Jesus Promises the Helper

Scripture: John 14:16–17, 26
Big Idea: We’re not alone in following Jesus.

Day 1 — Family Devo

Read the Passage Together

Bible Reading — John 14:16–17, 26 (NKJV):
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Review/Gospel Connection:

‘Jesus promised a helper to all those who believe in Him. Have you believed in Jesus as your Savior? Do you have the Holy Spirit living within you?’ If not, stop here. Use this opportunity to talk about the gospel. Jesus died and rose again to defeat death and give us the free gift of life. Even though we are sinners, God forgives us and wants to be
with us forever in heaven. He also invites to follow Him and share His love with others through the power of the helper Jesus promised us - The Holy Spirit.

Talk About It:
(in order of age and stage)

1. Who is our helper?
2. How does the Holy Spirit help us?
3. Why did Jesus send us a helper?

Pray Together:

Thank God for giving us a helper in the Holy Spirit and ask Him to show you ways He can be our helper this week.

Jesus Promises the Helper

Scripture: John 14:16–17, 26
Big Idea: We’re not alone in following Jesus.

Day 2 — Family Activity

The Trinity Apple Illustration
(optional resource book “3 in 1” by Joanne Marxhausen)

What you need:

• 1 apple
• A knife (grown-up use only!)

Explanation:

1. Show the whole apple - “This is one apple”
2. Cut the apple in half - “When we cut it, we can see different parts of the apple.”
3. Point out the three parts
   • Skin – the outside
   • Flesh – the part we eat
   • Core – the middle with the seed
4. “The apple has three parts, but it is still one apple.”
5. Connect it to God - “God is kind of like this apple. God is one God, but He is three Persons:
   • God the Father
   • God the Son (Jesus)
   • God the Holy Spirit
   • They are different, but they are all God, just like the skin, flesh, and core are all part of one apple.”
6. Important Clarification: “We can’t fully understand God. The apple doesn’t explain exactly how the Trinity works, but we can know that our God is Three in One, and He loves us very much.”

Jesus Promises the Helper

Scripture: John 14:16–17, 26
Big Idea: We’re not alone in following Jesus.

Day 3 — Family Challenge

Family Challenge for the Week:

Memorize February’s memory verse this week! Decide together on a fun prize or activity that your family can participate in if everyone memorizes it!

The Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures written on our hearts to speak to us.

The Holy Spirit Teaches Us

Scripture: John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12
Big Idea: The Spirit helps us understand God’s truth.

Day 1 — Family Devo

Read the Passage Together

Bible Reading — John 16:13 (NKJV):
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

1 Corinthians 2:12 (NKJV):
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Review/Gospel Connection:

‘The Holy Spirit lives within all those who believe in Jesus to help us understand more about God. Have you believed in Jesus as your Savior? Do you have the Holy Spirit living within you?”

If not, stop here. Use this opportunity to talk about the gospel. Jesus died and rose again to defeat death and give us the free gift of life. Even though we are sinners, God forgives us and wants to be with us forever in heaven. He also invites to follow Him and share His love with others through the power of the Holy Spirit

Talk About It:
(in order of age and stage)

1. Who can help us learn when we don’t understand something about God or the Bible?
2. How does the Holy Spirit help us understand God’s truth?
3. What was a time you didn’t understand something about God? Did you ask the Holy Spirit to
   help you understand? What did you learn? If not, how can you ask for help next time?

Pray Together:

Thank God for giving us a teacher in the Holy Spirit and ask Him to show you ways He can be our teacher this week.

The Holy Spirit Teaches Us

Scripture: John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12
Big Idea: The Spirit helps us understand God’s truth.

Day 2 — Family Activity

Family Prayer Night

We talk to the Holy Spirit through Prayer. Spend some time praying together as a family. The goal is
to show your kids there is not “one way” to pray. Prayer simply means talking to God. Prayer fills us
up– makes us happy, gives us courage and strength, and teaches us more about God.

1. Gather & Set the Tone: Sit together in a calm space. Let kids know this isn’t about “perfect prayers,” but about talking to God together.
2. Read the Bible Together: Read John 16:13 or 1 Corinthians 2:12 out loud. “God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us understand His truth.”
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to Teach You: Pray a short prayer like: “Holy Spirit, please help us understand God and learn from Him tonight.”
4. Practice Praying Out Loud (Optional but Encouraged)
   Take turns praying simple prayers.
   Prompts you can use:
   • “Thank you God for…”
   • “Help us to.."
     (Younger kids can repeat after a parent or say just one sentence.)
     
     
5. Prayer Journaling Time: Give everyone paper and let them respond in a way that fits their age:
   • Write a prayer to God
   • Write or copy a Bible verse
   • Draw a picture of what they want to talk to God about
   • Parents can write prayers for their children or family
     
     
6. Share (Optional but Encouraged): Invite family members to share what they wrote or drew.
7. Close with a Family Prayer: End by thanking God for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us.

