Ephesians for Families
6 Weeks of Identity, Grace, and Walking Worthy
The Gathering CTX · Cleburne, Texas
This booklet is designed to help your family explore the book of Ephesians together. Each week matches what we're learning at The Gathering, so you can keep the conversation going at home.
Ephesians is all about one big question: Who are you, really? Not who the world says you are. Not who your mistakes say you are. Who GOD says you are.
And the answer Paul gives in this letter is stunning: You are chosen. You are loved. You are alive in Christ. You are filled with the Spirit. You are part of something bigger than yourself.
Use these devotionals however works best for your family. Around the dinner table. Before bed. On a drive. There's no wrong way to do it.
We are praying for your family as you walk through this together. May your kids know who they really are in Christ.
Pastor Billy & The Gathering
Deeper teaching. Bigger questions. Real answers.
Imagine God looking at the universe before He even made it. Before the stars. Before the oceans. Before the first tree or animal or person. And in that moment, God thought about you.
Not just "people in general." YOU. Your name. Your face. Your personality. And He said: "I choose that one. That one is mine."
That's what Paul is telling us in Ephesians 1. God didn't wait to see if you would be good enough. He didn't wait to see if you would mess up. He chose you before you existed. He adopted you into His family. He blessed you with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.
This means your identity is not based on what you do. It's based on what God has already done. You are chosen. You are adopted. You belong.
Write each family member's name on a piece of paper. Under each name, write: "Chosen by God before the foundation of the world." Put these somewhere you'll see them this week.
I am chosen by God! I am adopted into His family! I am blessed with every spiritual blessing! My identity is not based on what I do. It is based on what God has done. I belong to Him!
Father, thank You for choosing us before we were even born. Thank You that we don't have to earn Your love. Help us remember who we really are this week. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Paul uses a pretty intense word in this chapter: dead. Not "struggling." Not "kind of lost." Dead.
Before we knew Jesus, we weren't just making mistakes. We were spiritually dead. Like a phone with no battery. Like a plant with no water. We couldn't fix ourselves because dead things can't do anything.
But then comes the best two words in the Bible: BUT GOD.
But God, who is rich in mercy and great in love, made us alive. He didn't wait for us to get better. He came to us while we were still dead and raised us up. That's not something you can earn. That's called GRACE.
And not only did He make us alive. He brought us close. Through the blood of Jesus, the wall came down. Now we belong. Now we're home.
Draw two circles. Label one "FAR" and one "CLOSE." Fill each one with what life looks like without Jesus vs. with Jesus. Draw an arrow between them labeled: "Jesus brought me here."
I was dead, but God made me alive! I was far away, but Jesus brought me close! I am saved by grace through faith. It is a gift from God. I did not earn it. I cannot lose it. I am alive in Christ!
Father, thank You for the two greatest words: "But God." Thank You for making us alive when we were dead. Thank You for bringing us close when we were far away. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Paul talks about a "mystery" in this chapter. In the Bible, a mystery is something that WAS hidden but NOW has been revealed. And the mystery is this: God's family is for EVERYONE. Same inheritance. Same love. Same access to the Father.
Then Paul prays one of the biggest prayers in the Bible. He prays that we would know how wide, long, high, and deep God's love is. That we would be filled with ALL the fullness of God. Not 10%. Not half. ALL of it.
And then he reminds us: God is able to do FAR MORE than anything we ask or even imagine. You haven't asked for too much. You've probably asked for too little.
Each person writes down the BIGGEST thing they can imagine God doing. Put all the papers in a jar labeled: "God Can Do Far More." Keep it visible. Pray over it together.
The mystery is out! I am part of God's family! I am filled with all the fullness of God! My God is able to do far more abundantly than everything I ask or imagine! I dream big because I serve a big God!
Father, thank You that we are part of Your family. Fill us with all Your fullness. Do far more in our lives than we could ever imagine. In Jesus' name, Amen.
For three chapters, Paul told us WHO WE ARE. Now he says: "Therefore... walk worthy." Live like it.
Paul uses a picture of clothes. The "old self" is like dirty, worn-out clothes. They represent the old way of living: lying, anger, selfishness. But when you became a Christian, you got NEW clothes. The "new self" created after the likeness of God.
TAKE IT OFF. Stop wearing what doesn't belong to you anymore. Put on kindness. Put on truth. Put on patience. Put on forgiveness. Your Monday should match your Sunday. Your actions should match who God says you are.
Get two pieces of paper. Label one "OLD SELF" and one "NEW SELF." Write what belongs on each. Crumple up the old self paper and throw it away together. Keep the new self paper visible.
I walk worthy of my calling! I take off the old self. It has no power over me! I put on the new self, created after the likeness of God! I speak truth. I forgive quickly. I use my words to build people up. My actions match my identity!
Father, help us take off the old self and put on the new self every day. When we mess up, remind us of Your grace. Help our actions match who You say we are. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have you ever watched a little kid copy their mom or dad? That's what Paul is talking about here: BE IMITATORS OF GOD, as beloved children. You don't imitate someone by trying really hard. You imitate them by being CLOSE to them.
