Tuesday Family Devotion - The Power of Jesus' Word

Scripture Reading - Mark 4:35-41

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Thought of the Day
In another devotion, we talked about the power of God’s Word in creation. In this story we are shown that Jesus also has the power to control creation with his words. Jesus is able to quiet a storm simply by telling the wind and waves to be still. Imagine if you had been a disciple on that boat. Would you have been scared? Sometimes our fears can make us forget that Jesus is with us and protecting us. Jesus’ words have the power to change things and we must have faith that when we ask for His help, as the disciples did, that He will speak for us and bring us protection.

Discussion questions
1. What are some things that scare you?

2. When we are afraid, what are some ways we can remember that Jesus is with us?

3. How can we help others when they are scared?

Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Sometimes we get scared. There is a lot that can frighten us. Help us to remember that you are able to speak to the wind and quiet the waves. Help us to remember that you will speak to keep us safe. Give us the faith to remember that you are always with us. Thank you for being there for us. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - A Story By Jesus

Scripture Reading - Mark 4:26-29

[Jesus] also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

Thought of the Day
Jesus knew that we need help learning about God. To help us he taught in parables, or stories, to help us learn. He often used pictures that the people listening would understand, including farming and fishing. In this parable, we represent the seeds that are planted and left to grow. God has scattered us throughout the world and He will return to gather us together in His kingdom.

Discussion questions
1. Can you learn from stories? What are some other stories that you’ve learned from?

2. How does Jesus telling us stories help us learn?

3. Write a parable of your own about the Kingdom of God.

Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for taking the time to teach us in ways that we can understand. Learning about God can make us think about a lot of hard questions, and through your parables you try to answer them. Help guide us today as we continue to learn about you. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Jesus' Baptism

Scripture Reading - Mark 1:9-11


At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased
Thought of the Day
When we were baptized we entered the church family and became a child of God. Each of us is marked with the cross of Christ and because of that we know that God will never abandon us. He will always love and care for us. In this reading, Jesus is baptized and as he was baptized everyone there knew that he was God’s son. Even though our own baptism didn’t have a dove descending from the sky, because we know that Jesus is God’s Son, we know that our baptism keeps us as God’s child forever!


Discussion questions
1. Ask your parents what they remember from your baptism. Call grandma and grandpa and ask about your parent’s baptism. Did you cry? Did they? Look up your baptism anniversary and mark it on your calendar.

2. Mark the sign of the cross on everyone’s forehead and remind them that “They are a child of God.” How does that reminder make you feel?

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for being with your Son and sending Him to us. Thank you for the story of His baptism. Thank you for our own baptism stories. Help us remember that we are always your child because of our baptism. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - The Greatest Commandment

Scripture Reading - Matthew 22:34-40

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Thought of the Day
We know that there are 10 Commandments that we are supposed to follow, but Jesus knows that 10 can be a lot of rules to follow so he breaks it down for us. Instead of 10, there are 2 things that we are called to do.
1. Love God
2. Love God’s People
These can be hard things to do all the time but God knows that if we do this we will live good lives. When we love God, we keep Him first in our lives and know that He is important. And when we love God’s people as we love ourselves, then we think about what other people would want when we make decisions. If the whole world followed these two commandments what a great world it would be!

Discussion questions
1. Which of these commandments is easier? Loving God or God’s people? Why?

2. What are some ways we can show God we love Him?

3. What are some ways we can show God that we love His people?

Prayer
Dear God,
Following rules can be hard. Thank you for simplifying things and sending Jesus to help teach us to love you and your people. Give us the strength to think about you and your people as much as we do ourselves. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion

Scripture Reading - Matthew 19:13-15

 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Thought of the Day
Last time we learned that we are all called to spread God’s Word in the world. We know that Jesus meant this for all people, including even the smallest children because of this story. Jesus knew that children are important and he paid attention to them and loved them. He wouldn’t let the disciples send them away but welcomed them. In our world sometimes children are ignored. You may have been told, “I’ll tell you when you are older,” more than once. But Jesus knows that you are always old enough to learn about God and to help spread His Word.

Discussion questions
1. When is a time when you felt left out because you were a kid?

