We learned last week that real worship is loving God with all that we are, and that it’s the most important thing we can ever do. That brings up a big question. Why should we worship the God of the Bible instead of gods we hear about in other religions?

Be ready to read the following passages:

• Exodus 20:2-7
• Revelation 4:1-11

Let’s start it.

Take turns saying one true statement and one false statement about yourself. Have the other members of the family guess which is true and which is false.

Let’s learn it.

Have you ever taken a “true or false” test? The false statements are sometimes easy to spot because they are so silly. Well, that’s exactly what God’s people – the Israelites – should have seen about giving their worship to anyone or anything other than the Lord. The first answer to the question, “Why should we worship God?” is found in the Ten Commandments. The Lord wanted the Israelites to worship Him alone as the One true God. Go to Exodus 20:2-7 in your Bibles and have a family member read what God expected of His people.

The first three commandments instructed the Israelites to stay away from the gods and idols that other nations worshipped. These so-called “gods” were not real gods at all. They were false. The Lord gave His people a purpose – to recognize Him as the One and only God. Of course that meant worshipping Him the way the only true God deserves to be worshipped and using His name only in an honorable way.

God designed us to recognize who He is so we can have a relationship with Him. Anything that turns your attention and affection away from God and His Word has become like a false god in your life. God’s instructions in the first three commandments teach us to worship Him alone and to treat His name with the respect that it deserves.

Scripture also says that God deserves to be worshipped because He is holy and has power over everything He created. Take a look at the amazing vision of worship that John saw in Revelation 4:1-11. The book of Revelation looks into the future. Even though the events haven’t happened yet, we know they are true because God put them in His Word. One day, the whole world will recognize that God is the only true God. Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation give an awesome description of the worship that will take place around His heavenly throne when God’s people and all of creation worship Him together.

The God of the Bible is the Creator of everyone and everything that exists. No one created Him or has power over Him. God is eternal, which means that He has always been and always will be. Every other so-called “god” is false. Worshiping the Lord as the One true God is the reason we exist and is the one thing we will do forever in Heaven.

Let’s discuss it.

1. Ask each person to make a true statement about God. What false beliefs about God have you heard?
2. How do those true and false beliefs affect a person’s worship of the Lord?
3. What do you think you would do if you saw God in all of His glory, as John described in Revelation 4?

Let’s do it.

God created us with the desire to worship, but if you have false beliefs, you’ll worship something or someone other than the only true God. Each person has to choose whether he or she will give the Lord the worship He deserves. Is your worship true or false? Ask God to show you if another person or activity has become like a false god in your life. Talk about ways that your family can give God the devotion He deserves. True worship is centered around the Lord God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the One and only God.

So far this month we’ve learned why we should talk about Jesus, what to say about Him, how to share His story, and who to share it with. Let’s tackle two last questions this month: when and where should we share the gospel?

Be ready to read the following passages:

• Acts 8:26-35
• Acts 16:6-15
• 1 Peter 3:15 

Let’s start it.

Take turns describing your normal daily routine. How do you respond when your routine is interrupted somehow? 

Let’s learn it.

Have you noticed that we’ve spent a lot of time reading the book of Acts this month? That’s because Acts tells us how Christians first began to tell the story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Let’s explore two more true stories of early believers who shared the gospel. Read Acts 8:26-35 to find out what God directed Philip to do.

Even though Philip didn’t know why God was sending him down that particular road, he didn’t ask, “Why?” or “When should I go?” He just went immediately. As Philip obeyed, the Holy Spirit guided him to an Ethiopian man who was a long way from home. He was passing the time in his chariot by reading from the book of Isaiah, but he didn’t understand what he was reading. God put both men in the same place at the same time so Philip could explain the good news of Jesus. If Philip hadn’t gone or waited before obeying, he might have missed a divine appointment! God sent Philip on a journey to meet just one man, but that man took the gospel message back to a whole country.

