Gospel Focused Family Moment

This week

God has one worldwide family across all time — the Church — and through Christ we belong to it.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1–6

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Memory verse

“There is one body and one Spirit.” — Ephesians 4:4 (WEB)

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Father God, thank you for your global family, the church. It is through your son, Jesus Christ, that we are made a family, that's you've taken people from all tribes and nations, places, and times, and united us together in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Give us unity and peace with each other, in your Holy name we pray, amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of We Believe: the Apostles' Creed—Part 2.

This week

God's Spirit lives in His people — helping, comforting, and making us more like Jesus.

Scripture: John 14:15–17

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Memory verse

“The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things.” — John 14:26 (WEB)

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Father, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit indwelling us and enabling us to do good works. We thank you that you align our hearts with yours, slowly teaching us how to be more like Jesus. Sanctify us to walk in your ways and in the oldest prayer of the church, come Lord Jesus come. Amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of We Believe: the Apostles' Creed—Part 2.

This week

Jesus isn't gone — He ascended and reigns as King right now, and one day He will return to judge and make every wrong right.

Scripture: Acts 1:9–11

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Memory verse

“This Jesus… will come back in the same way as you saw him going.” — Acts 1:11 (WEB)

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Almighty God, you who have redeemed us and called us your own: give us special grace today to love those around us, in the light of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Thank you for your living word, place it deep in our hearts. In the name of your son, Jesus we pray. Amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of We Believe: the Apostles' Creed—Part 2.

This week

Death couldn't hold Him. Jesus rose, alive forever, breaking the power of death for us.

Scripture: Luke 24:1–6

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen."

Memory verse

“He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said.” — Matthew 28:6 (WEB)

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Father, son, and spirit, we thank you for your word made flesh: Jesus. Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus, but also for the undoing of death. The reversal of all things wrong, made right through Jesus death, burial and resurrection. Thank you for your faithful servant C.S. Lewis, for the amazing imaginations you give us to create works that praise and magnify you. In the holy name of Jesus we pray, amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of We Believe: the Apostles' Creed—Part 2.

Scripture: Luke 23:44–49

"It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last."

Memory verse

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Father God, we thank you and praise you for the sacrifice of your holy Son Jesus. He came to earth to live the life that we couldn't live, to reconcile us to you. Thank you for the faithful men and women who wrote creeds that we have today, creeds that teach us more about you and your heart for us. Give us faith in you, give us faith in Jesus. Amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of We Believe: the Apostles' Creed—Part 1.

This week

Jesus truly suffered and died — in our place — not because He had to, but because He loves us.

Scripture: Luke 1:35

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Memory verse

"they shall call his name Immanuel, which means God with us." -Matthew 1:23

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Jesus, we thank you for humbling yourself and coming as a servant to live the perfect life that we couldn't live. It's crazy to think of the one who made mountains, being born in a dirty cave. Help us to never forget who you are, and what you've done. In your holy name, amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of We Believe: the Apostles' Creed—Part 1.

This week

Jesus isn't only a good man. He is God's only Son and our Lord — who became one of us, born through Mary: fully God, fully human.

Scripture: John 1:1–5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Memory verse

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men."

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for your son Jesus, the center of everything. Thank you for sending your son to live a perfect life, to die in our place, so that we could become part of your family. Help this reality to change our hearts and inform how live. In the holy name of Jesus, amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of We Believe: the Apostles' Creed—Part 1.

This week
God made everything — and the Maker of it all is a good, almighty Father who cares for what He made.

Scripture: Genesis 1:1–2
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

Memory verse
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." — Genesis 1:1

Say together
Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"
All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer
Father, Son, and Spirit, it's such an honor that we get to pray to the Holy Trinity, who has existed outside of time and space forever. You are an infinite, powerful God, who wants to have a relationship with us. We thank you for sending your Son Jesus to make a way for that to happen. We love you, we praise you, teach us to number our days and follow your ways — everything to the glory of your holy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A blessing
Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.
See you next week!

Part of We Believe: The Father & the Son.

This week

Jesus really listens, even to people others ignore.

Scripture: Mark 7:24-29

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”

Memory verse

"For by grace you have been saved through faith."

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Dear God, we come to you with thankful hearts that you have adopted us into your family. We were once outsiders, but because of your Holy son Jesus Christ, we are now part of the family called the church. Help us to see other people this week who need to be welcomed to the table, not just for crumbs, but for the full meal. Through the power of the Holy Spirit given to us by your Son, we pray, amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of Living Like Jesus.

This week

Serving with a clean heart matters more than just looking good.

Scripture: Mark 10:43

"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” -Mark 10:43-45

Memory verse

"Whoever wants to be great must be your servant.": Mark 10:43

Say together

Leader: "Christian family, what do we believe?"

All: "We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, Who gives us life and makes us one."

Prayer

Let's take a moment to pray together.

Father God, thank you for showing love to us when we didn't deserve it. Soften our hearts, help us to learn to trust you, and help us to forgive, even when it's hard. Through the mercy of your Son, Jesus, we ask all of these things, amen.

A blessing

Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ.

See you next week!

Part of Living Like Jesus.