Joshua’s House

Have you read Psalm 119 lately?  I like to read it periodically to renew my joy in and desire for God’s Word.  It is in Psalm 119 that you will find familiar passages like “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (vs. 105).  One of the great things about this Psalm is that it reminds me how important it is to read and absorb God’s Word.  It reminds me that I should be taking time to study the Scriptures daily.

This is lesson is important for our children as well, but how do we teach it to our children and foster in them a love for God’s word?  There are many ways, but today I am going to suggest creating space for God.  Usually when I talk about creating space I’m talking about time, but in this case I’m actually talking about physical space.

Set up a desk or a corner for your children - their special nook - where they can come away and spend time with God.  Of course you will want a special Bible in this corner and other items that may be age appropriate.  Here are some ideas:

• Bible Stories with lots of pictures for younger children
• An audio Bible
• Prayer journal (younger kids can use it to draw pictures in)
• Simple Bible reference books
• Bible reading plans
• Scripture memory tools (note cards, pieces of paper that can be used as a puzzle, scripture songs, etc.)
• Question sticks (Write questions or idea starters on Popsicle sticks for kids to think about; you can have simple starters like “Today I want to thank God for . . . ” or more complex starters like “Tell God about the most challenging part of today and the most fun part of today.”  The possibilities are endless.)  These sticks can be used as a way to help your kids prayer journal and learn how to study the Bible on a personal level.

There are many more things you could place at a devotional center for your children, but these are just a few ideas to get you started.  With younger children you may want to spend a few minutes at the center every day at first to encourage them and to model what they are supposed to do.  If you have older children, encourage them to start out spending 10-15 minutes a day at their special spot with Jesus.  Before long, you may notice your kids coming here and spending time with God all on their own.

Over the next little while, I will be posting creative Bible study ideas for kids of all ages.  Keep a look out for these activities as they can be used for family worship times or as a part of your kids’ space for God.

Click here for Printable PDF version.

Do you ever find that after coming home from church, the rest of the day seems to slip by?  You may have good fellowship, but how often do you and your family continue to connect with God after your morning meetings at church? Here is an idea to help Sabbath become a special day for your family to connect with God all day long.

Set aside some extra time this Sabbath to make some Sabbath plans for the future.  Pull everyone together and find out what some of your favorite Sabbath afternoon activities are.  Then, come up with some new activities as well. (You can use this worksheet to keep track of your ideas.) Make a list so you don’t forget your ideas.  You may even want to get a few paper bags ready with materials you may need to make your Sabbath afternoon activity happen without any other preparation ahead of time. (The bags could come in handy for those Sabbaths that creep up on you without giving you any prep time, or that rainy afternoon that you’d planned to go for a hike.) For example, if you want to make cards one afternoon, you can fill a paper bag with paper, glue, scissors, envelopes, stamps or anything else you may need to make and send greeting cards.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Make cards and take them to people at the nursing home
• Go for a hike and sing hymns along the way.  Have each person come back with one item that reminds them of God’s love – have them explain how.
• Pick some fun mission stories, nature books or Christian biographies (maybe even some audio programs like Your Story Hour or Down Gilead Land).  Reserve these items for Sabbath only and set aside some time to read/listen to them.
• Have a special Sabbath meal.
• Play Bible trivia games and take it one step farther by challenging each other to apply the lessons learned to their own life.
• Pray together.
• Work together to rewrite and make a picture book of a Bible story.
• Write letters to missionaries or people you’ve noticed this week who may need a little encouragement.
• Go for a prayer walk, praying for each house/person you pass on your walk.

Start by singing your favorite song(s) about heaven.  Read or listen to Revelation 21-22 (you can skip around, choosing some of the best parts based on the age of your children). Have each person draw a picture, make a scene out of clay or play dough, or write a poem about what he/she is most looking forward to about Heaven and Jesus’ second coming. Have each family member share his/her creation. To close, take time to pray for one another, asking that God will help you all choose to be with Him in heaven.

