English (UK) 
العربية 
Deutsch 
Español 
Français 
हिन्दी 
Italiano 
Português do Brasil 
Português 
Русский 
Shqip 
Svenska 
اردو 
简体中文 Growing Wiser
Giving a different way
Quick jumps:
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew 5:38-42 | Generosity instead of revenge | Many ways to be generous | Follow Jesus’ words every day |
Warm-up | Move to music | Hand touches | Arm circles and body shapes |
Move | Wall push-ups | Partner push-ups | Pyramid push-ups |
Challenge | Drawing lots | Carry all the objects | Give what you can |
Explore | Read the verses, discuss and share experiences | Read verses, discuss and write ‘if…then...’ sentences | Read verses, discuss and plan ways to be generous |
Play | Paper islands | Ants on a log | Mime and guess |
Watch the family.fit five steps
Getting started
Help your family to be active this week with three fun sessions:
- Involve everyone – anyone can lead!
- Adapt for your family
- Encourage each other
- Challenge yourselves
- Don’t exercise if it causes pain
Share family.fit with others:
- Post a photo or video on social media and tag with #familyfit or @familyfitnessfaithfun
- Do family.fit with another family
Day 1: Warm-up
Move to music
Put on some favorite music. Repeat these moves until the music ends:
- 10 running on spot
- 5 squats
- 10 running on spot
- 5 squats with hand clap above head
Rest and talk together.
If someone does something nasty to you, how do you react?
Go deeper: When have you been in a situation where you wanted to take revenge? What did you choose to do?
Day 1: Move
Wall push-ups
Stand with arms outstretched towards a wall. Lean forwards, place palms on the wall, bend elbows and push back to standing position.
Complete 10 wall push-ups and rest. Do three rounds.
Go easier: Stand closer to the wall.
Go harder: Do push-ups from your knees or toes.
Day 1: Challenge
Drawing lots
Place at least 10 pieces of paper in a container, each with a different task written on it: 10 sit-ups, 5 push-ups, 15 jumping jacks, hug each person, ‘high five’ each person, get a glass of water for each person, 20 seconds of high knees, 20 seconds of plank, 15 seconds of superman.
Take turns to draw lots and do the task on it. You can choose to help another person with their task, and you can also choose to draw lots more than once if you want an extra challenge.
Do three rounds.
Go harder: Increase to five rounds.
Day 1: Explore
Generosity instead of revenge
Read Matthew 5:38-42 from the Bible.
Giving generously when someone does not deserve it is difficult. These verses continue Jesus’ teaching about what it is like to live in His upside-down Kingdom.
Discuss:
When someone hurts us, it is natural to want to fight back. Can you think of times when Jesus experienced hurt from others – and acted differently? What do you find surprising about His words here? Which parts are hard?
Chat to God: Jesus’ words are ‘upside down’ – not the ‘normal’ way of reacting. Share one thing Jesus says that sounds exciting or one thing that sounds almost impossible. Pray that God will make the impossible possible.
Day 1: Play
Paper islands
Stand in a big circle with paper sheets on the floor as islands in the middle. Everyone moves around the circle until the leader says “islands”. Everyone must stand on an island. If they cannot, they stand at the side. More than one person can be on an island at a time if they can balance.
After each round, take an island away. Continue until one island is left. Have fun!
Tip for parents
Plan for success.
Day 2: Warm-up
Hand touches
Face a partner in a push-up position. Try to touch the other person’s hands while protecting your own. How many touches can you make in 60 seconds?
Rest and talk together.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given? What’s the best gift you’ve given to someone else?
Go deeper: What are some ways of giving that don’t involve money?
Day 2: Move
Partner push-ups
The key to a good push-up is keeping your body in a straight line and your elbows close to your side.
Face your partner on the floor with your knees on the ground and your hands in line with your shoulders. Do a push-up at the same time and then give each other a one-handed ‘high five’.
Complete 10 and rest. Do two rounds.
Go easier: Reduce repetitions to eight.
Go harder: Complete three rounds.
Day 2: Challenge
Carry all the objects
Gather 20 objects (balls, toys, spoons). Put all objects together five meters away.
