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 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 cell phone
  • 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.

Hand weight

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

Cell phone

Read aloud Jeremiah 33:3.

Say: Don’t forget to call on God with prayer anytime you need help or just want to talk to him.

Gold heart

Say: You’ll be tempted to act in ways that aren’t pleasing to God, but keep your heart pure like a shiny gold heart.

Band-Aids

Say: School can be a tough place and kids aren’t always kind. Be like Jesus and be kind to everyone at school — even the bullies!

Funny glasses

Say: As you learn new things, you need God’s eyes to know the things that are true and the things that aren’t true.

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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