Family Devotion Idea: Holy Spirit and the Glove

*About twice a month, we try to post the outline of a family devotion that you and your kids can do together. Carve out some time with your kids for a fun and creative discussion this week!

Teaching Goal:

The Holy Spirit in our lives gives our actions meaning.

Scripture:

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Philippians 2:12-13 “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Hebrews 13:20-21 “May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ.”

Materials:

One pair of gloves per team (form 1 team to race against the clock or two teams to race against each other)

Watch or timer

One glass of water per team, ¾ full

Lesson and Discussion:

*Words that are written in bold are when you, the parent, are speaking. Feel free to use your own words.

Lay a glove on the table. What shape is the glove? A hand. I agree. It looks like a hand so it can probably do everything a hand can. “Glove. Get me a glass of water.” Wait for a few seconds. Nothing happens. In order to get something with that glove, I’m going to have to use a part of my body, most likely my hand. Have a volunteer put his or her hand into the glove and go get a glass of water.

Our life is like the glove and the Holy Spirit is like our hand. It is the Holy Spirit that gives our actions purpose and meaning. We can “do” things all day long, things we think are important, but unless the Holy Spirit is directing us, we will not be accomplishing God’s good will and purpose. Read Philippians 2:12 and Hebrews 13:20-21.

ACTIVITY:

The Goal: Work as a team to transfer the glass of water from person to person using the gloves. If you spill water or touch the glass with anything other than a gloved hand then the team is disqualified from the race.

Directions: Each person completes the relay course and transfers the glass of water by following these directions:

--Person #1 puts on the gloves, picks up the glass of water and runs or walks through the relay course.

--Person #1 and Person #2 work together to take off the glove from the free hand and put it on Person #2’s hand.

--Pass the glass of water from Person #1’s gloved hand to Person #2’s gloved hand.

--Person #1 and Person #2 work together to get the second glove onto Person #2’s free hand.

--Person #2 runs or walks through the relay course, being careful not to spill any water.

--Repeat until the final person crosses the starting line.

Remember, the hand in the glove represents the Holy Spirit working in our lives. In the same way you needed to have your hand in a glove to complete the relay successfully, we need to have the Holy Spirit in our lives to be successful in accomplishing God’s will and good purposes.

If you liked this devotion idea, there are hundreds more available from Family Time Training. See the link on the right side of this page for more information.