Family Take-Home Sheets - Amazon S3 · ABINGDON PRESS FAMILY TAKE-HOME SHEETS: 52 WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL ACTIVITIES JENNIFER KIDWELL 52 …

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52#Weekly#Devotional#Activities

Fall 2017–Summer 2018 Reproducible

Family Take-Home Sheets

Family Take-Home Sheets

52 Weekly Devotional Activities

Jennifer Kidwell

Abingdon Press Nashville

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Family Take-Home Sheets52 Weekly Devotional Activities

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Table of ContentsHannah Prays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5(1 Samuel 1)

God Calls Samuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6(1 Samuel 3:1-21)

Samuel Anoints Saul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7(1 Samuel 7:15–8:22; 10:17-24)

Samuel Anoints David. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8(1 Samuel 16:1-23)

David the Musician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9(1 Samuel 16:14-23)

David and Goliath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10(1 Samuel 17:1-51a)

David and Jonathan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11(1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:1-42)

David and Abigail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12(1 Samuel 25:1-42)

David Dances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13(2 Samuel 6:1-19)

Solomon Becomes King . . . . . . . . . . . . 14(1 Kings 2:1-4; 3:1-15)

Solomon’s Wisdom Proverbs . . . . . . 15(Proverbs 6:6-8; 10:1; 17:17)

Solomon Builds the Temple . . . . . . . 16(1 Kings 6)

Solomon Dedicates the Temple . . . . 17(1 Kings 8)

A Baby Is Coming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18(Jeremiah 23:5-8)

Mary and Joseph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19(Matthew 1:18-24, Luke 1:26-38)

A Baby Is Born . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20(Luke 2:1-7)

The Shepherds’ Visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21(Luke 2:8-20)

Simeon and Anna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22(Luke 2:25-38)

The Visitors From the East . . . . . . . . 23(Matthew 2:1-12)

A Voice in the Wilderness . . . . . . . . . 24(Mark 1:9-11)

Jesus and the Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 25(Matthew 19:13-15)

A Boy’s Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26(John 6:1-15)

Jesus Walks on Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27(John 6:16-25)

The Four Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28(Mark 2:1-12)

Jesus Calms the Storm . . . . . . . . . . . . 29(Mark 4:35-41)

Jairus’s Daughter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30(Mark 5:21-24, 35-43)



Table of ContentsMary Honors Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31(John 12:1-8)

Bartimaeus Shouts to Jesus . . . . . . . 32(Mark 10:46-52)

Jesus Breaks the Bread . . . . . . . . . . . 33(Mark 14:12-26)

People Welcome Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34(Mark 11:1-11)

The Tomb Is Empty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35(Luke 24:1-12)

Paul Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36(Acts 9:1-19)

Paul Escapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37(Acts 9:20-25)

The Church Grows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38(Acts 9:26-31)

Timothy Is Chosen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39(Acts 16:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15)

Lydia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40(Acts 16:11-15)

Paul and Silas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41(Acts 16:16-40)

Pentecost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42(Acts 2:1-43)

Shipwrecked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43(Acts 27)

The Lord’s Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44(Matthew 6:5-15)

The Birds of the Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45(Matthew 6:25-34)

The Golden Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46(Matthew 7:12)

The Widow’s Coins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47(Luke 21:1-4)

The Two Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48(Matthew 7:24-27)

The Two Debtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49(Luke 7:41-43)

The Mustard Seed & the Yeast . . . . 50(Luke 13:18-21)

The Pharisee & the Tax Collector . 51(Luke 18:9-14)

The Ten Talents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52(Luke 19:11-26)

The Man in the Synagogue . . . . . . . . 53(Matthew 12:9-14)

Mary and Martha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54(Luke 10:38-42)

The Woman at the Well . . . . . . . . . . . . 55(John 4:1-42)

The Man by the Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56(John 5:1-17)



Hannah Prays (1 Samuel 1)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 110–113) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALDid you know that there are a lot of ways to pray? God gave us hands, feet, feelings, words, thoughts, and voices, and we can use all of them to pray. Sometimes we pray quietly; sometimes we pray loudly. We can pray while we walk around, and we can pray sitting still. The most important part of praying is that we are honest with ourselves and with God about what we are thinking and how we are feeling. If we tell God the truth, we will grow closer to God and it will be easier to hear God’s answers to our prayers.

WONDER TOGETHERThe story says that when Hannah started to pray to God for a baby, she started by telling God how she was feeling. I wonder, why did she think that was important? Do you ever pray to God by telling God about your feelings?

TIP: Parents are encouraged to share a story of when they have prayed about their feelings as well.

I wonder, what did Hannah look like and sound like when she was praying? The story says that she prayed to God with “all of her might.-”.What do you think that looked like and sounded like?

PRAY TOGETHERASK: What are some ways that we pray to God? How do our bodies look when we pray? How do our voices sound? (Child may discuss bowing head, clasping hands, closing eyes, praying out loud, praying together, singing, and so forth.)

SAY: Today, let’s learn a way to pray with our whole bodies, just like Hannah did. Let’s do it together. This prayer is about remembering that God is everywhere. You can pray like this anytime!

• Stand facing your child.

• Stretch your arms up in the air and say, “God above me.”

• Crouch down and place your hands on the ground and say, “God below me.”

• Stand and stretch your arms in front of you and say, “God before me.”

• Stretch your arms behind you and say, “God behind me.”

• Spread your arms out to the sides and say, “God beside me.”

• Place your hands on your chest and say, “God within my heart. Amen.”

• Repeat a few times, modifying as needed given your abilities and the abilities of your child.

READ TOGETHERSupplies: a copy of Happy by Mies Van Hout

TIP: You can find this book at most bookstores and libraries. This book has simple and beautiful illustrations of emotions. If you prefer to do the activity without it, you can ask your child to draw pictures of characters exhibiting emotions of happiness, curiosity, surprise, nervousness, and so forth.

SAY: When Hannah prayed to God for a baby, she told God that she was sad. God gave us feelings and wants us to pray about them! Let’s talk about some diff erent feelings together.

• Look through the book and talk about different emotions and how they are communicated through the pictures.

ASK your child to make faces or strike poses that embody his or her favorite images in the book and imagine how it would feel to pray to God while making these faces or staying in the pose. Join your child in this activity and share your refl ections on feelings as well.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for giving us feelings and bodies that we can use to pray to you. Amen.



God Calls Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-21)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 114–117) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALDo you ever remember the dreams you have at night? Can you imagine what it would be like if God spoke to you in a dream? God still speaks to people in dreams, and also speaks to people in many other ways. Sometimes it can be hard to tell when God is trying to talk to us. Wise people can help us listen to God when we tell them about our experiences, just like Eli helped Samuel. We need each other’s help to be able to listen to God. That’s one reason why God gave us our church family.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what was it like for Samuel and Eli to live together in the temple? Have you ever lived with or stayed in the same house with someone who was a lot older than you? What was it like?

I wonder, how did Samuel feel when he found out that God was calling his name in a dream? How would you feel if that happened to you?

I wonder, how did Eli know it was God calling Samuel?

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: paper, pencil

• Go outside to your street, your yard, or a park.

SAY: God decided to talk to Samuel in a dream. Samuel wasn’t expecting that! God can use anything to send a message to us, even if it surprises us. Today we’re going to listen to the world around us and make a list of all of the sounds that we hear.

• Sit quietly with your child and make a list. Include natural sounds, animals, cars or airplanes, music, sound the wind makes, sounds of other people, and so forth.

ASK: How do you think God might be using these sounds to remind us to follow God? When you hear a sound from nature, do you think about how God wants us to take care of nature? When you hear the sound of people traveling in a car, do you think about praying for them to have a safe trip?

• Discuss other ideas generated from your lists.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for surprising us every day with how you talk to us. Help us to listen for your voice in unexpected places. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: paper, markers or crayons, stickers, other decorating supplies

SAY: In this story, Samuel learns a lot from Eli. Eli helps him learn how to listen to God. Today we’re going to make a card to say thank you to someone who has helped us learn how to listen to God. Choose someone from your church, family, or neighborhood who has taught you about listening to God.

• As you make cards together, talk about how the person helped you learn to listen to God.

• Mail the cards or hand-deliver them.

PRAY: Dear God, we thank you that there are people who help us learn to listen to you and love you. Help us always remember to say thank you. Amen.



Samuel Anoints Saul (1 Samuel 7:15–8:22; 10:17-24)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 118–121) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALWhen God decided to let Israel have a king, the person God chose for the job was Saul. Saul was very scared to have such an important job! He didn’t think he would be able to do a good job. He was afraid he wouldn’t know what to do. It was important for him to trust that God would use his friends and other people to help him. He could learn a lot from other people, especially Samuel, about how to listen to God and make good decisions. When we are faced with new challenges, it’s okay to need help being brave. Next time you feel afraid to do something, talk to someone you trust about it. You will probably feel better and get some good ideas about what to do.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, how did Samuel feel in this story, especially when the people didn’t listen to him at the beginning?

I wonder, why did the people in Israel think it was important to have a king? Have you ever wanted to do something because everyone else was doing it?

I wonder, why was Saul hiding after God said that he should be the king?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: a cup filled with water

• If you have nice weather, go outside. If not, go to a place in your home where you don’t mind getting a bit wet.

SAY: In this story, Samuel anoints Saul. Anointing means taking water or oil and putt ing it on another person’s head to show that God has special plans for that person. We are going to practice anointing each other and saying why each one of us is special to God.

• Take your cup of water, dip your fingers in it, and place them on your child’s forehead while naming a reason your child is special to God. For example, “You are special to God because you are a good friend” or.“You are special to God because you try to be patient with your brothers.” Take turns with your child, allowing her or him to anoint you as well.

• For more outside fun, consider wearing bathing suits and pouring the water on each other.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for giving us ways to remind each other how special we are to God. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: device that can access youtube.com

• On youtube.com, search for “Ruby Bridges” and select a short video that is age-appropriate for your child.

SAY: In this story, Samuel stood up to the Israelites when they wanted to disobey God. Standing up to people is hard! Well, kids can stand up to people too. Did you know that in some places, black kids and white kids weren’t allowed to go to the same schools? Then the rule was changed. When the rule was changed, some white people were angry. Some black kids were very brave and went to white schools, even though a lot of people were very mean to them and made them feel unsafe. One of those kids was named Ruby Bridges.

• Watch the video you selected.

ASK: How do you think Ruby felt when she went to a new school, even though people were mean to her for a whole year? What do you think helped her be brave? How can you help other people be brave? Are there some times when you need to stand up to someone? Who can you talk to if you need help standing up to someone?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for being with us when we are standing up for the right thing. Amen.



Samuel Anoints David (1 Samuel 16:1-23)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 122–124) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALGod has been surprising people for thousands of years. It can be hard to remember what God thinks is most important when we want to be in control and make decisions our own way. In this story, Samuel finds out that the person God wants to be king of all Israel is the last person Samuel expects. Samuel listens to God, and his story shows us that God doesn’t care if someone has a lot of money or a fancy job. God can look at our hearts and know what we will be good at. Try to see people as God sees them and remember that God will sometimes surprise you!

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why did God think that David would be a good king?

I wonder, how did Samuel know that God wanted him to choose David?

I wonder, what was it like for David to change jobs from being a shepherd to being a king?

I wonder, what did David’s brothers think about David being the new king even though he was smaller and younger than them?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: a set of jacks

TIP: If you don’t have a set of jacks, you can use ten dried beans and a small bouncy ball.

SAY: Being a shepherd is hard work! Their job is to protect their sheep. Shepherds have to be fast and pay att ention to everything around them. Let’s play a game that helps us practice planning ahead and paying att ention.

• Scatter the jacks or beans evenly on a hard, smooth surface.

• Each player takes a turn tossing the bouncy ball into the air and scooping up a single jack before the ball bounces.

• After the ball bounces once, catch the ball using the same hand used to scoop up the jack. If the ball bounces more than once, return the jack to the playing surface.

• Continue until all jacks are collected. In subsequent rounds, players try to scoop up one more jack each turn, until they finally try to scoop up all ten jacks at once.

ASK: How is playing jacks like being a shepherd? What makes you good at jacks or good at being a shepherd? Do you think these things would help you be a good king? Why or why not?

PRAY: Dear God, we are glad that there are many diff erent kinds of jobs in the world. Help us to remember that all jobs are important. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: a few hard-boiled eggs (still in their shells) and a few raw eggs, mixed up in a carton

• Mix up the eggs and set them in a carton on the table.

SAY: In the story today, Samuel couldn’t tell who should be the king just by looking at them. Only God knew what was inside all of Jesse’s sons and what they would be good at. Look at the eggs in front of you. Some of them are hard-boiled and some of them are raw. Can you fi gure out which ones are which without breaking them?

• After your child attempts to sort them, demonstrate how to tell the difference by spinning the eggs. If you spin a hard-boiled egg, it will stop as soon as you slow down its motion. If you spin a raw egg, the motion of the liquid inside the egg will continue the spinning even after you slow it down. You can find a video of this online, if desired.

SAY: We can use this trick to tell which eggs are boiled and which are raw, but we can’t use tricks to see inside people’s hearts. Only God can do that. In the story, God picked the person no one expected. Are there times when people’s talents surprise you?

PRAY: Dear God, we are grateful that you know us from the inside out. Help us to trust you. Amen.



David the Musician (1 Samuel 16:14-23)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pages 125–128) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThe Bible is full of special songs. Music has always been an important way to express our feelings and talk to God. King David was very good at playing instruments and singing, and I bet you know some people who are good at playing music too. God likes it when we use music to make each other feel happy and to worship. But God doesn’t need us to be perfect! Even if you aren’t good at playing music or singing, God would still love to hear your voice. If you need encouragement, just think of all of the other people in the world who sing to God and pretend you are singing with them in a giant choir.

WONDER TOGETHERSaul was the king. I wonder, why did he have unhappy thoughts and bad dreams?

I wonder, what songs did Saul like to hear when he was sad?

I wonder, when you’re feeling sad, what kind of music do you like to listen to? What helps you to stay calm and think good thoughts?

SERVE TOGETHER• Locate a place in your town where you can find street

musicians or small live-music performances.

• Go to see these musicians with your child and watch them perform.

ASK: How are the other people walking past the musician responding to the music? Do they dance or sing or smile?

• If appropriate, talk to the musicians about their performances—why they like to perform in this setting and why they like to play their instruments.

TIP: Consider taking small bills or coins for tips.

• Afterwards, talk with your child about what you learned.

PRAY: Creative God, we are grateful for the opportunity to meet new people in our town through music. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: a device that can access youtube.com

• Go to youtube.com and search for performances of the song.“Amazing Grace” in different musical styles.

TIP: Good versions to try include gospel (Aretha Franklin), a cappella (Noteworthy, from Brigham Young University), bluegrass (Gospel Creek the Bluegrass Band), and steel drum (Hearts Aglow).

• Watch the videos together.

ASK: What are some of the ways these performances are similar and diff erent? How did they make you feel? Which one made you feel the happiest? What did you like about it? Why do you think people listen to music to help themselves feel happy?

TIP: If your family has a favorite song your child is very familiar with, feel free to explore different versions of that song as well.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for all of the diff erent kinds of music and the people who like them. Amen.