The first person bear-crawls to the objects. They do three push-ups, grab one (or more) objects and do walking lunges back with the object(s).
Each person must return with one more object than the previous person until all of the objects are returned to the starting line.
Do three rounds.
Go harder: Increase to five push-ups or burpees.
Day 2: Explore
Many ways to be generous
Read Matthew 5:38-42.
Jesus talks about soldiers and people in court which may not be your experience. Imagine Jesus is sitting with your family right now. What are different ways of ‘giving’ – especially to people who have been unkind to you?
Together, write sentences that are relevant for your family using Jesus’ model: “If someone …, then we should …”
Chat to God: Take turns to read out each sentence. After each one, ask Jesus for His help to do it. Leave the sentences where you can see them this week to remind everyone that Jesus’ way is ‘upside down’.
Day 2: Play
Ants on a log
Everyone stands on a ‘log’ (a line, low wall or a bench). The goal is to reverse your order on the log without anyone falling off. Work together so everyone is successful. Set a timer.
Tip for parents
Plan for success. Find a regular time for a family meeting each week. Check the calendar together. Find solutions to problems and encourage each other with successes.
Day 3: Warm-up
Arm circles and body shapes
Arm circles: Stand in a circle and together complete 15 of each arm movement. Small circles forward, small circles backward, big circles forward, big circles backward.
Body shapes: Lie face down, arms overhead and palms facing each other. Move your arms like the hands of a clock into each formation.
Do three rounds.
Rest and talk together.
List three things your family could never give away.
Go deeper: What limits should we put on our generosity? How do we decide this?
Day 3: Move
Push-up pyramids
Start with one push-up. Rest briefly. Do two push-ups and rest, then three push-ups and rest. Continue all the way to 10 push-ups. Once you get to 10, work your way back down to one again. If you do the whole pyramid, you will have completed 100 push-ups. Wow!
Go easier: Push-up against a wall, table or on knees. Only complete the pyramid to eight before going down again.
Go harder: Do a more advanced version of the push-up.
Day 3: Challenge
Give what you can
With a partner see how many squats you can do in seven minutes. Your score will be the total repetitions you do as a team.
This challenge is a “no-stop” challenge. This means that if you need to stop and have a break, your partner will have to be generous and perform a plank while you rest. Swap who’s doing the squats at any time but try to do at least 10 squats each time.
Be sure to give encouragement, give motivation… give any way you can!
Day 3: Explore
Follow Jesus’ words every day
Read Matthew 5:38-42.
Talk about times when a friend or stranger asks for something that belongs to you.
How do you feel? Does it depend on what they ask for or who they are?
Plan different ways of giving so that you demonstrate Jesus’ words: ‘don’t turn away from them’.
Chat to God: What kind of reputation does your family have for being generous with time, friendship and help? Ask God to help you to be an ‘upside down’ family.
Day 3: Play
Mime and guess
Which things are easy for you to give and which things are difficult? It can be tangible things like toys, money or clothes, or intangible things like time, service, and kind words.
Mime or draw your response for others to try and guess.
Reflect:
Was this easy or hard to do? If it was hard, why? As a family, challenge each other to give a harder thing this week.
Tip for parents
Keep it positive!
It’s hard to feel positive when your kids are driving you crazy. We often end up saying, “Stop doing that!” But they will listen better to positive instructions and praise for doing right.
Did you enjoy this? Please share!
Subscribe to receive sessions as emails
Would you like to receive the sessions as weekly emails?
Subscribe using the form below. It's safe, secure and we make the following promises:
- We will never spam you.
- We will keep your email address safe and never sell it to anyone.
- You can unsubscribe at any time.
Downloads and translations
Downloads
You can download this session as a PDF document by clicking the button below.
Translations
If you translate this into your language, please email it to [email protected] so it can be shared with others.
You can see all the current available translations via the button below:
Please send your feedback
We hope you have enjoyed this session of family.fit.
We would love to know what works in your household and culture. If you are willing to send us your feedback then please use the form below. Alternatively you can email us directly at [email protected].
The family.fit sessions are being developed quickly and constantly. Please bookmark this website, or return again soon, to find the latest information and download future weeks.
Thank you.
The family.fit team