16 Meaningful Sabbath Activities for Families You’ll Love
Are you looking for ways to make the Sabbath day more special for your family? Here are some creative ideas that will help you make the most of this special day. From spending time together outdoors to enjoying a delicious meal, these ideas will bring your family closer together. I’m excited to share these meaningful Sabbath activities for families with you today!
As moms, we all know how hard it can be to find family activities that everyone can enjoy. And when it comes to keeping the Sabbath day holy, it’s not always easy to come up with creative activities that will make the day special.
Learning to set aside one day a week to rest and worship God is an important part of any Christian family’s faith journey. When I first began keeping the Sabbath it was hard for me to know what to do with myself – much less my family.
For families, the Sabbath is a time to not only be rejuvenated from the week before but also to spend quality time together. This time can be used for enjoying a special meal together, playing family games, participating in meaningful conversations, and reflecting on spiritual practices such as prayer or worship.
Not only does the Sabbath provide an opportunity for families to be restored and refreshed physically and emotionally, but it can also create memories that last forever. By making the most of this special day, families can build strong relationships with each other while growing closer to God.
5 Benefits of Keeping the Sabbath Together
1. Quality Family Time – Spending time together as a family can help build strong relationships and create lasting memories.
2. Connecting with Nature – Taking time to enjoy the outdoors can help you find perspective, relax, and appreciate all that God has created.
3. Spiritual Reflection – The Sabbath is a great opportunity for families to reflect on their faith, pray together, and worship God.
4. Rest & Rejuvenation – Taking time to rest from the week allows families to recharge and come back refreshed for the upcoming week.
14 Fun and Meaningful Sabbath Activities for Families
Keeping the Sabbath doesn’t have to be boring or mundane—there are plenty of creative ways you can spend quality time with your loved ones during this special day of rest.
To help, here are some fun and meaningful Sabbath activities that families can do together. I hope you enjoy these activities and that they help create lasting memories for your family. May the Sabbath be a joyous and peaceful time for all of you.
#1 Have a Special Meal Together
In our house, Friday night was a time when I would set the table, light candles, and plan a special meal. When my own kids were growing up, I cooked meals three times a day, so sitting down to a home-cooked meal wasn’t out of the ordinary, but I would try to make our Friday evening Sabbath meal extra special.
It can be fun to start traditions around your Friday night meal – or even your Sabbath morning breakfast. Maybe you want to always serve soup and cornbread on Friday nights – or you could make homemade pizzas together every week. Whatever food traditions make your family feel special, creating happy memories, is a good choice!
#2 Family Prayer Time
Start off each Sabbath morning by gathering as a family and praying together. This activity is simple but powerful. Everyone in the family should have an opportunity to thank God for His love and grace while also sharing prayer requests and praises. Perhaps each family member could take turns leading the prayer – encourage your kids to participate!
#3 Attend Church Together
Going to church is a great way to honor the Lord and unite as a family. In our house, we go to church every week as a family and make it an important part of our Sabbath day. Of course, my husband is a pastor, but I’m a big believer in the importance of attending church regularly and finding ways to serve in the church.
#4 Have Family Discussion Time
If you’re looking for an activity that’s both fun and interactive, try having a discussion time with your family on the Sabbath day. This can be an opportunity to talk about things like what’s going on in your kids’ lives, spiritual & Biblical topics, or this week’s Sabbath school lesson.
#5 Play Bible Games
Playing Bible-themed games with your family is a great way to bond together while having fun and making the Sabbath day special. Try out some classic games like Biblopoly or Bible Trivia!
#6 Explore Nature or Go Hiking
Take advantage of warmer weather by taking your family on an outdoor adventure! Get outdoors for some fresh air and explore nature together. Take a walk, go hiking, or just sit outside in the backyard and enjoy the beauty God has created around you.
Whether you go on an easy nature walk around your neighborhood or a more strenuous hike up a nearby mountain, being out in nature is always refreshing and rejuvenating. If possible, make sure to bring along snacks and drinks so you can have a picnic lunch along the way! (Literally one of my all-time favorite ways to spend the Sabbath!!)
