Prayer (5 Minutes)
- Have each family member complete this sentence in prayer: "Dear God, I love you because..." This helps children express their love for God in their own words.
Song (5 Minutes)
Catechism (5 minutes)
Have everyone read aloud simultaneously or allow everyone to try to answer before revealing the answer.
Q6: How can we glorify God?
A: By loving him and by obeying his commands and law. (Deuteronomy 11:1)
A: By loving him and by obeying his commands and law. (Deuteronomy 11:1)
Questions from: https://newcitycatechism.com/. Go there to start from beginning or to read more.
Scripture (5 Minutes)
John 14:15–24 (NLT)
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.
Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.
Discussion (5-10 Minutes)
You can lead through a teaching or use the following questions to start a discussion:
- What does it mean to love someone? How is loving God similar or different?
- Why do you think Jesus connected loving Him with obeying His commands?
- What are some ways we can show our love for God in our daily lives?
- When is it hard to obey? How can remembering God's love help us obey?
- How does obeying God's commands help others see His love?
- What commands of Jesus do you find most important to follow?
Closing Prayer (3 Minutes)
"Loving Father, thank you for loving us first and showing us perfect love through Jesus. Help us to show our love for You by joyfully obeying Your commands. Give us strength to follow You even when it's difficult, and let others see Your love through our obedience. In Jesus' name, Amen."