This is the Bible reading plan for the Summer of 2016! The theme for this summer is TRANSFORM and we will be reading about areas of our lives that need to be transformed by Jesus. This year we have a theme verse as well – Romans 12:1-2, and I want to challenge you and your children to memorize these verses by the end of the summer!

This year I have the entire Bible reading plan in one location — right here on this page (and in the downloadable pdf). I divided the summer into ten weeks, and you will find two Scriptures listed for each day. The first Scripture passage is for the older kids and teens and the second passage (the one in parenthesis) is an abbreviated version for the read-to-me kids. I have also included 2 separate ideas for activities. Activity 1 is aimed at younger kids and is meant to be done with a parent while Activity 2 is aimed at older kids and teens.  Of course, you know your child better than anyone else, so use whatever works for your child!

I pray that this Bible reading plan will challenge you and your children this summer! Feel free to share what you are learning with our facebook group, and, while you are at it, come like my facebook page!

And now, as promised, here is this year’s Summer Bible Reading Plan for children of all ages!!!!!

Transform – A Bible Reading Plan for Children of All Ages (click here to print)

Transform

Key Verse: Romans 12:1-2

Week One: Transform Your Mind

___ Day One: Read Acts 8:26-39 (Acts 8:26-29, 35-39.)

How was the Ethiopian’s life transformed?

We don’t know anything about the Ethiopian’s life before this passage, and we don’t read anything more about him after this passage. What we DO know is that he was reading the Scriptures for himself . . . which shows us that he was using his mind! God used Philip to help fill his mind with the truths of the Scriptures. Are you filling your mind with the truth of the Scriptures? Are you thinking about those things that God wants you to think about?

Examine your thought life today. Ask God to help you fill your mind with things that please Him!

Activity 1: Make this cool chariot snack and use it to retell what happened with the Ethiopian Eunuch and Philip! 

Activity 2: The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading a scroll when Philip came to him. Make your own scroll – and practice thinking on the things of God while you are at it!!! Gather several fruit roll ups . . . unroll them and pretend they are scrolls. Try to quote a memory verse before you eat the roll ups. If you don’t know any memory verses, start memorizing one today (how about Romans 12:1-2?).

___ Day Two: Read Philippians 4:4-9 (Philippians 4:8).

We think about things all the time. Sometimes, the things we think about are not so good. According to these verses, what kinds of things should we be thinking about? Are you thinking about those things?

Examine what you put into your mind on a daily basis. Look especially at the media you expose yourself to. Would the songs, movies, television shows, jokes, video games, etc, that you listen to pass the WHATEVER test listed in Philippians 4:8? Ask God to help you only think about the WHATEVERS.

Activity 1: Help your child draw a picture to illustrate what he should put in his mind. Draw a circle on a piece of paper and let your child draw his facial features and hair on it. Then cut it out. Next, cut a slice out of the top of his head and then glue all the pieces down on another piece of paper . . . but glue the slice that you cut out on a diagonal so that he can draw pictures on the paper in that spot to make it look like he is drawing the things he should be thinking about. Talk with your child about the types of things that he should put into his mind. Then let him draw pictures of those things in his “mind” on the piece of paper! Be sure to share your completed project in the Raising Godly Kids facebook group!

Activity 2: Print off and color this cool “WHATEVER” coloring page! Hang it somewhere in your room to help you remember what you should put in your mind!  

A Song for today:

  ___ Day Three: Read Psalm 119:97-106 (Psalm 119:97, 105).

What happens when you meditate (or think about) God’s Word? God’s Word brings wisdom and gives direction. It is a light to our paths. Have you ever been somewhere when it was really dark and you couldn’t find your way? The presence of one little flashlight can make all the difference! A flashlight shines light into the darkness and helps us see the way that we should go. In the same way, God’s Word shines light into our dark world and shows us the path that we should take. Are you letting the light of God’s Word lead you?

Ask God to give you wisdom and direction as you walk in this dark world!

Activity 1: Take your child on a walk in the dark. Talk about how scary and hard it can be to walk alone in the dark. Then give him a flashlight and let him shine it on the path. Talk about how God’s Word can help us know which way to go, too. Finally, hold your child’s hand and walk with him through the dark. Explain how God is always with us . . . holding our hand and helping us find our way in the dark! Pray together, thanking God for always holding our hands when things around us are scary!

Activity 2: Have fun with a flashlight! Try some of the ideas here.

___ Day Four: Read Colossians 3:1-17 (Colossians 3:2, 16-17).

What should our minds be focused on? What does this mean?

Ask God to help you set your mind on things above and not on the things of this world!

Activity 1: Give your child a small bag of colorful candies (or use fruit such as grapes for a healthier option). Have your child say one thing that God wants him to think about before eating each candy.

Activity 2: Make your own checklist to decide if something is worth thinking about. What should your standards be for the shows you watch, music you listen to, games you play, etc? Decide on a list of standards and create a poster that you can refer to often. Hang this poster in a prominent location (such as by your television or computer).

___ Day Five: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 (2 Corinthians 10:5).

What does it mean to take every thought captive? How do we do that? Taking thoughts captive can be a struggle, but when God transforms our minds, our thoughts MUST be made captive to Christ! If we have a thought that doesn’t please Jesus, we can ask Him to help us not think those thoughts anymore – and He will help us!

Ask God to help you take captive any thought that does not please Christ!

