Family Matters: Showing Up and Holding Each Other Up

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Prayer in the Midst of Battle

Prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful act that invites God’s presence and intervention, especially when we are facing unexpected challenges and battles in life. When Moses stood on the hill with the staff of God raised, the Israelites prevailed; when his hands fell, they faltered. This vivid image reminds us that prayer is not passive—our prayers truly matter and can change the course of events, both for ourselves and for others. Many of us are here today because someone prayed for us, and we are called to continue this legacy, lifting up our needs and the needs of others to God, trusting that He hears and responds. [36:01]

Exodus 17:8-11 (ESV)
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Reflection: Who is someone you can intentionally pray for today, asking God to intervene in their battle as you “hold up your hands” on their behalf?

Day 2: We Are Not Meant to Do Life Alone

God designed us for community, not isolation; even the strongest leaders need others to help hold them up when they are weary. When Moses grew tired, Aaron and Hur came alongside him, physically supporting his arms so that the Israelites could continue to win the battle. This act of support is a powerful picture of what it means to be part of the family of God: we show up for each other, especially in seasons of exhaustion, grief, or struggle. We are called to both receive help and to offer it, recognizing that none of us were created to carry our burdens alone. [41:26]

Exodus 17:12-13 (ESV)
But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

Reflection: Who is holding you up in your current season, and whose hands can you help hold up this week in a tangible way?

Day 3: Remembering God’s Faithfulness Fuels Our Future

It is easy to forget God’s past faithfulness when we are focused on the next challenge, but God calls us to remember and celebrate what He has done so our faith is strengthened for what lies ahead. After the victory over the Amalekites, God instructed Moses to write down the story and build an altar, not to celebrate human achievement, but to declare, “The Lord is my banner.” Looking back with gratitude helps us see God’s hand in our journey and gives us courage to trust Him with what’s next. [46:05]

Exodus 17:14-15 (ESV)
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner.

Reflection: What is one specific way you can pause today to remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness in your life over the past year?

Day 4: Healthy Families Show Up and Hold Each Other Up

The family of God is called to be present for one another, not just for our own benefit, but to encourage, support, and carry each other’s burdens as Christ commands. The New Testament echoes the story of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, urging us not to give up meeting together and to make it a priority to show up for our church family. When we gather, we are filled up and reminded that we are not alone, but even more, we are given opportunities to look beyond ourselves and actively encourage and support others, fulfilling the law of Christ. [56:26]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Reflection: How can you intentionally show up for someone in your church family this week, making it about them and not just about yourself?

Day 5: Surrender Leads to Rest and Victory

True rest and victory come not from striving harder, but from surrendering our burdens to Jesus, admitting our need, and allowing Him—and His people—to hold us up. Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him and find rest, reminding us that the posture of surrender (hands up) is also the posture of victory. When we let go of self-sufficiency and allow ourselves to be supported by Christ and His family, we experience the strength and peace that only He can provide. [52:43]

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Reflection: What is one burden you need to surrender to Jesus today, and what would it look like to let others in the family of God help you carry it?

Sermon Summary

As we gather in this season of gratitude, it’s important to pause and remember the generosity and faithfulness of God in our lives and in our church community. We’ve seen incredible acts of generosity through our Be Rich campaign, with over $85,000 given away to support local and global partners, and thousands of Thanksgiving baskets distributed to families in need. These acts are not just numbers—they are tangible expressions of God’s love, made possible because we choose to be a family that shows up for one another and for our city.

But as we celebrate, I also recognize a common thread running through many of our lives: we’re tired. Whether it’s the busyness of work, the demands of family, or the weight of spiritual and emotional battles, fatigue is real. Even in the midst of fond memories and seasons of blessing, exhaustion can linger. This is not unique to us; it’s woven into the human experience, and even the heroes of our faith, like Moses, faced it.

In Exodus 17, we see Moses, weary in the midst of battle, unable to keep his hands raised in prayer without help. It’s a vivid picture of how God designed us—not to go it alone, but to rely on the family He’s given us. Aaron and Hur come alongside Moses, literally holding up his arms so that the people of God can prevail. This is what healthy families do: they show up and hold each other up. We are called to be a people who not only pray, but whose prayers move us to action—supporting, encouraging, and carrying one another’s burdens.

This posture of surrender—hands raised, admitting our need—is not a sign of defeat, but of victory. It’s the same posture a child takes when asking to be picked up, or a fan takes when celebrating a win. In our weakness, God’s strength is made perfect, and through the family of God, we experience His love in tangible ways.

So as we move into the holidays, let’s remember: healthy families show up, and healthy families hold each other up. Let’s be intentional about gathering, about asking and answering honestly, “How are you?” Let’s be the kind of church where no one has to fight their battles alone, where we celebrate God’s faithfulness together, and where we carry each other’s burdens in love.

