Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
I used the devotion with my kids and it worked well so I thought I'd share with you (if it had failed, I would have kept it to myself!)
Items needed - sink or tub, water, legos or building blocks and clay
1. Our foundation is obedience.
Plug a tub or sink and fill with a small amount of water and ask, "Imagine this is an ocean. Would it be wise to build a house here?" Build a small house out of legos and place it in the water. "Is this a safe place to live?"> (Noooo) Read Luke 6:46-49. "Jesus says our obedience is like a foundation of rock."
2. Each time we obey we build our foundation stronger.
Take the house our of the water. Have the kids make small balls out of the clay. Start building a foundation of clay in the water and Say, "Each time we obey, we build a stronger foundation."Have the kids name things that would be obedience , like coming right away, cleaning their room, talking in a respectful tone.... and continue to build the foundation out of the water. Once the clay is out of the water ask, "Now would the house be safe out of the water?" Place the house on the foundation and simulate a storm in the water. "The house is still safe because it is built on a foundation of obedience to Christ. Every time you obey Mom and Dad, you are really obeying Jesus. Jesus always needs to be put first, and obeying Him is the best way to do that."
3. Disobedience brings calamity
"Each time we disobey it takes a chunk out of our foundation." Have the kids name times that they are disobedient and take chunks out of the clay until the house falls in the water. "Without a foundation of Obedience to Jesus we fall just like the house." Read Luke 6:46-49 again ans stress to the kids that without Jesus we can have no foundation.
This worked as a great visual with my kids, I hope it does for yours as well. Let me know! Have a Happy New Year!
Categories: parenting
