Weekly Fun Plan: He Fills Us Up (The Holy Spirit)

ByChelsea

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Welcome to this week’s Weekly Fun Plan: He Fills Us Up (The Holy Spirit)! If you haven’t already I recommend you read my introductory blog post “Faith-filled Fun: What Is It? And Why I Started It”. That post will give you some background into this blog and a little more in-depth explanation of my Weekly Fun Plans and how to use them. 

This Week’s Theme: He Fills Us Up (The Holy Spirit)

Like a good portion of the country, this past week we got a big snowstorm with all the snow my kids have been praying for. We spent most of this weekend outside playing in the snow, building snowmen, making snow angels, throwing snowballs, and lots and lots of shoveling. As a family, our favorite thing to do when we come in from playing outside is make some nice warm hot cocoa! As I filled up our mugs with the sweet cocoa I was reminded of another sweet gift from God, the Holy Spirit. This week’s Bible lesson will focus on how God “fills us up” with the Holy Spirit so we can live like Jesus. All our craft, snack, and activity ideas are going to be “hot cocoa” themed.

If you try anything in this week’s plan don’t forget to share your experiences on social media! Tag us @faithfilledfun on Instagram or use #faithfilledfun. New Weekly Fun Plans drop each Monday so stay up to date with the blog each week by subscribing to my email list!

hot cocoa

Bible Lesson: What to Read or Watch this week

If you have younger children and haven’t already, I highly recommend downloading the “Bible for Kids” app from the App Store. This is a FREE app for children that uses fun moving graphics and sounds to tell them stories in the Bible. Read the stories yourself or use the audio to have them read aloud to you.

the Bible App

Since this week we are focusing on learning about the Holy Spirit, here are some great resources to read/watch:

If you have young children (ages 0-8): 

God's wonderful gift bible adventure episode

If you have older children/teens (ages 9-18):

  • Read the following verses to your kids or encourage them to read them during their own personal study time. Then have them take notes on what they think God is trying to teach them through these verses:
    • John 14:26
    • Galatians 5:22-25
    • Acts 2:4

Bible Lesson: Questions to Ask Your Kids/Discuss this week

If you read the recommended Bible verses or watched the “God’s Wonderful Gift” Bible Adventure episode your kids should be able to answer this week’s question:

Who helps me live like Jesus? Answer: God’s Holy Spirit!

If you have little ones (ages 0-8):

I would focus on that one question this week, and work on having them memorize the answer. Ask them that same question every morning or evening and see if they can remember the answer. 

If you have older children (ages 9-18):

Here are some additional questions you can discuss with them throughout the week:

  • How does the Holy Spirit help me live like Jesus?
  • What is the fruit of the Spirit? Can you list them?
  • How do we get the Holy Spirit?

Bible Lesson: Memory Verse

Memorizing scripture is vital to teaching our children at a young age. Recalling and reciting scripture that they’ve memorized will help them as they grow and go through trials in life. It will also encourage them, equip them to go out and be little disciples of Jesus, and strengthen their faith as they age.

This week let’s have your kids work on memorizing John 14:26, and if they watched the Bible Adventure episode for this week then they’ve already learned some fun motions to help them remember a simplified version of this verse.

john 14:26 bible verse

Memorizing scripture is so much easier for kids if you can find a way to make it fun. Here are some different ideas to try as a family to help memorize this week’s verse:

  • Come up with some simple motions for each word of the verse and make a cheer or dance out of it.
  • Come up with your own melody and create a song out of it.
  • Make it a game. Start by saying one word or phrase of the verse at a time and have your kids repeat after you until you’ve gotten through the whole verse. Then repeat the process saying the words differently every time. Examples: slow, fast, in a silly voice, quiet, loud, etc.

Once your child/children have got it, I recommend practicing reciting the verse each morning over breakfast or before they leave for school and maybe even again before bed. Make it a part of your routine and you’ll be amazed at how fast they will begin to pick it up.

