Hands-On Faith for Families – Week of May 8, 2023

Theme: Be Honest with God

Bridging the Gap

Scripture: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1, 2)

Play: Have two family members stand apart and figure out how to form a bridge between them for a stuffed animal to cross, using only their bodies. (They can try extending arms or legs, bending at the waist, etc.) Then have them back up one step and make the bridge again. Continue taking steps back and making bridges until they are too far apart to reach. Have another family member step in to help form the bridge. Continue in this way until the whole family is part of the bridge and it covers the longest area possible.

Talk: Bridges reach across an expanse to connect things. They help us get from one place to another. Jesus, God’s Son, is the bridge between us and God, our go-between or “advocate,” as the apostle John puts it (1 John 2:1-2). Sin separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2), but Jesus made a way for us to reconnect with God. If we cross the bridge by believing in Jesus, He removes our sin and makes peace between God and us. Give an example of when someone has helped make peace between you and another person.

Pray: Thank God for sending Jesus to bridge the gap between Him and us.

— Donna Stearns