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Family Devotions, Family Fun

Sink or Float

You Will Need: 

  • A non-diet can of soda 
  • A diet can of soda 
  • A Bible marked at John 14:1-3 

If you don’t have these items: You can do a different activity that is explained in the “Other Option” section below.

STEP 1

Fill up the bathtub so that the cans have enough depth to sink.

STEP 2

Consider these questions…What do you think will happen when you put the cans into the bathtub? Will they both sink? Will they both float? Will one sink and one float, and if so, which will do what?

STEP 3

Put both cans in the bathtub. What happened? (The diet can floats.)

POINT—The difference between these two cans is about half a cup of sugar.

KEY—Just a little makes a big difference. In the same way it takes just a little sin to drag a Christian down. According to the Bible, there’s no room for sin in the Christian’s life. So, have you been doing anything you know is wrong? If so, then stop doing it (repent), ask God to forgive you, and turn to follow Jesus again.

SAY—Also, just like the can that rose, Jesus rose from the dead after three days and later He ascended into heaven. That’s great news, and here’s some more great news: Those who have given their lives to Jesus can know for sure that they’re going to heaven to spend eternity with Him forever.

Read John 14:1-3 from your Bible.

PRAY—Thank God for preparing a place for His people in heaven.

OTHER OPTION

Do this activity if you don’t have the items you need for the one above.

Make some chocolate milk where just a little powder makes a big change; or taste test some strawberries then dip them in sugar. Again, just a little makes a big difference; Or eat something that needs salt, like corn to make this same point. Then begin with the discussion below.

SAY—Just a little makes a big difference. In the same way it takes just a little sin to drag a Christian down. According to the Bible, there’s no room for sin in the Christian’s life. So, have you been doing anything you know is wrong? If so, then stop doing it (repent), ask God to forgive you, and turn to follow Jesus again.

SAY—It’s good news that God can forgive you. This is the reason that Jesus died and rose from the dead, and here’s some more great news: Those who have given their lives to Jesus can know for sure that they’re going to heaven to spend eternity with Him forever.

Read John 14:1-3 from your Bible.

PRAY—Thank God for preparing a place for His people in heaven.

BREAKFAST BITES

ASK—What are some things that you look forward to about going to heaven? (Seeing Jesus face to face, meeting people from the Bible, living forever in God’s presence, etc.)

ASK—What are some things that you look forward to leaving behind when you go to heaven? (Fear, heartbreak, sin, rejection, temptation, etc.)

Read John 14:1-6

Read the Bible

D.I.V.E. Devotions 

Dig In
Dig in and enjoy God’s Word. What should I read in the Bible today?

• DAY 1 – Luke 9:18-27 – Peter’s confession and true discipleship

• DAY 2 – Luke 9:28-36 – The Transfiguration

• DAY 3 – Luke 9:37-45 – Healing, amazement, and further warnings

• DAY 4 – Luke 9:45-50 – The unknown exorcist

• DAY 5 – Luke 9:51-62 – The nature of discipleship

Answer these questions each day…

Insight
What did you see? What did you hear?

Value
What did you learn? What should you do?

Examine
Examine yourself as you pray. What will you pray?

Jokes-Pumpkin

PUMPKIN JOKE #6

Who helps the little pumpkins cross the road to school?

The Crossing Gourd.

Crossing Guards help kids cross from one side of the street to another. But there’s another great crossing too. Listen to what the Bible says about those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ.

“For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” Romans 5:8

Learn more about how you can go to Heaven HERE.

Jokes-Pumpkin

PUMPKIN JOKE #5

What did the pumpkin say after Thanksgiving?

Good-pie!

It’s always good at the end of dinner, when the cook looks at you and says, “Keep your fork.” In other words, good things are coming.

Sometimes we all face tough situation but no matter what you face, if you know Jesus Christ, you’ll be all right. Here’s a promise from the Lord:

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Learn more about how you can know Jesus and go to Heaven – Click HERE.

