Parenting is hard. At dinner this week I kept starting to talk and then got interrupted every time by my three year old saying something crazy or making a loud noise. And I’m not the type of person that just talks over people so I kept starting and stopping. In defeat I just put my head down on the table. Angela said later, “that was so sad when you just put your head down on the table.”

Sometimes, despite my best efforts, it’s so hard to manage the dinner table. Lately it’s just been feeling so stressful and not peaceful. Constantly telling our kids to eat their food, to sit up or to stop crawling on me it just sounds like we are parents to two chimpanzees. And we only have TWO! Not sure how our friends with SIX do it! (They must be going crazy too..)

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Sometimes I wonder if we are making any progress in teaching our children the gospel. Is it sinking into any part of their little hearts? I think it can feel like that because (like I already mentioned above) parenting is hard!! It’s thankless a lot of the time, especially with younger children.

Then (while at work) I got a call from Angela last week telling me that in one of their final Bible lessons of the school year, our six year old Nathan, was visibly emotionally moved when they were talking about the reality of hell, a place away from the presence of God.

Nathan, through tears, was asking really good questions with genuine angst in his heart for the lost. And in those small moments you get a little glimpse that God may be working on something. That the seed that we try to sow, day in and day out, may in fact be taking root. This  is because of the Spirit’s help and not because of us.

Like John mentioned last week, we are reading through Jesus’ last moments with his disciples. He’s serving, teaching, and encouraging them. He tells them the Holy Spirit is the helper and that it’s actually better that he go and be with the Father. I think it works the same way now. If you feel like gospel family parenting is difficult I am right there with you. I constantly feel like I’m doing it wrong. But the Holy Spirit is our helper and does more than we will ever be aware of.

Continue to be intentional this week with your family and continue to put the good news of the gospel in front of your family. Grace and peace.

Josh Walker (@joshdwalker) is the co-founder and owner of One Fifty Media House, a Houston, TX based Audio and Video Design Team. He is the writer and author of music products such as Family Devo, Grammar Time and Hymns For Selena. He is married to Angela and has two beautiful children: Nathan and Charity Joy.
 

Day 1: John 14:1-7

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q20: Who is the Redeemer?
• A: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God: believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”- John 14:1-7 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

Suggested Question: What is the connection Jesus is teaching between himself and God?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Thank Jesus that he is our redeemer and the only way to God the Father.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 2:  John 14:8-14

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q20: Who is the Redeemer?
• A: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[8] Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” [9] Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? [10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

[12] “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. [13] Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. - John 14:8-14 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: Those that believe in Jesus will do what…?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Lord, help us to see you. And in seeing more of Jesus we see more of you O true Father.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

DAY 3: John 14:15-17

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q20: Who is the Redeemer?
• A: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[15] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, [17] 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. - John 14:15-17 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: How is loving God related to keeping his commandments?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Ask God to help you and your family focus on loving him and not focused just on keeping his commands.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

DAY 4: John 14:18-24

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q20: Who is the Redeemer?
• A: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[18] “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [19] Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. [20] In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. [21] Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” [22] Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” [23] Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. [24] Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. - John 14:18-24 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: What does it mean that God will “make our home with him?” How does that encourage you?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Lord, come make your home with me. Help me to follow your words and to treasure your scriptures. Give me life because you live.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 5: John 14:25-31

Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)

• Q20: Who is the Redeemer?
• A: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[25] “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. [26] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [28] You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. [29] And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. [30] I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, [31] but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. - John 14:25-31 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

• Suggested Question: What is the role of the Holy Spirit?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

• Suggested Prayer: Thank you Holy Spirit for teaching us the truth. Help us, as a family, to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

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