Coming Boldly to Our Father
Month 8: Talking with God — The Praying Family · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Memory Verse
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”— Matthew 7:7 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Joel 1–3
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (God promises to pour out His Spirit on all flesh — fulfilled at Pentecost!)The Heart of It
All week we've learned that God loves to talk with us. We've learned that He hears us. We've learned that His Spirit even helps us pray. Today we find out why we can come to God at all. And it's the best reason of all. It's Jesus. The Bible says we have "a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God" (). In the Old Testament, only a priest could go near God. He could go only once a year, and only with great care. But Jesus opened the way for us. He lived a perfect life. He died for our sins. So the door to the Father is wide open. We don't sneak in trembling. We walk in welcomed.
And Jesus understands us. The Bible says we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel for us in our weakness. Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, yet He never sinned (). He knows what it's like to be tired, sad, hungry, and tested. So He gets it. That's why the verse ends with such a warm invitation: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (). With confidence! Not because we're good enough, but because Jesus is. As a family, this is where we land. We come to God's throne. And it's a throne of grace. We are sure of a welcome. We are certain of help. So let's come.
Around the Table
Because of Jesus, you can run right up to God. It's like a child running to a daddy's lap. No fear. All welcome!
Let's do it: Run in place. Then "climb up" into Dad's lap, or pretend, and say, "I can come to God boldly!"
Jesus opened the door to God for us. He even knows how we feel, because He lived as a person too.
Let's talk: God's throne is a throne of grace, not anger. What does that mean?
Jesus is our great high priest. His perfect life and His sacrifice are why we're welcome. So we come boldly. We don't come because of what we did. We come because of what He did.
Let's go deeper: You come to God on Jesus' worthiness, not your own performance. How does knowing that change your prayers?
💬 Conversation Starter
Whose house can you walk into without even knocking, because you belong there? That's how welcome you are at God's throne. And it's all because of Jesus!
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Why are Christians so sure they can come to God directly? Because of Jesus, our high priest. He opened the way for us (). Our boldness doesn't rest on us being good enough. It rests on what Jesus did. That's a hope we can explain kindly to anyone who asks ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
holds two words in tension that your kids need to learn from you. Those words are confidence and grace. Many believers come to God timid, as if access depends on last week's performance. Many others come presumptuous, as if grace means God owes them. The gospel says something better. Come with confidence, because Jesus secured your welcome. And come to a throne of grace, because you still come as one who needs mercy. As you close this week of prayer with your family, model that posture. Let them hear a dad pray with confidence and humility, neither groveling nor entitled. That balance is the very heart of a Spirit-filled, gospel-centered prayer life: bold access through Christ, received as undeserved grace.
Draws on: Tony Evans, The Power of Prayer; Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that because of Jesus, our great high priest, we can come to Your throne boldly. Thank You that it is a throne of grace. There we find mercy. There we find help. We come now, as Your loved children. In Jesus' name, amen."
Because of Jesus, I can come to God boldly. I am welcomed at a throne of grace, sure of mercy and help.