Keep the gospel central in your home with this complete and easy-to-use downloadable activity pack to be used with the beloved family devotional Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God. This five-day home activity supplement empowers parents as they homeschool or lead family devotions to pass on the most valuable treasure the world has ever known. Each of the 78 lessons focuses on highlighting the gospel of grace through the stories of the Old Testament.
Machowski's fun learning activities, while centered on the Bible story of the week, span a wide range of subjects ranging from Bible study and writing to evaluating works of art and puzzle-solving. Not to leave the preschooler and lower elementary student out of the fun, the supplement includes coloring pages for all 78 stories in the book. Parents will appreciate weekly teaching helps which provide them a deeper understanding of the lesson.
The downloadable supplement contains all-new teaching material, 78 weekly homework assignments with answer keys, and 78 coloring pages. Designed for four- to twelve-year-old children. Long Story Short Home Activity Supplement reinforces the strong Bible teaching of the popular devotional and enhances its usefulness in any home.
AUTHOR
Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over thirty years. He is the author of The Gospel Story Bible, Long Story Short, Old Story New, the Gospel Story Curriculum, the Prepare Him Room advent devotional and curriculum, Wise Up family devotional and curriculum, Listen Up family devotional and curriculum, Dragon Seed, and The Ology. He and his wife Lois have six children and two grandchildren, and they reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
"Long Story Short is the best material for family devotions I've ever seen. If you're looking for something careful, creative, and Christ-centered without being corny, confusing, or condescending, look no further. Pastors would be wise to buy this book by the boxful and get a copy into the hands of each family in their church."
Justin Taylor, Blogger at The Gospel Coalition; managing editor of the ESV Study Bible
"This is simply an outstanding book, and Christian families need it right now. I have never seen a devotional book that is so well suited to family devotions and to children, even as it is faithful in relating biblical truth. This book will help any Christian parent lead family devotions that will be memorable, faithful, and practical for Christian living. I'll admit this too, parents will find that they love the stories, illustrations, and learning suggestions along with their children. Marty Machowski has written a wonderful book."
R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"I love the simplicity and practicality of Long Story Short. Marty Machowski gives parents a valuable resource to make disciples in our homes by highlighting the gospel story and the Hero of Scripture. I plan to strongly encourage the use of this book throughout our entire network of churches."
Scott Thomas, Pastor of Pastoral Development at The Journey Church
"In Long Story Short, Marty Machowski provides what my wife and I needed when we were struggling to find good tools to disciple our young children. We got by, but this resource would have helped us so much. I envy the parents who will have it available to them. It is simple, interactive, and faithful to Scripture. It avoids the pitfalls of moralism that is prevalent in much of the children's Bible literature today. Marty insists that you and your children meet Jesus and see the gospel of grace in every story. I can't recommend this resource enough."
Timothy S. Lane, Former Executive Director, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation; coauthor of How People Change and Relationships: A Mess Worth Making
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Marty Machowski
Marty Machowski
Marty Machowski
I have 5 children (10, 7, 5, 2, 1) and it's tough to get them all together for devotions. And to keep them together. I'm sure some of you can relate! We've done a lot of things with them over the years and it can be tough to strike the right balance between child-accessible and meaty enough to be meaningful and nourishing. Long Story Short breaks things down into manageable sections and schedules/scripts everything you need to pull off a family devotional time. Scripted object lessons, prayer suggestions, discussion questions, scripture readings - all right there and broken up into 78 lessons from the Old Testament with 5 brief lessons a week.It's been a while since our children were so engaged in our family Bible time (instead of staring into space while we read overly long passages or tried to sneak awayÉwell, we still have one sneaker I'll admit!) This is a great devotional tool for families with young children of mixed ages, and we're really enjoying it. Easy to teach, incredibly doable. Have fun!