David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-51a)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 129–133) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALGoliath was a bully to the Israelites and had hurt many people. The Israelites were surprised and happy that David was able to stop him from hurting any more people. David wasn’t good at fighting, but he used something he already knew how to do to help him stop Goliath. We all have things we are good at that we can use to solve our problems. God can help us tackle big challenges, and usually we don’t have to hurt anyone in the process.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, how did David feel when he saw that Goliath was bigger and stronger than he was?

I wonder, what does it feel like to be brave?

This story is about fighting when you disagree with someone. I wonder, have you ever disagreed with someone? Are there things you can do other than fighting when you disagree?

I wonder, are there some skills you have that can help you solve problems? What are they?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: white paper, crayons, colored pencils, or markers

• Fold a sheet of paper in half lengthwise, then unfold.

• Fold the paper in half width-wise, and then again. Unfold.

• The fold lines should have created eight rectangles on the page. Trace the folds with a black marker or pen to create the comic book frames.

TIP: Your child can use as many or as few frames as he or she thinks is necessary to tell the story.

• Depending on the age of your child, work together or allow him or her to complete this project independently.

SAY: To help us think about what the characters in this story are thinking and feeling, let’s draw a comic that tells this story. Make sure to show how the characters are feeling through their body language and their facial expressions. You can write words that the characters say or think if you want to.

• If your child is working alone, make your own comic. After your child is finished drawing, talk about why he or she thought certain parts of the story were important. Ask about creative choices he or she made.

PRAY: Dear God, we are thankful that Bible stories help us to explore many people’s thoughts and feelings. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: a device that can access youtube.com

• Go to youtube.com and search for “Khloe Kares” to locate a video about Khloe Thompson, a nine-year-old from California who makes care packages for her homeless neighbors. Watch the video with your child.

SAY: In our Bible story today, we saw that a small person was able to take on a big challenge with God’s help. Khloe is a litt le bit like David! Sometimes, young people think they are too litt le to help when they see a problem. But everyone can help!

ASK: What is a problem that you want to help with?

• Depending on your child’s ideas, brainstorm opportunities for her or him to help. Consider making care packages to deliver to a local shelter, mail to a college student, or send to a deployed member of the military. If your child is passionate about the environment, take her or him out to pick up litter in a local park or plant vegetables that can be shared with friends and neighbors.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for being with young people as they try to help with big challenges. Amen.



David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:1-42)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 134–137) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALGod gives us friends to laugh with, play with, and cry with. Friends help us feel better when we’re sad, and we have the important job of helping them when they’re sad too. David and Jonathan were best friends and found a clever way to help each other in a tough time. Sometimes, being a good friend means being creative. The most important part of friendship is helping your friends know that they aren’t alone, even when you’re not together.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, do you have a best friend like Jonathan and David had each other?

I wonder, why was King Saul mad at David? Have you ever been mad if you think someone has more friends than you? Why do you think that might make someone feel sad or mad?

I wonder, do you have some ideas about how you can protect your friends from having their feelings hurt like Jonathan protected David?

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: a white crayon, watercolor paints, white paper

SAY: In this story, Jonathan used an arrow to send a secret message to David.

ASK: What would you say or draw if you could send a secret message to a friend?

• Have your child write or draw a secret message with the white crayon. Instruct them to push hard on the crayon. Write a secret message to your child as well.

• After the messages are finished, use the watercolors to reveal them. Paint a light coat of paint over the message and the drawing or words will appear.

ASK: Why do you think Jonathan had to keep his message to David a secret?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for good friends who can help protect us. Amen.

READ TOGETHERSupplies: a book from the Elephant and Piggie series

TIP: You can obtain an Elephant and Piggie book from a local library or bookstore. Many of these stories address friendship, especially My Friend Is Sad, Today I Will Fly, Listen to My Trumpet, or Pigs Make Me Sneeze. You can also find videos of someone reading these books aloud on youtube.com.

• Read the book together.

SAY: Elephant and Piggie are very diff erent, but they are best friends.

ASK: What makes a person a good friend? Why are Elephant and Piggie good friends?

PRAY: Dear God, help us to always be patient and loving friends. Amen.



David and Abigail (1 Samuel 25:1-42)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 138–140) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALAt the time when David and Abigail lived, women’s stories were not often written down. Women learned about God and listened to God, but we don’t always get to hear their stories. Thankfully, we have the story of a brave peacemaker named Abigail. Abigail saved many people’s lives. She thought fast and taught people how to share. She showed people how to be peaceful, when other people thought that the only option was violence. Abigail is someone we can all learn from. Next time it seems like there is no way through a disagreement other than hurting each other, think of Abigail.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why didn’t Nabal want to share with David? Have you ever had a hard time sharing something?

I wonder, how did Abigail know what to do?

I wonder, how did Abigail feel when she was asking David to forgive Nabal? I wonder, was that scary for her?

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: a device that can access the Internet

• For background, go to www.malala.org and read the story of Malala Yousafzai, an activist and peacemaker.

TIP: Malala’s story includes references to violence against children, so be prepared to address the issue at a level that is appropriate for your child.

SAY: Abigail was a peacemaker in our story. Let’s talk about a modern-day peacemaker. Her name is Malala. She is from a country called Pakistan. In some places in Pakistan, girls aren’t allowed to go to school. Malala believes that everyone should be allowed to go to school. When she was twelve years old, she began speaking up about the challenges she faced in her country.

• If your child is old enough, review the website together. For younger children, tell Malala’s story in your own words and show them pictures from the website.

ASK: Can you imagine being told you couldn’t go to school because you were a girl or a boy? How would you feel? Do you think Malala is like Abigail? How do you think she is a peacemaker? What can you do to be a peacemaker?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for showing us that even young people can be brave peacemakers. Help us to learn from peacemakers all over the world. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: paper, decorating supplies

SAY: In today’s story, Abigail was a hero. She helped people learn how to forgive each other instead of hurting each other when they’re angry. She showed people how to share. Sometimes peacemakers do important things without being asked. Even though peacemakers do important things, sometimes people don’t say thank you for helping them.

• Invite your child to think of a woman she or he knows who is a peacemaker. She could be a person who helps people learn to share or avoid fighting or talk about their feelings. She could be a relative, a teacher, a friend from school, or a friend from church.

• Once your child thinks of someone, invite your child to make a thank-you card for that person for teaching others how to make peace. Show your child different symbols for peace, such as a dove, olive branch, or peace sign.

• Make a card with your child.

• Mail or hand-deliver the cards.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to celebrate the people we know who teach us to share and make peace. Amen.



David Dances (2 Samuel 6:1-19)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 142–144) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALDavid had a big celebration because he was excited that the Lord’s chest was coming into his city. The Lord’s chest was a symbol of God’s presence. The people in Jerusalem believed that if the Lord’s chest was near them, their city would be blessed by God. They couldn’t wait to see God’s blessings. They cheered and danced and sang and ate special food. It’s good to know that God is with us when we celebrate important things and when we feel happy feelings. God doesn’t expect us to be serious all of the time!

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, was there a time when you were so happy that you danced for joy?

I wonder, what did it sound like to be at David’s parade? Have you been to a parade before? What was it like?

If you were going to have a parade for something, what would it be?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: empty sturdy plastic bottles or cylindrical tea tins (or similar items—check your recycling bin); uncooked rice, lentils, dried beans, or sand; duct tape; stickers; contact paper; colored tape

SAY: Oft entimes at parades, there is a lot of music, dancing, and celebration. Today we’re going to make some shakers to use to make some music around the house. We can play with them and dance around together when we are fi nished making them, like David and the Israelites did in the story.

• Lay out the materials on the table.

• Add some rice or dried beans to a clean bottle or tin, leaving plenty of air space.

• Secure the lid by using duct tape.

• Decorate the shakers with stickers, contact paper, or colored tape.

TIP: Different materials will make different sounds, so you might want to experiment with different materials or make more than one kind.

PRAY: Dear God, we are glad that we can have fun while praising you with happy sounds and dancing. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: ingredients for raisin cake, cooking supplies

SAY: Today we’ll make our own raisin cakes that might be like the ones the Israelites ate at King David’s celebration. When the cake is done, imagine what it would be like to eat it at a giant celebration with your whole town!

Ingredients2 c. raisins4 c. water1 c. butter1 ½ c. white sugar

½ c. packed brown sugar

3 ¼ c. all-purpose flour

2 tsps. salt2 tsps. ground

cinnamon2 tsps. baking soda

Directions• Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour a 9-by-13 pan.

• In a saucepan, combine raisins and water. Bring to a boil and let boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Stir to mix and allow to cool.

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda. Add the raisin mixture and the nuts. Stir together until smooth.

• Pour batter into a 9-by-13 pan. Bake at 350° F for 35–45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for special treats that help us celebrate exciting things. Amen.



Solomon Becomes King (1 Kings 2:1-4; 3:1-15)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 150–151) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALTransitions can be hard. When things are changing, it’s hard to tell what’s going to happen next. When Solomon became the king of Israel, it was a big transition. Everyone was used to King David making the decisions. Even Solomon was used to his dad being in charge. When it was Solomon’s turn to be king, he could have made some bad decisions. He could have focused on himself and having money and power. He could have ignored God or the people of his kingdom. But Solomon didn’t do that. Instead, he asked for God’s help because he didn’t know what would happen next or what he should do. Because he asked for wisdom, God helped him and now he is known as “the wise king.” Next time there are changes happening in your life, try asking God for wisdom so you will be able to make good decisions.

WONDER TOGETHERDavid gave Solomon a lot of advice about how to be a good follower of God. I wonder, what advice would you give to someone younger than you about how to follow God?

I wonder, was there ever a time when you felt like you were too young and inexperienced to do something important?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: clothing, costumes, dress-up outfits

SAY: Today we read about when King Solomon asked God to make him a wise person. What do you think a wise person looks like? Use these clothes, hats, jewelry, and outfi ts to dress up like someone you think would be wise.

• Put on a wise-person costume with your child.

• After you and your child put on your costumes, talk about why you picked certain items. Perhaps some clothing items remind you of people you know who you consider to be wise. Perhaps you have seen pictures of wise people in books or movies and wanted to dress up like them.

TIP: This simple game will help your child talk about the physical and personality traits he or she associates with wisdom.

PRAY: Dear God, we thank you that you have given us many examples of wise people that we can learn from as we try to learn about you. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: picture book about Nelson Mandela, world map• Locate South Africa on a map with your child.

SAY: Nelson Mandela was a wise ruler. He lived in a country called South Africa, where there were once unfair laws that said black Africans must be separate from white Africans. Black Africans had to go to schools and live in neighborhoods that were not as nice as the ones for white Africans.

• Read the picture book together.

ASK: How do you think black Africans felt about the laws?

SAY: Nelson Mandela was a black African. He worked with many other people to try to change the laws. He went to prison for almost thirty years for trying to change the laws. Finally, the laws changed. Nelson was released from prison and he became president! He is known as “the father of South Africa.” Once Nelson Mandela said, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”

ASK: What do you think Nelson meant by that? How do you think he felt when he was in prison?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for leaders who inspire us to be brave and wise. Amen.



Solomon’s Wisdom Proverbs (Proverbs 6:6-8; 10:1; 17:17)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 188–190) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThe Book of Proverbs is for everyone, but it’s especially for children. It’s full of sayings that can teach you how to live a good life and be a good family member. Sometimes the sayings might sound funny to you. It’s funny to think that God wants us to be like ants! But when you stop and think about it, there is a lot we can learn from nature about how to be a good person. When you are reading Proverbs, ask an older brother or sister or your parents if something doesn’t make sense to you. It will be fun to talk about your questions with them, and you both might learn something about living a good life in the process.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, do you know anyone who works hard like ants? What kind of work do they do?

I wonder, was there ever a time when listening to your parents was hard? Why was it hard for you?

I wonder, how can you tell when someone cares about you? What do they do or say that lets you know they care? What do you like to do to show others that you care about them?

MOVE TOGETHERSAY: In Proverbs, King Solomon and other writers say that we can learn about being wise from animals. They say it’s wise to work hard like ants do or wise to build houses in strong places like the badger or wise to work together like locusts. Today we’re going to think about how we can learn things from animals.

• With your child, pick an animal. Pretend to be that animal by making noises and movements that animal makes.

ASK: How is this animal wise? What can we learn from this animal?

• Repeat the process with more animals.

• Use their favorite animals or suggest some of your own. Good options are: otters (playfulness, protecting each other), beavers (hard work), dogs (loyalty), or bees (teamwork).

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for creating all kinds of animals. Help us to be kind to them and learn from them about how to live a good life. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: posterboard or paper, ruler, markers, crayons or colored pencils, stickers

SAY: Many proverbs are about how to live together as a family. Today we are going to make a chart with some rules for our family. This week we will put stickers next to each other’s names when we do a good job following the rules. These rules are for everyone, even the grownups! Let’s use some rules from Proverbs and also add our own.

• Make a list of rules along the left side of the posterboard. Include the following, but add your own as well.

1. Listen to parents 2. Help each other 3. Spend 15 minutes doing something fun together 4. Be a peacemaker if you disagree with someone

• After the list of rules is complete, write family members’ names on the right side of the paper and make a chart with seven or more days so your family can practice following the rules.

• During the week, before bedtime, talk about the chart together and discuss what each family member did to earn stickers.

PRAY: Dear God, we love our family very much. Help us to be kind to everyone in our family. Amen.



Solomon Builds the Temple (1 Kings 6)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 152–154) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThis temple sounds like a very fancy place. It was decorated with precious metals and beautiful wood, and was very expensive to build. When people saw the temple, King Solomon wanted them to feel God’s presence. How do you feel God’s presence? Sometimes people feel like God is with them when they are in a big, fancy kind of church called a cathedral. Sometimes people feel like God is with them when they go on a hike or spend time at the beach. Other people can close their eyes and pray, and feel that God is always with them. Still others feel that God is with them when they listen to certain kinds of music. Solomon had a good idea to build the temple, but a big fancy building isn’t the only way to remember that God is with you.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why did King Solomon think that the Israelites needed to build a temple for God?

I wonder, why was it important for King Solomon to make the temple very beautiful and expensive?

I wonder, how do you remember that God is always with you?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: clear contact paper, tissue paper in various colors, construction paper, scissors

• Cut an 11-by-14 rectangle from the contact paper.

• Cut out a 7-by-10 rectangle from the center of the construction paper, so that you are left with a frameone inch thick.

• Carefully stick the frame in the center of the contact paper rectangle, leaving about one inch of contact paper on each side.

SAY: When the Israelites built the temple, they used wood, stone, and gold to make it beautiful for God. Today, churches sometimes use stained glass windows to make their churches beautiful. Let’s make some stained glass art with paper and put it on a window in our house. When we look at it, it will remind us that God is with us, even when we are not in church.

• Make the stained glass by laying shapes or strips of the tissue paper on the contact paper inside the frame. Use different colors and allow your child to cut or rip the shapes if possible. When the project is finished, use the border of contact paper to attach your creation to a window in your house. It will be easy to remove later.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for promising to always be with us even when we are not in church. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHER• Before discussing this with your child, choose a church

or non-Christian place of worship in your community and reach out to get permission to visit the building with your child. Explain that you and your child are exploring some church buildings to help your child learn about different features of worship spaces. If appropriate, see if someone from the church will be available to talk about things your child notices about the space.

