Lawrence Evangelical Church Lawrence Evangelical Church

Weekly Family Devotional

True and Better

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Read Together

Matthew 5:17 (ESV)

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Talk About It

Sometimes when something “new” comes, we think the old thing should be thrown away—like an old toy when you get a new one. But Jesus says that’s not how God’s Word works. The “Law and the Prophets” means the Old Testament Scriptures God gave to His people. Jesus did not come to erase them or say they don’t matter. He came to fulfill them. To “fulfill” means Jesus came to do what those Scriptures were pointing to. In the Old Testament, God’s people related to Him through sacrifices, priests, and the temple. Those things were real and important—but they were also like signs pointing forward. They showed people they needed forgiveness and a Savior. Jesus is that Savior. He lived perfectly, obeyed God completely, and then died and rose again to bring the new covenant—God’s better promise—so we can be forgiven and belong to Him by faith. So we still read the Old Testament, and we remember: it leads us to Jesus.

For Parents to Explain

Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that Jesus didn’t erase the Old Testament—He fulfilled it. Help us love all of Scripture and see how it points to Jesus. Teach us to trust Him as our Savior. Amen.

Family Activities

Fulfilled Promises Hunt

  1. Each person names one promise they made this week (clean room, kindness, homework, etc.).
  2. Talk: Was it kept or broken? How did it feel either way?
  3. Read Matthew 5:17 again and say: “Jesus always keeps God’s promises.”
  4. Choose one promise to keep tomorrow, and ask a parent to check in.

Not Abolish—Fulfill!

  1. Parent says: “Abolish means to tear down. Fulfill means to finish the mission.”
  2. Act it out with blocks/LEGO: start building a “promise bridge.”
  3. First, knock it down (abolish) and ask: “Did that help?”
  4. Then finish the bridge (fulfill) and say together: “Jesus fulfilled God’s Word!”

Family Prayer

Take turns thanking God for something you’ve learned about Jesus, and ask Him to help you listen to and obey His Word this week.