Guided by Faith: Daily Christian Devotions and Advice for Teens and Young Adults

What is true worship? In this episode about Romans 12:1, we go beyond music and discover that worship is about recognizing God’s ultimate worth in every part of life. Worship isn’t just singing at church. It’s a daily response to God’s mercy, expressed through your thoughts, actions, and attitudes. Learn how “worth-ship” means valuing God above everything else and how you can worship Him with your...

What does it actually mean to live as a “living sacrifice” in Romans 12:1? In this episode, we break down this powerful concept in a way that’s practical and relatable for everyday life. Unlike Old Testament sacrifices, a living sacrifice is ongoing, personal, and rooted in worship, not earning salvation. Learn how following Jesus involves daily surrender, giving up your desires, time, and comfort...

What does God really say about your body? In this powerful episode on Romans 12:1, we explore how your body is not something to be ashamed of, but a gift created by Jesus and meant for His glory. In a world obsessed with appearance, comparison, and performance, this message brings a refreshing, biblical perspective on identity, body image, and purpose. Discover why your body is called a temple of...

In this episode, we begin unpacking Romans 12:1–2 and discover how good theology isn’t just knowledge, it transforms your everyday life. Looking back at the gospel truths in Romans 1–11, we see how understanding sin, salvation, and God’s mercy leads to real-life change. If you’ve ever wondered how to know God’s will, grow in faith, or make better daily decisions, this episode is for you. Learn how...

In this Good Friday episode, we conclude our Easter series by looking at one of the most personal and powerful pieces of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus: transformed lives. From Peter’s boldness to Paul’s dramatic conversion, the early followers of Jesus were completely changed and that same transformation is still happening today. This episode invites teens and young adults to see how the...

Why did the early church grow so rapidly despite intense persecution? In this episode, we explore how the bold, evangelistic movement of the early Christians serves as powerful evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. Far from gaining power, wealth, or influence, believers faced imprisonment, suffering, and death yet they continued to proclaim one unchanging message: Jesus is God, He died, and He r...

Can we really trust the resurrection accounts of Jesus? This episode explores the powerful testimony of eyewitnesses who saw the risen Christ. From the disciples to over 500 people at once, and even skeptics like James and Paul, the resurrection wasn’t a private event. It was widely witnessed and boldly proclaimed. Teens and young adults will discover why these testimonies are reliable, how they d...

Why does the empty tomb matter so much for your faith? In this episode, we dive into one of the strongest pieces of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus: the missing body. With a guarded tomb, a public burial site, and witnesses discovering it empty, the facts point to something extraordinary. If Jesus’ body were still there, Christianity would have ended before it began. But it didn’t. Instead,...

In this powerful kickoff to Easter week, we explore the historical reality of the execution of Jesus and why it’s essential to the Christian faith. If Jesus didn’t truly die, then the resurrection has no meaning. But both Scripture and non-Christian historians like Tacitus and Josephus confirm that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. This episode helps teens and young adults understand that...

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay concludes the week’s series on faithful friendships by highlighting the most important mark of a godly friend: pointing one another to Jesus. Building on Proverbs 27:17 and Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, Jay explains that Christian friendships are meant to do more than provide companionship—they should help believers grow spiritually and stay faithful to God. Teens an...

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay explores another key mark of faithful friendships: the courage to speak hard truths in love. Drawing from Proverbs 27:6 — “Faithful are the wounds of a friend”, Jay explains that real friends care too much to stay silent when someone they love is heading in the wrong direction. While most people prefer comfortable conversations, honest correction—when shared...

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay continues the series on faithful friendships by focusing on the importance of encouragement and celebrating others without jealousy. Teaching from Romans 12:15, Jay reminds teens and young adults that true friends rejoice when others succeed and support one another through both victories and struggles. While comparison and jealousy can quietly damage relatio...

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay explores another essential characteristic of faithful friendships: guarding your words. Speaking from Proverbs 16:28, Jay explains how gossip, careless comments, and broken confidences can quickly destroy trust and damage relationships. Teens and young adults are reminded that faithful friends protect one another’s reputation, speak truth with kindness, and...

