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One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever gone fishing? Do you like to fish? For most people, the best part about going fishing is actually catching fish. On a day when the fish are really biting, and you spend the day busily reeling in fish after fish, it can be a lot of fun. However, on a day when the fish aren’t biting, and you are just sitting bored on the shore or in a boat, fishing isn’t a lot of fun.

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus is about to give some fishermen a new job. But first he wants them to know that he is in control of fishing. They had been fishing all night but hadn’t caught a single fish. It must have been boring and frustrating. Jesus tells them to put out to deeper water and miraculously their nets are full of fish. There were so many fish that their nets began to break and had to call other boats to help them!

At first, Peter is afraid, but Jesus assures him that from now on he will be a fisher of people. Those fishermen then all left their nets behind and began to follow Jesus.

Some days it is hard to be a “fisher” of people. We tell others about Jesus, and they aren’t interested. Maybe they make fun of us or don’t want to listen to us.

Other days it is easy to be a fisher of people. People are happy when we talk about Jesus with them. They have a smile on their face as we tell them about Jesus who loves us.

On good days and bad days remember who is in control. Whether the fishing is easy or hard that same Jesus who brought all those fish to Peter is still in control as you work as a fisher of people. We aren’t afraid because God is gracious and in control.

Prayer:

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever heard of a “suffer-fest”? Some people do super-hard workouts, run marathons, jump in freezing water, or eat only certain foods to challenge themselves. Sounds tough, doesn’t it?!

But when the apostle Paul wrote a letter to his friend Timothy, he invited him to a very different kind of suffering. Paul wrote, “Join with me in suffering for the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:8). Paul wasn’t talking about running races or doing cold plunges. He was talking about being willing to go through hard things so others could hear about Jesus.

Life is hard sometimes. Even when you’re young, you know what it feels like to get hurt, to mess up, or to feel sad. We live in a world full of sin—things that go against what God wants. It can make school hard, families argue, or friendships fall apart.

But here’s the good news: Jesus already suffered for you. He died on the cross to take away your sins. You don’t have to carry them anymore. Jesus didn’t stay dead—he rose from the grave! Because he’s alive, you will live forever with him in heaven. No more pain. No more sin. No more sadness.

Paul had been in jail and treated badly just for telling people this good news. Still, he said it was worth it. Sharing Jesus and his forgiveness is one of the best things we can do. Not everyone will listen, and some people might say “no thanks” when you invite them to church. That might feel a little like suffering. But God says it’s worth it. You never know when someone might believe because you shared Jesus with them.

So, like Paul told Timothy, be brave. Be loving. Keep sharing Jesus.

Prayer:

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Devotion based on 2 Timothy 1:5-6

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever heard names like Lois or Eunice? They aren’t very common today, but a long time ago, these were the names of Timothy’s grandma and mom. Timothy was a young pastor who loved Jesus, and he got his faith from these two special women.

The apostle Paul, a big helper for Christians back then, knew Lois and Eunice and wrote letters to Timothy to encourage him. But Timothy didn’t start believing in Jesus all by himself—he learned about Jesus from his family first!

Just like Timothy, many children today learn about God from their parents, grandparents, or someone close to them. Maybe someone reads you Bible stories, sings songs about Jesus, or prays with you. That’s how faith starts—at home and in people who love us.

Paul reminded Timothy to keep his faith strong, like fanning a small flame to make a big fire. May the Holy Spirit keep doing that saving work in your homes and hearts. Whisper a little prayer of thanks for the people who have brought Jesus into your life!

Dear God, thank you for the people who helped me learn about you and your love. Please help me keep my faith strong and help me share your love with others when I can. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Devotion based on Number 6:27

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Do you remember in the movie Toy Story how Andy writes his name on Woody’s boot? Or on Buzz Lightyear’s foot? It’s not just a scribble. It means something—“You are mine.” Andy loves them. They’re important to him.

Or think about when someone signs a big, important paper. They write their name big and bold. That signature means, “I believe in this. I’m part of it.” That’s why we remember the name John Hancock—his name stood out! He was the first one to sign the Declaration of Independence.

God does something like that too—but even bigger. In the Bible, God told Moses to bless his people using very special words. At the end of that blessing, God said, “They will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them” (Numbers 6:27).

God has put his name on YOU.

When you were baptized, whether as a baby or older, water was poured on you and the pastor said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” That wasn’t just something nice to say. That was God putting his name on you forever.

That means you’re his. You belong to him. You’re not just someone walking around this world—you’re God’s child. That’s your identity.

Maybe there are days when you feel left out. Or you wonder, “Does anyone really care about me?” God says, “I care. I chose you. I came to save you. I died for you. I put my name on you.”