SAY: This story is all about how King Solomon built a temple to honor God. The temple was where the Israelites worshipped God, and it was a very special building. Today, many Christians worship God in churches, but they all look diff erent. This week we’ll visit a new church to see how it is diff erent from or the same as ours.

When you visit, ASK your child what she or he notices. What is the fl oor like? the ceiling? Are there chairs or pews? Are there windows, artwork, or decorations? What books are in the room? Are there any words painted or carved anywhere? Are there pictures of Jesus or other people? Where do you think people stand when they talk in the worship service? Is there a place for a choir to sit? an organ? other musical instruments?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for giving us many diff erent spaces to use when we worship you.



Solomon Dedicates the Temple (1 Kings 8)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 155–157) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALBefore King Solomon decided to build the temple in Jerusalem, the chest of God was in a special kind of tent called a tabernacle. Though God lives everywhere, the Israelites felt God’s presence very strongly when they were near the Lord’s chest. They had carried it with them in the wilderness as they wandered in search of a new home, before they built the city of Jerusalem. They were tired of wandering and wanted God to be with them forever in their new city. So King Solomon built a temple for the chest of God, as a sign that God’s special presence would be there forever. When King Solomon built the temple, everyone was very happy to have a permanent building instead of a tent where they could worship God. They were so happy that they promised to live their lives the way God had always wanted them to.

WONDER TOGETHERWhen people went to the temple, King Solomon wanted them to be reminded that God was with them. I wonder, what are you reminded of when you go to church?

Solomon hoped that the chest of God would stay in the temple forever to bless Israel. What do you hope for?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: your child’s backpack or other bag, paper, pencil

SAY: When the chest of God was in the tabernacle, the people had to pick up and move a very heavy tent whenever they had to move to a new place. That must have been hard!

ASK: Can you imagine carrying your church around with you to a diff erent town? What if you had to fi t the most important parts of a church into a backpack that you could carry around with you? What would you put in it?

• Have your child make a list with the items she or he would want to take. Items can include but aren’t limited to: hymnal, Bible, cross decorations, coloring books, a musical instrument, Communion chalice and plate, a bowl for baptism, and so forth.

• Go around the house and find items that are similar to those listed by your child and try to pack them into the bag. If they don’t all fit, ask your child to prioritize until the bag zips.

ASK: Can you imagine having church somewhere and only using these things in your backpack? Do you think it would work?

PRAY: Dear God, we know you’re everywhere, but thanks for giving us a church we can worship in. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER• Pick a time when you will be at church with your child.

SAY: Aft er the temple was built, King Solomon promised that the Israelites would follow God and live life the way God wanted them to. Part of that meant taking care of people who needed help in their town. Caring for others is still important for churches to do today.

• Go around your church and talk about the missions, outreach efforts, or service programs your church offers. Show your child where they occur in the church or show them a map of places that mission teams have visited in the past.

• Depending on what your church offers, make a plan to volunteer to help with one of these programs so that your child can see this vital aspect of the church in action.

PRAY: Dear God, we are thankful for the chance to help others and meet new friends. Help us to always remember that the church should be generous to our neighbors. Amen.



A Baby Is Coming (Jeremiah 23:5-8)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (p. 194) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALJeremiah was a prophet during a dangerous time for the people of Jerusalem. Powerful kingdoms attacked the city, and the people of Jerusalem were scared and confused. God gave Jeremiah many things to say to the people. Sometimes God’s messages challenged the people to follow God’s laws. Sometimes God’s messages comforted the people. Jeremiah lived hundreds of years before Jesus was born, but God knew that the people of Israel would be comforted by knowing that God was sending someone special to help them. The people of Israel waited a very long time for the Messiah, a special person God would send to help them come close to God in a new way. Finally, the Messiah came. It was Jesus! As Christians, we have a special time of waiting every year before we celebrate Jesus’ birth. This season is called Advent.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, have you ever waited a long time for something? What does it feel like when you are waiting?

The Israelites had to wait hundreds of years for the Messiah! I wonder, did they ever get tired of waiting?

What is your favorite part about waiting for Christmas? What does your family do to get ready for Christmas?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: small plain artificial or evergreen wreath (or a wreath of green construction paper); five electric votive candles; pink, purple, and white ribbon; permanent marker; glue or tape

SAY: On the four Sundays of Advent, we light candles in church as we remember the Christmas story and the good things that Jesus brings to us. The fi rst purple candle stands for Hope; the second purple one is for Love; the third candle is pink and stands for Joy; and the last purple candle stands for Peace. The Christ candle is white and in the middle of the wreath, and we light that one on Christmas Eve. Let’s make an Advent wreath together to use at home. We’ll light the candles every week and talk about the good things that Jesus brings to us.

• Cut strips of ribbon to tie around the electric candles (three purple, one pink, and one white). Write “Hope,” “Love,” and “Peace” on the purple ribbon pieces; “Joy” on the pink ribbon; and “Jesus” on the white ribbon. Wrap the ribbon around the candles and secure with glue or tape.

• Nestle the purple and pink candles into the wreath, making sure you can still turn them on and off. Place the Christ candle in the center of the wreath.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for sending the good news that Jesus is coming. Help us to wait for Jesus with patience and hope. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHERTIP: In this activity, you will explore the meanings of different names in your family. Be prepared to talk about how you chose your child’s name, the origins of the name, and/or what you like about the name.

SAY: In this story, Jeremiah says that even the baby’s name will help the people remember that God is good. In the Bible, people give Jesus many names, including Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, and Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” These names have special meanings for the Israelite people and help them to remember that God is with them.

• Using the Internet, search for the meanings of names of people in your family. Talk about the process of naming your child and about what his or her name means in the context of your family.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for our families that love us and give us names that have special meanings. Amen.



Mary and Joseph (Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-38)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 216–217 and pp. 298–301) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALWhen God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus’ parents, it was a surprise for them! They had their own plans about how their lives were going to go, and then God changed their lives forever. They probably had a lot of questions about what was happening, like: Why did God choose us? What will make this baby so special? Are we going to be good at this? What if we make a mistake? What if people laugh at us? These are questions that people ask God all the time when God interrupts their lives with new plans. New plans are scary! It’s hard to give up control of the plans we have for ourselves. Mary and Joseph trusted that God would take care of them, and they decided to follow God’s plan. The story of Mary and Joseph can help us remember to listen for new plans from God and to trust that God’s plans for us are good.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why is it so hard to change our plans? Why do you think making plans is important?

I wonder, how did Mary and Joseph feel when the angels came to talk to them? How would you feel?

Why do you think the angels told Mary and Joseph what name to give to the baby?

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: a small prism crystal with a hole at the top, clear string

SAY: When Mary fi nds out that she is going to have a baby, she is scared and excited. She prays a special prayer called the Magnifi cat. She says, “My soul glorifi es the Lord!” and then praises God out of wonder that God chose her to be Jesus’ mother. Mary’s prayer reminds us that God takes regular people and shows them that they’re an important part of God’s plan for the world. God saw that Mary was special, even though other people thought she was just young and poor.

• Show your child the prism.

SAY: Prisms make rainbows out of regular sunlight. They look like they are just clear shapes of plastic or glass, but they make beautiful colors out of clear light. Try it! Use the string to create a window charm with the prism and hang it in a window. When the sun shines on it and you see the rainbow, remember that God can make beautiful things with “regular” people.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for sending the good news that Jesus is coming. Help us to wait for Jesus with patience and hope. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: paper, pencils, crayons or markers

SAY: A plan in our minds gives us a way to imagine what the future will be like. It’s like giving us a picture of the future that we get to control. It’s hard to share that control! Mary and Joseph decided to share that control with God when the angels came and told them God’s plan. Today we will be drawing a picture as a team. The trick is that we can’t tell each other what we want the picture to be! We will take turns drawing shapes and lines on the paper until we have something we like. The picture can be of anything. With this project, we can practice sharing control of our plans so we know what it feels like.

• Draw one or more pictures with your child using this method. Discuss what you like and don’t like about the process of team drawing.

PRAY: Dear God, it’s hard to share control. Help us to trust that you have important plans for us, even if they are not exactly the ones we had imagined. Amen.



A Baby Is Born (Luke 2:1-7)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 304–307) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALSometimes it’s hard to remember that Jesus was a real person. He was God’s Son, but he still sneezed, was ticklish, and skinned his knees when he fell down. Jesus knows what it’s like to have a body and feelings. He knows what it’s like when you taste your favorite food or feel the breeze on your face. The Bible says that he cried sometimes, got angry, and laughed with his friends. When we pray to Jesus, we can talk to him about these things because he understands them. This is possible because Mary gave birth to him a long, long time ago and took good care of him as he grew up. When you pray to Jesus, remember that he knows what it’s like to be a kid!

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what did it feel like for Mary and Joseph to put their new baby in a feeding bin for animals?

I wonder, what was Mary thinking about when she was riding on the donkey?

I wonder, have you ever met a newborn baby? What are they like? What do you know about them?

EXPLORE TOGETHERTIP: This exercise is designed to be appropriate for children in many different family circumstances. Focus on the events surrounding how your child came to be part of your family, whether that is by birth, adoption, foster care, or another path.

SAY: This story is about when Jesus was welcomed into his family. Everyone has stories from when they were fi rst welcomed into their family. Together, we are going to make a list of things I remember about the fi rst time I saw you.

• Use the following as a starting place, and encourage your child to ask questions.

1. When and where was the first time you saw me? What was the weather like?

2. How did you feel when you saw me for the first time?

3. What did I do the first time you saw me?

4. Who were you with the first time you saw me?

5. What did you do to take care of me the first time you saw me?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for families that care about us and remember our stories. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: items for care packages for homeless families, preferably purchased with your child

SAY: Mary and Joseph probably didn’t want their baby to be born in a crowded room with animals. But there was no room for them at any of the houses in Bethlehem. Today, there are some families who don’t have a home to live in. It’s important for us all to help take care of these families. The Bible says that when we take care of people who need help, it’s like we’re taking care of Jesus. Let’s make some winter care packages to help families stay safe this winter.

• Together with your child, make a list of supplies to use to make the care packages. Choose some hygiene items (shampoo, oral care products, lotion, deodorant, tissues, and so forth), some food items (granola bars, crackers, trail mix, and so forth), and some clothing items (gloves, socks, hats, and so forth). Consider adding gift cards in small amounts or printing a resource list of service providers in your area. Use reusable grocery bags for the items and deliver them to a shelter or services provider. Make a card or write a message of encouragement with your child to place in each bag.

PRAY: Dear God, thanks for reminding us to be generous to people who need help. We’re grateful that Jesus knows what it’s like to have hard times. Amen.



The Shepherds’ Visit (Luke 2:8-20)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 308–309) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThe shepherds were some of the first people that God told about baby Jesus. God could have told kings, priests, or other powerful rich people, but instead, the angels appeared to shepherds in the fields. Shepherds were not very popular in Jesus’ time. They were scruffy and possibly smelly, and usually didn’t have very much money. They didn’t have any gifts to take to Jesus, but the angels told them to go and visit him anyway. This story helps us remember that Jesus is for everyone, not just important or popular people. God thinks everyone is important, and there are no barriers between you and Jesus. The shepherds went to meet Jesus without stopping to take a bath or change out of their work clothes, and God didn’t mind. The shepherds were so excited about this new kind of king that they wanted to tell everyone about him.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what did the shepherds feel when they saw the angels?

I wonder, what were the shepherds thinking on the journey to find Jesus?

I wonder, what would it look like if angels appeared in front of you right now?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: rubbing alcohol, vegetable oil, a plastic container or glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, glitter, small shiny beads or sequins, food coloring (optional), clear tape (optional)

TIPS: Clean any labels off the plastic or glass jar before starting the activity. Preview the instructions below. Prepare materials to the extent necessary given the age and abilities of your child.

SAY: When the shepherds saw the angels, the Bible says that the “glory shone around them.” Today we’ll make glitt er globes to help us imagine what it might have been like to see angels that night. When you shake your globe, remember that God is always with us, even when God doesn’t send angels to talk to us.

• To make the glitter globes, pour rubbing alcohol into the container until it’s a quarter full, and add two drops of food coloring, if desired.

• Add oil until it is about a half inch from the top of the container. Add glitter and beads or sequins. Fill to the top with oil and screw on the lid.

• Tape around the lid for extra security against leaking. Shake and spin the container and watch it sparkle!

PRAY: Dear God, help us to remember that your glory comes to us in many ways. Amen.

READ TOGETHERSupplies: a copy of The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell

TIP: You can find a copy of this book at most local libraries and bookstores. If you prefer, you can find a video of someone reading the book aloud on youtube.com.

SAY: In our story this week, the shepherds go to visit Jesus. They don’t take him any toys or gift s. They go to see him because the angels told them he was a new baby and that he was special. At Christmastime, we oft en give presents to people to show them that we love them. Sometimes, though, people don’t need any new things. Sometimes, people just need more opportunities to spend time together. We can learn from the shepherds, who celebrated Jesus just by going to spend time with him. We are going to read a book today that talks about this idea too.

• After reading the book, ask your child how this makes him or her feel.

• Discuss some ideas for special ways he or she can spend time with family members as a gift this Christmas season. Consider inviting a relative to bake cupcakes together, watch a special movie, or play a favorite game.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for reminding us that our friends and family are the best gift s in our lives. Amen.



Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-38)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 310–312) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALSimeon and Anna were some of the first people to see that Jesus was special. They called him the Messiah. For Jewish people, the Messiah was a person everyone was waiting for who would help them become a strong nation again. Some people thought the Messiah would be a strong military leader who would help them fight other countries. Some people thought the Messiah would be a powerful king who would talk to other kings and make them respect the Jewish people. It was surprising for people to say that the Messiah was a little baby! As you hear other stories about Jesus as a grownup, remember that Jesus was not the person the Jewish people expected God to send to them. God fulfilled God’s promise to help the Jewish people in a surprising way!

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, how did Simeon and Anna know that Jesus was the Messiah?

I wonder, what was it like for Anna to be a woman prophet?

I wonder, what songs did Simeon sing to God when he saw Jesus? What songs do you sing when you feel happy?

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: device that can connect to the Internet

TIP: In this activity, you will explore images of Jesus from different cultures with your child. It’s a good idea to preview the images. Search for “images of Jesus from around the world” to find good compilations of images. Be prepared to show your child the regions of the world where the images originate.

SAY: In this story, the prophet Anna looks at Jesus’ face and immediately knows he is the Messiah. There are a lot of diff erent drawings of Jesus, but no one really knows what he looked like. A lot of artists who draw or paint Jesus imagine him to look like themselves. Let’s look at diff erent artists’ versions of Jesus from around the world.

• As you look at the images together, talk about the differences in how Jesus is depicted. If appropriate, talk about the scenes in which Jesus is depicted in addition to the differences in ethnicities.

ASK: How do you think you could know if you were meeting Jesus today?

PRAY: Dear God, we love to learn how people from cultures around the world see Jesus. Help us to remember that Jesus belongs to everyone. Amen.

