Family Worship (April 05)

Have you ever thought about what the “good life” would look like? Maybe you think about having your favorite food every day, playing games all the time, or never having to do homework again. That might sound like a great life!

But what happens when things get hard? What if you get sick, or someone hurts your feelings, or something doesn’t go your way? Suddenly, that version of the “good life” doesn’t seem so good anymore.

The Bible teaches us that the real good life is much bigger and better than anything we can imagine. It’s not just about being comfortable or having fun. The good life is about being close to God and living the kind of life Jesus lived—full of love, kindness, and trust in God.

The amazing news is this: Jesus didn’t just show us the good life—he gives it to us. And because Jesus rose from the dead, he is alive and helping us live that kind of life every day.

Selections from Hebrews 13:1-19 (NIV)
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Discussion

1. What are some things people think will give them the “good life”? Do those things always last?
2. What are some ways this passage shows us how to live the good life with others?
3. Why is it important that Jesus is alive and working in us? How does that help us live this way?

Activity: “Good Life in Action” Challenge
As a family, come up with 3 simple ways you can live out the “good life” this week. Try to pick one from each category:
Love: Do something kind for someone in your family or church
Share: Give or help someone in need
Encourage: Say something uplifting or pray for someone

Write them down and put them somewhere you’ll see them every day (like the fridge). At the end of the week, talk about what you did and how it felt to live out the kind of life Jesus gives.

Closing Prayer
God, thank you for showing us what the good life really is. Thank you that Jesus lived the perfect life for us and rose from the dead so we can have new life. Help our family to love others, to be kind, and to trust you every day. Please work in us and help us live the good life you give. Amen.

Memory Work:

New City Catechism
14. Did God create us unable to keep his law?
No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God’s law.

Memory Verse
James 2:26 (ESV)
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.