Youth BiOY

Proverbs 16:28-32, 17:1-4, 2 Kings 22:3-19, Acts 28:23-31. It can cause great damage but it can also bring extraordinary blessings Your tongue is a powerful instrument

Psalm 83:18, 2 Kings 19:14-19, Acts 28:1-9. Intercession was also made by kings, for example, David, Solomon, and Hezekiah You, too, are called to this invisible but invaluable ministry

Psalm 82:3-8, 2 Kings 18:5-36, Acts 27:13-25. The people of God in the Bible looked out on a world of suffering But they trusted in the Lord despite what they saw

Psalm 81:8-14, 2 Kings 17:13-40, Acts 26:24-32. ‘To listen', means to hear attentively, ‘to pay attention to' Prayer means giving God your *full attention*

Proverbs 16:18-24, 2 Kings 15:1-4, Acts 25:23, 26:1-23. It is the independent spirit that says, ‘I have no need of God ' Arguably, therefore, it is at the root of all sin

Psalm 81:6-7, 2 Kings 13:1-23, Acts 25:1-22. Our world is facing major challenges with the scourge of racism, modern slavery, climate change, mass starvation, wars and terrorism As I read the passages for today, I am reminded that the relatively minor challenges, problems and hassles that I face are nothing compared to what the people of God have faced in the past, and still face around the world today

Psalm 80:18-19, 2 Kings 11:19-21, Acts 24:1-27. The light of Jesus will always outshine the darkness around (John 1:5) You have that light within you by the Holy Spirit and wherever you go you bring a light greater than the darkness around you

Psalm 80:3, 2 Kings 9:6-22, Acts 23:12-35. Stephen Lungu was captivated by the preacher In each of the passages for today we see attacks of various kinds and how God turns opposition into opportunity

Proverbs 16:9, 2 Kings 6:25-33, 7:1-18, Acts 22:22-30, 23:1-11. Nothing happens without God's permission God is in control and *in everything* he is working for good (8:28)

Psalm 79:1-13, 2 Kings 5:1-16, Acts 22:1-21. I have changed from a violent, loveless drug addict to a man who is happily married and full of love I'm now running Alphas for all types of people, from gangs to grannies, and I'm seeing their lives changed

Psalm 78:56-72, 2 Kings 4:1-34, Acts 21:10-20. The task of an overseer is to pastor God's flock, following the example of Jesus who said, ‘I am *the good shepherd*' (John 10:11) In the passages for today we see seven characteristics of good shepherds which are seen in all great Christian leaders

Psalm 78:40-53, 2 Kings 2:7-15, Acts 20:17-36. Yet it is also a message that provokes opposition God equips you to pass on this message by giving you the Holy Spirit

Proverbs 16:1-3, 1 Kings 22:1-14, Acts 19:21-41. I find it so encouraging and faith building to look back at how much the Lord has done for us over the years It is so easy to forget his kindness and faithfulness

Psalm 78:32-38, 1 Kings 21:17-20, Acts 18:9-26, 19:11-13. The apostle Paul writes, ‘Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but… against the spiritual forces of evil' (Ephesians 6:12) God's power in you is so much greater than the power of evil

Psalm 78:21-25, 1 Kings 18:21-39, Acts 17:22-34. God is real ' The email was headed ‘Brand New Knee!!'God is a God of miracles

Psalm 78:13-15, 1 Kings 17:2-16, Acts 17:2-18. Our Father in heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ He will supply all you need just in time

Proverbs 15:22-30, 1 Kings 15:4-5, Acts 16:16-34. It is, as Charles Haddon Spurgeon put it, ‘the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence ' Prayer has the power to change circumstances, other people and even the course of history

Psalm 78:4-7, 1 Kings 12:26-30, Acts 16:1-15. There have always been people in my life from whom I am learning and others to whom I am trying to pass it on Like runners in a relay race, we all have a responsibility to pass on the baton

