A few years ago my wife and I befriended a man that lived in a van outside of one of our neighbor's house. His name was John and his van was on Aspen street, so we called him John "Aspen."

John was a strong atheist at that time in his life and was very aggressive, at times, to our help.

Over this season, we tried to do things that would help him. We had many conversations about his life and experience. One time John told me some form of... 

"I grew up in a religious home, and I was even a Christian at some point. Life got really hard for me and I was asking God to to change it and give me what I was praying for and he didn't come through. I decided Jesus was as real as Santa Clause was I left the whole thing behind."

MANY PEOPLE WALK AWAY FROM GOD

I apologize if I just ruined Christmas for all the kids, but that was was the turning point in John's life where he walked away from thinking God loved him..or even just cared. 

In John 6 this week there is a point where a lot of people walked away from Jesus. It says in verse 66 "After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him." 

Why?

They left, I believe for many reasons, but if you just stick to what the Bible says you see that just earlier the disciples said, "this is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"

They found it hard to believe and trust what Jesus was saying, and many walked away that day. Even earlier in the chapter Jesus confronts the crowds because he says they were just coming to him to get their bellies filled. There are a lot of reasons that people walk away from God. It's a sad reality and I still pray for John Aspen every now and then.

I pray that as we engage our families this week with the gospel that God would be watering the seeds of true faith in our families. And if we are already believers that he would build up strong faith. 

We are praying for your family this week. Please pray for us and say a prayer for John "Aspen" today.

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 6:1-15

Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechsim.org)

• Q12: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
• A: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[1] After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. [2] And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. [3] Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. [4] Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. [5] Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” [6] He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. [7] Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” [8] One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, [9] “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” [10] Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. [11] Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. [12] And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” [13] So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. [14] When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

[15] Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. - John 6:1-15 ESV

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

• Suggested Question: If Jesus knows what he’s going to do with this situation, why did he handle it like he did?

PRAY:

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

• Suggested Prayer: Thank God that he always takes care of our needs, even when it doesn’t look like we will have the resources.

SING:

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

Day 2:  John 6:16-21

Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechsim.org)

• Q12: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
• A: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[16] When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, [17[ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. [18] The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. [19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. [20] But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” [21] Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. - John 6:16-21 (ESV)

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

• Suggested Question: This event was planned by Jesus for the disciples. Why?

PRAY:

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

• Suggested Prayer: Thank God that he comforts us when life is crazy and out of control. Pray for those ares of your life. That God, through the help of the Holy Spirit, would comfort and guide you and your family.

SING:

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

DAY 3: John 6:22-59

Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechsim.org)

• Q12: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
• A: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[22] On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. [23] Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. [24] So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

[25] When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” [26] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. [27] Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” [28] Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” [29] Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” [30] So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? [31] Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” [32] Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” [34] They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

[35] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. [36] But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. [37] All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. [38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. [39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. [40] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him lshould have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

[41] So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” [42] They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” [43] Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—[46] not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. [47] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. [48] I am the bread of life. [49] Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. [50] This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. [51] I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

[52] The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” [53] So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of jthe Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. [54] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood lhas eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. [55] For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. [56] Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. [57] As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. [58] This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” [59] Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.   - John 6:22-59 (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 say they should do to be doing the works of God? Is that more simple than you make it out to be?

PRAY:

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

• Suggested Prayer: Thank God for bringing you into the kingdom. Ask him to give you love for Jesus and the things of God.

SING:

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

Day 4: John 6:60-65

Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechsim.org)

• Q12: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
• A: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[60] When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” [61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? [62] Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? [63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. [64] But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) [65] And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” - John 6:60-65 (ESV)

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

• Suggested Question:  If no one can come to God unless God the Father grants him to, what does that mean for evanglism and your prayers for others to know God?

PRAY:

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

• Suggested Prayer: Thank God that he draws men to salvation. Ask him for to reveal himself to specific people in your life that do not know and love God.

SING:

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

Day 5: John 6:66-71 (ESV)

Weekly Catechism: (NewCityCatechsim.org)

• Q12: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
• A: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us. (bolded text are for younger children)

READ:

[66] After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. [67] So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” [68] Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, [69] and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” [70] Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” [71] He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him. - John 6:66-71 (ESV)

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

• Suggested Question: Why do you think man of his disciples turned away from him?

PRAY:

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

• Suggested Prayer: Ask God to help you with the things that seem very difficult or had to understand. Ask him to make your faith strong!

SING:

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

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