Family Devotional: Following Jesus with Our Whole Heart
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
Opening Story
There once was a teenager named Patrick who lived in Britain around 385 A.D. When he was just 16 years old, he was kidnapped and taken far from his family to work as a slave in Ireland. For six years, he was alone in the fields with sheep, cold and scared. But in that lonely place, Patrick started praying to God—not because someone told him to, but because he had nothing else.
Eventually Patrick escaped and made it home. But years later, God gave him a dream: “Go back to Ireland—the place that hurt you—and tell them about Jesus.” And Patrick obeyed! Because of his obedience, an entire nation heard about Jesus and was changed forever.
Today we’re going to learn what it means to follow Jesus with our whole heart, just like Patrick did.
Read Together
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
“But since we were torn away from you brothers for a short time in person, not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face because we wanted to come to you. I Paul, again and again. But Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before the Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and our joy.”
Big Idea
True friendship and following Jesus means giving our whole heart, being aware that Satan tries to stop good things, and finding joy in helping others grow.
Discussion for Younger Children
Question 1: Have you ever had a best friend move away or lost a favorite toy? How did that feel?
Listen to their answers and validate their feelings. Explain that Paul felt sad like that when he couldn’t see his friends.
Question 2: Paul said he loved his friends with his “whole heart.” What does it mean to love someone with your whole heart?
Help them understand: not just saying “I love you” but showing it with hugs, sharing, helping, spending time together.
Discussion for Older Children
Question 1: Paul said Satan “hindered” him—that means Satan tried to stop him from doing something good. Can you think of times when it feels hard to do the right thing? What makes it hard?
Examples: Being kind to a sibling when you’re angry, telling the truth when you might get in trouble, including someone who’s left out.
Question 2: Paul said his friends were his “crown and joy.” That means he was really proud of them and happy about them. Who in your life makes you feel that way? Who might think of YOU as their “crown and joy”?
Help them see: parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches—people who invest in them and celebrate their growth.
Question 3: The sermon talked about how it’s easier to dislike people from far away, but when you get to know them face-to-face, things change. Have you ever thought someone was mean or weird, but then when you got to know them, you realized they were actually nice?
Share your own example if helpful.
Discussion for Teens
Question 1: The sermon said, “Deep relationship takes your whole heart.” Why do you think we often settle for superficial relationships instead? What are we afraid of?
Possible answers: rejection, being hurt, being judged, losing the relationship, looking weak or needy.
Question 2: Tyler shared about his dog Atlas having to be sent away, and how painful it was because they’d invested their whole hearts. He said, “This is the risk of investing fully into a relationship because they can hurt you if they leave.”
Have you ever held back in a friendship or relationship because you were afraid of getting hurt? What happened?
Create a safe space for honest sharing. Acknowledge that this is real and hard.
Question 3: The sermon mentioned that Satan hates “eyeball to eyeball interaction face to face” because something happens when we truly see each other. How has social media and texting made it easier to avoid real, face-to-face connection?
What’s one relationship in your life that needs more face-to-face time?
Discuss: parents, siblings, friends, mentors. Talk about the difference between texting someone and actually sitting with them.
Question 4: Tyler talked about his jealousy of his intern Landon, who was really gifted. He had to surrender that jealousy and see Landon as a “crown” instead of a threat.
Is there someone in your life you’re tempted to compare yourself to or compete with? What would it look like to celebrate them instead?
This could be about grades, sports, looks, popularity, talents, spiritual gifts, etc.
Question 5: The sermon ended with this: “True discipleship comes at great cost, but leads to great glory and joy.” What is Jesus asking you to give Him right now? What’s the cost? What might the joy be?
This is personal—give space for silent reflection if needed.
Family Activity
The “Whole Heart” Challenge
- As a family, identify one person or family you want to invest in this month—maybe a neighbor, someone from church, a family going through a hard time.
- Brainstorm together: What would it look like to love them with your “whole heart”? (Meal, invitation, help with yard work, playdate, etc.)
- Make a plan and do it together as a family this week.
- Afterward, talk about it: What did you notice? How did it feel? What did you learn about loving with your whole heart?
Memory Verse of the Week
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” – Matthew 22:37
Closing Prayer
“Father, thank you for loving us with your whole heart. Thank you for Jesus, who gave everything for us. Help us to follow Him with our whole hearts—holding nothing back. Show us who you want us to invest in. Protect us from Satan’s schemes that try to keep us from loving well. Help us to see other people as crowns and treasures, not threats. We want to be a family that loves like Jesus. In His name, Amen.”
