EPIPHANY
FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP
December 29 – February 29
HOW TO USE THE DEVOTIONAL
INTRODUCTION & HISTORY
PODCAST
PLAYLIST
| Week 5 December 29 – January 4 |
Week 10 February 2 -February 8 |
| Week 6 January 6 – January 11 |
Week 11 February 9 -February 15 |
| Week 7 January 12 – January 18 |
Week 12 February 16 -February 22 |
| Week 8 January 19 – January 25 |
Week 13 February 23 -February 29 |
| Week 9 January 26 – February 1 |
WEEKS 05-13
December 29 – February 29
MEMORY VERSE
John 8:12–“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the lightof life.’”
DECOR
We have celebrated the coming of the Light into the world, and now we remember how Jesus, who is fully God, lived among us. As you put away the Advent and Christmas decorations and return to “normal” life, think of how you can remind yourself and your family of Jesus’ life on earth.
One option is to make a poster with “Jesus” written in block letters and hang it in your home. As you hear a story or a phrase that reminds you that Jesus is God, write it on the poster.
You can decorate your home with the phrase “May Christ Bless This House.” You can create a wreath or buy a wooden sign, and hang it on your front door, or write the phrase in chalk on your door frame. Also, encourage members of your family to draw and color the phrase on sheets of paper and hang them on your refrigerator. As you remember Jesus’ life, use these decorations as a reminder that Jesus is not only welcome in your home but is also invited to use your home to share His love with others.
SONGS
Listen to our seasonal playlist for songs you can sing with your family.
FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP RHYTHM
PRAYER
Lord God of Heaven and Earth, You revealed Your one and only Son to the Earth by the light of a star. Bless our home and all who enter here. May our home be a shelter of peace and health. Make our home a place of warmth and caring for all who visit us this year. Fill us with the light of Christ, that we may see You in our work and play. May the light of Christ shine through each member of our family this year. Amen.
PRACTICE – REFLECTION
More or Less. The beginning of the year is a good time to think back and evaluate the past year’s habits. Take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle. Write “more” on one side and “less” on the other. Think together about the things that distract you from Jesus and write them in the less column. Then think about those things you need to do to help you love Jesus more and write them in the “more” column.
Listen in Silence. Sometimes, God speaks in silence. How often do you actually experience silence? Find a time your family can be still and quiet for ten minutes. Help each person find a place to be alone. Take time to sit and listen to what God wants to tell you. Begin with the question, “God, what do You want to tell me today?” After the ten minutes, come back together and share about your time listening to God.
Remember the Stories. One of the things that builds community and identity within a family is the stories that we tell. As you tell and retell family stories, your kids experience a deeper level of identification with your family. At dinner one night, begin telling family stories from last year. What were some of the funny things that happened to your family? What were some of the difficult things that happened? What did you see God do in your family last year?
MOMENTS & MEMORIES
New Year’s Eve. Celebrate the beginning of the new year with other families. Have a New Year’s Eve party at your house. Don’t feel like you have to stay up until midnight. Start a tradition of picking another place in the world in a different time zone and counting down the New Year with them.
Mini-Road Trip. Getting away from our normal locations and routines can foster increased connection. When you travel outside of your usual space, you can develop new memories together. Pick a place one and a half hours away from your house. Drive there and eat at a restaurant or visit a fun park. On the drive there, play fun car games together. Take turns coming up with “Would You Rather?” scenarios, play the Alphabet Game, or download and print Car Bingo sheets for everyone in your family.
What I Love About You. God’s Word tells us that “gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). To become a family who encourages one another, you must begin to practice encouragement. At dinner have everyone take turns finishing the sentence, “One of the things I love about you is…” Make sure each person says one thing about every member of the family.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Long Story Short: 10-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski
Old Story New: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski
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