Knowing Jesus: John 21 (Daily Devo)
Many families (including ours) have found it overwhelmingly difficult to begin family devotions, especially if family devotions are something that has never been a part of their upbringing. But, many families (like ours) have found that the overwhelming difficulty is man-made, usually man-of-the-house-made.
We struggle because we don’t know what to read. It’s weird to, all of a sudden, start praying when it’s not around a meal. And we might not even be able to “carry a tune in a bucket,” so singing is definitely not an option. But family devotions, although a challenging discipline to implement into your family life, are actually very easy. Read, pray, and sing. That’s it! Worshipping God every day with those three practices can bring plentiful fruit to your home.
At Gospel Family we want to encourage you to engage your family daily around the Scriptures, to pray outside of mealtimes and to sing praise to our God. We want to help you not hide the glorious deeds of the Lord from your children (Ps. 78). We also want to provide resources to help you do this, because the longer you wait, the hindering wall of difficulty you build will only get higher. And, once you finally breach the wall and start talking about Jesus with your family, it might just make them uncomfortable. Our desire at Gospel Family is to help heads of families create (a wonderful) routine of reading the Scriptures, praying, and singing songs to God.
So why not start today?
This week we are wrapping up our series through the gospel of John. But just because it is our last week, does not mean you have missed your chance. It’s still a perfect time to join us.
KNOWING JESUS IS THE POINT
When we started this journey 21 weeks ago, we titled this series “Knowing Jesus” because we wanted to take a close look at the life of Jesus and use that experience to see the heart of God. The Scriptures say that the fullness of God dwelt bodily in Jesus (John 1), so that when we see the heart of Jesus, displayed in his life, we are seeing the heart of our heavenly Father. These are some things we have seen over the last few months:
- Jesus is from the beginning and called the Word (chapter 1)
- Jesus tells us we have to be born again (chapter 3)
- Jesus gets to the heart of our sin (chapter 4)
- Jesus performs amazing miracles (chapter 5)
- Jesus teaches us that the truth will set us free (chapter 8)
- Jesus teaches us using imagery (chapter 10)
- Jesus loves his friends (chapter 11)
We could literally could go on and on and on, and that’s exactly what John will tell us this week: that if everything Jesus did would have been written down, the world could not contain the books that would be produced on the subject. That’s a lot.
NEW TO FAMILY DEVOTIONS?
If you have been on this journey with us, we invite you now to continue onto this week’s devo material, but if you are new to this family devo thing, we ask that you would join us. But, before you dive into this rewarding and challenging spiritual discipline, it might be helpful to think through some questions in order to prepare your heart and mind, while revealing areas of need that should be covered in prayer. This is not an exhaustive list of questions, and there are no answers that will disqualify you in engaging your family in daily worship. They are just questions to think through:
- In what ways did you see worship in the home when you were growing up?
- Did you grow up in a home that taught the Bible regularly?
- Did you grow up in a home that shared meals together regularly?
- Do you do either of these regularly in your home today?
- Do you feel confident enough to lead your family in acts like reading Scripture, praying, and singing songs of praise?
- What fears or concerns do you have about leading your family in worship?
- What would it look like if your family worshipped together regularly?
- What blessings do you believe would come from this?
This week’s focus on John 21 is the end of a series, but a perfect place to start. Come join us in imperfectly leading our families to our perfect Lord.
- The Gospel Family Team
Day 1: John 21:1-8
Weekly Catechism: (www.newcitycatechism.com)
- Q27: Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?
- A: No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith. Nevertheless God in his mercy demonstrates common grace even to those who are not elect, by restraining the effects of sin and enabling works of culture for human well-being (bolded words are for younger children).
READ:
[1] After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. [2] Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. [3] Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
[4] Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” [6] He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. [7] That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. [8] The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. - John 21:1-8 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What happened to Peter earlier in John that would make him react like this when he saw the Lord?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Jesus thank you that we, who are sinful like Peter, can run (or even swim) to you.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 2: John 21:9-14
Weekly Catechism: (www.newcitycatechism.com)
- Q27: Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?
- A: No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith. Nevertheless God in his mercy demonstrates common grace even to those who are not elect, by restraining the effects of sin and enabling works of culture for human well-being (bolded words are for younger children).
READ:
[9] When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. [10] Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” [11] So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. [12] Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. [13] Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. [14] This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. - John 21:9-14 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Do you remember another story in John about Jesus and bread and fish? What happened? Do you remember another story in John about a charcoal fire? (Remember Peter when he denied Jesus...where was he?) What happened?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Jesus thank you for raising from the dead. You are alive!
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
DAY 3: John 21:15-19
Weekly Catechism: (www.newcitycatechism.com)
- Q27: Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?
- A: No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith. Nevertheless God in his mercy demonstrates common grace even to those who are not elect, by restraining the effects of sin and enabling works of culture for human well-being (bolded words are for younger children).
READ:
[15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” [16] He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” [17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. [18] Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” [19] (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” - John 21:15-19 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What does Jesus want to know? What does Jesus want him to do? Are these connected?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Jesus we love you.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 4: John 21:20-23
Weekly Catechism: (www.newcitycatechism.com)
- Q27: Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?
- A: No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith. Nevertheless God in his mercy demonstrates common grace even to those who are not elect, by restraining the effects of sin and enabling works of culture for human well-being (bolded words are for younger children).
READ:
[20] Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” [21] When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” [22] Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” [23] So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” - John 21:20-23 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What did Jesus want Peter’s focus to be on?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Jesus help us follow you.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 5: John 21:24-25
Weekly Catechism: (www.newcitycatechism.com)
- Q27: Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?
- A: No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith. Nevertheless God in his mercy demonstrates common grace even to those who are not elect, by restraining the effects of sin and enabling works of culture for human well-being (bolded words are for younger children).
READ:
[24] This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
[25] Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
-John 21:24-25 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: How cool is that last verse? What does that say about Jesus?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Jesus, you are so wonderful. You did so many things. We know through this testimony of John that you came to do the Father’s will.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
