01 · GATHER ROUND
Start with a question.
“What’s the best way to say thank you without using any words?”
Hugs, drawings, helping out, a huge smile—all great answers.
02 · OUR BIG QUESTION
Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word?
Yes, so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.
New City Catechism · Question 34 · Children’s answer · Official page03 · OPEN THE BIBLE
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Berean Standard Bible · BSB
The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.
Read it slowly together. What words stand out? You can choose the translation your family knows best.
The thank-you that kept going.
Last summer, Jonah’s best friend’s family took him to a water park. It was the best day ever—a wave pool, giant slides, and a funnel cake the size of his head. On the way home, Jonah wondered, “How can I ever thank them?” He wrote a card. He helped carry the cooler. He even offered to wash their car. Nobody asked him to, and he knew he could never pay them back. He was just that thankful.
Did Jonah do those things to get invited to the water park? No—he’d already been. He did them because he was grateful. That’s the key to understanding good works.
We’ve learned that we’re saved by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus—not by our good works. So why should Christians still obey God and do good? First, because our lives become a great big thank-you. When we see how much God has given us in Jesus, we want to love him back. Obeying God is a way of saying, “Thank you, and I love you.” And God doesn’t leave us to do it alone—his Spirit helps us.
Our Bible verses give a second reason. Peter says God called his people out of darkness into his marvelous light. Then he tells them to live such good lives that people who don’t know God will see their good deeds and glorify God. Our kindness, honesty, and joy can point others to Jesus.
Think of a porch light on a dark street. It doesn’t shine to show off. It shines so people can find their way home. When Christians forgive, share, tell the truth, and care for people who are hurting, others notice. They may start to wonder, “Why are you like this?” And then we get to tell them about Jesus.
So the next time you do something good, remember why. Not to earn God’s love—you already have it. You do good to say thank you to God, and to help someone else find their way to him.
04 · WONDER TOGETHER
Let’s talk about it.
- What’s the difference between doing good to earn something and doing good to say thank you?
- How might our good deeds help someone else want to know Jesus?
- What’s one thank-you deed you could do for God this week?
Try answering one yourself first. “I don’t know yet” is a fine place to start a conversation.
05 · A LITTLE CHALLENGE
Carry the truth with you.
Be a porch light. As a family, do one kind thing for a neighbor this week—rake leaves, bring a treat, or draw a card. If they ask why, you can say, “God has been so kind to us, and we wanted to pass it on.”
06 · TALK TO GOD
Let’s pray.
Father, thank you for calling us out of darkness into your marvelous light. We don’t need to earn your love, because you have already given it to us in Jesus. Let our lives be a big thank-you to you. Help our kindness, honesty, and joy point others to you, so they can know you, too. Amen.
Then invite everyone to add one thing they want to tell God.
07 · MAKE IT STICK
A little truth to learn by heart.
Write the answer on a thank-you card, one phrase per line, and read it together each night. On the last day, give the card to someone who has shown you God’s love.
SAY IT. HIDE IT. TRY IT TOGETHER.
This week’s answer · New City Catechism Q34
Yes, so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.
No streaks. No catching up. Just growing together.
Progress stays in this browser.Question 34 and its children’s answer are quoted from the official New City Catechism resource and were checked on September 29, 2026. The New City Catechism, Copyright © 2017 by The Gospel Coalition and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Published by Crossway. Devotional, prayer, and activities are original. Scripture translations are supplied through YouVersion when connected. The saved BSB reading matches the official Berean Standard Bible text; the Berean text is dedicated to the public domain.