CTK Family Devotions Week #105

Topic: True doctrine produces faith, love, & life eternal (10/13) — (True Christianity Book 1, Chapter 38)

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 (9/15/2025)

A proper understanding of the life that Christ gives should draw in many (including Jews who’ve ignored Him).

Romans 11:13–18 (ESV) — 13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

1) Look up images of a branch grafted into a tree. What makes the process work? Why might it need to be done?

2) In what way are we “grafted” into the faith? (Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, so we have an ancient faith)

3) What does Paul mean when he says that some branches (Jews) were broken off? (rejecting Jesus = rejecting God)

4) Think of ways that you could share about Jesus with an unbeliever, be they Jew or Gentile. Then, use those opportunities as a chance to humbly remind yourself that you are saved by grace, just like any in Christ will be!

Tuesday (9/16/2025)

The Lord isn’t honored by mere lip-service or human teachings, but only by an entire life reshaped by His hand.

Isaiah 29:13–16 (ESV) — 13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, 14 therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” 15 Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?” 16 You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

1) Pull out some playdoh (or other material you can craft things with) and see who can make the best cat sculpture.

2) Would it be weird for the playdoh cat to speak to you? How about a real cat meowing at you to say it’s hungry?

3) Why is it dangerous for us to think our ideas are better than Gods? (Only His ways save…we don’t know everything)

4) Ask for a heart that accepts all of God’s Word, hands that carry out His will, and lips that praise Him in truth.

Wednesday (9/17/2025)

God’s commandments are not random or arbitrary: they are a reflection of His nature and are for our benefit.

John 7:19–24 (ESV) — 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

1) Have you ever had to follow any weird/unfair rules? (In a game, classroom, etc.) Share how they made you feel.

2) Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath. What is at the heart of the day God has set aside for us? (His Word)

3) How can you keep the Sabbath today? What things should you avoid? How will this help you and others?

Have requests for food or activities for this week’s youth-only study at CTK? Let Pastor Joe know!

Thursday (9/18/2025)

The Lord’s name is tied to His reputation and actions as the God who delivers.

Exodus 6:1–8 (ESV) — 1 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’ ”

1) Look up why God’s name here (the LORD) is different than some other spots (He is using YHWH, personal name)

2) Re-read verse 6 and look at the verbs (bring out, deliver, redeem). How does the Lord do that for us? Why?

3) Sing a song of praise to our God who bought us with His blood, saved us from our sin, & who will deliver us from death!

Friday (9/19/2025)

Understanding how the Old Testament points to Jesus will give us comfort, strength, and hope.

Hebrews 3:1–6 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

1) Do you know who built your house? What improvements have you added? Do you know the builders of any house?

2) How do we become God’s house? (Through faith, His Spirit living in us) How might this change how you live?

3) Is reading the Old Testament still helpful for us as Christians? Why? Make a plan to include it in your devotions.

Saturday (9/20/2025)

There is salvation in no one else than our crucified and risen Lord Jesus. All other hopes will fail us.

Psalm 62:1–4 (ESV) — 1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah

1) Have you ever felt like everyone was against you? It could have been in a game or in real life. Describe it.

2) We will have many enemies, but who is our fiercest enemy? (Satan) How does he attack us? (accuse, tempt, etc.)

3) How is Satan stopped and defeated? (By Christ forgiving us and returning in glory to cast him out forever)

4) As you prepare for Sunday’s service, look for ways that you’re being equipped to resist Satan & cling in faith to Jesus.

Sunday (9/21/2025) – Prayer and Praise Requests

1) Pray for students & teachers as school resumes. Ask that they would learn about God’s well-ordered creation

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) Lift up our leaders at all levels: local, congregational, state, federal, and everything in between.

Tonight will be a youth-only study at Christ the King. Students entering 7th grade through college are welcome. Arrive anytime 4:30pm onwards. Main activities start at 5pm and run until 6:30pm.

Food, fellowship, games, and a lesson time in God’s Word. Invite a friend or two to join in on the fun.