PRAY TOGETHERSAY: Simeon and Anna were so happy when they saw that Jesus was the Messiah. It made them feel hopeful about the future of the Jewish people. Simeon sings a song praising God because he is happy. Did you know that people can pray through singing? Sometimes we sing just because it’s fun or because we like the way a song sounds. But sometimes we sing because we want to off er something beautiful to God.

• Together, choose a song your child knows from church. If you don’t know it, ask your child to teach it to you. If your child can’t think of any, suggest “Jesus Loves Me” or a favorite Christmas carol. Sing it together as a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for giving us many ways to pray to you. Amen.



The Visitors From the East (Matthew 2:1-12)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 218–220) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALMost Christians celebrate Christmas, but did you know that some Christians also celebrate a holiday called Epiphany? Epiphany is on January 6 and is a celebration of when the wise men came to visit Jesus. In some countries, Christians eat special cakes and children go out to sing songs around their neighborhoods. In other countries, people make signs to hang about their doors for blessings in the new year. The wise men in the story traveled a long way to bring very precious gifts to Jesus. During Epiphany this year, think about spiritual gifts that you can give to Jesus, like praying, sharing, and being kind to others.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what does it feel like to travel a long way from home? What is the farthest you’ve ever been from home? What do you like about traveling? What is hard about it?

I wonder, how did the wise men know they were supposed to follow the star?

I wonder, what gift would you give Jesus if you got to meet him in person?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: small twigs, hot glue, raffia of any color (yarn or twine will also work), scissors

• Gather and break the twigs into five sticks of roughly the same length for each star you want to make. Consider making a few stars of different sizes and stringing them together to hang on a door or along a mantle.

• Prepare the hot glue before you start the activity. For younger children, consider pregluing the sticks together in a star shape and allowing your child to decorate them with the raffia.

SAY: The wise men who came to visit Jesus were led to him by a star. Stars are a symbol of Epiphany. Let’s make some stars to hang up around our house to remind us that Epiphany is around this time.

• Arrange the sticks into a star pattern and glue them together.

• Have your child cut a long strip of raffia for each star (3 feet for smaller stars, 4–5 feet for larger stars).

• Tie the raffia to the star and then wrap it around the star in different patterns. Tie the other end of the raffia to the star after it’s all wrapped around. You can add other colors or more raffia if desired.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for using a star to lead the wise men to Jesus. Help us to remember this story when we see the stars at night. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: a.“prize” item of your choosing, paper, writing utensil

• Hide a prize around your house or outside if the weather is suitable. A prize can be candy, stickers, a new book, or anything you prefer.

• Develop a scavenger hunt using little maps or diagrams that ultimately lead your child to the prize. A good strategy is to draw a representation of a room in your home and use a star symbol to mark the spot of the next clue. Use as many clues/diagrams as you like.

SAY: When the wise men went to fi nd Jesus, they didn’t have a paper map or a computer to show them the way. They used the stars in the sky as a map! Today we will practice reading some maps by doing a scavenger hunt in our house. As you search for clues, think about what kinds of adventures the wise men had when they were looking for baby Jesus.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the lessons we learn on all kinds of journeys. Amen.



A Voice in the Wilderness (Mark 1:9-11)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 266–267) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALBaptism is a special ritual called a sacrament. A sacrament is an action or symbol you can see with your eyes that reminds us of something you can’t see with your eyes—God’s invisible grace. Baptism is a way of saying, “We are God’s children. God claims us as God’s own.” Baptism is something that many Christians do, but everyone does it differently. Sometimes babies are baptized by sprinkling water on their heads. Other times, adults get baptized by putting their whole bodies under water! The water helps us remember that God’s grace washes over us and protects us. When people are baptized, they become part of the church family in a new way, and everyone promises to help them grow and to teach them to have a strong faith.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why is water the symbol for baptism?

I wonder, why did God send a dove to show that God loved Jesus?

I wonder, what does it feel like to be baptized?

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: five small rocks or shells, small bowl, water

TIP: If your child has been baptized, use this activity to help your child remember or reclaim his or her baptism. If your child has not been baptized, use this activity to imagine it or discuss when he or she will be baptized.

SAY: In this story, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Let’s talk about what baptism means.

• Cover the five small items with water in the bowl. Talk about when your child was baptized or may choose to be baptized in the future. Ask your child to remove the items one at a time. With each successive item, have her or him repeat the following statements after you. Discuss examples if appropriate.

-1. In baptism, people become part of God’s family.

2. When you’re baptized, people promise to love you and teach you to love God.

3. Water reminds us that God’s grace washes our souls.

4. Water reminds us that God’s grace is everywhere.

5. Water reminds us that God loves us.

• If your child has been baptized, dip your fingers into the water and touch her or his hand or forehead and say, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” Invite your child to do the same for you, if you have been baptized.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you that you welcome people into your family through baptism. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: paper, art supplies of your choosing

SAY: When Jesus was baptized, God sent a dove to show that God loved Jesus. God uses a lot of symbols to show love in the Bible. Let’s draw some of these to help us remember them.

ASK: Why might a dove have felt loving to Jesus? What animal do you think would make you feel loved? What symbols for God’s love do you know?

• Fold the paper into quarters and unfold so there are four quadrants on the paper. In each section, draw or paint one of the following symbols: dove, olive branch, rainbow, chalice (Communion).

SAY: Remember God’s love when you see these things in the world!

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for using symbols to help us remember that you love us. Amen.



Jesus and the Children (Matthew 19:13-15)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 239–241) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALDid you know that Jesus said that people should become like little children in order to enter the kingdom of God? Jesus loved kids, and he made time to spend with them even when he was very busy. Jesus knew that kids can have important skills, like being honest, loving, and kind. He thought that adults could learn about these things by watching kids! Jesus said that kids are like role models for adults who want to enter into God’s kingdom. Have you ever thought of yourself as important enough to be a role model for Christians? Jesus thinks you are! Remember that Jesus always has time to listen to your prayers and that you are important to him.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why did the disciples try to keep the children away from Jesus?

I wonder, what would it feel like to be blessed by Jesus?

I wonder, why did Jesus say that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children?

READ TOGETHERSupplies: a copy of The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell

TIP: This book is widely available in stores and libraries, or you can find a video of someone reading it aloud on youtube.com. There are also multiple animated movies based on the book if you’re looking for a longer activity.

SAY: Today we’re going to read a book that shows how children are special to Jesus. Sometimes, children understand things bett er than grownups! Think about that as you listen to this story.

• Read or listen to the story with your child.

PRAY: Dear God, we are thankful that you love all children. Help children to feel your love even when other people tell them they are too litt le to understand you. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: device that can connect to the InternetTIP: Preview the material at unicef.org. UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) is a division of the United Nations that is dedicated to serving children in vulnerable regions around the world. Look through their programs and decide which are most appropriate to share with your child considering their maturity level and interests. Be prepared to show your child relevant regions on a map.

SAY: This story is about how Jesus cares about children. There are children all over the world who need help going to school, gett ing medicine, having enough food, and living in a safe neighborhood. Jesus cares about these children too! UNICEF is an organization that tries to help children in unsafe areas. Let’s learn more about UNICEF and the things they do to help kids.

• After your conversation about UNICEF, consider a way for your child to raise a small donation for the organization.

PRAY: Dear God, help us care about all the children in the world because you love all of them. Amen.



A Boy’s Lunch (John 6:1-15)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 412–417) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALJesus does a big miracle in this story. But it all starts with a young person who is willing to share his food. Jesus asked him to share and because he said yes, Jesus transformed what he had into food for thousands of people. Jesus asks us to share a lot. We might share our toys with other kids, share a snack with a friend, or share our coat with someone who is cold. When we have an opportunity to share, this is a chance for Jesus to transform that sharing into something special. It might not be the same kind of miracle as feeding thousands of people with bread and fish, but Jesus can use us to help other people feel God’s love. Whether that’s by filling their bellies or by lifting their spirits, it’s always important.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, have you ever shared anything before? When is it easy to share? When is it hard to share?

I wonder, have you ever seen a miracle happen?

I wonder, what does it feel like when someone shares with you?

SERVE TOGETHERTIP: Find a food bank in your area. Identify needed items.

SAY: The miracle in this story shows that Jesus cares about people having enough food to eat. Food is expensive, so there are places called food banks that give people extra food. This week we’re going to go shopping and buy some extra food to give to the food bank.

• As you shop together, consider buying extra ingredients to make a meal this week that uses only items you can find at a food bank.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for providing for us and for using us to help provide for others. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: 3 cups flour, 1 packet of instant yeast, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, water, oil as needed, mixing bowl, mixing spoon, 6- to 8–quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic), wire rack

SAY: We’re going to bake some bread today and share with the family for dinner. Bread is one of the basic foods that many people eat a lot. In Jesus’ time, everyone ate bread. It was one of their main foods.

• To make the bread, mix the flour, yeast, salt, and 1 ½ cups of water in a bowl and mix until blended. Cover the bowl and let it sit for 4 hours.

• After 4 hours, preheat the oven to 450° F and put the pot in the oven to heat. Put a little bit of oil on a clean countertop and put the dough on it. Fold it over a couple of times and then put it back in the bowl and cover it for 30 more minutes.

• After 30 minutes, carefully take the pot out of the oven. Place the dough in the pot and cover it with the lid. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake another 15–30 minutes, until the bread is brown on top. Cool the bread on a wire rack.

PRAY: God is great, God is good, and we thank God for our food. By God’s hand must all be fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.



Jesus Walks on Water (John 6:16-25)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 418–423) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade. If reading from the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, read Matthew 14:22-33 also.

DEVOTIONALIt’s hard to trust God sometimes. God asks us to do some things that sound impossible, like loving our enemies, helping others, not caring what other people think, and praying every day. In the story, Peter was doing the impossible and walking on water, until he stopped trusting Jesus. Peter was afraid. He let the fear distract him from trusting Jesus. It’s scary to try to do things that sound impossible! When you feel afraid to do something that Jesus teaches you, keep your mind on Jesus, not on the things you’re afraid of. Remember that Peter could walk on the water when he focused on Jesus! But when he started focusing on the wind and the waves, he began to sink. Even when he was afraid, Jesus still saved him. That shows us that we can trust Jesus.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what impossible things does Jesus ask you to do?

I wonder, what did it feel like for Peter to walk on the water?

I wonder, what is it like to see someone do something you thought was impossible?

PRAY TOGETHERSAY: Sometimes when we are afraid but are trying to trust God, it helps to pray. A breath prayer is a special kind of prayer that can help us calm down and stay focused on God. In this kind of prayer, we use our breath to help us remember that God loves us and to let go of things and give them to God. Let’s practice it together.

• Lead your child in a breath prayer using the following format.

1. Close your eyes.

2. As you slowly breathe in, pretend that you are breathing God’s love into your body.

3. As you slowly breathe out, say something that is bothering you or making you afraid. You can say it out loud or just in your head. God will hear it either way.

4. Repeat this at least five times. You can say different things that are bothering you or focus on letting go of the same thing the whole time.

• When you are finished praying, say,.“Amen,” and open your eyes.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: a rectangular piece of paper, a device that can connect to the Internet

TIP: Use the Internet to find an instructional video for folding an origami boat. Practice a few times so you can teach your child.

SAY: Usually when you put a piece of paper in water, it gets soggy and sinks. But if you fold it into a boat, it will fl oat! This story reminds us that Jesus can turn us into people who can do things we never expected. Think about that while we make the boats.

• Make a few boats together and try floating them.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to trust you when we are afraid. We want to believe we can do things that feel impossible. Amen.



The Four Friends (Mark 2:1-12)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 268–271) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALWhen you’re feeling sick or sad, who takes care of you? The friends in this story go to great lengths to take care of their sick friend. They knew that Jesus could help their friend, and they got creative about how to get him to Jesus. Jesus did the miracle of healing him, but without the friends, the miracle wouldn’t have happened. Jesus can do amazing things! Sometimes those amazing things require people to help each other. Next time someone you love needs help, remember that God can use you to bring God’s love to that person. Sometimes people who are sick don’t get healed by God’s love, but you can still help them feel God’s love in their hearts.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what does it feel like to be taken care of when you are sick?

I wonder, what did Jesus think about the man coming down through the roof?

I wonder, what is it like to feel God’s love in your heart?

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: paper, pencil

SAY: This story is about some friends who work really hard to help another friend. What are some ways that you can help your friends this week? Do you know someone who is sick? someone who is sad or lonely? Think about things you can do to help make their day bett er. Maybe you could take them a special treat at school, make them a card, or play with them at recess. Let’s make a plan together so you can help them this week.

• Help your child form a plan by making a list of people your child could help and a list of helpful actions your child could take.

• Choose one or two to try this week and circle them. Post the list somewhere in your home where your child will see it as a reminder.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for helping us help each other. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: a device that can connect to the Internet

TIP: This lesson explores a ministry for people with disabilities. Please adjust the materials as necessary according to your child’s maturity and experience with disabilities. Prepare by exploring larcheusa.org. L’arche communities are places where persons of different abilities live together in community and build relationships based on love, nurturing, and honoring human dignity.

SAY: God created everyone and thinks everyone is valuable, including people whose bodies and minds work in diff erent ways. The man in this story was paralyzed, so he couldn’t move his legs and walk. Sometimes people are mean to others who walk and talk and think diff erently than they do, but that’s not what God wants. There are places called L’arche houses where people who have disabilities live together with people without disabilities. They become friends and learn to share together, have fun together, and take care of one another. Everyone is loved by God. Next time you meet someone who walks, talks, or thinks diff erently than you do, be kind to them! Everyone is worthy of love.

• Explore the L’arche website with your child.

PRAY: Dear God, we are grateful that everyone is valuable to you. Help us to treat everyone as valuable. Amen.



Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 272–275) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALWhen you hear a storm at night, what do you do? Some people might hide under the covers, even grownups! Storms can be scary! They can be loud and windy and knock things over. Not all storms in our life have thunder and lightning. Sometimes it can feel like there is a storm inside of us when we are sad or scared or bad things happen. Sometimes a storm in our head might feel so loud, we have trouble thinking! Jesus can help to calm those storms too. Storms in the weather and storms in our feelings will happen all throughout our lives. Jesus doesn’t take these away from us, but he helps us get through them if we trust him.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, how did the disciples feel when they were in the storm? What were they scared of?

I wonder, have you ever been afraid of a storm in the weather?

I wonder, have you ever had a storm in your feelings?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: watercolors, brush, paper, cup of water

SAY: In this story, Jesus calms a storm on a big lake. Can you imagine what it might have looked like? Today we’ll practice painting with watercolors. We will paint what the storm on the lake looked like and then what the lake looked like when it was calm.

TIP: Divide the paper in half so the paintings can be easily compared.

• Paint the two scenes, including a boat with the disciples in it both times.

• As you work, discuss how the disciples might have felt in each scene.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for giving us an example of how you calm the storms in our life. Amen.

PRAY TOGETHERSupplies: a device that can connect to the Internet

TIP: Locate a video on youtube.com for the Steve Green song,.“When I Am Afraid,” from the album, Hide ’em in Your Heart. Listen to the song to preview it. The song is a setting of verses from Psalm 56 and is easy for children to learn and memorize.

