaroo Platypus Terrapin Komodo dragon
Give everyone a slip of paper. They must not look inside.
The first player holds the paper on their forehead and has to guess their animal.
The player can only ask Yes/No questions, like “Am I warm-blooded?” “Do I have four legs?” instead of “How many legs do I have?”
For online, put the player in a waiting room. Tell everyone else what the animal is. Bring the player back into the call and they can start asking Yes/No questions.
In today’s passage, David writes that God has put someone in charge of all these creatures, to rule over them. Who is that person? Let’s read it together.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: What action of God does David find surprising (v.4)?
A: David finds it surprising that God thinks about human beings and cares for us. You may read the three verses before today’s passage with your members. David found this surprising because we human beings seem so tiny and insignificant in comparison to the glory and beauty of the heavens, the moon and the stars.
2. Q: How does David describe humanity’s position and role in the world (v.5-8)?
A: David says that human beings are “a little lower than the angels”, that we are “crowned… with glory and honour,” that God made us rulers over the works of His hands and put everything under our authority. David even lists down all the animals which are under our rule – livestock, wild animal, birds, and fish (all the animals in the activity earlier!)
3. Q: How should we respond in view of our identity and responsibility?
A: Firstly, we can gain a balanced view of humanity. Without God, we fall into two wrong extremes – one is that we’re nothing so special but an ape that grew too intelligent and happened to win the evolution lottery. We’re simply a collection of molecules that break down when we die, with no special meaning or purpose.
The other extreme is that we are our own gods. Because we’re so intelligent and capable, we have the technology to explore space, increase our lifespan, become immortal, create new forms of life, and so on. David’s view of humanity is balanced. On one hand, humanity does seem insignificant compared to the vast universe. On the other, we're significant because God created us in His image and He loves us.
Secondly, we can develop a healthy sense of pride in who we are. This is not arrogance or thinking too highly of ourselves, but positive self-image, self-confidence, and selfesteem. As our devotional article said, “No matter what others think of us or what we think of ourselves know this: We are beautiful to God.”
Thirdly, we should take up responsibility to care for God’s world. Genesis 1:26-27 says humans were created to “rule over the fish in the sea and the birds... over the livestock and all the wild animals...” God chose to make us His co-rulers to take charge of our world. Therefore, we have a responsibility to care for the environment ie. to combat pollution, conserve unique flora and fauna, to limit wastage, exploitation and overdevelopment.
Conclusion:
❖ Ask your members to consider one action in the coming week to be good rulers over God’s creation. Some ideas:
➢ Turning off the tap when they’re brushing their teeth to save water
➢ Walking or cycling to tuition instead of taking the car (depending on the area)
➢ Using fewer plastic bags and plastic straws
➢ Donating to World Wildlife Fund or other conservation NGOs
❖ End with this song, which echoes Psalm 8’s amazement at creation: https://youtu.be/hUTbszAJrrU
❖ Close in prayer.
Day 29: A Labour of Love
Lesson/Learning Objective: To have the integrity to do what is right, respecting that God’s reward for us is eternal, not earthly recognition.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Read Colossians 3:22-25.
Context: Colossians was written by Paul to the Church in Colossae to fight against wrong teachings in the church and show them that Jesus was all they needed. Before today’s passage, Paul gave them directions to live good Christian lives, exhorting them to “set their hearts on things above” (v.1-4), put their earthly nature to death (v.5-10) and put on their “new self” (v.10-17). He then gave specific instructions for every member of the household: wives, husbands, children, fathers, slaves, and masters. Today’s reading touches on the section for slaves.
❖ Materials: None needed.
Activity:
Get your members to pair up. If there is an odd number, let them pair with you.
Assign one person to be “master” and another to be “slave”.
The “master” gives three commands to the “slave,” which they must obey.
Commands cannot be dangerous, harmful or sexual. “Slaves” must report to you if these rules are violated.
After the three commands, switch roles: The “master” now becomes the “slave,” and must obey three commands in return. Do not tell your members this in advance as the purpose is to give them a taste of both sides.
Debrief them:
o How did it feel like to be the master? (powerful, in control, clueless, don’t know what commands to give, etc.)
o How did it feel like to be the slave? (powerless, suffering, forced to obey, no freedom, etc.)
For online, the facilitator is the master. Give some commands to your members:
o Say one thing that you’re grateful for today.
o Do 10 sets of pumping in 30 seconds.
o Sing a song.
Let them reflect on what it feels like to be a slave.
