Ways To Enhance Your Family’s Time Reading The Word

We all know that children tend to struggle with family devotional time in the home. There are ways to make it fun and interactive while preserving the sanctity of that time with God.

When planning family devotional time, there are some key things to keep it fun and engaging.

Keep the devotional short.
Make it interactive where your children can participate.
The lesson should be age-appropriate.
Always end with prayer.

Kid-Friendly “Out-Of-The-Box” Devotionals

We have highlighted just a few unique ways of having family devotional time. Each devotional provides kids with a thought-provoking activity, lesson, and is scripture-based.

“Confessing Our Sins”

Things you will need:

Salt
Glass of Water
Stove or Microwave
Pan
Lid for pan
Bible bookmarked at Romans 5:8

Add salt to the water.
Taste…”describe how it tastes.”

Salt water does not taste good. If we drank too much salt water, it would make us sick. Salt should not be in the water we drink just like sin should not be in our heart.

Pour the glass of salt water into a pan and bring to a boil on the stove or in the microwave. Remove it and place a lid over it. Allow it to cool.
Taste the water again. The salty taste is gone.

“The salt disappeared, and when we confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness, He takes those sins away, and they are no longer in our heart.”

Read Romans 5:8
End in prayer.

“Blinded By Darkness”

Things you will need:

Blindfold
Bible bookmarked at Corinthians 4:4 and Acts 16:16-34

Place the blindfold on someone and ask them to walk around without touching anyone or anything. Allow each child to do this.
Read Corinthians 4:4 and Acts 16:16-34.
Place the blindfold back on. This time guide them around to help them avoid bumping into things.
“Did you know the when someone accepts Christ as their savior, He becomes their guide? Christians are also guides to help lead those who don’t know God to Him.”
End in prayer.

“God Is Our Fort”

Things you need:

Blankets, pillows, etc. to build a fort
Area to build fort
Flashlight
Bible bookmarked to Psalm 56:3 and Psalm 18:1-2

Have the family build the fort together. Make it big enough to fit everyone inside of it.
Have everyone gather inside of the fort. Explain how a fort provides a safe place to be.
Using the flashlight, read Psalm 56:3.
“Are any of you afraid of anything?” (use this time to share about things that have scared you)
“What should each of us do when we are afraid?” “Trust God.”
“God is faithful and will never leave us. He is always there.”
Read Psalm 18:1-2.
“How can God be a ‘fort’ for you?” “Sometimes bad things can happen to us, but we always have God there to protect us and keep us safe.”
Explain how no matter how we do things right, someone else can do wrong, and we can get hurt from that. There is never anything that our children will do that is so bad that God will turn His back on them and not forgive them. He is always there no matter what.
End in prayer.

“There’s Only One Way”

Things you will need:

Bible bookmarked at John 14:6

Choose an area in your home where you are on one side and your children on the other side.
Explain to the children that you are going to present a challenge for them.

They must cross the room without touching the floor or furniture.
The kids will most likely not find a clear way to reach you.

Tell them there is only one way to reach you. See if they can guess what it is. Give them hints.

You must pick them up and carry them across the room.

“There is one way only that will get you from there to here just like there is only one way for us to get into heaven. Jesus died for our sins, and when we accept Him as our savior, He provides the way into heaven for us.”
Read John 14:6.
Explain that not everyone will make it to heaven unless they are saved.
End in prayer.

The Possibilities Are Endless

Family devotional time does not have to be limited to the dinner table. The great thing about the Bible is it can go anywhere you go. Whether you are camping, at the beach, or in the car, your family can have a great devotional time.

You can search online for more ideas, or do “destination devotionals” where you choose your scripture lesson and then choose the place to have the devotional. An example might include teaching your kids about faith and going through storms; you might plan a boating trip, so you are on the water. Another idea for science-lovers is using “Indescribable" devotional for kids.

Whatever you choose, be creative and make it fun. Your children’s minds and hearts will be engaged and primed for receiving the Word!