When our two daughters were ages three and five we began taking some time every day to connect with God as a family. I didn’t know anyone else who did this, so we just made it up by scratch. We kept up this practice until our daughters went off to college.
I have a firm belief that God is not boring. So I didn’t want our time of connecting with God to be boring either. We had fun and we shared the leadership.
How did we do it?
I wrote Intentional Fun as a resource, to answer that question.
Written in the form of a curriculum, this book provides a variety of options for preschool through teenage years. You can pick and choose from it to fit the interests of your particular family or group of kids.
You’ll find drama prompts, guided imaginations, game ideas, prayer and Bible study methods, Jewish and Christian holiday celebrations and more. See below for the entire Table of Contents.
Helping kids connect with God matters to me. If it is currently important to you as well, I offer you this resource to consider.
Intentional Fun: The Pleasure of Pursuing Faith with Kids
The book is for sale at Amazon for 8.50$
Go to Amazon.com and then search Intentional Fun Howard or see if this link will work.
This book is offered with deep gratitude to my amazing family
Evan, Claire and Terese.
Intentional Fun: The Pleasure of Pursuing Faith with Kids
Table of contents
Introduction
The Whys and Hows of Family Devotions………………4
Intentional Fun with the Gospels
Luke 2:1-20 Jesus is Born: Art meditations ……………………………..17
Matthew 2:1-12 The Visit of the Magi: Drama…………………………….18
Matthew 3:13-17 Baptism of Jesus: Action figure play……..……….18
Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus: Discussion .……..……..19
Luke 5:1-11 Jesus Calls Disciples: Action figure play………………..20
Matthew 5:38-48 Radical Kingdom Living: Discussion ….…………21
Matthew 6:9-13 Lord’s Prayer: Translate to Kid Language….…..….25
Matthew 6:24-34 Consider Lilies Don’t Worry: Nature Studies…… .26
Matthew 7:24-29 Wise House Building: Play Blocks………….…. ..28
Luke 8:22-25 Stilling the Storm: Drama……………………..….…….28
Mark 5:1-20 Demons and Pigs: Radio news interview ………………29
Luke 5:17-26 Healing the Paralytic: Drama………….…………………30
Luke 8:40-56 Jairus’ Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage:
Guided imagination ……………………………………….….…………31
Luke 8:4-8, 11-15 Parable of the Sower and Interpretation:
Mime or dance…………………………………………………..………..33
John 6:1-15 A Boy, Five Loaves and Two Fish: Puppet show ……..34
Mathew 14:22-33 Walking on the Water: Action figure .………..……..35
Luke 9:28-36 The Transfiguration: Shadow Puppets ………….………36
Matthew 18-23-35 The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant:
Radio drama or news report ………………………………..….………37
Luke 10:29-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan:
Now-days interpretation or action figure………………………………….38
Luke 15-1-10 Sheep and Coin: Drama, game………………………………..39
Luke 15:11-32 Parable of the Prodigal Son: Puppet show ..………….39
Luke 17:11-19 Ten Lepers:
Thank-you prayer popcorn or chain, finger play………..……………….40
Luke 18:9-14 Pharisee and the Tax Collector: Puppet show …….……41
Mark 10:13-16 Jesus and Children: Imagination or cartoon strip………41
John 11:1-44 The Raising of Lazarus: Mummy drama…………………42
Matthew 20:20-38 Servant of All: Puppet show or scripted drama ……43
Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus in the Tree: Drama ……………………………47
Mark 10:46-52 Blind Bartimaeus: Jesus Prayer…………………………47
Luke 19:28-40 The Triumphal Entry: Drama……………………………..49
John 13:1-20 The Foot Washing: Drama with foot washing……………49
John 13:1-17 Sacred Imagination: The Foot Washing ………………….50
Mark 14:12-26 The Last Supper: Drama with small meal………………51
Matthew 26:36-46 Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane:
Prayer requests and listening …………………………………………………………52
Matthew 26:47-56 Arrest: Flannel graph/action figure………………..…53
Luke 22:54-71 Jesus before Sanhedrin/ Peter’s Denial: Drama……….54
Luke 23: 1-25 Jesus, Pilate, Herod: Flannel graph or action figure ……..54
Luke 23:26-49 The Crucifixion and Death: Flannel graph/art…………….55
Matthew 27:11-26 Sacred Imagination for Good Friday…………….……56
Luke 23:50-56 The Burial: Flannel or action figure ………………………57
John 20:1-18 The Resurrection: Flannel or Drama …………….……….58
John 20: 1-18 Sacred Imagination for Easter ……………………………. 59
Luke 24:13-49 The Disciples Meet Jesus: Drama……….………….……60
John 21 Sacred Imagination: Breakfast with Jesus……………………….60
Review games…………………………………………………………..……61
A Collection of Intentional Fun Activities
Action Figure Play………………………..65
Art Meditation/Study………………………65
Bible Arts and Crafts…………………..…66
Bible Drill Game………………………..…67
Finding Your Way Around the Bible………67
Bible Pictionary………..…………………..68
Team Charades……….………………….69
The Pose……………..……………;……..70
Bible Questions…………………….……70
Bible Study……………………………….70
Centering Prayer for Families…………..71
Communion/ Love Feast…………….…..72
Dance/ Movement…………………………73
God Hunt……………………………….…73
Icons……………………………………….73
Lectio Divina……………………………..79
Liturgical Services………………..…..…79
Music……………………………………..80
Nature Studies……………………………80
Prayer Games and Activities ……….…..84
Blind-mans-buff Prayer ..………………..84
Ball Toss Thank-you Prayer …..………..84
Popcorn Prayer …….……..……………..84
Prayer Chain ……………………………..84
Quaker Listening…………………………85
Visit Christian Groups………….………..85
Intentional Fun Drama
Drama Basics…………………………………………..87
Old Testament Dramas…………………………………92
Gospel Dramas………………………………………….95
Book of Acts Dramas…………………………………….97
Moses hears from a Bush – Puppet Show Script.……98
Crossing the Red Sea – Puppet Show Script………..101
One Month of Drama with the Book of Mark…………104
Intentional Fun with Holidays
Rosh Hashanah……………….108
Sukkot…………..……………..112
Hanukah………..…………..….115
Purim…………………………..120
Passover………..………………130
Advent…………………………..135
Christmas……………….…….137
Lent…………………………….138
Thursday of Holy Week……….138
Good Friday…………………….138
Easter……………………………139
Thanksgiving………….…………141
All Saints Day……………………142
St. Nicholas Day………………..142
Saint Lucia Day……….……..…143
Saint Francis Day……………….143
Your Holy Days…………………144
soulsculpting 
This looks awesome. Congratulations Cheri
stella f butler P O Box 101 Troutdale, OR 97060
Iâm impressed by your publication. I know it was a labor or heart and soul and will be a gift to all who use it. We leave on Monday with Maya for the National Park trip: Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, and Bryce. Will be anxious to reconnect with you between travel and ranch duties and lifeâs happenings. r.a.
Sent from Mail for Windows
May your travels bring moments of awe for all of you.