2. What are some special ways that kids can help tell about God’s Word?

3. How would you have felt as a kid if Jesus had come to talk to you personally?

Prayer
Loving Jesus,
You see the good and value in everyone, even the smallest people. Thank you for loving the children and taking time to be with them. Help us to recognize that all kids can hear about you and share your Word because you love them. Thank you for loving us. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Spread the Word

Scripture Reading- Matthew 28:16-20

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Thought of the Day
We’ve already covered a lot of the gifts that God has given us, but in today’s reading Jesus asks something of us. We are called to go to tell other people about those gifts we’ve been given. Jesus calls us to spread the Word of God, to share the story of Jesus with the world. He calls us to baptize others and teach them about God and His love for us. If we take the good we’ve been given seriously, we have to take this call from God seriously as well. This Great Commission is given to us all, from the shortest to the tallest person. We all can share God’s Word in the world.


Discussion questions
1. What are some ways we can share God’s story with the world?

2. Who are some people that you could tell about God?

3. Why should we tell others about God’s Word?

Prayer
Dear Jesus,
You’ve called us to a big task, but we know that we can do it with your help. Give us the words to help spread your story across the world. Help us live as examples of your Word in the world. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Paul's Conversion

Scripture Reading - Acts 9:1-6

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Thought of the Day
There are times when we think we know more than everyone else. We even think we know better than God sometimes. Sometimes when we are sure that we are right and everyone else is wrong, and we can’t imagine why anyone disagrees with us. This thinking can be dangerous. Before Paul (then known as Saul) knew Jesus and believed in him, he was one of the people searching for Christians to kill them because he believed that he was right. He was so sure of it that he was willing to kill to prove it. But we know that he was wrong, and Jesus did too. But instead of punishing Paul, Jesus appeared to him and showed him the right way. Jesus forgave Paul and Paul became one of the biggest spreaders of Christianity ever.

Discussion questions
1. It is important to remember sometimes we can be wrong even though we think we are right. Can you think of a time when that happened?

2. Jesus gave Paul another chance. What should we do when we know that someone else is doing something wrong?

3. It is nice to know that it is never too late to change your way and follow God. Name a time when you were going to do something wrong but didn’t instead.


Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for second chances. Thank you for helping to change our minds to what is right. Please continue to guide us and keep us on the correct path. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - The Early Church and God's Word

Scripture Reading - Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Thought of the Day
In this passage, we are given a glimpse of how the early church lived. They had witnessed the Word of God firsthand in Jesus and Pentecost. It brought them together as a people. They lived together and shared with one another. (Imagine living with the whole church!) They learned together and ate together. Though all Christians cannot live in the same house, we can use God’s word and the disciples as an example for us. We should treat all Christians as our family and work with them to improve the world.

Discussion questions
1. What are some of the important things that the passage tells us the disciples did together?

2. How can we help make our church like the early church?

3. Extra credit: Invite another church family over for dinner to talk about what you’ve learned.

Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Help make our church more like the early church. Help us to recognize the family that our church can be. Lead us in making the church faithful to your Word. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Word of Grace Continued

Scripture Reading -Romans 1:16-17


I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." 

Thought of the Day
God’s Word is the key, as Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of God that we can bring to people who don’t know about Him. The Bible is how we learn about God and Jesus. It is their Word on earth. God saves us through our faith in Jesus, and it is in God’s Word that we learn about Jesus. And His Word can bring faith to those who listen to it. It is through the Word that we can understand the grace we’ve been given.

Discussion questions
1. What is your favorite story in the Bible?

2. What can that story tell you about God and Jesus?

3. How does that story strengthen your faith?

Prayer
Dear God,
Your Word guides us to you. In your word, we learn of our salvation and our faith is strengthened. Thank you for giving us the gospel to remind us of your gifts of grace and love. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Word of Grace

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Thought of the Day
Have you ever been given something even when you didn’t deserve it? Have you been forgiven when you’ve said something mean or when you didn’t obey your parents? We know that God has given us a LOT of gifts. He made us and loves us, just like our parents do. But sometimes we don’t act very nice to Him or to others. We do things wrong. If we were judged only by what we did, we would all be in trouble because we’ve all done things wrong. But one of God’s biggest gifts and most powerful Word’s is GRACE. Grace means that we are forgiven and loved even when we don’t deserve it. We have faith that we’ve been given grace since Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

Discussion questions
1. Imagine that you had to do the exact right thing your WHOLE life. Do you think you could do it? Would it be hard?

