Youth BiOY

Psalm 89:38-44, 1 Chronicles 9:1, Romans 13:1-10. There is a good side to human government but there can also be an evil side As Oscar Cullmann remarks, according to whether ‘the state remains within its *limits* or transgresses them, the Christian will describe it as the servant of God or as the instrument of the Devil'

Psalm 89:33-35, 1 Chronicles 6:49, Romans 12:1-21. We do not need to make any sacrifices for our sins Yet the New Testament tells us that there are four sacrifices you can make that *please God*

Psalm 89:19-29, 1 Chronicles 4:9-22, Romans 11:11-32. What does the future hold for the ‘insiders'?The key to Paul's understanding lies in Romans 11:29: ‘For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable ' This is a theme that runs throughout the Bible as we see in today's passages

Proverbs 18:7-16, 1 Chronicles 3:4-16, Romans 10:9-15, 11:1-6. ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' (v 13)

Psalm 89:14-18, 1 Chronicles 1:1, Romans 9:25-33, 10:1-4. We share a common history and family tree We worship the same God and, the apostle Paul tells us, the way of salvation is the same for us all

Psalm 89:9-13, Hosea 12:6, 13:5-6, 14:2-4, Romans 9:2-16. God is sovereign He rules and reigns in his universe

Psalm 89:1-8, Hosea 10:12, 11:4-8, Romans 8:18-39. And if it is true of you, it is also true of me God loves me and you

Proverbs 17:25-28, 18:1-5, Hosea 9:1, Romans 8:1-17. Know that you are a deeply loved child of God This should be the basis of your confidence, security and hope

Psalm 88:9-13, Hosea 6:1-3, Romans 7:7-25. You can cry out to the Lord for help God's desire is for you to have a relationship with him that is real and from the heart

Psalm 88:1-4, Hosea 3:1-5, Romans 6:15-23, 7:2-4. Living for ourselves is, in fact, a form of slavery Serving God ‘in the new way of the Spirit' (Romans 7:6) is the way to find perfect freedom – free to have a relationship with him and to be the kind of person that deep down you long to be

Psalm 87:7, Hosea 1:2-10, 2:14-23, Romans 6:1-14. 'Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you are able to live and enjoy ‘*a new life* ' In the passages for today, we see how this was anticipated in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament

Proverbs 17:15-24, Amos 8:4-11, 9:8-14, Romans 5:17-21. There is a mnemonic used to explain grace: **G**od's **R**iches **A**t **C**hrist's **E**xpense We see today how Jesus Christ makes *just grace* available for you and me

Psalm 86:11-17, Amos 6:1a, 7:1-15, Romans 4:18-25, 5:1-8. If the written word of the Bible could be changed into a spoken word and become one single voice, this voice, more powerful than the roaring of the sea would cry out: “the Father loves you!” (John 16:27) Everything that God does and says in the Bible is love, even God's anger is nothing but love

Psalm 86:1-7, Amos 5:21-24, Romans 4:1-15. You can live in a right relationship with him and with others This is ‘*justification'*

Psalm 85:8-10, Amos 3:1-11, 4:6, Romans 3:9-26. The moment anyone comes to understand this expression, it changes your life It certainly changed mine

Proverbs 17:9, Amos 2:6-7, Romans 2:17-29. God wants us to have soft hearts – hearts of love and compassion But if we are to make any difference to the world, this will lead to hard feet as we travel along tough paths and face challenges

Psalm 85:4-7, Jonah 1:1-17, 2:1-10, 3:1-10, Romans 2:1-13. He gives us *countless* chances to turn back to him and enjoy his love again God doesn't just give us a ‘second life' – he comes to us and transforms our *real* life

Psalm 84:8-12, 2 Kings 25:27-30, Romans 1:20-32. The painting only came alive to those on their knees in prayer The right perspective is the position of worship

Psalm 84:1-5, 2 Kings 23:3, Romans 1:1-17. * It is a gift made possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Here lies the secret of restored relationships – first of restored relationship with God and then all other relationships

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*