Over the interesting year that was 2020, I began giving the families at my church quarterly discipleship packets they could do at home with their kids. This summer I put together what I simply called a Summer Family Activity Pack that lets them explore the journeys of Paul in a new a different way. Rather than simply re-telling many of the same stories that many Sunday School and church curriculums focus on, these five activities invite the family to engage with the people, places and teachings of Paul.
Summer Family Activity Pack: Journeying with Paul
Included in Packet:
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Family Olympics
Water Balloon Battle
Family Garden
Picnic in the Park
Perhaps you’ve been looking for a way to help households from your church intentionally engage with one another around faith formation and Scripture this summer; if so, feel free to use the materials below!
NOTE: You will need to purchase the supplies for each activity; I found most of my items on Amazon and at the Dollar Tree. See the supply list at the end of the packet materials.
Activity #1: The Gospel According to Paul, Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
In I Corinthians 15:1-5, Paul explains the gospel that he preaches to those he visits in his journey. He writes, “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.”
Use the Photo Scavenger Hunt found at this link for this fun family activity.
Once you have taken all of your photos, send them to [email address] and we will compile them for you and give you a framed collage of your family’s photo scavenger hunt experience looking for Jesus!
Activity #2: Family Night: Olympic Edition
Paul’s Missionary Journeys
Jumping into Paul’s Journeys
Using the sidewalk chalk in the packet, draw a traditional Hopscotch shape on the sidewalk. Instead of numbers in each block, put the names of the cities that Paul visited on his first missionary journey. Find a stone to throw and jump through the countries in traditional hopscotch fashion to visit all the cities that Paul visited. Once someone lands on a city, mark it off. The person who lands on the final city “wins.”
-
- Antioch in Syria Acts 13:1-3
- Selucia Acts 13:4
- Cyprus Acts 13:4
- Salamis Acts 13:5
- Paphos Acts 13:6
- Perga Acts 13:13
- Antioch in Pisidia Acts 13:14
- Iconium Acts 13:51
- Lyrstra Acts 14:6
- Derbe Acts 14:6 and Acts 14:20
It’s a Toss Up: Meeting Paul’s Friends
Using the enclosed bean bags and plates, create a Bean Bag toss game by laying out the plates and trying to land on them with bean bags. Each plate has the name of one of Paul’s friends and the Scripture reference where you can find them in the Bible. Whoever “meets” the most of Paul’s friends, “wins.”
-
- Lydia, Acts 16:11-15
- Priscilla, Acts 18
- Barnabas, Acts 9:26-27
- Silas, Acts 16: 25-36
- Timothy, 2 Tim. 2:2-6
- Phoebe, Rom. 16:1-2
- Junia, Rom. 16:7
- Titus, Titus 1:4-5
Frisbee Relay: Journeying together
Using the foldable flying discs in your packet, partner up with a family member. Paul and Silas can be one team; Paul and Barnabas can be another (if you have five family members, Timothy can join this group). Pick a section of your yard or a park you want to cover and have the first person throw the disc, then the second, then the first, until you reach the other side. Talk to your kids about how Paul had companions who helped him finish his journeys.
Ring Toss: Third Time’s the Charm
Paul went on three missionary journeys, his final landing him in Rome. Set out four cones, including the one labeled “Rome.” Use the rings in the packet to toss around the cones. The first person toss the ring around all three cones and then around Rome “wins.” Even though Paul knew that he would likely end up in jail and dying in Rome, he went there because God told him to and because of that we have much of the New Testament.
