Week 1 Devotionals
There are no devotionals for your first meeting. These readings start after your first meeting, not before. Your first meeting is Seven Healthy Habits led by your group leader.
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Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20, NIV
Meditation
A significant challenge facing the church today is the abundance of converts who have not become disciples. While conversion, a mental assent to the ideas of Christian faith, is crucial, discipleship takes this a step further. Disciples not only believe in the right things but actively strive to embody them daily and in every aspect of their lives. They are committed to knowing, loving, and following Christ in all that they do.
Now discipleship isn't about perfection or the absence of struggle. We all fall short (Romans 3:23). We are saved by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Discipleship is a commitment to becoming more like Christ over the long haul, despite life's difficulties and failures. The same divine power that saves us also gradually transforms us each day into the likeness of Christ. God doesn't save us only to leave us unchanged; He desires our transformation. Be a disciple, not just a convert.
It's also crucial to understand that our role extends beyond our own discipleship. We are called to "make disciples." This concept emphasizes multiplication: you cannot reproduce what you do not embody. Our call to discipleship necessitates living it so profoundly that we can effectively teach and mentor others. Discipleship that solely benefits oneself is not true discipleship. Jesus envisioned discipleship as a spreading overflow, a natural byproduct of our own commitment. A disciple who does not make disciples is a contradiction in terms. It’s an oxymoron. Therefore, strive to be a disciple who actively makes disciples.
Question for Reflection
Do you think you’re more of a convert who just believes, or a disciple who believes and follows? Explain your answer.
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These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life…These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy. 6:1-2, 6-9, NIV
Meditation
Think back to your childhood. What shows did you grow up watching? Even if it’s been decades, you could probably still sing the theme song or hum the tune, right? It’s funny how those things stick with us. What we take in really does shape us. We all have a kind of “diet” — made up of the books we read, the shows we watch, and the music we listen to. So what’s on your menu these days? Maybe it’s cable news, podcasts, or endless scrolling on Instagram. Whatever it is, it’s worth remembering that none of these things are neutral. Everything we consume — whether we mean to or not — consumes us. It’s either forming us more into the image of Christ or more into the image of the world around us.
In Deuteronomy 6, God gives us a clear picture of what He wants on the menu: His Word. It’s not just one item among many options. It’s meant to be the main course — the thing that nourishes our hearts, minds, and souls. God’s desire is that His Word would weave through every part of our lives — in our homes and as we go about our days, when we wake up and when we go to sleep.
If you’re a parent, this passage carries a special challenge and encouragement: “Impress these commands on your children.” Kids are like wet cement — soft and impressionable for only a short time. Every day that goes by, they’re being shaped by something. As parents, you have the greatest influence in that process. The church is here to walk alongside you and support you, but you play the leading role in discipling your kids. We know it’s not easy, and it often requires sacrifice, but the investment is worth it. Don’t let culture be the loudest voice in their lives.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” Spiritually, the same thing applies. If our diet is full of cultural “junk food,” it’s going to affect us. But Jesus gives us a better way in Matthew 4:4: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” His Word is the nourishment our souls truly need.
Question for Reflection
How are you formed by God’s word? How are you formed by our culture? If you have children, what are some practical ways you can impress God’s word into their thinking?
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God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 1:28, NIV
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
Genesis 2:19,20
Meditation
Some of us are naturally drawn to organization. Others might lean a little more toward the “creative clutter” side. Either way, we can all appreciate a bit of order, structure, and clarity—even if we’re not the ones who make it happen. Organization helps life feel a little simpler and things a little easier to use and understand.
When God created the world, He gave Adam an important job: subdue and name. In other words, to bring order and understanding to creation. People have been doing that ever since—including when it comes to God’s Word. That’s really what systematic theology is all about: organizing and naming the truths of Scripture so we can better grasp and live them out.
Still, many of us—despite the faithful work of thoughtful Christians over the centuries—struggle to have a clear, organized understanding of what we believe. Even those who read Scripture regularly can find it hard to explain the basics of the faith. In many ways, we’re living in a time when both biblical and theological understanding is thin. And that’s okay to admit—it just shows us where we can grow.
