Toothpaste Squeeze
Toothpaste Squeeze
You will need
1 tube of toothpaste
1 plate
A Bible marked at Isaiah 9:6
A Bible marked Romans 10:13
Get Started
Gather your family around. Then squeeze out a good amount
of toothpaste on a plate.
ASK—Do you think you can get it all back inside the tube?
Give each family member a chance to try.
(Some may try scooping it back in; Some may ask for scissors
to cut it open and put it back. Just tell them no if you don’t
want to ruin the toothpaste tube; still others may want to lick all
the toothpaste off the plate and use their mouth to put it back
in. This is actually quite funny although if they push too hard,
toothpaste will begin to come out of their nose—This really
happened once!)
ASK—Is it possible to get all the toothpaste back inside?
(No.)
SAY—The toothpaste is kind of like your words. Once
something comes out of your mouth you can’t take it back. So
if you don’t mean it, or you don’t plan to follow through with it,
don’t say it. Every word you say should be as trustworthy as a
promise.
ASK—Did God ever make promises? (Yes, the Bible is full
of promises for you.)
ASK—Can you name a promise that God made? (Nothing
can separate you from His love; He will never leave you; That
you’re going to heaven once you’ve given your life to Jesus;
etc.)
SAY—God also promised that a Savior would be born.
Read Isaiah 9:6 from your Bible.
SAY—This is talking about Jesus. God sent Jesus to be the
Savior of the world and the Bible also tells us how to accept
Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.
Read Romans 10:13 from your Bible.
SAY—The best thing anyone can ever do with their mouth is
to pray and give their lives to Jesus.
PRAY— List prayer requests below and thank God for Jesus
and how wonderful He is. Thank God for always keeping His
promises.
Family Prayer Requests
List prayer requests below:
Copyright three-thirty ministries, 2008 ● www.threethirtyministries.org
One Way
One Way
You will need
Your Bible marked at John 14:6.
Get Started
Choose a large area in your house where you can be on one
side and your children on the other side. For example, you
could stand on one end of the living room and they could stand
on the other. Or you could stand at the top of the stairs and
they could stand at the bottom. Tell your kids that you have a
very special challenge for them. They have to cross from
where they are to where you are without…(Depending on what
the room is like, you’ll have to fill in the blank here. You want
to make it impossible for them to come to you. For example, in
a room you could say, “Without touching the carpet or crawling
on the furniture.” For stairs, you could say, “Without climbing
the stairs or touching the bannister.”) When your kids begin to
complain that it is impossible, tell them that there really is a
way for them to do it. Challenge them to figure it out. The key
is that you want them to ask you to come to where they are,
pick them up and carry them to where you are. Eventually you
might need to give them hints and once they solve it, carry
them to where you are.
SAY: There was only one way you could get from there to
here, and there’s only one way for us to go to heaven. Just like
the game, we can’t get there on our own. That’s the reason
Jesus died and rose again—to make a way for us to go to
heaven and to know Him and to have a meaningful life here on
earth too, but not everybody is going to heaven.
ASK: What did you have to do to get to this side? (You had
to ask me to come to you.)
SAY: The only people who are going to heaven are those who
have asked Jesus to come into their lives. (Take about a
minute here to tell your kids when and how you gave your life
to Christ.)
Read John 14:6 from your Bible.
(If you have older children, ask them if they would like to read
it.)
PRAY— List prayer requests below and thank God that He
made a way for us to know Him and to go to heaven. Pray that
your children will give their lives to Him when the time is right
or if they’ve already been saved, pray that God will use them
to tell others about Him.
(Remember, if your child has questions about how to give his
life to Jesus, you can find an easy way to present the plan of
salvation in the back of this book . For more information about
when a child is ready to accept Christ, please contact the
children’s ministry for a copy of the booklet, “When Can a
Child Be Saved?.”)
Family Prayer Requests
List prayer requests below:
Copyright three-thirty ministries, 2008 ● www.threethirtyministries.org
Goodbye Sins
Goodbye Sins
You will need
Water
Salt
A microwave or stove
A pan or bowl with a lid
A Bible marked at Romans 5:8
Get Started
STEP 1
Add some salt to water and take a taste.
