Dugout Devotions | Something to Say
Turning Toward God's Love and Hope
Read Mark 6:14-29
I’ll start by saying that this reading is not one your children will hear in Sunday school. The accounting of the beheading of John the Baptist is not your typical Sunday school story. So, if your children are younger, consider reading Mark 1:1-8.
John was in the wilderness calling the people of Israel to repent. Repent means to turn away from something and toward something else. So, John tells the people to repent of their sins and turn back toward God. Remind your kids that God does not leave them when they sin or do something to harm someone or their relationship with God. God’s presence and love is their’s, always.
John, wearing clothing made of camel fur, was proclaiming that the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God, was present. The Kingdom of God was present because Christ was present. The Kingdom of God is present because Christ is present.
John was proclaiming God's presence, and the church continues the same work. We proclaim Christ present with us now, Christ resurrected, and that the grace of God has overcome all of the ways we turn away from God and harm one another.
The church is the voice in the wilderness, calling for repentance and preparing the way for Jesus. It points to Christ in all things because our hope is that with Christ present in all things, everything is being made new. We have hope in the truth that, no matter how powerful the forces of this world may seem, Christ has already overcome, and his kingdom is here among us.
Consider the following questions with the players in your dugout or while you wait in the comfort of your minivan ahead of your next game:
What does it mean to repent?
Discuss with your family what it means to turn away from something and turn toward something else. Can you think of a time when you had to change your behavior or attitude?
How does it make you feel to know that God’s presence and love are always with you, even when you make mistakes?
Encourage family members to share their feelings about God's constant love and presence, even when they have done something wrong.
Why do you think John the Baptist wore clothing made of camel fur and lived in the wilderness?
Talk about John the Baptist's unique lifestyle and how it helped him fulfill his mission of calling people to repent and prepare for Jesus.
How can we, as a family, proclaim that Christ is present with us now?
Brainstorm ways your family can show and share the message that Christ is present in your lives and community. This could be through acts of kindness, prayer, or sharing your faith with others.
What does it mean to you that the church is like a voice in the wilderness, calling for repentance and preparing the way for Jesus?
Discuss how the church continues John the Baptist's work today and how your family can be a part of this mission. What practical ways can you prepare the way for Jesus in your daily lives?
When you’ve finished your discussion, invite your players to pray this prayer with you:
Dear God, thank you for John the Baptist. Help me be like John in telling everyone that you love them. Help me remember that you love me, and when I forget or need a reminder, thank you to the church, which will always tell me that you love me. We’ll talk to you later. Amen.