Activity 1: Play a “take the thought captive” game with your child! Make a net (this can be as simple as using a blanket or a hula hoop) and take turns tossing that net to catch a “thought”. (Take turns being the thought). Whoever is the thought runs around the room yelling, “I am a thought!” while the other person tries to throw the net over him to take that thought captive! When the “thought” is caught, everyone should yell, “This thought is captive to Christ!” Have lots of fun with this!

Activity 2: Sometimes we have to wage war against our thoughts! Play the card game “War” . . . with one added rule to help you learn to take your thoughts captive! Whoever wins each round has to say, “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”. If he forgets, the other player (or players) get the cards! Don’t have anyone to play against? Try this computer version . . . but the rules still apply!!!  

Week Two: Transform Your Heart

___ Day One: Read 2 Samuel 12:1-15 (2 Samuel 12:1-7a).

King David was called a “man after God’s own heart”, yet, in this passage we see him at a time where he truly needed God to transform his heart. He had sinned against God and he couldn’t even recognize his sin until Nathan confronted him directly. He needed a change of heart!

We also need a change of heart. We need God to turn us into people who seek after Him first of all . . . who are children after God’s own heart.

Ask God to help you be a child after His own heart!

Activity 1: If you can, watch King George and the Ducky (by Veggie Tales – Big Idea Productions). Discuss how David needed a change of heart! Then do a simple object lesson. Cut a heart out of a piece of paper. Talk with your child about all the things that we do that stain our heart . . . all the sins that we commit! Give your child a black crayon and have him scribble on the heart for every sin you mention. Look at how dirty this heart is! We need to clean this heart! Only God can clean our hearts . . . He can forgive us and totally TRANSFORM our hearts! Throw away the old heart and give your child a brand new one! If you have heart cookie cutters, make sugar cookies in the shape of hearts and celebrate the fact that God can transform our hearts!

Activity 2: Make heart shaped sugar cookies to celebrate the fact that God can transform our hearts! Share the cookies with a friend!

___ Day Two: Read Psalm 51 (Psalm 51:10-12).

This chapter is David’s response when confronted by Nathan. Notice, he asks God to change his heart. He recognized his sin and asked God for forgiveness. We need to do the same. When we sin, we need to ask God to clean our hearts and He WILL!!!

Search your heart and see if you need God to forgive you for anything. Ask Him!

Activity 1: Let your child make his own “heart art” paintings using old toilet paper tubes. Take a toilet paper tube and bend part of it in so that the end makes a heart shape. (You might want to use a piece of tape to hold it in this shape). Then give your child some paint. Have him put the toilet paper tube in the paint and then “stamp” it on a piece of paper to make hearts! For added fun, provide several toilet paper tubes and different colors of paint.

Activity 2: Try a melted crayon heart art project! Find a couple cool ideas here.

___ Day Three: Read Psalm 119:1-16 (Psalm 119:2, 10-11).

What do these verses tell us about our hearts? Are you seeking after God with all your heart? What does that look like in your life?

Ask God to show you how to seek Him with all your heart!

Activity 1: We need to fill up ALL of our heart with love for God! Make a heart shape out of a tortilla shell. Give your child several small foods such as grape tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese cubes, etc. Have your child place the foods on the heart so that the entire heart is filled up. Have him share ways that he can show that he loves God with all his heart while he is placing the food in the tortilla. Then close the tortilla and eat the snack! (For a slightly different recipe for this, see Activity 2).

Activity 2: Make this fun healthy fruit pizza snack . . . only cut your tortillas up in the shape of hearts! Remember, we are to seek after God with ALL of our hearts – so be sure to eat ALL of your fruit pizzas!!!!

___ Day Four: Read Matthew 15:1-20 (Matthew 15:18-20).

What do these verses tell us about our hearts? What is your heart like?

Ask God to give you a heart that pleases Him!

Activity 1: Teach your child how to cut his own hearts out of paper by folding paper in half and cutting on the fold. Have him cut out a heart for himself. Then unfold the heart and let him put a tiny bit of paint of a couple different colors on one side of the heart. Have him fold the heart again so that the paint spreads around. Open the heart back up. Look at that cool design! God can make cool designs out of OUR hearts, too!

Activity 2: This passage of Scripture begins with the Pharisees complaining about the disciples not washing their hands before eating bread! Make your own bread today. Try this recipe for banana bread  or this one for strawberry bread  or this one for rhubarb bread. Yum!

___ Day Five: Read Hebrews 10:11-22 (Hebrews 10:22).

God will work in our lives and transform our hearts if we ask Him! Have you asked Him to do that for you?

Ask God to transform your heart today!

Activity 1: Make your own sidewalk paint and then go outside and decorate your neighborhood with hearts! 

Activity 2: Watch this video and sing along!

 

Week Three – Transform Your Purpose

___ Day One: Read Acts 9:1-31 (Acts 9:1-19).

This is an amazing testimony of a man whose entire life was transformed – and you can see his purpose transformed in the process! What was Saul’s purpose at the beginning of this passage? What was it at the end of the passage? Have you allowed God to transform your purpose – to give you a new purpose of serving Him?

Ask God to give you a brand new purpose for your life!

Activity 1: Act out this passage with your child. Let him use miniature figures or dolls, or even himself. Add to the fun by using a flashlight to “blind” him (or the miniature figure).

Activity 2: Make your own stop-motion video (or other type of video) about this passage. If you have a youtube channel, post the video there. You can also post the video in the Raising Godly Kids facebook group. We would love to see what you have done!

