Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions

Tim Shoemaker

Description

As parents hoping to raise godly children, we may understand the importance of regular family devotions. However, we may find it difficult to get our kids (or even ourselves) fully engaged. But what if devotions looked less like sitting in the living room listening to someone read and trying to pry answers out of reluctant kids and more like, say, electrocuting a pickle? Or converting a leaf blower into a toilet paper launcher? Or lighting toothpaste on fire?These hands-on, kinda dangerous, totally unforgettable object lessons (along with nearly fifty others) are not only more fun than other family devotions--they actually deliver the spiritual impact you desire for your kids. They'll even get dads and any too-cool-for-this-stuff teens jazzed about a weekly family devotional time.So put away the flannelgraph, get out the safety goggles, and start bringing the truths of Scripture to vivid life in your household. Just remember to change out of your Sunday clothes first.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian liturgy

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 21 mai 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493417919
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Endorsements
“Discipling, mentoring, and guiding our children toward a trusting, thriving, and loving relationship with God is a monumental, incredible, and essential task for Christian parents! Tim’s passion for seeing God’s Word passed on to future generations comes through as he provides parents with practical, hands-on, engaging, and easy-to-use family devotions. Who wouldn’t like to have fire, food, money, dark rooms, flashlights, and light sticks while learning about what God is telling us in Scripture? This is a must-have for a parent’s devotional library!”
Danny Huerta , MSW, LCSW, vice president of parenting and youth at Focus on the Family and family therapist
“Hey, Mom and Dad (or youth worker)! Get ready to zap, laugh, explore, explode, build, slime, slide, and think new thoughts with those kids you love so much. Tim Shoemaker has a unique gift for delivering biblical truths and critical life lessons in wacky, relevant, and unforgettable ways.”
Jay Payleitner , national speaker and bestselling author of 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad and What If God Wrote Your Bucket List?
“This book is fabulous! The devotions are memorable, unique, fun for all ages, engaging, and not complicated. They’re well explained, so you won’t be overwhelmed. Your kids won’t be either—the devotions are long enough and deep enough to think about without needing to be a Bible scholar. As Tim explains in his important opening statement about how to lead devotions so you’ll be consistent, that’s not the point of short devotions. How refreshing! You can lead these successfully. Mostly, though, I love this book because Tim chose to emphasize very important and relevant truths for today’s kids living in chaotic times. I’m impressed! I’d love to hear the discussions you have after you drop Jell-O brains, dig up buried ground beef, and try to melt Ivory soap in the microwave. You and your children are going to learn so much!”
Kathy Koch, PhD, founder and president of Celebrate Kids, Inc. and author of 8 Great Smarts and Start with the Heart
“Two things undermine family devotions—kids being bored and parents not knowing how to do it. Tim Shoemaker knocks both of these problems out of the park with unique, attention-grabbing activities and clear, concise instructions. Start enjoying family devotions!”
Rob Currie , PhD, professor of psychology at Judson University and author of Hungry for More of God
“I highly recommend The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions from Tim Shoemaker. This book captures the creativity and practical application of what Tim has taught to thousands of men at our Iron Sharpens Iron conferences over the last ten years. If you want to have a blast, literally, teaching your children or youth group biblical truth, there is no better resource.”
Tom Cheshire , founder of Relevant Practical Ministry for Men (RPM)
“As a dad and a pastor, I am thankful for the wisdom and creativity of Tim Shoemaker’s devotionals. I will not only use this book for my own family’s devotions but also our youth group. No more rolling of the eyes from bored kids while doing devotions! I recommend this book to every parent, pastor, and youth leader. If you are looking to have attention-keeping and life-impacting devos, these are it. They are biblically rooted and FUN to do! Be dangerous!”
Pastor Jim Olsen , First Baptist Church, Pine Island
“Today, when all kinds of technology and digital opportunities compete for your kids’ time and attention, even the most committed parents can find family devotions challenging. Good news: The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions is exactly what you need to make family devotions exciting, relevant, and life-changing. This how-to book deals with the spiritual issues kids face today with a totally over-the-top style that will have your kids asking you when you’re having family devotions again. It will revolutionize your family devotions and help you make this tricky aspect of raising godly kids fun—and even a little dangerous at the same time.”
