READ: MATTHEW 5:43-48; EPHESIANS 4:26, 31-32 Have you ever worn a full backpack for more than a few minutes? When you first put it on, it doesn’t seem too bad. But after walking across campus or standing in line for a while, it can feel like that backpack is getting heavier and heavier. Of course, [...]

READ: ECCLESIASTES 3:1-14; MATTHEW 28:20; ROMANS 8:35-39 Have you ever seen a plant that’s been repotted? If a potted plant gets too big, it needs to be moved to a bigger pot so it can grow and flourish. But, when you first put it in its new home, it may look droopy. That’s because it’s [...]

READ: ROMANS 12:13; HEBREWS 13:2; 1 PETER 4:7-10 Did you know that all Christians are called to some sort of ministry? You don’t have to be a pastor or missionary to have a ministry—the fact is, God commands all Christians to minister to others. The word ministry basically means service. And in Galatians 5:13, all [...]

READ: MATTHEW 23:27-28; EPHESIANS 2:4-10; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-9 Have you ever cut into a shiny red tomato, only to find it was all rotten in the middle? It may have looked perfect on the outside—not even a bruise. But inside, it’s mushy and not fit to be eaten. Sometimes we are like that rotten tomato. Many [...]

READ: PSALM 139:23-24; 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17; HEBREWS 4:12-16 Do you know why dentists take x-rays of our teeth? Even though dentists and dental hygienists look for cavities while they clean people’s teeth, some small cavities can’t be seen with just the human eye. So, by using an x-ray, dentists can find cavities before they’re visible [...]

READ: EPHESIANS 4:20-32; 6:10-18; 1 PETER 5:6-10 What would you say is the most dangerous animal in the world? Sharks, lions, snakes? If we look at the number of humans killed each year by these predators, we find that sharks kill about a dozen humans per year, lions kill more than 100, and snakes kill [...]

READ: PSALM 119:105; PROVERBS 7:1-3; ROMANS 12:2; COLOSSIANS 3:14-17 If you have a locker, is it easier to look up the locker combination every time, or to memorize the combination? You could just keep the locker combo saved on your phone or written on a piece of paper, but then you’d have to search for [...]

READ: PSALM 103:8-12; EPHESIANS 1:4-5; 2:1-10; 1 JOHN 1:9 Picture this: You and a friend are standing side by side. You each have an easel in front of you, and you’re working carefully on your own paintings. Then you take a step back, proudly declaring, “I think this is the best painting I’ve done yet.” [...]

READ: EXODUS 4:10-12; LUKE 12:11-12; EPHESIANS 6:19-20 Have you ever gotten stage fright? Getting up and speaking in front of a group of people can be nerve-racking! The truth is, lots of people struggle with stage fright, including celebrities who perform all the time. When we have to get up in front of people, a [...]

READ: ROMANS 14:10-13; GALATIANS 6:1-2 What’s your favorite “instant” food? Ramen noodles? Mac ‘n’ cheese? Taquitos? These precooked foods are tasty and convenient. Especially when we’re hungry and in a hurry, having something on hand that will only take a minute or two to prepare can be really nice. It’s easy to get the idea [...]