John 1:1–2, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.Key Point: God is more than Creator; He is our Savior.

God is a planner. It may sound strange that God would need to plan for anything, because He knows everything. Yet it was His knowledge of everything that prompted Him to come up with a plan even before He spoke the world into existence. John wrote about this plan in the opening verses of his Gospel.

“In the beginning … the Word was with God.” Before God created the stars in the sky and formed man from the dust of the ground, He had a plan to save humanity from sin because He knew humanity would fail. This plan was Jesus Christ.

This is important for us to understand because these verses also affirm God’s oneness. God didn’t need to have anyone with Him when He created the universe, but He knew we would need a savior because of our imperfection. This wonderful plan was set in motion when the Word, or God Himself, became man in the form of Jesus Christ. This is what John 1:14 means by “the only begotten of the Father.” God’s plan became reality when Jesus came into the world.

All Scripture fits together perfectly. God is one throughout the Old Testament. God was one in Creation. God revealed that He is one to Abraham when He called him out of a country that worshiped many gods to serve the one true and living God (Genesis 12:1). Then Moses came along and affirmed that God is one (Exodus 20:2–5; Deuteronomy 6:4). The writers of the New Testament, including John, understood from the time they were children that there is only one God.

Do you enjoy a trip to the beach? For many, there is nothing like the rush of waves lapping the shoreline or building castles in the sand. Now imagine you are on the beach and you want to make a sandcastle. You wade into the ocean to fill your pail. Does your pail of water drain the ocean dry? Of course not. Yet the essence of all the water in the ocean is identical to the water in your pail.

In some ways, the Lord is like that vessel of ocean water. Paul wrote that all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Christ (Colossians 2:9). In other words, all the authority and power of God resided in Jesus. For this reason, Jesus needed only to touch the lame, the blind, and the diseased, and they received their healing. He needed only to speak simple sentences and devils fled, storms calmed, and the dead came back to life.

God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). Reconciling means restoring a broken relationship, like the one between God and humans when humans first sinned. This was God’s plan all along. Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He came in the form of man and would later become the sacrifice for the sin of all humankind. (See John 1:29; Revelation 13:8.)

When we call upon the name of Jesus, God is able to work the same miracles through us that Jesus performed. When we call upon Jesus, we call upon the Father who created us and the Spirit of Christ that lives in our hearts. This is because God is one. To use His name with authority and power means we have a relationship with Jesus, God’s only Son (John 3:16). This is also why we baptize in the name of Jesus. We are made complete in Jesus (Colossians 2:10).

Matthew 5:1–12
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Key Point: Jesus taught that a blessed life is not defined by material possessions and natural success but rather by surrendering to the spiritual formation of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) is one of the most transformative sermons ever delivered. If everyone had complied to its precepts from that day forward, peace would have reigned on earth from then until now. But we haven’t. And according to one estimate, out of 3,421 years of history, there have been only 268 years without war somewhere in the world. Our failure to follow the teaching of Jesus has long-lasting ramifications.

The people Jesus addressed thought they had a proper concept of God and what He expected, but Jesus knew their concept needed a major overhaul before they could understand His expectations. For instance, six times in His sermon He said, “You have heard … but I say unto you” (5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44). To get a better grasp of the mindsets Jesus was trying to alter, let’s look at the first issue: “You must not murder” (verse 21). People had simply taken the sixth commandment at face value; that is, until Jesus explained the spirit of that commandment involves so much more than not murdering anyone. It entails things like being angry at someone without cause, name-calling, cursing someone, settling differences out of court, and even making right a grievance someone has against you. As Jesus continued teaching, He addressed other misconceptions regarding adultery, divorce, vows, revenge, and people’s attitudes toward their enemies. Clearly, they needed adjustments to the way they understood God, themselves, and the world.

