This lesson follows the format of FAITH5. The format can be used in a simple way for family devotions—as a bedtime ritual, at a meal time, or another time when your family is together. We encourage you to establish this pattern in your home, especially during the weeks when we cannot be together. Part 1 of 5: SHARE Take a few minutes and have everyone share their “highs and lows” from the day or the past few days. What are things that have made you happy? What are things that made you sad or frustrated? Are there things you are worried about? You might want to write these down on a paper or in a notebook to refer back to later. We will pray for all of these things at the end of the lesson. Part 2 of 5: READ Today we hear the story of Esther as read by our friend Emery.
Part 3 of 5: TALK (and do) Things to talk about:
How do you think Noah felt when God gave him the job of building the ark?
Have you ever had to do something that other people teased you about? What was that like?
Noah gathered all the animals for the ark. Which is your favorite animal and why?
If you had to get on a boat for several months, what 3 things would you make sure you took with you? Why?
ACTIVITY OPTIONS
God used Noah to start over when things on earth went wrong. But God also promised that God would not destroy the earth again and used a rainbow to remind us of that promise. Create some artwork today that includes a rainbow. This could be on paper, with sidewalk chalk, play dough, or any other creation you like.
God made sure that the animals would be taken care of through the flood. Do something today to take care of animals. You could make a birdfeeder to put in your yard or make some dog treats to give to your pet or a neighbor's pet.
Have you wondered what the ark looked like? Use your imagination and some Lego blocks to build your own ark.
Find a fun coloring page of Noah and the ark on this website.
Part 4 of 5: PRAY
Close with prayer together. Pray about the highs and lows shared at the beginning of your time together. Part 5 of 5: BLESS
Close by gathering everyone in a circle and blessing each other. Make the cross on each other’s foreheads and speak a simple blessing, or if you wish you can use the words from the baptism service: “You are sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”