Shhh! Can you hear it?
Items Needed: Writing utensil, slips of paper, basket or bag
Play a game to introduce the idea of listening to and walking in truth. Write one instruction for each family member on a slip of paper and put them in a basket or bag.
Ideas for instructions:
Say a Bible verse.
Say the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Say, “Blah, blah, blah.”
Say the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
Say the words to your favorite song.
Say, “Watermelon, watermelon, watermelon.”
Tell your favorite story.
Choose one person to be the listener. Invite everyone else to choose a slip with an instruction. (They should keep the instructions a secret.) Whisper instructions if your child cannot read. At the signal, they are to follow the instruction on their paper over and over until you call time. Everyone should speak at the same time—as softly or as loudly as they like. The object of the game is for the listener to find the person who is quoting the Bible verse. When time is up, ask the listener to identify the one saying the Bible verse. If the listener guessed correctly, congratulate him or her as a good listener. Throw the slips back into the basket or bag, choose a new listener, pick new slips, and repeat the game.
Talk about it:
What was your favorite part of this game?
Why was it so hard to hear the one saying the Bible verse? (There were so many talking; some were shouting; etc.)
What are some things you listen to in a day? (Parents; teachers; friends; music; TV; coaches; video games; reading materials; etc.)
We hear so many voices and it is sometimes difficult to tell which one is right. Everything we listen to influences us for good or bad. We want to listen to God’s truth in the Bible every day. We never want to listen to Satan because he is the Father of Lies. We must choose God’s truth instead of falling for Satan’s lies.
Just a Little?
Items Needed: Ingredients for recipe of your choice, rocks
Show how sin affects the whole body of Christ followers by making a dessert (or any type of food) together. Assign each child an ingredient to add. As they add the ingredients one at a time, talk about how good it will taste. When all the ingredients have been added, pick up a handful of rocks and pretend you are going to add them. Give in to the pleas not to ruin the dessert and leave them out.
Talk about it:
Why didn’t you want me to add those rocks? Just as a few rocks would have ruined our dessert, it is the same with sin. A little sin will hurt all of us. We must follow God’s way, and He wants us to live pure lives. Who wants us to believe his lies? Yes, Satan wants us to believe his lies. We must follow God’s commands to walk in purity in our thoughts, words, and actions.
Enjoy your special treat!
Act Out His Word
Review 1 Thessalonians 2:12 as a family and choose motions together to help you memorize this verse. March around the house or use silly voices (cowboy, pirate, puppy, etc.) as you do the motions and recite the verse.