Week 1—GOD MADE ME SPECIAL
Key Point: God has a great design for your life.

Week 2—BUILDING ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION
Key Point: Build your life on Jesus.

Week 3—RUN AWAY
Key Point: Keep sin out of your life.

Week 4—LISTEN UP
Key Point: Listen to God; He listens to you

Week 5—ANSWER THE CALL
Key Point: God’s Got a Call for Us All.

Week 6—GO!
Key Point: Share Jesus with those you know.

Marshmallow Madness
WEEK 1—GOD MADE ME SPECIAL

YOU WILL NEED: Large marshmallows, lots of toothpicks and marshmallows of all sizes, including huge ones for the Get-To-Know You Toss, if they are available.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Set out everything that you’ll need for today’s lesson.
 There are several verses to share today. Have these already marked in your Bible because you’re going to need as much time as you can get today.
 Make sure you have enough marshmallows. Always have some extras for your kids to eat while you tie in the spiritual points.

Get Started

Get-To-Know-You Toss
Have your group sit in a circle. Say your name and then toss a large marshmallow to someone else. They will say their name and toss it to another person who hasn’t yet said their name. Continue until everyone has had a turn. Do it again in the same order. Then try to speed it up to see how fast your group can do it.

Read Psalm 147:4-5 from your Bible.

SAY: God counts the stars and knows them by name. His understanding is unlimited. He is almighty and He also knows your name. That’s how special you are to Him. He created you for a reason and today we’re going to create something too.

Marshmallow Sculptures
Using toothpicks and both large and small marshmallows see who can come up with the most creative sculpture. Give each student an opportunity to show and explain their creation to the class. Praise something about each kids creation and especially for any kind of spiritual application.

ASK: What is something that God cannot do? (Let the kids guess—Most will say that He can do anything, which is true but this is a play on words.)

SAY: God cannot make a mistake and God didn’t make a mistake when He made you. God made you special and God doesn’t make junk.

Read 1 Peter 2:9 from your Bible.

ASK: Who does this say you are?

SAY: You are chosen; royal; part of a priesthood—that’s means you are a minister before God, a holy nation, you are a person for God’s own possession—This IS who you are in Christ. This isn’t what you try to become. This is what you became the moment you were saved—a part of God’s family.

SAY: God made you special and has a special design, a special plan just for you.

Call up a volunteer to represent Jeremiah. Lead all the kids to say, “Hi, Jeremiah.”

Jeremiah was a prophet of God but listen to what God told him:

Read Jeremiah 1:5 from your Bible but first tell the kids that every time you say the word “I”, that’s God talking and for them to say, “That’s God!”

SAY: God had plans for Jeremiah’s life even before he was born and even before you were born, God had great plans for your life too. Follow Jesus in every way and you won’t miss a thing that He has designed for you.

If you have extra time…
Play the Get-to-Know-You Toss game again.

Marshmallow Madness
WEEK 2—BUILDING ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

YOU WILL NEED: Lots of marshmallows—at least two bags per student and at least 20 toothpicks per student.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Make sure you have enough marshmallows. Always have some extras for your kids to eat while you tie in the spiritual points.

Get Started

Forehead Stack
Form your group into a couple of small teams. Have one team member lie down. The others will attempt to build the tallest tower possible on his or her forehead.

ASK : Why do you think your towers had trouble standing? (Because they were being built on a bad foundation. Nobody’s forehead is a great place for building anything. Plus, people tend to move and wiggle.)

SAY: If you are going to build a house, you must first lay the right foundation.
Then you build upon it, one step at a time. Did you know that 2 Peter 1:4-8 gives a list of Christian qualities that build upon one another? Of course, you must first have the right foundation, Jesus Christ.

ASK: What do you think I mean when I say that Jesus Christ is the right foundation?

SAY: Last week I told you that God has great plans for your life. Those plans begin with you accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. (This would be a great place for you to share your own salvation testimony, but keep it short and to the point of how Jesus “saved” you.) Then, once you have given your life to Christ, knowing God doesn’t stop there. You get to walk with Him and get to know Him better every day and He will build His life and into yours. Listen to these building blocks…

Read 2 Peter 1:4-8. The New Living Translation gives a good reading of these verses for kids:

So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)

ASK: What are some of the qualities that are mentioned here?

ASK: Are there any of these characteristics that you think are hard to have? Any that are easy?

SAY: These are almost like steps, like one thing leading to another, but always growing more like Jesus and building on Him as your foundation for life.

Tall Towers
SAY: We’re going to see who can build the tallest tower—This time using a solid foundation (by using tables or building on the floor). We’re also going to use some tools to help us. Not only can you use marshmallows but toothpicks as well.

ASK: God has given us tools to help us know Him better too. What are some of these tools? (The Bible, parents, church, godly friends, etc.)

Let the students work as individuals or in small groups to build the tallest towers possible. Quickly they will realize that the taller they go, the stronger and bigger their foundation needs to be. The same is true in life. You have to be strongly connected to Jesus to grow and do the great things He has planned for you.

ASK: What are ways you can keep growing closer to God? What tools can help you? How strong do you feel your foundation with Jesus is?

Marshmallow Madness
WEEK 3—RUN AWAY

YOU WILL NEED: Marshmallows, marshmallows, marshmallows! At least one bag per student of either large or small; a box or container; a piece of tape dividing the “Push Away” game sides. This only needs to be as long as half your group on each side lined up.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Make sure everything is set out and ready and the verses in your Bible are marked and ready to read.

Get Started
SAY: Everybody repeat after me: “Keep sin (kids repeat) / out of (kids repeat) / your life!” (kids repeat)

ASK: What is sin? (Doing anything that is wrong?)

ASK: What are some examples of sin that you see at school?

Today I want you to remember…Repeat after me: “Keep sin (kids repeat) / out of (kids repeat) / your life!” (kids repeat)

Best Tooth Award
SAY: By taking a bite out of a large marshmallow, you can make it look like a tooth.

Let your students each have a turn at making a tooth. Have fun praising each and if you want, give a “Best Tooth Award,” and of course, what do they win…a bag of marshmallows (of a special flavor)…or you could just give them one big marshmallow. Have fun with this. You might even give the “winner” a tiny marshmallow instead, just for the fun of it.

Make sure that the kids don’t eat their “marshmallow teeth.” Instead ask your student to put all their marshmallow teeth into a box or container. You’ll need them again in a minute.

SAY: Let’s talk about someone who would like to sink his teeth into you…

Read 1 Peter 5:8-9 from your Bible

SAY: The devil is looking for someone to “devour.”

ASK: What do you think this means? (That the devil is looking for people who will fall for his tricks, who will fall into sin and temptation.)

SAY: Everybody repeat after me: “Keep sin (kids repeat) / out of (kids repeat) / your life!” (kids repeat)

Push Away
Divide your students into two teams. Using a piece of tape, create a boundary between the two teams. Instruct your students to sit down on their side of the line facing those on the opposite team, leaving only a couple of feet between the two teams. Pour out several bags of marshmallows between them. When you say go, they will try to push (not throw) the marshmallows onto the other team’s side. At the end of one minute, whichever side has the least marshmallows is the winning team.

ASK: What are things that God wants us to keep away from?

Read 2 Timothy 2:22 from your Bible.

SAY: Everybody repeat after me: “Keep sin (kids repeat) / out of (kids repeat) / your life!” (kids repeat)

ASK: So how can you resist the devil? How can you overcome temptation?

SAY: It begins by a simple decision that you want to follow Jesus and that He is more important to you than anything else. Then you can trust God’s Word and have confidence that God will give you the strength you need to fight against sin and keep it out of your life.

SAY: A while ago, you put your “marshmallow teeth” creations in this box (or container). Do you think you could pick yours out?

Let the kids try to pick out their “teeth.”

ASK: Are you sure that you’ve chosen the right marshmallow? Are you so sure that you would be willing to eat it? (Tell them not to do this—after all, they’ve been in a box!)

SAY: There’s a lot of things in life that you might not be so sure about, but with God you can have total confidence. His Word is true and His promises last forever. He is with you and He’ll never leave you, and if you follow Him, He’ll give you the strength you need to overcome sin and temptation. James 4:7 says, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

If you have extra time…

(1) Read Colossians 3:8-10 from your Bible. Discuss things that God wants them to keep out of their lives and then…

(2) Play the “Push Away” game again or talk about characters in the Bible who showed total confidence in God instead of giving into sin (great examples: Daniel facing the lion’s den; Shadrack, Meshack and Abindego facing the fiery furnace).

