Parenting

The Great Ice Cream Hunt - A Creative Family Devotion
This material appears courtesy of Nappaland

Focus: Treasures in heaven
Scripture Reference: Matthew 6:19-21.

Just say the word “treasure” and everyone’s eyes light up. Visions of sunken ships laden with gold and jewels dance in our heads. The thought of hidden riches waiting to be found almost makes our mouths water.

But there is a treasure that lasts long beyond the day that gold and riches pass away—the treasure of a life lived in service to Messiah Jesus. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus tells all who’ll listen, “Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth...But...in heaven.” Use this devotion to help your family discover the hidden treasure of Jesus’s words in Matthew 6:19-21.

Equipment Needed: A half-gallon of solidly-frozen ice cream, spoons, and a Bible.

Exploration: Hide the half-gallon of ice cream somewhere in the house or yard. Have the rest of your family find this treasure before it melts. The only clues you can give are “warmer” when they are close, and “colder” when they move away from the hiding place. When the treasure is found, hand out spoons and enjoy a treat straight from the carton.

Discovery: While everyone is eating, read Matthew 6:19-21 and ask:

• How did you feel when you were looking for the ice cream treasure? How is this like looking for treasures from God?
• What are other treasures people work hard to get here on earth? Will these last forever, or will they break, get stolen, or even melt like the ice cream?
• What are treasures that we can store in heaven?
• What distracts us from searching for God’s treasures? How can we help each other to fight these distractions?
• In what ways is a life in service to Jesus a treasure in heaven and here on earth?

"The Great American IceCream Hunt" by Mike & Amy Nappa is copyrighted to Augsburg Publishing and reprinted by permission.

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