Many parents find that they really want to have a regular family devotional time, but just don’t know where to start or how to go about it. While each family is different, and a “one-size-fits-all” approach won’t likely work, experience has proved that kids are more responsive to interactive methods. So set lectures aside and give these discussion based family devotionals a shot!

#1 – Why Worry?

The Main Idea: Worry is one of the most common emotions teenagers experience and can influence their lives in a negative way. Jesus taught His followers not to worry. Helping your kids learn how to handle worry can be a huge help as they travel the path to adulthood.

2. Of the issues that were mentioned, what do you worry most about? Why?

3. Of the issues that were mentioned, what do you worry least about? Why?

4. Of the issues that were mentioned, which ones do you feel are pointless to worry about? Why?

5. What do you think adults worry most about? Why?

6. What do you think Mom or Dad worry most about? Why?

7. Worrying about issues makes a difference in the outcome of the issue. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Principles and Scriptures you might want to introduce into the discussion (without lecturing!):

1. Seek God first instead of worrying. Matthew 6:25-33. God promises to meet our needs as we seek Him first.

2. Pray instead of worrying. Philippians 4:6-7.

3. Don’t worry about things you can’t control. Matthew 6:34.

4. Turn worry into a motivation for action. Worried about an upcoming test at school? Study. Worried about your body odor? Take a shower. Use deodorant.

5. Serve someone in need instead of worrying. Serving others helps take your focus off yourself.

More background info you might find helpful in a discussion with your kids:

It has been said that there are two days that people worry most about but should actually worry least about: Yesterday and Tomorrow. We worry about yesterday – the mistakes we’ve made and what we would like to do over or differently. Yet, there is nothing we can do to change yesterday. Our worries are wasted.  We also worry about tomorrow – the problems it may bring and the challenges we may face. Yet, we cannot control tomorrow. It is out of our grasp. So again, our worries are wasted.

When we do not waste our worries on yesterday or tomorrow, it frees us to live in the present – today. Today, we are able to make decisions about our life. Today, we can set our course, set off in a direction or alter our course, if necessary. Sure, we will still make our share of mistakes. And, we will still have worries. Each day brings enough to be concerned about. Still, seldom are life’s concerns unbearable today. Our worries become unbearable when we add the wasted worries of yesterday and tomorrow.

Jesus instructs us to live one day at a time. He knew that so much of what we worry about is out of our control. He wanted us to understand that God gives us today. And, as we live our lives seeking Him, we are in a safe place. Jesus promises that our heavenly Father will provide us with everything we need.

#2 – Anger Management

The Main Idea: Anger is common emotion for teenagers. As an emotion, anger is can be right or wrong, depending on the situation. How teenagers act out on their anger is important. A teen can be right to be angry, but wrong in how they react to it. Parents can help their teens learn the important life skill of handling anger positively.

2. How do you typically express your anger?

3. Do you think the ways you typically express your anger tend to be positive or negative? Why?

4. Anger is always wrong. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

5. What are some negative ways people typically express their anger? (You might want to separate this question out into subgroups of people such as, ways teens or adults typically express anger.)

6. What are some positive ways people typically express their anger?

Principles and Scriptures you might want to introduce into the discussion (without lecturing!):

1. Anger is an emotion that everyone experiences. God gets angry. Exodus 22:22-24. Jesus got angry. John 2:13-17.

2. We are to avoid sinning in our anger. Ephesians 4:26-27.

3. It’s a good idea to take a timeout when angry in order to cool off, especially if you are prone to reacting negatively when angered.

4. Choose positive ways to express anger. Deal directly (and calmly) with issues that cause anger.

5. Pray. Ask for God’s help to handle anger in a way that avoids inappropriate or sinful reactions.

More background info you might find helpful in a discussion with your kids:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Philippians 4:8

“An elder Cherokee was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."

The children thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."*

*found at http://www.aaanativearts.com/article658.html

Do you feed the black wolf and get bogged down with lies?  Do you fill your soul with the negative or hopeless?  Or do you feed the white wolf and fill your mind with hope, purity and truth. 

Sometimes it is easier to feed the black wolf.  That’s where most of the world finds their strength and fuel.  In this passage, Paul encourages believers to think about things that are pleasing to the Lord – in other words, to feed the white wolf.  Give yourself a dose of what’s true and a second helping of what’s pure.  Drink up the lovely and take a bag of compassion home with you.  Make sure you are feeding on what will not just fill you up, but lift you up as well.