___ Day Two: Read Proverbs 16:1-9 (Proverbs 16:3-4, 9).

Where should you find your purpose? What happens when you commit your ways to the Lord? Have you committed your plans to the Lord and asked Him to direct your steps?

Ask God to take over the plans for your life! Spend time today seeking Him and His will for you.

Activity 1: Make a footprint poster with your child. Take a long piece of paper and tape it down on a sidewalk or driveway. Then place a few pie pans with different colored paint in them. Place one more pan filled with water. Let your child step in the paint and then on the paper to make a line of footprints. (You might also choose to do this directly on the sidewalk). Write the words, “The Lord determines my steps” on the top of the paper. Talk with your child about the importance of following the Lord’s plan!

Activity 2: Think about the goals and dreams that you have for your future. Write down a few of your goals, then spend time praying for God to have His way in your life and to lead you where He wants you to go for your future.

___ Day Three: Read Isaiah 43:1-7 (Isaiah 43:7)

According to these verses, why were you created? We were all made to bring glory to God! Our lives should always point to Jesus – that is our purpose! Are you living out the purpose that God has for you?

Ask God to help you use your gifts and abilities to bring glory to Him!

Activity 1: Help your child recognize that God made him special and with a special purpose! Help him fill out one of these “God Made Me Special” printables and then spend time celebrating your child’s purpose today!

Activity 2: Think of all the ways that God has made you special. What special gifts or abilities has He given to you? Make a list . . . then choose one of the gifts God has given you and come up with a plan of how you can use that gift for God’s glory. Carry out your plan!

___ Day Four: Read Ephesians 2:1-10 (Ephesians 2:8-10).

What were you created to do? What is your purpose in life?

Ask God to show you the good works He has prepared for you to do.

Activity 1: Help your child use old puzzle pieces to make a picture frame. Talk with your child about how he is God’s masterpiece, and about how he was created to do great things for God! Take a picture of your child and put it in the finished frame. Add ribbon for a fun new ornament for your Christmas tree, or add a magnet for a fun decoration for your refrigerator!

Activity 2: Think of one way that you can bring glory to God for every letter of the alphabet! Challenge your parents or siblings to make their own list – or let them help you with yours!

___ Day Five: Read Philippians 3 (Philippians 3:7-14).

How do you see Paul’s purpose in life changing in these verses? What is his ultimate goal – his true purpose? What should our ultimate goal be?

Ask God to transform your purpose into His purpose for you.

Activity 1: Purchase a small trash can for you child’s room. Let him decorate the can using stickers, markers, paint or anything else that you have on hand. Have him decorate it in a way that will remind him that everything should be like garbage compared to his love for Jesus!

Activity 2: Remembering that your citizenship is in heaven can help you follow God’s purpose for you life. Make your own id card that shows that your citizenship is in heaven. Be creative – and then keep it in your wallet or some other place that will remind you of this fact!

Week Four: Transform Your Relationships

___ Day One: Read John 4:1-42 (John 4:7-10, 28-30, 39-42).

What can you learn about relationships from this passage? In this passage, Jesus meets a woman who definitely had relationship problems. She had been married 5 times and was currently living with a man who was not her husband. While we do not know what happened to her after meeting Jesus, a transformation of her life would not be complete without a transformation of her relationships. The very way we think about one another should be different as Christians. We are to love all people – a fact that Jesus demonstrated by the very act of talking to a woman who was also a Samaritan. Jesus showed by His actions that we should love ALL people and want ALL people to come to know Him.

Ask God to show you how to love the people around you.

Activity 1: Teach your child the story of the Woman at the Well. Emphasize how Jesus knew all about this woman and He still loved her. He wants us to love others, too! Have fun reviewing this story by playing a little game. If you have a child sized wading pool, use that for this activity. Otherwise, you can use a bathtub (just be sure to be okay with a mess!) Give your child a bucket and challenge him to run to the wading pool, fill the bucket with water and then run back. Each time he runs back with the bucket, have him share one way that he can love the people around him – and then let him throw the water up in the air. When we share the love of Jesus with others, everyone around us feels His love – just like you feel the water!!!!

Activity 2: Make this cool well craft. Fill it with live flowers and then give it to someone else as a way to share the love of Christ with others.

___ Day Two: Read 1 Corinthians 13 (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Yesterday we learned about how we are supposed to love ALL people. Today we are going to learn about what love really looks like. According to these verses, what is love? How do you show that you love the people in your life?

Substitute your name for all the places where the word “LOVE” is in these verses. Can you really say that? Are you really living out love in your life?

Activity 1: Do a role playing activity with your child. Have your child gather some of his stuffed animals (or miniature figures or he can even make his own puppets out of paper bags). Then give your child a situation to act out. Have him use his stuffed animals or puppets to act out the situation and to show how he would show love in each situation. (Examples of situations include: your big brother is teasing you, your friend took your toy, your mom or dad asks you to do something you don’t want to do, you want to talk to your mom but she is on the phone, etc.)

Activity 2: Make a poster for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 or color this coloring page.  

___ Day Three: Read Ephesians 6:1-9 (Ephesians 6:1-3).

What can you learn about our relationships from these verses? When Jesus takes over your life, He transforms your relationships completely! We are to honor and respect those in authority over us and serve others just as if we are serving the Lord.

Ask God to help you honor your parents and those in authority over you. Do something today to show them honor and respect!

Activity 1: Have your child draw a picture of his family. Then spend time praying for each member of the family together and talking about ways that he can honor and respect them.