Marshmallow Madness
WEEK 4—LISTEN UP

YOU WILL NEED: Yes, more marshmallows! A marker that will write on marshmallows; one blindfold for every two students; one small Zip-Lock bag for each student.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Pour a hundred or two hundred marshmallows in an area of the room. Leave enough room to walk through them but scatter them as if creating a mine-field.

Get Started

Let each student write his or her name on a marshmallow as they enter the room. Toss the named marshmallows in a box. You’ll need these later in the lesson.

Mine Field
Pour out hundreds of large marshmallows in an area. Have each student find a partner. One of them will be blindfolded and the other one, without physically touching them, will verbally guide them through the minefield of marshmallows. One touch to a marshmallow and the team is out.

(Option for Younger Children—Don’t pair the kids up. Instead, let each of them have a turn with you guiding them from the end of the marshmallow mine field.

SAY: Last week we talked about how God wants you to push sin out of your life.

Read Proverbs 4:20-27 from your Bible.

SAY: This passage begins with a “Listen closely” statement and ends by instructing the individual not to stray to the right or to the left. In other words, stay on the right path.

ASK—What are some ways that people stray from God? (They don’t listen to God; they don’t follow His Word; etc.)

ASK—What can you do to help keep yourself on the right path?

If none of the kids mention prayer, drop some hints or just come right out and say it, “Prayer is one way to keep close to God.”

ASK—How can you help others stay on the right path?

SAY: Prayer is one way you can help others and this week we’re going to give you a chance to pray for each other.

Grab the box that has the marshmallows with names on them in it. Let each student take turns pulling one out. (NOTE: Give each student a Zip-lock bag in which to put their marshmallow-prayer reminder.)

SAY—Put this marshmallow somewhere you will see it this week and every time you see it, pray for the person whose name is on it. Pray for them, even if you don’t know them well. God knows who they are and what is going on in their lives.

KEY: This week listen closely to how God want you to live and stay on His path. Then talk to God about your own life as well as your marshmallow prayer-partners for the week.

Marshmallow Madness
WEEK 5— ANSWER THE CALL

YOU WILL NEED: Marshmallows…a candle, something to light the candle, a plastic fork for each student and one metal fork; a sling shot and a target.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Have everything you need laid out for today’s lesson.
 Have a lighter in a safe place where children can’t get to it but you can when you need it.
 Have a target ready for the “Target Practice” game.

Get Started
SAY: Anytime I say, “God’s Got a Call…”, I want you to say, “For us all!” Let’s try it: Leader: “God’s Got a Call…”/ Kids: “For us all!”

Do this a few times, then SAY: God has great plans for your life—just like I have some plans for these big marshmallows. In a moment we’re going to cook-up a few and eat them but first I want to use a marshmallow and this candle to tell you a story:

Burn, Baby, Burn
Put a large marshmallow on a fork and hold it over a regular household candle. It will ignited and begin to quickly burn black. (NOTE: This is an illustration to be shown to your students, not in which to have them participate.)

SAY: The fire immediately changed the marshmallow. And if I left it in the fire, it would eventually turn totally black and burn. It would be “consumed.” That’s what was so amazing about the burning bush that Moses saw in the wilderness—The Bible says that Moses went over and looked at it because it burned but it wasn’t consumed. In other words, it burned but it never burned up because it wasn’t burning on its own resources. It’s burning depended on God. Many people get “burned-out” in life but when you live a life that completely depends on God, He gives you the strength you need to keep going, even when the going gets tough.

Cook up some marshmallows for your student. Use the metal fork to cook the marshmallows and let each student pull if off by using their plastic fork.

SAY: Leader: “God’s Got a Call…”/ Kids: “For us all!”

SAY: God called Moses to a specific mission. This was part of God’s plan for Moses his whole life. It was part of what he was created for and God has created you for a reason too. He has great plans for your life and those plans begin by you giving your life to Jesus.

While you’re talking, take a marshmallow and put it in the flame. Let it burn and burn until it’s a ruined black mess.

SAY: Sometimes people let things come into their lives that don’t belong. Just like I left this marshmallow in the fire too long and now it’s ruined, they end up with ruined lives. It’s impossible for me to fix this marshmallow. It’ll go in the trash. It would take a miracle for it to become white and good-tasting again. And it took a miracle for us to be forgiven, to know Jesus, to have eternal life and to be able to know for sure that we’ll go to heaven someday.

SAY: If you’re not sure that you’d go to heaven or you have questions about it, I want you to know that you can talk to any of our leaders today about how you can have Jesus in your life.

SAY: You see, our problem is sin. Let me show you what sin is like:

Target Practice
Let your kids take turns shooting large marshmallows from a sling-shot at a target drawn on a marker board or a bucket turned on its side, sitting on a chair, etc.

SAY: Sometimes we hit the target and sometimes we missed. But in life, we’ve all missed the target of God’s perfection.

ASK: Are any of us as perfect as God?

SAY: No, because we’ve all sinned.

Read Romans 3:23 from your Bible.

SAY: And because we’ve sinned, none of us deserve to know God or to go to heaven. But that’s why God sent Jesus.

Have students hold out one hand.

SAY: On the one hand, we’ve all done wrong things. None of us are perfect and none of us deserve to go to heaven.

Have students hold out the other hand.

SAY: On the other hand, God loves you so much that He sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to die in your place, to take the punishment for your bad things, to make a way for you to be forgiven and to spend eternity with God.

SAY: If you ever have any questions about this, please talk to one of our leaders.

SAY: Leader: “God’s Got a Call…”/ Kids: “For us all!”

SAY: And that call begins by giving your life to Jesus.

Pray that your students will give their lives to Jesus when the time is right and that those who are already saved will follow Jesus every day.

(NOTE: While presenting the plan of salvation, DO NOT ever lead your class in a group prayer. Always deal with children one-on-one and if you don’t have time to talk with someone who has questions about salvation, take them to the children’s office or another leader who is ready to share Christ.)

Marshmallow Madness
WEEK 6—GO!

YOU WILL NEED: Two pans of Jell-O with the same number of large marshmallows in each; a floor covering; and some paper towels

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Make sure that everything is ready for the “Beautiful Are the Feet” illustration.

Get Started
Beautiful Are the Feet
Reveal your pans of Jell-O with large marshmallows inside. Call up a volunteer for each pan and have them sit in a chair and remove their shoes and socks. (NOTE: You will want to have laid down some sort of floor covering such as a painter’s sheet.) When you say go, using only their toes, they will try to remove from the pan and set aside as many marshmallows as they can.

When the competition is done, have them remain sitting in their chairs with dirty feet…

SAY: God wants all of us to have “beautiful feet.” Let me explain what I mean…

Read Romans 10:14-15 from your Bible.

SAY: So when I say that God wants us all to have “beautiful feet,” I’m really saying that God wants us all to take the Good News of how Jesus saves to other people.

Let your volunteers wipe their feet and go to the bathroom to get cleaned up if necessary. While they are gone tell your kids how much you’ve enjoyed being with them over the past six weeks and…

ASK: What is your favorite marshmallow activity that we’ve done?

ASK: What is one thing we’ve talked about that you remember or that helped you?

Then, as your volunteers return, continue with the lesson…

ASK: What are some ways you can share Jesus with others?

SAY: You can share Jesus through your words but also through your actions. When you put others ahead of yourself, it shows the kind of love that comes from God.

Explain to your students the story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet in John 13:5-20. He, who was Lord, became the servant of all and took the place of the lowliest servant by washing the disciples’ dirty feet. When we show this same kind of love and servant-like kindness through our actions, it shows people that there is something different about us…and what is different is that we know Jesus.

ASK: Who is someone this week you can tell about Jesus by serving or helping them in some way?

ASK: Who is someone this week you can tell about Jesus and what He means to you?

If you have extra time…
Give each student a large marshmallow. Have them bite in half and stick it to their foreheads and see whose marshmallow can stay stuck the longest. You can do this more than once, then tie in the following point:

SAY: Our desire through Marshmallow Madness was not just to have fun with sweets but to help you know and follow Jesus. These marshmallows won’t stick to your forehead forever but we want you to always stick to Jesus—Stick to following Him, growing closer to Him, knowing Him, and sharing Him.

