I. INTRODUCTION 

The following is a suggested outline to help prepare you for leading and facilitating a meaningful and spiritually nourishing time of family gathering and devotions at Easter. 

II. PREPARING FOR THE FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

A. ANNOUNCING IT 

When you invite your family and inform them of the time to arrive and when you will be sitting down to dinner, mention the family devotion in the conversation. By discussing this tradition ahead, people will not be surprised when you transition into this part of the day. Much of the pressure will be taken off you when the time arrives to segue into the devotion; it should come as no surprise. 

B. DRESSING FOR IT 

Give prior consideration as to how you will dress. Dress one step above your guests—but only one step. Your dress should show warmth, love, dignity, and a sense of seriousness. Remember, how you dress should reflect the fact that in the coming moments you will be God’s spokesman to your family—don’t take that lightly or discount the sobriety of your duties by sloppy dress. 

C. TIMING IT IN THE DAY 

A good time to have devotions is after the main meal, during dessert. Make sure the TV and background music are off and not competing for attention. Kindly inform everyone to “turn off all electronic devices during takeoff and landing.” You don’t want your young ones sending text messages or playing games, or your older ones checking in on the final round at Augusta while you are sharing God’s Word. 

I ask Danielle to serve dessert and beverages while I speak. This helps to take the edge off, especially for those who might not be saved. 

D. TRANSITIONING INTO IT 

As you circulate amongst your guests and invite them into the room (which you have previously determined is best for this purpose), make appropriate edifying-only small talk as people settle in. You are starting to set the tone. Be extra sensitive to making your guests feel comfortable. Help with moving the chairs, bringing people coffee, and other preparations. Manifest a servant’s heart. 

III. BEGINNING THE FAMILY DEVOTIONAL

A. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

Express your heartfelt gratitude that you could all be together during this wonderful time of the year. 

B. PRAISE YOUR WIFE 

Nothing is more important in the formation and stability of your children and grandchildren than for them to see how much you love your wife.

Follow the ACTS outline as you speak about your God-given partner in life: 

C. PRAISE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS 

Speak personally and edifyingly into the lives of your family members in front of others. This will require forethought to most effectively build them up. Herein, you are setting a long-term tone and culture for what you expect in terms of the interpersonal relationships amongst your clan. 

IV. OPEN THE SCRIPTURES TOGETHER 

Prepare adequate copies of the attached passage of Scripture for everyone. 

A. READ THE PASSAGE 

Ask your best reader to read the passage. This isn’t so much a time to exegete the passage as it is to open the Scripture together as a part of your family tradition. 

B. EXPLAIN THE PASSAGE 

Once the reading is completed, be ready to share some of your insights into the passage that are self-evident from the reading. 

V. SING A HYMN TOGETHER 

The hymn “He is Lord” is very appropriate for singing after reading 1 Corinthians 15:3–6. Provide the lyrics on a separate page and make enough copies for everyone. If not you, defer to someone else gifted in music to lead. 

Reflect on the profundity that no other religious leader ever rose from the dead. Such serves to prove the veracity of all that Jesus taught—and the singularity of belief in Christ for salvation. 

VI. SHARE YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY 

Prepare beforehand your personal conversion story. Speak no longer than three minutes—no long recitations of every detail of your life, please. (I can help you to sort through, outline, and codify this if you like.) An effective testimony includes the following three irreducible minimums: 

A. Your life before receiving Christ 

B. Specifically how you received Christ 

C. Life changes since you received Christ 

The main thing you want to achieve is to model for your family how they, too, can receive Christ if they haven’t already. So edit your comments with this objective in mind. You are providing them with a powerful living example and tool as to how to receive Christ at a later date. 

VII. SHARE THE GOSPEL 

There is nothing more important to accomplish as a husband and father than to lead your kids to Christ—now is a good time! Here is how to transition into that. 

A. APPLY THE PASSAGE 

It is fitting at this point, having read Scripture, sung a hymn, and listened to your testimony, for you to return to the Scripture and apply it to their lives. 

Ask your family members (if they haven’t already) to invite the Lord Jesus into their hearts—just like you did. Take advantage of the special warmth people feel at Easter, the power of having read the Word of God together, and your personal testimony, as pillars to support your personalized quest for their conversion. Don’t preach; rather emphasize warmth and gentleness (even though you are most likely struggling to be courageous in your inner person). 

B. GOSPEL VERSES TO USE 

Look up the following passages prior to the devotion and mark them in your Bible. (Don’t read them from this study.) These will aid you in sharing the Gospel in a succinct and thoughtful way. 

Notice how these verses progress through the plan of salvation—make appropriate transitions to achieve this same sense of progression. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). 

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). 

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name ( John 1:12). 

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1–2). 

C. INVITE OTHERS TO ASK JESUS INTO THEIR HEARTS 

Publicly pray the following prayer, inviting anyone who would like to ask Jesus into his heart to pray along with you silently as you pray out loud:

Personally, and individually, follow up afterwards with your family members; ask them if they prayed that prayer with you. In the days that follow, minister to each accordingly as the family shepherd. Begin to cultivate an image of yourself as the shepherd of the family. 

VIII. CLOSING THE FAMILY DEVOTION 

From the bottom of your heart, express to your family how important this time has been to you—and how you hope it has been meaningful to them as well. 

A. CLOSE WITH THE SAME HYMN 

Encourage everyone to sing the hymn once again from the heart. 

B. CLOSE WITH PRAYER 

You might choose to have someone else in the family whom you know has a strong walk with Christ to close in prayer. 

C. EXPRESS APPRECIATION 

You are the head of the household; once again take this opportunity to set a tone of love, mercy, graciousness, compassion, longsuffering, and care. Abundantly shower others with His love and tell them how much you appreciate each of them. How can you spend more time with each of your family members? For someone as busy as you are, priortizing time with your immediate and extended family members is probably your best way to prove your love for them and extend influence for Christ. 

IX. SUMMARY 

May God richly bless you as you assume your spiritual leadership responsibilities in your home. This is what God has called you to—and you need serve your family in this way in service to Him. Family devotions is one of the most important functions you will perform in life—with the greatest return on investment, I might add! 

Lastly, it is common to feel woefully inadequate in this role (I still struggle with those feelings too). Ask God for the strength. He will empower you— just wait and see what I mean! I’ll be praying for you, my friend. 

1 CORINTHIANS 15:3–6 

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.’

HE IS LORD 

He is Lord, He is Lord!
He has risen from the dead, and He is Lord!
Every knee shall bow, Every tongue confess,
That Jesus Christ is Lord.