Jesus measured up
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: The whole concept of fasting is difficult
for us to understand in this consumer-oriented age. The children
might ask: "Why did Jesus go for 40 days without food?" Let the
word "food" be a take-off point. The body needs food, but there
are other things that are important as well. The soul needs
spiritual food.
Ask: "What do you think makes for spiritual food?" (Possible answers might be prayer, reading devotions or the Bible, worship, and so forth.) Jesus wanted to focus on his spiritual food.
*Tie in the 40 days of Jesus' fasting (and temptation) with the 40 days of Lent. Make a Lenten "countdown" calendar as a class. With each of the 40 days (except for Sundays), record something that can be done for spiritual food. (Follow verses from the lectionary readings, give up a favorite food or activity [a form of fasting], talk to your parents about God, talk with your friends about God, read a daily devotional booklet, say a prayer for a specific need in the church, and so forth.) Photocopy your Lenten calendar and distribute it to the children.
*As a group brainstorm daily sacrifices that could be used on a Lenten countdown calendar. Record responses on the board. From the best responses type up a calendar and distribute it next week.
*Make the calendar available to the whole congregation for those who might use it. Place a notice of the availability of the calendar in next Sunday's bulletin.
Ask: "What do you think makes for spiritual food?" (Possible answers might be prayer, reading devotions or the Bible, worship, and so forth.) Jesus wanted to focus on his spiritual food.
*Tie in the 40 days of Jesus' fasting (and temptation) with the 40 days of Lent. Make a Lenten "countdown" calendar as a class. With each of the 40 days (except for Sundays), record something that can be done for spiritual food. (Follow verses from the lectionary readings, give up a favorite food or activity [a form of fasting], talk to your parents about God, talk with your friends about God, read a daily devotional booklet, say a prayer for a specific need in the church, and so forth.) Photocopy your Lenten calendar and distribute it to the children.
*As a group brainstorm daily sacrifices that could be used on a Lenten countdown calendar. Record responses on the board. From the best responses type up a calendar and distribute it next week.
*Make the calendar available to the whole congregation for those who might use it. Place a notice of the availability of the calendar in next Sunday's bulletin.