Followers of Jesus come across people every day, right where they are, who don’t know the Lord. Take a look at Acts 16:6-15 to read about another divine appointment.

Jesus directed Paul, Timothy, and Silas to the exact place He wanted them to go on this mission trip. Paul and His friends were looking for a place to pray on the Sabbath. Most likely they would have asked the Lord for opportunities to tell someone about Jesus on their trip. They could have gotten so caught up in having their prayer time that they might not have noticed this group of women. Instead, they recognized an opportunity to share the gospel right where they were. God interrupted their routine, but He also answered their prayers before they asked! Turn to 1 Peter 3:15 to read how Peter encouraged early believers to share the gospel right where they were.

Every follower of Christ has a personal testimony about faith in Christ. Believers can share Jesus every day by simply being ready to tell people who Jesus is and how they came to know Him. The people in today’s passages paid attention to the people they met along the way. The message of Jesus didn’t spread across the ancient world by accident. Jesus’ followers shared their faith with anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Let’s discuss it.

1. Think back to the way you described your normal day in Let’s start it. How can you show the love of Christ, right where you are, every day?
2. When has God put you in the right place at the right time to either tell someone about Jesus or to do something that showed His love?
3. Take turns sharing your personal testimony of how you met Jesus. Make sure to include how knowing Him has changed your thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

Let’s do it.

We often ask God to give us opportunities to talk about our faith in Christ. The truth, however, is that we are surrounded by opportunities to share the love of Christ each and every day. As we’ve learned how to share Jesus this month, what person has the Holy Spirit prompted you to talk with? Brainstorm with your family how to start the conversation.

As you go out this week, look for natural opportunities to tell someone how He has changed your life. Are you willing to talk about Jesus to anyone, anywhere, and at any time? Close your devotion time by praying for your family members to recognize opportunities to share Jesus and when an opportunity comes … to take it!

Meeting Jesus is exciting and so is introducing Him to other people. The Bible tells us that Jesus’ followers brought people to meet Him. After Jesus returned to Heaven, His followers sent missionaries who were excited to spread the gospel so more people could meet Jesus. Let’s see what we can learn from their examples.

Be ready to read the following passages:

• John 1:35-42
• Philippians 4:15-19

Let’s start it.

Have each family member think of a famous person; then take turns introducing him or her to the group. How would you arrange the meeting? Describe how excited you would be to meet that person in real life.

Let’s learn it.

The disciple Andrew is known for introducing people to Jesus. Let’s learn how Andrew heard about Jesus and what he did as a result. Open your Bibles to John 1:35-42, and ask a family member to read those verses.

Andrew heard and believed John the Baptist’s message that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior Israel had been waiting for. Andrew was so excited that he brought his brother Peter to meet Jesus. Later we learn that Andrew brought other people to Jesus, too (John 6:8-9; 12:20-22). Do you remember what happened when he introduced the boy with the fishes and the loaves to Jesus? Jesus turned that little lunch into a meal that fed over 5,000 people! All the people saw Jesus do something only God can do. Because Andrew brought the boy to Jesus, they both had a part in showing the crowd that Jesus truly is the Son of God. Can you imagine how excited they must have been?

We’ve already learned in Family Time that Jesus gave His followers the responsibility to go and share His story all over the world. We’ve also learned that the Apostle Paul was a great missionary, but he couldn’t have traveled far or stayed long in the places he went without the help of other Christians. Check out what Paul said about one group of believers in Philippians 4:15-19.

The Philippian church helped Paul by sending money so he could continue to share the gospel of Jesus. The Philippians didn’t help him just once – they made it a habit. In fact, they were so generous that Paul had more than enough to stay on the mission field. Even though Paul was the one who received the gift, it was really an offering to God because it went to God’s work. The Philippians were excited to help Paul introduce more people to Jesus.

Yes, the Bible is full of examples of different ways to share Jesus with people who do not know Him yet. You can bring people to Jesus by inviting them to church so they can hear God’s Word taught. You can also share Jesus by supporting missionaries or by going on mission trips. Your faith may start a chain reaction that points others to Jesus, just like what happened with John the Baptist, Andrew, and Peter. Now that’s exciting!

