Note to parent or teacher: Here’s a 20- to 30-minute lesson plan on God’s Word. It highlights the following lesson objective: Learn that God’s Word must be given a priority in life if one desires to be successful. Learn that it is not always easy to study God’s Word, and how human nature sometimes fights against one’s ability to draw all one can from it, through familiarity, laziness, disbelief, distractions, etc. (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: God’s Word-2c,f)

The general target age for this lesson plan is 8 through 12. You can, however, adapt, simplify, or expound on this lesson plan to better suit your child’s comprehension level.

Look up the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42.

Discuss how spending time with Jesus (through prayer and praise, reading God’s Word and meditating and reflecting on it, and taking time to hear God’s voice) is the one thing that is needful in order to live a godly life.

Talk about practical applications of how one can keep God in first place in one’s life; if possible, give personal examples of how you try to keep God in first place.

Read “Soak in God’s Word.”

Discuss the various benefits of reading God’s Word, and how time spent with Him and in study of God’s Word brings about the fruits of His Spirit in our life. (You can look up Galatians 5:22–23 to review the fruits of the Spirit.)

Discuss how one’s life can only fit so much. And at times it is necessary to choose time spent in God’s Word over other activities, but that God blesses such actions.

Read “Stay Connected.”

Discuss the difficulties that you or your child face in spending time with Jesus and in study of God’s Word. Quickly brainstorm ways to get over such distractions.

Memorize the following verse: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63 NIV).

Prayer: Close with a prayer asking Jesus to help you keep Him and His Word in first place.

Additional activities:

• Sometime during the day, play the following two songs, “Audio: My Secret Garden,” and/or “Audio and Coloring Page: Me and You.”
• If your child likes coloring projects, print “Coloring Page: My Secret Garden.”
• Prepare a yummy smoothie, and as you drink it, read “Drink … Praise … Listen….” Take a few moments to do the meditation activity described here.