CTK Family Devotions Week #92

Topic: Without Christ’s Light, We’d Have Only Darkness (4/7) — (True Christianity Book 1, Chapter 37)

Reminder: These devotions are only a tool to use to help you run family devotions in a way that your family needs. Whether you do it daily, tie it to a prayer or sharing time, or have everyone read these verses on their own time is up to you. My aim is to equip you all to be in the Word as a family by giving you Scripture and questions to consider. Each day you will find a main idea to consider, a Scripture passage to read, and some questions to ask to help discuss the reading and tie it to the main idea. Reminder: These devotions are on CTK’s website too!

Monday (6/16/2025)

We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, who is sent by Christ, in order to proclaim the Gospel to the nations.

Acts 2:1–13 (ESV) — 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

1) Can you answer the crowd’s question in verse 12? (The Gospel was being sent out in a dramatic way to all nations)

2) Was the speech given by the Spirit gibberish or actual languages? Why does that matter? (Gospel comes through real words)

3) How can you be filled with the Spirit? (Faith in Christ) What gifts does He bring? (Life, service, talents, Gospel sharing)

Tuesday (6/17/2025)

Only in Christ is there life and salvation, because any other path will lead to destruction, not salvation.

Matthew 11:1–6 (ESV) — 1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

1) What do other religions say about the afterlife? What’s the common denominator? (Do good stuff = receive good)

2) How does what Jesus proclaim offend us and other religions? (No one is good enough, all need His forgiveness)

3) Ask God to turn the hearts of others to Himself, showing the world the futility of earning salvation on their own.

Wednesday (6/18/2025)

Christ is the Son of God, meaning that the creator of all sent the Light of the world to save us in our darkness.

Hebrews 1:1–5 (ESV) — 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?

1) What message from your dad would you take more seriously: a text or him sending a sibling to you? Why?

2) Why is it important for Jesus to be fully divine? Why is it important for Jesus to also be fully human?

3) Spend time silently reflecting on the remarkable reality that all of creation and history was set up so God could save you and all who cling to Him by faith. None of this we deserve, yet He loves us and saved us anyways!

Reminder: June VBS family night is THIS Sunday (6/22)  

Hope to see you there at CTK! RSVP to Pastor Joe or at the CTK website.

Thursday (6/19/2025)

Without Christ, there is only darkness. In Christ, we have true fellowship, knowledge, and light.

1 John 1:1–7 (ESV) — 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1) What sets apart Christianity from the other religions of the world? (Christ’s work had eyewitnesses! + Faith alone)

2) What is so dangerous about verse 6? Have you been tempted to do that? What should you do instead? (v7)

3) Walking in the light includes acknowledging your sin. Confess your sins to God now and seek His grace, then listen together to DC Talk’s “In the Light” as a summary of our sinful need and your sure hope in Christ!

Friday (6/20/2025)

Just as the universe’s scope is beyond our comprehension, so also does God’s mercy rise beyond our finite minds.

Isaiah 55:6–9 (ESV) — 6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1) How do you react when others hurt you, wrong you, or ignore you? How does God react instead?

2) Can you exactly count how many stars there are? Why does God care so much about us, orbiting this star? (the sun)

3) Is it good that God thinks, plans, & forgives in ways beyond what we understand? Is it good that He reveals this to us too?

Saturday (6/21/2025)

“How should man know the humility of the heart of Christ, whose own heart abounds with pride?”

Psalm 33:10–15 (ESV) — 10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! 13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; 14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.

1) Think back on some recent news stories (or historical rulers). Is there a tendency to ignore God and His ways?

2) For as much as men try to ignore God, is it possible for us to avoid death on our own? Who’s defeated death?

3) Ask God for a humble heart that puts His ways first. Ask for Him to have mercy on world leaders, granting them faith.

Sunday (6/22/2025) – Prayer and Praise Requests

1) Keep the students and adults preparing for FLY in your prayers. This includes the staff planning the event!

2) Praise for all those recovering from illness, surgery, and even grief. Ask for God to comfort them.

3) Ask God to give us wisdom in promoting connections between generations within our congregation.

4) Pray for Tanner, Kynslee, Jordan, and Kenley as they move into full-on membership at CTK post-confirmation.

5) Pray for VBS: lift up all those who are attending, serving, or sending their families.

Tonight will be our first VBS family night at Christ the King. That means you are invited!

Check out ctkpipestone.com/vbs-2025 for details!