#7 Have a picnic in the park
Pack up some sandwiches and fresh fruit, grab a blanket, and enjoy lunch outside with your family. Picnics are a great way to spend time together outdoors and soak up the sunshine. Plus, there’s something about eating food outside that just makes everything taste better!
related: How to Plan a Picnic | The Perfect Picnic
#8 Enjoy bike rides together in nature
If your family loves to ride bikes, taking your bikes out to a park or nature trail can be a great way for everyone to connect with each other and God’s creation. You’ll be able to explore new places, get some exercise, and create lasting memories together.
#9 Visit friends or elderly church members
Visiting friends and elderly church members can be a great way to show your family the importance of serving others. Show your kids how to bless other people with their time, bring joy into someone else’s life, and offer help in any way they can.
There are often elderly members in your church who are unable to attend who are lonely. Shut-ins can often feel forgotten, so visiting them can be a great way to show your family the importance of kindness and compassion. Invite your kids along with you – this could be a wonderful opportunity for them to learn more about serving others!
#10 Read Scripture Together
The Sabbath day is a great time to focus on spiritual growth, so why not read the Bible together? Choose a book or chapter that interests your family and take turns reading verses aloud. This will be an excellent opportunity for discussion as you all talk about what you are learning and how it applies to your lives.
If you have young children, you can read short passages – one or two verses – and then talk about what it means. You don’t want to make this time feel laborious and boring – make it fun!
#11 Watch a Bible movie or television show
You can also find Bible-related movies and documentaries to watch together. This will help you gain even more insight into God’s Word and how it speaks to our lives today.
You can also find shows about Bible stories, characters, and other relevant topics that your family will enjoy. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Bible in a fun and interactive way – plus, it’s an easy way to make the Sabbath day special!
Nature documentaries can also be appropriate – just be mindful of what you choose to watch! The Sabbath day is meant to be a special, holy day, so make sure the content you’re watching aligns with that.
#12 Create Arts and Crafts
Sabbath afternoon can really drag for kids if you’re not careful. Arts and crafts are great for all ages – both young kids and adults alike. Try making something together as a family that can serve as a reminder of God’s love. Or plan ahead and choose simple crafts that are appropriate for Sabbath that your children can work on after church.
#13 Do a Puzzle Together
Puzzles are also a great way to pass the time and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Choose puzzles with a nature theme, Bible scene, or spiritual message. Working on a puzzle together can be a great way to bond as a family, and it’s also an opportunity for you to sneak in some important conversations while you work!
#14 Friday Night Vespers
Friday night vespers is a special service offered by many churches as part of the Sabbath day. It’s designed to be a peaceful, reflective time for families and individuals alike. Make it a point to attend vespers if your church offers it – you’ll find that it can be an incredibly meaningful experience!
Sometimes individual church members will host Friday night vespers in their homes. If you get the chance to join in, grab your family and go! It’s a great way to spend quality time together while also bonding with other people from church.
#15 Volunteer or Find Ways to Serve in Your Church and Community
Finally, the Sabbath day is a great time to think about ways to serve others. Encourage your family to brainstorm ideas for volunteer opportunities or church service projects that you can do together throughout the year – this will be a great way to show your kids how important it is to give back and use our gifts and talents in meaningful ways.
#16 Family Worship
Family worship can be a great way to begin and end the Sabbath day. Have everyone gather together and take turns sharing thoughts, scriptures, or prayers. This is an excellent opportunity for family members to express their faith in a safe environment, and it usually leads to some meaningful conversations.
In our house, family worship usually looks something like this:
- We start by singing hymns or kids Bible songs
- Then we read from a family devotional book.
- Discussion as appropriate about the Bible story or devotion we read.
- We talk about praise prayer requests.
- At the end of family worship, you can close with prayer.
Learn more about how to get started with family worship:
There are so many ways to make the Sabbath day special – it just takes a little bit of planning and creativity.
No matter how you choose to spend your Sabbath day, the main goal is to keep it special and focus on building spiritual connections with God and your family. Sabbath should be a day of rest, relaxation, and reflection on all the blessings that God has given us.
So get outside, connect with nature and each other, serve others, and grow together in faith! That’s how you can make your Sabbath day truly meaningful.
I hope these ideas inspire you to make each Sabbath special for your family. God bless!
What’s your favorite way to spend the Sabbath? What would you add to this list?
