Preach God’s Word With Courage – Family Devotion – November 2, 2020

Read: Matthew 10:16-23

On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Matthew 10:18-20

Preach God’s Word With Courage

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Here’s the phone number,” Mom said to Emma as she handed her the cell phone. Tell them we want a large pizza with pepperoni and an order of garlic bread. Emma was terrified! She had to call to order the pizza. She had never done that before! What if she said something wrong? What if she didn’t know how to answer their questions? This was so embarrassing! Have you ever been scared to talk to someone? Young children will often hide behind a parent’s leg when a stranger speaks to them. Maybe you’ve felt terrified to stand in front of your class at school. No matter how old we get, it can still feel scary to talk sometimes!

In today’s Bible lesson, Jesus tells his disciples and us that we have the important job of telling people about him. Jesus wants us to tell everyone the good news that he died on the cross to take away their sins. But he warns us that it might feel scary. He warned his disciples they could get arrested or put in jail because of their preaching. Jesus tells us, “You will be hated by everyone because of me.” He says that even families will fight when they talk about him. Talking about Jesus will be hard. People will get angry with us or make fun of us. So, should we stop talking? Should we stop proclaiming the good news of Jesus?

No! Even when it feels scary, God is there to help us. Jesus promised, “Do not worry about what to say or how to say it…. for it will not be you speaking but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” When we tell people about the Savior, the Holy Spirit gives us the right words to say. Even when the conversations get hard, we are not alone. God is there with us.

If you have to call for pizza for the first time, your mom might sneak over and whisper the order into your ear. What a relief! If you have to present in front of your class, your teacher might walk over and point to the right answer on your paper. Phew! You’re not up there alone! God does the same thing for us when we tell people about Jesus. He is right there beside us giving us the words to say. This gives us the courage to keep speaking, no matter how hard the conversation gets and no matter what the consequences might be. Even when it feels scary to talk about Jesus, we can feel confident. God is with us and we will never stop sharing the amazing story of our Savior!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for being with us and giving us the words to say when we tell people about you. Give us courage whenever we are scared to share your story, so that everyone we know can hear the good news that their sins are forgiven. In your name we pray, Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Who is Jesus and what did he do for you that makes you happy?
• Who are some people you can tell about this happy news?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why might talking about Jesus with an unbelieving friend or family member feel scary?
• If someone asks you a question about Jesus, what could you pray about quickly to build up your courage to have that conversation?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• The Bible tells us to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) We never know when a conversation about our faith might come up. How do we stay prepared to have these conversations?
• Is it worth it to talk to an unbelieving friend about Jesus if you know you might lose that friend? Why or why not?

Hymn: CW 200:4 – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain With his good gifts and Spirit.
And do what they will—Hate, steal, hurt, or kill—
Though all may be gone, Our victory is won;
The kingdom’s ours forever!