Mere Christianity: Kid's Devotional
5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide
Simple Christianity: Love, Kindness, and Friendship with Jesus
Day 1: The Foundation of Everything
Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Leviticus 19:17-18
Devotional: An expert in God's laws once answered a big question from Jesus correctly: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said these are the most important rules in the entire Bible! But knowing the right answer and actually living it out are two very different things. Sometimes we try to look smart or act like good Christians on the outside without letting God change our hearts on the inside. Before we can show real love to others, we have to be honest with God about where we need to grow. Ask yourself today: Am I trying to look good to other people, or do I really want to follow Jesus?
Reflection: Is there a time you acted like you knew everything about God just to look good in front of others?
Practical Application: Spend five minutes talking honestly with God in prayer. Tell Him about one area where you need His help to be more like Him.
Day 2: Who Is My Neighbor?
Reading: Luke 10:25-37
Devotional: Instead of giving a quick answer about who we should help, Jesus told a famous story. He talked about a man who was hurt on the side of the road. Important religious people walked right past him. But a Samaritan, someone who was supposed to be an enemy, stopped to help. Jesus wants us to stop asking who deserves our help and start asking how we can be a good friend to everyone. A neighbor isn't just someone who lives next door. A neighbor is anyone who needs help and love. Jesus wants us to show kind, helpful love to everyone, even when it isn't easy or convenient.
Reflection: Who is someone at school, church, or in your neighborhood that you usually ignore or avoid?
Practical Application: Think of someone you don't usually hang out with. Do something kind for them this week, like sharing a smile, sitting with them, or saying a friendly hello.
Day 3: Jesus, Our Rescue Hero
Reading: Romans 5:6-11; 1 John 4:9-11
Devotional: The story of the Good Samaritan is wonderful, but Jesus does even more than teach us lessons. He is our ultimate helper! The Bible tells us that Jesus loved us so much that He came to rescue us when we were lost in sin and couldn't save ourselves. We didn't do anything to earn His help, but He cared for us anyway and gave His life for us. Every time we show love and kindness to someone else, we are just sharing the big love that Jesus showed us first.
Reflection: How does it make you feel to know that Jesus loved and rescued you even when you couldn't earn it?
Practical Application: Write down three ways Jesus has been kind to you. Look at that list whenever it feels hard to be nice to someone else.
Day 4: Spending Time Before Doing Things
Reading: Luke 10:38-42; John 15:1-8
Devotional: Martha was working very hard cleaning and cooking for Jesus, which was a good thing to do. But her sister Mary just sat near Jesus and listened to Him speak. Jesus gently told Martha that Mary chose the best thing. Doing good things for God is great, but spending time getting to know Jesus is even more important! Jesus compared Himself to a vine and us to branches. A branch can't grow good fruit if it isn't attached to the vine. In the same way, we can't show real love to others unless we stay close to Jesus first.
Reflection: Do you spend more time trying to do good things, or do you take time to just talk to Jesus and learn about Him?
Practical Application: Set aside ten quiet minutes this week to read your Bible and talk to Jesus in prayer before you go play or turn on screens.
Day 5: Kindness Powered by Jesus
Reading: Micah 6:8; Galatians 5:13-14; John 15:9-13
Devotional: Following Jesus isn't complicated, but it is super important. Loving God and loving others go hand-in-hand. When we spend time with Jesus, His love fills us up so much that it spills over into how we treat everyone around us! Knowing how much mercy Jesus has given us changes the way we see people who are lonely, hurt, or different from us. The love we receive from God is the same love we get to share with the world every single day.
Reflection: Thinking back over this week, was there a time you could have shown extra kindness to someone but missed the chance? What can you do next time?
Practical Application: Pick one kind thing you can do every week for someone else, like helping with extra chores at home or encouraging a classmate, and start doing it this week!
Simple Christianity: Love, Kindness, and Friendship with Jesus
Day 1: The Foundation of Everything
Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Leviticus 19:17-18
Devotional: An expert in God's laws once answered a big question from Jesus correctly: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said these are the most important rules in the entire Bible! But knowing the right answer and actually living it out are two very different things. Sometimes we try to look smart or act like good Christians on the outside without letting God change our hearts on the inside. Before we can show real love to others, we have to be honest with God about where we need to grow. Ask yourself today: Am I trying to look good to other people, or do I really want to follow Jesus?
Reflection: Is there a time you acted like you knew everything about God just to look good in front of others?
Practical Application: Spend five minutes talking honestly with God in prayer. Tell Him about one area where you need His help to be more like Him.
Day 2: Who Is My Neighbor?
Reading: Luke 10:25-37
Devotional: Instead of giving a quick answer about who we should help, Jesus told a famous story. He talked about a man who was hurt on the side of the road. Important religious people walked right past him. But a Samaritan, someone who was supposed to be an enemy, stopped to help. Jesus wants us to stop asking who deserves our help and start asking how we can be a good friend to everyone. A neighbor isn't just someone who lives next door. A neighbor is anyone who needs help and love. Jesus wants us to show kind, helpful love to everyone, even when it isn't easy or convenient.
Reflection: Who is someone at school, church, or in your neighborhood that you usually ignore or avoid?
Practical Application: Think of someone you don't usually hang out with. Do something kind for them this week, like sharing a smile, sitting with them, or saying a friendly hello.
Day 3: Jesus, Our Rescue Hero
Reading: Romans 5:6-11; 1 John 4:9-11
Devotional: The story of the Good Samaritan is wonderful, but Jesus does even more than teach us lessons. He is our ultimate helper! The Bible tells us that Jesus loved us so much that He came to rescue us when we were lost in sin and couldn't save ourselves. We didn't do anything to earn His help, but He cared for us anyway and gave His life for us. Every time we show love and kindness to someone else, we are just sharing the big love that Jesus showed us first.
Reflection: How does it make you feel to know that Jesus loved and rescued you even when you couldn't earn it?
Practical Application: Write down three ways Jesus has been kind to you. Look at that list whenever it feels hard to be nice to someone else.
Day 4: Spending Time Before Doing Things
Reading: Luke 10:38-42; John 15:1-8
Devotional: Martha was working very hard cleaning and cooking for Jesus, which was a good thing to do. But her sister Mary just sat near Jesus and listened to Him speak. Jesus gently told Martha that Mary chose the best thing. Doing good things for God is great, but spending time getting to know Jesus is even more important! Jesus compared Himself to a vine and us to branches. A branch can't grow good fruit if it isn't attached to the vine. In the same way, we can't show real love to others unless we stay close to Jesus first.
Reflection: Do you spend more time trying to do good things, or do you take time to just talk to Jesus and learn about Him?
Practical Application: Set aside ten quiet minutes this week to read your Bible and talk to Jesus in prayer before you go play or turn on screens.
Day 5: Kindness Powered by Jesus
Reading: Micah 6:8; Galatians 5:13-14; John 15:9-13
Devotional: Following Jesus isn't complicated, but it is super important. Loving God and loving others go hand-in-hand. When we spend time with Jesus, His love fills us up so much that it spills over into how we treat everyone around us! Knowing how much mercy Jesus has given us changes the way we see people who are lonely, hurt, or different from us. The love we receive from God is the same love we get to share with the world every single day.
Reflection: Thinking back over this week, was there a time you could have shown extra kindness to someone but missed the chance? What can you do next time?
Practical Application: Pick one kind thing you can do every week for someone else, like helping with extra chores at home or encouraging a classmate, and start doing it this week!