Building Spiritual Foundations Through Family Devotions
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the importance of family devotional practices, drawing inspiration from Luke 2:41-52, where Jesus, even as a child, demonstrated a deep engagement with scripture and spiritual learning. This passage highlights that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, emphasizing the role of family and community in spiritual development. We explored how Mary and Joseph likely played a significant role in Jesus' early spiritual education through regular prayer and scripture study at home.
We also reflected on the writings of Menno Simons, particularly his tract "The Nurture of Children," which underscores the importance of instilling spiritual values in our children. Simons challenges us to prioritize heavenly and eternal values over earthly and perishable ones, urging us to diligently share our faith with our children and others around us.
The discussion then shifted to practical ways we can implement family devotions in our modern context. We acknowledged that family structures and living arrangements vary, but the essence of engaging with scripture and prayer remains crucial. We shared various resources and practices, such as weekly emailed devotionals, family prayer circles, and creating legacy boxes to pass on values to future generations.
We also heard personal testimonies from members of our congregation about their experiences with family devotions, both growing up and in their current households. These stories highlighted the diversity of devotional practices and the importance of persistence and adaptability in maintaining spiritual rhythms within the family.
### Key Takeaways
1. Jesus' Growth in Wisdom and Stature: Jesus' early years were marked by a deep engagement with scripture and spiritual learning, facilitated by his family. This underscores the importance of family involvement in spiritual education, as even Jesus, who was divine, needed to grow in wisdom and understanding. This growth was nurtured through regular family practices of prayer and scripture study. [35:03]
2. Prioritizing Eternal Values: Menno Simons' writings remind us to prioritize heavenly and eternal values over earthly and perishable ones. As parents and guardians, we are called to diligently share our faith with our children, ensuring that they grow up with a strong spiritual foundation. This involves intentional teaching and modeling of godly values. [40:08]
3. Adapting Devotional Practices: Family devotional practices need to be adaptable to different family structures and life stages. What works for one family may not work for another, and it's important to find practices that resonate with your family's unique dynamics. This could include scripture reading, prayer, singing, or other creative activities that engage all family members. [42:39]
4. The Role of Persistence: Maintaining family devotions requires persistence and flexibility. It's normal to go through seasons where certain practices may not work, but the key is to keep trying and adapting. The goal is to create a consistent rhythm of spiritual engagement that can evolve with your family's needs and circumstances. [53:26]
5. Incorporating Practical Faith: Spiritual practices extend beyond traditional devotions. Activities like serving others, practicing Sabbath, and engaging in community worship can also be powerful ways to live out and instill faith in our children. These practices help to integrate faith into everyday life, making it a tangible and lived experience. [01:14:35]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:03] - Jesus' Early Years and Spiritual Growth
[36:33] - Family Devotional Practices
[37:44] - Menno Simons on Nurturing Children
[38:56] - Sharing Faith with Others
[40:08] - Prioritizing Eternal Values
[41:22] - Historical and Modern Challenges
[42:39] - Adapting Devotional Practices
[43:43] - Family Devotional Resources
[44:45] - Panel Discussion Introduction
[46:12] - Personal Testimonies on Family Devotions
[52:35] - Persistence in Family Devotions
[53:26] - Engaging Children in Devotions
[54:54] - Meaningful and Uncomfortable Practices
[01:00:53] - Overcoming Shame in Devotional Practices
[01:02:02] - Implementing Devotions in Your Home
[01:08:46] - Creative Devotional Ideas
[01:14:35] - Practical Faith Activities
[01:15:54] - Congregational Sharing
[01:20:18] - Encouragement to Continue the Conversation
[01:35:32] - Announcements and Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 2:41-52
#### Observation Questions
1. What annual event did Jesus' family attend, and what happened during one of these visits when Jesus was 12 years old? ([35:03])
2. How did Jesus' parents react when they found Him in the temple, and what was Jesus' response to them? ([35:03])
3. According to the sermon, what role did Mary and Joseph play in Jesus' early spiritual education? ([36:33])
4. What does Menno Simons emphasize about the values parents should instill in their children? ([40:08])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus, even as a child, was deeply engaged with scripture and spiritual learning? How does this relate to the role of family in spiritual development? ([35:03])
2. Menno Simons challenges us to prioritize heavenly and eternal values over earthly ones. How might this perspective influence the way we raise our children today? ([40:08])
3. The sermon mentioned the importance of adapting devotional practices to different family structures and life stages. Why is adaptability crucial in maintaining family devotions? ([42:39])
4. Persistence was highlighted as a key factor in maintaining family devotions. How can families stay persistent and flexible in their spiritual practices despite challenges? ([53:26])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own family's spiritual practices. How have they shaped your faith journey? Are there any practices you would like to reintroduce or adapt? ([46:12])
2. Menno Simons encourages us to prioritize eternal values. What are some practical ways you can instill these values in your children or those you mentor? ([40:08])
3. Think about a time when your family struggled to maintain a devotional practice. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them? If you didn't, what could you try differently now? ([53:26])
4. The sermon mentioned various resources and practices for family devotions, such as weekly emailed devotionals and family prayer circles. Which of these resources could you see your family using, and how would you implement them? ([42:39])
5. Personal testimonies in the sermon highlighted the diversity of devotional practices. Share a personal story about a devotional practice that was meaningful to you. How can you incorporate similar practices in your current family setting? ([46:12])
6. The sermon discussed the role of practical faith activities, like serving others and practicing Sabbath. Identify one practical faith activity you can do with your family this week. How will you ensure it becomes a regular part of your family's spiritual rhythm? ([01:14:35])
7. Reflect on the idea of creating a legacy box to pass on values to future generations. What values would you include in your legacy box, and how can you start this tradition in your family? ([42:39])
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus' Growth in Wisdom and Stature
Description: Jesus' early years were marked by a deep engagement with scripture and spiritual learning, facilitated by his family. This underscores the importance of family involvement in spiritual education, as even Jesus, who was divine, needed to grow in wisdom and understanding. This growth was nurtured through regular family practices of prayer and scripture study. [35:03]
Luke 2:46-47 (ESV): "After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers."
