Celebrating Lent Together as a Family

What we love about this family devotional:

It’s designed to be used just once a week. If you miss a day, there are still six more days of the week to make time to gather and worship as a family. Or with younger kids you can split it up over a few different days.

It has 4 different Bible options, for toddlers to older children, so that families with children of all ages can use it.

It’s interactive. Instead of asking our kids to just listen to us talk at them, it gets the whole family sharing and learning together.

It points our kids to Christ and grace, over and over, as we prepare to celebrate the fullness of what Easter really is.

Be sure to grab a set of tea-lights from the check-in desk to use with the devotional and access the suggested songs from our Spotify playlist.

Devotional Resources: Biblestory Books

Corresponds with Sunday Gospel Project curriculum

Toddlers - Preschool

Toddlers - Preschool

Late Preschool - Elementary

Elementary

Why 'Give Something Up'?
David Maddalena does a great job of explaining why some people give something up for Lent in a way that kids can understand:

[...]God has given us a great and comforting gift [...] But it's easy to forget what God has done for us. We forget that it was for our sake (and because of our wrongs) that Jesus suffered. We can add to our wrongs when we try to make ourselves comfortable without God: when we try to make ourselves feel better with sweet things to eat, a new toy, always playing games, or watching videos. We fill up with all sorts of things, always hoping that they will make us happy. We may be happy in the moment—and there are times when such things are a comfort, or even a great way to celebrate—but the kind of happiness they provide doesn't last very long. We just end up wanting more; they cannot really satisfy.

During Lent, many Christians choose to do without these comforts. Instead, they try to make room for God again. When we do this, we may feel a lot of things: we may feel uncomfortable for a short time, we may feel sad that we can't have what we want; but we also can feel nearer to God.
 
Decide with the others in your home what you can do to make room for God. Giving up comforts helps us understand how much Jesus gave up for us. Try to give up something each week during Lent. You could have a day without dessert (or even a whole week!). How about going without games or videos? If you give up dessert, or video games, or anything that costs money, think about taking the money you save and using it to help someone who has less than you. Can you think of other things you can give up? Can you think of ways to help those who are often hungry, or who are less comfortable?

Now, with all the time you have, start to fill up with the things that last. Spend some time learning about the days before Jesus died: read the stories about Jesus's last week in your Bible. Imagine what it would have been like to be with him at that time. Take that time to praise and thank him for the ways he has blessed you and provided for you.

An excerpt from David Maddalena's site: brightsadness.org/kids