What are the Live It Challenges?
Live It Challenges are a way students can keep the movement of Bring Your Bible to School Day going all year round! We are challenging students and families to put into practice the “Live It” portion of Bring Your Bible to School Day’s “Bring It. Share It. Live It.” motto. We’ll be providing you with monthly challenges — specific, tangible actions you can take to live out your faith and strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Additionally, we will be providing guides and activities that will help you and your family grow in your faith while building lasting biblical habits. All the challenges (and more) will be listed here over the course of the next year leading up to Bring Your Bible to School Day in 2022!
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June
Live It Challenge: Test Your Spiritual Intelligence!
Everyone wants to have a high IQ, but what God wants most of all is for us to be spiritually mature. That’s what your SQ is – your spiritual quotient. Want to find out if you have a high SQ? For this month’s Live It Challenge, learn all about spiritual intelligence, then take our quiz with your family and find out how to improve your SQ together!
Biblical Pursuit: "Can God Really Use Me?"
There are many instances in scripture where great people of faith asked themselves the question, “Can God really use me?” Maybe you are asking yourself the same question, and the answer is YES! Of course, He can use you. This month, let’s look at how God uses our struggles and doubts and can turn them around for His glory.
May
Live It Challenge: Serve One Another
Have you noticed that our world seems to be full of things that drain the life out of us? There is a distinct lack of hope, joy, peace, and love. So how can you be life-giving and pour those qualities back into the world? It all starts with impacting the person next to you. You can change the world by sharing Christ’s love one person at a time. One of the best ways to do that is by serving and encouraging others.
Biblical Pursuit: Honor Your Father And Mother
With the excitement of Mother’s and Father’s Day, you may be considering ways to honor your father and mother. What does it mean to honor your father and mother? What does it look like to honor your parents? Do we ever stop honoring them? These are good questions. The Bible has even better answers!
April
Live It Challenge: Exploring Easter 2022
In 1 Corinthians 15:14, Paul says, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” April is a special month where we remember the death and resurrection of Christ, a crucial moment in Christian history. This month, explore the depth of the resurrection through a variety of Focus on the Family content, then try one of our fun activities with your friends and family!
Biblical Pursuit: Understanding God’s Holiness
God is holy. What does that mean? How does the holiness of God change how we live, learn, and love? God’s holiness is a difficult topic to grasp, but the Bible has important answers that can help!
March
Live It Challenge: Start a Free Bible Reading Plan Today!
We have each been planted with seeds of the Gospel, but how can we help those seeds grow? One of the best ways to help that seed grow is with a Bible reading plan! God’s word is a powerful way to grow in your faith. There are so many benefits to having a reading plan for God’s Word. Our team has found four Bible reading plans that we think you should try. Pick the one that is best for you and start a Bible reading plan today!
Biblical Pursuit: Steadfast Faith
Biblical faith is directly tied to the hope and conviction for the Kingdom which God has promised us. But is faith blind? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This helps us understand faith, but there certainly more to it! Let’s see what the Bible says.
February
Live It Challenge: What's Your Conflict Style?
Conflict is inevitable in loving relationships. Each person is different, which means that each person interprets situations and moments differently. It also means that each person has their own unique way of handling emotions, thoughts, and stress which influence the way they may manage moments of conflict. Learn more about how you can handle conflict in this month’s Live It Challenge!
Biblical Pursuit: Learning to Love
Do you have someone you love? We know somebody that loves you! Whether you’re giving love to yourself or others, it’s important to remember God loves you and sent His son to die for you. God’s love gives us a new understanding of what it means to love ourselves and others. God is love, so let’s explore how he tells us to love.
January
Live It Challenge: Knowing Your Inherent Value and Valuing Others
Have you ever wondered if you had value? Maybe you or someone you know is wrestling with feeling unvalued or unloved. Do we as humans possess any value or worth at all? Out of all the places you could look to find value, God’s Word is by far the best.
This January, start the new year by remembering your God-given value and worth, then share the love of God to others by telling them about their own value and worth!
Biblical Pursuit: Core Principles of a Christian Worldview
What does it mean to believe in Jesus? What is a Christian worldview? When trials come, where will I stand? Believers in Jesus stand on a few core biblical principles that are important to understand. Let’s explore God’s Word to learn them!
