November 25 | Paul Glorified God with His Life!

Today’s Reading:

Read I Corinthians 9:17-27; 10;23-33; 11:23-34

What do you know about a missionary? Spend some time talking about what missionaries do. Brainstorm a list of what you think a missionary’s job is. What did you include on the list? A missionary is someone who is on a mission to tell others about Jesus. Often, missionaries travel to foreign countries or places far away to share the good news of Jesus. In order to do that well, the missionaries have to understand the culture of the place they will be traveling to. A missionary to Spain would need to know that to tell people about Jesus in Spain, they will need to know how to speak Spanish! As a missionary, Paul understood that he needed to know the people and understand the culture of the people he was teaching.

Paul explained that it was important to him that he “become all things to all people…” (I Corinthians 9:22) He spent time understanding the needs of the people he was teaching so that he could teach in a way that they understood. He said, “Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.” Paul wanted everyone to have a chance to hear the good news of the gospel.

Paul also understood that as a missionary, people were going to be watching what he did. He had to set a good example in the choices he made so that others would see Jesus in him. He said, “So, whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do everything for the Glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31) Paul made choices that would point people to God!

Paul was a great example of what a missionary should be!

Application/Prayer:

Do you know a missionary who is currently serving in another country? (If not, check out brentwood.church and search for global partners- you’ll find a lot!) Spend some time praying for missionaries today as they find ways to creatively share the gospel with the people in the communities they are serving.

November Memory Verse:

“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”

Isaiah 40:8

Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:

Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.