SAY: Today we’re going to learn a new song to help us trust in God when we are afraid. When we’re scared, sometimes it’s hard to know what to do. If you remember this song, you can sing it to God as a prayer when you are afraid. It will help you stay calm and remind you to trust God, like Jesus told the disciples during the storm.

• Listen to the song with your child and sing it together.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you that we can always trust in you. Help us to remember your love when we are afraid. Amen.



Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 276–279) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALIn this story, Jesus shows us a miracle by healing Jairus’s daughter. Miracles aren’t something we see every day. Jesus also shows us the power of a healing touch, which is something we can see every day. Before he heals her, he takes her family and a few of his disciples to her room, and then holds her hand before he tells her to get up. Holding someone’s hand or putting your arm around their shoulders is a beautiful way to care for someone. It can be a nice way to pray together or just to sit quietly together if you don’t feel like talking or don’t know what to say. Just make sure that you ask your friend or family member if it is okay to touch them before you do.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why did Jesus take only a few people with him when he healed the girl? Why didn’t he want everyone to see the miracle?

I wonder, are there times when it’s hard to follow Jesus’ words to “just keep trusting”?

We usually can’t heal people’s bodies like Jesus did. I wonder, what other ways do people need healing?

READ TOGETHERSupplies: a copy of A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

TIP: This book is widely available for purchase online or at local bookstores. You can also listen to someone reading the book aloud on youtube.com.

SAY: Today we’re going to read a book about some friends who help a man named Amos who is sick. When Jesus healed Jairus’s daughter, he took her hand and spoke gently to her. Even though we can’t heal sick people like Jesus did, sometimes people feel bett er if we are gentle with them. As we read this story, we will talk about the parts of the story where the characters are being gentle to help Amos feel bett er.


PRAY: Dear God, give us a gentle spirit when we are trying to help people who are sick feel bett er. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: magazines, scissors, paper, glue

SAY: When Jesus talks to Jairus, he says, “Don’t be afraid. Keep trusting.” Today we’re going to use these magazines to make a collage that helps you remember to trust God. You can put anything you want on the collage, from pictures you like to hopeful words.

• Work together with your child to make a collage that reminds you both to trust God. Hang the collage somewhere in your home to serve as a reminder.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, help us remember to keep trusting you. Amen.

Jairus’s Daughter (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43)



Mary Honors Jesus (John 12:1-8)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 424–427) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALWhy do you think Mary decided to give Jesus this very expensive gift? One reason might be that she loved Jesus and was so thankful for him that she wanted to honor him with an important gift. In Jesus’ time, anointing someone with oil was a special way to honor someone. We don’t have Jesus with us in person, so we can’t anoint him as a way of showing our love. How can we show Jesus that he is important to us? We can give the gift of spending time with him in church and of praying. We can also honor others because Jesus says that when we take care of other people, it’s like we are taking care of him. Because Jesus is with us in our hearts, we have a lot of different ways we can honor him!

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why do people give gifts to others?

I wonder, what was it like to put the perfume on Jesus’ feet?

I wonder, why did Mary want to use the perfume to show Jesus that she loved him instead of selling it to help others? Do you think that there are ways you can help others while honoring Jesus?

READ TOGETHERSupplies: a copy of Thank You Bear by Greg Foley

TIP: This book is widely available for purchase online or at local bookstores. You can also listen to someone reading it aloud on youtube.com.


ASK: How do you think Bear felt when his friends didn’t understand his gift ?

SAY: This is like when the disciples told Mary that her gift wasn’t the right kind to give to Jesus. It can be hard to have confi dence that our gift s are a good thing to give to Jesus. It can be scary if we don’t know that someone will like what we give to them! But Jesus loves all of our gift s when they are off ered to him with our whole hearts, so we can have confi dence that he will accept us.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us courage to give good gift s to you and to others that we love. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: sink, soap, washcloth, towel, and materials for getting hands dirty

SAY: In this story, Mary puts perfume on Jesus’ feet. In Jesus’ time, people wore sandals a lot and the streets were very dusty. People’s feet were usually very dirty! Washing someone’s feet and putt ing perfume on them was a very meaningful way to show someone love. Today we will wash each other’s hands as a way to show that we care about each other.

• First, make sure your hands are dirty! Play in some paint or play outside.

• When you come inside, use soap, water, and a washcloth to clean each other’s hands. When your hands are clean and dry, hold hands and pray together.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us ways to care for each other. Help us to care for each other every day. Amen.



Bartimaeus Shouts to Jesus (Mark 10:46-52)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 282–284) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALFaith is a kind of seeing. It doesn’t give us X-ray vision like a superhero might have, but it changes what we pay attention to in the world. Our faith teaches us to see other people as God’s children and to see the earth as God’s creation. Faith helps us to see how God is working in the world and to be grateful. Bartimaeus was physically blind. He couldn’t see with his eyes, but because of his faith, he could see things about Jesus that other people couldn’t. He knew that Jesus could help him, even though other people in the crowd said he was just bothering Jesus. Sometimes the way faith helps us see the world can seem crazy to people around us! If you are ever afraid to talk about something you can “see” because of your faith, remember the story of Bartimaeus.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, how did Bartimaeus feel when he was asking Jesus for help?

I wonder, what does it feel like to be blind?

I wonder, what did the people in the crowd say to Bartimaeus after he was healed?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: blindfold (optional)

• With your child out of the room, set up a few items on the floor to act as obstacles. You will direct your child around these objects while your child’s eyes are closed. Don’t let him or her see the course before you start the game.

SAY: Today we’re going to play a game where we take turns following directions with our eyes closed. The goal of the game is to learn about how to trust others when we can’t see. I set up an obstacle course for you, and I will use my voice to guide you through it safely. You have to trust me!

• After the obstacle course is completed, talk about what your child felt during the game.

ASK: Was anything scary about that? Was it hard to trust me?

SAY: Even when we can see, it’s important to rely on God to help us get around hard or scary times in our lives.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for people in our lives who we can trust. Help us to listen to you as you lead us around obstacles that we can’t see. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: blindfold; small objects such as stuffed animals, kitchen utensils, bottles, and toys; bag for each participant

• Each participant should collect four or five objects and hide these in her or his bag until the game is started.

SAY: We learned today that faith gives us a way to see the world. There are other ways to see the world too! Today we will try to “see” the world with our hands. We will try to identify objects when we can’t see them.

• Invite each family member participating to take a turn by closing his or her eyes and using his or her hands to identify another participant’s object by touch.

• As you are playing the game, talk about how you can tell the items apart. What are some distinguishing features? Do you notice different things about the objects when you can’t see the shape or color?

SAY: Having faith is like having another sense to use when exploring the world. Even though Bartimaeus was blind, he could still “see” how special Jesus was.

ASK: What do you “see” about Jesus that makes him special?

PRAY: Dear God, help us to use our faith to see the world diff erently. Help us to imagine the kind of world you want for us. Amen.



Jesus Breaks the Bread (Mark 14:12-26)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 288–292) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALCommunion is a special time in church when we remember the story of Jesus having his last dinner with his disciples. This was one of the last times Jesus saw his friends before he died. He thought it was important to have time together, to share food, and to talk about how to remember him after he died. He told his disciples to keep spending time together after he died, and to remember him when they ate bread and drank wine together. That’s why many Christians still eat some form of bread and drink some form of grape drink in church together. When we have Communion in church, we remember the things that Jesus taught us about loving each other and helping everyone. We remember how Jesus’.love keeps our spirits strong like food keeps our bodies strong.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, how did Jesus know this would be one of the last times he would see his disciples?

I wonder, how did the disciples feel after Jesus told them that this would be one of his last meals with them?

I wonder, why did he use bread and wine and not other foods to help the disciples remember him?

PRAY TOGETHERSupplies: paper, pencil

SAY: When Jesus gives the bread and wine to his friends, he does four things: he takes it, he blesses it, he breaks it, and he shares it. Remembering these things gives us a great way to pray.

• On a piece of paper, write “take,” “bless,”.“break,” and “share.”

• With your child, write down something your child wants God to take off his or her mind—something he or she feels sad about or nervous about.

• Write down the name of a person your child thinks needs God’s blessing.

• Write down a habit your child needs to break or something she or he wants to learn to do differently.

• Write down a way your child can share what she or he has with others.

• After the list is complete, pray about each item together.

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: flour, water, salt, fork, mixing spoon, bowl, greased baking sheets, rolling pin, measuring cups, aluminum foil, spatula

SAY: In most churches, we use leavened bread when we take Communion. That means the bread has risen and is soft like the bread you probably eat for toast or sandwiches. At the meal Jesus had with the disciples, he would have eaten unleavened bread, which is more like fl at crackers. This kind of bread is called matzo, and Jewish people eat it at important holidays. It’s fun to make!

• Set your oven to its highest temperature.

• Measure out 1 ¼ cup water and 3 cups flour and mix together with ½ teaspoon salt in the bowl. Knead it with your hands for one minute and then make small balls 1–2 inches in diameter.

• Place the dough balls on foil and use the rolling pin to roll the dough as thin as you can, then poke holes in it with a fork. This keeps it from rising.

• Transfer the matzo to the greased baking sheets or place the foil on the baking sheets. Bake them for 2–4 minutes or until they are golden brown. Use the spatula to remove them from the pan. Matzo is good dipped in hummus or as a base for pizza!

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the time we spent together baking matzo. Amen.



People Welcome Jesus (Mark 11:1-11)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 285–287) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALIn church, we remember this story on Palm Sunday. This is the Sunday before Easter every year. In your church, maybe people wave palm branches around or go on a parade around the building yelling, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” Hosanna is a word that people in Jesus’ time said when they were very happy. This is a famous story about welcoming Jesus into a big important city. Now that Jesus is in our hearts, he can be welcomed in different ways. How can we welcome Jesus into our lives and our houses when he is in our hearts and not riding on a donkey? What things can we do to show him that we are joyful that he is with us?

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why did Jesus want to ride on a donkey to go into Jerusalem?

I wonder, how did Jesus feel when so many people were happy to see him?

I wonder, what word would you say to welcome Jesus?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: craft materials, device to play music, other celebratory items your child wants to use

SAY: Today we will work together to think of a way to show Jesus that we welcome him into our house.

ASK: What do you think we should do? Should we make a sign? Or have special music playing? Or have our own parade? What do you think?

• After your child comes up with an idea, work together to execute it, involving other family members if possible.

PRAY: Dear God, we welcome you into every part of our lives. Help us remember to welcome you all the time, not just on special days. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: craft materials, device to play music, other items your child wants to use

SAY: Jesus had a long journey to get to Jerusalem. He traveled a lot during his ministry. Sometimes he tried to go away by himself to rest, but he was oft en very busy. It’s not just important to welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts every day; it’s also important to welcome people we love! People feel good when they know people love them and want to be around them. Let’s think of ways to welcome our family members home aft er a long day of work or school.

• Brainstorm ideas with your child. Possible ideas include: making their favorite snack or dinner, listening to their favorite music, making a card, making a big “Welcome Home” sign in sidewalk chalk outside, and so forth.

• When you’ve chosen an idea, work together with your child to execute it.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for my family and for the chance to help them feel loved when they come home. Amen.



The Tomb Is Empty (Luke 24:1-12)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 388–391) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALWhen God raised Jesus from the dead, it was very confusing for Jesus’ friends and family. They thought someone might be playing a trick on them to be mean. Some of them didn’t believe it until they saw Jesus for themselves. They didn’t know what was going on! Can you imagine how they might have been feeling? It’s important to remember all of these confused feelings when we talk about Easter. Easter isn’t just a time of joyful celebration. It’s a time when we remember that God’s plans for new life can be confusing and scary too. New life is mysterious and sometimes comes from unexpected places. Sometimes we think that faith means we are never confused or never have questions. Remember, Jesus’ closest friends were confused and had questions. Don’t be afraid if you’re confused about some parts of this story.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, how did the angels feel when they saw the women at the tomb?

I wonder, why didn’t the disciples believe the women who saw the angels?

I wonder, what did Peter do after he left the tomb?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: common household props and costumes, a phone or camera capable of recording a short video (optional)

SAY: The people in this story probably had a lot of strong feelings! The women might have been sad when they went to see Jesus’ body, scared when they met the angels, and confused or angry when they saw that Jesus’ body wasn’t in the tomb. Together, using props from around the house, we will make a silent video that tells this story. We will rely on our faces and our actions to show how each character is feeling. We can use hats or jackets to play more than one character or we can use dolls or other family members to help out.

• Reread the story with your child and decide which characters you’d each like to represent and what feelings the different characters may have felt.

• If you have a phone or camera, record your silent movie. Afterwards, watch the playback with your child and talk about the ways your child tried to convey different feelings.

ASK: Which character’s feelings did you relate to the best? Why?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for raising Jesus from the tomb. We’re glad that it’s okay to have lots of diff erent feelings about this miracle. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: magazine, scissors, glue, paper

SAY: When Jesus was raised from the dead, he had a new life. He didn’t return to his old one. Jesus wants to bring new life to all of us, the kind of life that is built out of hope and bravely loving ourselves and everyone around us. This new life means that we have to change our minds about the things that are important to us and follow Jesus’ example. We have to take our old lives and reorganize them so that they look more like how Jesus lived. Let’s take a page from a magazine and cut it up and make something new. You can make a new picture or just something that looks prett y to you. It will be a reminder of the new way of life that Jesus gives us.

TIP: Tear out a full-page photo or a spread that includes both text and graphics. Patterns using small text can add an interesting texture to collage!

• Spend some time creating a collage alongside your child. When you’re finished, share your creations with each other.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, please lead us into the new life that you promised us. We are trying to follow you. Amen.



Paul Changes (Acts 9:1-19)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 462–465) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThe apostle Paul is a very important part of how Jesus’ messages spread into the world. Paul is called an apostle because he was passionate about Jesus and tried to teach a lot of people about him. In this story, we learn that Paul didn’t always love Jesus. In fact, before he became an apostle, Paul was named Saul, and he was very mean to people who loved Jesus. Then Jesus appeared to Saul in a vision, and told him to stop the mean things he was doing. When Saul met Jesus, his heart turned around. His life went in a totally different direction, and he was so different that he started going by a different name. Sometimes Jesus speaks to us to cheer us on. But sometimes, Jesus wants us to change our minds or our hearts about something. This can be scary. But it’s important to be like Paul and follow Jesus into something new.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why did God think Paul would be a good apostle? What do you think makes someone a good apostle?

I wonder, what did Paul’s friends and family think about his big change?

I wonder, was it hard for Ananias to trust Paul when he met him?

MOVE TOGETHERSAY: Meeting Jesus caused a big turnaround in Paul’s life. He started moving in a new direction. Today we’re going to play a game. Anytime today, one of us can yell, “Damascus!” and the other person has to say, “Big Turnaround!” and turn around so they’re facing a new direction. Wait a few seconds before going back to your activity or task. We will play the game all day to help us remember the story.

• Play the game with your child throughout the day.

• Before bed, talk with your child about the game. What was it like to turn around suddenly in the middle of an activity? How did your child feel about the turnarounds?

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us turnaround moments like Paul’s. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: paper, drawing supplies

TIP: For younger children, draw the outlines of common road signs on paper. Consider writing the words inside the sign if appropriate, using age-appropriate synonyms if necessary (for example, “wait” instead of “yield”).