December
Live It Challenge: Advent 2021 With Focus on the Family
Did you know that Advent is not only a time of preparation for Jesus’ birth, but also a celebration of his Spirit coming to be with us? The word advent literally means ‘coming!’ This coming of Christ can be celebrated in many ways. This month, celebrate the season by exploring how Focus on the Family celebrates Advent!
From fasting to family crafts, daily devotionals to delightful traditions, take a journey through the many ways we like to celebrate the holiday. We’re sure you will find one activity you’ll like!
Biblical Pursuit: Christians and Mental Health
Amidst the excitement of Christmas and Advent, there are so many among us who are wrestling with loneliness and depression. Maybe that’s you too. You may be asking yourself, “Is there any hope for me when I am depressed or anxious? Where can I go and what can I do?” If you or someone you know is wrestling with these hard questions, God’s word has powerful answers to explore.
November
Live It Challenge: The Importance of Resting and Giving Rest
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
Many people see rest as unnecessary or unimportant. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in school, sports, friendships, games, work, and the holidays that we forget to rest. The world keeps us so busy that we often neglect to return to our very needed source of rest and peace. But what exactly is rest and how do we do it well? Take our November Live It Challenge and find out!
Biblical Pursuit: The Joy of A Servant Heart
Serving others is not easy, especially those who we don’t relate to, or get along with. With a culture that is divided on almost everything, genuine love and service for others is a rare occurrence. Even Christians, who ought to be known for our love, are hesitant to serve. How do we fight these sinful thoughts and cultivate a servant’s heart?
October
Live It Challenge: Bring Your Bible to School!
This October Live It Challenge is to bring your Bible to school on national Bring Your Bible to School Day!
Bring Your Bible to School Day is a student-led movement to read and treasure Scripture as God’s Holy Word, to encourage others with the hope we have in Christ Jesus, and to celebrate our religious freedoms in the United States. It all culminates with Bring Your Bible to School Day on the first Thursday of October. (This year, the celebration will be October 7, 2021!) This event empowers Christian students of all ages to speak God’s grace and truth into the culture around them, starting with two simple steps — bringing their Bibles to school and sharing what God’s Word means to them.
Sign up today and be counted!
Biblical Pursuit: Living Out the Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” If you’ve grown up Christian, chances are, you have heard or even memorized these verses before. But what does it actually look like to live it? How can we have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our lives?
September
Live It Challenge: A Guide to Scripture Memory and Applying it to Your Faith
Regardless of whether you have grown up Christian, or are a completely new believer, it is important to understand that the Bible is vital to your life. It is the living and active Word of God that speaks to us and through us. It helps us learn about who God is and what He has done. Also, the Bible is used to teach, correct, and train all believers in righteousness (2 Timothy, 3:16-17).
The Bible is God’s truth that cannot be changed and will never fade away (John 17:17, Isaiah 40:8). When we are unsure or doubting, the Bible is a guide for us (Psalm 119:9). But did you know that the Bible is also a weapon – the Sword of the Spirit, in fact? Check out this challenge on how you can use Scripture memorization to equip the Sword of the Spirit for spiritual battles!
Biblical Pursuit: Sharing Your Faith with Others and How to Evangelize
At the end of Matthew 28, Jesus tells his followers, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” He tells us the same thing too!
Evangelism is a crucial step of obedience to God in His call to go and make disciples. It all begins with the simple message of the gospel. The call to repent and believe in Jesus. Evangelism is an act of love and obedience to God who calls us to go into the world and share. So, here are some ways you can get started evangelizing and sharing your faith.
August
Live It Challenge: Engage in the Bible with Adventures in Odyssey
We’re told that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV).
The importance of reading God’s Word is clear, and it’s a crucial habit for every Christian to build. So, how do we do that? Well, a personal devotional time is a good place to start. But beyond that, there are many ways we can engage with Scripture. In fact, you may not have heard of one such method, but it’s found many times in the Bible: the public reading of Scripture.
Biblical Pursuit: How to Start (or Contribute to) a Successful Bible Study
How do you start a group Bible study? Or how do you contribute to one you’ve just joined? Bible studies are a fantastic opportunity for Christian fellowship and spiritual growth. We all want to get the best out of our time studying God’s Word with others, but how can we set ourselves up for success? Well, we’ve provided a Bible study guide to help you do just that by looking at three components that make up a successful group study – the people, the purpose, and, of course, the Bible. Check it out!
