Family Fun Night/ Family Home Evening

How Watermelon Can Remind Us of The Gospel

By: Shiloah Baker

Outline:

 Conductor:  Welcome everyone out to Family Home Evening; announce the opening song and the person to give the opening prayer. 

Opening Song: “We Are Sowing”

Opening Prayer:

 Conductor:  Announce who will be giving the scripture/quote and who will be following them with the lesson.

       Scripture/Quote: Alma 32:28

Lesson:  “Watermelon Can Remind Us of Christ’s Gospel”

 Conductor:  Thank the person who gave the lesson and announce who will be conducting the games.

 Activity/Game:  Have a watermelon eating contest

 Conductor:  Thank everyone who participated and announce closing song and who will be giving the prayer and blessing on the refreshments.

 Closing Song:  Faith

 Closing Prayer:

 Refreshment Idea:   Have watermelon!!!

Lesson Development: 

 Watermelon are such bright fruit and most delicious.  Let’s talk about some ways that watermelon can remind us of Christ.

Lesson:  “Watermelon Can Remind Us of Christ’s Gospel”

 W- Water is the main part of the watermelon.  Watermelon is mostly made up of water!   While its growing you must be sure to keep it watered well!  Our testimony of Christ is like a watermelon.  We must “Water” our testimony often. 

 A- Stands for “A-Lot”!  When watermelons grow they grow a lot on a vine and the vine runs all over the place.  Think of the watermelon plant or vine as “the church”.  It’s always growing and Christ is the head of it and making sure that His church blessed with plenty.

 T- Stands for “tough”.  Have you ever noticed how the watermelon has a tough outer shell?  What is it called?  (A rind)   The rind is the watermelon’s protection.  It keeps the water, seeds and fruit part all safe and sound inside.  Sometimes we have to be “thick skinned” like the watermelon.  Our testimony of Christ needs to be strong like the rind. 

 E- “Eager” When people see watermelon they are always so “eager” to eat it!  It’s so sweet and delicious!  We need to transform that “eager” energy into missionary work for Christ!  We need to be eager to share the gospel with our friends. 

R- Ripe!!!  When is the best time to eat a watermelon?  When it’s ripe!  If it’s not ripe, then it’s hard and the fruit of the watermelon is not as sweet. 
What happens if it gets too ripe?  It gets mushy and the texture changes and the rind gets soft and starts to bruise.   We need to be sure that our lives are in order so that we are “ripe”!  When we are ready or “ripe”, we are more sensitive to the spirit and we can learn the gospel better.

 M- “Meat” Did you know that the middle of the fruit is the “meat” of the fruit?  If we eat our spiritual “Meat” what are we doing?  We are reading the scriptures.  If we read our scriptures we are feasting on the gospel and feeding our souls “spiritual meat”. 

E- Energy.   It takes a watermelon plant a lot of energy to grow such BIG watermelon!  Where do you think it gets its energy? (sun, water, soil, etc.)  How do we get spiritual energy?  (prayer, scripture study, going to church, etc.)

 L- Stands for the Little seeds that are inside of the watermelon.   Christ compared our faith as a tiny mustard seed.  When we plant it, it will grow!  Think of the water melon seed as the starting of this big watermelon, how much faith does it need to get that big?  A LOT, but it started small.  Plant your seed of faith.   How can we increase our faith?  (prayer, scriptures, etc.)

 O- “OVER”   Did you know that if a watermelon sits too long on the ground, you can turn it over and see that its yellow and a little indented?  If we pay attention to it and pick at the right time, this is a clue that the watermelon is sufficiently ripe.

We must live each day the best we can.  What happens if we make a mistake?  We have to start over! 

 N- Watermelons are like other plants.  You must “NURTURE” them for them to grow.  You need to care for them by watering them, giving them plenty of sun and good soil.  What happens if you don’t pull the weeds that grow next to the watermelon plants?  The weeds will choke the plant and kill it. 

In our own lives, think of the weeds as bad deeds.  How can we keep pulling those spiritual weeds out of our garden?  We need to choose the right.  What happens if we forget to pull a weed or make a mistake?  Repent, and make it right!