Lesson 1—FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS
Food: Betty Crocker Mini Molten Chocolate Cake (or brownies)
Key Point: Follow God’s Instructions
Bible Lesson: Psalm 119:9-16

Lesson 2—BE PATIENT
Food: Instant Mashed Potatoes
Key Point: Be Patient
Bible Lesson: Colossians 3:12

Lesson 3—BE PLEASING
Food: Decorate Ice Cream Sundaes
Key Point: Always do what’s right
Bible Lesson: Colossians 1:10-12

Lesson 4—BE A PART
Food: Popcorn
Key Point: God can changes lives and use you as a part of it
Bible Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Acts 26:9-18; Matthew 5:6; 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

Lesson 5—LIVE ON THE PATH
Food: Cream of Wheat
Key Point: Right and wrong is not a matter of taste
Bible Lesson: Proverbs 4:13-15; 25-27; Amos 5:15

Lesson 6—LIVE FOR WHAT MATTERS
Food: Rice
Key Point: Life is more than the food we eat and thing we have.
Bible Lesson: Matthew 6:25-33

Kitchen Craze
WEEK 1—FOLLOW GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS

YOU WILL NEED: A Betty Crocker Warm Delight Mini Molten Chocolate Cake or Brownie mix for each student; a source of water; a container of vegetable oil; a container of applesauce; at least one teaspoon and tablespoon; a spoon for each student; a microwave; and today’s Take-Home recipe.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Remove the directions for making the dessert.
 Set out an instant brownie bowl for each of your students.
 Have a source of water.
 Set out vegetable oil, and applesauce as well as measuring spoons for both a teaspoon and tablespoon.

Let’s Get Cookin’
ASK—Do you think we should or shouldn’t use the directions for making today’s dessert?

ASK—What would the benefit be of using the directions? Why might some people not use the directions?

SAY—So, if we weren’t going to use the directions, how much of each of these items would you use?

Engage your students in a discussion about what they would use and how much. Let each one tell you their thoughts. Then reveal the true instructions and explain that if they had added more water than necessary, their brownies probably would have been goo. If they had added the vegetable oil or applesauce, they most like would have ruined their dessert.

SAY: In the same way that not following the directions will ruin your dessert, not following God’s instructions in the Bible will ruin your life. God gave use rules and directions because He loves us and His instructions are our guide to living. He has given us a recipe for real life. Otherwise we might put the wrong things in our lives and get the wrong things out of our lives.

MAKE DESSERT

Let each student add the correct amount of water to complete the dessert.

As they stir and microwave their desserts, discuss questions such as:

 What are some of the instructions that God gives us?
 Why do you think God gave us these instructions? (Because He loves us; He wants us to know how to live; He tells us everything we need to know about how to live life right, etc.)
 Why do your parents give you instructions and directions? (Because they love you too.)

As your students eat, read from your Bible Psalm 119:9-16. Ask your students to raise a hand everytime they hear a word that represents God’s instructions (such as commandments, precepts, ways, statutes, etc.)

SAY—This week follow God’s instructions for your life.

Pray with your students but if time allows, talk with them about the following:

ASK—Which of God’s instructions (or laws) do you think are the hardest for you to follow?

ASK—Why do you think so many people struggle following God’s recipe for our lives?

Introduce this week’s Take-Home Recipe and encourage them to do it with a parent.

Kitchen Craze
WEEK 2—BE PATIENT

YOU WILL NEED: For a class of 8 students, you will need two packages of dry Idahoan ORIGINAL Mashed Potatoes mix, water, milk, margarine, measuring spoons for teaspoon and tablespoon, a measuring cup and salt; today’s Take-Home recipe.

NOTE: In this session, you will be mixing both packages of instant mashed potatoes at the same time but in two groups so that more students get to be a part of measuring out the ingredients.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Set out the ingredients and items that you will need.

Let’s Get Cookin’
ASK—How many of you have ever been really hungry while your mom or dad was cooking and it was so hard to wait?

SAY—Today we’re going to make instant mashed potatoes but before we do, let’s talk about last week.

ASK—Who remembers what we made last week?

ASK—Who remembers what we learned by following the instructions?

SAY—Last week we learned the importance of following God’s instructions, God’s recipe for our lives. Today we’re going to follow the instructions but before we do, we’re going to let anyone who desires take a taste of the dry mashed potatoes.

Give each student who wants a little bit of the dry mix—just enough to lick a finger and get a taste. For some, it will taste like a bad potato chip. Others will just not like it but there might be a few that think it tastes okay. Regardless of their response, it won’t change your point.

SAY—Good things come with patience.

ASK—What is patience?

ASK—What would you think about a person who was so impatient that they wouldn’t even wait for the mashed potatoes to be ready and just ate the dry mix instead? (You’d probably think they were crazy.)

SAY—If a person did that, they would rob themselves of something so much better. Let’s cook up these mashed potatoes and taste the difference.

Split your students into two groups to mix the ingredients. Instead of heating to a boil, microwave the two bowls together for 4-5 minutes. While the water/milk mix heats up, share with your students the following verse:

Read from your Bible Colossians 3:12.

What is compassion?

What is kindness?

What is humility?

What is gentleness?

SAY: God tells us to “put these on.” We’ve finished the Mashed Potatoes. They’re complete, but we can add more to them to make them even better. To your potatoes, if you want, you can “put on” butter, salt, bacon bits, etc. You can add these.

SAY: In the same way, when you are saved, your life is made complete. You’re saved. You’re going to heaven but God doesn’t want you to stop there. He wants you to grow and follow Him, to become like him by adding, not only patience, but kindness, compassion, humility and gentleness to your life.

If you have time…
Spend a few minutes discussing with your kids which of these traits they feel is the strongest in their lives and which is the weakest. How can they keep growing in and adding these godly traits to their lives?

Introduce this week’s Take-Home Recipe and encourage them to do it with a parent.

Kitchen Craze
WEEK 3—BE PLEASING

YOU WILL NEED: All the fixings for ice cream sundaes, including a variety of toppings that will “please” your students; a bowl of spinach or sea weed or mushrooms or something else that wouldn’t fit well on a sundae; bowls and spoons; and today’s Take-Home recipe.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Set out all the items you need, making sure that you also have bowls and spoons.

Let’s Get Cookin’
ASK: Who remembers what last week’s verse talked about? (If they don’t, remind them of the basic meaning behind Colossians 3:12. You might also give them hints to remind them what you prepared and ate last week and what you learned from it.)

SAY: Today’s verse comes from the book of Colossians as well.

Read from your Bible Colossians 1:10-12.

SAY: I’m going to read it again and as you listen I want you to remember one word or phrase that sticks out to you in this verse.

Read it again.

ASK: What word did you choose to remember? (Let each student tell you which word they chose.)

SAY: There’s a word that I want you to remember today. The word is “pleasing,” or as the verse says, “to please Him.” (OPTION: If you want have them try to guess your word by giving hints such as: “My word begins with a P and ends with an E. It’s something you should say when you want something, etc.)

SAY: We just read a part of the apostle Paul’s prayer for the people in the church at Colosse (get it, they were the “Colossians”!). He wanted them to live a life that was “worthy of the Lord, to please Him” in all their ways.

SAY: Now, let’s pause our conversation while we make a fun dessert. Today we’ll be making our own ice cream sundaes.

Make the sundaes. Give the kids plenty of options of what to put on their sundaes—all the different things that would “please” them but don’t make a big deal about whatever you chose that they wouldn’t want on their sundae. Once everyone is eating, come back to the conversation…

SAY: While we’re eating, let me ask you a few questions:

ASK: Why didn’t anyone choose the (whatever the un-pleasing item is)? (NOTE: If someone used it, then ask them why and ask the others why not…it will still make the same point.)

ASK: What else wouldn’t belong on an ice cream sundae? (ketchup, spaghetti, sweet peas, etc.?)

SAY: You chose to put on your sundae what pleased you. You put on it what you felt would make it just right for you. Likewise, God has told us what to put in our lives that pleases Him.

ASK: Describe someone who lives a “life worthy of the Lord, to please Him” in all his ways. What would this person be like? What would they do? What would they not do?