SAY: Sometimes our journey with Jesus is full of twists and turns! There are times when we have to wait for God, times when we need to go slower than we want to, times when we need to stop what we’re doing, and times when we need to make a U-turn and go a totally diff erent way. Draw some road signs on your paper and write down times in your life when it felt like God was using these signs for you. Or write the name of a Bible character from a story you know who had to do these things.

• Spend some time working on the activity with your child. After some time, share your illustrations with each other.

PRAY: Dear God, help us listen to your directions on this faith journey. Amen.



Paul Escapes (Acts 9:20-25)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 466–468) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALIt’s a good thing that Paul had friends who could help him find a way out of Damascus! Good friends are a gift from God, and it’s important to remember all of the ways that our friends and family help us when we have success. When we do a good job, there are usually a lot of other people who have supported us by helping us, praying for us, and teaching us new things. Think of something that you’ve accomplished that you’re really proud of. Who helped you achieve that goal? Paul went on to have a great ministry and he started a lot of churches, but he knew that he wasn’t working alone. Friends like the ones in this story helped him out along the way, and he was grateful to them because he couldn’t have accomplished everything he did in his ministry without them.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, was Paul scared to go down the wall in the basket?

I wonder, why did the people get so angry at him that he had to leave the city?

I wonder, was it hard for the friends to lower him down the wall? Do you think he was heavy?

READ TOGETHERSupplies: an age-appropriate book about Harriet Tubman

TIP: There are many books about Harriet Tubman available at local libraries or read aloud on youtube.com. Suggestions include: Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman by Monica Kulling, A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman by David Adler, and Who Was Harriet Tubman? by Yona Zeldis McDonough.

SAY: Paul’s friends were very brave when they helped him escape. Today, let’s explore a diff erent story where friends had to help others escape. This story about Paul reminds us that there are a lot of places and times when people had to escape from dangerous situations like Paul did. Harriet Tubman helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

• Read the story with your child.

ASK: What do you think of Harriet Tubman’s story? How is it like the story of Paul’s friends? How is her story diff erent?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for brave people like Harriet Tubman who inspire us to be brave to help others. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: toy blocks of any kind, paper, string, scissors, tape or glue, hole punch, dry beans

SAY: Let’s build a wall out of blocks. Then we will make a basket out of paper, tie a string to it, and see how many beans we can fi t in the basket and still lower it down the wall without spilling any.

• Work together on the design of your basket or make more than one design to test. Try to make them strong!

PRAY: Dear God, we are grateful that friends can help us solve problems in unexpected ways. Amen.



The Church Grows (Acts 9:26-31)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 469–470) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALAfter Jesus died and the disciples and their friends started churches, it was hard to know who to trust. People from the Roman government sometimes didn’t like it when new churches started. Some Jewish people were angry that Christians were starting a new faith and talking so much about Jesus. There were other people who tried to control what churches were learning, and they did not follow what Jesus had taught the disciples. It’s no wonder the disciples had a hard time trusting Paul! At first, they didn’t believe that Paul had really changed his ways. They thought he was still being mean to people who loved Jesus. But then Paul’s friend Barnabas told the other disciples that Paul had really started following Jesus. It’s a good thing that Paul and the disciples were able to work together in the end.

WONDER TOGETHERHave you ever had a hard time trusting someone? What helped you change your mind?

Why do you think the church was able to spread? What do you think people liked about it?

I wonder, how did the disciples know where to go to start new churches?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: light-colored fabric scrap (preferred) or thick paper, permanent marker(s) such as Sharpie markers, rubbing alcohol, dropper or syringe or straw

SAY: God’s Word spread around the world because people worked together with the Holy Spirit to tell the story of Jesus and change people’s hearts. The apostles couldn’t do it on their own! In our activity today, the marker represents individual people, and the rubbing alcohol represents the Holy Spirit. Watch and see what happens to the marker when we add the alcohol!

• On a protected surface, draw a small circle (about 1–2 inches in diameter) of eight to ten dots on your fabric or paper.

• Using the dropper, put drops of rubbing alcohol in the center of the circle. As the alcohol is absorbed in the fabric, it will dissolve some of the ink and the ink will spread outwards. Use enough drops that the pattern expands significantly. If desired, repeat using other colors.

ASK: How do you think the Holy Spirit helps us spread God’s Word?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to help the apostles spread the good news about Jesus around the world. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: pencil, paper

SAY: In this story, we learned that Barnabas stood up for Paul. Because Barnabas helped Paul, Paul could help others learn about Jesus. We also can stand up for others when they aren’t being treated well. Sometimes we can stand up for people by writing lett ers and asking others to help change the way a person is treated. These lett ers could go to people in charge at school, at church, or in our town, state, or country government. Think of someone you know or someone you’ve heard about who needs someone to stand up for them.

• Help your child make a list of people or groups of people who are not always treated well. Suggestions include refugees, people with disabilities, people of other religions, people without homes, and so forth.

• Help your child decide who might have the power to help. Find out how to send that person a letter. E-mail might be most appropriate.

• Help your child craft his or her letter and send it.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to fi nd many ways to stand up for others. Amen.



Timothy Is Chosen (Acts 16:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (p. 489) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThe Bible is full of stories of young people who have special jobs. Do you remember any? Do you remember when Jesus said to let the children come to him? Or when he healed children? In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah said that in God’s kingdom, a little child would teach everyone how to live in peace together. Another prophet named Jeremiah was called by God as a young boy. One of the best kings of Israel became king when he was only eight years old! When you consider the long history of young people leading others in faith, it’s not surprising that Paul chose a young person to help him in his mission to spread God’s Word around the world. People can be faithful leaders at any age.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what area of the church would you like to be a leader in?

I wonder, what was it like for Timothy to travel around with Paul? I wonder, what was it like to sail on ships and walk from place to place on dirt roads?

I wonder, what makes a person a good leader?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: candies with coating or wrapping that come in a variety of colors, such as M&M’s

SAY: When kids are leaders, it doesn’t mean they have to do things the same way that adults do them. Kids can make up their own activities and use things they like to do God’s work in the world. Today we’re going to do a fun prayer activity. Let’s fi gure out how many diff erent colors there are of these candies we have. For each color, you will think of a category to pray for. For example, for green, you could pray for something in creation. For brown, you could pray for there to be peace in a situation you know about. Aft er you come up with the ideas, we will share some of the candy together and pray about the things you thought were important.

• Share the candies and pray with your child, allowing your child to guide the prayer time.

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: a device that can connect to the Internet

• Go to youtube.com and search for the video “Kid President’s 20 Things We Should Say More Often.”

SAY: Today we’re going to watch a video made by a kid who inspires people and is a good leader. His name is Robby Novak, and he goes by Kid President. Born in 2004, he has been featured in positive and inspiring videos since 2012. The fi rst video was made “out of the simple belief that kids have voices worth listening to.”

• Watch the video with your child.

ASK: What makes Kid President a good leader? What did you like about the video?

PRAY: Dear God, we are glad that we all have voices worth listening to. Help us to encourage each other to have confi dence, even when we are young. Amen.



Lydia (Acts 16:11-15)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 490–491) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALPaul had all kinds of helpers. He asked for help from women, men, kids, Jewish people, non-Jewish people, people who had been in jail, people who were rich, people who were poor, people who were married, people who were single, and people from towns all over the place. Paul knew that all kinds of people could help the church grow and that God needed them! Even though some people in Paul’s time looked down on non-Jewish people, women, or young people, Paul knew that God loved everyone and could use all kinds of people to share God’s love. It’s the same way in the church today. Everyone has skills that can help the church! There should be no rules like “girls can’t be pastors” or “boys can’t teach Sunday school.2”.We all benefit from each other’s gifts, and there is room for all of us in God’s church.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what is it like to be baptized in a river?

I wonder, what did Lydia like about Paul’s teaching?

I wonder, was it hard for Paul’s helpers to work together? What might have made it hard?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: three 12-inch strips of fabric or ribbon: one white, one purple, and one blue

SAY: Today we will make a bracelet or a bookmark with colors that will help us remember Lydia’s story. The purple reminds us of Lydia; the blue reminds us of the water of baptism; and the white reminds us of the Holy Spirit.

• Tie the three strips of fabric together with an overhand knot. Braid the fabric together and either leave it as is for a bookmark or tie it in a circle for a bracelet.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to Lydia and to us. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHERSupplies: one red zinger tea bag or 1 cup red onion skins or grape juice, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, 1 cup water, hard-boiled eggs

SAY: Lydia’s purple cloth was expensive because purple dye was expensive! It was hard to make. Today we’ll try to make some purple dye for some hard-boiled eggs, like Easter eggs.

• Heat the water to simmering, and steep the tea and/or onion skins in the water for 20–30 minutes. Allow the dye to cool to room temperature and then add the vinegar. (If using grape juice, just bring the juice to room temperature and add vinegar.)

• Submerge the eggs in the dye in a single layer and put them in the refrigerator until they reach the desired color. If desired, make multiple dyes and compare the results.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for all the beautiful things we can do with nature. Amen.



Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16-40)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 492–494) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALPaul and Silas had God in their hearts, and their lives showed it. No matter what they were going through, they knew that they could trust and rely on God. When they were in prison, they stayed focused on God and sang songs and prayed. After their chains broke and they could go free, they stayed focused on God and told the prison guard about Jesus. After they got out of the prison, they stayed focused on God and went to the guard’s house to baptize his family. Big things happen when we stay focused on God. When other people notice that our faith impacts our lives, even in hard times, they can be encouraged to learn about Jesus too!

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, have you ever made friends with someone you didn’t used to like?

I wonder, has someone you didn’t like very much ever helped you?

I wonder, would you have stayed in the prison after the chains were broken? I wonder, what songs would you sing if you had to go to prison?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: construction paper in many colors, scissors, glue

TIP: For younger children, cut two-inch-wide strips of paper before the activity.

SAY: Paul and Silas encouraged each other in prison. They sang songs and worshipped God. God helps us to be strong in all situations. Today we’re going to make a craft that will remind us of the story. We will make a paper chain to remind us of the prison chains. But instead of using a dark color for the prison chains, we will use all the colors of the rainbow to show that Paul and Silas remembered God’s promises and encouraged each other when they were in prison.

• Create a length of interlocking loops of paper, using the glue to secure each loop. When it is complete, drape it somewhere in your child’s room.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to encourage each other even in diffi cult times, like Paul and Silas did. Amen.

PRAY TOGETHER SAY: Jail can be a scary place. Even though some people in jail may have done unkind things, they are still people whom God loves. Sometimes people are in jail for bad reasons, too, like Paul and Silas. Jesus says that we should pray for people in prison, even the ones who did unkind things to others.

• Write a prayer together for people in prison. Include the following words: mercy, love, path, forgiveness.

• Pray your prayer together.

• Consider writing a version of your prayer on a colorful card and sending it to a prison ministry in your area.



Pentecost (Acts 2:1-43)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 446–449) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThe Holy Spirit is the helper that God sent to us after Jesus left the world. The Holy Spirit helps us feel closer to God and closer to each other. It also helps us to be brave and confident that we are doing the right thing when we follow God, even if it’s scary. The Holy Spirit can help us do miraculous things, like work together when we have nothing in common and understand each other even when our lives are very different. When the Holy Spirit first came to the disciples, it even helped them speak to people who spoke different languages! The Holy Spirit is a powerful helper, and everyone experiences the Holy Spirit differently. When you feel inspired to follow God, the Holy Spirit is never far away!

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what does it feel like to meet the Holy Spirit?

I wonder, why did God send the Holy Spirit?

I wonder, have you ever felt the Spirit or seen how the Spirit can help people?

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: a device that can connect to the Internet

SAY: In the story of Pentecost, the disciples are mysteriously able to speak other languages and everyone can understand everyone else. This is a powerful message about how God unites all people. Today we will learn a few words in a language that will help us to speak with some people in our town.

• Work together to decide what language to explore. Spanish is a good default option. Depending on your location, Chinese, French, Korean, Arabic, Vietnamese, or Tagalog might be appropriate. Learn how to say, “Hello,” and “Have a good day,” and any other phrases your child is interested in learning. Practice these phrases together from time to time so you don’t forget!

PRAY: Dear God, help us to learn how to understand one another’s languages and lives so we can be more united. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHER Supplies: crayons, paper

SAY: A long time ago, a pastor named John Wesley tried to change the way people in his church lived their lives. He had a lot of ideas about good ways to be God’s church. One time he said his heart felt “strangely warmed” when the Holy Spirit was with him. We don’t know what this means exactly, but it reminds us of Pentecost! When the Holy Spirit is present with you, you might feel diff erent or have new ideas about what to do. John Wesley is famous for saying that his heart felt “strangely warmed,” and that’s why many United Methodist churches have the symbol of a cross and fl ame on them like the one below. This symbol is on churches all over the world! Draw the symbol on your paper and color it while you think about how it might feel to have the Holy Spirit present with you in your heart.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to warm our hearts and encourage us. Amen.



Shipwrecked (Acts 27)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 496–500) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALGod and messengers of God often tell people in the Bible to “Fear not!” That means not to be afraid, even though things seem chaotic and scary. God told Paul not to be afraid during the storm, even though the boat was going to crash! It’s okay to feel afraid sometimes. Many people of faith in the Bible felt afraid at times. The important thing to remember is that God is with you and you are not alone. When you feel afraid, remember that you can pray to God for help to stay calm and ask for help from the Holy Spirit. If you remember to do these things, it might help to calm down your mind and your heart. That way, even if things around you are scary, you will have peace in your heart to follow God.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what was it like to swim in the ocean after the boat sank?

I wonder, why didn’t the captain listen to Paul when Paul warned the captain that the boat would sink?

I wonder, what do you do when you are afraid?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: glow-in-the-dark marker, pens, or stickers; paper

SAY: Today we will make a sign to remind us of God’s message when we might be facing something scary. Sometimes fear feels like darkness, so this glow-in-the-dark sign will remind us that God can calm our fears even in the darkness.

• Use the supplies to make a “Fear not!” sign to hang in your child’s room.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for being bigger than fear and bigger than darkness. We know you are with us even when we feel afraid. Amen.

MOVE TOGETHER Supplies: household items to create an obstacle course, stopwatch or watch with a second hand

• Set up an obstacle course in your home or yard, adjusting the difficulty to your child’s abilities.

TIP: Get creative and consult the Internet for ideas if desired.

SAY: Paul had a lot of adventures during his ministry. He got lowered out of a city in a basket, went to jail, met tons of new people, and got shipwrecked. Paul kept working hard because he loved Jesus. He persevered. That means he never gave up. You are going to do this obstacle course three times, and each time you should try to go faster than the time before. Don’t give up! Persevere!

• Allow your child to complete the obstacle course three times, timing him or her each time.

ASK: Was it hard to complete the course three times? What helped you persevere when you faced a challenge in the course?

SAY: Unlike the challenges in this obstacle course, we can’t always see what’s coming in life. But God is always with us to help us persevere through whatever obstacles we face.

PRAY: Dear God, help me to be like Paul and never give up. Amen.



