Friday faith-filled family fun blog: shipwrecked!
The Friday faith-filled family fun blog is a series of weekly posts with fun activities based around Bible stories. Today's activities go with the story of the Apostle Paul's shipwreck.
We love to do family fun nights based around different themes, sometimes Bible themes. So when my just-turned eight year old asked to have a Bible study for his friends called "Bible buddies," I immediately thought about following our family night format: a themed meal, a story and an activity. With a group of seven and eight year old boys, I needed a story with some action. (We were also in a nautical mood after just completing a pirate-themed birthday party.) I decided that the story of Paul's shipwreck on the island of Malta would be just the ticket. Action, adventure, even a poisonous snake—it is a story that can definitely hold the attention of a group of boys!
To my amazement, the boys loved it! After all of the boys arrived, we gathered with our Bibles and read the story together. Since it was a "Bible study," I had a multiple choice quiz sheet about the story, but I made it fun with some humorous choices. We continued our discussion over a sea-faring dinner of fish sticks. In addition to the simpler facts of the story, we asked the deeper questions such as "what can I do when I'm afraid?" and "how does God take care of us even when bad things happen?" Along with the discussion, we threw in some fun. In this case, it was leftover birthday cake, the video Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie, and the promise of water balloons. (It's a good thing the same kids are coming over tonight so I can make good on my promise!). Who knew that young boys would be so engrossed in Bible study that we would run out of time?
To recap, here are the elements for a family fun night based around Paul's shipwreck:
- Read the story of Paul's shipwreck in the Bible (Acts chapters 27 and 28).
- Enjoy a sea-faring dinner (we picked fish sticks).
- Follow up with a water activity such as water balloons (reminiscent of the crashing waves), or a calmer water activity such as gathering items and a bowl of water and testing which ones sink or float.
- Have fun together!
Are you looking for more fun activities for kids, including faith-based ones? Take a look at my new book Let the Adventure Begin! Theme Nights for Families with Young Children (available on Amazon in both paperback book and kindle versions). It includes ideas, activities and resources for 56 family fun night themes. And stop by next Friday for another Bible story and activity!