ASK: Would you want to hang around this person? Why or why not?

ASK: Do you think they would be a lot like Jesus?

ASK: Would you like to be a person like that?

ASK: Do you feel like that’s the kind of person you’re becoming. Why or why not?

SAY: Jesus loves you and had great plans for your life even before you were born. He has told you how to live and how to follow Him. The person who is pleasing to the Lord is the person who loves Him with all his heart, (have the kids put their hand over their heart), with all his soul (have kids motion with their hands down to their whole selves), with all his mind (have the kids point to their mind) and all his strength (have the kids hold up their arms like they are flexing their muscles).

Repeat this again.

SAY: Out of this kind of love, we obey God. Out of this love, we want to know Him better. Out of this love, we want to please Him.

Introduce this week’s Take-Home Recipe and encourage them to do it with a parent.

If you have extra time…
Take a few moments to let your kids share prayer requests with you and pray for them.

Kitchen Craze
WEEK 4—BE A PART

YOU WILL NEED: For a class of 8 students, you will need three packages of popcorn and some popcorn toppings; Matthew 5:6 & 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 written on a small strips of paper and ready to be hidden; and today’s Take-Home recipe.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Set out everything you need and hide the two verses that your students will try to find: Matthew 5:6 & 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

Let’s Get Cookin’
ASK: How many of you would like some popcorn?

Take a bag of the popcorn and tear it open (without cooking it!) and begin distributing uncooked kernels.

SAY: Who wants some? Nobody. That would taste terrible. An incredible change happens when these little kernels get hot. They go from being hard and tasteless to one of the best tasting treats around. In a like manner, an incredible change happens when someone gives his life to Jesus.

Read from your Bible 2 Corinthians 5:17.

ASK: What is this verse talking about? (The kind of change that Jesus can bring to a person’s life where all the bad things they’ve done are gone and God gives them a new life and a new beginning.)

SAY: We’re getting ready to see a change in this popcorn too.

Cook up the popcorn.

While it cooks, tell your students to search the room for two verses that are going to help them learn from the popcorn.

Give each student a drink. Distribute the popcorn.

ASK: What do you like on your popcorn? Has anyone ever tried strangely flavored popcorn like Nacho Cheese or Bubblegum flavored?

SAY: No matter what your favorite popcorn toppings are, one thing is true—popcorn makes you thirty.

While they eat, read from your Bible Acts 26:9-18. Explain to them that in the same way that the heat total changed the popcorn kernel, that God totally changed Saul’s (Paul’s) life. As he describes, he went from hurting and killing the followers of Jesus to being a follower and minister of Jesus.

Take the two verses they found while the popcorn was cooking and have the following brief discussion:

SAY: Popcorn makes you thirsty. Did you know that God wants us to thirst for something too?

READ Matthew 5:6

SAY: God wants us to hunger and thirst for righteousness and when we do, this has an affect on others…

ASK: When did you first smell the popcorn? When you smell popcorn, how does it affect you?

SAY: Popcorn is one of the most powerful smells in the world and did you know that the Bible talks about a sweet smell too?

READ 1 Corinthians 2:14-15.

SAY: By how you live, you can make other people hunger and thirst for Jesus. You can draw them to Christ by the things you say and do. In other words, you can be a part of God changing lives, just like he changed Paul’s—just like the heat changed the kernel from something hard and worthless to something good and tasty.

Introduce this week’s Take-Home Recipe and encourage them to do it with a parent.

Kitchen Craze
WEEK 5—LIVE ON THE PATH

YOU WILL NEED: No less than one package of Cream of Wheat for every two students; a source of water; some sugar and butter; a microwave; and a large paper sack. Have some milk to drink with this; and today’s Take-Home recipe.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Be familiar with the instructions on how to make Cream of Wheat and make sure that you have all the necessary ingredients.
 Put the Cream of Wheat box in a paper sack so that kids can see what you’re making.
 For thicker Cream of Wheat add 1/3 less water..

Let’s Get Cookin’
ASK: How was your day today?

ASK: What all have you eaten today? (Make a list of what they ate for supper, lunch, and breakfast.)

SAY: Tonight we are going to eat a breakfast food. (Or, if a lot of kids skipped breakfast, SAY: Since so many of you didn’t have breakfast, we’re going to make up for it tonight!)

ASK: Who wants to guess what breakfast food we’re going to be making? (It might be something you’ve never had!)

SAY: We’re going to make Cream of Wheat. (Pull the box out of the bag.)

ASK: How many of you have ever eaten Cream of Wheat?

SAY: It has a totally different taste from Oatmeal. Some might call it mush. Some people like it and some people don’t.

ASK: How many of you think that you’ll like it?

Help your student follow the instructions for making the Cream of Wheat. Let them take turns doing each part. It might be good to put them into groups of about four and to make more than one mixture. Let each group make two to four packages. Some kids will really like this and will ask for more. After microwaving the Cream of Wheat, add butter and sugar. Then put it in their bowls and gently sprinkle a little more sugar across the top.

While the kids are preparing this, pour each student a cup of milk.

Ask everyone to wait until each person has a bowl so that you can all take a taste at the same time. Also warn them to be careful in case it’s hot.

After taking a bite and while they are eating, ASK: Do you like it?

SAY: Whether or not you like this is simply a matter of taste. There’s no right or wrong to it. It’s okay for one person to like it another not to—neither one is right because it’s simply a matter of what you like.

SAY: But did you know that right and wrong is never a matter of taste. Something that’s wrong will always be wrong and will be wrong for everyone. Something that’s right will always be right and will be right for everyone. There’s no such thing as something being wrong for one person but right for another. God’s laws don’t just apply to some people—they apply to all people and God’s laws do not change.

Take an object and throw in the air, almost to the ceiling and let it fall to the floor— (Car keys are great for this as long as there is nothing breakable on them.)

SAY: Wasn’t that incredible! Do you want to see that again?

Do it again. And, even again, if you desire.

ASK: Every time I throw this up, what will happen? (It will come back down.)

SAY: That’s a physical law God created call gravity. What goes up comes down. God made laws about living too. A lie is wrong. A lie will always be wrong and will never be right. Using God’s name in vain is wrong and will always be wrong for all people.

KEY: God’s laws don’t change. Right is right and will always be right. Wrong is wrong and will always be wrong, and God wants you to live a life that is on the right path.

Read either Proverbs 4:13-15; 25-27 or the first line of Amos 5:15
Or if you have time, read both and discuss what they mean.

Then PRAY for your students that they will be able to tell the difference between right and wrong and that they will do what’s right and not walk the wrong way.

Introduce this week’s Take-Home Recipe and encourage them to do it with a parent.

Kitchen Craze
WEEK 6—LIVE FOR WHAT MATTERS

YOU WILL NEED: Rice, water, salt, butter; a preparation bowl; a microwave; bowls and spoons for the kids; soy sauce (optional); and today’s Take-Home recipe.

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
 Make sure that you have all the items you need set-out and ready to go.
 Since there’s more than one verse today, have both places marked in your Bible for quick access.

Let’s Get Cookin’
ASK: What is worry? (Worry is anxiety or uneasiness or allowing your mind to focus on troubling thoughts and difficulties.)

ASK: What are some things that people worry about?

ASK: What are some things that you worry about?

ASK: If you could name your biggest worry, what would it be?

SAY: Today we’re going to fix some rice. Rice might not be your favorite food but it’s what a lot of people around the world eat because they have little of anything else.

Prepare the rice and let the kids take a taste of it without any salt or butter.

SAY: All around the world, people are eating this because it’s all they have. Image what it must be like not knowing how you’ll get your next meal or even how long it will be. This is daily for many people. We are very blessed. I just wanted you to taste the rice the way most people in the world have to eat it before we add “extra blessings” to ours to make it taste a bit better.

After taking a bite, let your students add some butter, salt or soy sauce. Then while the kids eat, continue the discussion…

SAY: Listen to what Jesus said about some of the things people worry about.

Read from your Bible Matthew 6:25-34

ASK: What were some things that Jesus mentioned? What did He say about them? What did he say we should do? (Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…v. 33.)

SAY: Did you hear what else Jesus said: If God takes care of the birds, how much more valuable are you to Him than they. Won’t He take care of you too? Doesn’t He know your needs even before you ask Him?

SAY: God loves you and doesn’t want you to be “eaten up” with worry but to live in peace that trusts Him.

