Prayer (5 Minutes)
- Have each family member complete this sentence in prayer: "Dear God, thank you for loving me even when I _______." This helps us understand God's limitless love and our need for Him.
Song (5 Minutes)
Catechism (5 minutes)
Have everyone read aloud simultaneously or allow everyone to try to answer before revealing the answer.
Q36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
A: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son. (John 14:16–17)
A: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son. (John 14:16–17)
Questions from: https://newcitycatechism.com/. Go there to start from beginning or to read more.
Scripture (5 Minutes)
Mark 2:13–17 (NLT)
Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
A tax collector
Discussion (5-10 Minutes)
You can lead through a teaching or use the following questions to start a discussion:
- How quickly did Levi respond to Jesus's call? What does this tell us about Levi?
- Why do you think the Pharisees were upset about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners?
- Have you ever felt left out or not good enough? How does this story make you feel?
- Who does Jesus say He came to call? What does this mean for us?
Lent Challenge (5 minutes)
What is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day period before Easter when Christians prepare their hearts for celebrating Jesus' death and resurrection. Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, we use these 40 days to draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, and focusing on Jesus.
FAMILY ACTION STEP
Each week, discuss as a family what you could either GIVE UP or TAKE UP during Lent to grow closer to God. Work through the following as a family.
GIVE UP:
TAKE UP:
Lent is a 40-day period before Easter when Christians prepare their hearts for celebrating Jesus' death and resurrection. Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, we use these 40 days to draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, and focusing on Jesus.
FAMILY ACTION STEP
Each week, discuss as a family what you could either GIVE UP or TAKE UP during Lent to grow closer to God. Work through the following as a family.
GIVE UP:
- What takes up a lot of our time or attention?
- What might we pause or set aside to create more space for God?
- How could we use that extra time or attention to focus on Jesus?
TAKE UP:
- What new habit could help us grow closer to God?
- What act of service could we add to our daily routine?
- How could we be more intentional about our faith this week?
Closing Prayer (3 Minutes)
"Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to call sinners like us. Thank You that we don't have to be perfect before coming to You. Help us to show Your love to others who might feel rejected or unwanted, just as Jesus did. Give us humble hearts that recognize our need for You. In Jesus's name, Amen."