Bonus

Are there some people you want to be with you in heaven?  As a family, come up with the name of one other person or family that you want to tell about heaven so that they can be there with you.  Share your drawings and your poems and, as a family, tell this person that Jesus made it possible for them to go to heaven too.  If your family is having a hard time coming up with a name, you can visit a person who may be lonely in the nursing home.  Who knows, your visit might make an eternal difference!

Click here for printer friendly version of this family fun idea.

If your kids love mail, and craft projects; or if you frequently hear the words “I’m bored”, this is a great activity for them.  All you need is a Bible, some 3×5 cards, art supplies, an envelope, a stamp, and a little bit of creativity.

1. Depending on your child’s age, you may want to help him pick out a Bible verse or two.  Write the verse on one side of the card along with that card’s number.
2. Let your child illustrate the chosen verse on the back of the card.  They can draw or get creative by gluing other elements to the card. These illustrations not only help to make the activity fun, but they also help the verses stick in your child’s mind.
3. Make sure each child signs her cards.
4. When you are done, mail the card along with a self addressed envelope and a letter like this one to some friends.

Worship Bonus: This makes a great activity for a family worship, especially by adding a themed element. Before you trade your cards or send them off, take time to share them with each other a s a family.  Why did you choose the verse that you did? What can we learn about God from that verse?  What can we learn about ourselves? Here are some themes to get you going:

• God’s Promises
• Favorite verses from a Bible story you read as a family
• Verses about God’s love
• Verses that tell who God is
• Passages you can work on memorizing

So you really want to have family worship, but you don’t know what to do and you don’t know how to plan.  Here’s an easy idea that will work for a spiritual gathering with your family anywhere at any time.

Most churches have a lesson study set up for kids and adults.  Even though various family members may not be studying the same thing, there is something each family member is doing.  Take some time to share with each other what you are learning.  Here are some questions to get you started:

• What part of the Bible are you studying?
• Have you learned anything new?
• What activities have you been doing in your personal study time?
• What memory verse are you working on?
• What can you learn about God from the lesson you’re studying?
• What can you learn about yourself from the lesson you’re studying?
• Is there anything God is calling you to do?

There are many more questions you can ask - make sure to let the conversation develop among all the family members and be sure to answer some of the questions for yourself.

One great bonus for this activity is that it not only gives you a wonderful springboard for a meaningful family worship, but it also encourages individual time with God.

Note: If your kids haven’t spent any time looking over their lesson, don’t get mad at them.  Ask them why they haven’t studied and help them to set up goals like a time when they can study and what they will do during that time.  Ask them if there is any way you can help them reach that goal.  It may even be appropriate to have a reward for them if needed.

I have many memories of Christmas time growing up.  One of my favorite memories is helping my mom make a bunch of mini banana bread loaves.  Do you like to make Christmas cookies or special treats with your kids?  If so, take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to teach your children that God is the giver of all good things. What better time to learn such an important lesson than at Christmas when we remember Jesus who gave so much to us?

When you are done baking and your bounty is laid out before you, set aside 10%.  Give these treats to your pastor and/or church staff.  This represents your tithe, God’s portion.

Together as a family, decide how much you will give as an offering.  You may decide 5%. Maybe you know someone who is sick or in need who would be cheered or blessed by a gift of yummy goodies.  If you can’t think of anyone, there are lots of people in the nursing home who would love a visit and a tasty snack.

Enjoy the rest of the treats with your family, making sure to take time together to thank God for His wonderful blessings.

Click here for printer friendly version.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  Amidst all the travel and preparation for a wonderful meal, don’t forget to thank the One who has given us everything.  Here is a fun idea to get the whole family involved in a spirit of thankfulness.  It also makes a great centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.

All you need is a couple twigs, a vase, scissors, string or thread, and a hole punch.

Step 1: Gather one or two branches from your yard.

Step 2: Put the twig(s) in a vase.  If you need something to make them snug in the vase, tie multiple branches together with string and stuff paper towels or toilet paper in the vase.