SAY: If you ever lay in bed at night, worrying, listen to this verse:

Read Philippians 4:6-7

Pray for your students that they will not live in worry and thank God for all the things with which He has blessed us—even every meal.

Finishing Up
Let your students know how much you’ve enjoyed having them in class with you the past six weeks. Encourage them to keep following Jesus every day.

Introduce this week’s Take-Home Recipe and encourage them to do it with a parent.

Scripture : Ephesians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 11:1

YOU WILL NEED: No items are needed.

Being Like Jesus

Game #1: Follow the Leader

Choose a volunteer to be the leader and in your room play Follow the Leader. Change leaders every 30 seconds. You’ll want to keep this moving fast. Depending on the size of your class, you will either need to tell them that everyone will get to be the leader or that only a few will get to do it.

For Variation: Play the game in one big, long line.

Then split them into teams and play the game in smaller groups.

Discussion

SAY: Just like the game, when you follow someone you do what they do and you say what they say. When you follow Jesus, you do what He did and say things that agree with what He said.

KEY: To follow Jesus means to be like Jesus.

Read from your Bible:

Ephesians 5:1

Ask the students— How can we imitate God? How can we be just like Jesus?

SHOUT OUT COMPETITION

Divide your class into two sides (i.e., split the group down the middle or boys against girls.)

SAY: We’re going to have a competition to see which side can be the loudest. When I point to this side, yell out, “I Can Be!” When I point to the other side, yell out, “Just Like Jesus!”

Go back and forth between the two teams three times to see which side is louder.

Game #2: Simon Says

Play Simon Says with your class. In this game, you either do it right or you’re out. There’s really only one way to win—that’s by following Simon’s instructions perfectly. In life, though, none of us are perfect. We’ve all made mistakes and that’s the reason we all need a Savior. Jesus is the only way to heaven.

Game #3: Animal Imitation

SAY: I’m going to call out an animal and I want you to imitate his noise:

Pig

Horse

Donkey

Cow

Moose (this might be a tough one!)

Duck

Chicken

Lion

Dog

Cat

SAY: To imitate something means to be like it. The Bible says that we should imitate God. We should be like God. A minute ago you did what “Simon” did to be like Simon. We should always do the things Jesus did, to be like Him.

KEY: To follow Jesus means to be like Jesus.

SAY: A minute ago we read a verse that said to “imitate” God.

ASK— Who remembers where that verse was found? (Ephesians 5:1)

ASK — Who knows who wrote the book of Ephesians? (Paul the apostle)

SAY: Listen to something else he wrote:

Read from your Bible:

1 Corinthians 11:1

ASK — What is different about this verse? (Paul is asking them to imitate him!)

ASK — Why did Paul ask them to imitate him? (Because he is imitating Jesus.)

ASK — If someone were to imitate the way you live, would they be like Jesus?

SAY: Paul wasn’t bragging. He was giving them a living example of how to imitate God by saying, “Become like me because I am becoming like Jesus.” Or, like follow the leader, what if the person in front of you went the wrong way and didn’t follow the leader? You would probably go the wrong way too. It’s important that we are like Jesus and that others can follow our examples to be like Jesus too.

SHOUT OUT COMPETITION

Divide your class into two sides again

SAY: We’re going to have a competition to see which side can be the loudest. When I point to this side, yell out, “I Can Be!” When I point to the other side, yell out, “Just Like Jesus!”

Go back and forth between the two teams three times to see which side is louder.

Extra Time

Discuss with your students ways that they can be “just like Jesus.”  Then pray and thank God for Jesus and for godly examples who follow Him.

Discussion: God can change lives

Scripture: Philippians 3:10, 14 & 2 Corinthians 5:17

YOU WILL NEED: No items needed

Game: Catepillar Races

Divide your group into teams of 4 to 10 students. Have each team stand in a straight line. All of the team members need to stand with their legs far enough apart for another student to crawl beneath them. On “go” the last person in line will crawl beneath the legs of all the other team members and stand up at the front with his/her legs spread apart. As soon as there is room the second person at the end of the line will begin following them and crawling through as well and so forth until every team members has crawled through everyone else legs. The first team to complete this wins. If you have small group, you may want to have them crawl through two or three times.(NOTE: Girls in dresses do not need to participate in this game.)

What was your goal in the game?

What is your goal in life?

What does God want your goal to be?

Read Phil. 3:14 (This was Paul’s Goal)

What do you think this verse means? (That Paul wanted to do everything God wanted him to do.)

How did he plan to do this?

He tells us in Phil. 3:10. (He wanted to know God and be like Jesus regardless of the cost.)

Game: Leap Frog

(Girls in dresses will need to run around the person once instead of leap-frogging over them)

What does a catepillar and a frog have in common? (They both go through a big change in life.)

A catepillar changed from a catepillar to a what? (a butterfly)

A frog changes from a what to a frog? (a tadpole)

When a person gives their life to Jesus, he brings a different kind of change.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17

What do you think this verse means? (When a person is saved, Jesus gives them a brand new life and takes their sins away.)

How can Jesus take a person’s sin away?

Share your salvation testimony.

Prayer Time

Take Prayer requests and pray—Ask if any of your kids want to pray for the group.

If you have extra time:

Play one of the games again, then briefly review what it meant.

Sing a song

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

YOU WILL NEED: No items needed.

Christmas Theme

Control Tool:

Leader: What’s Christmas all about? Students: It’s all about Jesus!

Game: Gorilla Beats the Man

This is like a large version of rock, paper, and scissors. Your students stand back-to-back. You say, “Gorilla (raise arms like a gorilla) beats the man (put hands on hips), man (put hands on hips) beats the gun (hold finger out as gun), gun (hold finger out as gun) beats gorilla (raise arms like a gorilla), if you tie (act like you are adjusting your tie), you die. (In other words, if they both make the same gesture, they are both out.) 5-4-3-2-1…(This is when your students turn around and make the appropriate gesture for gorilla, man, or gun…and, remember, if they tie, they’re both out.)

“Gorilla beats the man, man beats the gun, gun beats gorilla, if you tie, you die. 5-4-3-2-1…”

Continue playing and eliminating players until there is only one winner.

KEY—There could only be one winner in this game, but with Jesus, everyone can win.

ASK: How can a person win in life?

ASK: Was Jesus born to be the Savior of only a few or of everybody? (Everybody, even though not everybody chooses to give their life to Him.)

SAY: That’s what Christmas is all about—About the fact that Jesus loves you so much that He came to earth to save you.

Game: Body Spellers

Divide your class into two or more teams with at least three students on each team. Instruct them to use their bodies to spell the following letters.

Practice: Q / B

Competition—Spell: G / I / F/ T

Sit in a circle

SAY: Some people get greedy during Christmas and think only about themselves and what gifts they’ll get. This Christmas, think about others and how you can bless them too.

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

ASK: What’s the greatest gift you’ve ever been given?

Read Ephesians 2:8-9

ASK: What is the gift of God?

ASK: How is a person saved according to this verse? (For by grace through faith.)

ASK: What is grace? (Jesus dying and being punished for your sins when He as innocent.)

ASK: Can a gift be earned? (No. Just accepted.)

Your part is faith–not just believing, but trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Take prayer requests and pray

(If there’s extra time, play Gorilla beats the Man again.)

YOU WILL NEED: Two pool noodles.

Fighting Against Sin

Game: Tournament-Style Samarai

Have the students make a large circle and then choose two volunteers. Give each a pool noodle. When you say “Go” the first one to touch the other person with their samarai (pool noodle) wins. The winner remains in the circle to face the next challenger. The overall winner is the person who won the most matches.

Discussion

SAY: Just a little touch would win. You didn’t have to hit hard or swing hard. It didn’t have to be anything big. Just a little can make a big difference in life too. A lot of people think that they’ll be okay as long as they don’t do anything really big that’s wrong, but even what someone might consider to be the “smallest” sin, will always have a huge impact. Sin will always separate you from God. Even as a Christian, if you allow sin, however small, a place in your life, you will have a broken relationship with God. As a Christian, you will still have a relationship, but it won’t be a right one.

Ask the students—What do you have to do to have a right relationship with God? (Get rid of all sin.)

Ask the students—How does a person get rid of their sin? (They confess it to God, turn from it, and ask for His forgiveness.)

