Splink 1:
Bombarded
Give each family member a piece of paper and have them write a thought/lie on it that they’ve heard or something that comes into their minds about sin. (It’s okay to sin; Sin is not that bad. Stealing a pack of gum is a little thing. Telling a little white lie is okay. Everybody disobeys their parents sometimes.)
Wrong thoughts like these are ways the devil tempts us to sin. The devil wants us to sin. Wad up these lies into a ball.
Choose one person to be it and have him stand on one side of a line while the others stand on the other side. At the count of three, throw the paper balls at him.
Ask:
How did you feel with all those paper balls coming at you at once?
How do you feel when there are so many temptations to do wrong things?
Give him a trash can lid (or storage bin lid or lid to a big box) for a shield.
At the count of three, pick up the paper balls and throw them at him again.
Ask:
How did you feel having a shield? (Protected; able to ward off the attack; etc.)
Read Ephesians 6:13-16.
God’s Word is like a shield to protect us from the lies we may hear or think. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He quoted God’s Word back to the devil each time. Knowing God’s Word can help us recognize the lies and say no to temptation and sin.
Splink 2:
Where to Go
Where do we find help in the Bible when we are tempted to…? Post these and look up the verse (and memorize it) when temptation comes.
- Worry—Philippians 4:6-7
- Dishonor/disobey parents—Ephesians 6:1
- Steal—Ephesians 4:28
- Lie—Ephesians 4:25
- Covet—Hebrews 13:5
- Hate—Matthew 5:44-45
- Be proud—Philippians 2:3
- Be selfish—Philippians 2:4
- Get angry—Ephesians 4:26-27
- Get revenge—Ephesians 4:32
- Complain—Philippians 2:14
Splink 3:
Chase the “Greedies” Away
Christmas seems to bring out the greediness in us—we want more, more, more! One way to combat the temptation to be self-centered is to give. Ask kids to make a list not of what they WANT, but what they will GIVE.
Put a basket or box in a designated spot and ask each family member to put something in the box each day (or a designated day). Some ideas of giveaways are nonperishable food items, good used clothing, toys, or books. Check with your church or a social agency to see if they know of a family who needs the items.
Source: Splink