Key Takeaways

1. Healthy families show up for each other Showing up is more than attendance; it’s a commitment to presence and participation in each other’s lives. When we gather—on Sundays, in small groups, or in moments of need—we create space for God to work through us and for us. Our presence is a ministry, and it fills us and others with encouragement and hope. [54:48]
2. We are called to hold each other up Just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses, we are called to support one another in seasons of weariness and battle. This means moving beyond surface-level interactions to genuine care, prayer, and practical help. When we hold each other up, we embody the love of Christ and fulfill His law to love one another deeply. [39:53]
3. Prayer must lead to action Prayer is powerful, but it is incomplete if it doesn’t move us to act. God invites us to pray boldly and then step out in faith, trusting Him to work as we do our part. Our prayers and actions together create space for God’s glory to be revealed in our community and in our world. [43:38]
4. Surrender is the posture of victory Admitting our need and raising our hands in surrender is not weakness—it’s the very place where God’s strength meets us. Like a child reaching for a parent, or a fan celebrating a win, surrender is both dependence and triumph. In our vulnerability, God’s power is displayed, and we find true rest and victory. [52:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Gratitude and Thanksgiving Prayer
[03:45] - Newcomers and Community Connection
[06:10] - Be Rich Generosity Celebration
[13:08] - Impact of Giving Locally and Globally
[16:20] - The Power of Collective Generosity
[18:30] - Offering and Worship as Response
[22:49] - The Weariness We All Feel
[25:01] - Reminiscing and Realities of Exhaustion
[27:20] - Tiredness in Life and Faith
[30:01] - What Makes a Healthy Family?
[31:49] - Exodus 17: Israel’s Unexpected Battle
[36:01] - The Power of Prayer in Battle
[39:53] - Holding Each Other Up
[43:38] - Prayer That Leads to Action
[46:05] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
[48:36] - The Lord Is My Banner
[51:14] - Surrender and Rest in Jesus
[52:43] - Surrender as Victory
[54:48] - Healthy Families Show Up
[56:26] - Healthy Families Hold Each Other Up
[60:36] - The World Longs for Real Community
[62:48] - Practicing Support and Prayer
[64:44] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
[67:27] - Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

---

### Bible Reading

**Exodus 17:8-13 (ESV)**
8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.
9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”
10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

**Galatians 6:2 (ESV)**
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

**Matthew 11:28 (ESV)**
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

---

### Observation Questions

In the story from Exodus 17, what specific actions did Aaron and Hur take to help Moses when he became tired during the battle?
According to Galatians 6:2, what does Paul say is the result of bearing one another’s burdens?
In the sermon, what were some of the ways the church community showed generosity and support for others during the Be Rich campaign? [[13:08]]
What does Jesus promise to those who are weary and burdened in Matthew 11:28?

---

### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose to involve Aaron and Hur in supporting Moses, instead of just giving Moses supernatural strength to keep his hands raised? What does this say about how God wants us to function as a community? [[39:53]]
The sermon mentioned that “healthy families show up and hold each other up.” What does it look like for a church or small group to move beyond just “showing up” to actually “holding each other up”? [[54:48]]
How does the act of surrender—raising our hands and admitting our need—become a posture of victory rather than defeat, as described in the sermon? [[52:43]]
The sermon talked about prayer leading to action. Why is it important that our prayers move us to do something, and not just stay as words? [[43:38]]

---

### Application Questions

The sermon highlighted that many people in our community are tired or weary, sometimes without even knowing why. When someone asks you “How are you?” do you answer honestly, or do you tend to hide your struggles? What would it look like to be more open about your needs with others in this group? [[22:49]]
Think about a time when you felt like Moses—tired and unable to keep going on your own. Who were your “Aaron and Hur” in that season? If you didn’t have anyone, what kept you from reaching out for help? [[38:06]]
The sermon challenged us to not just pray for others, but to let our prayers lead to action. Is there someone in your life right now who needs you to “hold up their arms”? What is one practical thing you can do for them this week? [[43:38]]
The idea of “showing up” was described as more than just being present—it’s about being engaged and available. What keeps you from showing up for others, whether in church, small group, or your family? How can you take a step toward deeper presence and participation? [[54:48]]
The sermon said that surrender is the posture of victory, like a child reaching up to be picked up. Is there an area of your life where you need to surrender and ask for help—from God or from others? What’s holding you back? [[52:43]]
The church’s generosity through the Be Rich campaign was a tangible way of carrying others’ burdens. What is one way you can practice generosity—of time, resources, or encouragement—this holiday season? [[13:08]]
The sermon encouraged us to be the kind of church where no one fights their battles alone. What is one thing our small group could do differently to make sure everyone feels supported and cared for, especially during busy or difficult seasons? [[56:26]]