•• The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 228–229) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALWe have always heard in church that we are supposed to pray a lot, but sometimes it’s hard to know the right thing to say to God. Jesus gave us a good example of a prayer we can say anytime! It’s not very long, but it has some important parts. In this special prayer, we ask God to forgive us and to help us forgive others. We ask God to help us make the world more like the kingdom of God. We ask God to give us what we need each and every day, and to help us follow God. We pray for ourselves and for others, and we remind ourselves that God is holy. This is a great prayer to learn by heart and pray with your family as well.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what part of the Lord’s Prayer do you think is the most important?

I wonder, why do Christians say this prayer together in church a lot?

I wonder, do you have a special prayer that you pray to God?

PRAY TOGETHERSupplies: twine or string, pony beads in different colors (yellow, white, purple, green, brown, clear, and red)

SAY: Let’s make a keychain to help us remember the diff erent parts of the Lord’s Prayer. Each bead stands for a diff erent line of the prayer.

• Knot one end of the string or tie it around a key ring or a zipper pull. String the beads while saying the prayer as printed below. Discuss each line’s meaning. Knot the loose end of the string in an overhand knot.

Our Father who is in heaven (String a yellow bead for heaven.)

uphold the holiness of your name. (String a white bead for holiness.)

Bring in your kingdom (String a purple bead for royal power.)

so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. (String a green bead for earth.)

Give us the bread we need for today. (String a brown bead for bread.)

Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. (String a clear bead for clearing away sin.)

And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. (String a red bead for rescue from danger.)

MOVE TOGETHER TIP: Depending on the age and interest of your child, it may be fun to have your child make up motions for the Lord’s Prayer. The goal of the activity is to increase familiarity with the prayer, so precise motions aren’t important. See below for suggested motions. For more complex motions, look up an American Sign Language version. Use whatever version of the prayer is already most familiar for your child.

SAY: Sometimes it’s easier to remember things in our heads and our hearts when we use our bodies. Let’s practice motions for the Lord’s Prayer to help us remember it.

Our Father who is in heaven (Lift your arms up in a Y shape. Look up.)uphold the holiness of your name. (Lay one hand on your chest where a nametag would go.)Bring in your kingdom (Lift your arms straight up.)so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. (Bend down and touch the ground.)Give us the bread we need for today. (Rest one open palm on top of the other, facing up.)Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. (Make a fist and tap your chest twice, first with one hand, then the other.)And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. (Shake your head no. Cross your arms over your chest.)



The Birds of the Air (Matthew 6:25-34)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 230–232) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALKids and parents worry a lot. Sometimes scary things happen in the world, and they make us concerned about the future. While it’s okay to be scared sometimes, Jesus doesn’t want us to worry all the time about scary things. Instead, we can remember the good things in the world like the people who love us and the wonderful things we see in nature. We can’t control what happens in the future, so worrying about it doesn’t help us or anyone else. In fact, worrying about the future can make it hard to enjoy the good things God is doing for us in the present. Next time you feel scared or worried about the future, think about something good that’s happening right now, and thank God for that good thing.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what do you worry about?

I wonder, what do you think your family members worry about?

I wonder, what good things are you thankful for right now?

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: sticky notes, writing utensils

SAY: Sometimes God takes care of us by helping us take care of each other. Reminding other people that we love them can be great encouragement when they are worried about something. It can be fun to surprise them! Use these sticky notes to write or draw pictures that you think people in our family or our neighborhood would like. Then we’ll put them in places they will fi nd them later for a fun surprise.

ASK: Where do you think we should put them?

TIP: Windshields, windows, mirrors, or pillows are good options.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to encourage each other and remember the good things you give us each and every day. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER Supplies: white cupcake liners, paint (watercolor or washable tempera), paintbrushes, scissors, large buttons, chenille stems

SAY: In this story, Jesus says that we should remember that God will take care of us like God takes care of the fl owers. Flowers are beautiful, and when we see them, they can help us remember how God takes care of us. We’ll make some fl owers today to help us remember that.

• Paint three cupcake liners for each flower you want to make. Use different colors for different colored petals. Set liners aside to dry.

• Select a chenille stem and button for each flower. When the cupcake liners are dry, stack three liners faceup and place the button in the center. Poke the chenille stem from the back of the liners through one of the holes in the button, then bend the stem and thread it back through another hole, poking through the liners again. Twist the ends together. Fan out the cupcake liners.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for beautiful fl owers to remind us that you take care of us. Amen.



The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (p. 233) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALOne of the easiest ways to explain what Jesus’ teachings were about is to quote the rule he gave his followers: “Treat others in the same way that you want to be treated.” Another way that Jesus said this rule was to “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” He learned this rule from the Jewish laws, but he gave people new ways to understand what it means. Jesus told his followers to show everyone love and kindness, regardless of how others treated them. In other words, people being mean or unkind to you doesn’t give you an excuse to be mean and unkind in return. It’s hard to follow this rule the way Jesus did! He showed love to everyone, even people who were planning to betray him, like Judas. We need courage and God’s help to love people this way.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what kinds of things do you really like people to do for you?

I wonder, do you know anyone who makes it hard for you to treat them like you would want to be treated?

I wonder, do you know anyone you think is good at following this rule?

SERVE TOGETHERSupplies: jars with the names of family members on them, strips of paper, writing utensils

SAY: This week we’re going to try a new family activity. When someone helps you and treats you in a loving way, draw a picture or write it on a strip of paper and put it in the jar with their name on it. Though it can be hard to love people like Jesus did, it’s important to notice when we are doing a good job.

TIP: Family mealtime can be a good time to check in about this activity during the week.

PRAY: Loving God, thank you for giving us Jesus to show us how to treat others. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHER Supplies: world map, device that can access the Internet

TIP: Do 5–10 minutes of research about Corrie ten Boom, if you aren’t familiar with her story. Add to the script below, or show your child pictures or one of the many videos available online if appropriate.

• Show your child the Netherlands on a map.

SAY: There are a lot of people who are famous for risking their lives to care for others. One of these people is named Corrie ten Boom. She was a Christian from a country called the Netherlands. About 80 years ago in the Netherlands, there were some people who did not like Jewish people and wanted to hurt them. Many Jews were in danger! Corrie ten Boom and her family decided to hide their Jewish neighbors to help keep them safe. They helped over 100 people stay safe and helped people for more than two years! Eventually, they were put in prison, but her family said that their faith in God kept them strong during diffi cult times. Corrie ten Boom once said, “Love is larger than the walls which shut it in.”

• Talk about this quotation with your child, using a drawing if helpful.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to be brave enough to love others, even when it is hard for us. Amen.



The Widow’s Coins (Luke 21:1-4)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 382–383) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALDo you get an allowance? What do you do with it? Do you save it or spend it? Can you imagine giving almost all your money to the church? What would that feel like? That’s what the poor widow did in this story, and Jesus thought this gift was very valuable, even though it wasn’t very much money. Giving money to help the church is one important way to give, but it is more important to give with a generous spirit. People who have a generous spirit trust that others will help them get what they need, and they give their money, time, and prayers without worrying about whether they’ll have enough for themselves. The widow in this story had a generous spirit, and we can all learn from her.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, have you ever given someone a gift that you wanted to keep for yourself?

I wonder, how much of your money do you think you should give away to help others?

I wonder, what things can you give other than money to practice having a generous spirit?

READ TOGETHERSupplies: a copy of Miss Fannie’s Hat by Jan Karon

TIP: You can find this book in most libraries or bookstores, or you can watch a video of someone reading the book aloud on youtube.com.

• Read or listen to the book together. Afterwards, discuss the theme of generosity together.

ASK: Why was it hard for Miss Fannie to choose a hat to donate to the church? Why do you think she chose to not wear a hat on Easter? What was the church able to do because of Miss Fannie’s donation?

PRAY: Generous God, teach us to be more generous with the things we treasure. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER TIP: Turn this activity into a family challenge!

SAY: Together, let’s brainstorm a way for you to give some money to the church this week. You could save your allowance, arrange to help with extra chores around the house, or help pack your own lunch instead of buying lunch. When you do these activities, think about doing them for God and about how the widow in the story sacrifi ced so much to be able to give something to God.

• Decide with your child how she or he will earn money in the coming week to give to the church. Consider placing a reminder in a prominent place to help your child follow through.

• If you don’t have a local congregation, consider donating the money to a service organization.

PRAY: Gracious God, create generous hearts in us and help us look for ways to sacrifi ce litt le things so we can give more to our church and our community. Amen.



The Two Houses (Matthew 7:24-27)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 234–235) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThis story is about more than the best place to build a house. It’s about the thing that is most important to you in your life. Another word for that is foundation. When the thing that is most important to you is strong, like a rock, you are strong. When your foundation is fragile, like sand, you are more likely to fall down when sad or angry feelings come your way. Jesus told this story to encourage people to make God their foundation and to build their lives by following God. That way, when storms of feelings or sad things come into your life, God can help you stay standing up strong.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what kind of feelings would be part of a feelings-storm?

I wonder, what happens if God is your foundation but something knocks you down anyway? Do you think you get more than one chance?

I wonder, what actions show that God is someone’s foundation?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: paper plates; groups of small items like sand, rice, dried beans, and marbles; hard surface; small building blocks; table cover (optional)

• Cover the table if desired. Make small piles of sand, rice, beans, and other small items on individual paper plates.

SAY: To learn more about this story today, let’s explore what happens when we try to build a tower on diff erent kinds of foundations. We will build a tower on each type of material to see which one is the sturdiest.

ASK: Which one do you think will be the best foundation?

• Experiment with building towers on each type of foundation. After the activity, decide which foundation was the sturdiest.

ASK: If you were building a house, which foundation would you choose?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for being a constant sturdy place in our lives. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHER Supplies: rice cereal; bag of large marshmallows; a stick of butter or margarine; measuring cups; mixing spoon; cooking pot; wax paper; toothpicks; additional candy of your choosing such as gumdrops, more marshmallows, or miniature peanut butter cups

SAY: To remind us of this story, we’ll make some treats to share for a snack or for dessert tonight! We’ll make tasty models of the house on the rock.

• To make the rice cereal “rocks,” combine 3 tablespoons butter or margarine with the bag of large marshmallows and melt on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring regularly. Once completely melted, stir in 6 cups of rice cereal.

• Allow the mixture to cool slightly, and then use clean greased hands to form the cereal mixture into rock shapes and allow to cool fully on wax paper. Once these cool, use toothpicks to secure the candy “house” of your choosing on top of the rocks.

PRAY: Dear God, we are glad we can have fun while we are learning the stories that Jesus told. Amen.



The Two Debtors (Luke 7:41-43)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 332–333) or read Luke 7:36-43 together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThis story has a lot to teach us about accepting different ways of doing things. The woman who washed Jesus’ feet with the perfume was showing that she cared about Jesus and was grateful to him for everything he taught her. Simon didn’t like the woman’s way of showing thanks. He thought that his way of thanking Jesus was the only good way. Jesus’ story reminded Simon that people show their gratitude in lots of different ways. That’s true for other feelings too. Have you ever been to another church where they did things differently than your church does? Different churches have different traditions about how to worship God. God loves all the ways people worship, as long as these traditions don’t hurt or exclude other people. When you see someone doing something differently than you would, try to keep an open mind.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, have you ever seen anyone doing something you didn’t understand? What did you do?

I wonder, who is an outsider in your school or in your town? What can you do to help this person feel welcome?

I wonder, was there a time in your life when you were very thankful? What did you do to show it?

READ TOGETHERSupplies: a copy of The Goblin and the Empty Chair by Mem Fox

TIP: You can find a copy of this book in most local libraries or bookstores. You can also find a video of someone reading it aloud on youtube.com.

• Read or listen to the book together.

SAY: In this story, the goblin thought he didn’t deserve to have friends because of how he looked. He was an outsider. In the Bible story, the woman who washed Jesus’ feet was an outsider too. Simon didn’t like what she was doing because he thought that she didn’t belong with Jesus. The woman surprised Simon, just like the goblin surprised the family.

ASK: How is the family’s reaction diff erent from Simon’s? What do you think Jesus would say to the family about the goblin?

PRAY: Welcoming God, thank you for showing us that we all belong to you. Help us to welcome others so they can be part of our community. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHER SAY: The world is full of diff erent traditions for honoring God. Some Christians observe a tradition called a vow of silence. A vow is an important promise. It might seem strange that some people show that they love God by choosing not to talk for a while. People decide to do this for all diff erent reasons, but one of them is because it helps them listen to God bett er. Try it out! Set a timer for 30 minutes and try your best not to talk. Don’t just watch television or read a book or play a game by yourself. Do a creative project or do something helpful for someone else in your family.

• Take some time this week to practice observing half an hour of silence with your child. You don’t have to practice being silent at the same time.

• At the end of the week, come together to discuss the experiment.

ASK: What was challenging about being silent? Do you think you could go days without talking? Do you think it would help you listen to God bett er? Would you have thought of taking an oath like this without learning about it from other Christians?

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for all of the diff erent ways we can show our love for you. Amen.



The Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Luke 13:18-21)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 350–351) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThe kingdom of God is a mysterious thing! As Christians, we want to live in ways that bring the kingdom of God into the world, just like the Lord’s Prayer says. This can be hard to do, so Jesus knew we needed some examples. He picked some surprising choices! We’ll learn more about mustard seeds and yeast in our activities this week. Jesus invites us to help create a world where tiny things grow up to be big and strong and welcoming, and where simple ingredients combine to make good food for our bodies and our souls. Maybe you sometimes feel too little to make a difference. But you’re bigger than a mustard seed, and you can help the kingdom too!

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, what do you think the kingdom of God is like?

I wonder, what would you compare the kingdom of God to?

I wonder, why did Jesus use these examples?

CREATE TOGETHERSupplies: mustard seeds, glue, scissors, colorful paper, markers, crayons, contact paper (optional)

TIP: You can probably find some variety of mustard seeds at your local supermarket.

SAY: Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. A mustard seed is very small! But when it is planted, it grows into a plant that’s big enough for birds to live in. The kingdom of God can be surprising. God can make big things happen with just a litt le faith.

• Cut a 4-by-6 rectangle using colorful paper. Glue some mustard seeds along the top of the paper.

• Help your child summarize the lesson about the mustard seed into one sentence and write that sentence on the bottom half of the paper.

• If desired, seal your finished creation with contact paper. Use your story summary as a bookmark, tuck it into a mirror, or use a magnet to put it on the fridge.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank you for teaching us that God can turn a small amount of faith into a large amount of good in the world. Amen.

EXPLORE TOGETHER Supplies: packet of dry active yeast, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 cup warm water (about 110° F), bowl, spoon, a balloon, bottle with a small mouth, funnel (optional)

SAY: When Jesus was talking about the kingdom of God, he said that it was like yeast. Yeast is small, but it makes a big impact. If you’ve ever helped make bread, you might remember how yeast makes the air bubbles in bread. Let’s do an experiment to see what yeast can do up close.

• Mix the yeast, sugar, and water in a bowl and stir to dissolve.

• Carefully pour the mixture into the bottle (use a funnel if you have one) and fit the balloon over the mouth. Watch what happens! If the bubbles fill the bottle, move the bottle to a sink or bathtub to prevent it from getting too messy.

SAY: Yeast cells are tiny but very powerful. Look what they can do with such simple ingredients.