Supplies needed for this week’s activities

Here is a quick list of all the supplies that you will need to complete all the suggested crafts, activities, and snacks for this week’s plan. For a list of my most used craft supplies, and things I will be utilizing often in future Weekly Fun Plans be sure to check out my Links page.

Recipe: Loaded Hot Cocoa

This week’s recipe isn’t a recipe as much as an easy sweet treat suggestion that both you and your kids will enjoy, loaded hot cocoa! Hot cocoa is the perfect thing to warm your kids up after playing outside in the cold and fun activity when they can load it up with lots of toppings.

To make “loaded” hot cocoa simply create a hot cocoa bar in your home with whatever extra toppings you might have around the house. Make your favorite hot cocoa recipe, whether it’s as simple as a powdered mix with hot water or as complex as real melted chocolate with milk. Then top your mug with your favorite flavors and toppings. Some suggestions include:

  • Chocolate Syrup
  • Caramel Syrup
  • Whipped Cream
  • Sprinkles
  • Candy Canes
  • Marshmallows
  • Coffee Creamers in various flavors
  • Chocolate Chips
loaded hot cocoa

Crafts:

For this week’s crafts, we are making “Paper Plate Hot Cocoa Mugs (with Fruit of the Spirit Marshmallows)” and “Hot Cocoa Mug Characters”. Both crafts are super simple and are a fun reminder of the way the Holy Spirit can fill us up.

Paper Plate Hot Cocoa Mug (with Fruit of the Spirit Marshmallows):

Our first craft this week is an easy painting craft but also a great way for your kids to learn and remember all the Fruit of the Spirit. Follow the link for easy step-by-step instructions for this Paper Plate Hot Cocoa Mug (with Fruit of the Spirit Marshmallows)!

paper plate hot cocoa mugs (with fruit of the spirit marshmallows) craft

Hot Cocoa Mug Characters:

For our second craft this week, we have these adorable Hot Cocoa Mug Characters. This craft is easy to make and your kids will love decorating their mug characters however they like! Follow the link for an easy step-by-step guide.

hot cocoa mug characters

Activities:

With our theme this week “He Fills Us Up” here are a few extra ideas for activities to do with your children:

  • Follow this recipe for Hot Cocoa Playdough.
  • Package some extra Hot Cocoa Mix and toppings into ziplock bags and deliver them to neighbors, teachers, friends, etc.
  • Create a “Hot Cocoa” sensory bin with Cocoa Puffs cereal, cups, spoons, craft puffballs, marshmallows, etc.
hot cocoa

Parenting Tip of the Week:

Our identity and our children’s identity should always come from Christ first and foremost. We are who God says we are and not what the world or other people might say we are. As much as we as parents might know it in our hearts, hear about it at church, or read it in our Bibles, it’s so important to remind ourselves and our children daily what our identity is in Christ.

Recently one of my favorite Christian influencers, Lacy Abercrombie, shared a list of Christian affirmations she reads over herself every morning and it stuck with me. I typed up the list and have been reading it over myself and my kids ever since and I think it could benefit you and your family too. So I’ve created a free downloadable Christian Affirmations poster for you to print off and use and have also attached it below for you to read. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Christian Affirmations poster

Prayers:

Lastly, I like to end each Weekly Fun Plan with some example prayers for your week. One is to pray with your kids, maybe before they get on the bus in the morning, before a meal, or before bed, and the other prayer is for you, the parent, to pray over your kids throughout the week.

Prayer to say with your kids this week: 

Dear God, Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit. Please help us to learn to live more like Jesus every day. Amen.

Prayer to pray over your kids this week: 

Dear God, Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to instruct, guide, teach, and comfort us. I pray that my child/children will invite the Holy Spirit to direct their hearts and lives. If my child/children have any questions, Lord give me the words to speak to help them understand. Help us as a family to always remember God’s goodness and faithfulness and grant us clarity and insight as we navigate the challenges and decisions of life. In Your name, we pray, amen.

I hope you have an amazing week and don’t forget to subscribe to my email list and follow me on Instagram @faithfilledfun to stay up to date with the blog!

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