5-Day Family Discipleship
Helping all people know Jesus, love Jesus, and follow Jesus—together.
DAY 1 — JESUS IS THE GREAT “I AM”
Read: John 8:48–59
Jesus' opponents accuse Him of being demon-possessed and question His identity. Jesus responds by pointing to His relationship with the Father and making an astonishing statement:
“Before Abraham was, I am.”
Jesus does not merely say that He existed before Abraham. He uses the language of God's own name. When Moses asked God His name, God answered, “I AM WHO I AM.”
Jesus is claiming something far greater than simply being an important teacher. He is declaring that He is eternal and divine.
The crowd understands what Jesus is saying—and they pick up stones to kill Him.
Jesus' identity demands a response.
He is not simply someone we admire. He is God in the flesh.
HEAD — What should we know?
- What does Jesus say about Himself in verses 54–58? What does He claim about His relationship with Abraham and the Father?
- Why do you think Jesus' statement, “Before Abraham was, I am,” was so shocking to His hearers?
HEART — What should we love or believe?
- How does knowing that Jesus is eternal change the way you think about how trustworthy He is?
- What are some things you are tempted to trust more than Jesus?
HANDS — How should we respond?
- What is one area of your life where you need to trust Jesus more completely this week?
- What would it look like for your family to honor Jesus as God—not merely as a good teacher or example?
Family Prayer
Jesus, You are the eternal Son of God. Help us to trust You, honor You, and worship You for who You truly are. Amen.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
DAY 2 — GOD IS THE GREAT “I AM”
Read: Exodus 3:13–15
When God called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses asked what he should tell the Israelites when they asked who had sent him.
God answered:
“I AM WHO I AM.”
God's name communicates His eternal, self-existent nature. He doesn't depend upon anyone else for His existence. He simply is.
Now return to Jesus' words in John 8:
“Before Abraham was, I am.”
Jesus is intentionally connecting Himself to the God who appeared to Moses.
The Jesus we worship is not a created being who came into existence at Bethlehem. He is the eternal Son who has always existed.
That means Jesus doesn't merely have answers.
Jesus is the answer to who God is.
HEAD — What should we know?
- What name does God give Himself in Exodus 3:14?
- How does God's name in Exodus 3 help us understand Jesus' statement in John 8:58?
HEART — What should we love or believe?
- What difference does it make to know that God has always existed and will always exist?
- When life feels uncertain or unstable, how can knowing that God never changes give you confidence?
HANDS — How should we respond?
- Is there something your family is worried about right now that you can consciously place in God's hands?
- What is one way you can remind yourself this week that Jesus is greater than whatever you are facing?
Family Prayer
God, You are the great I AM. You have always been and always will be. Help us to trust You when our circumstances change because You never change. Amen.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
DAY 3 — JESUS IS BEFORE ALL THINGS
Read: Colossians 1:15–20
John 8 teaches us that Jesus existed before Abraham.
Colossians takes us even further.
Paul tells us that all things were created through Jesus and for Jesus. Jesus is not part of creation. He is the Creator.
Everything exists because of Him.
Your family exists because of Him.
Your home exists because of Him.
The world around you exists because of Him.
And ultimately, everything exists for Him.
This changes the way we think about our lives.
We aren't simply trying to fit Jesus into our lives.
Our lives are supposed to fit into His purposes.
HEAD — What should we know?
- According to verses 16–17, what does Jesus have to do with creation?
- What does Paul mean when he says, “He is before all things”?
HEART — What should we love or believe?
- If everything was created through Jesus and for Jesus, what does that say about how valuable He is?
- What part of your life is hardest for you to surrender to Jesus?
HANDS — How should we respond?
- What is one thing your family can do this week that puts Jesus at the center rather than yourselves?
- How could you use something God has given you—your time, possessions, abilities, or relationships—for Jesus' glory?
Family Prayer
Jesus, everything was created through You and for You. Help us remember that our lives belong to You. Teach us to live for Your glory rather than our own. Amen.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
DAY 4 — JESUS GIVES LIFE
Read: John 11:25–26
Jesus makes another extraordinary statement:
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
Jesus doesn't merely give resurrection.
He is the resurrection.
He doesn't merely tell us how to find life.
He is the life.
This connects beautifully with John 8:51, where Jesus says:
“If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
Jesus isn't promising that His followers will never experience physical death. Lazarus eventually died again, and Christians still die physically.
Jesus is promising something much greater.
For those who belong to Him, physical death is not the end.
Because Jesus is life, those who trust Him have eternal life.
That gives Christians a completely different perspective on death.
We don't have to fear death as the end because Jesus has conquered death.
HEAD — What should we know?
- What does Jesus call Himself in John 11:25?
- What does Jesus promise to those who believe in Him?
HEART — What should we love or believe?
- How does knowing that Jesus is the resurrection change the way you think about death?
- What fears about death or the future can you give to Jesus?
HANDS — How should we respond?
- How can the hope of eternal life change the way you live today?
- Is there someone in your family or circle of friends who needs to hear about the hope we have in Jesus? How could you begin that conversation?
Family Prayer
Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life. Thank You that death does not have the final word for those who belong to You. Give us courage to live with hope because You have conquered death. Amen.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
DAY 5 — JESUS IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP
Read: Philippians 2:5–11
Throughout John 8, Jesus' opponents refuse to believe who He is.
They question Him.
They insult Him.
They reject His claims.
But the passage ultimately forces us to answer one question:
Who is Jesus?
Philippians 2 gives us the answer.
Jesus humbled Himself, became a servant, went to the cross, and rose again. And because of who He is and what He has accomplished, God has exalted Him.
One day every knee will bow.
Every tongue will confess.
Jesus Christ is Lord.
John 8 shows us Jesus declaring His eternal identity.
Philippians 2 shows us the proper response:
Jesus is worthy of worship.
The question isn't whether Jesus deserves our worship.
The question is whether we will willingly worship Him now.
HEAD — What should we know?
- What does Philippians 2 teach us about who Jesus is and what He did for us?
- What does verse 11 say every person will ultimately confess about Jesus?
HEART — What should we love or believe?
- What about Jesus from this week's readings causes you to worship Him most?
- Is there an area where you have been treating Jesus as an adviser rather than as Lord? What needs to change?
HANDS — How should we respond?
- What is one practical way your family can worship Jesus outside of Sunday morning?
- What would it look like for your family to live this week as people who genuinely believe that Jesus is Lord?
Family Prayer
Jesus, You are Lord. You are eternal, You are the Creator, You are the resurrection and the life, and You are worthy of our worship. Help our family not only to know who You are but to live every day under Your lordship. Amen.