The Holy Spirit Teaches Us

Scripture: John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12
Big Idea: The Spirit helps us understand God’s truth.

Day 3 — Family Challenge

Family Challenge for the Week:

What is something about God or the Bible that you don’t understand? Pray about it this week, talk about it together, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand together as a family.

Follow up: Did you memorize the February memory verse last week? Practice it together again! Write it in your heart. The Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures written on our hearts to speak to us!

The Holy Spirit Guides Us

Scripture: Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16
Big Idea: The Spirit shows us the right way to live.

Day 1 — Family Devo

Read the Passage Together

Bible Reading — Romans 8:14 (NKJV):
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Galatians 5:16 (NKJV):
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Review/Gospel Connection:

When we believe in Jesus, He invites us to follow Him. When we follow Him we get to experience joy and share His love with the people around us. The Holy Spirit helps us to follow Jesus. Have you believed in Jesus as your Savior? Do you have the Holy Spirit living within you?’

If not, stop here. Use this opportunity to talk about the gospel. Jesus died and rose again to defeat death and give us the free gift of life. Even though we are sinners, God forgives us and wants to be with us forever in heaven. He also invites to follow Him and share His love with others through the
power of the helper Jesus promised us - The Holy Spirit.

Talk About It:
(in order of age and stage)

1. When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, does He want us to follow Him?
2. How can we learn about following Jesus? Who helps us to do that?
3. Can you think of a time when you had to choose between right and wrong—how might the
   Holy Spirit guide you in moments like that?

Pray Together:

Thank God for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide is in our daily lives.

The Holy Spirit Guides Us

Scripture: Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16
Big Idea: The Spirit shows us the right way to live.

Day 2 — Family Activity

Follow the Leader

What You Need

• A blindfold (or closed eyes)
• Everyday items to create a small obstacle path: (pillows, chairs, shoes, stuffed animals—anything already around)

How to Play

Round 1: On Your Own

1. Set up a short obstacle path.
2. One person is blindfolded.
3. Ask them to carefully try to get through without help.
4. Stop if it feels unsafe or too tricky.

(This part should feel confusing or hard—but safe.)

Round 2: With a Helper

1. Reset the course.
2. The same person stays blindfolded.
3. A second person becomes the Helper, giving calm, clear directions:
   • “Take two steps forward.”
   • “Turn left.”
   • “Step over the pillow.”

Watch how much easier it is with guidance.

Connect

“When we try to live life on our own, it can feel confusing—like walking with our eyes closed.God didn’t leave us alone. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us and show us the right way to go.”

The Holy Spirit Guides Us

Scripture: Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16
Big Idea: The Spirit shows us the right way to live.

Day 3 — Family Challenge

Family Challenge for the Week:

When you need help making a good choice this week, say a simple prayer asking the Holy Spirit to help you. Tell a person in your family about how the Holy Spirit helped you do the right thing.

Follow up: What did God teach you last week when you prayed and asked for understanding?

Living with the Spirit’s help

Scripture: Galatians 5:22–23
Big Idea: We partner daily with the Spirit.

Day 1 — Family Devo

Read the Passage Together

Bible Reading — Galatians 5:22–23 (NKJV):
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Review/Gospel Connection:

When we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us. When we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, our hearts will change to become like Jesus. Have you believed in Jesus as your Savior? Do you have the Holy Spirit living within you?’

If not, stop here. Use this opportunity to talk about the gospel. Jesus died and rose again to defeat death and give us the free gift of life. Even though we are sinners, God forgives us and wants to be with us forever in heaven. He also invites to follow Him and share His love with others through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Talk About It:
(in order of age and stage)

1. Who can help us make good choices every day?
2. Did Jesus show the fruit of the Spirit?
3. Why do you think God gives us the Holy Spirit’s power to help us grow fruit instead of expecting us to do it on our own?

Pray Together:

Thank God for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us in our daily lives.

Living with the Spirit’s help

Scripture: Galatians 5:22–23
Big Idea: We partner daily with the Spirit.

Day 2 — Family Activity

Fruit of the Spirit Examples

1. Name one fruit of the Spirit.
   • (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)
2. As a family, act it out, draw a picture, or name one real-life way we can have that fruit in our
   lives.
   
   

Examples:

• Kindness → “Help clean up toys.”
• Patience → “Wait our turn without complaining.”
• Love → “Give someone a hug or kind words.”
• Self-control → “Stop when it’s time to be done.”

Living with the Spirit’s help

Scripture: Galatians 5:22–23
Big Idea: We partner daily with the Spirit.

Day 3 — Family Challenge

Family Challenge for the Week:

Choose one fruit of the Spirit this week to practice. Remember, the fruit comes from the Holy Spirit, not from our own ability. Pray and ask God to help you show the fruit you chose in your life this week.

Follow up: What was one way the Holy Spirit helped you make a good choice last week?