The Light Has Come!
Month 1: The Word Became Flesh · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 1:4–9
4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
Memory Verse
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”— John 1:14 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Genesis 21–23
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Day 7 of 365 — Abraham trusts God on the mountain, a picture of the Son to come.)The Heart of It
We've reached the end of our first week, and it's time to worship together. All week John has been telling us who Jesus is. Now he gives us a picture we can feel. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (). Think about how a single candle changes a dark room. The darkness can't fight back. It can't win. It can't put the light out. That's Jesus coming into our world. Sin had made everything dark. But the true Light has come, and the darkness will never overcome Him.
John the Baptist's job was simply to point. He "came… to bear witness of the Light" (). That's our job too, as a family. We're not the light. But we get to point to the One who is. He is the "true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world" (). This week we learned a lot. Jesus was God from the beginning. He became flesh. He made all things. He came full of grace and truth. And He invites every one of us to receive Him and become God's children. So today we don't just learn. We celebrate. The Light has come! Let's worship Him together as a family.
Around the Table
Jesus is the Light, and darkness can never beat the light! When Jesus is here, there's nothing to be scared of.
Let's do it: Turn off the lights, then light one candle or phone light. See how the dark runs away? Cheer, "Jesus is the Light!"
John the Baptist's job was to point to Jesus, the Light. We get to point others to Him too.
Let's talk: Who is one person you could "point to Jesus" this week, and how would you do it?
"The darkness did not comprehend it" means the dark can never overcome or put out Jesus. He is the unstoppable Light.
Let's go deeper: Look back over this week. Jesus is eternal God, made flesh, the Creator, and full of grace and truth. Which truth meant the most to you, and why?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's something you used to be afraid of in the dark? How does knowing Jesus is "the Light no darkness can beat" help?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some say all religions are just different paths to the same light. But John calls Jesus the true Light (). He is not one of many lights. He is the real one that all others only imitate. Jesus Himself said, "I am the light of the world" (). We can hold that truth humbly and warmly ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Family worship doesn't need to be elaborate. A few minutes of reading, talking, singing, and praying together is a means of grace your children will remember for life. Tonight, consider closing the week by singing a simple song about Jesus as Light, and let each child name one thing they learned this week about who Jesus is. The Puritans called the home "a little church," and you, dad, are its pastor. You won't do it perfectly, and that's fine. The point isn't polish. It's presence and consistency. Light, after all, doesn't have to be bright to drive back darkness. It just has to keep shining. Keep showing up. The God you're pointing them toward is the unquenchable Light, and He will finish what you faithfully begin.
Draws on: Donald Whitney, Family Worship.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for showing us Jesus, the true Light. Help our family shine for Him. Help us point others to Him, so they can see the Light has come. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus is the true Light no darkness can ever put out. And my family gets to point others to Him.