Family Devotional–The Life Giver

• I love chaos.  Well, controlled chaos.  Especially when a group of people find themselves in chaos and are forced to ask "what should I do?"  Better yet, if that question leaves them wanting and they ask "what is God asking me to do?"  I saw people show up expecting it to be about them and quickly realize it is about what they can give to another.  
• Love wins.  I have read books, talked to leaders, and even googled stuff to make sure we served/honored/empowered people well.  And all the wisdom we received was wonderful, but the "tight rope" I was warned about was easily navigated by having loving people extend themselves humbly.  Well done, Chapel!!!  I was amazed by your capacity to love.
• Putting Jesus at the center of Christmas this year was easier than it has ever been.  I caught HIm smiling at us throughout the process and was brought to my knees.
• Leaders who take ownership trump leaders who know everything!  Thank you Patty Day, Jen Moran, Craig Raddatz, HB Brewer, Brenda Van Horn, Mary Briggs for devoting your selves to planning well and forging ahead as we "designed the bicycle we were riding"

So many more thoughts to share for another time…

Family Dinner Devotional

The One Who Changed Everything Series: Week 3 The Student

Purpose: The purpose of this devotional is to create a family moment around the dinner table in which participants discuss the topic from the previous weekend message. The following questions have been designed to create discussion. Read the provided Scripture and then use only the questions that you feel are appropriate for your family dinner setting.

Prayer: Many families have prayer before eating a family meal. For the purpose of this devotional we encourage you to try something different and save prayer for the end of the meal after you have had a chance to have your family discussion.

Grab your Bible and Read Luke 2:41-52

Questions

1. How would you define Truth? How are you able to tell if something is truth?

2. There is value in Truth. How do you feel Truth has the potential of transforming our lives from depression and/or confusion to joy and success?

3. Truth must be pursued. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” What do you think this verse tells us about how Truth should be pursued? What are some examples of how we can pursue truth in these ways?

4. Where do you feel the source of all Truth comes from? How can we draw from this source?

Challenge: Look for ways to pursue Truth this week. Be prepared to discuss it next week.

Close in Prayer

Family Dinner Devotional

Awakening Series: Week 5 Evangelism

Purpose: The purpose of this devotional is to create a family moment around the dinner table in which participants discuss the topic from the previous weekend message. The following questions have been designed to create discussion. Read the provided Scripture and then use only the questions that you feel are appropriate for your family dinner setting.

Prayer: Many families have prayer before eating a family meal. For the purpose of this devotional we encourage you to try something different and save prayer for the end of the meal after you have had a chance to have your family discussion.

Last Week’s Challenge: In what ways did you show generosity this past week?

Grab your Bible and Read Matthew 28:19-20 – ¹⁹ 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, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Questions

1. Jesus gave the instruction in Matthew 28 right before he ascended into Heaven. Why do you think one of His last instructions was to go and make disciples? Do you personally feel it is important to tell others about Jesus? Why or Why not?

2. What obstacles have you encountered when trying to tell someone about Jesus? Have you learned to overcome those obstacles? What was your experience?

3. What types of things do you think cause people to be receptive or non-receptive to having someone share with them about Jesus?

4. What are some smaller things we can do for someone to lead up to telling them about Jesus?

Challenge: Over the course of the next week, ask God to show you one person in your life that you need to invite to church, or to ask them if there is anything you can be praying for them for, or something else that may lead up to you telling them about Jesus. Or perhaps there is someone in your life already that you have been feeling like God has been leading you to tell about Jesus. Make an effort this week to reach out to that person.

Close in Prayer

Family Dinner Devotional

Expectations Series: Week 2 Peace

Purpose: The purpose of this devotional is to create a family moment around the dinner table in which participants discuss the topic from the previous weekend message. The following questions have been designed to create discussion. Read the provided Scripture and then use only the questions that you feel are appropriate for your family dinner setting.

Prayer: Many families have prayer before eating a family meal. For the purpose of this devotional we encourage you to try something different and save prayer for the end of the meal after you have had a chance to have your family discussion.

Last Week’s Challenge: What did you do this past week to find Joy or to help other people experience Joy?

Grab your Bible and Read Isaiah 9:6 & Matthew 6:34

Questions

1. When you think of peace, what types of things come to mind?

2. Do you consider yourself to have peace? Why or Why not? If yes, what type of things brings you Peace? If no, what things in the past have brought you peace?

3. Isaiah 6 tells us that Jesus will carry the weight of the world on his shoulders and in Matthew 6 Jesus tells us not to worry. Do you find it easy or difficult to trust Jesus to carry the weight of your world on his shoulders? If difficult, what do you feel makes it hard for you to trust God?

4. It is human nature to worry about things that we cannot control. How do you feel we should surrender these things to God so that we can have room to let God’s Peace take over our worry and anxiety?

Challenge: Give to God whatever is in your life that is causing you to worry or be anxious. Pray to God this week that He will give you Peace in place of worry.

Close in Prayer

Family Dinner Devotional

Awakening Series: Week 6 Humility

Purpose: The purpose of this devotional is to create a family moment around the dinner table in which participants discuss the topic from the previous weekend message. The following questions have been designed to create discussion. Read the provided Scripture and then use only the questions that you feel are appropriate for your family dinner setting.

Prayer: Many families have prayer before eating a family meal. For the purpose of this devotional we encourage you to try something different and save prayer for the end of the meal after you have had a chance to have your family discussion.

Last Week’s Challenge: Discuss how you made an attempt this past week to evangelize someone?

Grab your Bible and Read James 4:6 – But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Questions

1. Pride can be good (parents being proud of their children, or you can be proud of a grade or promotion you worked hard for). Pride can also be bad, there is an old saying that “Pride comes before the fall.” What are some things in your life that you believe it is good to be proud of? What are some things in your life that you have to be careful of being proud of?

2. Has pride ever caused you to do something you regretted or were embarrassed by? What happened and what did you learn from it?

3. Sometimes it can be hard to be humble, especially if we are really good or successful at something.  In fact, sometimes in an attempt to be humble, we actually come across with false humility which can be just as bad as pride, because not only are we still prideful, but we are in denial about it. Have you ever had fake humility? Did you spot it in yourself or did someone else point it out to you? What did you learn from this experience?

4. Sometimes we have to teach ourselves to be humble. This may mean asking someone you trust to point out areas of your life that come across as prideful, or it may mean being like Jesus and finding some way to serve someone who the rest of the world looks at as being less than you. How have you learned to be more humble or in what ways do you feel you need to be more humble?

Challenge: Over the course of the next week, ask God to show you areas in your life where you have dangerous pride and find ways to be more humble in those areas.

Close in Prayer