Sunday 21st June

21 Jun

Genesis 21:8-21 | Faithful Family: Faithful In Relationships

Just For Fun

Get a glass of water (about half-2/3 filled) and an index card. Place the index card over the top of the glass, making sure that the whole of the rim is covered by it, and press down. Hold onto the top of the card with one hand and move your other hand down the glass, towards the bottom of it. Carefully flip the glass upside down, making sure you keep holding the card in place. Now slowly move your hand that is holding the card out from underneath and the card should stick, holding the water at bay!

What is holding the card in place is the air pressure pressing upwards (stronger than gravity pressing downwards).

We can't see the air pressure but we know it must be working or the water would drop out. We can't see God but we know that he is there holding us up and supporting us too.

An activity for the whole family

Give your children a big piece of paper and get them to write their name in the middle of it. Now around them, they should write (or draw) the names of the people in their family and what relation they are, e.g. Karen, my sister or Simon, my step-brother. If they have more complicated families, they can draw lines to show who belongs with who. Get them to put in members of their extended family as well - perhaps a bit further out - again with lines to show who’s related to whom.

Ask the children to think about how each member of their family influences or affects them – e.g. I think my big sister is really amazing - I’d love to be just like her when I’m bigger. Or, my brother is so badly behaved - he spoils things for me.

Craft

To carry on looking at families and family members, using play dough or plasticine, model out their family. As they do, ask them to thank God for them and pray about anything else that that person needs.

Questions to talk through together

Which relationships in your life are important/special and why?
Is there anyone in your family that doesn’t know Jesus? Pray for them.
How can you show God’s love to those in your family?

A short prayer

Dear God, Thank you for our families. Thank you that no matter what our families look like you love us. We pray for those in our family who don’t know you yet, may they learn of your amazing love. Help us love like you. Amen.