SCRIPTURE:  Read Luke 14:15-24 – The parable of the Great Banquet

STUDY:  Jesus used many parables and stories to teach the people.  The parable in today’s scripture is about a King who invites all kinds of people to come and eat with him at a great feast. Read through the story together as a family.  What are the different excuses that each person gives as to why they can’t come?

God wants us to be part of His great plan but we come up with all kinds of excuses why we can’t do it.  Maybe you have heard people using some of these:

•    I am not old enough
•    I don’t have enough money to do that  (whatever “that” may be)
•    I do not know enough of the Bible to teach someone else
•    I don’t know how to share with someone how they can become a Christian
•    My family may not approve
•    My friends would think I am weird
•    I don’t have enough time

God wants us to be part of His plan to bring “His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven” (See Matthew 6:10).

CHALLENGE:  So often people will agree with something initially, but later find an excuse as to why it can’t work for them.  There is this little word that stops them:  “but.”  Here is your challenge this week:  Every time someone uses “but,” they have to put 5 cents  in a container on the kitchen table.  At the end of the week (or maybe through Christmas), count up what you have in your –“but” can.  Pray as a family and see if there is a special need or family that could use the money that you have collected.  Who do you think contributed the most amount of money?  Have you noticed that you have done more for Jesus because you have fewer excuses?

Here is another activity you can do together as a family.  So many times people look at Christianity as a bunch of rules and things we should not do. But Jesus came to set us free!  Take a piece of paper and divide it in half.  On one side, write the word  DON’T side and on the other write:  DO.  As a follower of Jesus, write down what you think we should not do and the things we can do.  Which side of your paper has more things written down?  If it is the DON’T, you may want to take more time to figure out what we are able to do because we are followers of Jesus.  The Bible says we have been set free to live out an abundant life (John 10:10).  That means we are free to be doing a lot more DO’s than DON’Ts.  Figure out some DO’s are that you can add to your life this week as you follow Jesus.

KEY POINT:  Advance:  Go Unless You Get a No

PRAYER:  Father God, thank you for the abundant life you have given me as your child.  There are so many things to be thankful for and so much I am able to do for your Kingdom. Help me to not make up excuses when you ask me to do something, but to trust that you will give me the power and the strength to follow you.


PARENTS:  If you remember the story of Gideon, he continually questions if God is asking him to be a military leader.  In Judges 6:14, God responds Gideon’s questions with His own:  “Am I not sending you?”  We must remember that when God sends us, we need to move forward.  Is there something God is asking you or your family to advance in?  Share this with your family this week and pray for one another in the steps of faith that need to be taken.