A NIGHT TO REMEMBER â—½ HOME
Do your kids know what a wordsmith is? I bet you have some little wordsmiths in your home – those that are skilled in the use of their words. But do your kids know the Wordsmith of all wordsmiths? That’s the topic of this family devo for the month of September. And it’s going to be a fun one to enjoy.
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Preparation: Print out about 10-20 one word actions or verbs, to use for charades at the end of this study. Examples: turtle, dizzy, happy, fishing, kangaroo, etc. As the kids at these out and guess out loud, give thanks for the power and the beauty of words.
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A wordsmith is someone very skilled at using words. And God is the OG of wordsmiths. In the beginning, we read in Genesis, God created with his powerful words.
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In chapter one, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He then spoke into existence everything we see around us. Pretty cool that God did that with words, right? Animals, people, trees, the stars and the moon – God spoke into existence.
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​Let there be light – (ask one child to turn on a light switch to create light, then turn it off to take it away). That’s how God’s words were so powerful – they created light. And we create light in our homes with a switch.
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Question: How can we create light in a dark world with our words? (Let kids answer as they switch the light on with each answer).
In Proverbs 12 we read that the tongue of the wise brings healing. Often, our tongues and what we say bring sadness. What if someone hurts our feelings? What are some mean things that sometimes come out of our mouths? (let kids answer – like stupid, dummy, all sorts of name calling). But what if we were hurt and we offered kind words, instead? When Jesus was mistreated, he still loved those that were treating him badly.
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Question: How can our words be used for healing instead of hurt? (Let kids act this out)
In Proverbs 15 we read that we are to give gentle words and not harsh words. And sometimes, the tone of our voices can be harsh even when we aren’t using harsh words. Gentle words are soft, kind, and nice. Harsh words and tones are often used in screaming, with mean looks, and very unkind. Has anyone ever spoken a harsh word to you? How did it make you feel?
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Question: How can we practice gentleness with our words? (Ask God to change our hearts, so that we love others even when we don’t feel loved by them.)
Words are powerful. Especially the words that come from God. If he can speak the whole world into creation with his words, then he can certainly take care of us every day with his kind words of light, healing and gentleness. After all, we are the sheep of the Good Shepherd!
We’re going to play charades with one words answers, to show the fun and the power and the greatness of the words God has given us to know and use and enjoy in this life.
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Draw from the bowl the one word charades, act them out, and have a blast.
Family Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being the ultimate Wordsmith. You speak and all the world respond. Help us to respond to your kind words over us of love. You first loved us and you spoke of your love through your son, Jesus. Your words are powerful, and may our words be just like yours. May we create light, love and life when we spoke your words over us, and over those around us. Amen.