“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” — John 14:26, NASB1995
Children’s Devotional
The Holy Spirit Is Your Teacher
Did you know you have a special Helper who teaches you about Jesus? When you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit helps you understand it!
He reminds you of what Jesus said, especially when you need it most.
Try This: Before reading your Bible today, say, “Holy Spirit, help me understand.”
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, thank You for being my Teacher. Please help me learn more about Jesus every day. Amen.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.” — John 5:39 (NASB1995)
How the Early Church Handled the Word
Before councils and confessions, before systematic theologies and seminaries, there were scrolls in homes, Scripture quoted in letters, and truth defended in blood.
The Ante-Nicene Church didn’t possess theological freedom to play with interpretations. They held to what was handed down. The Scriptures were not open to speculation. They were read, believed, memorized, and lived.
“Let us, then, not only call Him Lord, for that will not save us. For He says, ‘Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will be saved, but he that does what is right.’ Let us, then, be His disciples, and obey His commands… by loving one another, by not committing adultery, by not speaking evil of one another.” — Second Epistle of Clement, c. AD 140
This was Sola Scriptura in action: not merely affirming that the Bible is true, but that it is binding, transforming, and meant to be obeyed.
Their View: Scripture as Final and Unified
While false teachers—like the Gnostics—claimed secret knowledge, the early Church clung to the clear, public, and preserved Word.
“These men draw nothing from the Scriptures which are properly called divine, but they boast that they possess more Gospels than there really are. But in reality, they are full of blasphemy.” — Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 3
They did not divide Old Testament from New. They saw one unified message:
The prophets foretold Christ.
The Gospels revealed Him.
The apostles explained Him.
The Church obeyed Him.
Scripture as the Standard for Doctrine
When disputes arose, they didn’t appeal to personal revelation or mystical interpretation. They returned to what was written.
“For if they would really make use of the Scriptures, they would see clearly that the heresies must be rejected… for the faith has been transmitted from the apostles to the Church through the Scriptures.” — Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, c. AD 200
They didn’t add to the Word with theological scaffolding. They didn’t twist the Word with philosophical grids. They received the Word as it was delivered and allowed the Spirit to teach them.
And this led to deep unity.
Scripture for the Ordinary Believer
The early Church was decentralized. There was no singular hierarchy dictating doctrine for all. The people had the Word—and many were literate enough to read or hear it.
Even uneducated believers were saturated in Scripture. They didn’t rely on spiritual elites to tell them what it meant. They were taught by the Holy Spirit, discipled in small gatherings, and held one another accountable to live it.
“Brethren, we ought to think of Jesus Christ as God, as the judge of the living and the dead, and we ought not to belittle our salvation. Let us then do His will, and not our own, obeying His commandments.” — Letter of Ignatius to the Magnesians, c. AD 110
This wasn’t Bible knowledge as trivia. It was Scripture as a way of life.
What We’ve Lost—and Must Recover
Much of today’s Church has traded:
Scripture for secondhand theology
Spirit-taught truth for institutionalized interpretations
Obedience for theological correctness
The early Church didn’t claim Sola Scriptura. They lived it.
They believed that Scripture was:
Clear to the humble
Powerful to the obedient
Taught by the Spirit
Sufficient for salvation and godliness
And that hasn’t changed.
Kingdom Discipleship Reflection
Do I handle the Word as the early Church did—with reverence, humility, and obedience?
Have I unintentionally elevated teachings about Scripture over Scripture itself?
Am I living what I read, or merely affirming it as true?
This week, choose a New Testament command from Christ or His apostles. Write it out. Memorize it. Obey it.
Walk it out—not to earn salvation, but to walk as one who has been transformed by the truth.
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” — James 1:22 (NASB1995)
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” — Romans 8:16, NASB1995
Assurance in the Whisper
When doubt whispers, the Spirit speaks louder—not always in volume, but in truth. The Holy Spirit testifies with your spirit—not just that you are loved or forgiven, but that you are God’s child.
This isn’t based on emotion or performance—it’s grounded in the presence of the Spirit who dwells in you.
You don’t have to strive for identity. You already have it.
Reflection: Have you been listening to your doubts more than the Spirit’s assurance?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, quiet my doubts and testify again that I am Yours. Let Your voice settle my heart in truth. Amen.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16, NASB1995
Step by Step: Spirit Over Flesh
The battle between the flesh and the Spirit is real. But the key isn’t fighting harder—it’s walking smarter.
Galatians 5:16 gives the strategy: walk by the Spirit, and you won’t carry out the desires of the flesh. That means the more you tune your heart to Him, the less power sin has over you.
Walking by the Spirit means being sensitive to His conviction, obeying quickly, and choosing holiness over hype.
Challenge: Take time to ask the Holy Spirit, “Where am I walking ahead of You—or without You?”
Prayer: Holy Spirit, I need You to lead every step. Keep me from paths that pull me away. Train me to walk in freedom. Amen.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16, NASB1995
A Daily Walk, Not a Sprint
“Walk by the Spirit.” It sounds simple, but it’s profound.
This walk isn’t about bursts of inspiration—it’s about moment-by-moment choices to listen, yield, and obey. When we keep in step with Him, the flesh has no room to lead.
To walk by the Spirit is to trust God with your next step, not just the distant future. You don’t need to figure it all out—you need to follow the One who does.
Reflection: What does it look like for you to walk with the Spirit in your current season?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to walk with You today—attentive, obedient, and free from the desires of the flesh. Amen.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16, NASB1995
Living Side by Side with the Spirit
Paul didn’t say “run ahead of the Spirit” or “drag Him behind.” He said walk—side by side.
When we walk with the Spirit as mothers and children, we model dependence—not perfection. We teach our kids to pause before reacting, to listen for His voice, and to walk in love.
Walking by the Spirit is slow, steady obedience. And in a busy world, it’s the most powerful witness.
Discussion Prompt: Ask your children:
What does it mean to “walk with” someone?
How can we walk with the Holy Spirit as a family?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help our family stay in step with You. Teach us to walk together in love, joy, and self-control. Amen.
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