ASK: How did it taste? (Pretty nasty, huh?)
SAY: Salt water tastes bad and if you drank a lot of it, it would
make you sick. Salt doesn’t belong in drinking water and sin
doesn’t belong in our lives.
STEP 2
Heat the water on the stove or in the microwave until it boils.
STEP 3
Remove the water from the heat source (This is something an
adult should do) and put a lid on it. Let it sit for 30 seconds to a
minute and then remove the lid. Wait until the water on the lid
cools and then take a taste. The saltiness is gone.
SAY: Just like the salt disappeared, when we ask Jesus to
forgive the wrong things we’ve done (our sins), He takes them
away too.
READ: Romans 5:8
SAY: We can say yes to Jesus and give our lives to Him and
follow Him every day because He loved us enough to die for
us and then He rose from the dead.
PRAY— List prayer requests below and thank Jesus for dying
to pay the price for our sins so that we could be forgiven.
Family Prayer Requests
List prayer requests below:
Copyright three-thirty ministries, 2008 ● www.threethirtyministries.org
The Shield
You will need:
A pillow for each member of your family.
A Bible marked at Psalm 18:1-4.
A Bible marked at 1 Peter 5:7.
Have a family pillow fight—Set boundaries, clear an area and
have fun. You may also want to set limits depending on the
age of your children.
Take a break, sit on your pillows and ASK: What was your
pillow made for?
SAY: Our pillows were made for sleeping, not fighting. Of
course it is fun to use them for a good fight, but you’d never
really win a fight if all you had was a pillow. Why? That’s not
what it was made for. Imagine an army going into battle, all
carrying fluffy pillows—that’s crazy!
SAY: Just like our pillows were made for a reason, God made
you for a reason too. He has great plans for your life and
everything you’ve ever wanted in life is found only in Christ.
Pillow Fight Instructions—Part 2
Have one family member protect another during the pillow
fight. Then take turns protecting each other.
SAY: God’s purpose for you is to give your life to Jesus and
follow Him every day in every way. When you do this, you can
know that God is a shield for you. God becomes your personal
protector.
SAY: God cares about everything in your life. Because of this,
you can give your cares to God because He cares for you.
READ: 1 Peter 5:7 from your Bible.
thank God for making you special, for being your shield and for
always taking care of you.Family Prayer Requests
List prayer requests below:
Hit or Miss
Hit or Miss
You will need
Items to make something that shoots at a target. It could be a
shoe you sling through the air at a hula hoop or a chalk circle
you drew on your patio. Or, a paper airplane you throw and try
to get it into a trash can, or a water balloon you toss at a
certain brick on your house, etc. You can be very creative with
this and even play more than one style.
A Bible marked at Romans 6:23
Let family members take turns shooting at the target, but every
time they (or you) miss, say “That’s like Sin.”
When you’re finished, ask your family:
ASK: What’s sin? (Anything wrong.)
ASK: Why do you think I was saying, “That’s like Sin?”
SAY: Sin means to miss the mark or to miss the target. God is
perfect and we miss the mark of God’s perfection (or holiness)
every time we sin.
ASK: What are some ways we sin?
ASK: What do you think the punishment for sin is ?
(Death.)
READ: Romans 6:23
SAY: The punishment for sin is death. This is the reason that
Jesus came to earth and lived a perfect life. Then when He
died on the cross, since He was perfect and didn’t deserve to
die, God punished Him for all the wrong things you and I would
ever do. He took the punishment for our sins so that He can
forgive them if we give our lives to Him. This is the only way to
be forgiven and the only way to go to heaven.
to make a way to take your sins away.
Family Prayer Requests
List prayer requests below:
Copyright three-thirty ministries, 2008
Fun Hair Night
Fun Hair Night
You will need
Cosmetic Items to create fun hair-dos
A Bible marked at Acts 10:1-19
Take turns creating fun, new hair-dos for your family. Your kids
will especially enjoy doing this to you! If you want, you might
even want to purchase some temporary hair color to add to
your kid’s hair. (Walmart carries some for less than $2, but if
you do this be sure to read the directions carefully.)