Ask the students—Is there any sin in your life from which you haven’t turned away or confessed to God?

Ask the students—What is stopping you from getting rid of it today? How do you think this sin will affect your life if you don’t turn away from it. (Sin will always lead to more sin. Sin will always hurt the person doing it and usually those around them too.)

Game: Free-Style Samarai

Have the students make a large circle and then choose two volunteers. Give each a pool noodle. When you say “Go” give them 20 seconds to “beat the living daylights” out of the other person. This is an “extreme” game and although it may sound and look like hits with a pool noodle might hurt, the impact is usually minimal.

Read these Rules to the Students: Head shots are illegal. Be careful not to get so close to each other that you actually hit them with your hand. Take off glasses and large earrings. You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. Stop when I say stop. (Also, if you have time at the end of class, feel free to take the “Champion” of your class and challenge another class.)

Discussion

SAY: There will be times in your life when you struggle against sin. There might be something that you know is wrong, but you want to do it. Just like the game, where you used the Samarai (pool noodle) to defend yourself, you need to be ready to have God’s Word defend you.

Ask the students—What if you had never picked up the samarai? Could it have defended you? (No.)

SAY: In the same way, if you haven’t hidden God’s Word in your heart, you won’t be fully ready to fight against sin. And notice, that when Jesus was tempted, He didn’t stop to read and look up verses, He already knew them. That’s how important it is to read and know and memorize the Bible.

Continue with a discussion of Psalm 119:11 or Jesus being tempted in Matthew 4.

Scripture: Matthew 5:29-30

YOU WILL NEED: A blindfold for each student; foam balls that won’t hurt when a student is hit by them; a piece of paper and pen or pencil for each student

Fully Devoted

(NOTE: This lesson is for older students only.)

Activity: Dodge Ball

Divide the students into two teams. Divide the class into two halves and play dodge ball using soft, foam balls. One hit and you’re out. If you catch a ball in the air, no one is out.

Activity: Blind Dodge Ball

Using the same teams, switch sides, then give each of them a blindfold and tell them they have to play blind. They can’t peek—not to get balls, not to see where their opponents are—They are totally blind.

Discussion:

Ask the students—Did you like being blind?

Ask the students—Would like to be blind every day of your life?

SAY: Listen to a verse that many people find to be very confusing:

Read what Jesus said in Matthew 5:29-30

Ask the students—In these verses what do you think Jesus means?

Ask the students—Did He really mean that He wants you to pluck out your eye or cut off your hand? (Of course not.)

SAY: Jesus was talking about things that hold a person back from giving their life to Him and following Him. Yes, it’s better for a person to lose whatever would hold him back from giving his life to Christ—whether it be an eye or a hand or his life—than it would be to lose his soul. But even those who have been saved can hold onto things that keep them from following Jesus.

Ask the students—What are some things that might hold back someone your age from being a fully devoted follower of Christ? (i.e., peer pressure, fear, bad habits, hanging around the wrong group of friends, etc.)

Ask the students—What do you think a fully devoted follower of Christ would be like?

Ask the students—[Have student answer only in their own hearts]—On a scale of 1 to 10, how fully devoted are you to following Jesus everyday?

Have the students close their eyes.

Ask the students—Right now do you feel like you are 100% following Jesus? Is there anything in your life that you’re doing that you know is wrong? Whatever it is, you need to let go of it.

Give each student a small piece of paper.

Ask them to write on it one or more things they would like to do in the next year to grow closer to Jesus.

Tell them to put these in their pockets to keep as a reminder to begin fully following Jesus today.

Prayer Time

Take prayer requests and pray. Pray specifically that the students in the room will be fully devoted followers of Christ.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 & Ephesians 2:8-9

YOU WILL NEED: No items needed.

Introducion Game: Body Spellers

Divide your class into two or more teams with at least three students on each team. Instruct them to use their bodies to spell the following letters.

Practice: Spell V  /  W

Competition—Spell: F / A / I / T / H

Sit in a circle

What word did we just spell?

What is faith?

Read Hebrews 11:1

Can you see the wind? (No, but you can see what it does)

Can you see God? (No, but you can see what He does too.)

How do you know He’s there? (You can see what He does; can feel His presence; He’s in your heart if your saved; etc.)

KEY: Faith believes something even if it can’t see it.

Game: The Gift Pass, part 1

Choose an item (the “gift) to pass around the circle.

Time to see how fast your group can pass the gift you’ve chosen around the circle. See how fast they can pass it around two times.

Read Ephesians. 2:8-9

What is the gift of God?

How is a person saved according to this verse? (For by grace through faith.)

What is grace? (Jesus dying for you when He didn’t have to.)

Your part is faith–not just believing, but trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Game: The Gift Pass, part 2

Time to see how fast your group can pass two gifts around the circle in opposite directions

Gift Illustration

Choose 1 volunteer

Let’s say this “gift” is worth a million dollars and I come to you one day and say, “Johnny, I’d like to give this to you.” Is it yours yet? What would you have to do to get it? (If they don’t immediately say, “I have to reach out and take it,” guide them toward that answer.)

Like a gift, you can accept it, or you can say no. A gift can’t be earned, just like heaven—you can’t be good enough to get to heaven. There is only one way to heaven and that’s Jesus.

Now with this “gift”, it would be easy for you to take it. All you have to do is reach out and it’s yours. With God’s gift, it’s a little different—You can’t physically reach out and take it, but in the Bible God told us how we can accept this gift. You see, Jesus paid the price; what we have to do is:

(1) Admit you have sinned and be willing to turn from your sin and turn to Jesus.

(2) Believe (this is FAITH) that Jesus is God’s Son who died and was raised from the dead.

(3) Call on the Lord, confess your sins, and commit your life to Him.

(NOTE: You could also lead the conversation in the direction of: “Once you’re given a gift can anyone take it away?” and talking about whether or not a person can lose his/her salvation.)

Scripture: Matthew 5:29-30

YOU WILL NEED: No items needed.

Leading Others to Jesus

NOTE: This lesson is primarily for older students.

Read Acts 1:8

SAY: While we play the following games, be thinking about what this verse has to do with you.

Activity: One-on-One Competitions.

Have everyone find a partner for each of the following competitions. Then let them switch and challenge several others before moving to the next competition. If there is an odd number some of them can act as referees.

Competition #1—Blink: See who can stare into the other person’s eyes the longest without blinking.

Competition #2—Breath: See who can hold their breath the longest.

Competition #3—Smile: See who can stare into the other person’s face the longest without smiling.

Competition #4—Hand Slap: One partner holds out his or her hands palms up while the other partner places his or her hands palms down on top of them. Partners should maintain palm-to-palm contact until the “bottom” partner moves either of his or her hands. The object of the game is for the partner whose hands are on the bottom to slap the tops of his or her partner’s hands before that partner can withdraw them. Partners switch roles after each attempt.* (NOTE: Tell your students that they are not trying to hit as hard as they can. This game shouldn’t turn anyone’s hand red.)

Competition #5—Push and Pull: Two partners place their right feet, both pointing in opposite directions, side by side and touching each other. Then they shake right hands, grasping each other’s thumbs. On your signal, partners try to pull or push each other off balance using only their right arms. Whoever moves his or her feet to maintain balance loses the round. *

SAY: The competitions we just did were one-on-one and one of the greatest things you can ever do is one-on-one too. In fact, it’s the greatest miracle that anyone can ever be a part of and many times this incredible thing happens one-on-one. It’s not a competition but it’s a great privilege to share in it.

Ask the students— Who can guess what it is? (Leading someone to Christ.)

SAY: You don’t need to wait until you get older to begin telling others about Jesus. If you have given your life to Jesus and remember what you did, then already know everything you need to know to be ready to lead someone else to Christ. The question isn’t, “Can I do this?” It’s, “Am I willing.” That’s the key: You’ve got to be willing.

Ask the students— Besides willingness what else do you think a person needs to do before telling someone about Christ? (Of course, you’ve got to be saved yourself, but besides that…Before you go out telling people about Jesus, you must first be living for Jesus. Otherwise, what’s different about you? Nothing. So why would they want your Jesus?)

