Week Twenty-Three, Day One

Using Discernment

Discernment is the ability to tell the difference between what is good and what is bad. Spiritually speaking, it is “the ability to tell what is of God and what is not.” Discernment is a gift of God, allowing a Christian to hear the leadership of the Holy Spirit, before you make a bad decision.

Study 1 John 4:1-6, Matthew 7:15-20, and 1Timothy 1:3-7, 6:3-5.

Include the following in your personal prayer time:

• Ask God to sharpen your discernment so that you can recognize false teachers for what they are and tune them out.
• Commit to study God’s Word closely so that you will be able to recognize false teaching when you hear it.
• My family Monday…

FOR FURTHER STUDY: 2 Peter 2

Week Twenty-three, Day Two

How You Act at Home

Study Ephesians 6:1-4 and Colossians 3:18-21.

Include the following in your personal prayer time:

• Thank God for the family that you have, asking God to bless and improve all of the relationships in it through you and your witness.
• Commit to be patient with your family members and show them love and respect, whether or not you think they deserve it, as an act of worship to God.
• Your church…

FOR FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 7:10-17

Week Twenty-three, Day Three

“I don’t think that being a leader for Jesus means that you have to win everything and have everybody know you. I think you got to learn how to ‘take it on the chin’ without complaining and being nice even to the people who aren’t nice to you. Anybody can be nice when everything is good for them. That’s just being like everybody else.”

Cody, middle school student

Being a Leader

Study Matthew 5:1-12 and Romans 2:1-4, 15:1-7.

Include the following in your personal prayer time:

• Ask God to mold you into the kind of leader that others can safely follow.
• Commit to be patient with others, remembering that you struggle with the sin nature on a daily basis, too. Commit to show others the same grace and mercy that God shows you.
• Witness Wednesday…

FOR FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 5:1-2 and 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Week Twenty-three, Day Four

Showing Compassion

Study Matthew 9:35-38, 8:1-4, 14:12-14.

Include the following in your personal prayer time:

• Thank God for the compassion that He has shown you through others.
• Ask God to help you see what others need more quickly than you see their faults.
• Thirsty Thursday…

FOR FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Week Twenty-three, Day Five

Truly Loving Others

Study 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 5:43-48.

Include the following in your personal prayer time:

• Ask God to give you the strength to love your enemies.
• Ask God to teach you how to love others with your words and in your actions, even when you don’t feel like it.
• Friends Friday…

FOR FURTHER STUDY: Luke 23:33-38

The Weekend

Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 8-11

This is the beginning of the story of King Saul. As you read, think about what you have learned about moral character. Is Saul a leader to be followed? Are you? If you know the rest of the story about Saul, you know that he walked away from God and did not live a moral life after he became the leader of Israel. If you are a leader, have you changed and become more focused on God or more focused on yourself?

Do you know your new verse yet? Stay after it.