ASK: What do you think Jesus meant when he said the kingdom of God was like yeast? List some things you learned about yeast. How is the kingdom of God similar to the yeast?

PRAY: Surprising God, help us to be powerful like yeast and make your kingdom grow on earth. Amen.



The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 368–371) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALIn this story, the Pharisee thought he was something special. While everyone is special in God’s eyes, no one is better than anyone else. When he went to the temple, the Pharisee was boasting about how good he was at following the rules. The tax collector, on the other hand, had a humble heart and knew he needed help to follow God’s law. Jesus thought that more people should be like the tax collector. That’s a surprise! In Jesus’ time, people didn’t usually like tax collectors or think they were good examples. The story shows us that God always has room for people to change their minds and learn to live in a new way.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, do you know anyone who is boastful like the Pharisee or humble like the tax collector?

I wonder, can you think of any jobs like being a tax collector? Are there groups of people who others think are bad? Do you think God thinks they’re bad?

Even people who follow the rules a lot can improve in some ways. What is something you would like to get better at?

SERVE TOGETHERSAY: Sometimes it’s really hard to admit when you make a mistake or when someone helps you. You might worry that someone could be mad at you or that you will feel embarrassed that you need help. But it’s actually very freeing to be honest about your mistakes. The tax collector in the story was humble when he went to the temple. He knew he needed God’s help to live a bett er life, and he asked for it. Our activity this week will be to pick a “humble day” on a day when we are all together. At every meal, we’ll go around the table and practice talking about a time when we made a mistake or needed help from others. When we talk about making mistakes, we show that we know we’re not perfect. When we talk about needing help, we show that we value others and can learn from them. These things are important to say out loud, and in prayers.

• Organize a humble day with your family. As appropriate, help your child think of a few stories to share of times she or he has made a mistake or needed help.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to be honest with ourselves, others, and you when we need help or make a mistake. Amen.

PRAY TOGETHER SAY: Sometimes when we pray, we have a lot of things we want to say to God. Sometimes we don’t know what to say, so we use words like the Lord’s Prayer or we don’t use words at all! Another way to pray is to choose one phrase or sentence and say it over and over and over, listening to what God is saying to us. This phrase is called a mantra. If you feel more comfortable writing, you can write the phrase many times in a notebook instead. We’ll practice this kind of prayer today, with the phrase: “God loves us all. No one is bett er than anyone else.” While you say or write this mantra, think about a specifi c person you know who needs God’s love.

• If repeating this phrase aloud, model how to emphasize different words, for example, “God loves us all” and “God loves us all.” If your child prefers to write, encourage him or her to underline different words.

• Work with the phrase for 3–5 minutes, and at the end of the time, ask your child whom she or he thought about during the prayer. Discuss ideas about how to show God’s love to that person.



The Ten Talents (Luke 19:11-26)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 376–378) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThis story can be confusing. It’s about money, but really it’s about a lot more than that. The king gave the servants money and wanted them to invest it. To invest means to use it wisely so that you make more money. A good way to do this is by letting someone with a special skill borrow it for a while if he or she agrees to pay you back the money, plus a little more than she or he borrowed. Pretend that the king is like God and that you and other people are like the servants. God doesn’t give us money, but God gives us a lot of other things, like our gifts and talents. How can we invest our talents to make God happy and the world better? What do you think?

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why didn’t the last servant do anything with the money the king gave him? I wonder, did the servant get a second chance?

I wonder, what would you do if you had one hundred dollars?

I wonder, what will you do with your talents?

SERVE TOGETHERSAY: Though this story is about money, it’s also about the gift s and talents that God gives us to use in our lives. Not everyone has a lot of money, but everyone is good at some things. Maybe you are a really good friend or you are good at music or you like to draw or play sports. Maybe you like to be quiet and listen to others or maybe you’re really good at organizing things. Let’s take a minute and talk together about some things you are really good at.

• Together with your child, make a list of his or her talents.

SAY: God gave us things that we are good at, but it’s up to us to use them to make God’s kingdom come to earth. Sometimes it can be scary to use our talents this way. Your job this week is to set a goal about how to use your talent to serve God. For example, if you like to sing, learn a special song to sing in church. Or if you’re a really good friend, make a new friend who might not be as popular as you. If you’re good at listening to others, listen to them when they have a problem, even when you don’t feel like it.

• Spend some time with your child brainstorming ways she or he can use her or his talents to serve God.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for giving us things we like to do. Help us to practice these things and use them in the ways you want us to. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER Supplies: a variety of arts and craft supplies such as colorful paper, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, tape, chenille stems, rubber bands, and craft sticks

SAY: This story can be confusing because it talks about money a lot. We’ll use an example that might be easier to understand.

• Give each family member participating the same quantity of supplies, with the instruction to make something valuable. Hold some supplies back for yourself and do nothing with them.

• After 5 or 10 minutes, invite everyone to share their creations. Compare the creations with your own unused materials.

SAY: You all made something nice with what I gave you, but I just let my supplies sit here unused. This is like what the servants did in the story. Some of them used the tools the king gave them to make the world bett er. Some of them didn’t, and that’s why the king got angry. This story teaches us that we need to use the things we have to glorify God.

PRAY: Gracious God, help us to pay att ention to what we have and to use our gift s for you. Amen.



The Man in the Synagogue (Matthew 12:9-14)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 236–238) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALDid you know that in Jesus’ time, people had a lot of rules for what they could do on their day of rest? The rest day is called sabbath, and it was a time set aside for honoring God. People had arguments about whether they could cook on the sabbath or go to the store or even help others. Can you imagine having a day when you weren’t allowed to help others? Jesus thought that the people who cared so much about these rules misunderstood what God really wanted from them. Jesus said that what God wants is for us to love God and to love our neighbors all the time, and that these are the most important rules for honoring God.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, why did some people care about the sabbath rules so much?

I wonder, do you know of any rules that could prevent us from helping others?

I wonder, what is your favorite way to honor God?

EXPLORE TOGETHERTIP: Use the Internet to familiarize yourself with the Oxford Holy Club. John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, worked closely with other students to adopt rigorous Christian practices to protest complacency within the Church. These practices included prayer and fasting, but also visiting the sick and imprisoned, teaching children to read, and taking meals to the poor. Modify the script below according to your child’s interest.

SAY: Jesus believed that God’s people weren’t taking God’s commands to love others seriously. Throughout history, many Christian leaders have thought the same thing about the church. One of these leaders was named John Wesley. He lived 300 years ago, and he was frustrated that Christians didn’t do more to help others. When he went to college, he started the Holy Club, where he and his friends worked hard to help people who were poor, sick, or imprisoned or who couldn’t go to school. People made fun of them, just like people made fun of Jesus. The people in the Holy Club were the fi rst Methodists, and John Wesley went on to start the Methodist movement, which spread all over the world! John Wesley said, “An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.” What do you think this means? How does it relate to the story about Jesus in the synagogue?

PRAY: God, help us to remember that loving others is your most important rule for us. Amen.

SERVE TOGETHER SAY: We all have things we like to do during the week to relax. Maybe you like to do art projects or play outside or you have a special show you watch on TV. Today we’re going to think about the week ahead and pick one day when you can do something to help others during time you would normally be taking for yourself. Instead of watching a show or playing a game, you could make some cards for people who need encouragement, you could help around the house, you could play with your brother or sister, or you could take care of a pet.

• Work together to come up with a plan. Help your child prepare and execute the plan this week.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the opportunity to help others. Help us to take time for others every day. Amen.



Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 347–349) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALDo you ever feel like you have too much to do? Kids and adults have busy schedules, and sometimes it is overwhelming! Sometimes we let our busy schedules get in the way of what is really important. It’s hard to focus on really important things when there’s so much to do. In this story, Martha was overwhelmed trying to get dinner ready for Jesus and his friends when they came over to her house. She wanted everything to be just right. Some of you probably feel this way sometimes. But Jesus told her that things don’t always have to be just right. Sometimes the right way to care for others or for yourself is to sit still and listen to God and not be busy. Be patient with yourself and with people you love because this is a hard lesson to remember.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, is there something you like to be “just right”?

I wonder, what things distract you when you’re trying to focus on something important?

I wonder, did Mary help her sister at other times?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: two devices than can play music

TIP: This activity is designed to show kids that it’s not easy to focus their attention on too many things, so create as many distractions as you feel your child needs to illustrate the point. Use one song with a prescribed dance, such as the Chicken Dance, and teach your child the dance beforehand if necessary. Use another song with lyrics your child is familiar with.

SAY: Today I have a challenge for you. Let’s dance to one song while we sing another song. Try not to fall behind in the dance and don’t mess up the words.

• Try this more than once if your child wants multiple chances.

ASK: What was your brain doing when you were hearing all of these sounds? Was it easy to focus on what you were supposed to be doing? What was distracting for you? How do you think this relates to the story of Mary and Martha?

PRAY: Dear God, help us to notice when we are being distracted from you so we can focus on what’s really important. Amen.

PRAY TOGETHER SAY: When we’re worried about something not turning out right, one of the best ways to refocus on God is to remember the things we are grateful for. In this way of praying, we will take turns naming things we are grateful for. You can always fi nd something to be grateful for. Try to look around the room where you are and notice the things in that room that you are grateful for, and think about why. For example, you could be thankful for something because it helps you learn new things, because it was a gift from someone you love, or because you think it’s beautiful. To practice this prayer, we will sit together and pray about the things we are thankful for in the room where we are, taking turns. The next time you feel overwhelmed, take a second and notice the things around you and remember to be grateful!

• Practice this prayer together.



The Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 404–407) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThe woman at the well was an outcast. An outcast is someone who is rejected by others. People become outcasts for many reasons. You can tell this woman was an outcast because she went to get water in the middle of the day. Usually, women went to get water in the morning, before it was hot. She had to go in the middle of the day because she wasn’t allowed to be friends with the other women. Jesus knew that other people didn’t like her. But he talked to her anyway, and he told her about the special kind of life he was bringing to the world. She went from being an outcast to being Jesus’ messenger! People who follow Jesus are sometimes surprised by the people Jesus chooses as helpers. When we’re deciding how to treat people who are different from us, we need to remember that Jesus loved outcasts and made them feel special.

WONDER TOGETHERI wonder, how does it feel to be an outcast? I wonder, do you know anyone who doesn’t have friends to play with or people to sit with at lunchtime? I wonder, can you think of one thing to do this week to help someone who is an outcast?

I wonder, why did Jesus choose to speak to the woman and to make her his messenger?

MOVE TOGETHERSupplies: costume materials or bedsheets, props that fit the story

TIP: This activity works best with three people so there is one extra person to read the story, but two will work as well. The CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible is preferred for this activity since it is more detailed.

SAY: The woman at the well goes through a lot of diff erent feelings in this story! She starts out nervous and confused about why Jesus would talk to her. Then she isn’t sure she trusts what he says. Then she is surprised as she starts to believe him. Finally, she is joyful and goes off to tell everyone about meeting Jesus. We’re going to act out this scene today. Let’s make some costumes. One of us will play the woman, and one of us will play Jesus. We can make a well out of some pillows or chairs and blankets. Aft er we’re set up, we can read through the story and act out our parts. It might be fun to switch parts and try again.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for stories that show us that people who met Jesus had lots of diff erent feelings just like us. We are glad that anyone can be a messenger for you. Amen.

PRAY TOGETHER Supplies: chalk or water and spray bottle set to “stream”

TIP: This activity works best outside on a sunny day on pavement.

SAY: Jesus told the woman at the well that he would give her the kind of water that would keep her heart and soul from being thirsty anymore.

ASK: What do you think that feels like? How are hearts and souls thirsty? What things make hearts and souls feel bett er?

• Outside, use your chalk or spray bottle to write words or draw pictures or symbols on the pavement representing things that help your heart and soul feel better. If your child needs prompting, suggest writing words like “peace,” “belonging,” or “forgiveness,” or drawing a heart or peace sign. As you work together, talk about the story and the idea of living water.

SAY: When other people see these words, it may remind them of the things that give their souls peace. This is a great way to give the gift of peace to others!



The Man by the Pool (John 5:1-17)Read the story together in the Deep Blue Bible Storybook (pp. 408–411) or read the story together in the CEB Deep Blue Kids Bible, especially for children older than second grade.

DEVOTIONALThis story is one of many stories about certain people who followed rules on the sabbath that didn’t line up with how Jesus thought people should live. The leaders of the temple were angry with Jesus for healing the man on the sabbath, and they were angry at the man because he picked up his mat and carried it. Remember, even carrying heavy things wasn’t allowed on the sabbath because it was considered work. This time, Jesus had a very good reply to the leaders. He said, “My Father is still working, and I am working too.” He taught us that God is always working in people’s hearts and minds so that they become more kind and loving. Jesus said that we can act more kind and loving anytime we have the chance!

WONDER TOGETHERDo you know anyone who is over thirty-eight years old? I wonder, what would it be like to be sick for all that time?

I wonder, how did the man feel when he was healed by Jesus? I wonder, did he believe he could ever be healed?

I wonder, what did the temple leaders think about Jesus’ answer? I wonder, do you think Jesus was right to break the rules?

READ TOGETHERSupplies: copy of How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham

TIP: You can find a copy of this book in most local libraries or bookstores. You can also find a video of someone reading it aloud on youtube.com.

• Together, read or listen to this story about the power of one person’s kindness.

Aft er you read the story, SAY: It’s not just that the boy in the story is kind. The boy sees something that no one else seems to see and it leads to him being kind in a new way. In the Bible story today, Jesus sees the man by the pool diff erently than other people do. Because of that, Jesus treats him diff erently, and it changes the man’s life forever! Jesus teaches us to look at things diff erently and to fi nd new ways to love. We can fi nd new ways to love litt le birds, the earth, and other people.

ASK: How can we practice seeing new ways to love each other? What is a good example of this? Do you think kids are bett er at this than adults? Why or why not?

PRAY: Loving God, thank you for showing us new ways to see the world so we can bring more love into it. Amen.

CREATE TOGETHER Supplies: nail polish in two colors (not quick-dry), a white or light-colored mug, a disposable container wide enough to insert the mug into, water, toothpicks, paper towel

TIP: Thrift stores are a great place to pick up mugs or similar ceramic items. To see an example of how this process works, search youtube.com for videos of nail polish marbling. Use a well-ventilated area.

SAY: The pool where the sick man was lying was actually a whirlpool. When the water swirled, he would try to get in so it would make him feel bett er, but he could never get in in time. He was surprised when Jesus came and healed him aft er he’d been waiting so long! Today, we’ll make our own whirlpool mugs so we can remember this story whenever we use them. Listen to all of the directions before we start.

• Pour very warm water into the container. Pour drops of the nail polish into the water and use a toothpick to swirl the colors around. The polish will dry very quickly on top of the water. Cover most of the water’s surface with a thin layer of marbled polish. Dip the bottom third of your mug into the water and hold it there for a few seconds. The polish should adhere to the mug. Remove the mug from the water and turn it upside down to dry.

PRAY: Healing God, thank you for sending us Jesus to heal people’s bodies and souls even when they don’t expect it. Amen.

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Family Take-Home Sheets - Amazon S3 · ABINGDON PRESS FAMILY TAKE-HOME SHEETS: 52 WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL ACTIVITIES JENNIFER KIDWELL 52 …