TFT: The Lifegiving Table
October 18, 2026
Praise God for Fall Retreat!
Praise God for the wonderful weekend that was had at our Fall Retreat! Numerous families and individuals gathered for a weekend of teaching, fellowship, and fun surrounded by the beautiful fall colors. Thank you to all who attended with us!
Trunk or Treat Help Needed
LEFC is once again hoping to participate in Trunk or Treat at West Branch this year on October 28th. Our church has enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the community in this unique way. We are in need of volunteers to hand out glow sticks to the kids at the event. Are you available that evening to help? Email Jordyn at [email protected].
New Morning Mercies for Kids
If you’ve been a long-time reader, you may remember us recommending Paul Tripp’s New Morning Mercies and New Morning Mercies for Teens. We’ve got some exciting news: Tripp just released a new addition to the suite, New Morning Mercies for Kids! This devotional is an abridged version of his first devotional aimed at children ages 8-12. In 60 gospel-centered devotions spanning 20 weeks with three readings per week, kids will explore various themes such as prayer, obedience, and sovereignty. Included are a meditation, questions, puzzles, and activities with each devotion. Kids can engage on their own or with a parent, which we think is a great opportunity to connect with your child. Grab yours today!
This Week’s Challenge: Knowing Scripture to Teach Scripture
Can you teach something that you know little about? Can you effectively guide and train someone else in something that you are still very inexperienced in? It’s clear that the answer is no. We must become knowledgeable about the topic first before we’re able to teach it to others.
This is true of scripture as well. In order to teach scripture to our kids and write it on their hearts, we must first become students of scripture, digging in and learning all that we can about the marvelous story that God has written (and continues to write). You may be thinking, “How will I ever know everything there is to know in that huge book!?” Rest assured. No matter how old or well-versed in scripture someone is, there will always be new things to learn from the Bible. The goal is that we keep growing and broadening our knowledge, both for our own benefit and so that we’re able to teach our kids and others.
This week’s challenge is to strengthen your Bible-reading muscles. You may already have a Bible reading plan that you follow daily. If that is you, great! Keep digging in! If you don’t already have a regular, daily time that you spend reading your Bible, make it your goal this week to read just one chapter per day. It might be easiest to remember to do it right when you wake up, or maybe right before bed. Choose a time that you can be consistent. If you aren’t sure where to start, one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) are excellent places to begin a Bible reading habit. Let this launch you into a daily habit of reading the Word!
“Jesus Brings Life” Kids Bible Class Devotional
You have free access to a family devotional based on the curriculum our kids are studying each week in KBC! It’s called “The Gospel Project at Home.” Today’s Bible Study is “Jesus Healed a Child and a Man” (Volume 9: Unit 26: Session 3, and the devotional can be found at this link.
Visit the Family Ministries page on our website for information about how to access The Gospel Project at Home for the first time.
And for Dessert…
Our recommendation for Family Discipleship this week is a book by an author that we recently recommended, one of my (Jordyn’s) favorites, Sally Clarkson. That book is The Lifegiving Table: Nurturing Faith through Feasting, One Meal at a Time.
It’s that time of year again when the holidays approach and we begin planning who is hosting the family gathering, what dishes we’ll be preparing, and what items we need to check off of our to-do list before welcoming others into our homes. Maybe you’re planning out of town travel to be with loved ones far away.
Sally believes that the table is a place where deep discipleship and connection can be nurtured and love can be shown. Our dining tables, filled with hearty, delicious dishes and desserts can be an avenue through which we minister to and build relationship with those sharing the meal with us. She believes that meals eaten together as a family at home are of great importance and have tremendous potential to be a catalyst in our efforts to disciple our children, family, and friends.
In this book you’ll find family stories from the Clarkson home, recipes, and practical wisdom for transforming your table into one that brings life to all who gather around it. Sally shares ideas for holidays, new family traditions, and how to have a life-giving table even on busy, rushed days. She also provides inspiration for how to create a warm, welcoming environment at your table that can help foster conversation, connection, and relationship-building.
Your table may not be perfectly decorated with pumpkins, candles, and matching dinnerware, and that’s okay. The goal of this book isn’t to help you create an Instagram-worthy table that merely looks good. The goal is to create a table where relationships are built and strengthened and meaningful discipleship takes place. I (Jordyn) appreciate that Sally doubles down on the value of family meals together, and as a result, our family has worked to protect that important time together around the table whenever we can. I think you’ll find excellent wisdom and insight from reading it, as well! Get your copy here.
If you would like to borrow a copy of the book, see Jordyn.
We hope your family eats it right up.
Jordyn Skacel, Director of Family Ministry
Matt Mitchell, Pastor