Activity 2: Do something nice for mom and dad – unexpectedly!!!! Try not to get caught in the act!!!!!

___ Day Four: Read Matthew 5:21-48 (Matthew 5:22, 44).

Wow! There’s a lot about relationships packed into these verses! What stands out to you? How are you treating those around you? Are you calling them names or making fun of them? If so, you need to stop! How are you treating the opposite sex? You need to respect them and treat them as God wants you to! How are you treating your “enemies”? Remember, God wants you to love EVERYONE! Pray for the people that you have a hard time loving and ask God to help you share His love with them!

Examine your relationships today and the way you treat others. Ask God to show you areas you need to change.

Activity 1: Talk with your child about the importance of sharing the love of Christ with everyone – even those people who are hard to get along with! Talk to him about the power of words and how we need to be careful not to call people names or to be mean to others. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson is an excellent book that teaches the idea of loving your enemies. Check it out from your local library and read it with your child. Then bake a pie together and share it with someone else!

Activity 2: Spend time today praying for those people that you have a hard time getting along with. Ask God to show you something that you can do to help these people!

___ Day Five: Read Ephesians 4 (Ephesians 4:29-32).

What can you learn about how your relationships should be transformed from these verses? What should your attitude be towards one another? How should you handle yourself when you are angry with another person? What does it mean to forgive as God has forgiven you?

Ask God to totally transform your relationships!!!

Activity 1: These verses tell us to not let the sun go down while we are still angry! Make a sun craft today. Paint a yellow circle on a piece of paper. Then paint your child’s hands and let him put his hand down around the circle to make the sun’s rays. Another fun way to do this is to take a picture of your child and glue the picture on the middle part of the sun. Talk with your child about the importance of forgiving others.

Activity 2: These verses tell us to not let the sun go down while we are still angry! Let’s use the sun today to make something tasty. Try this strawberry-lemon sun tea recipe! 

Week Five – Transform Your Attitude

___ Day One: Read Luke 10:38-42 (Luke 10:38-42)

Who needed a change in attitude in this passage? Why? When I read these verses, I can almost hear the whine in Martha’s voice. I don’t think the problem with Martha was that she was serving instead of resting and listening to Jesus, I think the problem was the attitude she had while she was doing it. It almost seems as if she resented all the work she was doing and the fact that nobody was helping her. Do you ever feel that way? If you do, maybe it’s time to take a break and sit at the feet of Jesus for awhile!

Ask God to help you serve Him with the right attitude!

Activity 1: Help your child think about the people who are always serving at your church. Do you think they ever get tired of doing all that work? Help your child make a card for someone at your church who works hard in the Lord’s service. Send the card in the mail!

Activity 2: Use pretzel sticks and fruit roll ups to make your own brooms to help you retell this passage of Scripture. Tear the fruit roll ups apart and stick them to the end of a pretzel stick so that they look like a broom. Then have fun eating these while sharing ideas of ways that you can serve Jesus with a good attitude!

___ Day Two: Read Numbers 14 (Numbers 14:1-2, 26-32).

This passage is another excellent example of people who needed a transformed attitude. Moses had just sent out 12 spies to check on the land that God had promised them. Only 2 of the spies believed that God could deliver this land to them – the rest were afraid and caused the people to doubt God as well. As a result, none of those who grumbled and complained got to go into the promised land! When we complain, we often miss out on the great things that God has planned for us!

Ask God to help you trust Him and always have an attitude that brings Him praise!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about the way the Isaelites complained and grumbled against God. This was a pattern for them. Watch this video of an earlier time when they grumbled against God:

 

Ask your child about times when he is quick to complain. How can he keep from complaining? One way is to be thankful for what God has done for you! The Israelites should have remembered how God had always been faithful to them and delivered them from slavery. What are some things that you have to be thankful for? Give your child old magazines and newspapers, glue, scissors and construction paper. Help him make a “thankfulness collage” by cutting pictures out of the papers and gluing them on the construction paper.

Activity 2: Do you ever spend more time complaining than thinking about what God has done for you? Spend time being thankful today! Go through your house and take pictures of everything that you see that you are thankful for. Then put them together in a “thankfulness slide show”!

___ Day Three: Read Philippians 2 (Philippians 2:5-8, 14-15).

According to these verses, how should your attitude be transformed? What does it mean to you to have the same attitude as Jesus? How can you practice verse 14 in your daily life?

Ask God to help you do all things without grumbling or complaining!!!!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about the difference it makes when he does things without complaining. Point out that when he doesn’t complain, he is SHINING like a star in the universe! Use plastic forks and paint to make a fireworks-star craft. Put paint all over the prongs of the plastic forks. Then let your child press the forks down on the paper in a pattern to look like star fireworks. Do this on black construction paper for an even cooler look! If you are able, take your child to a fireworks display and talk about how the fireworks SHINE. We SHINE, too, when we live our lives with a good attitude!!!

Activity 2: When you have a good attitude, you stand out from the crowd! You SHINE like stars in the universe! We are going to make something that stands out from the crowd and reminds us of stars today (and remember to have a great attitude while doing this!). Make STAR-SPANGLED slime! How fun is this??? Be sure to share your slime with your friends! 

___ Day Four: Read Colossians 3:23-24 (Colossians 3:23-24).

Just two verses today – but what important verses in dealing with our attitudes! If we can follow these verses at all times, our attitudes will TOTALLY TRANSFORM! Think through your daily routine. How can you live these verses out in your daily life?

