Better Than TV… Family Devo’s
from the Fox Valley Church of Christ, Wisconsin
We
ek 1
Our Treasure
Activity
Set up a bucket on one end of the room that you will be in for devotional. Either share one small ball that will easily go into the bucket or get a separate ball for each person (if you don’t have a ball improvise with a rolled up sock or something else that will function like a ball).
Tell everyone once, at the beginning of the activity, that they will want to save their treats or prizes for a bigger prize at the end of the game. Do not say it again and do not do anything if the kids begin eating their treats. If they ask if they can eat it, say, “It’s up to you.”
Have each person stand near the bucket and take a turn throwing the ball into the bucket. If they make it in, they win a small treat. After each person has had a turn, move back one large step and let everyone take another turn throwing the ball in the bucket and earning treats. Do this about five times. Once you have completed five rounds, tell everyone that you have another prize for them but they must give up all the treats they won during the game.
Don’t try to convince anyone. Just say it once and have them make a choice immediately. If they give up their treats, accept them but don’t give them the big treat until after the devotional. Have the big prize be a favorite treat or a large sized candy – or anything else that more than makes up for giving up their smaller prizes.
Singing and Bible Reading
Sing a few songs together and then have one child read Matthew 13:44 and another child (if you have more than two children participating) read Matthew 13:45-46. If your children are not old enough to read the passages easily then have them read a verse or two and then you or your spouse read the rest, or you can read the entire passage.
Questions and Discussion
– Have you ever found something really cool that you weren’t looking for?
– Have you ever lost something really important but then found it again? What did it feel like when you actually found it?
– Discuss with your kids at a level that they can understand that the Kingdom of God/Heaven is the rule and reign of God in every area of our lives.
– Why would the people in these parables sell everything they had for the treasure they found?
– What point is Jesus trying to make about what we have to do to be in his Kingdom?
– What does it mean to give up everything to possess the Kingdom?
TEA Time (Taking Energetic Action)
Have each family member determine one area of their life they want to improve in obeying God’s word and bringing the Kingdom into their life.
Memorize Matthew 13:44 as a family. Write the verse out on a large sheet of paper or placard of some type and put it somewhere visible to all family members. Quiz each other each day this week and make sure that everyone has it memorized.
Next Week Devo #2
The Owner
