Family Devotions
Games
Unfair Boardgame
Do:
Bust out your favorite family board game this week. But instead of using normal rules, be sure one of you (draw straws to decide who) gets a distinct advantage over everyone else. (i.e. Monopoly, they get extra money; Risk, more armies/countries than anyone; Candyland, they get to start further down the track; etc). Afterwards, huddle up and read the Bible story and go through the questions below.
Read:
Genesis 27:41-45; 31:3; 32:1-21; 33:1-11
Ask:
After you’ve read the Bible passage, ask each other the following questions:
· What does it mean to let go of “what’s fair”?
· How did it feel to be on either side of the “unfairness” when you were playing your game?
· Why is it more important to have peace than fairness?
Pillow Eye
Do:
Gather up a pillow and some cotton balls and head to an open area (a back yard or a park will work great.) Have one person be “it” and strap a pillow over at least one eye. Then have everyone else put a cotton ball on their back using double-sided or a loop of tape. The “it” person’s job is to grab the cotton ball off everyone’s back within two minutes. At the end of 2 minutes, switch things up and let someone else be “it.” After you’re all played out, sit down together as a family and read through this week’s Bible passage.
Read:
Matthew 7:1-5
Ask:
After you’ve read the Bible verse, ask each other the following questions:
· Why is it silly to try to get something little like a speck or a cotton ball, when you have something huge in your own eye?
· Why is it important that we don’t judge other people for their own mistakes, when we make mistakes of our own?
· How can we remember to work on our own mistakes, instead of focusing on the mistakes of others?
Rice to Meet You
Do:
Get a large bowl and fill it with rice, then mix in 20-25 paper clips. Have one person put on a blindfold (a dishtowel or bandana works great) and give them 30 seconds to a minute to see how many paper clips they can fish out of the bowl. Be sure to play long enough for everyone to have a turn or two. Afterward, read through the Bible passage and ask the questions below.
Read:
John 3:1-21
Ask:
After you’ve read the Bible verse, ask each other the following questions:
· Just like the paper clips were always in the rice, God is always there for us. Why is it tricky to sometimes believe in something that you can’t see?
· What are some other things that we can’t see, but we know are real?
· What are some ways that we can build our faith in Jesus, even when it’s hard to see Him working in our lives?
Hide and Seek
Do:
Turn off the lights and play a few rounds of hide-and-seek. You could even go to a park or up to church to play (though be sure to check with someone on the church staff (either Dan, Bob, Jess, or Christian) before you come up to the church, just to be sure there isn’t anything else going on.) After you’ve played for a while, huddle up and read through the Bible passage below, then go through the questions.
Read:
Matthew 14:22-33
Ask:
After you’ve read the Bible verse, ask each other the following questions:
· What are some things that you’re afraid of?
· What are some ways that would help us remember to have faith that God will always take care of us and that He helps us face our fears?