Jesus taught about His heavenly father in the context of relationships. For three years Jesus ate, slept, and traveled with His disciples. He spoke into their lives, modeled what a true follower of God looks like, and said, “Follow Me” (John 12:26). After Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples went out in the power of the Holy Spirit. They taught others what Jesus had taught them, invested in their lives, and invited new believers to imitate them as they imitated Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Today, God’s kingdom continues to expand as people of faith follow Jesus and lead others to do the same.
Family Activity
Teaching Time: 10 minutes
Materials: none
Announce that you will do a series of crazy motions and invite your family to copy you exactly. Go into an adjoining room where you cannot be seen. Do five crazy motions. Return and ask if family members copied your actions. Discuss the problem of their being unable to see you. Choose one child to return with you to the adjoining room. Position him where he can see you and also be seen by the rest of the family. As you do your five motions, have the child observe and demonstrate your actions for the others to copy. Discuss why the task was easier to complete the second time. Jesus chose twelve men called the disciples. They observed Jesus’ actions, listened to His teaching, and helped in ministry. Before Jesus returned to heaven, He gave His disciples authority to teach others. People would no longer be able to see and hear Jesus, but they could come to know Him through observing how His disciples lived. Jesus’ followers had imitated Him. Now others would imitate them.
Discuss:
1. Think of people who have not only told us, but also showed us how to follow Jesus. What kinds of things did they do?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 11:1. Paul invites people who want to live like Jesus to follow his (Paul’s) example. How can our family be an example of Jesus for others to imitate?
Pray:
Ask God to connect you with another family that you can begin to disciple.
