Parable Picnic Scavenger Hunt

Today's theme was parables. Jesus told several parables that are recorded during the last week of His life, but we discussed others as well.

I was struggling to come up with an activity that I thought would really engage the boys.

Then, this morning I took the little ones to the park and somewhere between swings and Pooh-sticks with the perfect weather filling me with the greatest sense of well-being, I realized what we should do.

So this evening, after Sam got back from work, we headed back to that park for a parable picnic and scavenger hunt.

I prepared a list of parables and a representative item for the boys to find at the park

and as we ate each of the boys chose a parable from the list to discuss.

They opened a picture of Jesus teaching and then we read the parables they chose in the scriptures and talked about what they meant.

They had a great time finding all the items on their lists and then they were off to play,

scootering around the park,

stick-sword fighting,

exploring nooks and crannies,

and improving monkey bar skills.

At the end of the evening, Sam and I sat on a porch swing on the side of the path, watching the boys play together while Benson sat on our laps mimicking their shouts and waving a stick around as a sword-wielding baby.

The sun set as we soaked in the Spring evening, smiling as a passer-by told us, "You've got a quiver-full!"

When we came home we watched the Bible video of The Lost Sheep and tucked boys into bed well beyond their bedtime.

The evening had been too lovely to cut short.

This is such a crazy life,

but on nights like tonight I am reminded of how truly wonderful it is.

*****

Parable Picnic Scavenger Hunt

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)

Say hello or wave to someone outside our family

The Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14)

An animal

The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)

A seed

The Sower (Luke 8:5-15)

Rocky ground, sunny ground, ground by the road, good ground

The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

Lamp

The Budding Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-36)

A budding tree

The Rich Man and the Beggar Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

Water

The Wise and the Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27)

Rock and sand

Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)

Someone doing yard work

The Faithful Servant (Luke 12:35-48)

Perform an act of service

The Pearl (Matthew 13:45-46)

A cool rock

The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21)

A barn or shed