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay begins a new series focused on building healthy, faithful friendships for teens and young adults. Drawing from Proverbs 27:17 — “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”—Jay explains how true friendships are meant to challenge, strengthen, and shape our character. Rather than simply sharing interests or having fun together, godly friendships he...

In this final episode of the week on Guided by Faith, Ryan Woods wraps up the series by giving practical, everyday methods for sharing the gospel with the people in your Oikos—your personal sphere of influence made up of friends, neighbors, classmates, and teammates. Drawing from John 17:21, Ryan explains that believers demonstrate the love of Christ through authentic relationships, unity, and eve...

How do you actually begin sharing your faith with the people around you? In this episode of Guided by Faith, Ryan Woods explains that evangelism often starts with genuine relationships and Christlike love. After identifying people in your Oikos Map, the next step is to intentionally care for them—listening to their stories, remembering details about their lives, and showing kindness that reflects...

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Ryan Woods continues the conversation on sharing the gospel by introducing a practical evangelism tool called the Oikos Map. Building on the biblical idea of “oikos” (your sphere of influence), Ryan helps teens and young adults identify specific people God has placed in their daily lives who may not yet know Christ. Listeners are encouraged to write their name i...

How do you know who God wants you to reach with the gospel? In this episode of Guided by Faith, Ryan Woods introduces the biblical concept of “oikos,” a Greek word often used in the New Testament to describe a household or sphere of influence. Looking at examples throughout Scripture—from Andrew bringing Peter to Jesus to the Samaritan woman telling her town—Ryan shows that the gospel often spread...

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Ryan Woods challenges teens and young adults to recognize their personal role in sharing the gospel with the people around them. Teaching from Romans 10:14–15, Ryan explains that while not everyone is called to be a preacher, every believer is called to be a witness. Using the example of communities with many people who have never experienced church, he highligh...

*Each day this week, we’re giving away one copy of Jay’s new book, Renewed: The 365 Day Christian Gratitude Journal. Tune in for the mechanics! In this milestone Episode 400 of Guided By Faith, Jay wraps up the four-step framework for building a consistent daily quiet time by teaching how to make time with God rewarding. Rooted in Hebrews 11:6 and habit-building principles from Atomic Habits, this...

*Each day this week, we’re giving away one copy of Jay’s new book, Renewed: The 365 Day Christian Gratitude Journal. Tune in for the mechanics! In Episode 399 of Guided By Faith, Jay helps Christian teens and young adults move beyond guilt-driven devotion and discover how to make daily time with God genuinely enjoyable. Using Psalm 34:8 and practical wisdom from Atomic Habits, this episode explain...

*Each day this week, we’re giving away one copy of Jay’s new book, Renewed: The 365 Day Christian Gratitude Journal. Tune in for the mechanics! In Episode 398 of Guided By Faith, Jay helps Christian teens and young adults build a consistent daily quiet time by starting on “easy mode.” Drawing from Matthew 11:30 and practical principles from Atomic Habits, this episode challenges the all-or-nothing...

*Each day this week, we’re giving away one copy of Jay’s new book, Renewed: The 365 Day Christian Gratitude Journal. Tune in for the mechanics! In Episode 397 of Guided By Faith, Jay continues the countdown to episode 400 by teaching Christian teens and young adults how to build a consistent daily quiet time by making the cue obvious. Rooted in Joshua 1:8 and inspired by principles from Atomic Hab...

*Each day this week, we’re giving away one copy of Jay’s new book, Renewed: The 365 Day Christian Gratitude Journal. Tune in for the mechanics! In this powerful episode of Guided By Faith, Jay kicks off the countdown to episode 400 by diving into one of the most important habits for Christian teens and young adults: building a consistent daily time with God. Drawing from Psalm 1 and practical wisd...

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay Holland wraps up the Romans Road by focusing on Romans — “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Teens and young adults are reminded that God’s gift of salvation is not limited by our past mistakes, social status, or how “far gone” we feel; anyone who turns to Jesus in faith can be saved. Jay emphasizes the scandalous beauty of the go...