Family Devotional
Stuff You Missed in Sunday School
Your parents might have missed these Bible stories when they were your age, but you don’t have to!
Samson & Self-Control
Imagine you are playing your favorite video game, and you are super close to winning. Suddenly, your mom calls you to come eat dinner, or your brother accidentally unplugged the controller! You feel a big wave of anger bubbling up inside, and you just want to yell or throw the controller across the room. Controlling that sudden surge of emotions when things don’t go your way is super tough for all of us.
That is where a special superhero-like quality comes in called self-control. In the Bible, there was a guy named Samson who had actual super strength given to him by God. He was stronger than anyone on Earth! But even though Samson had huge muscles, he had a super big problem with self-control. He made foolish choices, broke his promises to God, and let his emotions boss him around. Samson learned the hard way that no matter how strong or smart you are, if you don’t have self-control, you are headed for trouble.
1 Timothy 4:8 Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and the life to come.
Self-control isn’t something you are just born with; it takes training, just like practicing for a sport or learning a new game. Training for godliness means practicing how to pause and make the right choice, even when you really want to throw a tantrum or do what feels easy. When you are tempted to say something mean to a friend, grab a toy without asking, or disobey your parents, you can ask the Holy Spirit to help you press the pause button on your feelings.
Next time you feel like blowing up or making a bad choice, try using the “Stop, Pray, Choose” trick. Stop for five seconds, ask Jesus to give you power to stay calm, and then choose the response that honors Him. Self-control is like a muscle that gets stronger every single time you exercise it! Let’s work on building our spiritual muscles this week so we can shine Jesus’ love to everyone around us.
Talk About It
- If you could have any super strength in the world, what would it be and what silly thing would you do with it?
- Who was the super-strong hero in our Bible lesson, and what verse reminded us that training for godliness is better than physical training?
- Parents, when you were kids, was it hard for you to show self-control, and what was a time you struggled with it?
- What is a situation at school, on the playground, or with siblings where showing self-control is super hard, and how can Jesus help us make the right choice?
- What is one practical way our family can practice the “Stop, Pray, Choose” rule together this week when we get frustrated?
Elijah & the Real God
Have you ever played a game with super silly rules, or played pretend where a cardboard box was a high-speed spaceship? Pretending can be a ton of fun, but no matter how hard you try, that cardboard box will never actually blast off into outer space. Praying or singing to made-up stuff is kind of like that. Imagine singing a love song to a half-eaten Twinkie! It sounds totally hilarious, right? A Twinkie can’t hear you, it can’t talk back, and it definitely can’t do anything powerful because it isn’t real.
A long time ago, a prophet named Elijah had to remind people about the difference between what is made-up and who is real. Elijah was a special messenger for the God of the Bible—the creator who made the entire universe and has existed forever! The people had forgotten about God and started worshiping fake gods made out of wood and stone. So, Elijah set up a massive showdown on Mount Carmel to show everyone who the one true God really is. The fake gods couldn’t even light a tiny spark on an altar, but when Elijah prayed to God, fire blasted down from heaven and burned up everything, including soaking wet wood! God won the contest in a super big way.
1 Kings 18:39 When all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
So, how do we show love to the one true God today? We don’t have to build an altar on a mountain or call down fire from the sky to win at worshiping God! We can worship Him every single day in simple ways. First, we worship Him with our words by singing songs of thanks and praying to Him. Second, we worship Him through our actions when we obey Him and obey our parents. When we choose to listen to our parents the very first time they ask, we are showing God that He is the most important boss of our hearts.
Here is a cool mental trick to try this week: whenever you catch yourself loving a toy, video game, or tasty snack more than anything else, stop and do a quick “God Check.” Ask yourself, “Can this game save me, or did God make me?” Remind your heart that while toys are fun, God is the real deal who actually loves you and takes care of you. Let’s make sure we give Him our best singing and our best obeying every day to show the world how awesome Jesus is!