The encouraging news is that it’s never too late to start. This isn’t about guilt or shame; it’s a friendly invitation. Whether you’re new to following Jesus or have been walking with Him for years, you can take small, steady steps to learn the core truths of the Christian faith. For some, this will feel exciting and natural. For others, it may take patience and persistence. But when we take time to understand who God is and what He’s revealed, our love for Him deepens.
So, lean in. Be curious. Keep learning. Because as we grow in our understanding of systematic theology, we also grow in our relationship with God and with one another. Don’t just read Scripture—study its bigger truths. Learn, label, and live them out. Scary? Maybe. Hard? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. Subdue and name.
Question for Reflection
Reflect on your understanding of theology and doctrine. How effectively can you express basic Christian beliefs? What steps can you take to enhance your ability to communicate the core tenets of the Christian faith?
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He [Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Luke 24:25-27, NIV
Meditation
If someone is passionate about a subject, they naturally want to explain it well. A true football fan, for example, can effortlessly discuss the rules, their favorite players and teams, and the season's highlights. Similarly, a dedicated gamer can spend hours detailing their preferred platform, the best video games, and the history of the companies behind their favorite adventures. If you meet a foodie, expect an in-depth conversation about their favorite chefs, their more unique culinary experiences, and the ideal wine pairings for their most cherished dishes. A passionate person simply can't help but explain in detail the things they deeply love.
Jesus had a deep love for Scripture. Our passage today highlights this, saying "he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." Jesus understood that misunderstanding Scripture leads to misunderstanding God. Consequently, he devoted significant time and energy to mastering the Scriptures. His commitment to ensuring people knew God accurately fueled his passion for explaining the Scriptures clearly and thoroughly.
If we love God, we have to get the scriptures right. A significant struggle for the church today is that many Christians hold a vague, and often inaccurate, understanding of God. This stems from an inability to articulate the God of the Bible because of a lack of biblical knowledge. Is learning the Bible challenging? Yes. However, the initial learning curve to any new passion is always steep. Yet, our early enthusiasm inspires the hard work of discipline, which eventually leads to the capability to explain that subject well.
Friends, it is not acceptable to get God wrong because of Biblical ignorance. Love the Gospel enough to explain it right. If God is your passion, commit knowing the one you claim to love through committing to learn the Bible.
Question for Reflection
How can your love for God and Jesus push you to go deeper into studying the Bible? What is your “next step” in understanding the Bible more deeply?
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But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
1 Peter 3:15-16, NIV
Meditation
I still remember the dread of a "pop quiz" in high school. Nobody truly enjoys them. While surprises are great for parties or gifts, they are the worst when they involve unexpected judgment or measurement.
In the Gospels, we see that people—especially the Pharisees and teachers of the law—constantly tried to trick or trap Jesus with "gotcha" moments. What's remarkable is that Jesus was always ready for these pop quizzes. His responses varied: sometimes he gave a direct answer, other times he countered their question with a question of his own, and occasionally, he met their inquiries with silence. Regardless of the approach, every single response was rooted in His deep knowledge and wise application of Scripture. This mastery of the Bible and its major concepts (theology) gave Jesus the discernment to answer His critics perfectly every time.
We are not Jesus, and God doesn't expect us to have a perfect answer all the time. There is a healthy "I don't know" when you are learning or simply can't know everything. However, the Apostle Peter instructs us to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." An "I don't know" that stems from chosen ignorance or spiritual laziness is not OK for a disciple of Jesus. Whether you have been a Christian for ten months or ten years, we all have a responsibility to level up by growing in our knowledge of theology and the Bible. The world is full of questions, and Christianity offers the answers. Are you studying in a way that prepares you to face the world's pop quizzes?
Question for Reflection
When people randomly hit you up with questions about your faith, how ready are you to respond? How can you be more prepared for the world’s pop quizzes?