2. Would it be easier to try to be good knowing that you would be forgiven if you couldn’t?

Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins. We know that we couldn’t hope to be good enough to earn your forgiveness, so thank you for forgiving us when we sin. We all need your grace and we know we are blessed to have it. Help us try to be good, but when we aren’t, give us the faith to remember that you’ve already forgiven us because of your grace. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - The Armor of God

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 6:10-17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Thought of the Day
Sometimes life can be dangerous. We have seatbelts and airbags in cars to protect us if we get into an accident. We have life preservers when we go on a boat. We have lifeguards to protect us at the pool. Sometimes things can be dangerous and we don’t realize it. Lying can be dangerous, or stealing or cheating. What Ephesians reminds us is that if we put on what we have learned from God’s Word as armor, we can be protected from the dangerous things we can be tempted to do. The more we know about God and His Word the more we are protected from those dangerous things.

Discussion questions
1. What are some things that God can protect us from?

2. If we don’t know if something is wrong or right where can we look to find out?

3. How does knowing the Bible protect us from sinning?


Prayer
Loving God,
We know that you want us to be safe and protected in the world. Thank you for giving us your Word to use as armor against sin and temptation. Give us the strength to remember to keep our armor on and follow your Word. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Our Identity Continued

Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 2:9-10

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Thought of the Day
Last time we talked about how God had chosen each and everyone of us to be his child. These verses in 1 Peter remind us that while we have been chosen as individuals, we have also all be chosen together. Not only are we God’s child, but we are God’s people. Our identity is wrapped up with everyone else’s identity as well. I have been chosen but so have you and so has your neighbor or the kid down the street, or the cashier at the grocery store. The gifts that we receive from God: His grace, His mercy and His love are meant for all of his people. And as a part of God’s people, we are called to share that with them.

Discussion questions
1. Has there ever been a person that you didn’t like?

2. Does your opinion of them change if you remember that they are a member of God’s family too?

3. What are some ways that we should treat God’s people in the world?

Prayer
Dear God,
We know that we have been given a very special identity as your child. Help us to remember that other people have been given this gift as well. Even people we don’t like are your people. Give us the strength to see everyone as your child and part of your people, just as we are. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Our Identity

Scripture Reading - Psalm 8

O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!
       You have set your glory
       above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants
       you have ordained praise
       because of your enemies,
       to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,
       the work of your fingers,
       the moon and the stars,
       which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
       the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
       and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
       you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,
       and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,
       and the fish of the sea,
       all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Thought of the Day
Psalm 8 reminds us that we have been an extraordinary gift from God. Our identity is because of God and God chose to make us in his image. He chose for us to be children of God. We are not like the animals or the plants around us. Each one of us is unique and special because God has made us who we are. We have done nothing to deserve it; instead it is a free gift to us! The same God that made the stars in the sky and the mountains and the trees made us just as we are.

Discussion questions
1. What makes you exactly who you are?

2. What are some gifts that God has given you?

3. Why do you think God gave us all these gifts?

Prayer
Great God,
Thank you for making us exactly who we are. Each one of us is different but each one of us is special in your eyes. You have given us great gifts, but the best gift of all is that we are one of your children. We know that you love us just as we are. AMEN.

Pumpkin Carving Prayer

Halloween is a fun holiday to celebrate with your family.  This week when you are carving pumpkins consider using this prayer with your family.  Consider making one of these pumpkins to go along with your traditional Jack O' Lanterns this year!  (I'm unable to find a copyright source of this due to its prevalence on the internet).

The Pumpkin Carving Prayer

Dear God,
As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer:

Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin)

Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do.
(Clean out the inside)

Open my eyes so Your love I will see;
(Cut the eyes out in heart shapes)

I'm so sorry for turning up my nose to all you've given me.
(Cut a nose in the shape of a cross)

Open my ears so your word I will hear.
(Cut the ears shaped like the Bible)

Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near
(cut the mouth in the shape of a fish)

Let Your light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle inside and light it)

Tuesday Family Devotion - Faith

Scripture Reading - Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Thought of the Day
It can be hard to follow God all the time. It can be hard to believe all the things we are told in the Bible. Sometimes God’s miracles seem too outrageous and sometimes He asks too much of us. It can be hard to stay faithful when life gets hard and busy. But God has given us many examples of how He keeps His promises in the world. The Bible is full of God’s miracles to His people. When we have trouble being faithful and trusting God, we can look to His Word to guide us. And when we are faithful and trust in God, He will care for us. He will watch over us, we just have to have a little faith.

Discussion questions
1. What are some times when you find it hard to have faith in God?