Ask God to help you do all things as if you are doing them directly for Him.

Activity 1: Help your child find a chore to do around the house or neighborhood. Help him accomplish this chore – remembering that he is serving Jesus the whole time. When he is finished, reward him with a tasty summer treat!

Activity 2: Write out your daily schedule, both for the summer and for the school year. After each item, write, “I AM DOING THIS FOR JESUS”. Remind yourself of this as you go through your daily routine!

___ Day Five: Read Psalm 150 (Psalm 150).

One way to have a transformed attitude is to always live in an attitude of praise! What are the different ways that you can praise the Lord? Spend time praising the Lord today!

Have a PRAISE PARTY today! Sing a song to Jesus or list all the things you praise Him for. Try to live out this PRAISE PARTY attitude every day of your life!

Activity 1: Help your child make a noise-maker and then use that noisemaker to praise Jesus today! Find an idea for a noisemaker here.  

Activity 2: Write your own song of praise! If you don’t like to sing, write a poem. If you like to sing, make music to go along with it! Record yourself reading your praise poem or singing your song of praise and then share it in the Raising Godly Kids facebook group!

Week Six – Transform Your Habits

___ Day One: Read Luke 19:1-10 (Luke 19:1-10).

How did God transform Zacchaeus’s habits? Do you have any habits that you need God to transform?

Ask God to show you any habits that need to be changed in your life.

Activity 1: Sing the Zacchaeus song with your child!

 

Then use pretzel sticks, grapes and gummy bears to make a snack retelling this story! Place the pretzel sticks down flat on the plate to make a tree and use the grapes for the leaves. Let the gummy Zacchaeus climb the tree and then let your child retell what happened in today’s passage!

Activity 2: Climb a tree! If you have a climb-able tree in your neighborhood, have some fun climbing it today. Imagine how Zacchaeus must have felt when he climbed the tree and how he felt when Jesus noticed him. Think about the way that God transformed Zacchaeus’s life and the habits that were transformed! Ask God to transform your habits, too.

___ Day Two: Read Psalm 5:1-3, Luke 5:16 (Psalm 5:3, Luke 5:16).

What habit is practiced here? Notice that both the Psalmist and Jesus took time out of their days to spend time with the Father and pray! If Jesus did it, it MUST be important! Spending time with God is a super habit to have!

Ask God to help you get into the habit of meeting with Him every day!

Activity 1: Help your child make a prayer hands prayer book. Trace his hands on a piece of construction paper and cut them out. Cut out several other pieces of paper about the same size to be the pages of the book. Staple them all together or tie them together with ribbon. Let him decorate and draw/write things that he wants to pray for on each page. Go through the book with him, helping him pray for everything he wrote down.

Activity 2: Go on a prayer walk around your neighborhood. As you walk past the houses, pray for the people who live inside. If you have a park nearby, pray for the people who play there. Pray for any businesses you pass. If you do not live in a neighborhood, ask your parents to take you for a “prayer drive” or look at a map of the nearest city and use it as a guide.

___ Day Three: Read James 5:13-18 (James 5:13-15).

These verses show the importance of prayer once again! Are you in the habit of praying for the sick and suffering? Spend time doing that today!

Spend time praying for those around you who are hurting!

Activity 1: These verses talk about using oil as you pray for someone who is sick. Talk with your child about this practice. Then have some fun with oil today! Try an oil and water droplet craft such as this one.

Activity 2: Do you know someone who is sick or suffering? Put together a fun care package for that person – perhaps some cookies and a colorful handmade card or a coupon to cut his grass or clean his house. Deliver it to that person and help spread some cheer! Be sure to pray for that person as well!

___ Day Four: Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

There are some great habits mentioned here. What are they? How can you practically practice these habits in your life?

Ask God to help you REJOICE, PRAY, and GIVE THANKS as a regular habit!

Activity 1: Help your child make a prayer flower. Help him cut a stem and leaves out of green construction paper. Then give him different colored construction paper for the petals and help him cut petals out. Have him draw one thing he is thankful for or that he wants to pray for on each petal. Glue the petals on the flower. For added fun, put a picture of your child praying in the middle of the flower and arrange the petals around that picture.

Activity 2: Make your own prayer calendar. Write out ideas to pray for for each day of the month. Add pictures or other reminders as well. Keep this calendar handy and use it as a guide as you try to establish a habit of prayer in your life!

___ Day Five: Read Hebrews 10:19-25 (Hebrews 10:24-25).

What habit should we develop according to these verses? Are you encouraging others and attending church regularly or is this a habit you need to start?

Ask God to help you be an encouraging member of the family of God . . . and spend time praying for your local church today as well!

Activity 1: Talk with your child about the importance of attending church. Use some of his toys to help you have your own “church service”. Then make this cool church-envelope craft and let him “play church” with it. Finally, help him invite one of his friends to come to church with your family this week!

Activity 2: Think about your church. Is there something you can do to help meet a need at your church? Perhaps you can clean the church this week or plant flowers nearby. Maybe your church needs someone to pick up sticks on the property or help out in the nursery. Find a way to volunteer at your local church this week and, in this way, YOU will be an encouragement to others!

  Week Seven – Transform Your Speech

___ Day One: Read Mark 5:1-20 (Mark 5:1-15).

What an amazing transformation in this man’s life! In what ways was he transformed? When he met Jesus, EVERYTHING in his life changed. That is the way it is with us, too! Jesus makes us brand new and that is reflected in our speech. What was this man saying before he met Jesus? What was he saying after he met Jesus?

