a service of Christianity Today International
WomenMarriage

 
Main  |  Download Shoppe  |  Contact Us
Site Search

Parents You Should Know

Expert Advice

It Makes Sense

Just For Fun

MOPS in Action

Mom to Mom

Issues & Culture

Family Faith

Kids & Culture

Family Devotionals

Ages & Stages

News You Can Use

Parent to Parent

Download Shoppe




 Poll
Take the poll


HOLIDAYS & EVENTS
National Bible Week (U.S.A.)
Thanksgiving (U.S.A.)
Advent
Related Channels
Marriage
Women
Men
Kids
Teens
Movies
Home School Center
Small Groups





Up Close & Personal with Maura Weis

Raising Great Kids: Security Blankie







Home > Parenting > Family Devotionals > from Karyn Henley


Sign up for our free newsletter:



From the pages of Christian Parenting Today, November/December 2000

Family Time with God
devotions by Karen Henley

November
Wholly Holy
"There is no one like you, O Lord" (1 Chronicles 17:20).

WEEK 1: The Only One
YOU'LL NEED: Two different kinds of leaves or flowers (fake flowers are fine) and four pieces of plain paper, some tape and markers.

GET STARTED: Pass the flowers or leaves around your group. Ask each person to notice one thing that makes these flowers or leaves different from each other. Explain that this month you'll be talking about what makes God holy and different from all other beings, including the false gods of other religions.

TALK IT OVER: Read 2 Chronicles 6:12-15. Ask each person to talk about a time someone made them a promise and broke it. What does Solomon say about God's promises in this passage? Talk together about some of God's other promises. What do God's promises tell us about him? What else does Solomon say about God in this passage?

WRAP IT UP: Tape the four pieces of paper together, end to end. Position the paper vertically and write the letters of the alphabet down the left side. Write a name or description of God that begins with each letter. (For X, use a word starting with "ex".) Finish with a prayer thanking God for his holiness.


WEEK 2: Power Play
YOU'LL NEED: A large piece of paper for each family member and crayons or markers.

GET STARTED: This week, you'll be talking about God's power. Pair up and have each pair thumb wrestle by holding their partner's hand, thumbs raised. The first person to "pin" the other person's thumb wins. Have the winners wrestle each other to get a family champion.

TALK IT OVER: Read 2 Chronicles 14:9-12. What did Asa believe God could do? Help your children think of other Bible stories in which God helps the powerless defeat the mighty (David and Goliath, Daniel in the lions' den, Peter escapes prison, etc.). Have each person talk about a time he or she felt powerless. How did God help them? Ask how it feels to think about God's superhuman power. That kind of power is part of what makes God holy.

WRAP IT UP: Pass out paper and markers. Have each person draw a shield. Ask them to include something that symbolizes God, such as a cross, a Bible or even a powerful animal like a lion. End with a prayer asking God to help you trust in his power.


WEEK 3: God Talk
YOU'LL NEED: A newspaper or magazine

GET STARTED: This week you'll be talking about the ways God communicates with us. Show your family the front page of the newspaper or the cover of the magazine. Talk together about what it communicates and how.

TALK IT OVER: Read Deuteronomy 4:5-8. What does Moses say makes God different from false gods? Talk about the ways we communicate with God. What are some ways God communicates with us? Even though God is awesome, powerful, perfect and holy, he also loves and cares about us. That makes him even more awesome and holy.

WRAP IT UP: As a family, walk through the rooms in your house or apartment. Ask your children to point out things that communicate something about your family. What do the pictures on the walls or the books on the shelves tell people about you? Ask your children to think about what the clothes they wear, the words they use and the attitude they project tell people about them. Finish with a prayer thanking God for being so close to us that we can communicate with him anytime, anywhere.


WEEK 4: God in Me
YOU'LL NEED: A photo of yourself as a child, a large bowl of water, a pepper shaker and some dishwashing liquid.

GET STARTED: This week, you'll be talking about ways we can be more like God. Show your children the photograph of yourself. Ask them to talk about ways they look the same or different from your photo.

TALK IT OVER: Read 1 John 4:8-12. What does this passage tell us about God? Now read 1 Peter 1:15-16. Just like we resemble our parents, we want to do our best to resemble God in the way we live. Talk together about ways each of you can be more holy as you try to follow God.

WRAP IT UP: Put the bowl of water on a table. Talk about what it means to be pure and clean like the water. Then ask each person to shake pepper onto the water. The pepper represents sin. How does the pepper change the water in the bowl? Now put one drop of dishwashing liquid in the center of the water and watch what happens. How does God cleanse us so that we're pure again? End by asking God to help you become more like him each day.

Karyn Henley is the author of the original Beginner's Bible (Zondervan) and other resources for parents and children. Visit her website at www.karynhenley.com.


Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Parenting Today Magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Christian Parenting Today.

November/December 2000, Vol. 13, No. 2, Page 79




We'd really like to know what you think about this article!

Is this the kind of article you'd like to see more of?
Is there a topic you'd like us to cover?

Please send your response to





MomSense
Home  |  Download Shoppe  |  Contact Us

Try Today's Christian Woman Free!
Subscribe to Today's Christian Woman
Name
Street Address
City/State/Zip
E-mail Address

No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.

If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian Woman coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.

Give Today's Christian Woman as a gift
Order a gift subscription!

FREE MomSense Newsletter
Subscribe to the MomSense Newsletter
   RSS Feed   RSS Help







SUBSCRIBE!

Subscribe to Today's Christian Woman





















Free Newsletter
Sign-up for the Parenting Connection newsletter:






ChristianityToday.com
Home CT Mag Church/Ministry Bible/Life Communities Entertainment Schools/Jobs Shopping Free! Help
Books & Culture
Christianity Today
ChristianityTodayLibrary.com
Church Finance Today
Christian History Back Issues
Church Law & Tax Report
Church Secretary Today
Ignite Your Faith
Leadership Journal
Men of Integrity
Today's Christian
Today's Christian Woman
Your Church
BuildingChurchLeaders.com
ChristianBibleStudies.com
Christian College Guide
Christian History
Christian Music Today
Christianity Today Movies
Church Products & Services
Church Safety
ChurchSiteCreator.com
PreachingToday.com
PreachingTodaySermons.com
Seminary/Grad School Guide
Christianity Today International
www.ChristianityToday.com
Copyright © 2008 Christianity Today International
Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Advertise with Us | Job Openings