Get Connected In 20 Minutes A Week – Love Doesn’t Quit

The Parents Coach - column By Timothy Smith | www.ParentsCoach.org
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"Get Connected In 20 Minutes A Week"
A weekly family activity adapted from: 52 Family Time Ideas by Timothy Smith ©2006
Draw Closer To Your Kids as You Draw Your Kids Closer to God
Bethany House Publishers

1. Main Point: Love never gives up.

2. Materials Needed: Rent or buy the movie Finding Nemo.

3. Warm Up: Pop some popcorn and get cozy around the TV. Say, "Can you think of three stories that show that love never gives up?" (Any story will do, but you could also mention that God's story is a love story too!)

4. Bible Reading: I Corinthians 13:4-7 Read aloud
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (NLT)

5. Movie: Finding Nemo
Introduce the movie and Say:"Tonight we are going to watch a movie about the love between a father and a son; the kind of love that withstands all kinds of problems."
Time saver: If you don't have time to watch the entire movie, watch as much as you can and then skip to the ‘Reunion' scene near the end (scene 29 on DVD). Adjust the Family Discussion accordingly.

6. Family Discussion:
1. Ask: "What part of the movie did you like?"
2. Ask: "What do you think Nemo learned about his father's love for him?"
3. Ask: "What did Nemo's dad do to show his love for his son?" (Crossed the ocean to search for his son)
4. Ask: "Nemo's dad (Marlin) was really protective of his son. What are some ways human parents protect their children?"

7. Today's Slogan: "Love never gives up."

Adapting for:
Younger Children: Skip the Warm Up question and begin with the Scripture, followed by your introduction. You may choose to show only part of the movie to accommodate the attention span of preschool age children. Or you may prefer to show the movie in multiple settings. After the movie, skip Discussion questions 2 & 4.
Teens: After the movie, Ask: "Describe a time when parents AND teens need to hang in there and not give up."

8. Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love that never gives up on us. Even with problems and bad things, Your love never gives up. You sent Jesus to this planet so we could be with You. Thank You that You go great distances to show Your love for us. In Jesus' name, Amen."

©2009 Timothy Smith

Timothy Smith, M.A., is a family coach, author and speaker from Southern CA.
www.ParentsCoach.org He provides coaching in-person and via Skype®; as well as conferences, seminars and retreats.

Blog: www.ParentsCoach.wordpress.com
Twitter: ParentsCoach
tim@ParentsCoach.org, Tel: 805.376.3500