Joyful Socks Mom: God Keeps His Promises the Noah Edition {Family Table Time}

2/17/14

God Keeps His Promises the Noah Edition {Family Table Time}

Family Table Time is just about gathering simple materials, most you have laying around the house, and using them to create a special time of growing nearer to God as a family. These table times don't need to be fancy, or take up a ton of time, most productive Family Table Time Lessons could actually be completed with 25 - 35 minutes. The point is just to gather around in "one accord" and commune over God's word and focus on our daily walk as a family of faith.

This post for Family Table Time Lessons will include multiple lessons. Take your time and spread them out over a two or three week period. The story of Noah and God's amazing covenant is worth savoring, and young ones really seem to find it exciting!

Table Time Lesson # 1: God Keeps His Promises

Scripture Reading: Genesis 7:1-12

Take-away: God Made It Rain

Read aloud together Genesis 7:1-12

Ask your children to tell you what they know about how God kept His promise to make it rain.

Here are some addition Table Top Discussion "Starters":

Discuss as a family about Noah and the covenant that God made with him. God told Noah to build an ark and prepare for a great rain. Why did this take faith?
Do you think it was hard for Noah to continue preaching about the coming rain when people didn't believe him? How do you think that would feel?
Do you think that it could be hard for your own pastor leading a congregation and having people not respond well? Find one thing you can do to help your pastor and his family this week, remember to pray for them each day as a family.

Now, you can help you child explore the joy of knowing God ALWAYS keeps His promises. Let's try some of these hands-on activities this week:

Art/Handicraft Activity: Raindrop Printing (We took a little "nature hike" and used little leaves to print raindrops on paper, then added cotton balls for clouds & a brown construction paper ark at the bottom) Have your children copy Genesis 7:12 on the bottom of their Raindrop Painting.

Sensory Activity/Science: Make It Rain (I used a version of this Montessori activity from The Moveable Alphabet) This was a fun activity about rain and did not use a ton of materials and it was easy to duplicate.

Music/Songs: If you have younger children, music is always a good idea. Try these songs that feature Noah's story.
"Arky, Arky" song, "Noah Built the Ark" song
Make a rain stick to use while you sing as a family. MAKE A RAIN STICK HERE.

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Table Top Lesson # 2: God Keeps His Promises

Noah

Scripture: Genesis 8:1

Take-away: God Saved the Animals & Noah's Family

Read aloud together Genesis 8:1

Ask your children to tell you what they know about how God kept His promise to save the animals and Noah's family.
Here are some addition Table Top Discussion "Starters":

Discuss as a family about Noah and the covenant that God made with him. Why was it important for Noah to act in obedience to God's calling in his life?
How do you think being on an ark with a lot of animals felt for 40 days and 40 nights? What would be fun about that? What would be uncomfortable about that?

Now, you can help you child explore the joy of knowing God ALWAYS keeps His promises. Let's try some of these hands-on activities this week:

Art/Handicraft Activity: We made Paper Plate Ark with Animal Stickers (see here). We also created the cute little snack-time craft above, it was super simple and everyone loves art that you can eat. Am I right?

Sensory Activity/Science: Animal Mystery Game - I made a simple game by covering an oatmeal container with black construction paper and filling it with little plastic animals. The kids would reach in and guess what animal they grabbed before pulling it out. Then we would make that animal's "sound" and try to walk like that animal. (They liked this so much we did it twice.)

Music/Songs: "Arky, Arky" song, "Noah Built the Ark" song

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Table Top Lesson 3: God Keeps His Promises

Noah

Scripture: Genesis 9:12-17

Take-away: God Gave His Rainbow As A Promise

Read aloud together Genesis9:12-17

Ask your children to tell you what they know about how God kept His promise to bring the rainbow, again and again.

Here are some addition Table Top Discussion "Starters":

Discuss as a family about Noah and the covenant that God made with him. Why is that promise important to us today?
How can we remember this promise to help us in times of struggle?
Share with your family about a time that you know God kept a promise to you.
Pray together that you God would continue His faithfulness in all His promises and that He would allow you to see His faithfulness clearly.

Now, you can help you child explore the joy of knowing God ALWAYS keeps His promises. Let's try some of these hands-on activities this week:

Art/Handicraft Activity: Q-Tip Rainbow Painting here. This is a super simple and quick painting activity. Allow the bigger children to paint their rainbow free-hand.

We also made these cute little Fruit Loop Rainbows for snack-time. Super quick and easy, and the big kids won't mind since there is food involved. Just saying.