Interactive Back-to-School Devotion: Fruit of the Spirit

Looking for an engaging back-to-school devotion? Use this activity to show kids the importance of faith and the fruits of the Spirit. (Some assembly required. Banana not included.)

Bible Verses: Jeremiah 33:3 and Galatians 5:22-23

You’ll need:

• a Bible
• a child’s backpack containing the following items:
  • a banana with the fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 written on it with a permanent marker
  • a hand weight
  • a cellphone
  • a gold construction paper heart
  • a box of Band-Aids
  • funny glasses

Interactive Back to School Devotion: Fruit of the Spirit

Say: School is starting soon. How many of you have been preparing for school already? What have you done to get ready? I hope you haven’t forgotten to pack the most important things. Just in case you did forget, I packed these things for you. Pull out each item and explain it.

Banana

Say: When you’re on the playground or in the classroom, you’ll need to have the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Ask: How can you show these fruits of the Spirit at school?

Hand weight

Say: Exercising your faith and trust in God will make your faith muscles stronger.

Ask: What are ways you can strengthen your faith—your friendship with God?

Cell phone

Read aloud Jeremiah 33:3.

Say: Don’t forget to talk with God in prayer anytime you need help or just want to chat. God loves to hear from you!

Ask: What are some things you wonder about that you’d like to ask God?

Gold heart

Say: You might be tempted to act in ways that aren’t pleasing to God, but keeping your friendship with Jesus strong will help your heart shine with his love and light.

Ask: How can you spend time with Jesus when you’re at school?

Band-Aids

Say: School can be a tough place and kids aren’t always kind. Sometimes we don’t feel like being kind. But even in those times, we can choose to be like Jesus and show kindness to everyone at school — even the bullies!

Ask: Tell about at time you showed kindness even when it was difficult.

Funny glasses

Say: As you learn new things, you can always ask God about what’s true. God sees and knows it all! Ask God to show you the truth about anything you see.

If you have all these things in your backpack, I know you’ll have a great new school year. 

Close with a prayer of blessing for the children in the new school year.

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