Sermon Clips

``When the family of God shows up and holds each other up, extraordinary things happen. We're putting on display the very power and compassion of God, one for the other. And we're doing what Jesus has done for us, showing up and holding us up in our brokenness. We're there in a very real way, being the family of God, being the church. And this is what we're called to do as followers of Jesus. It's not just an Old Testament thing, although this is an extraordinary story. But Paul gets at this idea of we've got to show up for each other. We've got to be there for each other. [00:49:25] (38 seconds)

Paul says, hey, you've got to carry each other's burdens because in this way, you're actually fulfilling the law of Christ. It's not just a service project here and there. If you carry each other's burdens, if you show up for each other, if you get in the mix, in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. And you might be like, okay, but what about when I'm tired? What about when I'm going through something? And well, Matthew's got an account of Jesus saying what we should do in that situation. These are Jesus' words. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [00:50:29] (38 seconds)

If you're tired today and you're wondering who's going to show up for you, Jesus says, I want you to come to me. I want you to admit it to me. I want you to cast it upon me. I want you to surrender to me when you're weary and burdened, when you're tired, and I'll give you rest. Supernaturally through his spirit, yes, but also through the family of God. Our brothers and sisters in Christ, if we allow them, if we get it out there, if we let them know, they're there to help support us, to hold us up, to give us rest. They show up and they hold up. [00:51:08] (36 seconds)

The posture of surrender is the response of victory. What do I mean by that? Think about this. Little kids, right? Well, first of all, what's the posture of surrender? Hands up, right? White flag, hands up, posture of surrender. Little kids, you have to teach them a lot of things. When my kids were little, before they were verbal, we taught them a little bit of sign language, just a little, kind of the two most important, more. I don't know if you've ever done that, more, more. It helped when they wanted more. And all done, all done. That was it. We taught them those two things. [00:52:44] (33 seconds)

When we're weak and we're like, I can't do that. That is when God is the strongest. The posture of surrender is actually the same posture of victory. That's how you win. That's when we win. That's when God is glorified. In our weakness, we are made strong with him. That is what Christ does. And that is what the family of God does for each other with him in and through us. So two practical things we can do today to hold on to, to apply, not just this morning, but I pray every day for the rest of our days, individually and as a church, as we wrap up this series, the first one to remember and hold on to is healthy families show up. [00:54:10] (45 seconds)

Healthy families show up. They show up for each other. Just like Aaron and her were there and Joshua did his part. And every, everyone who went out for that battle on behalf of Israel, they showed up the family of God. We need to show up for each other Sunday mornings and beyond. But especially on Sundays, we're in a culture where we're just like, you know what? I'm tired. Yeah. Yeah. We just covered that. We're all tired. I'm busy. I got stuff to do. You and everybody else in this room and online, but the family of God, we make it a priority. [00:54:52] (38 seconds)

When you show up, you get filled up. Don't you? I do. Sometimes I'm weary. We're going to go do it. I feel that way about small groups. Sometimes my small groups on Monday, there's never a good Monday. That's my opinion. But I go and then I'm like, I'm so glad I'm here. Then I get filled up and I'm so grateful I'm there. And when we worship together, we get filled up with God and we get to experience the family and we get to experience community and we're reminded we're not alone. And the truth starts to penetrate our hearts and minds and fill us with life through the power of the spirit. [00:55:54] (32 seconds)

Healthy families show up to hold each other up. The writer in Hebrews, let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let's gather so we can encourage one another. Healthy families hold each other up. See, sometimes when we show up, it's still all about us. We haven't gotten this second part. And you know, if someone were to say, well, how was church today? How was the music? It was okay. You know, they didn't play my favorite song, you know, and maybe it wasn't my favorite worship leader. You know, I get it. I get it. [00:56:53] (30 seconds)

When we show up and we realize, yeah, yeah, yeah. I want to be filled up. I want to encounter God. I want him to meet me in this place. But at the same time, I'm showing up for others and I'm going to start looking around the room for natural conversations where I can genuinely and authentically ask someone, how are you doing? What's going on in their life? And based on your response, it dictates your response. Their response dictates your response. Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can help with? Can I pray for you right now? Is there anything our church can do? [00:57:57] (32 seconds)

We all need someone to show up. So go to church. Call your friend who goes to church. Call those followers of Jesus that you know. Because they're going to be there. And they're there for each other as well. They are going to show. It should be most true of us when it comes to what are we known for? What do we want to be known for? The people of God show up and we hold each other up. Amen? May it be true of us this morning. [01:01:09] (39 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the significance of holding up Moses' hands?

How does prayer lead to action in spiritual battles?

Why should we remember God's faithfulness regularly?