Things you’ll need:
- Ingredients to make a new international dish or meal
- A stack of index cards
- Optional: Research the selected country or culture for the dish or meal you chose to prepare.
Faith Talk: Regardless of age, all people have fears. List and discuss common fears:
- Spiders
- Storms
- Deep water
- Heights
- Failing a test
What fears do you have that others don’t have (and vice versa)? Throughout our lives, we discover new fears that we must face. How can we approach things that frighten us? Hopefully, trying new foods doesn’t scare you! Let’s try a new dish/meal together. Most of us prefer to eat things we already like, which could mean that we are hesitant to try new foods. Trying new foods shouldn’t frighten us, but this family activity provides a discussion on how to approach new fears, using new foods as an example. Each family member should begin with their own index card with their name written at the top. Consider one strength or skill of your own that you recognize in yourself and write it on the card, under your name. Then, pass your card to your right. Similarly, write at least one positive trait for the person named on the card. Once complete, pass the card to the right. Continue until your card has made it back to you. “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?
Why are people hesitant to try new foods? What are we afraid of? What is our fear based on? Appearance? Or unfamiliar ingredients? As you eat your new recipe dish or meal, discuss your personal fears. What fears do you currently have?
- Learning to ride a bike
- Pulling a tooth
- Going to a new school
- Getting picked for the basketball team
- Being left out
- The dark
As a parent, share a time when you were afraid and how you conquered your fear, especially if your fear relates to one of the fears discussed. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” How does God’s love drive out fear? We know that He loves us. He is always in control. He never leaves us alone. How does faith conquer fear? Trusting that God is our powerful protector means that we don’t have to be afraid.
Review and discuss the following Victory Verses:
- Deuteronomy 31:6
- Joshua 1:9
- 1 Chronicles 28:20
- Psalms 4:8; 27:1; 34:4,7; 56:34
- Proverbs 29:25
- Isaiah 12:2; 41:10,13
- Matthew 10:28
- Romans 8:15, 31
Each person should take an index card, list a fear at the top, select a Victory Verse, and write it on the card. Pray as a family asking God to calm our fears.
Thank you, Jesus, that we don’t have to be afraid of people or circumstances because we know You are always with us. Thank You for our food, our family time together, and Your promises. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen. How did you like your new dish? Pray as a family asking God to calm our fears. Thank you, Jesus, that we don’t have to be afraid of people or circumstances because we know You are always with us. Thank you for our food, our family time together, and Your promises. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.