Consequences
Give each child a specific task to do by a certain time. (No reminding, nagging, etc.) At the set time, reward those who obeyed (trip to the park, ice cream, activity of their choice, etc.).
Talk to your children and ask:
What was the consequence of your action? (Reward for obeying, disappointing consequence for disobedience, etc.)
There was a man named Achan who disobeyed God. He stole items from a city the Israelites had defeated—even though it was against God’s instructions. Because of Achan’s disobedience, the Israelites lost their next battle, and Achan and his family were stoned to death. The consequences were very serious.
There may not always be an immediate consequence for our actions (as in this case), but consequences will come. Obedience brings reward and disobedience brings punishment—and in this case disobedience brought defeat. God sees our actions, and He will reward our obedience and punish our disobedience.
Same Results
Items Needed: Cup or glass, dishwashing liquid, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, vinegar, red food coloring (optional), baking pan (or use the sink)
Fill the cup or glass almost full with warm water.
Add several drops of the red food coloring and a few drops of the dishwashing liquid.
Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
Slowly pour vinegar into the cup or glass and jump back quickly!
Conduct the experiment several times allowing your children to assist. Emphasize to your children that the experiment brought the same results each time. Explain to them that each time we disobey or sin (anything we think, say, or do that goes against God’s way) we get the result of consequences. We cannot disobey God or our parents and expect good results.
Just in case you want to explain the chemical reaction to your children: When baking soda and vinegar mix, it produces a chemical reaction which produces carbon dioxide—the same gas that bubbles in a real volcano. The gas bubbles build causing the liquid to overflow.
Stay Straight
As you are driving, veer just enough to hit the bumps at the edge of the road.
Ask you children:
Why is it good to have those bumps at the edge of the road? (They help us know when we are getting too close to the edge; they warn us; etc.)
What might happen if I don’t pay attention to the bumps? (We could run off the road; we might have an accident; etc.)
The people who made the road added the bumps to keep us from veering off the safe path. This reminds me of the way consequences help us. Consequences help us make good choices by reminding us of the trouble sin causes. Consequences are the result of wrong choices.
What are some consequences for wrong behavior? (Get in trouble; have to apologize; lose people’s trust; hurt ourselves and others; etc.)
Thinking about consequences that might happen when we make wrong choices can help us make right choices. Knowing you will be punished for disobeying can motivate you to obey. Knowing you will get a bad grade for not doing your homework can motivate you to study and work hard in school. Just as the bumps on the side of the road remind us that we are veering off the right path, thinking about consequences can remind us to do what is right.