Psalm 77:11-20, 1 Kings 11:34-39, Acts 15:22-40. We see examples of relationships at their very best, but we also see examples of their frailty and failure Through these examples and the teaching of the Bible we see three keys

Psalm 77:1-3, 1 Kings 11:1-9, Acts 15:1-11. But these need not derail you In fact, as you go through difficult times staying close to Jesus, you will emerge stronger, wiser and more Christ-like

Proverbs 15:11-13, 1 Kings 8:23-61, Acts 14:8-27. Your heart lies ‘open before the Lord' (Proverbs 15:11) Only God sees and knows the heart of every human being (1 Kings 8:39)

Psalm 76:1-2, 1 Kings 8:6-13, Acts 13:42-52, 14:1-3. In the Old Testament passage for today we read how ‘the glory of the Lord filled his temple' (1 Kings 8:11) Each of the passages for today tells us something about how to enjoy God's empowering presence that comes through the Holy Spirit

Psalm 75:3-10, 1 Kings 6:38, Acts 13:26-39. Yet, it is not always an easy book to understand One key ingredient to understanding the Bible better is to recognise the language and genre that the writer is using – the type of literature and therefore what the writer intended

Psalm 74:18-22, 2 Samuel 4:29-34, Acts 12:21-24, 13:1-12. She is having a huge impact on people – evangelising to anyone that will stand still long enough to listen!'John Wimber often used to say that we all need three conversions: to be converted to Christ, converted to his church and converted to his cause Sue was obviously not only converted to Christ, but also instantly converted to his church and to his cause! Today's passages focus especially on this third conversion

Proverbs 15:4, 1 Kings 3:5-14, Acts 11:20-26,12:1-17. org/) It is such an encouragement to know that every hour, day and night, there is someone praying in that room

Psalm 74:12-17, 1 Kings 1:32-34, 2:1-3, Acts 10:25-47, 11:1-17. Jesus was opposed: ‘They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen' (10:39–40) Contrastingly, the most wonderful privilege any human being can have is to be a follower of Jesus of Nazareth whom ‘God anointed… with the Holy Spirit and power' (10:38)

Psalm 74:1-9, 2 Samuel 24:10-25, Acts 9:34-42, 10:1-16. Sometimes that understanding may come in our lifetime Some things we will only understand when we meet the Lord

Psalm 73:23-28, 2 Samuel 22:2-20, Acts 9:1-20. *To be *rescued* is to be *saved*, set free, delivered from danger, attack or harm Jesus is the one who rescues you and brings you into ‘a spacious place' (2 Samuel 22:20)

Proverbs 14:25-34, 2 Samuel 21:1, Acts 8:4-35. In the last twenty-five years, there has been huge change – politically, economically and technologically Massive change is taking place in many countries around the world

Psalm 73:1-17, 2 Samuel 18:33, 19:5-8, Acts 7:51, 57-60. This change is key to spiritual life, growth and transformation It is not just about changing our actions or appearance; we need to change on the inside – we need a change of *heart*

Psalm 72:1,4–5,15b, 2 Samuel 17:1-14, Acts 7:20-38. *Even your mistakes* he uses for good In all the circumstances of your life and the events going on around you, you can trust in the providence of God

Psalm 71:19-23, 2 Samuel 15:13-30, 16:5-14, Acts 6:8-15, 7:1-10. Jesus faced trouble and so did the apostles, David and all the people of God However, as Matheson's hymn beautifully articulates, *troubles do not have the last word*

Proverbs 14:19-22, 2 Samuel 14:1-22, 15:5-6, Acts 5:12-42. It is a quality often lacking in our society today Disloyalty destroys families, churches, businesses, political parties and even nations

Psalm 71:13-18, 2 Samuel 13:12, Acts 4:27-31, 5:1-3. We must be open to the prophetic voice of Scripture, which often traces stark contrasts, urgent ethical choices and diverging paths in the midst of complex problems and situations The reality of right and wrong are very clear in today's passages and there are stark contrasts between the two