SAY: We all look a little different, but this change won’t last.
When Jesus comes into a person’s life, though, He brings a
change that lasts forever.
forgives their sins, takes away the guilt of sin, gives people a
new life; they can know for sure they’re going to heaven;
people live differently when they are walking with God.)
Read Acts 10:1-19
ASK: What difference do you think Jesus made in Paul’s
life? (Paul had hurt, mistreated, and even killed Christians,
but after he committed his life to Christ, he became one of the
greatest heroes of the Bible. He spent the rest of his life
sharing Jesus with others and he even wrote over half of the
New Testament. What a difference!)
SAY: Jesus is so great, who wouldn’t want Him in their lives!
difference Jesus makes in life.
Family Prayer Requests
List prayer requests below:
Build A Fort
1 flashlight
Your Bible marked at Psalm 56:3 and Psalm 18:1-2.
Get Started
Have your family members “ransack” the house to get pillows,
blankets, chairs, and whatever else they can find to build a
fort. Take your time making it and let your kids be creative with
it. (For example, they might want to make a tunnel entrance.)
Build it big enough for everyone to fit inside.
ASK–What is something you’re scared of?
SHARE–Share something you were scared of when you were
a child.
ASK–What should we do when we’re scared? (Trust God.)
ASK–Why can we trust God? (He’s faithful. He’ll never let
you down. He’ll always keep His Word, etc.)
Read Psalm 18:1-2 from your Bible.
ASK–How is God like a fort (fortress, stronghold) for you?
(In old days people went inside a fortress to be safe. Its walls
protected them from harm. God is a shield for those who follow
Him and like a fort, you are safe in Him.)
ASK–Does this mean that bad things will never happen to
someone who is living for Jesus? Why or why not? (Bad
things still happen to good people, but there’s nothing so bad
that God can’t turn it to your good.)
If they want a further answer, explain that sometimes we do
wrong things and these bad choices bring “bad” things into our
lives. But sometimes we do everything right and someone else
does something wrong and we get hurt because of it. Even so,
there’s nothing your children will ever do that is so bad that
God can’t forgive them and there’s nothing so bad that can
happen to them that God can’t turn it around to their good if
they love Him and are walking with Him. (See Romans 8:28 for
a great promise.)
always take care of you.
Family Prayer Requests
List prayer requests here:
fight or time for your family to see how fast they can tear the
fort down and put everything away. Have fun and enjoy!
Treasure Hunt
Hidden clues to the treasure
Something to be the treasure such as a candy bar or a coupon
for an ice cream cone, etc. Be creative.
A Bible marked at Psalm 119:11
Copy the following clues on individual slips or pieces of paper
or you can cut them out using the clues on the next page.
Then hide all but the first one at their designated spots. Tell
your children that you’re sending them on a treasure hunt.
Don’t hide this one. This is the first clue you’ll give to your
children.
Search the backs of closet doors for Clue #2.
CLUE #2
Hide this on the back of a closet door.
Go to a mirror to look for Clue #3.
CLUE #3
Hide this on a mirror.
Go to a toilet to look for Clue #4.
CLUE #4
Hide this on top of a toilet lid.
Go to a bed to look for Clue #5.
CLUE #5
Hide this on or in a bed.
Go to the shower to look for Clue #6.
CLUE #6
Hide this in the shower.
Go to the kitchen to look for Clue #7.
CLUE #7
Hide this somewhere in the kitchen.
Look under a shoe for Clue #8.
CLUE #8
Hide this underneath a shoe.
Try to get around Dad (or Mom) and to the couch to find the
treasure.
After the hunt is finished, sit down with your children.
ASK–Would it have been easier or harder to find the
treasure without the instructions?
ASK–What instructions has God given us for living?
SAY–The Bible is God’s instruction book on how to live life
and you’ll never find what you’re looking for in life unless you
follow Jesus and what He says in the Bible. Listen to what the
Bible says about how to stay away from doing bad things.
Read Psalm 119:11 from your Bible.