Jokes-Pumpkin

PUMPKIN JOKE #4

What did a Jack-o-lantern say to the pumpkin?

Cut it out!

Sometimes we put things in our lives that don’t belong–What are some actions or habits you have that would be good to simply “cut out.”

And, did you know, that no matter how many “bad things” we cut out, we still aren’t good enough to get to Heaven on our own? God is perfect but we’ve all done wrong things.  That’s our problem and that’s why we all need Jesus–Only He can save us from our sins.

The Bible says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Learn more about how you can go to Heaven HERE.

Jokes-Pumpkin

PUMPKIN JOKE #3

What do you use to repair a jack-o-lantern?

A pumpkin patch.

Most people enjoy jokes with a double-meaning. There are two ways of looking at it.

Unfortunately a lot of people live “double” lives – They say one thing but do another. It’s the word “hypocrite” which originally referred to a Greek actor who carried two masks and would switch characters throughout a drama.

You may have known some hypocrites in your life but you can always take God at His word. He will never lie to you and has already given you the truth…

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Learn more about how you can go to Heaven HERE.

And, if you already know Christ as your Savior, live a life that’s genuine – no masks…nothing to hide.

Jokes-Pumpkin

PUMPKIN JOKE #2

Why were the two pumpkins so close?

They had deep roots.

Where are your roots? It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you been, there’s nothing you can say or do to make God stop loving you.

Learn more how you can have eternal life HERE.

And if you already know Jesus, then let your roots grow deep in Him. He’s the best foundation for life:

Here’s a great story that Jesus told about building your life on the right foundation:

“Everyone who hears these words of mine, and does them, is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, because it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” – Matthew 7:24-27

Jokes-Pumpkin

PUMPKIN JOKE #1

What happens when you drop a pumpkin?

You get Squash!

Sometimes we all drop the ball…or the pumpkin. But what happens when we do wrong things? Does God still love you? Absolutely. When we fall short, God is faithful. He loves you and through His Son, Jesus, He made a way to save you from your sins.

The Bible says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

For Leaders

Yes, Lord

Read 

When Dr. Wayland Hoyt was pastor in Brooklyn, he was engaged in special meetings. Among those who evinced some interest was a gentleman for whom he had often prayed. He noticed his attendance one weeknight and thought he ought to speak to him about his soul, but through fear restrained. 

Another night when he had returned to his home late, finding himself too nervous to sleep, he was reading in his study. As he read, something seemed to whisper in his ear, Go and see that man tonight. But the preacher mentally replied, It is after twelve o’clock, and he is asleep with everyone in bed. He read on. But the impression remained and grew. He argued. It is snowing, and I am tired! and finally, I have been working hard all day, and I don’t want to go! But all excuses to the contrary, the Spirit persisted, and at last he yielded and went. 

As he touched the man’s doorbell, he thought, “What a fool I am to be ringing a man’s bell at one o’clock in the morning. He will think I am insane”. But instantly the door opened, and the man stood there fully clothed and said, “Come in; and God bless you. You are the man I have been waiting for all night. My wife and children are all asleep, but I could not sleep; I felt that I must find Jesus tonight.” 

And the preacher testified, “It was no trouble to show that man the way, for the Spirit who had guided me had also gone before me.”1 

Reflect 

To obey is better than sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22) 

Respond 

Would you have found it difficult to be obedient to God in the above story? God created you to worship Him, but one cannot have true worship without full surrender and surrender implies that you are not your own—you belong to another. Hence, there can be no answer to Christ’s call other than “Yes, Lord.” Is there any area of your life where you are saying no to God? Have you said, “Yes, Lord” to all that He want you to do (everything from teaching to tithing to the small details in your daily life that He wants you to surrender to Him)? Is your life characterized by complete and total obedience to Christ? Why or why not? 

Your thoughts?

Remember 

“Surrender is not only the best way to live; it’s the only way to live. Nothing else works.” —Rick Warren 2