PRACTICE – READING THE WORD

Read John 1:1-5 together. Ask, “What are some things that have life?” Go outside and see how many things you can find that have life. Who gives all things life? Pray together thanking Jesus that He gives life.

Lectio Divina. As an ancient practice, Lectio Divina (Latin for “divine reading”) is a devotional way of reading the Bible. In this practice, you are encouraged to think about God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through it. This practice allows God’s Word to go deep into our hearts. There are four steps to practicing Lectio Divina: read, meditate/reflect, pray, and contemplate/rest. Before you begin, you should take a moment to sit in quiet and ask God to help you hear Him. Do not be in a hurry as you walk through each step.

Read – Pick a passage of scripture and read it several times. Do not rush as you read through it. Take note of any word or phrase that stands out to you.

Meditate – Go back to the word or phrase that God brought to mind as you read the passage. Re-read that verse several times, asking God to speak to your heart as you read it. Think about what each of the words mean. Think about the phrase over and over in your mind.

Pray – Ask God why this phrase stood out to you. Ask Him what He wants to say to you. Talk with God about what you are feeling or hearing. Take time to stop and listen.

Rest – Now, simply spend a few minutes resting in the presence of God. You are not trying to figure anything out. Do not worry about the next steps. Simply sit and rest in His presence. Allow our Father to love you.

Question Box. Get a box and decorate it with a giant question mark. Explain to your kids that this is the faith question box. Place a pile of index cards and pens beside the box. Encourage your kids to write questions on the cards and place them in the box. Once or twice a week, take a few minutes to pull out a card and discuss the question as a family. Don’t worry about having all of the answers to all the questions. This is an activity in growing together. If there is a question that you don’t know the answer to, you can set the card aside and take time to research what God’s Word says about it. Don’t hesitate to reach out to someone else if you feel stuck. Then, when you come back together next time, pick up that card and answer the question. Encourage your kids to research God’s Word along with you!

MOMENTS & MEMORIES

Life in Nature. Romans 1:20 tells us that God’s eternal power and divine nature can be seen in His creation. Take time during this season to set down technology and spend time in His creation. Find a hiking trail nearby (alltrails.com is a great resource to find trails). As you hike, look for signs of new life (spring flowers, buds on the trees, baby animals, etc.) and point out the things that remind you of Jesus’ presence with you.

Planting New Life. We get to see God’s provision of new life each spring as the flowers grow and trees bud. Help your family take part in this new life by planting flowers from seeds. Buy a pot and some potting soil, and have your kids pick out a packet of flower seeds they like. Spend time planting the seeds together as a family. Let your kids decorate the pots. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 as you plant the seeds and talk about how planting seeds is like this verse.

Cookie Decorating Contest. Great memories come from shared experiences. One thing that most people enjoy is a good cookie! Make a batch of sugar cookies. You can buy fun cookie cutters and make the cookies into those shapes. Buy decorating supplies and decorate the cookies together. Have prizes for the neatest cookie, the most colorful cookie, the most unique cookie, etc.