Let’s discuss it.

1. Have you thought about inviting someone to a church service or church activity, but haven’t done it yet? Why did you put it off? What can you do to change that?
2. Ask any members of your family who have been on a mission trip to tell where they went and how they helped to share Jesus with the people there.

Let’s do it.

What activities or worship services do you plan to attend this week? Come up with a plan for family members to invite and bring people with you to church services and church activities. Post your Family Share Plan where everyone can see it.

To help you save for a mission trip or to be more generous in giving to mission work, decide on something you can give up or do without for a period of time. For example, instead of eating out on the weekend or going to a movie, set that money aside for a month. Then remember to pray during your family devotion for the mission work you’re saving for. Your generosity will bless another believer and help introduce someone else to Jesus.

Jesus has a personal relationship with each of His followers, but that relationship isn’t meant to be a secret. He wants us to tell our friends and family what He is like and how we met Him. Let’s look at what the Bible says about why we should tell other people about Jesus Christ.

Be ready to read the following passages:

• Matthew 28:18-20
• 2 Corinthians 5:20
• Romans 10:13-15
• Matthew 9:35-38

Let’s start it.

Take turns telling one another about a friend. How did you become friends? What is that person like? Why is he or she a good friend?

Let’s learn it.

Telling your family about a good friend is fun, isn’t it? Well, talking about Jesus brings us joy, too. As a matter of fact, Jesus gave His disciples the job of talking about Him. Look at what He told them in Matthew 28:18-20. Christ’s followers still have the responsibility to share His story so others can follow Him, too. Check out what the Apostle Paul wrote about that in 2 Corinthians 5:20.

If you have made the decision to follow Jesus, then you are one of His representatives – you speak and act for Him in your school, neighborhood, and community. You might think that most people have already heard about Jesus, but many people still don’t know that He can save them from their sin. How did Paul say in Romans 10:13-15 that people are saved from their sin?

People can’t believe what they haven’t heard. That makes sense, right? They can’t choose to follow Jesus unless someone tells them, so preachers must go and give God’s message. Paul could not imagine anything more beautiful than the person who takes the story of Jesus to other people. Have you ever considered yourself a preacher? You don’t have to stand on a stage in front of people to preach. You preach the good news of Christ every time you tell a friend that Jesus loves him and wants to be his Savior. Even before Jesus’ death and resurrection, He modeled how to preach the good news of God’s kingdom. How did He act toward people in Matthew 9:35-38?

Jesus was brokenhearted when He saw how helpless and aimless people were without Him. As His followers, we should have the same compassion for people that Jesus showed when He lived on the earth. When you leave home each day, you enter a mission field. As Christ’s followers we should use our feet to go, our mouths to tell, and our hands to help people in need so they too can meet our friend, Jesus.

Christ gave His followers the responsibility to tell His story and to be His faithful representatives on Earth until He returns. Nothing else you ever do will matter as much as helping someone to begin a personal relationship with God. That’s why friends of Jesus tell their friends about Jesus.

Let’s discuss it.

1. Look again at the questions in Let’s start it. This time answer those same questions about your friendship with Jesus.
2. How could your answers from question #1 help you to talk about Jesus with someone else?
3. What opportunities does your church offer for you to share Jesus’ story and love in your community or in other countries? How can you help?

Let’s do it.

Which door does your family use most often to come and go from your house? Consider making a sign that says, “You are now entering the mission field” to hang over that door. Think about who is in your mission field, and make a list of people who don’t know Jesus as their friend. These may be people that you see every day at school or at work. They might also be the people you see often because they work in your community at a grocery store, a hair salon, or a doctor’s office. Remember, people can’t choose to know and follow Jesus unless someone tells them. How will you look for God-given openings this week to tell others about Jesus and how they can know Him as their Savior?