Talk About It
- If you could invent the silliest superhero made out of a snack food, what would their name and superpower be?
- Who was the special messenger in our story, and what miracle did God do on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:39?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was a favorite toy or game that you loved so much you almost treated it like the most important thing in your life?
- Sometimes it’s hard to obey our parents or put away our favorite video games when we’re asked; how can asking Jesus for help make obeying easier?
- What is one specific way our family can practice worshiping the one true God together this week through singing or obeying?
Jehoshaphat & Prayer
Have you ever been surrounded by a super big problem that felt way too giant for you to handle on your own? Maybe you had a monster math test, a disagreement with your best friend on the playground, or you felt super scared during a terrible thunderstorm. When big trouble pops up out of nowhere, it can make our hearts race, our stomachs twist into knots, and leave us feeling totally helpless!
That is exactly how a King named Jehoshaphat felt in the Bible. He got some terrible news that three huge enemy armies were all coming to fight him at the very same time! Talk about a super big problem! King Jehoshaphat was really scared, but instead of throwing a massive temper tantrum or hiding under his bed, he knew he needed a life hack to win at this huge challenge. He gathered all the people together to do the most powerful thing possible: ask God for help.
2 Chronicles 20:9 We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.
King Jehoshaphat knew that God was his only real hope, and the awesome news is that God hears us whenever we talk to Him! When King Jehoshaphat prayed, God actually fought the battle for them, and they didn’t even have to fight at all. Next time you face a scary situation, try using this simple three-step prayer trick: first, praise God for how awesome He is; second, pray for other people; and third, ask God to help you with what you need.
So, whenever you feel scared or stuck in a tough spot this week, stop and talk to Jesus first. You don’t have to carry giant problems all by yourself because God is always ready to listen and help you through anything! Whenever life gets overwhelming, remember to pray first and trust that Jesus is right there with you, showing His super big love to you every single day.
Talk About It
- If three giant armies were coming to attack your house, what funny cartoon superhero would you want on your team to protect you?
- What main Bible truth did King Jehoshaphat learn when he was in big trouble, and what book and chapter is our verse found in?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was a time you felt completely overwhelmed or scared, and how did you handle it?
- When someone makes fun of you at recess or a sibling takes your favorite toy, why is it hard to pray first instead of getting mad, and how can Jesus help you in that moment?
- What is one specific situation your family is facing right now that you can pause and practice praying about together using the praise-others-you prayer steps?
Naaman & the Girl with No Name
Have you ever been assigned a job at school or home that felt tiny, unimportant, or maybe even a little unfair? Maybe your teacher picked you to wipe down the cafeteria tables, or your parents asked you to clean up toys that aren’t even yours. When you get a small task, it’s easy to feel like what you do doesn’t really matter, or that no one even notices your hard work.
In the Bible, a young Israelite girl was taken far away from home to serve as a servant to a powerful army commander named Naaman. Even though she didn’t have a high position, and the Bible doesn’t even tell us her name, she knew about the power of God. Instead of staying quiet, she used her voice to tell Naaman that God’s prophet could heal his sickness. Her willingness to speak up led to a giant miracle! God loves to use small moments and young people to show His big love to the world.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
Doing your best doesn’t just apply to huge achievements like winning a sports trophy or getting an A on a big test. It starts in the everyday stuff—like doing your chores without complaining, helping a classmate who is feeling lonely, or speaking up with kindness when someone needs help. When you choose to do every little task with a happy heart, you are actually serving Jesus!
Here is a fun life hack to try this week: whenever you get a task you don’t feel like doing, pause for three seconds and ask yourself, “How can I do this to make Jesus smile?” Choosing to work hard with a good attitude turns ordinary chores into extraordinary ways to show God’s love to everyone around you.
Talk About It
- If you could invent a brand-new chore that a robot does for you, what would it be and why?
- What verse did we read today, and how did the servant girl in the story help Naaman?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was a chore or small job you really disliked doing, and how did you handle it?
