Family Devotional

The Bible Story

In this 4 week series, we get a crash course on the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

How It All Started

Posted: November 14, 2014

Have you ever dumped out a massive bin of LEGO bricks on the floor and tried to build an entire city from scratch? At first, there is completely nothing on your rug—just a giant pile of potential! You sit there snapping pieces together, carefully building houses, race cars, and spaceships. It takes super big creativity, time, and focus to make something awesome out of nothing!

That is kind of like what God did, except His creation story is way cooler. Before anything existed, there was total darkness and emptiness—no trees, no ocean, no stars, and no people! But God didn’t need a box of building blocks to make the world. He simply spoke words, and BOOM! Light flickered on, oceans filled up, giraffes started walking, and the whole universe came to life! God created everything with a special purpose, and His biggest masterpiece of all was creating humans like you and me.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Knowing that God created the entire universe is a total game changer for how we view our daily life. When you look at the sunset, a giant tree, or even your pet dog, you are looking at God’s amazing artwork! But guess what? You are His favorite creation. God didn’t just speak humans into existence; He formed us with extra love and care so that we could have a relationship with Him and show His love to others.

Here is a fun life hack for this week: whenever you feel lonely, unseen, or unsure of yourself, take a look at your own thumbprint. Nobody else on the planet has the exact same print as you! That means the God who built the roaring oceans and gigantic galaxy designed you on purpose, too. Practice saying a quick thank-you prayer to God every morning this week for making you, and use your voice, hands, and heart to win at showing Jesus’ love to your friends and family!

Talk About It

If you could create any brand-new animal that has never existed before, what crazy features or powers would it have?

What is the main Bible verse for today’s lesson, and where can you find it in the Bible?

Parents, when you were kids, what was something you loved to build or create, and how did it make you feel when it was finished?

When you are having a tough day at school or feeling left out at recess, how does knowing that God created you on purpose help you feel better?

What is one specific way your family can go outside this week to explore God’s awesome creation together?

How People Messed It Up

Posted: November 14, 2014

Have you ever been working on a super cool building block tower or drawing a masterpiece, only for a accidental trip or a quick distraction to completely ruin it? You spent so much time making it perfect, but in just one split second, everything tumbled down. It feels so frustrating and disappointing when something awesome gets broken, doesn’t it?

That is a lot like what happened to God’s world. God created a perfect world for us to enjoy, but people chose to disobey Him and go their own way instead of God’s way. The Bible calls this sin. When sin entered the world, it messed up our friendship with God and broke the perfect design He had for our lives. All throughout the Old Testament, from ordinary leaders to famous kings like David, people kept trying and failing to fix the mess on their own.

Isaiah 53:6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

So what does sin look like in real life? It’s when we choose our own way over God’s way—like telling a “little” lie to stay out of trouble, ignoring our parents when they ask us to clean up, or leaving someone out at recess because we want to win a game. Sin breaks things down and separates us from God, and no matter how hard we try to be super good, we can’t fix our sin problem by ourselves.

Here is an awesome life hack to remember when you mess up: don’t try to hide it or fix it alone! Instead, run straight to Jesus. Jesus is the true King who came to forgive our mistakes and repair our relationship with God. When you feel tempted to go your own way this week, ask Jesus to help you make wise choices that show His love to everyone around you!

Talk About It

What is the absolute messiest room or project you have ever created at home, and how long did it take to clean up?

What is the main Bible verse from today’s lesson, and what animal does it compare us to when we go our own way?

Parents, when you were kids, what was a time you chose your own way instead of listening to your parents, and what happened?

When you mess up at school, at sports, or with a sibling, why is it so hard to admit it right away, and how can Jesus help you choose honesty?

What is one practical action your family can take this week to pause and ask God for help before making a tough decision?

How Jesus Fixed It All

Posted: November 14, 2014

Have you ever been working on a massive project like a puzzle with missing pieces or a brand-new bike with a popped tire? No matter how hard you try to force the pieces together or ride that flat tire, you just cannot fix it on your own. It takes someone with the right tools, skills, and power to step in and make everything right again!

That is exactly what Jesus did for our world. Because of sin, our friendship with God was broken, and no human trick or good behavior could ever fix it. But God loved us way too much to leave us stuck in that mess. He sent His Son, Jesus, down from heaven to restore what was broken and show us how to truly honor God with our lives.

Romans 3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.

So how did Jesus fix it all? First, He lived a perfect life and taught us how to love God and love others. Then, He died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins and rose back to life three days later! Because Jesus conquered sin and death, we don’t have to carry the weight of our past mistakes anymore. All we have to do is put our complete trust in Him.

Here is an awesome life hack for this week: whenever you catch yourself trying to be “good enough” on your own strength, stop and remind yourself that Jesus already did the heavy lifting! When you place your trust in Him, He gives you a clean heart and a brand-new life. Practice saying a thank-you prayer to Jesus today, and use your days to win at sharing His incredible love with your friends, classmates, and family!

Talk About It

If you could have any superhero power to instantly fix broken objects in your house, what power would you pick and what would you repair first?

What is the main Bible verse from today’s lesson, and what does it say we must do to be made right with God?

Parents, when you were kids, what was something you broke by accident, and who helped you fix it?

When you feel overwhelmed by a mistake you made at school or home, how does knowing Jesus already paid for your sin help you stop worrying?

What is one specific way your family can share the good news of what Jesus did with a neighbor or friend this week?

How the Story Lives On

Posted: November 14, 2014

Have you ever finished reading an incredible book or watching a movie that was so good you wished it would never end? You close the book or watch the credits roll, and you’re left wishing you could jump right into the screen and join the adventure yourself! It can feel kind of sad when a great story comes to a close, but what if the most exciting story ever told wasn’t actually finished yet?

That is the amazing truth about God’s story! After Jesus came to earth, died for our sins, and rose from the dead, the story didn’t just stop there. Jesus gave His followers an unbelievable mission to go out and tell the whole world about His love. When we put our trust in Jesus, God makes us an official part of His big adventure! God’s story continues today, and He wants to use kids like you to help write the next chapter.

Matthew 28:19 Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

So how do you actually live out God’s story in your daily life? It starts by sharing Jesus’ love through both your actions and your words! You can show His kindness by inviting the new kid at lunch to sit at your table, helping your parents without complaining, or standing up for a classmate who is being picked on. But it also means using your voice to tell your friends how awesome Jesus is and how much He cares about them.

Here is a super cool life hack for this week: think of yourself as a “light-bearer” for Jesus everywhere you step! Whenever you enter your classroom, get on the soccer field, or play in your neighborhood, ask yourself, “How can I shine Jesus’ light right here?” Practice sharing one encouraging word or telling someone about Jesus this week. When you do that, you are winning at keeping God’s story alive and helping others join His family, too!

Talk About It

If you could write yourself as a hero into any movie or book universe, which story would you join and what would your superpower be?

What is the main Bible verse for today’s lesson, and what special job did Jesus command His followers to do?

Parents, when you were kids, who was someone that shared Jesus with you or showed you His love, and how did it change your life?

When you are at school or on a sports team, why can it feel scary to tell people about Jesus, and how can the Holy Spirit help you be brave?

What is one practical way your family can work together this week to show God’s love to a neighbor or friend who doesn’t know Jesus yet?

Love our curriculum?

When you donate, you help us keep these resources accessible to parents, teachers, and kids' ministries around the globe.

PursueGOD is a 501(c)3 non-profit entity. All gifts are tax-deductible. SSL secured website.

Donate Now