Play a game of Simon Says and then use the discussion questions and related Bible verses to help your children understand God’s willingness to help us say no to temptation.

Questions for discussion

• Which of your five senses did you use during the game?
• Which of your five senses confused you?
• At times, did you find your body doing something even though, in your mind, you didn’t want to do it?
• How did you avoid being tricked when you were playing Simon Says?
• Which of our senses can Satan use to tempt us into not following God’s plan for our lives?
• Which body parts can be used to do wrong?
• How can we use our hands/feet/mouth/ears to do right?
• Do you have any weaknesses or ways in which Satan likes to tempt you to sin?
• How can we avoid temptation?
• When we have a hard time controlling our thoughts and actions, who can help us?

Key concepts

In life there will be times when you will experience temptation to sin. You might see something that does not belong to you. You may be tempted to envy the person who has it or be tempted to use your hands to steal it. With your feet, you can be tempted to kick and hurt another child. You might also be tempted to think unkind thoughts.

God promises to send His Holy Spirit to live in us to help with overcoming temptations that Satan sends our way. In life, just like in Simon Says, we need to listen carefully to God’s instructions so we can avoid being tricked by Satan. We use our ears wisely when we listen to God so that we can obey Him. We use our hands and feet for righteousness when we choose to do things that are kind, helpful and encouraging to others.”

Relevant Scripture

Romans 8:26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Visit a fort in your vicinity, if there is one. You can also take a book out of the library on forts or build a fort out of snow, blocks or cushions. Talk about how those inside the fort are protected by the walls. Explain that in Bible times, they put walls around their cities to protect themselves from enemies.

Read Proverbs 25:28 and Ephesians 6:10-18 to find out how to secure protection from Satan’s attacks. Emphasize Ephesians 6:11 (“so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”) and verse 18 (“pray in the Spirit on all occasions”). The questions for discussion can be used to enhance discussion.

Key concepts

When we lose self-control, we are like a city whose walls have been broken down. It is much easier for Satan to tempt us to sin when we have lost self-control. To prevent this from happening, we need to be ready for Satan’s attacks by wearing the “armour of God.”

Close by praying, asking God to give you his armour to help you fight temptation to lose self-control so you can keep the walls of your city intact. Also ask that you and your children will be able to resist temptation with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Other ideas

If your children enjoy the “spiritual battle” theme, you can further the activity by making a complete set of the armour of God for themselves, an animal or a doll. Duct tape, tin foil and cardboard can be used creatively for this additional activity.

Questions for discussion

• What do you think the pilgrims were protecting themselves from when they built wooden forts?
• What are we protecting ourselves from when we build snow forts?
• In our spiritual lives whom are we trying to protect ourselves from?
• When you think of temptation to do wrong as “flaming arrows,” what kinds of arrows does Satan shoot at you?

Relevant Scripture

Proverbs 25:28 “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control.”

Ephesians 6:10-18

An outdoor walk with your children is a great opportunity to discuss fear and nature. Many people fear natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or thunderstorms. To help a child who fears nature’s power, remind them that God made the world and is in control of all that happens in nature. As you walk along, hold hands and explain that when we love and follow God, it is like we are holding His hand all the time. A fun song to sing as you walk along is He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.

Teach your children to repeat the phrase, “I’m trusting God to keep me safe. I’m holding the hand that holds the world.” Read your choice of the verses listed below where God speaks of His power and control over nature. Balance your discussion by reminding your child that God doesn’t want us to be foolish, and we should never knowingly put ourselves in harm’s way. He wants us to be wise and to prepare for emergencies, so we can not only keep ourselves safe, but also be ready to help others.

Relevant Scripture

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

John 10:27-29 “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

Job 38:34-35 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?”

Job 38:37-38 “Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?”

Job 38:39-41 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket? Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?”

Job 39:26-28 “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread its wings toward the south? Does the eagle soar at your command and build his nest on high? He dwells on a cliff and stays there at night; a rocky crag is his stronghold.”

Go outside on a clear day. Talk about what it must have been like to live in Bible times when people spent most of their day outside. David was a special kind of farmer called a shepherd. Shepherds were always outside caring for their sheep! When David was outside and enjoying nature, he often wrote and sang praise songs to God called Psalms. Read one or more of the verses listed below. Just as the sky goes on forever, so does God’s faithfulness. Use the following questions to stimulate more discussion.

Questions for discussion

• How far away is the sky?
• Can you reach the sky?
• Can a bird?
• Can a plane?

Relevant Scripture

Psalm 36:5 “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”

Psalm 57:9-10 “I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples. For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”