Splink 1:
Real or Fake?
God’s people, the Israelites, worshipped idols. Idolatry is the worship of false (fake) gods instead of the one true God.
To illustrate the idea of “fake” and “real” give your child “fake” money for their allowance. (Cut a rectangle out of paper and write “One Dollar” on it for a dollar.) When they say, “This isn’t real money!” agree that it’s not real.
Ask:
What’s the difference between fake and real? (Fake is an imitation of the real—some counterfeiters try to make fake ones that look very real, but they are not.)
What is an idol? (It is an imitation of the true God. An idol can be made from gold, silver, wood, or just about anything.)
What’s the difference between an idol and the one true God? (The one true God made the heavens and the earth; an idol is something made that people use to represent a god they worship.)
There are people in many countries (many even in the US) who worship idols. They do not know the one true God and worship a false god.
Splink 2:
Number 1
After dinner, ask kids to bring some of their toys to the table and organize the things from the best to the worst.
Why did you put that _____ in first place? (I love to play with it; I’ve had it a long time; etc.)
Spending time playing with a toy that you like is not bad. But would it be a good thing if you spent ALL your time every day with that toy?
God gives us all things to enjoy, (1 Timothy 6:17) but it is possible to love things more than God. When things or people or events become more important to us than our friendship with God, they become an idol, something we love more than God. It’s okay to love things as long as we keep them in their proper place. The Bible says that we are to love God with all our hearts, soul, mind, and spirit—with everything in us! (Mark 12:30) That means putting Him first before everything else.
What can you do this week to put God first and show that you love Him?
Splink 3:
Don’t Smile!
Play the game, “Honey, if you love me smile.” Choose one person to be “it” and tell him that his goal is to get the others to smile. Instruct him to go to each person and say the statement, “Honey, if you love me smile.” He can do anything to try and make the others smile, except touch them (funny faces, silly noises, jokes, etc.).
Every other person’s main job is NOT to smile. They are to remain straight-faced and say, “Honey, I love you but I just can’t smile. (You may want to practice saying that a few times before you start so they understand what they are supposed to do.)
See how long each one can go without becoming distracted and smile. (If someone smiles, pick a new “it” and continue the game.)
How did _______ get you to smile? (He made funny faces; he told a funny joke; etc.)
Even when you knew what you were supposed to do (not smile), it was hard to do it. We know we are supposed to love God and keep His commands, but it is easy for us to be distracted and love other things more than God.
Read Exodus 20:1-6. What does God tell His people to do/not to do?
(Love God first; put God first; do not worship or bow down to idols; etc.)
The God who created the heavens and the earth is the only true God. Worshiping anyone or anything other than Him will lead us in a wrong way.
Source: Splink
