Around a fire is the perfect place to have a DnM. Why? Well there is just something about fire isn’t there? It happens to be one of those few things in life that causes people to let their guard down and chat. It’s like the dancing flames call out to us to open up. And this means it is the perfect stomping ground for some sweet discipleship chats with your kids. A great place to get real with them. Here are a few ways you might choose to do that.
1) Majestic creation
You don’t have to look at fire for vert long to be impressed – if not completely mesmerised. There are very few people who are able to look at fire and not be captivated by its beauty. The unpredictability. The warmth. The light. The way it looks like it is dancing. And the crackling creates an enchanting rhythm that causes you to step outside of yourself. Not to mention the fact that you can cook some tasty food on it too! What an epic piece of creativity from our God. Reflect on that with your kids.
2) Don’t get too close
Fire is awesome, until you get too close. And then you get burned. And getting burned is just terrible. It hurts for days. It hurts bad. There is nothing fun about getting burned. Just talk to someone who has been really badly burned. They can’t even let that part of their body see sunlight anymore! In fact, it kind of reminds me of sin. You might wonder how close you can get to sin before it hurts. Well, the sad thing is that as soon as you get close to sin it burns. And it burns you. It burns others. And the sting will last a long time. It is not worth it. Steer well clear of sin!
3) The fires of hell
Why did God make fire so hot? Well there are a number of reasons. One of those reasons is so that we could have a sense of what hell will be like. The Bible uses fire as a picture for how bad hell will be. Imagine being thrown into a fire that just keeps burning you forever! It would be absolutely horrible. So God has given us fire so that we have a sense of what hell will be like. And trust me, you don’t want that experience! Jesus went through the flames of punishment to rescue us from them! Trust in him and you can be free from that torment forever.
If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. Matthew 18:8-9
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever… Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10,14-15
4) Fiery Bible stories
There are a range of Bible stories that involve fire. So why not use your time around the fire to bring them to life? The Burning Bush. (Unlike our fire, this bush didn’t burn up, even though it was on fire! Exodus 3). Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. (Can you imagine how hot the fire must have been to kill the guards just from the heat? But Shad, Mesh and Abed trusted in God. Wow! Daniel 3). Elijah’s altar. (What would happen if we poured water all over this wood before we lit it? 1 Kings 18) Pillar of fire leading the Israelites (Exodus 13), Elijah leaving in the chariot of fire (2 Kings 2), Samson and the fox tails (Judges 15).
Fire is such a good creation and creates wonderful opportunities for reflection. Whether you use the topics above or just use time around the fire to have good chats it will be invaluable time. When are you gonna have your next fire?
I hope these ideas have been helpful!
See here more instalments of the 100. Comment below with any ideas you try out with your kids.