CTK Family Devotions LENT SPECIAL

Main Topic: Reviewing the Series on Broken / Isaiah 53

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: No studies, due to Easter.

Monday (4/14/2025)

Broken Exaltation: Jesus comes to reveal Himself, lifted up for our sins, to the world.

Isaiah 52:13–15 (ESV) — 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— 15 so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.

1) Have you ever heard something that made you stop mid-sentence? (Loud noise, truth, processed something, etc.)

2) Why might kings shut their mouth because of what Jesus did? (Even the highest human king needs His grace!)

3) How can we understand the Gospel? (By God’s working Word). Look for ways to share that Word this week!

Tuesday (4/15/2025)

Broken Rejection: Jesus was never accepted by the masses. Don’t expect Him to be popular today.

Isaiah 53 (ESV) — 1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

1) Think of ways that you’ve ignored Jesus and his Word. Reflect on them quietly, then ask for forgiveness.

2) Why is Jesus (the real one) not popular today? (Calls for the death of ourselves, calls sin out, salvation only in Him)

3) Ask for wisdom to understand God’s Word and to see Jesus as He really is, not as culture tries to present Him.

Wednesday (4/16/2025)

Broken Punishment: Your sins put Jesus on the cross. Thankfully, your sins have been paid in full by His death

Isaiah 53 (ESV) — 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1) When was the last time someone paid for something for you? Share about it. (Food, rent, utilities, tickets, etc.)

2) How could Jesus die for our sins and the sins of the world? (He was one of us, but He was perfect + divine).

3) Holy week centers on Jesus’ approaching death. Is it important to have time in the year to focus like this? Why?

NO evening studies this Easter Sunday (April 20th).

Next youth study: Sunday, April 27th (This will be followed by young family small group at 630pm!)

Next family study: Sunday, May 4th

Maundy Thursday (4/17/2025)

NEW — Broken Feast: Jesus established His Supper to nourish our faith and deliver His grace directly to us.

Isaiah 25:6–9 (ESV) — 6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. 7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

1) Where do we see verse 6 in Jesus’ life? (Passover) In the church? (Lord’s Supper) In the future? (Heavenly feast)

2) Why is the image of a feast of victory, forgiveness, and mercy so fitting for our life in Christ? (A daily need)

3) How often do you think about death being defeated? Pray a prayer of praise that our King will save us perfectly.

Good Friday (4/18/2025)

Broken Submission: Jesus’ death & burial came on a dark day. But the death of the lamb was a good day for us.

Isaiah 53 (ESV) — 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

1) Think about a graveyard. Are there things that differentiate between bodies? (Fancy tombs). Are all still dead?

2) Without Christ, we are as dead as those bodies. But in Christ, we can look forward to a resurrection where we will be judged by His perfection, not how well we did in this life. Why is that important? (Our best isn’t enough!)

3) As you process all the truths that we look at in Holy Week, come up with simple ways to summarize what Jesus went through as He headed through death into His resurrection. This will make sharing Him with others easier!

Saturday (4/19/2025)

Broken Darkness: Even after finishing His mission, Christ continues to live & draw us and many to Himself.

Isaiah 53 (ESV) — 10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see [light] and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

1) Tomorrow will be a day of celebration. Why? (Christ rose, our sins are paid for, life is in Him, etc.)

2) Why is it important that Jesus lives to intercede (plead) for us? (Without His work, we would have no hope).

3) Tonight, sing a song about Jesus’ death and consider how you needed Him to die and suffer for your sins. Then, tomorrow morning on your way to church, sing a song celebrating the resurrection together, knowing He won!

Easter Sunday (4/20/2025) – Prayer and Praise Requests

1) Praise God for the joy of the resurrection. Christ is risen! Alleluia!

2) Praise for those who have been recently received into the body of Christ through Holy Baptism. Support them!

3) Ask for boldness in sharing the Gospel of Christ, who came to die & rise again for you & each person you meet!

4) Lift up the Church across the world, especially our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted for their faith.