Reflection: How can you create a consistent practice of engaging with scripture and prayer in your family, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day?
Day 2: Prioritizing Eternal Values
Description: Menno Simons' writings remind us to prioritize heavenly and eternal values over earthly and perishable ones. As parents and guardians, we are called to diligently share our faith with our children, ensuring that they grow up with a strong spiritual foundation. This involves intentional teaching and modeling of godly values. [40:08]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can model and teach eternal values to your children or those around you today?
Day 3: Adapting Devotional Practices
Description: Family devotional practices need to be adaptable to different family structures and life stages. What works for one family may not work for another, and it's important to find practices that resonate with your family's unique dynamics. This could include scripture reading, prayer, singing, or other creative activities that engage all family members. [42:39]
1 Corinthians 9:22 (ESV): "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."
Reflection: Think about your current family structure and dynamics. What is one new devotional practice you can try this week that might better engage everyone in your household?
Day 4: The Role of Persistence
Description: Maintaining family devotions requires persistence and flexibility. It's normal to go through seasons where certain practices may not work, but the key is to keep trying and adapting. The goal is to create a consistent rhythm of spiritual engagement that can evolve with your family's needs and circumstances. [53:26]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you faced challenges in maintaining a spiritual practice. How can you apply persistence and flexibility to your current devotional life?
Day 5: Incorporating Practical Faith
Description: Spiritual practices extend beyond traditional devotions. Activities like serving others, practicing Sabbath, and engaging in community worship can also be powerful ways to live out and instill faith in our children. These practices help to integrate faith into everyday life, making it a tangible and lived experience. [01:14:35]
James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: Identify one practical faith activity you can incorporate into your routine this week. How can this activity help you and your family live out your faith more tangibly?
Quotes
1. "You know, sometimes I think we have this idea of Jesus as if Jesus just kind of knew everything because he's both human and he's divine. He's God and he was a man. But what we find in this passage is that Jesus himself actually had to grow. He grew in wisdom as well as physically. And we see here him asking questions, him learning, but also at the age of 12, the religious leaders in Jerusalem already being amazed at his answers, at what he already knew of scripture and of their faith." [35:03] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If we all are born in sin, which is something that we talked about last week, and we have come to a saving understanding of the grace of God in Jesus. If we've come to understand what it means to turn from sin and now be in a relationship with God that starts in this life but goes into eternity, why wouldn't we then be burdened with a heart of compassion for those around us who don't yet have that knowledge and understanding?" [37:44] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we look around at those around us in the world who don't yet know Jesus, we should be like Matthew hosting a party to invite them, share Jesus with them, and help them to understand. But then he goes further to say, even more so, shouldn't we feel this for our children? If we would want others to be saved, shouldn't we want that for our children and actually work diligently to share our love for Jesus, our love for God with them?" [38:56] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The world desire for their children that which is earthly and perishable, such as money, honor, fame, and wealth. I thought, isn't that interesting? That was 450 years ago that he looks out around him and says, so many people in this world, and he was in Christian Europe, what we would consider Christendom, right? Most of these were people who would have claimed to be Christians, but he looks around and he says, most of them are desiring for their children what is earthly and perishable, such as money, honor, fame, and wealth." [40:08] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What I'm struck with when I read Menno Simons is that the same things we wrestle with as families and parents today were the same exact things and pressures they were wrestling with then. And it's not that there's ever been a time that it's easy to pass the faith on. It's that there's people in all times who make a choice to do that, who choose to do that." [41:22] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If you love your children with a godly love, teach, admonish, and instruct them in God, lest the word, blood, and death of the Lord be made unto them of no effect. As I said, there's a lot more that he talks about and kind of describes the situation in his day. But what was fascinating about this is that he's talking about the situation in his day, fascinating to me is I think sometimes we get this idea in our mind that there was a time in history where in some ways it was easier." [40:08] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And so something we've tried to do over the years as a congregation is offer different family devotional resources because the reality is while it's a choice that's made each generation, it also looks different each generation. It's up to each generation to figure out what does this look like today." [41:22] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I think sometimes shame can, it causes us when we feel that guilt and shame can cause us to want to hide. It can be paralyzing. And I think sometimes it can keep us from trying. Keep us from getting back up and reminding ourselves like this isn't up to me. Right. As important as some of the things I read from Menno Simons, I think one thing that he maybe emphasizes a little too much. And I don't think it's what he meant, but it can just feel like it's, it's your responsibility as a parent to save your child." [01:00:53] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "If you want to impact a person for a year, for a short period of time, preach a sermon, write a sermon. If you want to impact a generation, write their songs. Because in a lot of ways, music touches us in a deep place. They're words that run over and over in our mind. And when I look back through history, probably none of us have ever, you know, read a sermon written by St. Ambrose, or by John Wesley, or, you know, but we've sung the music. Like, we've learned from them through music that we still sing to this day." [01:02:02] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "And so I think, you know, thinking through what are the ways we practically live our faith out, uh, and, and doing that with our kids. So thank you guys for joining. Thanks for doing this. Um, and I hope that it was meaningful to others. I think you gave. Some really good input. So thank you." [01:14:35] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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