Ask God to help your speech reflect Him!

Activity 1: This passage lends itself to so many fun activities . . . spend time talking with your child about what happened and then have fun with the story. Make pig in a blankets using crescent rolls and mini-hot dogs or eat bacon and eggs. Let your child draw pictures representing the story or make a pig craft. Talk with your child about the amazing changes that happened in this man’s life.

Activity 2: The man in this story told everyone he saw about the amazing things that Jesus had done for him. Spend time today thinking about what Jesus has done for you! Write out your testimony or record yourself sharing about God’s work in your life. Share this with others . . . including those of us in the Raising Godly Kids facebook group!

___ Day Two: Read James 3:1-12 (James 3:7-10)

What do these verses say about the tongue? Why is it so hard to control the tongue? Notice that James says that no MAN can tame the tongue – only God can! When God transforms us, He transforms our SPEECH, too!

Ask God to help your tongue bring glory to Him!

Activity 1: Talk with your child about the importance of the words that we say. We need to say words that make Jesus happy! Make a fun tongue/mouth snack with your child. 

Activity 2: James compares the tongue to a lot of things – one of which is a fire. Make a campfire with your family and roast marshmallows. Do you see how quickly the fire can engulf the marshmallows and turn them black? It can burn them completely if you are not in control and carefully guiding it! In the same way, our tongues have the ability to destroy lives. We need to make sure that God is controlling the things that we say! If you can’t make a fire, “roast” marshmallows in the microwave. Just be careful not to leave the marshmallow in too long or you will have a big mess on your hands . . . . once again demonstrating the importance of keeping a tight reign on our tongues!!!

___ Day Three: Read Colossians 4:6 (Colossians 4:6)

Only one verse today – and what a GREAT verse it is! How can our speech be as if it is seasoned with salt? What does salt do to our food? How can our speech be like that to those around us?

Ask God to help your speech be “seasoned with salt”.

Activity 1: Try some salty foods with your child today! Talk about how the salt makes the food taste better. In the same way, the words we say should make everyone around us feel better. Help your child make a salt painting.  

Activity 2: Make your own ice cream in a bag – using SALT!   

___ Day Four: Read Psalm 34 (Psalm 34:1, 13-14).

What should continually be a part of our speech? From what should we keep our tongues?

Ask God to help you keep your tongue from evil. Ask God to help you praise Him continually!

Activity 1: Do a fun experiment with your child to help demonstrate that we need to keep our tongues from evil! Fill a bowl with water. Then let your child pour black pepper into the bowl. This black pepper represents the words we say. Look how the pepper is filling up this bowl and changing the way the water looks. Our words can change the way people feel, too . . . for good or for bad. When we say bad things, we hurt those around us! We need to RUN away from bad words and praise Jesus instead! Let your child squirt some soap into the water. What happens to the pepper? Just like the pepper stays away from the soap, we need to keep our tongue away from evil!

Activity 2: We need to keep our tongues from evil . . . in other words, we need to make sure the words that come from our mouths are pure and clean . . . like SOAP! Make some homemade soap today. 

___ Day Five: Read 1 Peter 3:8-22 (1 Peter 3:8-12).

Do these verses sound familiar? Peter is quoting what we read yesterday! What else can we learn from these verses about our speech?

Ask God to control your tongue!!!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about how our words can impact everyone around us. If we say something mean or bad, it hurts those around us, and they might say something mean and bad, too. Help your child set up a chain reaction using dominoes. The first domino represents the words that he says. Look at the impact his one word can have on everyone around him! Set off the chain reaction and watch it go!

Activity 2: Watch this video about the power of our words.

 

Week Eight – Transform Your Priorities

___ Day One: Read Matthew 5:18-22, 9:9-13 (Matthew 5:18-19, 9:9).

Who had their lives changed in these verses? These verses talk about the calling of the first disciples. Some of the disciples were fishermen and one of them was a tax collector. They all had different priorities, or things in their lives that were important to them. However, when they met Jesus, all of those priorities changed. They left what they had been doing and immediately followed Him. In the same way, our priorities need to be based on Jesus. We should want to serve Him more than anything else. The things that are important to Him should be important to us.

Examine your priorities today. What are the most important things in your life? Are the things that are important to Jesus important to you?

Activity 1: Talk with your child about the importance of placing Jesus first in his life. Point out that when Jesus asked the disciples to follow Him, they did so immediately . . . no questions asked. It should be the same for us. Play a game of follow the leader with your child. Talk about what it means to truly follow Christ.

Activity 2: Make a list of your priorities. What is the most important thing in your life? Try to come up with a list of 5-10 items . . . be honest! Are there any things on this list that shouldn’t be? Is your relationship with Jesus as important as it should be? Pray over this list and ask God to help you rearrange your priorities if needed.

___ Day Two: Read Mark 10:17-31 (Mark 10:17-22).

This is a story about a man who had mixed up priorities. He said he wanted to follow Jesus, but something kept him from being a true follower. What was it? What did he consider more important than Jesus?

Ask God to show you if there is anything that you have placed as more important than Him.

Check out this excellent video over this passage:

 

Activity 1: Talk to your child about how the rich young man didn’t want to give up all his STUFF to follow Jesus. He loved all the things he had too much. His priorities were out of order! Ask your child if there is anything he has that he loves too much . . . more than Jesus! Then talk about how all our stuff will be gone someday, but the treasures we have with Jesus will last forever! Take your child outside and let him use sidewalk chalk to draw the pictures of the treasures we will have in heaven.

