Walk Like Jesus: A Family Devotional
Opening Prayer
“Jesus, thank you for bringing our family together today. Help us learn what it means to follow you and look like you in everything we do. Open our hearts to hear from you. Amen.”
Family Scripture Reading
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 “For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
Main Teaching
When you walk with someone, you spend time with them. You talk, you listen, you get to know them. Paul is telling the church in Thessalonica that following Jesus is like taking a walk with him every single day. It’s not just something we do on Sundays. It’s who we are all the time.
Think about how kids copy their parents. Little ones watch everything you do and imitate it. They copy how you talk, how you act, even your facial expressions. That’s exactly what Christians are supposed to do with Jesus. We’re supposed to spend so much time with him that we start to look like him. We start to act like him. We start to love like him.
The cool thing is, when we walk with Jesus and copy him, other people notice. Our friends at school see it. Our neighbors see it. Our teammates see it. And sometimes, the way we live our lives helps them want to know Jesus too. That’s what it means to “walk in a manner worthy of God.” It means living in a way that shows everyone we belong to him.
Discussion Time
For Younger Children
Question 1: “Who do you like to copy or pretend to be? Maybe a superhero or someone in our family?” Let them share, then say: “Just like you copy people you love, we get to copy Jesus! When Jesus was kind to people, we can be kind. When Jesus helped people, we can help people.”
Question 2: “What’s one way we can act like Jesus this week?” Prompt ideas: sharing toys, being kind to someone who’s lonely, helping without being asked, telling the truth
For Older Children
Question 1: “What does it mean to ‘walk with Jesus’ in your everyday life? What would that look like at school or with your friends?” Guide the conversation: Talk about making choices that honor God, treating others with kindness even when it’s hard, standing up for what’s right, and talking to Jesus throughout the day.
Question 2: “Can you think of a time when someone noticed you were different because you follow Jesus? Or a time when you wish you had acted more like Jesus?” Create a safe space: Let them share honestly. Celebrate the wins and talk through the struggles without judgment.
For Teens
Question 1: “The sermon talked about how your conduct reflects your faith. If your classmates or coworkers only knew you by your actions (not your words), would they know you’re a Christian? Why or why not?” Keep it real: This is a tough question. Create space for honest answers. Talk about the gap between what we believe and how we live, and how God’s grace covers that gap while also calling us to grow.
Question 2: “Paul worked a regular job while planting churches. He didn’t separate his ‘spiritual life’ from his ‘regular life.’ How can you integrate your faith into your everyday activities like school, sports, work, or hanging out with friends?” Discuss practical examples: How you treat people, your integrity with homework and tests, what you do when everyone else is compromising, how you talk about others, what you do with your free time.
Family Challenge for the Week
The Imitation Challenge: Each family member picks one characteristic of Jesus to focus on this week (examples: patience, kindness, generosity, honesty, courage). At dinner each night, share one way you tried to imitate Jesus in that area. Celebrate the wins and encourage each other through the struggles.
Bonus: Pick one person outside your family (a neighbor, classmate, coworker) that your family can pray for together each night this week. Ask God to give you an opportunity to show them Jesus’ love in a practical way.
Closing Family Prayer
“Jesus, thank you that we get to walk with you every single day. Help our family to look more like you. Give us courage to live for you at school, at work, and in our neighborhood. Show us who you want us to reach with your love. We want to be a family that imitates you and helps others know you. We love you. Amen.”