SAY: If you are willing to share Jesus, you don’t have to wait to know more although learning a method of how to share Jesus is a great help to make you feel more confident and comfortable. And, if you would like, we can show you a great way to lead others to Christ. (NOTE: If you don’t already have a great method to teach them, see The Plan of Salvation booklet on the three-thirty ministry website—www.threethirtyministries.org.)

SAY: The advantage of having specific training is that you can learn from other people’s experiences. For example, if you wanted to create a conversation where you could tell a friend about Jesus, how would you do it? (Let the students answer.)

SAY: The easiest way to start a conversation where you can tell someone about Jesus is to ask a simple question—what do you think it is? (Let the students answer.)

SAY: You could ask, “Do you know for sure you’re going to heaven?” but sometimes that’s kind of abrupt. An easier way is to simply ask, “Can I tell you about the greatest thing that ever happened to me?” Most people will say “yes” and if they say “no,” it’s probably a bad time to have a conversation anyway. Then, when they say “yes,” simply tell them the story about how you gave your life to Jesus (your salvation testimony). End your story by saying, “Because I gave my life to Jesus, I know for sure I am going to heaven—How about you?” This will open the door for you to talk with them about where they stand with Jesus.

SAY: So, in other words, you don’t have to wait for specific training to be able to tell others about Jesus, but training does help you to feel more confident and if you want more training about how to share Jesus, then simply let us know.

Prayer Time

Take prayer requests and pray. Pray specifically that God will use the students in the room who are living for Christ and willing to be trained to impact many lives. Pray that they will lead many others to Jesus both by their actions and their words.

If you have extra time, re-play some of the games and reinforce the spiritual applications for them.

*Dan McGill, No Supplies Required: Crowdbreakers and Games, (Loveland, CO: Group Publishing, 1995), 42.

Discussion: Sharing God’s love

YOU WILL NEED: Crepe paper streamers.

Let Love Flow*

Instruct your class to stand in a circle. Make sure the crepe paper streamers are easily accessible. Explain that when you say go, you are going call out a name and say, “[Name], here’s Jesus’ love.” Hold the end of the crepe paper and throw the streamers to the person whose name you called. Then that student will call someone else’s name and toss it to them. Be sure to tell them to hang onto the roll before throwing it. Tell the others to keep their eyes open and be ready to catch the roll.  Keep going until every one is holding onto the crepe paper. If you desire, keep going until everyone has thrown it two or three times or until you run out of paper. Encourage the kids to move quickly as they “pass Jesus’ love” to the others.

SAY: On the count of three, we’re going to see how quickly you can throw all the paper in the trash can and have a seat in the circle. Ready…1-2-3…Go!

Control Tool

Leader: Let Jesus’ love flow / Students: Wherever you go!

Discussion

Ask the students: What happened as “Jesus’ love” flowed? (It tangled us up; it was funny; it made a mess.)

Ask the students: How is this like or unlike what happens when we share Jesus’ love in real life? (Both are fun; sharing Jesus’ love doesn’t make a mess, etc.)

Ask the students: What might happen in your school if kids and teachers let Jesus’ love flow? (Kids wouldn’t get teased; everyone would have a friend; we’d be a lot happier; people would help each other.)

SAY: When we played the game, it really changed the game area. Streamers and pieces of streamers were everywhere. Imagine how people who love Jesus can change their schools, their homes, and  even their world if they would let Jesus’ love flow wherever they go.

Ask the students: Where are some places you go during the week? What is one way you could show Jesus’ love in each of these places?

Illustration*

SAY: When you share Jesus with others, His love flows from one person to another—sort of like a wave. In fact, we’re going to see how fast we can make a wave flow around our circle. I’ll start it and it will move around the circle to the left. Let’s see how fast we can do it. Ready…Go! (Throw your hands up, then look to the person to your right. As it moves around, encourage your kids by saying, “Keep going. Faster. Faster.” If a student doesn’t do it, look to the person to their right and say, “Keep going, [Name],” so that it just moves past them but doesn’t draw attention to them.)

Do it again, but this time, as the wave goes around, have the students shout out the name of their schools. (Home-schoolers can just say, “Home.”)

SAY: If you have given your life to Jesus, you can share God’s love with others wherever you go.

Control Tool

Leader: Let Jesus’ love flow / Students: Wherever you go!

Extra Time

If you have any extra time, take a glass of water and pour it out all over a table. Tell the kids that it’s their job to stop the water from flowing down to (or getting on) the floor. Then discuss with them things that sometimes stop people from letting Jesus’ love flow through them—i.e., being afraid, being embarrassed, not knowing what other people might think or say, feeling like they don’t know enough, etc. Should anything stop us from letting Jesus’ love flow to others? Who is someone this week that you can show Jesus’ love to? How do you plan to do this?

*Games adapted from Group Publishing’s 2004 VBS curriculum, “Lava, Lava Island, Follow-Up Planner.”

Discussion: Us and Others

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 &

YOU WILL NEED: A few pencils.

Control Tool:

Leader: What’s Life all about? Students: It’s all about Jesus!

Game: Back-to-Back

Have students get in pairs and sit back to back. Tell them to lock arms (at the elbow), push against each other’s backs, and see if they can both stand up.

Have them find different partners and try it again several times.

SAY: In the game you and your partner had to work together to succeed. In life God has given you brothers and sisters in Christ to help you succeed in your Christian life.

ASK: Who is your brother or sister in Christ? (Everyone who has given their lives to Jesus is part of God’s family are all brothers and sisters in Christ.)

ASK: How can you help others to grow in their relationship with Jesus? (You can encourage them, be an example to them, correct them when they do something wrong, take them to church, etc.)

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Choose a volunteer—have him break a pencil.

Choose another volunteer—to try to break three or more pencils. Give a couple of kids who have been listening and participating well a chance to try.

SAY: Just like the Bible said, two or three is stronger than just one. That’s one reason God gave us each other—to help each other stand strong for Jesus.

Game: Off Balance

SAY: We are going to play a game that uses two people at a time.

Choose two volunteers—to stand toe to toe. Then they clasp hands so that their fingers are woven together. On your signal, the partners attempt to push or pull each other off balance. The first person to move his or her foot loses the round. Then keep the winner up front and choose a new challenger. Let all the students who are listening well have a turn.

SAY: In the game you were trying to throw each other off-balance. In life that would be like someone pushing you the wrong way.

ASK: What are some things that a Christian could do to push people away from knowing and growing with Jesus? (The opposite of what we just talked about—Instead of helping them, you hurt them or call them names or are mean to them. Instead of encouraging others by living for Jesus, you hold them back by doing things that are wrong.)

SAY: With your life you can either be the type of person who helps others up or you can be the type that helps others fall. If you choose to be the type who doesn’t walk with Jesus, you’ll miss out on all the great things God has in store for you.

Take prayer requests and pray

(If there’s extra time, play Simon Says and briefly talk about being like Jesus.)

Scripture: Luke 10:19 & 2 Peter 3:9

YOU WILL NEED: Waterballoons to throw or shoot with a waterballoon slingshot.

Game: Waterballoon Shoot (give buckets)

Give each child a bucket and put them out in an open outside area. (For large groups, you will need to split them into groups of about 5 to 8). You will either throw or shoot a waterballoon. Their goal is to catch it—even if it explodes—in their bucket.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

(1) One rule is that the student cannot hold the bucket over his head. When this happens, the balloon hits the bucket and knocks it into his head. They MUST hold the bucket in front of their stomach or use their shirt.

(2) Waterballoon slingshots can be bought fairly cheaply  from a variety of vendors onlne. One excellent resource is www.usgames.com.

(3) If you buy a waterballoon slingshot, make sure that the sponsors operating it understand that they can NEVER shoot it directly at a student. It must only be used for shoot the waterballoon in the air with a loft. See the waterballoon slingshot’s instructions for more information on this.

Discussion

What were you seeking for in the game? (To catch the balloons)

What do you think God seeks for? (Today were going to find out.)

Read Luke 10:19

Read 2 Peter 3:9

KEY: God seeks for everyone to be saved.

(NOTE: Great stories to share here could come from Luke 15—where the women seeks the lost coin; the shepherd seeks the lost sheep and the father waits for the lost sons.)

(For older children)

If God wants everyone to go to heaven, why did He create Hell? (According to Matthew 25, He made hell for the devil and the other angels who rebelled against Him, but when we sinned, it became our punishment too.)

