June's Family Devotion

Parent Introduction: 

I don’t know about your kids, but ours are ready to be outside.  We just had our last day of school and they are ready to spend long hours outside swimming, exploring and catching fireflies.  June is a great time of year to explore the outdoors and take time to discuss our Creator.  Check back to The Celebrated Family during the month of June for outdoor family fun ideas to reinforce the themes of this devotion.  May God bless your time together. 

Supplies Needed:

·         Bible

·         Plain paper – enough for each child plus three extra pieces

·         Pencils

·         Crayons

The Great Creator

Introduction:  (Sit around a table with nothing on the table)
We are so blessed to live in a beautiful world that God created.  We are going to make pictures of some of our favorite things God made.  You can make anything you want – mountains, trees, apples – whatever.  The only rule is that you can only make your picture with the supplies in the middle of our table.  As a matter of fact, go ahead and sit on your hands.  Okay now I’ll give you 2 minutes to make anything you want.  Go ahead, start.   (Continue to encourage your kids as if they can create something with what is on the table.  Do not let anyone go get supplies)

Discussion Question:

1.         How did you feel when I asked you to make a picture? Why couldn’t you do it? 

We could not make a picture because we did not have anything to make it with.  Today we are going to read about the creation of world.  God created a wonderful, diverse, world full of so many different types of plants and animals that scientist discover new ones every year.  But God did not use construction paper, markers, play dough or any of the things we use to create things.  We are going to read Genesis 1:1 -1:25.  First, I am going to read verses one through five, and I want you to listen to what God used to create the world. 

Reading:   Genesis 1:1-1:5.                   

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you hear how God made light?   (God called the light into being.  He spoke and it was.)

2.  God created the light by just speaking.  He didn’t use crayons, electricity, play-dough, He just spoke.  Why God can could God create light just by speaking?  (God is powerful.)

Pass out a sheet of paper and a pencil or crayons to each child.

Now I am going to read verses 6 through 27.  We are going to hear how God made many other things.  Let’s create a grid on the paper in front of you.  Draw a line down the middle, then three lines across the paper, dividing the paper into 6 squares.  Number your squares 1-6 with a small number in one corner of each square.  We are going to read about the six days of God’s creation.  As I read, you are going to draw or write something in each square, representing what God created on that day.  We already read day 1, so go ahead and draw something in your #1 box that represents light. 

Reading:   Genesis 1:6-1:27 Briefly pause after each day to allow children to finish their drawings.  If children’s drawings get elaborate, tell them they can always go back and finish it later. 

Discussion Question:

1.       Can you tell me what God did on each of the six days of creation?  Have your children tell you about what they drew for each day.   Talk about additional examples for each day. 

Let’s think about the first thing we did here.  When I asked you to make a picture without anything could you?  You could not, but God can. All the things we drew and mentioned are things that God has created.  In our reading, at the end of each day it said that “God saw it and it was good.”  God’s creations are indeed good.  We are going to pray together to thank God for the wonderful world He has created.  When we are finished with our prayer we will play a fun game together. 

Prayer:  Holding hands in a circle, take turns praising God for His creation.  If your children are not familiar or experienced with participating in praying out loud, encourage them to thank God for two or three of their favorite animals or fruits.

 Family Activities: Creation Charades:

1.       Have all members of the family write down on slips of paper things God created such as palm trees, alligators, shooting stars, the ocean, blowfish – get creative!  Next to the name of the item write which day is was created on.  Try to have a variety from days 3-6.  Place all the ideas in a bowl.

2.       Take turns drawing a slip of paper and acting it out.  Before each player starts to act out their thing have them hold up the number of fingers of which day it was created on.  Larger families can divide into teams, smaller families can all play as one team. 

Some of our family’s favorite Creation Charade ideas are:  shooting stars, apples, elephants, porcupines, hail, rhinoceroses, ocean waves, and sharks.  Have fun!