2. What are some ways that you can remind yourself to have faith when those times come?

3. How can we remind others when they are having trouble being faithful?

Prayer
Dear God,
It can take faith to trust in you sometimes. It can be hard to see your work in the world. Help us remember to look to your Word, the Bible, when we feel our faith slipping away. Help us stay strong in our faith in you, because we know that you will always care for us. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Creation Continues

Scripture Reading - Psalm 33:6-9

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
he puts the deep into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.

For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm. 

Thought of the Day
Let’s do an experiment. Think for a moment of a food that you’d really like to be eating right now. Got it? Ok, now hold out your hand and say the name of that food out loud. Did it appear? What?! You mean that you can’t make the food appear just by saying its name out loud? We know that that is impossible for us, but God’s Words are powerful. God created us simply by saying that He wanted us to exist. God spoke our name and we came to be. He talked about the world and world appeared. God’s Word is a powerful thing and we can see God’s words in everything around us, including you and me! Everything we see is because of God’s Word.


Discussion questions
1. How does it make you feel to know that God has called your name?

2. If God created everything by his Word, how should we treat other people, animals and the whole world? 

Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for saying our name out loud. We know that you created us and everything that we see by your Word. Help us to honor your creation and work to help keep your creation safe. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion - Creation

Scripture Reading - Genesis 2:4-7

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Thought of the Day
Imagine: God created us out of dirt, out of dust, out of nothing. God made us who we are. He created each one of us unique and special and he started with nothing. God breathed and we became alive. We need to breath to live, but before that we needed God’s breath to become alive. God’s creation is the first of many, many gifts that God gives us. We are created in God’s image and filled with God’s breath. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Take another deep breath. Each breath we take is a gift from God to His creation.

Discussion questions
1. Go outside and pick us some dirt from the ground. How does it make you feel to know that God created us from dirt? Good or Bad?

2. What is your favorite thing that God created?

3. Would you change anything about God’s creation? If yes, what would you want to change and why?

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for everything you created: the plants and animals and the sun and the rain. But thank you most of all for creating us, for giving us your breath. It is a beautiful gift to be given. Help us to be worthy of your gift of life. AMEN.

These initial devotions were written for the Feeding Faithful Families classes in 2006-2007.  The over all theme was The Word.

Tuesday Family Devotion - The Word

These initial devotions were written for the Feeding Faithful Families classes in 2006-2007.  The over all theme was The Word.

God’s Word

Scripture Reading - Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Thought of the Day
When I spend the night at someone’s house I am always grateful when they choose to leave a light on in the bathroom down the hall. It is difficult to wake up and not know where I am or to be able to see my path before me. Life can be like this sometimes as well. Sometimes when things seem dark and we don’t know where we are going it can be scary and unnerving. Psalm 119 reminds us that God’s Word acts as a lamp showing us where to go. When we don’t know what to do, we can turn to the Bible to find direction. God gave us his Word to light our way.

Discussion questions
1. Turn out the lights in your room. What would it be like if the room were always dark? What would it be hard to do in this room when it is dark?

2. Light a candle (Or turn the lights back on). How is the room different now? What could you do in this room now?

3. Since the Bible is God’s Word, how can we use it to “light our way?”

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for lighting our way and making it easier to see the paths we are walking down. When things become dark in our lives help us turn to your Word to bring light to the situation. We know that we can do more in the world when we are in the light rather than the dark. AMEN.

Tuesday Family Devotion

These initial devotions were written for the Feeding Faithful Families classes in 2006-2007.  The over all theme was The Word.

Jesus is the Way

Scripture Reading - John 14:1-7

 ¹"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ²In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going." 
⁵Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
 ⁶Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Thought of the Day

There is a lot in the world that we don’t know. We can try to answer all sorts of questions about the world and about God, but it can be hard to know what is true or right. But this Bible passage answers all those questions for us. Jesus tells us not to worry or let our hearts be troubled. We have been given the way for all things: Jesus is our Way. Jesus is our Truth. Jesus is our Life. With him all things are possible and we can know the Father. Even when we don’t know something we can always rest assured in the faith that Jesus is the Way and has gone before us. We even get a room of our own!

Family Discussion Questions
1. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Way? The Way to what?

2. Jesus says that God's house has many rooms. What would your room look like in God’s house?(If time, draw a picture of what you’d like your room to look like.)

Prayer
Dear Jesus, 
When life seems hard and we have more questions than we can answer help us to remember that you are the Way and the Truth and the Life.  When we remember this it is easier t feel safe and loved.  Thank y ou for coming to Earth ad showing us the way to God the Father.  Amen.