So, when church ends and the pastor speaks that blessing again—“The Lord bless you and keep you…”—remember what’s real: God put his name on you. And he will never let you go.

Dear Lord God, thank you for putting your name on me in baptism. Thank you for making me your child, forever. When I feel forgotten or left out, remind me that I belong to you. Help me to live each day knowing I am yours. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

Devotion based on Numbers 6:25

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever seen someone with a big, bright smile that lights up their whole face?

• Ashley is walking down the aisle of her wedding. She’s glowing! Everyone says she looks amazing. She’s full of joy.

Have you ever felt like that? So full of joy or love that you just can’t hide it on your face? Maybe it happened today!

But here’s something amazing: God glows too. The Bible says his face shines on us. Why would the holy God—who is perfect and powerful—shine with happiness when he looks at us?

After all, we mess up. Sometimes we say mean things. We forget to do what we promised. We try to do what’s right, but it doesn’t always happen. We might feel disappointed in ourselves—and we’ve probably seen that look of disappointment on other people’s faces too.

But here is the good news: God still smiles when he sees you. Why? Because Jesus came to take away all your sins. The Bible says, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

That means your sins are gone. Jesus paid for every one of them. God’s love fills your heart through the Holy Spirit, and now—when God looks at you, he sees someone he loves, someone he smiles at.

That’s what it means to live in God’s grace. His face shines on you—not because you’re perfect, but because Jesus is. And when you believe in Jesus, God is always happy to see you.

Dear Lord God, thank you for smiling at me even when I mess up. Thank you for forgiving me through Jesus. Help me remember that you love me always and help me to show your love and joy to others. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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“‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

Devotion based on Numbers 6:24-26

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

AH-CHOO!! A loud sneeze! What do you say when you hear someone sneeze? “Bless you!” You probably say it without even thinking. Maybe you learned it when you were little, just like saying “please” or “thank you.” It’s a kind thing to say. But have you ever thought about what it really means?

When we say, “Bless you,” we are not just being polite. We’re asking God to help that person feel better and stay healthy. That’s a big thing to ask—because only God gives real protection and care.

A long time ago, in the Bible, God gave his people a very special blessing. You can find it in Numbers 6. God told Moses’ brother, Aaron, to say it to the people. That’s why it’s called the Aaronic blessing. For thousands of years, God’s people have heard these words at the end of church services.

But this blessing isn’t just nice words. It’s God showing us how much he loves us. When God says, “I bless you,” he’s not just saying it—he’s doing it! He’s giving us good things like breath in our lungs, sunshine, and people who care about us.

Sometimes we think blessings are only the stuff we get. But the best blessing is that God is with us. Think about these words: “The Lord bless you and keep you.” That means God is close by. He sees when you’re sad, scared, or tired. And he promises to help.

• When you feel all alone—God is right there.

God’s blessings aren’t just words. They have power. Because God’s Word always does something!

“The Lord bless you and keep you.” Amen.

Dear Lord God, thank you for always being with me and blessing me every day. Help me remember that your love is bigger than any fear or mistake. Keep me close to you and help me be a blessing to others too. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

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[Jesus replied], “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Devotion based on John 14:25-27

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.

If Jesus were sitting at the table with you right now and he told you, “Don’t be scared,” do you think you would still feel nervous? I don’t think you would be. I think you would see how much Jesus loves you and remember how powerful he is, how he forgives you, and all the promises he’s made to take care of you. You’d say, “You are my Savior, and I know you love me. I don’t have to be scared of anything.”

But there are lots of scary things in our world and in our lives that make us feel afraid. And because we can’t see Jesus with our eyes, we might forget he’s with us and feel like we’re all alone.

Jesus spoke the words in our Bible reading on the night he was going to be betrayed by a friend and arrested. The very next day, he would be put on trial and nailed to a cross. His disciples would see him taken away and would feel very scared. Later, after Jesus rose from the dead, they saw him go up into heaven. And again, when they couldn’t see Jesus anymore, they were tempted to feel afraid.

But Jesus told them—and us—“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Don’t be afraid.” Even though they wouldn’t see him with their eyes anymore, Jesus promised he would still be with them. He said he would send the Holy Spirit, who would be with them always. The Holy Spirit works through the Bible, teaching us about Jesus, reminding us of all God’s promises, and helping our faith stay strong—even when we’re scared.

Because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts, we can say with confidence, “I trust you, Jesus. I’m not afraid.”