Jesus knew we also needed an adjustment in our understanding of what it means to live a blessed life, so He began His sermon with what we call the Beatitudes (verses 3–12). Beatitude is a word that means blessings, well-being, happiness, bliss, joyfulness, and other similar good things. What are the blessings of life? What makes a person happy, lucky, fortunate, or favored?

If we were to compile a list of what it means to be blessed, we probably would include things like a comfortable home with all the modern amenities, new vehicles loaded with upgrades, plenty of extra income for weekend shopping, eating out, dream vacations, designer clothes—and all the toys and video games we want. In other words, the idea of “the good life” often revolves around material or temporal things.

Besides materialism, our culture has told us that life’s true joy and fulfillment are found in self-reliance, self-confidence, self-determination, and self-esteem. We consider ourselves blessed if we don’t need anyone or anything outside of our own resources and wealth. We are blessed in our self.

Clearly, Jesus taught that true blessings are not sourced in our achievements, our possessions, or our status, but by our relationship to the Holy Spirit and the kingdom of God. The good life is not defined by material things but by the transformative work of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in our lives!

Have a computer or laptop handy so the family can view some examples of M. C. Escher’s artwork while you discuss the following:

The early-twentieth-century Dutch artist M. C. Escher is renowned for his mathematically inspired creations as well as his whimsical (if not crazy) scenes. Hallmarks of Escher’s style include a certain quirkiness—water running uphill alongside a building or a ladder whose base is planted inside the portico it rests upon. Escher intrigues us by stairways that go down and up at the same time, town squares that appear to be roof and foundation at the same time, water that defies gravity, and limitations of walls that are nonexistent.

After a while, it becomes clear that the world Escher depicted on woodcut and lithograph does not represent reality; it is a mirage of light and shadow, promising something that could never be delivered. Why? Because Escher used a two-dimensional medium to express three-dimensional fantasies that could never become reality.
When we see the promises of the good life from Hollywood, the media, and our prevailing culture, we must remember it is no more a reflection of reality than Escher’s endless stairs and hill-climbing waterways. The promises offered are as hollow and two dimensional as Escher’s House of Stairs or Belvedere.

The truth as found in Jesus Christ is the only thing that can deliver on the promises of blessing and peace.

There’s nothing immoral about comfortable living accommodations, generous incomes, or material pleasures. However, we must maintain balance. Real blessing is not found in a comfortable life. It’s not defined by our possessions, social status, or comforts. The good life Jesus described is found in the blessings and promises of the kingdom of God.
The blessed life Jesus offered in Matthew 5 is found in humility, mercy, meekness, purity, suffering, and peace. The condition of our inner man is what truly blesses a life.

First Corinthians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church at Corinth. It appears to be Paul’s response to some concerns raised by some of the believers from a house church in Corinth (I Corinthians 1:11). Throughout the letter Paul clarified several issues, including the understanding and use of spiritual gifts.

The apostle also addressed the damaging effects of pride and envy. He entreated the Christians in Corinth to live their lives according to Christ’s example rather than adhering to the culture of their day. In the wealthy and prosperous seaport of Corinth, the acquisition of things and the competition of business would naturally have influenced the behavior of the church. In fact, members of the church were vying for attention through the use of spiritual gifts, and they were placing a greater value on some gifts over others. Therefore, Paul attempted to show the church a “more excellent way” to live (I Corinthians 12:31).

Paul emphasized that love was the foundation of all they did, and it took precedence over spiritual gifts. He wanted them to understand that without love, all other gifts lose their beauty (13:1) and are meaningless (13:2–3). This teaching is part of a common theme throughout the New Testament; the things of God are not meant to be for show or to bring attention to ourselves. Rather, the gifts of God are given to us to bring others to the truth of who God is and to glorify Him. Therefore, without the foundation of love—or charity (KJV)—these things lose their meaning altogether.

Paul addressed the need for growth and maturity within the Christian walk. Our salvation is based on the love God has for us, which is not envious or vain but is enduring, patient, and kind. However, this is only the first step in our walk with God. Once we have the revelation of that love, it is up to us to use it to grow spiritually. We begin this walk with God as a child with little understanding and ability, but as we mature, we will know and understand more and more until we see Him face to face. Then we will truly understand the importance of love.