July
Live It Challenge: 5 Pro-Life Steps to Love and Help Expecting Moms
God is the author of life, and we are made in His image. Every person, whether born or yet to be born, is immeasurably valuable. So, how do we acknowledge that value to those around us in a way that communicates the truth of God’s love? How about for those who are especially vulnerable, such as the women experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and the baby growing inside them? You can make a difference for those moms and their babies! Here are five steps you can take to be an everyday hero in your family, community, and beyond.
Biblical Pursuit: What is Discipleship and How Do We Do It?
Discipleship is a biblical practice, and instruction about it comes straight from the Word of God. We can find many commands and examples of discipleship in Scripture. So, what does discipleship look like? And how can you disciple others and be discipled for Christ? Check out this guide for more information and instruction about discipleship from the Bible.
May
Live It Challenge: 5 Spiritual Disciplines to Strengthen Your Faith
As Christians, we are equipped with the power of hope, a hope we can share with others if we have spiritual discipline. A spiritual discipline is a biblical practice with the express purpose of strengthening your faith. “Spiritual fitness,” if you will. Spiritual disciplines are things that you do. Digging into God’s Word and praying are spiritual disciplines, but let’s look at five lesser-known spiritual disciplines that you can practice in your life.
Biblical Pursuit: How the 8 Beatitudes Will Transform Your Life
The Beatitudes are specific blessings that Jesus detailed during a larger collection of teachings known as the Sermon on the Mount. As followers of Christ, these statements provide a guide for how we are to live for God. There are eight Beatitudes in total and each one is powerful and life changing. So, let’s look at each one and how putting them into practice can revolutionize your life!
April
Live It Challenge: Tackling 5 Tough Questions About Christianity
Psalm 118:8 tells us “it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (ESV). Still, at some point, we will have questions about our Christian faith. Or we may need to respond to someone challenging our beliefs. So, do you know how to answer tough questions about Christianity? Here are five challenging questions and how to respond to them with biblical answers.
Once you’ve completed this challenge, come back here to download your reward — the April Knowledge Badge!
Biblical Pursuit: How to Cultivate a Biblical Worldview
Every person has a worldview, whether we realize it or not. It’s a way that we see the world that encompasses our experiences, beliefs, and ideas about what we think is good and bad, right or wrong, worth our time or a waste of time. Trying to sort through all the worldviews we encounter in our culture can feel overwhelming.
Thankfully, the Bible offers practical and accessible wisdom that enables us to consider everything we encounter in the world from a godly perspective – we call this biblical worldview. Here’s how to cultivate it and align your mind with God’s will.
March
Live It Challenge: A Practical and Biblical Guide to Serving Others
Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14, ESV). He called us to serve others, as he did. So, how do you do that? We all want to be faithful servants and help others, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this practical, biblical guide to help you complete this month’s challenge to serve others!
After you’ve completed this challenge, come back here to claim the March Service Badge!
Biblical Pursuit: 12 Bible Verses to Help You Love Like Jesus
The Bible tells us to love like Jesus. So, how do we do that? After all, Jesus was perfect. We are not. Although we can’t expect to meet Christ’s perfect standard, we are still called to try. Fortunately, Jesus gave us many practical examples of how to love that we can emulate. Here are 12 Bible verses about Jesus’ love and how they can help us love as He did…
February
Live It Challenge: What's Your Personality Type?
What’s your personality type? Nowadays, there can be a lot of answers to that and many different tests to help you find out. But have you found one that helps you better understand others? Or helps you navigate the personality differences in your own home?
We’ve got one for you! Take our free personality test and find out if you are a Leader, a Thinker, a Talker, or a Peacemaker! Not only will this test help you understand a little bit more about yourself, but it will also help you understand how you relate to the personalities of those around you. Use it with your family and identify each others’ strengths, motivators, and more!
Biblical Pursuit: 4 Thoughts to Help You Forgive Others
Do you need to forgive someone? It can be a difficult process. However, the Bible tells us we are to forgive others as God in Christ forgave us (see Ephesians 4:32). We are called to follow Christ’s example of forgiveness – even when it’s hard. Someone may have hurt us deeply. Whatever your situation, here are four thoughts to help you forgive others.
