Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – Time For Play
Opening
- God wants us to enjoy life doing fun things like hobbies, let’s see what the bible says about having fun.
- Read, or someone read the Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Devotional
Big picture There is a time for work, play, rest and worship.
- Q: Does your family have game nights where you play board games or other fun games?
- Q: What is your favorite board game to play? (Share yours, too)
- Did you know that God wants us to have fun and has set aside time in everyone’s life for fun times?
- The Teaching verse tells us God has carved-out times for work, play, rest, and worship, for everyone.
- The point is, God is in all these activities: Work, Play, Rest, and of course, Worship.
- So, it’s ok to have a little fun. God made time for fun. Enjoy yourself!
- To emphasize the point that God wants you to have fun, we are focusing on fun things in this Hobbies badge. God wants you to try different hobbies to find ones you enjoy. You may even enjoy them for the rest of your life!
- But God is not just about having fun. The teaching verse says there is a time for all things including serious things. For example, if we played hobbies all the time and didn’t work, we wouldn’t be doing right. We would be ignoring the other activities besides fun that God has also set aside time for, too.
- You shouldn’t feel guilty about playing and having fun. God thinks fun can be as holy as worshipping Him or He would not have set aside time for it, like the Teaching verse says.
- But we should ALWAYS be listening to God and His timing for when God says we should be working or playing or resting or worshipping Him. Too much of any of these activities is not good for us. God created us for all these activities, but each one done in God’s good timing.
- Jesus had fun. We don’t know if He had any hobbies, He may have, but we DO know He enjoyed having fun. The bible talks about a lot of times Jesus was having fun.
- For example, Jesus went to parties and weddings and other fun gatherings. Jesus was fun to be around, and everyone enjoyed His company. But He always did what His Heavenly Father commanded Him to do whether it was serious business or having fun.
- So, find yourself some fun hobbies to enjoy whatever they may be, and do it all for the Glory of God!
Memory Verse #3
Ask if anybody knows it yet and can say it? Read it together 2X. Consider having a memory verse pamphlet for kids take home.
Note: we are moving to verse #2.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Topical Questions
-
Does anyone know a bible story where people were having fun?
e.g. David singing and dancing -
Why do you think God wants us to have fun?
Because Heaven is a fun place, so earth should be too -
Can having fun ever be just as holy an activity as worshipping God?
Yes, when God is a part of the fun -
When is it time to stop having fun?
When your parents or God tells you it’s time to stop
Closing Prayer
Lord God, when You created the universe You blessed us with many good things. We thank You for giving us activities like hobbies that bring us so much joy to our lives. May our hobbies and interests continue to give us joy and remind us of Your love. In your son, Jesus Christ’s name, we pray. Amen