Think about something you’re good at. Maybe you’re great at math and can perform complex calculations in your head. Or perhaps you’re a great speaker or performer and can always be counted on to put on the best show. Maybe you’re unbeatable when playing games with your friends. Each person has natural gifts and abilities. We aren’t all great at the same things, but everyone is great at something. God gives us these abilities and talents, and it is important that we recognize them and use them. However, we must use them in the right way. It is important to be a good winner as well as a good loser!

Just like Corinth, our world today focuses on promoting ourselves and getting as much attention as we possibly can. Our access to social media like Instagram and Tik Tok exists to allow us to show others what we are doing, where we are going, and what we have. However, God has called us to promote Him, not ourselves. When we begin to place more importance on our talents and ability than the One who gave them to us, we are no longer following the example of God, who loved us so much that He became flesh and sacrificed Himself for us.

Each of us is called to use our gifts for God. We must be careful not to become so jealous of others’ gifts that we ignore what God has given to us. In everything we do, we must let the love of God be at the core of our actions and words. Without that love, the most amazing talent in the world will lead nowhere.

Galatians 5:22–24 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Key Point: When we submit ourselves to God and walk by the Spirit, we produce characteristics that please God and show others that we belong to Him.

In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul made the point that through the work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit all humanity can be adopted into the family of God as His sons and daughters. In chapter 3, Paul used the illustration of Abraham receiving a promise that his offspring would bless all the nations of the world. Abraham and Sarah were too old to conceive a baby, but it was God’s design for them to do just that. The promise could be fulfilled only by the supernatural power of God! In the same way, we cannot be saved by our own actions. It is only by the Spirit of God that we are adopted into Christ’s bloodline and become His offspring of promise.

When we repent of our sins, are baptized in the name of Jesus, and are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We can emulate our heavenly Father by the fruit we bear, just like a child embodies the attributes of his or her parents. When warning against false prophets, Jesus Himself stated that the healthy trees (true prophets) can be distinguished from the diseased trees (false prophets) by their fruit (Matthew 7:16–20). When we allow God’s Spirit to work in us every day, we become more and more like Him, producing the characteristics that show others we belong to Him. In John 13:35, Jesus told the disciples that their love for one another would identify them as His followers.

We live in a broken and sinful world. We are surrounded by the temptation to live for our own pleasure and to prioritize ourselves. This is the temptation to live according to the flesh. Paul taught that those who do this will not inherit the kingdom of God. When we belong to Christ Jesus, we put away our passions and desires, focusing instead on walking by the Spirit. When we submit ourselves to what God wants from us and what will grow His kingdom rather than our own kingdom, we produce good works.

A favorite springtime activity for many gardeners is planting seeds and watching them grow. Gardeners poke holes in the dirt, sprinkle in seeds, cover them with a little dirt, soak the area with water, and wait for the magic to happen. For a few days or even weeks it can seem like nothing is happening. Then one day the tiniest sign of something green pokes through the dirt. Before too long, there are stems and leaves! Eventually, those stems and leaves support the growth of something bigger, like flowers or fruit.

Some gardeners love to find new flowers, vegetables, and fruits to plant each year. Every plant is different. Some take weeks of care, while others take years of faithful upkeep before producing fruit. But if the gardener keeps caring for the plants faithfully, seeing they get the proper amounts of water and sunlight and protecting them from pests, the whole family can enjoy the delicious fruits of the gardener’s labor!

We can follow a similar process when cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. When we care for our hearts and minds by spending ample time in God’s presence and Word, and when we protect ourselves from harmful influences, we become more Christlike each day. Just like a seed that needs time to extend its root system before the green sprout can peek out of the dirt, our daily faithfulness to God will be a fruitful, lifelong pursuit!

Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV)
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Key Point: The key to victory in spiritual warfare is having on all, not some, of God’s armor.

Suggestion: Using a laptop or phone, display an illustration of a Roman soldier with labels of the various components of spiritual armor God has given to all believers.
Whether or not we are aware of it, we are engaged in a spiritual war. This war has been raging since before the world began and will continue until Jesus comes to establish His kingdom at the end of the age.In Ephesians 6, Paul used the imagery of a soldier to describe this battle. This word picture is a vivid reminder that we are in close combat with spiritual forces. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 10:4 that the weapons we use in this fight are not human weapons; they are God’s mighty weapons. With them we can demolish Satan’s strongholds. Paul described the battle gear God provides every born-again Christian (Ephesians 6:13–18).We need two things to win in this battle: the power of the Lord and the armor of God. Paul said in verse 10, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” If it weren’t for the protective armor God provides, Satan’s arrows would pierce our heart as soon as we entered the battle. God is the source of our protection, our power, and our victory for this spiritual warfare.Second, we need the armor of God to win this battle. There are five pieces of armor designed to protect:

Finally, we need the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God—our only offensive weapon. Knowing how to employ God’s Word in our spiritual battles brings victory. Most important, the key to victory in spiritual warfare is to wear all, and not just some of God’s armor.

God provides this armor so we can fight as He has ordained for us to fight—in prayer (verses 18–19). We are most effective in this battle through prayer. The armor of God fortifies, sustains, and empowers us in the fight as we wrestle with the darkness of our time in prayer and through living and declaring God’s Word.

Are you ready for battle? This is the question that faces every soldier who serves in the military. The primary mission of soldiers is to be ready to destroy the enemy in close combat to protect and advance the interests of the nation they serve. Essential to a soldier’s ability to do this are the precombat checks that every unit undergoes before training and combat missions. These are detailed checks of equipment and supplies to ensure they are ready to fight.

Paul used the first five chapters of Ephesians to list five things God has done to prepare us for battle:

Then, in Ephesians 6, Paul reminded us that “precombat checks” are equally important to our success in the spiritual battles we face.

Are you ready for battle? Are you performing daily spiritual precombat checks of prayer, Bible reading, study, and memorization to ensure that your armor is on and in good fighting condition? Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking its prey. He wants to devour you for his next meal. Don’t face him unprepared. Don’t leave your family vulnerable. Get your armor on. Your family’s success in living for God and reaching people for Jesus depends upon it.

Hebrews 11 is a recap of some of the most memorable stories in the Bible. This chapter is sometimes referred to as the “Hall of Faith” because it lists great men and women of faith. God told Noah to build an ark because there was going to be a flood. Noah had faith and obeyed God, and he and his family were saved.

Abraham had faith and moved where God told him to move. He believed God would give him a promised son, and then he was willing to offer that son because he trusted God’s word and His ways. Abraham knew God had promised him many descendants through Isaac, so Abraham had to trust that God was going to make that happen, no matter what.

Moses needed faith to go before Pharaoh to ask him to free the Israelites from slavery. His faith said, “God promised He would be with me. I believe it, and I will obey.”

These heroes of faith faced adversity. They faced scary situations. Some were thrown into prison (Joseph), perhaps some were mocked (Noah), some escaped with their lives (Daniel), some won great victories (Gideon), some repented and suffered the consequences for their mistakes (David, Jephthah), and some even died. But they all had one thing in common: they had faith in God and believed in a promise they had not yet seen. Even in difficult situations, they believed and obeyed God, and their faith pleased God.