It takes practice to feed the white wolf.  It takes discipline to guard your heart and mind and prevent over indulgence in the darkness.  But you can do it. When you can consistently feed the white wolf, there will be no question of which will win.

#3 – Obsessions With Possessions

The Main Idea: One long-running thread in the fabric of today’s culture is that our possessions matter. For some, what you have defines who you are. Our kids are bombarded by advertising messages everyday that attempt to influence them to buy because having “IT” (whatever it is) will make a difference. “Things” will always be a part kids’ lives, even as they are a part of ours. Helping kids learn a proper, God-honoring perspective about possessions will go a long way to equipping them to live a fulfilling adult life.

2. Why do we have a desire to buy “things”?

3. It is wrong to want “things. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

4. Do people ever really have enough “things”?

5. When do you think wanting a “thing” becomes wrong?

6. When Jesus talked about “storing up treasures in heaven” instead of “storing up treasures on earth,” what do you think He meant?

Principles and Scriptures you might want to introduce into the discussion (without lecturing!):

1. Possessions are not bad in and of themselves. How we use them and what value we place on them makes a difference. What’s important is to be rich toward God. Luke 12:16-21.

2. An obsession with possessions reflects a heart that is straying from God. Matthew 6:19-21, 24.

3. Pursuing possessions for the sake of pleasure does not fulfill a person’s life. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11.

4. Be content with what you have. Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

5. If you have great financial resources, use them for good deeds. Be generous. 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

More background info you might find helpful in a discussion with your kids:
Here’s a reminder (author unknown) to keep perspective on your pursuits in life…

An American investment banker was vacationing in a small Mexican coastal village. While walking near a pier he observed a small boat with just one fisherman. Inside the boat with the Mexican fisherman were sveral yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. “Only a little while,” replied the fisherman.

The American then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish. The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?” The fisherman responded, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I relax and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed, “You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat and with the proceeds generated from the bigger boat buy a fleet of boats. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you could sell directly to a processor. You could eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this small village and move to a big city where you could run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But how long will this take?” The American replied, “15 to 20 years!” “But then what?” asked the fisherman. The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. You can sell your business and retire and move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could relax and play guitar with your amigos. You would have a full and busy life.”

The Mexican fisherman smiled at the American, quietly gathered his catch and walked away.

What are you chasing after in life? How (and with whom) you spend the bulk of your time may reveal much about your priorities. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV)

#4 – The Path to Greatness

The Main Idea: It’s not a stretch to say that kids have a built-in desire for greatness. It’s a natural part of growing up. But, kids are bombarded by the media with images of what greatness looks like in our culture: being wealthy, a superstar athlete, being beautiful, and so on. These images don’t fit the Biblical idea of true greatness. Helping teenagers discover that the path to greatness is the pathway of following Jesus’ example of loving and serving others. Servanthood sets a new and real standard–one that can be achieved by everyone.

2. To the average person, how does our culture influence what greatness looks like?

3. What does living a great life look like to you?

4. Everyone has a built-in desire to live a great life. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

5. Do you believe that you can influence someone else’s life by serving them? Why?

Principles and Scriptures you might want to introduce into the discussion (without lecturing!):

1. Serving others makes you great, because God created you to serve. Ephesians 2:10. Matthew 25:34-46. Matthew 5:14-16.

2. Everyone can serve others and be a positive influence in others’ lives.

3. Jesus set the example of servanthood–and the standard that His followers ought to serve others. Matthew 20:25-28. John 13:2, 4-7, 12-17.

More background info you might find helpful in a discussion with your kids:

A friend of mine tells the true story of a man who once was an athlete.  He played college football until one day, as a young adult, he suffered a stroke at practice.  The stroke caused brain damage and the man was in a coma for a couple of weeks.  When he woke up, he was paralyzed and couldn’t walk.  The doctors told him that he would never walk again.  Eventually, he regained the use of his legs and re-learned how to walk, but the brain damage was severe enough that he would never be his old self again.  He would be challenged for the rest of his life.  The university where he had played football gave him a job as a janitor.  He loved his job.  He told my friend that he is so thankful to God that he is alive and can hug his wife and give piggyback rides to his kids.  He said he was thankful that the school gave him a good job – even if it is just picking up other people’s trash – because he loves helping people.