Dr. Dale McElhinney , licensed psychologist and author
“I have watched Tim Shoemaker present these unique and fun object lessons at workshops for many years now. What I am most impressed with is that every guy who attends his presentation comes away with the feeling that ‘I can do that!’ In a time when family interaction has devolved into scrolling social media together, Tim offers a unique way to present biblical lessons in a fun and interactive way. A valuable tool for any father’s family tool belt!”
Roy Abbott , president of Focal Point Ministries and Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Conferences
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2019 by Tim Shoemaker
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2019
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-1791-9
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
All activities and projects in this book are intended to be performed under adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution is required at all times, and the suggested activities cannot replace common sense and sound judgment. Observe safety and caution at all times. The author and publisher disclaim all liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in the activities featured in this book.
Dedication
To Andy and Laura, Mark and Sarah, and Luke and Beth
May this book be one more tool to help you teach the next generation about God, and the principles he’s given us to live by.
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Ps. 119:18)
Epigraph
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7
Contents
Cover 1
Endorsements 2
Title Page 3
Copyright Page 4
Dedication 5
Epigraph 6
Introduction 19
Ending the Stop and Start Syndrome 21
Let’s begin with fourteen tips to help make sure you don’t get tripped up and quit along the way.
Object Lessons and Activities
1. TP Blaster 29
Theme: Holy Spirit control / walking in the Spirit versus living in our own power
We’ll convert a leaf blower to shoot toilet paper nearly thirty feet in the air. You’ll be laughing so hard the first time you use it you may need a little of the TP yourself. This will launch a discussion about walking in our own power versus walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Electro-Pickle 34
Theme: Battle between old and new nature / defeating the old nature
When an ordinary dill pickle is connected to an electric current, it lights up and flickers like there’s a battle going on inside. This makes a perfect opener to discuss the fight that goes on between our old and new nature—and how to end the battle for good.
3. Frankenstein Factor 40
Theme: Dangers of messing with the sin we’re to avoid
We’ll look at a trailer from the original classic horror film. The storyline illustrates chilling parallels to the Christian life. When we become obsessed with things that are wrong . . . sin that God has pronounced dead . . . we can bring them to life, creating a monster that can destroy us. We’ll talk about the danger of resurrecting sin that is, by Jesus’s death and resurrection, dead and buried.
4. Totaled 46
Theme: God forgives, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences
Get a junk appliance like a microwave oven—or even something bigger, like a car—and gather the family and maybe friends together, arm them with an assortment of sledgehammers, and you’ll have one fun party. Obviously, the appliance or whatever will never be the same. This will fast-lane you into a discussion about the things we do for fun or thrills. Sometimes there are consequences—things we can’t fix.
5. The Right Combination 51
Theme: There is absolute truth
We’ll challenge the kids to open combination locks—without the right combination. The fact that only one sequence of numbers can unlock each lock will open a discussion about absolute truth and unlocking the truth of God’s Word.
6. Secret Message 56
Theme: The real you behind the façade . . . especially when the heat is on
We’ll try out some “inks” that are nearly invisible—until we put a candle up to the page. This will ignite a talk about the message we’re really sending when the heat is on.
7. Take a Stab at Kindness 61
Theme: Talking kindly to and about others
The need to be kind when we talk to and about others comes through loud and clear in a little illustration that shows how our words can cause unseen damage.
8. Slip-Sliding Away 66
Theme: Run from temptation . . . before you get on the slippery slope and can’t stop
Plastic sheeting, dish soap, and a garden hose are all that you need to make a great slip ’n’ slide for the kids. A running start puts them into a slide they won’t be able to stop. That leads to a talk about another type of slippery spot we can get ourselves into . . . like running toward temptation instead of away from i