Today we’re sharing an activity from our new study, Our Hope Has Come. This 5-session study includes group discussion guides, personal study, and activities for adults, teens, and kids. Below is one of the children’s activities from the study! Order your copy or see a free sample today at lifeway.com/hope.
Have you ever stood in a really long line? Or waited a few weeks to celebrate a special day? Waiting for something you’re hoping for can be hard, and you might begin to feel impatient. But God doesn’t waste time. In His plans, even time spent waiting has a purpose.
GATHER
- Green construction paper
- A paper plate
- Markers
- Scissors
- Liquid glue
- A hole puncher
- Yarn or ribbon
DIRECTIONS :
Trace your family members’ hands on the construction paper. Cut out at least 10–12 handprints, and cut out the center of the paper plate.
Glue the handprints around the rim of the plate to make a wreath. It works best if you glue the larger handprints first, and then glue a second layer of smaller handprints on top of them.
If you want, add decorations to your wreath, using the hole puncher to make a hole at the top. Tie the yarn or ribbon through the hole. Then find the perfect place to display your family wreath.
GAME
“Red Light, Green Light”
Have your child stand at a starting line. When you say “green light” the child moves forward toward you, until you say “red light!” Vary the amount of time you stay stopped on red. Ask, How did you feel while you were stopped and waiting for the fun to start back up?
In Matthew 1:1-17, forty-two generations are listed. That’s hundreds of years between Abraham and Jesus’ birth! You stopped and waited for only a few moments during your activity, but God’s people watched and waited for a very long time for God to send His promised Messiah. In the meantime, God used many families in His good plan to reveal His faithfulness and to send Jesus to earth at exactly the right time
PRAY
God, thank You for our family and friends, and thank you for the generations of families You worked through to send Jesus. Thank You for revealing Yourself through the Bible and for showing us that You are faithful, trustworthy, and that You always keep Your promises. Amen.
Do you want to experience more from the Our Hope Has Come Advent Bible study? Join us for special Advent themed episodes on the MARKED Podcast beginning November 29, 2021. Each Monday, for four weeks, we’ll talk with women who contributed to this Advent study.
