Youth BiOY

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

Psalm 65:1-4, 1 Samuel 8:19-22, 10:1-7, John 12:12-33. Governments reflect the mix that is in us all of what is good and true alongside what is sinful and flawed However, be assured that one day there will be a new type of government – the kingship of Jesus (John 12:12–36)

Proverbs 12:18–25, 1 Samuel 7:5-14, John 11:45-54,12:1-11. Those who desire ‘to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted' (2 Timothy 3:12) Opposition comes both from those far away from us (the Philistines in the Old Testament passage for today) and also, sadly, sometimes from those closer to home (the Pharisees in the New Testament passage)

Psalm 64:1-10, 1 Samuel 3:10-11, John 11:1-44. As well as on a national level, all of us are likely at some point to face times of trouble in our own individual lives ‘Trouble' can take many forms

Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Samuel 1:10-20, 2:26, John 10:22-33. You are not simply body and mind You are a soul created for relationship with God

Psalm 62:5–8, Ruth 4:13-17, John 9:35-38, 10:1-18. Packer raises at the start of his influential book, *Knowing God* Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd; I *know* my sheep and my sheep *know* me – just as the Father *knows* me and I *know* *the Father*' (John 10:14)

Proverbs 12:17, Ruth 1:3-16, 2:1-13, John 9:1-25. Your story may not be as dramatic as Mark's, but *everyone* has a story Whether you were brought up as a Christian or whether you have only been a Christian for a few hours, your story has power

Psalm 61:1–4, Judges 20:17-28, 21:25, John 8:31-59. ”'Sandy continues, ‘I can honestly claim to have only heard the Lord speak about three times in this way, but as clearly as I have ever heard him speak, he said, “All I want is you”… It was the most humbling thing… He can do anything he likes But all he wants is you

Psalm 60:11-12, Judges 18:1, John 8:12-29. Being *with* God is even more important than what you do *for* God With God, everything is possible

Psalm 60:1-4, Judges 16:28, John 7:45-52, 8:3-11. Maybe even now you are facing a desperate situation – perhaps with your health, a bereavement, the breakdown of a relationship, work problems, family difficulties, financial trouble or a combination of these Even in desperate times, you can find the three great virtues of faith, hope and love

Proverbs 11:30, Judges 15:14, John 7:14-41. It is a God-shaped hole It is a spiritual hunger and thirst for God which Jesus told us could only be filled by his wonderful Holy Spirit (John 7:37)

Psalm 59:16-17, Judges 13:2-25, John 6:60–69. That same strength now lives in *you* and ‘will give life to your mortal body through his Spirit, *who lives in you*' (v 11b)

Psalm 59:1-4, Judges 11:29-31, John 6:35-40. 'As someone who is very aware of my own weaknesses, I find it encouraging that when I feel weak, I am not alone As you put your *faith* in God he turns your weakness into strength

Psalm 58:1-11, Judges 9:56-57, John 6:1-20. ‘For years, we have this friendship in which he comes to lunch and I do my best to make him very happy, and he is always good to me in return So of course I say, “Don't worry – I can give you a kidney

Proverbs 11:19-28, Judges 7:15-28, John 5:31-47. The other word ‘zoe' means the full, abundant, spacious, open-hearted, richness of life that Jesus speaks about – a life of fulfilment and purpose This is life in high definition

Psalm 57:7-11, Judges 6:6-16, John 5:16-30. 'Thankfully, God uses cracked pots! You do not need to be perfect for God to use you We want our lives to count for something

Psalm 57:1, Judges 4:2-8, 5:2-31, John 4:46-53, 5:1-8. It was not the placebo effect It was a God-sized answer to a God-sized prayer

Psalm 56:3-4, Judges 2:16-31, John 4:28-42. He is one example of the millions of people whom Jesus has delivered from addiction and set free Ah Yin has spent the rest of his life testifying about the saviour who always delivers

Proverbs 11:11-14, Judges 2:1-3, John 4:7-14. His agenda was the kingdom of God The kingdom of God is not just about the conversion of individuals – important though that is – but about the transformation of society

Psalm 55:16-23, Joshua 24:14-15, John 3:22-36. Your choices matter Some choices have life-changing consequences

Psalm 55:1-9, Joshua 22:24, John 3:1-18. I greatly admire the skill of those who know when to confront and are good at confronting in a loving way They have learnt how to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)

Psalm 54:1-7, Joshua 20:1-3, John 2:1-25. God is the God of surprises Jesus constantly surprised his followers and he wants to continue to surprise you

Proverbs 10:31, 11:4-6, Joshua 18:3, John 1:29-46. The New Testament presents the ‘land' as a picture of the Christian life (Hebrews 4) Realise what is already yours in Christ Jesus and then take possession of it

Psalm 53:2-3, Joshua 15:13, John 1:1-27. Jesus is unique He is the *universal Saviour*

Psalm 52:1-9, Joshua 13:1, 14:6-11, Luke 24:36-49. He entitled his autobiography *Unfinished Agenda* For him, there was always still so much to hope for and so much more to be done

Psalm 51:10-18, Joshua 11:23, Luke 24:1-32. ' The cross was *not* a defeat On the cross, Jesus won a great victory for us over sin, death and the powers of evil

Proverbs 10:21-28, Joshua 10:25, Luke 23:32-43. ‘Righteousness' is ultimately about *right relationships* – a right relationship with God and right relationships with others In the New Testament, we come to understand that this righteousness is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ (see Romans 3:21 – 4:25)

Psalm 51:1-7, Joshua 8:1-7, Luke 23:20-25. Jesus died to remove all the bad stuff He died instead of you and me (Mark 10:45)

Psalm 50:16-23, Joshua 5:13-15, 7:20-22, Luke 22:39–62. 'Jesus himself said that – ultimately – there are only two ways to live: there are two paths; there are two gates; there are two destinations and there are two groups of people (see Matthew 7:13–14) In the passages for today we see starkly contrasting ways of life

Psalm 50:15, Joshua 3:5, 5:10-12, Luke 22:3-37. Of course, he could do it all on his own, but he chooses to involve you He gives you freedom, yet he remains in control