Family Day 15: A unified church
Today's Scripture
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." -Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)
Supplies
- A family-friendly jigsaw puzzle
Reflect on the Word
Gather around the table or sit on the floor and put the puzzle together as a team. What does it mean to be unified? Share responses and examples.
To be unified means to be brought together as one. Examine your puzzle. Each puzzle piece is different from all the others. It is one of a kind. Together with all the other pieces, it creates a unified picture. We're all different, uniquely created by God. And yet, even with our differences, the Holy Spirit still brings us together, like these puzzle pieces.
Without the Holy Spirit, it's impossible for us to be unified as believers. We all know loving others can be hard sometimes. The good news is that Jesus doesn't expect us to be able to love others on our own. The Holy Spirit help us do that - He unifies believers!
Reflect, pray + bless
- Reflect: "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" (Psalms 133:1, NIV)
- Pray: The Holy Spirit's power to unify is true for our world, our churches and our homes. Let's start in our homes. Pray over every family member with words of encouragement and truths about who God created them to be.
- Bless: "[Child's name], may you experience the unity God's Spirit brings. May you share God's love with others (even those who are hard to get along with), and may your life be marked by God's peace."