The Hall of Faith is not closed: new people are being inducted every day. You can be a member too! When we choose to have faith in God and not our own strength, we become eligible for membership. When we choose to show faith by obeying the command to repent of our sins, be baptized in Jesus’ name, and allow God to fill us with His Spirit (Acts 2:38), we become candidates for the Hall of Faith.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, New York, and many professional baseball players dream of being inducted. But it is extremely difficult for a player to see that dream fulfilled. Each year, about four hundred members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America cast votes to determine which former players were good enough to become “hall of famers.” Some years, no one receives enough votes to get in. Nearly twenty thousand players have donned a Major League uniform since play began back in 1876. Of that number, only 268 (as of 2022) have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

God welcomes everyone to the Hall of Faith. You don’t need someone to vote you in. You don’t have to be rich, smart, or a good baseball player to be eligible. God has a simple plan of salvation, and it is for “whosoever will” (Revelation 22:17). We show our faith by reading and following His Word. We express our faith when we share Jesus with others. We live our faith as we make good choices and let Jesus shine through our lives.

I John 1:3–7
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Key Point: We can have true fellowship with God and others if we will walk in the light.

In writing his Gospel, John often referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20). The apostle John understood what it meant to be in close relationship with Jesus Christ. As one of the first few disciples Jesus called to follow Him, John, along with his brother James and fellow disciple Peter, were privileged to be a part of Jesus’ inner circle. Peter, James, and John heard things and saw things the other nine did not. From the supernatural experience on the Mount of Transfiguration to the private prayer meeting in Gethsemane, John witnessed the glory and majesty of Jesus up close.

His close fellowship with Jesus was on display during the upper room Passover meal, when Jesus alluded to His soon-to-be betrayer. As Jesus scanned the room and looked intently into the eyes of His twelve followers, He said, “One of you shall betray me” (John 13:21). A gasp of incredulity could be heard from almost every disciple in the room as each of them responded, “Is it I?” (Matthew 26:22). However, Scripture says that John leaned back against Jesus and asked Him point blank: “Lord, who is it?” (John 13:25). Not only did John feel comfortable invading Jesus’ private space, but his close connection to Jesus also was revealed in his confidence—he knew he could never betray Jesus.

John knew what it was like to walk in close fellowship with Jesus. He knew it was impossible to claim close relationship with Jesus while hiding secret sins. It is impossible to claim to be walking in the light when the presence of sin causes a person to live in darkness. Sitting at the table of fellowship with Jesus that evening was one man who was walking in darkness, and none of the other apostles knew it. The man was Judas, the one who would betray Jesus. And Jesus shined the light of truth on His betrayer when he told John, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish” (John 13:26, NLT).

True fellowship can only be experienced by those who are willing to walk in the light. John wrote, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie” (I John 1:6). We walk in the light when we walk in honesty, truth, and purity. The light reveals what is hidden in the dark. And we cannot have true fellowship with Jesus Christ if we choose to hide from the truth.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

Tracy had always been close to her sister Amy. But that closeness was severely tested when they both reached dating age. Amy always seemed to have the boys’ attention, and Tracy handled it well for a while. But when Amy met Matt, Tracy couldn’t hold back the jealousy. As her jealousy grew, Tracy began sabotaging Amy and Matt’s relationship. She started spreading untrue things about her sister to a few friends. Eventually, the unkind remarks made it back to Amy. Tracy vehemently denied she had ever said anything like that about her sister, but the damage had been done. Now Amy was harboring anger toward her sister, and Tracy was harboring the sin of lying in her heart.

Trust had been broken, and the whole family felt its effects. Mom and Dad sensed the tension as the two sisters daily gave each other the cold shoulder. The once-peaceful home was now fractured in places where it had been strong. Trust had been broken, and true fellowship had been lost.

For a family to operate in peace and harmony, each member of the family must commit to making the home a safe place for one another. That safe place can only be developed when each member is able to completely trust one another. However, when trust is broken, everyone feels the repercussions, and true fellowship ceases to exist.
We will all make mistakes at some point in our lives. Sadly, our mistakes will not only hurt us but will affect the ones we love. The only way to find healing and restoration for the hurts and failures we will face is for the family to encourage confession, extend forgiveness, and embrace each other all over again. God doesn’t want us to walk in the darkness; instead, He calls us to walk in the light.