Jesus, thank you for your promise to send the Holy Spirit to help us when we’re scared. Thank you for teaching us your Word and filling us with your love. Help us share your promises with others when they feel worried or afraid. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Devotion based on Acts 2:1-4

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In a previous devotion from Genesis 11, people were building a huge tower to show off how great they were—not to honor how great God is. So, God stopped their work by mixing up their languages. Suddenly, no one could understand each other! They couldn’t keep building, and they couldn’t work together anymore.

Why did God do that? Because he loves us. He didn’t want people to keep disobeying him and thinking they didn’t need him. But ever since then, confusion between people—arguing, fighting, and not understanding one another—has caused a lot of problems in the world.

So, you might wonder . . . “Can this confusion ever be fixed?”

Yes! That’s what makes the Day of Pentecost so amazing.

People from all over the world had come to Jerusalem. They spoke lots of different languages and they didn’t all understand each other. But God had a special plan.

First, there was a loud sound, like a giant windstorm—but no wind! People came running to see what was going on. Then, they saw something wild: flames appeared on the heads of Jesus’ disciples—but no one got burned! And then something even more amazing happened.

The Holy Spirit filled the disciples’ hearts with joy and courage. He helped them tell the story of Jesus—and guess what? They spoke in languages they had never learned! Suddenly, people from all over the world could understand what they were saying—in their own language!

God had done something wonderful: he reversed the confusion from Babel. He made sure that people from everywhere could hear how much Jesus loves them and how he forgives their sins.

We’re so thankful that God still does this today—uses his Word and the Holy Spirit to help people everywhere learn about Jesus.

Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for helping people hear and understand your Word. Fill us with joy and help us to share the good news of Jesus with others. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, . . . “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Devotion based on Genesis 11:1-9

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever tried to build the tallest LEGO tower ever? Imagine you and your friends stacking bricks sky-high. You’re smiling and thinking, “Wow, we’re amazing! Everyone will think we’re the best!”

That’s kind of like what happened in the Bible in Genesis 11. A big group of people wanted to build a super tall tower that reached all the way to the sky! But here’s the problem: they weren’t doing it to honor God. They were doing it to show off how great they were.

Back then, everyone spoke the same language, so working together was easy. But they forgot about God. They didn’t pray to him, thank him, or ask for his help. They were proud and wanted to make a name for themselves.

God saw what was happening. He knew their pride was dangerous. So, God did something surprising—he mixed up their languages! Suddenly, people couldn’t understand each other anymore. One person might say, “Pass me a brick,” but the other person heard, “Pickle my giraffe!” Total confusion!

Because they couldn’t understand each other, the building stopped. The big tower plan fell apart. That place became known as Babel, which sounds like the word for “confused talking.”

Even today, we see how hard it can be to understand others. Sometimes we don’t speak the same language. Other times, we do speak the same words but still argue or misunderstand each other.

But here’s the good news: even when our words get mixed up, God’s Word is always clear. He sent Jesus to forgive our sins—including our pride—and he gives us the Holy Spirit to help us understand his truth.

When we listen to God’s Word, we understand the most important thing: Jesus loves us, and he brings us together.

Dear God, forgive us when we are proud or try to do things without you. Thank you for giving us your Word, which helps us understand your love. Help us live in peace with others and trust in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

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[Jesus said,] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father . . . as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Devotion based on John 17:20-26 (selected verses)

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

How long do you think people spend praying each day? A group of researchers wanted to find out! They discovered that on average people pray about 12 minutes every day. How about you? Do you talk to Jesus a lot? What do you usually pray for?

Sometimes we ask him for help or to make us feel better. Sometimes we ask for forgiveness or protection. We pray for ourselves and for our friends and family too.

But have you ever thought about this? Jesus prayed for YOU. That’s what we’re going to learn today. It was the night Jesus knew something really hard was going to happen. People would shout some horrible things about him. They thought Jesus should die. It was the night before Jesus went to the cross to take away all the horribly wrong things we’ve done.

Because so much was coming, Jesus prayed. And when he prayed to God the Father, he prayed for his friends—the disciples who were with him—and he prayed for us too! He said, “I also pray for those who will believe in me.” That means YOU! But what did Jesus pray for us?

Jesus asked God to help all of us who believe in him to stick together like one big family. Sometimes families don’t get along. Sometimes we argue or hurt each other’s feelings. But Jesus prayed for us anyway—because he loves us and forgives us. Because Jesus prayed for us, we can love, forgive, and pray for each other too! Jesus wants us to love each other so much that everyone can see God’s love shining through us.

So, when we pray for ourselves and for others, we can remember Jesus’ prayer for us. That can make us feel brave and happy when we talk to God.

Lord Jesus, thank you for praying for us and making us part of your family. Please forgive us when we forget to love each other. Help us to live together as one family so others can see you in us. Keep us close to your Word and love forever. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

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Questions for Middle School and Above