Growing Deeper
Jesus inspires generosity!
Quick jumps:
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | |
---|---|---|---|
Mark 14:3-9 | Surprising generosity | Expected generosity | Exceptional generosity |
Warm-up | Move to music | Stretch to the sky | Running on hot lava |
Move | Chair dips | Dips with leg raises | Elevated feet dips |
Challenge | Circuit challenge | Number challenge | Fill the cup |
Explore | Read the verses and consider creation | Reread verses and list worries | Reread verses and find important things |
Play | The great paper competition | Count to 10 together | Trust walk |
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. Do laps of the following around your space until the music ends:
- Jogging
- High knees running
- Back heels kicking
- Frog jumping
Rest and talk together.
Name something for which you are very grateful.
Go deeper: How do you demonstrate gratitude when you receive gifts?
Day 1: Move
Slow squats
Family.fit is about fun, but correct technique is important too!
Complete five squats as follows:
- Take five seconds to descend as low as you can
- Hold for three seconds
- Stand up fast in one second
Do 20 repetitions. Rest after 10.
Go easier: Squat onto a low chair.
Go harder: Increase the repetitions.
Day 1: Challenge
Family squat challenge
Stand in a circle facing each other. Do 150 squats as a family. One person starts and then taps out to the next person when ready for a break.
Go harder: Use a stopwatch. Repeat the challenge and try to improve your time.
Day 1: Explore
Surprising generosity
Read Mark 14:3-9 from the Bible.
Just before the Last Supper, Jesus shares a meal with Simon (a leper He probably healed), some other guests, and an unexpected visitor who is incredibly generous.
Discuss:
Find some simple props and costumes and act out the story. Don’t rush. Stop to consider the feelings and responses of each person in the story.
- Why did the woman pour the perfume on Jesus?
Chat to God: Silently meditate on your own response to Jesus. Thank Him for all He has done for you and worship Him.
Day 1: Play
Generous words
Tape a sheet of paper to the back of each person and give everyone a pen. Take turns to write positive things about each family member on their paper. Younger ones can draw pictures or ask for help in writing. When everyone is finished remove the papers and sit in a circle to read them.
Reflect: How did you feel after you read the words about you? Was it hard to write about other family members? Why?
Health tip
Reduce technology ‘screen’ time.
Day 2: Warm-up
Stretch to the sky
Stand tall then crawl down to a push up position. Crawl up again, stand, and stretch arms to the sky. Crawl down again, extend right foot for balance and right arm to the sky. Crawl up again, stand, and then repeat on the left side.
Do three rounds.
Rest and talk together.
To whom do you give regularly? You may give time, practical help, money …
Go deeper: When have you been challenged to give more than usual?
Day 2: Move
Partner squats
Stand facing a partner. Hold each other’s wrists and squat at the same time. Do three rounds of 15 squats.
Go harder: Increase the number of rounds.
Day 2: Challenge
Plank and squat challenge
Work with a partner.
While one person is in a plank position the other person does squats. Change places after 10 squats.
Do four rounds.
Go harder: Increase the number of rounds.
Day 2: Explore
Expected generosity
Read Mark 14:3-9.
Think of a joke and say it without the punchline. Can others guess the ending?
We can often work out endings because we expect them. We know how the story goes.
Verses 4-5 show us that the guests thought the expensive perfume should be used ‘as expected’. Jesus, however, honored the woman for giving unexpectedly. Is Jesus calling us to some unexpected acts of gratitude and worship?
Chat to God: Ask God if your giving (individual or household) needs to be redirected or increased. Give Him time to speak and inspire you.
Day 2: Play
It’s better to give than receive
Use tape or rope to make a line down the middle of your space. Choose at least two soft things per person such as shoes or stuffed toys that can be safely thrown and place them on the line. Divide into two teams, step back from the line, and set a timer for three minutes. On “go” run to the line, grab an item and toss it over the line. Continue tossing back and forward until the time is up.
The team with the least items wins.
Health tip
Reduce screen time. Turn off all screens during meals.
Day 3: Warm-up
Running on hot lava
Spread out around a space. Select a leader. When the leader says “hot lava” everyone runs on the spot as fast as they can. When the leader says “stop” everyone does squats. Repeat until everyone is breathing heavily.
Rest and talk together.
What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
Go deeper: What special talent has God given you?
Day 3: Move
Weighted squats
Add weight to the squat if you can. Take turns to grab a backpack, a large water bottle (or a child!) and complete 10 squats.
Encourage one another!
Do three rounds.
Go easier: Do five squats each round.
Day 3: Challenge
Partner relay
Work with a partner. One person does jumping jacks while their partner crawls 10 meters like a bear, does five squats with jumps, and then crawls back like a crab. ‘High five’ and swap places.
In the second round do 10 sit-ups instead of squats.
End with ‘high fives’.
Day 3: Explore
Exceptional generosity
Read Mark 14:3-9.
Smell some perfume or flowers. The perfume the woman poured on Jesus’ head was probably worth a year’s wages. Even though she may not have realized it, the woman was preparing Jesus for His crucifixion and burial.
Jesus’ words in verse 7 show that giving to the poor is expected of us. Giving extraordinary – even extravagant – gifts to Jesus should be our response to His incredible generosity and love towards us.
Draw or make a gift box for each person. Decorate it and write the special talent or ability God has given you inside.
Chat to God: Hold the gift box before God. Ask Him to use this gift for His purposes.
Day 3: Play
Guard the treasure
One person, the ‘guard’, sits on a chair facing a wall with a set of keys under the chair. Everyone else starts at the other end of the room and silently creeps up to try to grab the keys and run back to the start. The guard can turn at any time and catch people moving. Anyone caught has to start again. The guard chases and tags anyone who snatches the keys. The tagged player becomes the guard for the next game.
Health tip
Reduce screen time. Plan family activities to replace time on screens.
Be creative!
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