Step 3: Print out some fall leaves from this template.  To make it more fun, you can print them on colored paper.  You may want to cut them out ahead of time, or you can let others do that as part of the fun. You can even print out some direction cards to place around your Thanksgiving tree.

Step 4: Put leaves, string and the Thanksgiving tree on your table or in a prominent spot.

Step 5: On each leaf, write (or draw a picture of) one thing you are thankful for or your favorite Bible verse that reminds you to thank God for the things He has given us.

Step 6: Tie a string to your leaf and hang it on the Thanksgiving tree.

Step 7: Watch the tree grow with beautiful fall colors.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

Thankfulness.  This is an attitude that is difficult to foster in today’s society that is constantly working for more, better, faster, bigger everything.  It seems that there is so much discontentment.  Yet, amidst the dissappointment, there is so much to be thankful for.  There is so much that God has given us.  Take some time any time thorugh out the day to be thankful for what is around you.  You can do this anywhere with any topic.  Here are some ideas of places you can be thankful:

• As you’re driving in the car - what things are you able to do because you have a car, that you wouldn’t be able to do without one?
• At the dinner table - what are some of your favorite foods?
• When you are shopping - what things has God provided for you that You need?  Has He even given you some things you just want?
• The 5 Senses - What are you thankful you have the ability to see, feel, taste, hear or smell?
• On holidays - What holiday memories are you thankful for?

There are so many ways this activity can be done.  Have a lot of fun thinking of all the ways God has blessed you and for being thankful for those.  Don’t forget to actually thank God!  After you’ve had fun brainstorming, stop to tell Jesus thank you for all of His wonderful blessings.

Click here for printable PDF version.

“A farmer went out to sow his seed . . .”

These words are the beginning to one of the most loved of Jesus’ parables.  The story of the sower and the seed is a wonderful illustration of salvation taking root in our hearts.  Why don’t you share the story with your children in a way they won’t soon forget.  All you need is a Bible, crayons or colored pencils, seeds and some paper.

Step #1 - Start by reading the parable of the sower together.  You will find the story in Matthew 13:3-23.

Step #2 - Have each child draw a picture of a path with rocks, good soil and thorns beside it.  They will want the thorns, good soil and rocks to be separate.

Step #3 - Work together to decide what each of those terrains might sound like in our hearts.  For example, people who are like the thorny places might say things like, “what will they think of me?” or “I don’t have enough time to go to church.”  People who are rocky might say something like “Man, this is hard,” or “I thought this would be easy.”  Write the excuses on your drawings.

Step #4 - It’s time for the sower to sow.  Glue seeds to the path, the good soil, the thorny places and the rocky places.  (Don’t forget to draw some birds snatching the seeds along the path, and some plants growing out of the seeds on the good soil.)

Step #5 - Write “Matthew 13:3-23″ on each drawing so your kids can remember where to find the story.  As you are working on these pictures, take time to talk about how we can let Jesus turn our hearts into good soil.  Be prepared to answer lots of questions for younger children.

Modifications

Want something easier for younger children?

With your child, draw a brown circle in the middle of the page.  Glue one seed in the circle and draw a stem coming out of the seed.  Glue a picture of your child as the center of the flower and let him add petals.  Talk with him about the importance of letting God’s seeds grow in his heart.

Want something harder for older children?

Collect soil, rocks, thorns and other items from outside.  Glue these onto the picture rather than drawing them. This gets a bit messy, but it’s loads of fun.

“Pray Continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

This is such a simple Bible verse but it has such a big meaning (especially in it’s larger context).  It’s important to teach your children how to continue a conversation with God, and it’s fun to look for opportunities to do this. Here are some ideas:

• When you hear sirens, pray for those driving the vehicles and those who are at their destinations.
• When your child is really excited about something, remember to thank Jesus together.
• If your child has had a rough day, pray with him, asking God to comfort him.
• Challenge everyone in the family to pray with one other person outside of the family each week.  Share your experiences.

Do you have any other ideas for ways to teach kids to pray continually?