{"id":32046,"date":"2021-03-01T13:30:25","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T18:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thinkorange.com\/a-new-devotional-strategy-for-students\/"},"modified":"2024-01-14T12:58:18","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T17:58:18","slug":"a-new-devotional-strategy-for-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkorange.com\/blog\/a-new-devotional-strategy-for-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Everyday Faith: A New Devotional Strategy For Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is there anything better than a re-start?<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember the excitement of the first day of school? The first day of college? Sometimes I feel that same excitement as I think about next <\/i>year\u2019s camp, next <\/i>year\u2019s retreat or whatever is happening next in my youth ministry. There is just something about a blank page and a clean slate that reminds me anything is possible. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, this year we may have the biggest re-start we\u2019ve ever experienced in ministry. Fall of 2021 will be the first real back-to-school in a couple of years. Winter of 2021 will be the first time many of us can dream of having retreats or planning for camps again. There is so much opportunity to re-imagine what we do\u2014which is good because we have a lot to reimagine. <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the last year has taught us anything, it\u2019s this: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If we want teenagers to have a real, personal faith, then they must participate in their faith outside our programming. <\/b> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

After all, programming isn\u2019t guaranteed. We won\u2019t always be with them, and if we want the generation entrusted to us to have a vibrant, personal faith after <\/i>they leave our doors, we have to help them find an everyday faith while they\u2019re with us. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going Beyond A Sunday Faith<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we\u2019ve been dreaming about the future of the church, we keep coming back to this question:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we help middle schoolers and high schoolers develop an everyday faith?<\/b><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An everyday faith apart from your weekly program or bible study.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A faith that doesn\u2019t waver if basketball practice requires them to miss church, or if an after school job means they can\u2019t make it to youth group, or if a global event means we can\u2019t host programming at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we help middle schoolers and high schoolers move beyond the cosmetic faith practices that look good on Sunday into a deeper personal relationship with Jesus that affects their Monday?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think we need a strategy. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A plan to help teenagers own their own faith, <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A plan to help teenagers develop an everyday kind of faith that goes with them everywhere, into everything.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A faith that transforms their sense identity, belonging, and purpose\u2014everyday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And like any relationship, getting to know God takes intentionality, effort and time spent together. And while it doesn\u2019t happen in a moment, here at Orange we think there are four specific skills (or maybe you call them spiritual habits) we can help our students develop in order for them to know God better and build an everyday faith of their own:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Hear:<\/span><\/b> Hearing from God through His Word<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Pray:<\/b><\/span> Talking to God<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Talk:<\/b><\/span> Talking with others about our faith<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Live:<\/b><\/span> Living in a way that honors God<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, you knew that already. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chances are your own faith has grown by hearing, praying, talking and living for God. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So what\u2019s the strategy to invite the next generation into the habits that have transformed our own everyday faith?<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Defining A Devotional Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We\u2019ve created a strategy<\/em> and some new tools<\/em> around these four faith skills to help your teenagers practice the skills essential to developing an everyday faith (even when they can\u2019t attend your programming).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here Are The Main Ingredients:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. An Every Day Devotional<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re already a subscriber to <\/span>XP3 Curriculum<\/a><\/span><\/span>, you can find printable daily devos or invite your students to participate digitally using the <\/span>YouVersion Bible App<\/a><\/span>. No subscription? We\u2019ve got you. These devos are also part of the Faith Skills Experience Kits available on the Orange Store<\/a>.\u00a0And, we have big news! We have upgraded the devotionals so at least one day each week is written by students (ages 11-19) around the world. Not only will students practice the faith skills daily, but they\u2019ll also get to read devos through the eyes of peers from different contexts and cultures, which helps develop empathy and raise their EQ.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. An Every Week Experience.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Like so many other skills, discipleship takes practice\u2014<\/i>and the best way to practice almost anything is together. <\/i>That\u2019s why we created the Faith Skills Experience Kit<\/span><\/span><\/a>. <\/b> Each kit includes 12-weeks of guided devotional experiences with strategic activities so your teenagers can discover how<\/b> to hear from God, pray to God, talk about God, and live for God, as well as the daily devotionals so they can practice those skills every day of the week. This weekly experience can happen with a small group of students, a large group of students, one-on-one, or even led by a student and was designed to work well in any context, whether you\u2019re in a church, in the parking lot, meeting in a coffee shop or hanging out on Zoom. More on this in a moment!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. An Every Year goal\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    There will be moments every student needs to go deeper or \u00a0spend a little more time on a devotional habit with some guided practice. That\u2019s why we want every student to practice with a\u00a0devotional journal<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0at least once per year (and maybe more!). <\/b>\u00a0These student devotionals<\/a><\/span> will help a teenager dive deeper into a specific topic and work great individually, as gifts, or as a practice with a mentor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Understanding The New Faith Skills Experience Kit\u00a0from Orange<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Faith Skills Experience Kit<\/a> contains everything you need for groups of students to practice their faith skills together each week and individually each day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As part of the Faith Skills Experience Kit<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll get leader and participant guides to lead students through weekly activities that can happen at a coffee shop, in a backyard, or at church. Then, printable and digital devotionals allow students to practice their faith skills at home each day. Download a sample of the kit for middle school and high school.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s Included In The Faith Skill Experience Kit?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n