The Great Prize

Devotional from Joel Nagel - Lansing Area Church of Christ

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Have the kids act out this scripture as you read it. Talk about how being a Christian can be hard. Learning to obey can be hard and it takes a long time to change sometimes. What is something you are having a hard time with right now? Talk about how God is patient and we are patient as parents but we also want you to change. Talk about things the parents are trying to change. Talk about the difference between a sprint and a marathon. How can we train ourselves to overcome and grow?

Activity:

Have races, relay races, do silly challenges, wrestle and have fun. Let your kids know that you are in it for the long haul with God and that we are going to receive a great prize. Give them some kind of treat at the end.

PRAY as a family for growth and perseverance.

Lazarus

It is fun to read bible stories and act them out with your kids. We recently chose to act out the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

John 11: 1-45 or you can use a children's bible with a shorter narration.

Materials needed: Some cushions or pillows and a roll of toilet paper.

Take turns playing the role of Jesus, Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

Use a roll of toilet paper to make a mummy out of one of the kids. They need to keep still so they don't easily break the wrapping of toilet paper around themselves. Make a pretend tomb out of pillows and put "Lazarus" in the tomb.

Kids love hearing the words" Lazarus, come out!" and they have to crawl out of their pretend tomb and break off their grave clothes.

It's an amazing story of Jesus raising Lazarus to life - to show our kids how powerful our God is - even over death!