Note to Parents: Often, as humans, we only see bits and pieces of the enormous story that God has been writing throughout all of history. What would it be like if we viewed the entirety of the Bible from God’s perspective? What if we showed our children that the Bible is actually one big story about God and His purposes for the peoples of the earth? Wow! What might be the impact of consistently using a “God-sized” lens when sharing God’s Word with our family? It could broaden our children’s understanding of who God is and how He acts in our world. It could change how our children view themselves, their blessings, and their purpose.

Sharing the Bible with our children through a “God- sized” lens does not have to be difficult. It just requires that we consistently frame every story with these truths:

• God is the main character of every story.
• God is always at work to make Himself known.
• God blesses his people for a greater purpose that includes others.

Bible Time Tip:

Set aside a designated area in your home to begin your story-time. Choose a quiet place with enough room for your family to gather comfortably. As you build a habit of exploring God’s Word together, your children will begin to associate this specific place with the learning that has happened there.

Family Bible Activity:

Bible Story:

While traveling through Samaria with His disciples, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman fetching water at the village well. Despised because of her race, this woman had little value in most people’s eyes. Yet, Jesus sought her out. This account demonstrates God’s intense love for individuals and how He used that love to bring an entire people to Himself.

Grab your Bible and gather your family in your designated place. Together with your family, read John 4:4-35, 39-42. Then do the following related activity.

Family Activity:

You will need: water in a sink, tub, bucket, or pond; rock

Together with your family, look at a body of water you chose and describe the surface. The still water is like the Samaritan village before Jesus visited. Talk about what happened when Jesus first entered the village. Explain that Jesus chose to share His message of salvation with one person and discuss who that individual was. Take turns dropping the rock into the water. Observe and count the rings of ripples created by only one rock. Share with your children how Jesus’ message affected the Samaritan woman in a powerful way. However, the impact of Jesus’ message did not stop with her, but rippled out to others.

Use a “God-sized” lens. Ask your children to identify God’s greater purpose for blessing the Samaritan woman. Talk about others who heard about Jesus through the woman’s testimony and how they responded. Then, pray for people in our world today who have never had the opportunity to hear that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

(This Bible story activity is framed with a “God-sized” lens. For more stories and activities shared through a “God-sized” lens, download One Big Story for free!)