January
Live It Challenge: 3 Ways Your Kids Can Be a Part of the Pro-Life Generation
In our current culture, it’s more important than ever to pass along pro-life values to the next generation. So, how can you encourage your kids to take a stand and be a part of the pro-life generation? One way is to take this month’s Live It Challenge as a family! Take the challenge with your kids and build in them passionate pro-life hearts!
Once you’ve completed this challenge, come back here to download your reward — the January Life Badge!
Biblical Pursuit: Tips for Creating Your Personal Testimony
At times, it can be difficult to put our personal story of faith into words. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to create your testimony and the best ways to share it with those around you! This way, you’ll be ready to share when someone “asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you,” as it says in 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV).
December
Live It Challenge: Giving Gifts of Respect and Kindness
What gifts are you giving out this Christmas season? We can give gifts of respect and kindness each and every day. And that’s what we’re challenging you to do this month! Try to do simple acts of kindness for those around you as often as you can. It could be an act of service, a heartfelt note, or even a phone call. To help you keep track, we created a Respect and Kindness Gift-Giving Guide for you to use, which you can download below.
We’ll be praying for you as you share God’s love to your community with respect and kindness! Once you’ve completed this challenge, come back here to download your reward — the December Gift Badge!
Biblical Pursuit: Public Reading of Scripture with Adventures in Odyssey®
Listen along as your friends from Adventures in Odyssey introduce you to the powerful, biblical practice of public reading of Scripture! The Bible is truly the most influential and powerful book in history. It tells the story of what God is doing for us and through us – with Jesus Christ as the center.
To help you and your family get started with the public reading of Scripture, we’ve got something special for you: a brand new, 30-day Bible reading plan, read to you by some of your favorite Adventures in Odyssey characters! Dive into God’s Word with Whit, Connie, and Jason from Adventures in Odyssey. Each reading is the perfect length to listen to during a family meal, car ride, or anytime!
November
Live It Challenge: Thanking Those Who Helped Your Faith
November is a perfect time to celebrate gratitude. That’s why this month’s Live It Challenge is about thanking the people in your life who have helped you grow in your faith! Identify at least one person who has helped shape your spiritual life, and thank them in a special way by telling them how they have impacted you.
Begin to recognize the “rolling credits” of your life and everyone who has helped build you up. Once you’ve completed this thankfulness challenge, come back here to download your reward — the November Gratitude Badge!
Biblical Pursuit: Discovering 7 Different Types of Prayer
There is no “one right way to pray.” In the Bible, we see several different types of prayer on display. A strong prayer life incorporates many different types of prayer because we will face many different situations in our lives. Here are seven different types of prayer for you to learn and master to take your prayer life to the next level…
October
Live It Challenge: 7 Days of Prayer Guide
For October, we’re asking you to take on the 7 Days of Prayer Challenge! This challenge will equip you to pray effectively for those in your community and beyond! Prayer is a crucial piece of every Christian’s spiritual walk — it’s a direct line of conversation with God. To get you started, we’ve provided a handy guide that includes some info on a new way to structure your prayers, along with the topics you’ll be praying for like your friends, family, church, school, and more!
And, once you’ve completed the seven days of prayer, come back here to download your reward — the October Prayer Badge!
Biblical Pursuit: Commit to a Quiet Time
In order to be consistent with your quiet, you need three things: a Time, a Place, and a Plan.
Time
This is pretty self-explanatory! If you are going to commit to a consistent quiet time to read your Bible, you need, well, time. Every relationship requires time to grow and flourish. It’s the same with your relationship with God.
Find at least 15 minutes in the day that you can use for your quiet time. It could be in the morning, at lunch, or before bed. Whatever you choose, stick to it! If you don’t have a set time for a quiet time, it can be easy to forget.
Place
An important part of a consistent quiet time is having a set place where you have it! You need a place where you can be alone with God without worrying about distractions or interruptions.
The best part about deciding where you have your quiet time is that it’s completely up to you. You could have your quiet time in the backyard, a closet, or even a tent! Make it a fun, special place where you spend time with God.
Plan
Finally, to get the most out of your quiet time, you need to have a plan of action! Choose a book of the Bible to read through, one chapter at a time, and then reflect on God’s words to you. Or choose a devotion that you think would be interesting.
The main thing is to know what you’re trying to accomplish, so you can stay motivated and consistent. If you don’t know where to start, read through the Gospel of John to hear the words of Jesus and then read about the adventures of the early church in Acts!
