The Kingdom Proclaimed, Part One

Week forty-four | november 3-9

We have seen through our readings how God has kept the promises that He made. In our family time this week, we are learning about a very important promise that Jesus made and kept for His disciples. Jesus told His disciples that He was going to suffer and die for sinners, that He would rise from the dead, and also that He would return to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father. The disciples would be left to do the Kingdom work that Jesus had been preparing them for during His time with them. How would they be able to obey Jesus and do all the things that He commanded them to do? How would they find comfort and peace if Jesus was no longer with them? How would they remember everything that He taught them if He wasn’t there anymore? 

In John, chapter 14, we see the answer. Jesus tells His disciples that He will be gone physically but He would not leave them powerless or hopeless because He was going to send them the Holy Spirit to comfort them, strengthen them to do all Jesus commanded them to do, and remind them of everything that Jesus taught them (John 14:15-31). When Jesus makes a promise, He keeps it. The Holy Spirit, the promised Helper, would come and dwell in God’s people, all who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the message of the good news of Jesus would be proclaimed! The Kingdom of God would grow, just as he designed it to be.  

Memory Verse

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38

Worship

Day One

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about the coming of the promised Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:6-11(ESV) 

Acts 1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

God, you are faithful to keep your promises. You gave us Jesus as the Savior to conquer sin and death. You gave us the Holy Spirit to be our helper, strengthening us in our faith and allowing us to walk in obedience to your word. Thank you for being such a great God! The gifts you give us are more than we deserve and more than we could ever imagine. Help us to treasure those gifts and appreciate you fully. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.

Day Two

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about when the promised Holy Spirit came to the disciples just as Jesus said He would. 

Acts 2:1-13 (ESV) 

Acts 2 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[a] 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.”

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

Day Three

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about how The Holy Spirit used Peter to boldly tell others about Jesus so they could believe in Him, be forgiven of their sin, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. These verses also show how The Holy Spirit changed Peter from someone who was afraid and denied Jesus to someone who bravely told others about Him. The Kingdom grew because of how the Spirit worked in and through Peter to tell others about Jesus and The Kingdom of God. 

Acts 2:37-41(ESV) 

Acts 2: 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

Day Four

Read

Here are some verses that show how the Holy Spirit sends God’s people out to share the Gospel, the good news about Jesus, to expand the Kingdom of God. 

Acts 13:1-5

Acts 13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

Day Five: Family Sabbath

Be Present

Set aside distractions (electronics, work, chores, etc.) and spend time with God and each other. 

Pray

Spend time together in prayer, thanking God that he has ordained a day of rest and for the takeaways you’ve had from this week’s readings. Consider closing by praying the Lord’s Prayer together. 

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Play

Choose a fun activity to do together as your family rests from work. Here are some ideas:

• Spend some time where everyone can share how they see God working in one another’s lives. This would be a really cool time for parents to encourage their kids on the “God things” they see in their lives. Make it a game to see who can come up with the most encouragement for others. 
• Spend some time talking about all of the ways God has kept his promises to you as a family.
• Pick a family in your neighborhood and bake some cookies together and deliver them as a family. Ask the family how your family can pray for them and pray with them if they agree.

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