Activity 2: Go through all of your possessions. Is there anything you have that you could give away to the poor? Put together a donation of your stuff and take it to an organization in your area that could use it.

___ Day Three: Read Deuteronomy 6, Matthew 22:37 (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Matthew 22:37).

Who are we to love more than anyone or anything else? How do we show that we are loving God the most in our lives?

Ask God to help you to always keep Him first!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about the importance of keeping God first. In the Deuteronomy passage, we see that the Israelites were told to WEAR the Words of the Lord. Help your child make something to wear that will remind him to keep God first. Get a white t-shirt and fabric paint and let him make an “I Love Jesus” t-shirt. Be sure to take a picture with him wearing the shirt and share it with those of us in the Raising Godly Kids Facebook Group!

Activity 2: Today YOU are going to come up with the fun snack! Think of one snack item that can stand for each part of Matthew 22:37. What could you use to represent your heart, mind, soul, and strength? Put this snack together and share it with others! (And be sure to let those of us in the Raising Godly Kids Facebook Group know what you used!)

___ Day Four: Read Matthew 6:19-34 (Matthew 6:19-21, 33).

What should be our number one priority? What should have first place in our lives? Does it have first place in yours?

Ask God to help you seek His kingdom and righteousness FIRST.

Activity 1: Talk to your child about what it means to store up treasures in heaven. Talk to him about the importance of putting God first in every area of his life. Have some fun with bubbles today! Get out a tiny bottle of bubbles. Tell your child that this tiny bottle represents all the things we have on earth. We have fun with them and they seem cool, but they won’t last forever! Blow some bubbles and let your child chase after them. Let him blow some, too. Then make some GIANT BUBBLES. These bubbles represent what is waiting for us in heaven. It is SO MUCH BETTER than what we have here on earth. This is the treasure we should be looking forward to! Have fun playing with the giant bubbles.

Activity 2: Take a look at the creation surrounding you. Isn’t our God an amazing God? He made all of this for us to enjoy. We do not need to worry . . . we can trust Him with our lives! Ask God to make trusting Him a priority in your life . . . then go outside and gather some of the flowers God has made into a beautiful bouquet. Set the bouquet on the table in your house and let it remind you of today’s Bible reading!

___ Day Five: Read Luke 12:1-34 (Luke 12:7, 15-24)

What do these verses tell us about our priorities? What does it mean when it says that life is more than food and the body more than clothes? What are the truly important things in life?

Ask God to help you to always keep your relationship with Him as the most important thing in your life!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about the love that God has for him. God even knows how many hairs he has on his head! Have your child try to count the hair on his head (or the hair on yours). Then emphasize that your child is worth so much to God – way more than the birds of the air! Make a bird feeder with your child using an old toilet paper tube, peanut butter and bird seed. Spread peanut butter on the toilet paper tube and then roll the tube in the bird seed. Tie a ribbon on the top and then take it outside and hang it somewhere where the birds will get to it. Tell your child that just like you are helping to take care of the birds, God will take care of him!

Activity 2: Where is your treasure? Where is your heart? Re-examine your list of priorities from earlier this week. Spend time praying over this list and asking God to always be at the top of it!

Week Nine – Transform Your World

___ Day One: Read Acts 16:14-40 (Acts 16:25-34).

Who was transformed in these verses? What happened as a result? Several people had their lives changed in these verses, and with each life-change came a world-change. When Lydia accepted Christ, her whole household did, when the slave girl had the demon cast out of her, the world around her changed, too, and when the jailer came to Christ, his whole family did as well. Our world should be transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ lived out in our daily lives! How can this be true in your life?

Ask God to help you transform the world around you!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about how Paul and Silas were in prison, but they didn’t let that bother them. Instead, they sang praises to God and, as a result, everything around them changed! Talk to your child about how our lives can help change those around us, too. Have fun acting out this story with your child. Then make your own chains out of construction paper (cut strips of construction paper and then put them together to make a chain). On each strip of construction paper, have your child draw or write one way that his life can change the world around him.

Activity 2: Use pretzel sticks, frosting and gummy bears to re-tell the story of Paul and Silas and the jailer. Make a prison out of pretzel sticks and trap your gummy bears in it. Then make an earthquake – will your prison fall apart? Have fun eating your snack while thinking of ways that YOU can transform your world.

___ Day Two: Matthew 28:16-20 (Matthew 28:19-20).

These verses should be your mission . . . the only way you can truly transform your world. What do these verses tell you to do?

Ask God to show you people who need Him and ask Him to help you go to them and share the gospel!

Activity 1: Help your child learn an easy way to share the gospel by making a salvation bracelet or wordless book with him. In this activity, each part of the gospel message is a different color and you put these colors together to make an easy witnessing tool. Suggested colors are black:sin, red:blood of Christ, blue:baptism, white:purity (sins washed away), green:growing in Jesus and yellow:future hope of heaven.

Activity 2: Okay, this could be an interesting experiment for you . . . get some small packets of koolaid – one color to represent each part of the salvation message (grape:sin, cherry:blood of Christ, blue-raspberry:baptism, white (just use water): purity (sins washed away), lime:growing in Jesus and lemonade:future hope of heaven. (You could also use food coloring and water, but that wouldn’t be as fun). Mix up the koolaid and then pour a little of each color into the different spots in an ice cube tray. Freeze the cubes. When they are frozen, take them out for a yummy treat on a hot day! (Be sure to explain to someone what all the colors stand for, too!)