Psalm 71:1-6, 2 Samuel 11:26-27, 12:1-7, Acts 4:1-20. Usually, as we emerge from one battle, there is another one around the corner This is the challenge of life

Psalm 70:1-5, 2 Samuel 9:3-7, Acts 3:1–10. Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change When kindness is expressed, healthy relationships are created, community connections are nourished and people are inspired to pass on kindness

Proverbs 14:9-14, 2 Samuel 8:18-29, Acts 2:22-47. The great victory of God that we read about in the New Testament is foreshadowed in the Old Testament The ultimate victory of God came with the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the outpouring of his Spirit who gives you power to live a life of victory

Psalm 69:29-35, 2 Samuel 5:17-22, 6:5-21, Acts 2:1-17. On the day of Pentecost they heard ‘a *sound* like the blowing of a violent wind' that ‘came from *heaven*' (Acts 2:2) In today's passages we hear other sounds going to and from heaven

Psalm 69:13-17, 2 Samuel 3:39, Acts 1:3-22. However weak and inadequate you may feel, God can use you, like David, in extraordinary ways Even your weakness is anointed

Psalm 69:9, 1 Samuel 2:26, John 21:4-19. Elsewhere he says, ‘Never be lacking in zeal' (Romans 12:11) Perhaps a good modern translation of the word ‘zeal' is ‘crazy love'

Proverbs 13:20, 14:2-3, 2 Samuel 1:12-14, 2:1, John 20:11-28. There are many blessings to living in Western Europe in the twenty-first century However, we live in a society in which respect, awe and reverence do not seem to be as valued as they once were

Psalm 68:35, 1 Samuel 30:6, John 19:30–37,20:1–10. You stand before a choice: do you look for the energy you need in yourself and the resources of your intelligence and your entrepreneurial spirit, or do you look for it ‘*from above'*, from the risen Christ, the Sun of Righteousness?In the passages for today we see something about the extent of God's energy, power and strength Whereas on a physical level we struggle to harness even a fraction of the power of the sun, God has given you full access to his *endless* *energy* through Jesus' resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit

Psalm 68:24-26, 1 Samuel 27:1-12, 28:5-19, John 19:1-22. The supreme example of triumph coming out of apparent catastrophe is the cross What seemed to the world to be the ultimate defeat was in fact the ultimate triumph

Psalm 68:19, 1 Samuel 24:2-6, 25:23-31, John 18:25-40. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly' (vv 28–30)

Proverbs 13:10-19, 1 Samuel 23:14-18, John 18:3-24. However, there are times when these intensify and we seem to be coming under attack Martin Luther King said that the ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in ‘moments of convenience', but where they stand in ‘moments of challenge, moments of great crisis and controversy'

Psalm 68:7-10, 1 Samuel 20:42, John 17:9-23. In unity, these two men, one a Catholic and the other a Protestant, bore witness together to their common Lord – Jesus Christ Unity is so powerful

Psalm 68:4-6, 1 Samuel 17:41-47, John 16:7-33,17:1-5. A Hebrew name is no mere label *The name of the Lord* reveals who he is

Psalm 67:1-7, 1 Samuel 16:7, 17:4-37, John 15:1-27. There are two possible attitudes when facing a giant One is to say, ‘It's so big, there's nothing I can do

Proverbs 12:28,13:1-6, 1 Samuel 15:12, John 14:1-27. This is my ambition in life I want to complete the work God has given me to do

Psalm 66:13-20, 1 Samuel 13:13-14, 14:6, John 13:21–38. He tells us to love God, to love one another (John 13:34–35), to love our neighbour as ourselves and even to love our enemies He demonstrates all this in his own life through loving everyone (even Judas who betrayed him as we see in today's passage), and laying down his life for us all in love

Psalm 66:1-12, 1 Samuel 11:12-15,12:1-24, John 12:44-47,13:1-15. It really is ‘a glimpse of heaven' It takes time but celebration is an important part of life