Ok, so rain can be a big deal when you’ve got kids. It could be the most exciting thing that has ever happened – or the absolute worst cos it’s ruining plans for the day. It probably depends on the age of your kids! But how could you turn rain into a discipleship opportunity? Here are 5 easy ways you could do it:
1. God made the rain
When it rains, it is a great opportunity to talk about God as creator. Now this will look different depending on the age of your kids. For preschoolers, it might be as simple as remarking that God made it and spending a moment thanking him for it. For school-age kids, you might talk about the process that God has created (if you can remember it!). Evaporation –> condensation –> precipitation. Then give thanks or God’s creativity.
2. The importance of water for life
One of the biggest points that Genesis 2 aims to make with all the rivers of water flowing through Eden is that water brings life. The waters teem with life. They bring life to plants, to animals, to people. God loves his world and has given it life. That is why he gives it water. That is why he gives it rain. Praise God for his great gift of life.
3. The flood
The most epic rain story in the entire Bible is the story of Noah and the flood (Gen 6-9). This is a good one to go to when it’s been raining heaps. Talk to your kids about what would happen if it didn’t stop raining, but just kept going and going and going – for 40 days and 40 nights!! Get them to sense how scary it would be. And that’s what happened to people who faced God’s judgement. The only people who escaped, were Noah and his family – who God chose to save. Similarly, if you also want to escape God’s punishment – trust in Jesus!
4. Elijah
Tell the kids the story of Elijah, Ahab and the lack of rain in Israel from 1 Kings 17-18. Essentially God judged the godless nation of Israel (the Northern 10 tribes who were, generally speaking, doggers) with no rain. And after an epic miracle, no rain at all FOR 3 YEARS, not even any dew (unless of course you count the fire that rained down on the altar). Then Elijah prays and – BOOM – rain returns. It is a sweet story of God’s victory over the false god Baal, and it is bookended by rain.
5. The Wise and Foolish Man
Jesus tells a story involving rain in Matthew 7. Just remember that the application of the story is obedience to Jesus’ teachings!
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
I hope these 5 ideas have been helpful! See here more instalments of the 100.
Comments