More than 161 million tribal people live in places like Papua New Guinea, Africa, and China. They have animistic and superstitious beliefs. They believe things God created have spirits. They often worship idols and ancestors as well as visiting witch doctors.
Family Activity:
Teaching Time: 15 minutes
Materials: varies by family
Have each child go and find something God created. Have each child show what they found. Tribal people believe that the things God created–rocks, mountains, rivers, and trees (include their item in the list)–have spirits inside them that make them act like they are living and breathing. Have each child find something they would use if they were afraid (e.g. night light, stuffed animal, blanket, etc) and share what they found. Tribal people don’t believe spirits care about them or love them. They believe evil spirits have power to cause sickness, accidents, a bad harvest, or even death. They live in constant fear of the spirits they worship. Now have each child find something they would give as a present and share it. Tribal people believe they have to satisfy the spirits with sacrifices or gifts. They perform certain ceremonies or rituals that they believe will bring good luck from the spirits.
Option: If you have young children, gather some objects beforehand and let them select items from the assortment.
Discuss:
- Read Psalm 98:8. Tribal people worship creation. What does this verse say about what creation worships?
- Read 2 Timothy 1:7 and 1 John 4:18. Daily lives of tribal people are characterized by fear. What does God’s word say about fear in our lives?
Pray:
Pray that tribal people will see that Jesus is the final sacrifice for their sins, and that He has made a path for them to have a relationship with the Creator God.
