My sons are 4.5 and 2.5 years old, and have a limited attention span. They're also drawn to experiences more than stories. After trying to truncate devotionals to appeal to them, I realized these boys need something more visceral and hands on.
So here are 7 lessons I've created for Advent...
The Hard Donkey Ride
A donkey ride
Courtesy of their PopPop
Load the kids on your back for a donkey ride. Have them hold on as long as they can as you travel the house. When they can't anymore, break to tell them how before Jesus was born, his Mom, Mary, had to take a ride to Bethlehem on a donkey. It took 5 whole days to get there--that must have been very hard as a pregnant lady!
Read this verse:
Joseph went to Bethlehem with Mary, his wife, who was pregnant with Jesus.
-Luke 2:4-5
Pray this prayer:
God, thank you for helping us do hard things like ride a donkey. And thank you for protecting Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, when he was born. Amen.
The Stars Point to Jesus
Look up
To see stars God placed
Take the kids outside with binoculars or a telescope at night. Lay on your back and look at the stars in the sky. Then tell them how when Jesus was born, God put stars to show people that he had come. And that's why many people put stars on their Christmas tree and decorate with lights. When we see the stars it reminds us of Jesus.
Read this verse:
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men came saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star, and have come to worship him.
-Matthew 2:1-12
Pray this prayer:
God thank you for putting a star in the sky for Jesus. Please put light in our life so that we can find Jesus. Amen.
Jesus is the Light of the World
My son Lukas
Feeling the light.
Turn off all the lights in your house so it's pitch black. Light a small candle and let the kids hold it as you tell them that before Jesus came, the world was dark, but Jesus brought light from Heaven.
Read this verse:
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
-John 8:12
Pray this prayer:
Jesus, help me have you in my life so that I have light in my life, and that my life is not dark. Amen.
Lost Sheep, Found by Jesus
The boys
Hiding and being found
Play a game of hide-and-seek, but this time in your whole house. Encourage your kids to hide really really well. Then take an extra long time to go find them, until the point when they will be antsy. Then go find them and talk about how Jesus came to the world to find us.
Read this verse:
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.
-Ezekiel 34:11
Pray this prayer:
God, thank you for sending Jesus to this world to find us and rescue us since we were like lost sheep. Amen.
Jesus Was A Different Kind of Baby
Boden
Holding his baby cousin
Tell your kids to look for someone who is different at school, church, the grocery store, anywhere. Look for different hair, accent, skin color, disability, anything they notice. Tell them when they find someone different, don't say anything, just come squeeze your hand. When they do that, at the soonest opportunity in private say there is someone else who was born different too, Jesus. He was different because he was holy, he was part baby and part God.
Read this verse:
God became a person and lived with us as Jesus. Jesus came from God and was full of grace and truth.
-John 1:14
Pray this prayer:
God, thank you for making us all so different. Thank you for this person my child noticed, and help us to be kind to those who are different. And thank you for making Jesus a person who was Holy and part God. Amen.
Jesus Is The Greatest Gift Ever
The suspense
Grows all week.
Cutout the shape of a man and put it in a box with a couple of sweet treats. Wrap the box and put it under the tree weeks before Christmas so excitement will build. Tell your kids that inside the box is the Greatest Gift Ever. One night gather the family around to open it, make it a big deal with popcorn and hot cocoa. Then let them open it and give them their treat and tell them that the Greatest Gift ever was Jesus, because Jesus was a gift from God to save us. And that's why we give gifts to other people on Christmas.
Read this verse:
God gave us the gift of grace and righteousness through one man, Jesus Christ!
-Romans 5:17
Pray this prayer:
Dear God, thank you for loving us so much that you keep helping us. And thank you for sending Jesus to us. Amen.
Jesus the Servant
Boden learning
About being a servant
Start asking your kids to do things for other people, for their siblings, for you, anyone that comes up. "Please take this drink to your brother. Please take the newspaper to the neighbors door. Please help clean up this spill that I made." Really overdo it for a few days, and do whatever is needed to get them to help. After a few days, tell them that doing all of these things is like being a servant. And even though he is the King of Kings, Jesus was born to be a servant.
Read this verse:
Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for many.
-Mark 10:45
Pray this prayer:
Jesus, thank you for doing so much to serve other people. Thank you for even dying to help us. Help me to care about other people too. Amen.