There is something about royalty that fascinates kids. Why not take advantage of that interest and have fun with your kids – teaching them about the Bible at the same time? This fun family devotional has several “regal” activities your kids may enjoy. Best of all, you get to pick out the royalty from our three stories you think your kids need to learn about the most.
So let’s get started.
Supplies: varies, but look for things around your house that could be used to make crowns (like paper or cardboard or even dress up toys your kids already have), royal robes and capes, scepters – even a throne, you may also want to have “fancy” food like cucumber cream cheese sandwiches, lukewarm “hot” tea – even “fancy” cookies
Procedure: Choose one of the following Bible stories and application principle to share with your kids.
- King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba – 1 Kings 10. You may want to review a bit about King Solomon before introducing your kids to the story of the Queen of Sheba’s visit. The Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because she wanted to see if everything she had heard about him was true. Not only was it true, it was even better than she expected. It’s interesting to see, that even though she wasn’t Jewish, she understood God had been the source of all of these marvelous blessings – including Solomon’s wisdom. Perhaps in their conversations Solomon had told her about God and how God had helped him and his people. (The Bible didn’t record their entire conversations.) We, too, need to realize all good things come from God. We should remember to be grateful and use our gifts to serve others and share our faith.
- Queen Esther and King Xerxes – Esther. Queen Esther was a young Jewish girl being raised by extended family. Through a variety of unusual circumstances, she became the Queen. King Xerxes was tricked by the evil Haman into agreeing to destroy the Jewish people, little knowing his wife was Jewish herself. Although Esther was afraid, she did what Mordecai told her to do to save the Jewish people. In fact, Mordecai pointed out that the very reason she was Queen was perhaps because God placed her there to help save His people. The Bible tells us God has prepared good works for each of us to do. We may never be Queen like Esther, but we must be ready and willing to do what God wants for us to do – even if it’s scary.
- King Herod – Matthew 2. There is actually more than one King Herod in the Bible (they were all related). The first is commonly known as Herod the Great. His reputation was not as a kind king, but one who would destroy anyone he viewed as a threat. This even extended to little baby Jesus – killing all the young boys in Bethlehem to make sure this future “king” was no longer a threat. What Herod didn’t realize was that Jesus had already escaped and the type of king Jesus was had nothing to do with taking the throne from King Herod and his family. King Herod did not trust God to take care of him. He believed he needed to do everything himself. We may not go around killing people, but sometimes we don’t trust God very much either. We need to remember to pray and do what God wants us to do. We need to trust God and not take matters into our own hands.
Tell or read to your kids the story you have chosen. Share with them the application principle. Take the materials you have gathered and transform yourself and your kids into kings and queens. You can act out the Bible story you have chosen (or act out what King Herod should have done instead).
Finish with having a “royal” meal or snack. As you eat, discuss ways you can remember to live out the application principle from the lesson you chose. Brainstorm with your kids ways you can remember to be the people God wants us to be.