John 1:8-13

John 1:8-13 (HCSB) 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. 12 But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

The world did not recognize Jesus for who He was. Most of the world still does not. When people don’t see Jesus for who He is, they do not receive Him. But to those who receive him He adopts us into His family. And just so we don’t get a big head about it, He reminds us that it is not by our choice, but God’s.

Thank God that he makes us His children.

Table Talk:

Teenagers:

1) How does the world respond to Jesus?

2) How do you respond to Jesus?

3) Have you received Jesus?

4) How has that made a difference?

Pray: Dear God help me to see the value in becoming a child of God. Amen

For Children:

1) Do you know someone who is adopted?

2) God adopted us into His family, how does that make you feel?

3) What do these verses say we need to do to receive Jesus?

Pray: Thank you Jesus for allowing us to become your children. Amen.

For Preschoolers:

Use 1 John 4:8 (HCSB) …God is love.

Use the Bible Phrase “God is love.”

Tell preschoolers that God loves them and everyone.

Pray with your children thanking God that He loves us.

John 1:4-7

John 1:4-7 (HCSB) ⁴ Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. ⁵ That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. ⁶ There was a man named John who was sent from God. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.

Jesus was the light. John was sent to testify of the light.
We are called to do the same thing. We must “testify about the light” so that many “might believe through” us.

Table Talk:

Teenagers:

1) In a court room, what does “testify” mean?

2) How can this apply to testifying for Jesus?

3) What are some ways to testify for Jesus day by day?

Pray: Dear God help us to tell others about what you have done for us and for them. Amen

Sing: “Shine, Jesus, Shine”

For Children:

Turn off all the lights in the room. Use a flashlight or candles to demonstrate the difference even a small amount of light makes.

Ask, 1) How was Jesus like that light?
2) Why would someone think John the Baptist was the light?
3) Is there a way we can tell people about Jesus?

Pray: Thank you Jesus for being the light of the world. Help me to light my world. Amen.

Sing: “This Little Light of Mine”

For Preschoolers:

Use Genesis 1:26 (HCSB) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

Use the Bible Phrase “God made people.”

Ask preschoolers about the people that they know.

Pray with your children thanking God that He made us and that He loves us.

John 1:1-3

John 1:1-3 (HCSB) ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.

Jesus is God. He created everything.
When we celebrate Christmas, we often forget these verses. We know that God sent His Son. And we believe that Jesus is God. But the truth of it is something that we must keep presenting. Jesus is God.

Without that truth, we are genuinely lost. Man cannot save man.

Table Talk:

For Teens:

1) When you think of God creating the world, do you see Jesus there?

2) Jesus is 100 % man and 100 % God. We can’t completely understand that. Does that bother you?

Prayer: Dear God, help me to have faith to believe the things that are hard to believe. Amen

For Children:

1) Did you know that Jesus helped create the world?

2) Remember that Jesus did not stay a baby in a manger, but grew to be a man. Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

For Preschoolers:

Use Genesis 1:1 (HCSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Use the Bible Phrase “God made the world.”
Ask preschoolers to help you name things that God made.
Pray with your children thanking God for the beautiful world.

Sing a favorite worship song together.

Welcome

This blog is designed to give you some ideas for family devotions around the dinner table. I may not be able to post every day, but I hope to post at least three or four devotions a week. If there is a particular area of interest you have, please let me know and I will try to accommodate.

If you are looking for devotions during Christmas, Check out my Advent Devotion Site