5) Keep the students and adults preparing for FLY in your prayers. This includes the staff planning the event!

NO evening studies this Easter Sunday (April 20th).

CTK Family Devotions Week #84

Main Topic: God Nourishes Us With His Applied Word (1/5) — (True Christianity Book 1, Chapter 36)

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: Youth-only on Sunday the 27th

Monday (4/21/2025)

If your heart is consumed by worldly things, the deep & nourishing mana of the Word that Christ offers is missed

Revelation 2:12–17 (ESV) — 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

1) What’s your favorite kind of weapon from olden times (swords, maces, spears, etc.)? Favorite kitchen knife?

2) How is the Word that Christ proclaims sharp like a sword? What exactly does it do and who is doing it? (Spirit)

3) In what ways does God nourish us? Think both body and soul. What can get in the way of this nourishing?

Tuesday (4/22/2025)

Just like sickness can ruin your appetite, the sickness of sin can cause us to not long for the pure Word of God.

2 Peter 1:5–9 (ESV) — 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

1) Do you take any medication or supplements? How are they designed to work with your food’s nutrients?

2) Do you take extra medicine when you are sick? Do you send extra time in God’s Word when life gets harder?

3) Ask God for His nourishing Word to realign your priorities and preferences, reminding you of His grace again!

Wednesday (4/23/2025)

You will never be satisfied or saved unless you cling to the steadfast love of God and His saving Word.

Psalm 33:16–22 (ESV) — 16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

1) List out things that people trust in to save them from certain bad outcomes (government, insurance, shelter, etc.)

2) Are the things you listed bad things? Do we place them above our trust in God at times? Why’s that dangerous?

3) What does it mean to fear God and hope in His steadfast love? (To know sin, to trust His grace, to follow Him)

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

Thursday (4/24/2025)

God’s people (especially His prophets and apostles) are called to proclaim His nourishing Word faithfully. (1/5)

2 Corinthians 11:5–9 (ESV) — 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. 7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.

1) What’s more important when it comes to sharing God’s Word: how smooth you speak or if you are accurate?

2) Is it a worthwhile use of money to support someone proclaiming God’s Word full-time? Why?

3) What characteristics should mark someone who proclaims God’s Word? Are you called to share His Word too?

4) Take time to thank God for all the faithful people He has raised up to preach His Word. Ask for more to come!

Friday (4/25/2025)

Jesus comes to feed us; that is, He works that we may believe, rejoice, rest, and cling to Him alone. (1/4)

John 6:26–33 (ESV) — 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

1) What is your favorite kind of bread? What is your favorite thing to put on bread, like butter or cheese?

2) How long does a loaf of bread last in your house? How long can the Word of God continue to nourish you?

3) Where do you go to receive and believe in the eternal bread of God? (Lord’s Supper, forgiveness on your lips)

4) Is the bread the important part of the Lord’s Supper, or is it the Word of God? Why? (The Word calls forth faith)

Saturday (4/26/2025)

We have an urgent need for God’s grace, mercy, and provision in every single area of our lives.

Psalm 70:title–5 (ESV) —  TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF DAVID, FOR THE MEMORIAL OFFERING. 1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! 2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” 4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!

1) When was the last time you urgently needed help? Share about what happened and who rushed to help.

2) Does God rush to help up? How might He do so? (Word to encourage, His people to support, life beyond death, etc.)

3) Bring your needs before the Lord, asking Him to deliver you as He sees fit, knowing your need Him daily!

Sunday (4/27/2025) – Prayer and Praise Requests

1) Pray for all those recovering from illness, surgery, and even grief. Ask for God to comfort them.

2) Keep the students and adults preparing for FLY in your prayers. This includes the staff planning the event!

3) Ask God to give us wisdom in promoting connections between generations within our congregation.

4) Praise God for the blessings of planting season and the safety given during the busyness of it all.

Tonight (4/27) 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.

ALSO: This is the next night for our young family small group. Know a young couple or couple with young kids? We’d love to host them at CTK from 6:30–7:30 PM. Babysitting provided while we study the Word!