6 Faith-Building Activities to Try This Summer

By: Gabriella Bemis
There are a plethora of activities to keep your family busy this summer, but have you considered ones that can help your family grow closer to the Lord and each other? Here are six spiritual activities you can implement to develop your family’s faith during the summer months – while having fun!

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Summertime is a refreshing and much-needed season that brings a change of pace and sometimes even a change of scenery for families, but this change can sometimes cause us to get out of our normal routine and interrupt important rhythms like our sleep schedules and time with Jesus. 

Listed below are six activities you can implement this summer to grow spiritually as a family while navigating the unique dynamics of summer. 
 

  1. Start Family Devotions

    Take advantage of the slower summer mornings and gather over breakfast to read through a book of the Bible as a family (Mark or James are great, kid-friendly books to read), or you can go through family a devotional book like the ones listed by The Gospel Coalition and Focus on the Family. If the evenings are better, you can huddle up during dinner or before bedtime.  

  2. Go on Prayer Walks

    Choose a time and route that works for your family – this can be a walk around your neighborhood, local park, or even the beach. Take turns praying for your community, neighbors, family, and friends. If you feel led, you can even ask to pray for someone you meet on your walk. What a powerful way for your children to see faith in action!

  3. Memorize Scripture

    You can encourage one another to hide God’s word in your hearts through memorizing Scripture. You can choose a verse each week to memorize at random or find a set of Scripture Memory Cards online to go through. Make it a routine to practice reciting the verse throughout the day, every day to help with memorization.

    At the end of the week, everyone gets to show off their skills by reciting the verse by memory. You can turn it into a family-friendly competition by choosing a prize for the winner(s) or by going out for a treat to celebrate! Get creative, and make it fun. 

  4. Enjoy Faith-Based Movies and Books

    Find new and engaging faith-based shows and movies to watch as a family. Streaming sites like Angel Studios and PureFlix are great places to search for faith-based entertainment.

    If you’re looking for a screen-free and faith-building activity, you can find a Christian novel to read as a family or for your kids to read on their own. There are Christian classics like The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Pilgrim’s Progress, or modern novels like Wingfeather Saga, Prince Warriors, and Adventures in Odyssey: The Imagination Station Series. You can also find Christian novels and storybooks by visiting Moody Publishers or Lifeway Publishers. 

  5. Serve Together

    Spend time as a family serving at your church or a local non-profit. Volunteering together can be a meaningful way to make memories as a family, build empathy, and most importantly, model Christ’s servant leadership and love to others. Volunteer opportunities like Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale’s Love Your Neighbor Outreach and Christian organizations like HOPE South Florida are wonderful and easy ways for the whole family to get involved in showing the love of Jesus to the community.

  6. Attend Free/Low-Cost Church Events

    Find local events happening throughout the summer like Vacation Bible School (VBS), church events, and festivals. You can find events by visiting event calendars from local Christian radio stations like WayFM or Moody Radio. Two events also happening this summer at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale are Kids Conference and Youth Encounter, where kids and teens will be gathering to learn about Jesus!

Summer is the season to enjoy longer days, outdoor activities, and travel, and it’s also a wonderful time to reflect on the spiritual disciplines that worked well or that didn’t work well for your family throughout the school year. Try out these activities, and watch them draw you closer to one another, and most importantly, closer to Jesus!  
 
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” –James 4:8
 
 
Author Bio:
Gabi Bemis works in CCA’s Communications team as a Content Coordinator. She earned a master’s degree in Psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Biblical Studies from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She enjoys serving alongside her husband, Scotty Bemis, in Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale’s worship team. When she’s not writing or singing at church, Gabi enjoys watching movies and playing games with her husband, spending time outdoors, and co-leading a small group with her friend Alyssa Mendez.

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