___ Day Three: Read Acts 1:1-11 (Acts 1:8).

Where are we to be God’s witnesses? We are to tell people about Jesus EVERYWHERE – starting in our own families! Do you have anyone in your family who does not know Jesus? Pray for them today! Then think about your neighbors and pray for them! Pray for the people in your community, state, country and around the world! Spend time praying . . . and then look for ways that you can share the gospel with them!

Ask God to make you a WITNESS to the people around you!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about how we need to share the love of Christ with those around us . . . starting with the ones who are closest to us. Help your child make a card or some other object for the people in your neighborhood. Then help your child deliver that – along with an invitation to church!

Activity 2: Research a missions organization and then plan a fundraiser for that organization. Perhaps you could collect bottles and take them in for refunds, do odd jobs around the neighborhood or take up a collection. See how much money you can raise and then send that money to the organization of your choice!

___ Day Four: Read Matthew 5:13-16 (Matthew 5:13-16).

According to these verses, how can you transform your world? Are you being salt and light today? How?

Ask God to help you be salt and light in your neighborhood!

Activity 1: Talk with your child about what it means to be the light of the world. Give your child a glowstick and let him have fun with it. Go outside at dusk and try to catch fireflies. Notice how they light up and light up the world around them. Are you a “firefly” in your neighborhood? Make a firefly craft. 

Activity 2: Make this cool glowing jar  to help you remember that you are to be the light of the world!  

___ Day Five: Read Romans 10 (Romans 10:14-15).

What is our responsibility according to these verses? How can we TRANSFORM our world?

Ask God to help you have BEAUTIFUL FEET!!!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about the importance of telling others about Jesus. Talk about how the Bible says that those who take the gospel to others have beautiful feet! Have a tickle fest with your child . . . tickle the bottom of those feet! Then trace his feet on colored paper and let him decorate them with ways that he can take the gospel to others.

Activity 2: Do you consider your feet beautiful? They are if you are using them to walk to others and tell them about Jesus! Use shoelaces to make a key ring   that you can carry with you to remind you of the mission you have!

Week Ten – REVIEW

This week consists of shorter passages of Scripture. It is meant to be a review week. Take time this week to look back over the previous verses and focus on what you have learned through this study! Older kids and teens can try to memorize each of the verses for this week, too!

___ Day One: Read Romans 12:1-2 (Romans 12:1-2).

This has been our theme for the whole summer, and now that the summer is almost over, let’s spend some time making sure we have it memorized! If you don’t already have it memorized, memorize it TODAY!!!

Ask God to transform your life in an amazing way!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about what it means to present his body as a living sacrifice. Take him outside and trace around his body with sidewalk chalk. Let him color in his face and clothes. Then have him come up with ways that he can use each part of his body to serve Jesus.

Activity 2: Don’t be CONFORMED, be TRANSFORMED! Make your own song, poem, rap, or video that shares this thought . . . and then share it with us!

___ Day Two: Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When you become a Christian, you are a brand new person! How has God made you brand new?

Ask God to help you live as a BRAND NEW PERSON today!

Activity 1: Talk to your child about what it means to be “born again”. Here’s a fun song to help:

Have fun hopping around the room like a bullfrog or go outside and try to catch butterflies! Spend time thanking God for making you both a brand new person!

Activity 2: Listen to the song from Activity 1. Don’t you think it needs a cool video to go along with it? Make puppets or gather some friends and make your own video to go along with this song!

___ Day Three: Read Galatians 2:20 (Galatians 2:20).

What does this verse mean to you personally?

Ask God to help you live each day for Him.

Activity 1: Talk to your child about what it means to be crucified with Christ. Talk to him about how we stop living for ourselves and start living for Christ when we become Christians. Use any food items you have on hand to help your child make a cross shape. Have him say one way that he can live for Christ before eating each part of the snack!

Activity 2: Draw a picture of a cross. Think about what Jesus did for you when he died on that cross. Spend time today thanking Him for that sacrifice. Then color in the picture and write around it ways that you can die to yourself and serve Jesus.

___ Day Four: Read 2 Corinthians 3:18 (2 Corinthians 3:18).

If you are a Christian, you are being TRANSFORMED!!!! What does this mean to you?

Thank God for the transforming work that He has performed in your life!

Activity 1: Have a celebration with your child today! Celebrate the fact that Jesus loves him and that he is being transformed into His likeness!

Activity 2: Celebrate the work that God has done in your life today!!!! It’s time for a PARTY!! Plan a party to celebrate JESUS!!

___ Day Five: John 3:16.

This whole summer we have been talking about transformation. We have looked at Scriptures that showed how we are being transformed in several different ways. However, you can’t be transformed unless you first accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Have you done that? Is your relationship with Jesus your own . . . or are you only going through the motions or relying on the faith of your parents to save you?

If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, consider doing that now! If you are a Christian, spend time thanking God for the way He is working in your life!

Activity 1: Talk with your child about what it means to be a Christian. Share your testimony of how you became a Christian with him and how God has been working in your life. Pray with him about his relationship with Jesus.

Activity 2: Share your testimony about how you became a Christian and about how God is working in your life with someone else today.

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Thank you for being a part of this Bible Reading Plan! If you are want to continue using a Bible Reading Plan with your children, check out one of the other ones  I have put together for you — including one over the book of James that will take you through the entire school year!!!

May God continue to bless you as you raise godly children for Him!

Cheri