“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- What is troubling, or what types of things tend to trouble your mind and heart? Where is Jesus inviting you to trust Him (see Mt 6:25-34; Mt 11:28-30; Ro 8:32, 37-39; Phil 4:6-7,13)?
- Think about it for a moment: Jesus has purchased and prepared a place for you with Him in heaven forever. What thoughts and feelings does that generate?
- Jesus through His death and resurrection has purchased a place and prepared it for literally everyone, but some of those places will go empty (see Jn 1:10-12; 1 Tim 2:3-4; 1 Jn 2:2). What are you thinking and feeling?
Prayer
Jesus, Jesus, I love to close my eyes and hear You speak these words to me. So often my life seems filled with hectic motion and commotion. Then gently, softly, You Speak these words to me again. Jesus, I come to You today trusting in Your love, Your power, Your faithfulness, Your presence. I relax in Your embrace. Jesus, you say that you are going to prepare a place for me! I find this verse both comforting and sad. Through Your suffering and death, You have prepared a place for literally everyone who has lived, is living, or will live. You have prepared a place for me. Very comforting! But because of their unbelief, not everyone will receive/experience the place You have prepared them — some reject Your grace. Sad! Make me an instrument of Your grace in order that more and more might enjoy it!
Greek Words of the Day
English Word: believe | Transliterated Word: Piseuo
To have faith, (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ), from pistis, faith. Of God, to be able and willing to help and answer prayer
Family Engagement Activity
Learn the song and motions to Audio Adrenaline’s “Father’s House”, a Camp Lakeview favorite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgfqZuZBBqQ. You will have to listen to this once to understand some of the ideas behind the other activities.
OR
Have everyone make a list of all the people they can’t wait to be in heaven with, those who are alive and those who are already there!
OR
Consider making 8 ½” x 11” rooms on paper, or maybe use other arts and crafts resources to make rooms for people, guessing what their heavenly room would look like. You can also choose to make rooms for other people you know, but don’t tell you your family who you are making rooms for, and then have them guess. Share these pictures on Facebook and consider sending your friends their pictures and tell them you are excited that they are in your life forever. Consider praying for God to allow you to be used to allow others that may not believe/see how great life is with Jesus. Maybe invite them to a big meal or give them something that can go in their earthly room that is reminiscent of Jesus.
OR
PLAN SOME OF THIS FOR THE WEEK:
Invite a friend over to the house (if possible) and make a big feast just to celebrate God’s big house.
OR/AND
Invite people over for a game night, if possible! OR have a party on ZOOM with multiple families!
OR
Make a house of cards, a puzzle, a dominoes track, a fort or anything that can be made BIG throughout the day. Talk about how Jesus is making this BIG place for us.
Going Activities To Consider
It might be fun to do this as an adult. I mean, there are adult coloring books now, right? Consider making 8 ½” x 11” rooms on paper, or maybe use other arts and crafts resources to make rooms for people guessing what their heavenly room would look like. You can also choose to make rooms for other people you know, but don’t tell your family who you are making rooms for, and then have them guess. Share these pictures on Facebook and consider sending your friends their pictures and tell them you are excited that they are in your life forever. Consider praying for God to allow you to be used to allow others that may not believe/see how great life is with Jesus, maybe invite them to a big meal or give them something that can go in their earthly room that is reminiscent of Jesus.
OR
PLAN SOME OF THIS FOR THE WEEK:
Invite a friend over to the house (if possible) and make a big feast just to celebrate God’s big house.
OR/AND
Invite people over for a game night, if possible! OR have a party on ZOOM with multiple families
OR
Make a house of cards, a puzzle, a dominoes track, a fort or anything that can be made BIG throughout the day. Talk about how Jesus is making this BIG place for us.