I have 5 children (10, 7, 5, 2, 1) and it's tough to get them all together for devotions. And to keep them together. I'm sure some of you can relate! We've done a lot of things with them over the years and it can be tough to strike the right balance between child-accessible and meaty enough to be meaningful and nourishing. Long Story Short breaks things down into manageable sections and schedules/scripts everything you need to pull off a family devotional time. Scripted object lessons, prayer suggestions, discussion questions, scripture readings - all right there and broken up into 78 lessons from the Old Testament with 5 brief lessons a week.It's been a while since our children were so engaged in our family Bible time (instead of staring into space while we read overly long passages or tried to sneak awayÉwell, we still have one sneaker I'll admit!) This is a great devotional tool for families with young children of mixed ages, and we're really enjoying it. Easy to teach, incredibly doable. Have fun!
How can the Gospel be squeezed into 10 minute devotionals per day? This book may be very theologically sound, but it always amazes me how marketing tactics take presidence over the need to set aside our busy lives to linger over God's word (even as a family).
How can the Gospel be squeezed into 10 minute devotionals per day? This book may be very theologically sound, but it always amazes me how marketing tactics take presidence over the need to set aside our busy lives to linger over God's word (even as a family).
We use this to guide our scripture-reading time during our family worship in the evenings. The commentary on the passage being read is usually quite good. The questions are probably best for the 7 year old range (a little difficult for my 4 yo and 2 yo) so we usually make up some other questions that they can answer in addition to discussing the questions posed in the book. This book has helped make family worship a regular event in our home and relieves my wife's lack of confidence which allows her to lead family worship with the children if I happen to have to work late. Again, this has been an invaluable resource in getting rid of the fear of starting and continuing our family worship time. I'm grateful it has been made available. Oh, one last thing: ignore the 5-days a week component of the book. Just do the next day each time you do family worship. Otherwise, you'll stress yourself out when you skip family worship for whatever reason and have trouble getting yourself started again as you'll feel like a failure. Just ignore the "week" component of the book completely and take it day by day. If you miss a day or two or three or four, don't fret. Just start back up again where you left off and you're good to go!
We use this to guide our scripture-reading time during our family worship in the evenings. The commentary on the passage being read is usually quite good. The questions are probably best for the 7 year old range (a little difficult for my 4 yo and 2 yo) so we usually make up some other questions that they can answer in addition to discussing the questions posed in the book. This book has helped make family worship a regular event in our home and relieves my wife's lack of confidence which allows her to lead family worship with the children if I happen to have to work late. Again, this has been an invaluable resource in getting rid of the fear of starting and continuing our family worship time. I'm grateful it has been made available. Oh, one last thing: ignore the 5-days a week component of the book. Just do the next day each time you do family worship. Otherwise, you'll stress yourself out when you skip family worship for whatever reason and have trouble getting yourself started again as you'll feel like a failure. Just ignore the "week" component of the book completely and take it day by day. If you miss a day or two or three or four, don't fret. Just start back up again where you left off and you're good to go!
My wife and I have tried several different methods for having a family devotional, but we've never been able to hold our kids' (5YO & 3YO) attention. Long Story Short is much more interactive than anything else we've tried. It's more of a conversation WITH the kids rather than a lecture TO the kids. The best part is that every single story points to Jesus, which is pretty cool, since that's what the Bible does too!
My wife and I have tried several different methods for having a family devotional, but we've never been able to hold our kids' (5YO & 3YO) attention. Long Story Short is much more interactive than anything else we've tried. It's more of a conversation WITH the kids rather than a lecture TO the kids. The best part is that every single story points to Jesus, which is pretty cool, since that's what the Bible does too!
This was definitely geared towards younger kids. Doctrinally sound, but my older kids needed something meatier. i had been looking for a devotional for some time though, and it was recommended by Modern Reformation magazine.
This was definitely geared towards younger kids. Doctrinally sound, but my older kids needed something meatier. i had been looking for a devotional for some time though, and it was recommended by Modern Reformation magazine.