- Why is it sometimes hard to have a good attitude when we get an unimportant task, and how can Jesus help us change our mindset?
- What is one small job your family can do together this week to show Jesus’ love to a neighbor or friend?
Josiah the Boy King
Imagine being in charge of your whole entire house for a day. You get to decide what’s for dinner, when bedtime is, and who gets to pick the movie! Sounds super cool, right? But what if you were placed in charge of a whole entire nation? That might start to feel a little scary! You would have to make big decisions, and you might worry about making a huge mistake or not knowing the right thing to do.
That is exactly what happened to a kid named Josiah in the Bible! He was only eight years old—just like many of you—when he became the king. Even though he was super young and surrounded by adults who had stopped following God, Josiah chose to do what was right. When God’s laws were found in the temple, Josiah didn’t just listen to the words—he obeyed them right away! Josiah shows us that you are never too young to listen to God and be a giant hero for Him.
2 Kings 22:2 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.
So, how can you be a leader like Josiah at school, on the playground, or with your family? It starts by making God’s Word your guide every single day! Reading the Bible gives you the exact blueprint for how to treat others, make wise choices, and love God with all your heart. When you choose to obey what God says—even when your friends or classmates are doing the wrong thing—you are being a brave leader just like King Josiah.
This week, try using a simple life hack: before you react or make a choice, pause and ask yourself, “Is this what God wants me to do?” When you choose honesty, kindness, and obedience, you win at being a great example to everyone around you. Remember, God doesn’t wait for you to grow up to use you; He wants to use your big heart to share Jesus’ love right now!
Talk About It
- If you were made king or queen of the whole world for one day, what is the very first silly rule you would create?
- How old was Josiah when he became king, and where can we find his story in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, was there a time you felt too young to make a difference or do something important? How did you handle it?
- Why can it be tough to do the right thing when your friends or classmates are choosing to do the wrong thing? How can Jesus help you be brave like Josiah?
- What is one way our family can read and obey God’s Word together this week so we can follow Jesus’ example?
Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego
Have you ever been in a situation where everyone around you was doing something, but you knew deep down it wasn’t right? Maybe your classmates were teasing a new kid at recess, or your friends decided to break a rule during a game. It can feel super scary to stand out and do the right thing when everyone else is going with the crowd. Your heart starts beating fast, and you might worry that people will laugh at you or leave you out.
Three young men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced that exact same feeling, but in a super big way! King Nebuchadnezzar built a giant golden statue and ordered everyone to bow down and worship it whenever the music played. Everyone in the whole nation dropped to their knees, but these three friends stood tall because they only worshiped the one true God. Even when the angry king threatened to throw them into a blazing fiery furnace, they trusted God and refused to back down.
Daniel 3:17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
Standing up for what is right isn’t always easy, but God promises to stand with us when we take a stand for Him. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fire, God didn’t just watch from far away—He was right there in the flames with them, protecting every single hair on their heads! In real life, doing the right thing might mean saying “no” to a mean joke, standing up for someone being bullied, or choosing to be honest when it would be easier to lie.
Whenever you feel pressured to go along with the crowd, try using this simple mental life hack: ask yourself, “Am I trying to please God or my friends?” Standing tall for Jesus gives you a real-life win that lasts way longer than fitting in for a single afternoon. When you choose courage over popularity, you shine a bright light that helps others see Jesus’ love and truth in action!
Talk About It
- If you could invent a brand-new super silly rule that everyone in your house had to follow for one hour, what would it be?
- What were the names of the three brave friends who refused to bow down to the king’s statue, and what Bible chapter tells their story?
- Parents, when you were kids, was there ever a time you felt nervous to stand up for what was right when your friends were doing something wrong?
- What can you do when kids at school or in your neighborhood pressure you to do something you know goes against what Jesus teaches?
- What is one practical way our family can practice being brave and standing up for the truth together this week?
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