The Future Of Family
Aaron Kunce
Part of Real Family
November 1, 2020

INTRODUCTION

In the past few months we’ve explored renewal and the way of Jesus. We are now embarking on a series about family. This devotional resource doesn’t follow the message series but is meant to be a guide for prayer and conversation in your home.

What do you think of when you hear the word family? What comes up in your heart when we talk about family? For some of us, family has been a place of deep pain. Some of us carry wounds in our hearts that need healing. Others of us come from healthy families that have been a source of joy and possibility. Families shape us in really big ways. Our homes have a major impact on our lives. If we want to be renewed and walk in the way of Jesus in a way that impacts York County, we must figure out how to live together as families that bless and empower the next generation to be a people of spiritual legacy.

This devotional is packed with scripture. Most are short passages, but to get us started, let’s reflect on a longer one. Deuteronomy chapter 6 is an incredible passage. Please take a few minutes to read it together as a family.

It was given during an urgent moment for the children of Israel in the Old Testament, and it’s an urgent moment for us as well. It’s one of those “hinge moments” where if the people of God can get this right, then there is so much promise. And if they get this wrong, there will be spiritual disaster. God is saying that his heart is for spiritual life and blessing to flow down generational lines. What can we learn from Deuteronomy 6?

We have to break off some things from our past and build some things for the future of our families. Notice what you need to break off and then discover what you need to build.

  1. Break off spiritual complacency. (vv. 10-12)
  2. Break off worldliness and the spirit of the age. (vv. 13-15)

And then we need to build.

  1. Build a compelling vision of God in your family. (vv. 4-5)
  2. Build an ecosystem of discipleship in your family. (vv. 6-9)
  3. Build a vision for spiritual legacy in your family. (vv. 20-25)

—Pastor Aaron Kunce

WEEK 1

Real Family UNITY

As we seek to build a vision of God, discipleship, and spiritual legacy for our families, we should start with scripture. The Bible teaches some vital things we need to build into our marriages, parenting, and day-to-day family life. This devotional resource will cover four simple themes in scripture: unity, love, peace, and mission.

Read the verses below for personal devotions or read them with your family and talk with each other about these themes. Then spend a few moments praying together.

Our first theme is unity. Jesus prayed an extraordinary prayer for unity in John 17. The cry of his heart then, and also for today, is unity. Read these passages and consider how God is calling your family to unity. Try using The Message translation or a Bible translation you don’t normally read.

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NOVEMBER 1 • ROMANS 15:5-7

Glorifying God together, with one voice.

NOVEMBER 2 • COLOSSIANS 3:1-21

Bearing with one another.

NOVEMBER 3 • PSALM 133

The goodness and beauty of unity.

NOVEMBER 4 • GALATIANS 3:28

God’s family is not divided. We are one in Jesus.

NOVEMBER 5 • CORINTHIANS 1:10

Of one mind and one heart.

NOVEMBER 6 • 1 PETER 3:8-22

Gentleness and respect; having a good conscience.

NOVEMBER 7 • PHILIPPIANS 2:1-18

Like Jesus, taking on the form of a servant.