FAMILY TIME - Daily Family Discipleship Leadership Guide

FAMILY TIME - Daily Discipleship Connection For Couples or Families

It is recommended that you keep FAMILY TIME to about  30 minutes.  Though some families enjoy meeting for longer periods of time, we find that keeping FAMILY TIME to 30 minutes keeps families consistent with daily meetings.  If FAMILY TIME last too long, it can end up feeling burdensome or time challenges will interfere.  Shorter meetings, on the other hand are anticipated with excitement every day.  Then, when extra time is needed, it is welcomed and enjoyed by all.  Note also that many families have one day a week, often Sunday, when they are meeting together with other families for small groups or public worship gatherings.  On these days, some families do not have the FAMILY TIME.  Other families enjoy FAMILY TIME every day in addition to other commitments.

1. Pray Begin by thanking God for His presence and asking God to bless your time together.  Note:  This just opens the time in prayer, You will pray throughout the time together. Invite different familiy members to lead in prayer as you go through your FAMILY TIME (about 1 minute)
2. Sharing Invite everyone to share about their day. Encourage everyone to share praises, challenges and confessions.  With children, you may want to use "Glads, Sads and Sorrys" or "Highs, Lows and Oh Nos" in the place of Praises, Celebrations and Confessions.  This may be more relatable for children. After each person shares, invite someone else to pray for them. (about 8 minutes)
3. Pray and Read Invite someone to  pray for God to speak through His word. Invite someone else to read the passage you want to focus on. (about 5  minutes)
4. Observations or Questions. Ask, "What does this passage teach us about God and people and how does it apply to your life?" Ask for observations or questions.  Note: If someone asks a question, ask others for possible answers from the passage.  (About 7 minutes)
5. By God's grace, I will…. Ask "Based on what God has taught us today, what do we need to start, stop, or continue doing?" Encourage them, with humility and faith, to express their commitment to obedience in a "By God's grace, I will..." statement. (About 4 Minutes)
6. Think beyond the family:  Invite each family member to name at lease one person who they will seek to lead closer to God by showing God's love in actions and sharing God's love with words. (about 2 minutes)
7. Prayer Pray for God to give us all the love and power we need to share God's love and fulfill our "By God's grace" commitments.  Pray for God to put in our heart what is in His heart for everyone we encounter in the coming day. (about 2 minutes)

Make It Easy To Remember By Using The Three Step Approach.  Once you have learned the steps above, there is a simple way of recalling them.  Remembering to pray throughout your time together,  remember three simple steps guided by three simple questions followed by one humble commitment. 

1. Look Back as you share about your day.  "What are your praises and challenges?"

2. Look Up as you read the Bible. "What is God teaching us about Himself and Ourselves?"

3. Look Forward as you commit to obeying what you have learned. "What is God calling me to start, stop or continue doing?" and "Who am I going to share with?"

One Humbly Commitment: Everyone makes a "By God's grace, I will...." commitment.