Party Time!

Plan a party or small get-together. (It can be just the neighbor kids or a family from church.) Talk about what has to be done: invite the people, make food, clean the house- at least a little, plan a game, greet them and spend time together.

After the party, ask:

What did you enjoy most?

Do you think our guests enjoyed themselves?

Tell the kids that this reminds you of a story that Jesus told about a party. He said that a man invited some people to a big feast/party. When he sent his servant out to tell them it was time to come, they made excuses why they couldn’t come. He told his servants to go out and invite anyone who was willing to come -the poor, the handicapped, and blind. This is a picture of God’s kingdom. God wants every one to be a part of His kingdom, but not every one says “yes” to God. Some people make excuses when they hear the invitation to be part of God’s family, His kingdom.

Parents: This would be a good time to explain how to receive Jesus and ask your kids, “Would you like to be a part of God’s family?” 

No Hands, No Feet, No Eyes...Until Supper

Write a different body part on separate slips of paper and put them in a bag (eyes, ears, foot, hand, leg, mouth). Let each person pick a slip. Tell the kids that for a certain time period (breakfast to lunch, dinner to bedtime, etc) they must NOT use that part of their body. (Put a blindfold over their eyes, put ear plugs in their ears, bandage their hand or leg, etc.).

Ask:

How did it feel NOT using that part of the body?
Why is each part of the body important?

Read 1Corinthians 12:12-20 The Bible says that all who are believers in Jesus are members of one body. Just as each part of the body is important, each believer is important. Each part of the body has a special job to do (Can a leg hear or an ear see?) Likewise, each person in Jesus’ body, the church, is valuable and has a different job to do. Don’t be jealous of or look down on others because of what they do. Each believer has a special job to do to build God’s kingdom on the earth.

Kitchen Sweep

Item needed: broom

Pick a piece of straw from a broom and give it to your child and ask him/her to sweep the kitchen floor. When he looks at you like you’re crazy, ask him:

Why can’t you sweep the floor with that?

Would it help if you had a whole bunch of straw together?

Give him a broom and discuss how much more can be done with a whole bunch of straw joining together.

The Bible says that all believers are joined together. They are parts of one body and can do so much more when they work together. God is pleased when believers help one another and work together. (Ephesians 4:16)

Ask:

Can you send a missionary to South America?

Can you give enough money to build and keep the church going?

No. But together we can do many things that we couldn’t do alone. Together we can build God’s kingdom on the earth.