Creative Evangelism

August 27, 2022

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. I readied my puppets, cued my mom to dim the living room lights, and nodded to my co-writer and co-star, my best friend. Then, with the fervor only seven-year-olds could possess, we told the Christmas story to our neighbors. This fledgling dramatic work was one of many ways my young heart wanted to share the message of the gospel. And it wouldn’t have happened without my parents’ encouragement to express my love for Jesus through stories, songs, and art. My parents didn’t try to make me creative, but they did make a home where we welcomed and celebrated creativity. That creative spirit blossomed into the way I shared my faith.

As our kids grasp their creative giftings, our families can discover ways to experience the gospel together and share its message with innovation, exploration, and imagination.

This week, dive into these biblical examples of creative evangelism:

• Read the Parable of the Good Samaritan together and act it out using paper puppets or household objects. How did the Samaritan show God’s love outrageously and unexpectedly? Do you think the lawyer was caught off guard when Jesus told the story? How do you think he reacted when Jesus said, “Go and do the same”? (Luke 10:25-37)

• When Paul and Silas were in prison, they couldn’t help but sing songs of praise, even when they were in chains. But when an earthquake shook the jail and their chains broke loose, they didn’t run away. Instead, they shared the gospel in an unexpected place with an unexpected person—and the jailer and his whole household were saved. Do you have the courage to worship God and share your faith wherever you go? How do you think God can use us when we least expect it? How can we make ourselves available for God to work through for his glory? (Acts 16:25-34)

After diving into these biblical examples, brainstorm together ways each of you can use your creative gifts to love and serve like Jesus.

• Do your kids like to draw? Make cards for a local nursing home or children’s hospital. Or send an encouraging card to a friend or family member.

• Are your kids interested in gardening? Plant flowers, and give them to someone who has experienced loss.

• Are you puzzle enthusiasts? Write out a Bible verse on cardstock, cut it into pieces, and send it to a family member or friend.

• Do your kids like to build? Help them build a set and act out a story from the Bible with dolls for their friends.

• Is your family musical? Arrange a medley of worship songs to share with friends and family.

• Do you have a chef in your family? Make goodies to give to a friend in need.

• Are your kids avid dancers? Create an expressive dance to a worship song.

• Do you have an aspiring writer in the family? Work together to write a gospel play, and invite your neighbors to watch it performed in the backyard.

The apostle Paul wrote, “We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Let’s remind our kids that God puts his treasure in us, and he wants his children to explore new ways to express their freedom in Christ by spreading the good news with creative evangelism. Each day is an opportunity to use our God-given creativity for our Creator’s glory!

Want to do a deep dive? Check out Family Fire's article Revolutionary Parenting: Raising a Spiritual Champion.