Rejoicing on the Road Home
Month 5: What About Other Religions? · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: Acts 8:36-39
36 As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?” [37] Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
Memory Verse
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.”— 1 John 4:1 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Judges 16-18
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 148 of 365 — Samson's strength and weakness, and a time when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes.")The Heart of It
We've followed the Ethiopian official all week. Today we reach the happy ending. As the chariot rolled along, they came to some water. The man said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (). He'd heard about Jesus. He believed in his heart. And now he wanted to go public. So they stopped the chariot. They went down into the water. And Philip baptized him. He was a believer who chose to follow Jesus, and he declared it for all to see. Then comes one of the most beautiful lines in the whole story. "He went on his way rejoicing" (). He came searching and confused. He left saved and singing. That's what Jesus does.
This is a perfect picture to close our month on other religions. The man had traveled the world. He owned scrolls. He tried hard to find God. And none of it filled him. But then he met Jesus. He believed. He was baptized. And joy flooded in. He headed home a changed man, carrying the good news to a whole new land. That's why we hold to the truth that Jesus is the only way (). Not to feel better than anyone. We hold to it because no other path leads to that joy. As a family, let's worship the God who finds searching people, fills empty hearts, and sends them home rejoicing. And let's ask Him to make us the ones He sends with the news.
Around the Table
The man met Jesus. He got baptized. And he went home so, so happy! Jesus turns sad and searching into joyful and found.
Let's do it: Do a "rejoicing" happy dance and sing one line of a favorite Jesus song together.
The official didn't wait. Once he believed, he wanted to be baptized and go public. Following Jesus is worth being glad and open about.
Let's talk: What's something Jesus has done in our family that makes you want to "go on your way rejoicing"?
His search through religion and travel ended at one Person. Baptism was his bold, public "yes" to following Jesus. The claim that Christ alone saves isn't bad news. It's the door to real joy.
Let's go deeper: How would you explain to someone that "Jesus is the only way" is actually loving, generous news and not arrogance?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's something so good that the moment you got it, you couldn't stop smiling? That's a little taste of how this man felt when he found Jesus!
🛡️ Defending the Faith
"Jesus is the only way" sounds narrow at first. But think about a rescuer in a flood who has only one boat. Pointing to that boat isn't arrogance. It's love. So we say it the way Philip did. We say it gladly, gently, and with joy that makes others curious ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
End this month by leading worship, not just review. The Ethiopian's story bookends a whole month of hard topics with joy, and that's intentional. Think of all we covered: idols, counterfeits, false prophets, other religions. If your kids leave this month merely cautious, you've taught them only half the lesson. The truth that Jesus alone saves shouldn't produce smugness. It should produce gratitude and mission. We were found, so we go find others. Tony Evans reminds fathers that family worship is where doctrine becomes delight. So tonight, sing. Tell the story of how you came to Christ, or how someone pointed you to Him. Let your children see that the gospel of the one Savior is the most joyful news your home knows. And let them see that you, too, are still going on your way rejoicing.
Draws on: Tony Evans, Kingdom Family Devotional.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that You find searching people and fill them with joy. Thank You that Jesus is the way home. Make our family glad in You, and send us out rejoicing to point others to the Savior. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus turns searching hearts into rejoicing ones. Then He sends them home to share the joy.