Weekly Fun Plan: Shine a Light

ByChelsea

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link*

Welcome to this week’s Weekly Fun Plan: Shine a Light! If you haven’t already I highly 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: Shine a Light

This week our theme is all about teaching our children to shine the light of Jesus through what they say and do. Our Bible lesson will focus on answering the question “How long do I have to do what’s good?”, and all our craft, snack, and activity ideas are going to focus on the theme of things that shine. 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!

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 for kids

Since this week we are focusing on learning what it means to shine the light of Jesus through what we say and do, here are some great resources to read/watch:

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

  • Read or listen to the “Waters Part and Walls Fall” story on the Bible for Kids app OR
  • Watch the “Waters Part and Walls Fall” Bible Adventure episode on YouTube. Bible Adventure is a kids-based YouTube show created by LifeKids and LifeChurch. These are the creators of the popular “YouVersion Bible” app for adults and the “Bible for Kids” app I mentioned earlier, so the episodes coordinate perfectly.
waters part and walls fall bible adventure episode

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

  • Read Matthew 5: 13-16 (Salt and Light) to your kids or encourage them to read it during their own personal study time.

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

If you watched the “Waters Part and Walls Fall” Bible Adventure episode, you’ll see the question they focus on is:

“How long do I have to do what’s good?” And the answer is “Always do what’s good.”

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 answer it. Then as they start to remember it, you can start to probe them a little further and ask them “Why should we always do what’s good?” And see where the conversation leads.

If you have older children (ages 9-18): here are some additional questions you can discuss with them throughout the week:

  • Why should we always do what’s good?
  • Who always did what’s good? And who can be our example when we don’t know what the right thing to do is?
  • What steps can we take to help us make the right choices?
  • We are sinners and will inevitably make mistakes in life. What should we do when we mess up and make the wrong choice?

Bible Lesson: Memory Verse

Memorizing scripture is such a vital skill to teach our children at a young age. Recalling and reciting scripture that they’ve memorized with 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 it will strengthen their own faith as they get older. However, memorizing scripture can be hard for adults to do so we often neglect to teach our kids to do it or assume they’re too young. But if your toddler can memorize the theme song to their favorite show or the steps to navigate a smartphone they absolutely have the mental capacity to memorize simple Bible verses.

This week let’s have your kids work on memorizing Matthew 5:16. If they watched the Bible Adventure episode for this week then they’ve also learned a paraphrased version of Galatians 6:9 and some fun motions to help them remember that verse. I recommend practicing reciting one or both of these verses each morning over breakfast or before your kids 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.

Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Supplies needed for this week’s activities

Here is a quick list of all the supplies that you will need in order 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.

And mark your calendars because Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are this week, October 10-11! Many of my frequently used craft and activity supplies are going to be on sale, so this would be a great time to stock up your craft closets!

You must be a Prime member to get in on the deals so if you aren’t already, sign up today! Sign up for Amazon Prime by clicking here. And if you’re already a Prime member, check out today’s early deals here.

Snack: Flashlight Cake Cones

After practicing your memory verse or going over the discussion questions, let your little ones have some fun “shining their lights” with these simple and delicious Flashlight Cake Cones. Follow the link for step-by-step instructions on this snack recipe.

flashlight cake cone snack

Crafts:

For this week’s crafts, we’ve got two very different illustrations of things that shine. Both crafts are easy, require very few supplies, and are sure to be a hit with your kids.

While you do your crafts you can review our memory verses for the week Matthew 5:16 & Galatians 6:9 or read your kids this additional verse that also talks about light in the darkness.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5 

Fingerprint Fireflies:

Normally anytime paint is involved it can get pretty messy, but you can rest assured with these super cute Fingerprint Fireflies. This craft requires only 3 supplies, doesn’t require much time at all, is easy to clean, and absolutely adorable. Follow the link for easy step-by-step instructions for this craft.

fingerprint fireflies craft

Cardboard Tube Candles:

For our second craft this week, we’re making these Cardboard Tube Candles. This is a great way to recycle some old paper towel or toilet paper tubes you may have lying around the house, and gives your kids lots of room to use their creativity. Follow the link for an easy step-by-step guide.

cardboard tube candle craft

Activities:

With our theme this week “Shine a Light” here are a few extra ideas for activities to do with your children. Feel free to come up with your own ideas too:

  • Play with glow sticks in the house or in the yard at night.
  • Play flashlight tag.
  • Play with sparklers outside.
  • Do shadow puppets with a flashlight or lantern light.
  • Stay up late and look at the stars on a clear night.
  • Shine the light of Jesus with your deeds by:
    • Cleaning up some garbage at your local park.
    • Make a meal for a sick friend, elderly neighbor, or new mom.
    • Help a friend or sibling with their chores.
    • Give a stranger a genuine compliment to brighten their day.

Parenting Tip of the Week:

One easy way we can help our children build a strong foundation of faith is through the music we listen to in our homes and in the car. It can be such a passive activity having music on in the background while we cook dinner, while they play with their toys, or while we drive them to school or practice, but it can make such an impact. Fill your home with praise and worship music whenever possible. You’ll see the greatest effects of this when you suddenly hear your children singing along to the words of your favorite worship song. Check out my Spotify for playlists I’ve created specifically with Christian Songs for Kids and My Current Worship Favs to play in our home!

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, I want to be a light and show Jesus’ love to everyone I meet. Please show me how I can shine bright! Amen

Prayer to pray over your kids this week:

Dear God, thank you for saving me and for your light that shines in me. Help me in my words and deeds to shine that light to my children and to everyone around me. I pray for my child/children, that they would know that same light and be used for your glory. Amen.

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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