In today’s reading, Paul instructs Colossian slaves on how their faith should affect their service.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: What should Christian slaves do, and when should they do it (v.22-23)?
A: They should obey their earthly masters and do their work wholeheartedly. They should do this all the time, not only when their master is watching. If questions arise about slavery, note that the Bible does not condone slavery. Old Testament Israelites were allowed to buy slaves from the surrounding nations (Leviticus 25:44-46), but that was a concession to the fact that slavery was prevalent in the ancient world. Scripture accepts this was the way the world was and simply tells masters and slaves the best way to live within their current situation.
2. Q: Why should Christian slaves do that (3:22-25)? List two reasons.
A:
o In order to have integrity (“sincerity of heart”, v.22).
o Out of reverence, not to the master but to Jesus (v.22).
o Because they are working not only for their master, but for Jesus (v.23-24).
o Because they will receive an inheritance from Jesus as a reward (v.24).
3. Q: We are not slaves. How, then, do these verses apply to us? Is there any area of your life where you feel tempted not to apply these verses?
A: Even though we are not slaves, we all have work to do. A businesswoman must run her business, a teacher must prepare his lessons, and so on. As high school students, your members’ “work” is to study hard and learn knowledge and skills for their next stage in life. Some may hold leadership roles in church, youth fellowship or BB company, so that’s their work too.
Apply these verses by doing their best, not just to please teachers or parents but Jesus. The motivation is not just to gain popularity, power, or a spot in a good university. These are all good things, but they pale in comparison to receiving their reward from God.
For the second part, e ncourage them to share but don’t force them. Those who are smart but lazy may be tempted to do the bare minimum in school or cut corners in doing house chores. Whatever it is, encourage them to “work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (v.23).
Conclusion:
❖ Encourage your members to memorise Colossians 3:23-24 and apply it to their own lives as discussed in Question 3 part 2.
❖ Close in prayer
Day 30: Reason for Fear
Lesson/Learning Objective: To know God’s enduring love amidst our fears, gaining self-respect as we value ourselves enough to rely on Him.
Preparation:
❖ Bible verse: Psalm 118:1-7.
Context: Psalm 118 is a hymn of praise, the last in a group of six psalms called the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118). They are so named because they are traditionally sung during the Passover meal, giving thanks and praise to God for the way He rescued them from slavery in Egypt. This tradition was already practised in Jesus’ time, and this was one of the hymns that He sung with His disciples at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26). In this psalm, three groups of people are called to repeat the refrain, “His love endures forever”: the whole people of Israel, the priests of the line of Aaron, and anyone who feared God, including Gentiles.
❖ Materials: Device with internet and/or a guitar or other musical instrument.
Activity:
Sing this song together: (1070) Michael W Smith - Forever God is Faithful w/lyrics - YouTube
In today’s reading, the psalmist uses “His love endures forever” as a refrain, just like this song does. Let’s read it together.
Discussions:
❖ Read the Bible passage and the devotional article with the participants.
❖ Discuss the three questions:
1. Q: Who are the three groups of people who are called upon to sing the refrain, “His love endures forever” (v.2-4)? Are you included?
A: The three groups are the people of Israel, the priests of the line of Aaron, and everyone who fears God, including Gentiles. All Christians are in the first group, because those who believe in Jesus have become the people of God The equivalent of the second group today would be church pastors and full-time ministry workers. The third group includes Christians like us too, as we’re non-Jews who worship God.
2. Q: What are some things you’re afraid of? How can this psalm help you face those fears (v.67)?
A: Encourage your members to honestly share their fears. Some common ones include darkness, death, the unknown, failure, rejection, bullies etc. Remind them that God is greater than anything we’re scared of. We can be sure that He’ll bring us through our challenges.
The psalmist also asks, “What can mere mortals do to me?” This is a sort of worst-case scenario. His enemies may kill him, but his spirit will be safe with God. For us, the worst can happen like failing an exam or losing a loved one to disease, but our life is still in God’s hands.
3. Q: Have you experienced God’s enduring love in the face of injustice?
A: Listen to your member’s experiences of God’s love, presence, and help. Share a personal story from your own life. Hopefully, these testimonies will draw other non-Christian members to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Remind them that trusting in God is a form of self-respect, as we value ourselves enough to rely on Him through good and bad times.
Conclusion:
❖ Sing the song “Forever God is Faithful” one more time.
❖ Encourage those who already know God to continue growing in Him.
❖ Invite those who are still on the fence to know God who promises to help them overcome all fears.
❖ Close in prayer.
