Each week I produce a free resource called, YouTube You Can Use. The concept is simple. I take a viral video from YouTube and write a small discussion starter and/or devotional based on the content.
Currently, more than 1100 people around the world receive it each Monday. They use in their youth groups, in small groups, and as sermon illustrations. I’ve even heard from a number of parents who use it as a family devotional.
You can subscribe to the email list here and get it in your inbox each Monday. Also, the full archives, currently 56 of them, are available on our website. (free registration required)
Below is the latest edition.
Predictability
Topic:
Self-discipline
Bible:
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Discussion starter:
Did he predict it correctly for you? Wasn’t that crazy? At first, you probably thought you could trick him and he’d get it wrong. But as it came down to the last 2-3 moves your mind probably shifted to think, “Wait a minute. How did he do that?”
This video is actually a lot like the Christian life. At first, growing in your relationship with Jesus might seem unpredictable. Perhaps you grew close to God at camp but can’t quite figure out how to do that at home? You aren’t alone. Lots of people struggle to grow close to God in their daily lives.
The Apostle Paul wrote this to a younger pastor named Timothy, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
In other words, growing in your relationship with God isn’t a chance occurrence. It happens when you seek Him, are self-disciplined, and develop godly habits you’ve probably heard about most of your life: Reading the Bible, memorizing scripture, spending regular time in prayer, and being in community with other believers.
3 Questions:
- Were you frustrated or amused that the video predicted your guess correctly?
- When was a time something happened in your life that was completely unpredictable?
- What are ways you need to be more disciplined about your relationship with God?
Chew on this:
If my relationship with God is supposed to involve so much self-discipline, how come so many amazing things in the Bible seem to happen completely randomly?
Question
How do you use YouTube You Can Use in your ministry? (Or how could you?)
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