PRAY— List prayer requests below and thank God for Jesus
and the Bible and for giving us instruction on how to live.
Family Prayer Requests
List prayer requests below:
Week 2—Special Time
Treasure Hunt
Cut out the following:
CLUE #1
Don’t hide this one. This is the first clue you’ll give to your
children.
Search the backs of closet doors for Clue #2.
CLUE #2
Hide this on the back of a closet door.
Go to a mirror to look for Clue #3.
CLUE #3
Hide this on a mirror.
Go to a toilet to look for Clue #4.
CLUE #4
Hide this on top of a toilet lid.
Go to a bed to look for Clue #5.
CLUE #5
Hide this on or in a bed.
Go to the shower to look for Clue #6.
CLUE #6
Hide this in the shower.
Go to the kitchen to look for Clue #7.
CLUE #7
Hide this somewhere in the kitchen.
Look under a shoe for Clue #8.
CLUE #8
Hide this underneath a shoe.
Try to get around Dad (or Mom) and to the couch to find the
treasure.
The Land of Drok
Long, long ago in the fairy land of Drok,
All day long they would sit in the sun,
Until one day when the sun rose high,
A funny little creature had come to their place.
“Who is this silly man? He’s different, you see.
The stranger was odd with a smile and no beard.
He came from the land of Tipper-O-Too.
In the morning he played and laughed in his place.
The stranger would juggle, but the Drok looked away.
He danced and he giggled and laughed into tears.
“Go away, silly man.You’re different from me.
But the stranger wouldn’t leave. He knew they were wrong.
Till a small, little lad, one bright sunny day,
He unplugged one ear and tilted his head,
“I like this fellow. And I don’t feel so blue.
The Drok were shocked. They knew something was wrong,
Then one by one, other Drok started singing.
They laughed and they laughed. Then they laughed even
more.
The happiness spread through the town in each place.
They wanted to juggle, to sing, and to play.
If you ever visit the fairy land of Drok,
But all day long they sing in the sun.
Always smiling, always laughing, always having much fun.
Something to Share
The stranger had something special to share with the Drok,
and if you’ve given your life to Jesus, you have something
special to share with others also. Telling others about Jesus is
both fun and exciting, and just like the Drok, some people
won’t want to listen and others won’t understand at first—
but don’t give up and don’t let anything stop you from
living for and sharing about Jesus.
The Bible says in Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came to
them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with
Copyright three-thirty ministries, 2008.
www.threethirtyministries.org
Scary Bear
SCARY BEAR
Scary Bear was a bear.
He was a bear with fuzzy hair,
Fuzzy hair he like to share,
Like to share his fuzzy hair,
Then balding men came from far and near,
To give that bear a great big cheer,
And to thank this creature called Scary Bear,
Then Scary Bear came on out,
And all the men just looked about,
They all were silent as down he sat.
Scary Bear isn’t the kind of bear,
One would find in a strange nightmare.
The name Scary Bear,
Just isn’t fair,
Cause Scary Bear likes to share,
Like to share his fuzzy hair,
Then the balding men changed his name,
To something they thought was a little more tame.
Shary Bear, they called him then,
Now Shary Bear is still a bear,
He’s still a bear with fuzzy hair,
Fuzzy hair he likes to share,
Likes to share his fuzzy hair,
It didn’t matter that they changed his name.
To him the names were all the same.
But he wanted them to remember his caring.
It doesn’t matter what they may call you,
It’s what you do they’ll recall when life is through.
Sharing
Have you ever given something that was very important to
you to someone else? Sometimes it’s hard to share, but
there is a joy and a fun in sharing with others that can only
be understood by someone who has done it.
Listen to what the Bible says in 1 John 3:18, “Dear children,
let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in
truth.” In other words, don’t just talk about doing good,
Copyright three-thirty ministries, 2008.
www.threethirtyministries.org
He doesn’t want you to treat others the way they treat you, but the way you want them to treat you. So if you want others to share with you, you should share with them. If you want others to be kind to you, you should be kind to them. If you want others to talk good about you, you should talk good about them.This is God’s way of living!
Listen to what God says in the Bible in Proverbs 20:11, “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.”