Paul also says we are LIGHT. Not "in the light." We ARE light. Because Jesus, the Light of the World, lives in us. You don't argue with darkness. You just turn on the light.
And Paul tells us to be FILLED with the Spirit. Every day. The Spirit is like an endless reservoir of everything you need. Your job isn't to fill yourself. Your job is to yield and let Him fill you.
Turn off all the lights in a room. Sit in the darkness. Then have one person turn on a flashlight. Talk about how ONE light changes everything. You are that light.
I am an imitator of God as His beloved child! I walk in love the way Jesus loved me! I am light in the Lord, and I walk as a child of light! I am filled with the Spirit every day, not just on Sundays! I shine bright because Jesus lives in me!
Father, thank You that we are Your beloved children. Help us imitate You by staying close to You. Fill us with Your Spirit every day. Help us walk in love and shine as light. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Paul ends with a warning and a promise. The warning: you are in a battle. Not pretend. A real spiritual battle against a real enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy.
But here's the promise: God has already given you everything you need to win. Belt of truth. Breastplate of righteousness. Shoes of the gospel. Shield of faith. Helmet of salvation. Sword of the Spirit.
And here's the key word Paul uses over and over: STAND. Not run. Not hide. Stand. Why? Because Jesus already won the battle. You're not fighting FOR victory. You're standing IN victory.
Make your own "Armor of God" together using paper or cardboard! As you make each piece, talk about what it represents. Keep it visible as a reminder that you are equipped for battle.
I am strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might! I put on the whole armor of God! The belt of truth is fastened! The shield of faith is raised! The sword of the Spirit is in my hand! I STAND and I do not fall! Jesus already won the victory and I stand in it!
Father, thank You for giving us Your armor. Help us put it on every day. When the enemy attacks with lies, help us stand on the truth. We are not fighting alone. We stand in the victory Jesus already secured. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Simple words. Big truths. Fun activities.
Have you ever been picked for a team? It feels SO good to hear your name called! Guess what? Before God made the world, God thought about YOU. And He said: "I pick that one! That one is going to be in my family!" God picked you because He LOVES you. You are chosen. You belong to God!
Draw a big heart. Write your child's name inside it. Around the heart write: "CHOSEN BY GOD." Decorate it together and hang it in their room.
God picked me! I am chosen! I am loved! I am in God's family!
Dear God, thank You for picking me! Thank You for loving me! I love You too. Amen.
Imagine you were lost far away from home. You couldn't find your way back. Then someone came to rescue you! They found you and carried you all the way home. That's what Jesus did for us! We were far away from God. But Jesus came and found us. He brought us close. Now we are HOME with God!
Stand far apart across the room. Then run together and give a big hug! Say: "We were FAR, but Jesus brought us CLOSE!"
I was far away, but Jesus brought me close! I am alive! I am home with God!
Dear Jesus, thank You for finding me and bringing me close to God. I love being in Your family! Amen.
God has a really BIG family. Everyone who loves Jesus is part of it! And here's something amazing: God can do MORE than you can even think of! More than you can imagine! God is SO big and SO powerful, and He loves YOU!
Draw a picture of your family. Then draw a big circle around it and write "GOD'S FAMILY" on top.
I am in God's family! God loves me! God can do MORE than I can even imagine!
Dear God, thank You that I'm in Your family! Thank You that You can do big things! I love You! Amen.
God wants us to "put on" good things. Put on kindness! Put on telling the truth! Put on sharing! And take OFF the yucky stuff. Take off being mean. Take off lying. Take off selfishness. You're God's kid! Act like it!
Say something and have your child say "PUT ON!" (if it's good) or "TAKE OFF!" (if it's bad). Kindness = Put on! Lying = Take off! Sharing = Put on!
I am God's kid! I put on kindness! I tell the truth! I forgive! I act like who I am!
Dear God, help me be kind and tell the truth. Help me act like Your kid today! Amen.
What happens when you turn on a light in a dark room? The darkness goes away! YOU are like a light! When you are kind, when you love people, when you tell the truth, you SHINE! God says: "You ARE light!" Shine bright today!
Turn off the lights and sit in the dark. Give your child a flashlight and let them turn it on. Say: "You are like this light! Everywhere you go, you can shine!"
I am a child of light! I shine bright! Jesus lives in me! I walk in love!
Dear God, thank You that I am a light! Help me shine bright for You today. I love You! Amen.
God gives YOU armor! Not armor made of metal, but special armor that helps you be strong and brave. God gives you truth to protect you from lies. He gives you His Word like a special sword! When you feel scared or sad, remember: God made you strong!
Stand up tall like a superhero! Put your hands on your hips. Say together: "I am STRONG in the LORD!" Do your best superhero pose. God made you brave!
I am strong in the Lord! God keeps me safe! I am brave because God is with me!
Dear God, thank You for making me strong and brave! Help me remember that You are always with me. I love You! Amen.
Sundays at 5:00 PM
Cleburne Conference Center
"I walk with victory, not to it."