Does God send anybody to Hell? (No, people send themselves there by choosing not to give their lives to Jesus–God has done everything He can to save everyone.)

What if someone never hears about Jesus, will they go to heaven? (No, a person must give their life to Jesus.)

Is that fair? (Yes, the Bible says that God has built eternity into our hearts–that even creation teaches the Gospel and if someone hasn’t heard about Jesus and they seek the truth, God will make a way for them to find it. If not hearing about Jesus could get a person into heaven, then we shouldn’t do missions and Jesus would have never told us to “go.” Jesus told us to go into all the world because not knowing about Jesus is not an excuse for not seeking and finding Him.

KEY: Each of us can be a part of telling others about Jesus and showing people the way to heaven.

Take prayer requests and pray

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:22 / (Extra Option: Genesis 4:1-16)

YOU WILL NEED: A stack of regular, white paper and a trash bag.

Stay Away from Sin

As Kids Enter

As children enter the room, let them begin wading up each individual piece of paper. You may want to designate a certain place for them to put these—i.e., in the trash bag.

Paper Push

Split your kids into two teams. Use a line or the tiles on the floor (or a piece of tape, if you desire) to divide one team’s area from the other team’s area. Have each team get on the floor on opposite sides of this line. Tell them that you are going to dump out all the paper wads and when you do, they are supposed to begin pushing (not throwing) them onto the other team’s side. The team that has the least amount of paper on their side at the end of 1 minute is the winner. Play this game two or three times.

(Suggestion: Collect all the paper wads in the trash bag after each game before you discuss the game’s meaning  with them.)

POINT 1

SAY: In the game you tried to get the paper as far away from you as you could. We should do the same with sin. They Bible says to “flee” or “run away” from sin (bad things).

Read from your Bible:

2 Timothy 2:22

Ask the students: What are some examples of sin or “evil desires”? (Ask a volunteer or two.)

Ask the students: How do you think a person can stay away from doing bad things?

Paper-to-Foot-Dodge Ball

Tell the kids to spread out in the room, still on their team’s side. Set a chair in the middle to be a visual reminder of where each team’s side is. Tell them that when you say “Go,” they are going to play foot Dodge Ball. They will throw the paper wads at the feet of the opposite team. One hit (on the foot) and the student is out. (The adult leaders will need to help make judgment calls if necessary.) When out students need to sit down against the walls that you designate for them. If a student throws a paper wad and it accidentally hits someone on the chest or above, even though it was an accident, the person who threw it is out. They are aiming only at the feet.

Play the game two times….

POINT 2

SAY: In the game you wanted to dodge the paper wads. There are a few things in life that God wants you to dodge. God wants you do dodge sin.

Ask the students: What are some ways you can dodge sin? (Walk with Jesus, go to church, pray, read the Bible, etc.)

Ask the students: How can you help others dodge sin? (Tell them about Jesus; if they are doing something wrong, help them to choose to do what’s right, etc.)

Play the Game Again…

POINT 3

SAY: A minute ago I told you some things that God wants you to dodge in life, but there are also some things that God does not want you to dodge or “miss out” on—He doesn’t want you to miss out on REAL life—which only comes from Jesus, or to miss out on giving your life to Christ, or to miss out on the love, peace, and joy that comes only from knowing God.

Ask the students: What are some other things that God doesn’t want you to miss out on? (Going to church, reading your Bible, obeying Him, worshipping Him, etc.)

Extra Time

If you have extra time:

(1)   Try other variations to the game.

(2)   The story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16) illustrates the point of this lesson quite well, especially in Genesis 4:7 where God warns Cain that sin is “crouching” at the door for him and for him to master it. Discuss with your students ways in which they can overcome or “master” sin. How might Cain have dealt with his anger in a correct way? Was he angry for a good reason? (No. He had not brought God an acceptable offering. Instead, he brought the fruit of his own hard work.) Do you think that Cain was angry at Abel or at God? What makes you angry? How can you avoid or “dodge” sin when you get angry? (Be angry for the right reason, have the right response and don’t let anger last long so that it doesn’t turn into bitterness.)

(3)   Always make time to pray for and with your students.

Discussion: Let Jesus’ light shine
Scripture : Matthew 5:14
YOU WILL NEED: A bag with slips of paper that tell something to do. Samples are on the last page.

The Light of the World*

Choose a volunteer—This volunteer will reach in the bag and pull out a slip of paper. The slip of paper will instruct the student what to do. This student will be the “Light,” showing everyone else what to do. The Light may not speak (unless the instructions say so) but should lead everyone in accomplishing what is written. Once you, as the teacher, see that the instructions have been followed, tell everyone to give him a hand, then point to someone else and say, “Be the Light.” They’ll come forward and thus the game continues. If a student doesn’t want to lead, don’t make them, but let everyone who wants to go have that opportunity.
(For an even greater challenge, set up with another class or even another grade a fun competition, where, after doing this game, the two classes meet together. Each class forms a line. On “Go” the first person races down and shows everyone else on his team what to do. Everyone else on his team does the action and he races back and tags the next person, and so forth, until all the challenges are complete.)

Discussion
Ask the students:
 What was hard about being the Light?

 What was fun about being the Light?

 Did anyone feel embarrassed about being the Light?

 Was anyone concerned about looking silly or foolish?

Read from your Bible Matthew 5:14

 How does this verse remind you of our game? (Both of them talk about the light; everyone can see a city on a mountain, and everyone could see us doing the instructions.)

 What does Jesus mean when He says, “You are the light”? (That we should live in such a way that our lives are like a light that guides other people to God; and shine, or show them, His life and love.

 When you’re at school, why is it sometimes hard to be a light? (I don’t always want to do the right thing; some people think you’re weird if you’re a Christian; I might be embarrassed? I’m afraid I would look silly; my friends want to do wrong things.)

SAY: It can be hard to be a light. But when we shine Jesus’ love to our friends, we’re doing the best thing we can, which is showing someone about Jesus. By being a light Jesus isn’t asking you to do silly things, like what we did in our game. Jesus wants you to bring hope, courage, and joy to people. He wants you to follow God’s Word and tell everyone that Jesus saves us.

Challenge:
(1) Everyone turn someone next to you, give them a high five and say, “Jesus loves you.”
Great job!

(2) Now stand up, give three people a low five and say, “Jesus will take care of you.”

(3) Now shake five people’s hands and say, “You can trust Jesus.”

On the count of three, everyone sit down as fast as you can.
Ready…one…two…everyone say, “Jesus loves you!” (Kids: Jesus loves you!)
Ready…one…two…everyone say, “You can trust Jesus!” (Kids: You can trust Jesus!)
Ready…one…two…three…sit down!

Be sure to praise different students for what they did: How fast they sat, how loud they were, for what a great smile they had, etc.

SAY: It’s both easy and fun to tell other people about Jesus. It’s as simple as saying, “Jesus loves you,” or “Jesus will take care of you.” You can shine Jesus’ light to anyone you know by your words and by how you live.

Other Questions
How can you shine your light so others can see Jesus in you?

What do you think would be some things people do on a playground or in sports that show they are following the light? What are things people might do when they are living in darkness?

What would happen if you stood up for someone being picked on in the playground? How would that person feel? How would the bully feel? How would you feel? How would Jesus feel?

What would stop you from telling a friend, “Jesus will take care of you,” the next time they are afraid or upset? How do you think they might respond?

When you see someone at school get hurt, do you ever think about praying for them? When you hear someone at school say a cuss word, do you ever think about asking them not to use that kind of language around you?

Is there anything in your life that you do that Jesus wouldn’t like? Does that feel like darkness? Who can tell more about how it feels when you feel guilty for something? How can Jesus’ light that guides you help?

*Original source unknown.

BE THE LIGHT ACTIVITY SLIPS

Do 10 Jumping Jacks

Sing or Hum, “Happy Birthday to You” while running around the room.

Give each person a high five. 

 Pretend to be a Monkey for 15 seconds.

Shake hands with your teachers and say, “Thanks for caring about me.”

Sing “Jesus loves me” in a whisper.

Spin around in a circle 7 times.

Do “The Wave.”

Jump up and down 10 times, then yawn and say, “I’m tired.”

As loud as you can yell, “I love Sunday School.”

Clap your hands six times, touch two walls, and then say, “Jesus is the Light!”

Make any animals noise and then say, “Of all God’s creatures, great and small, God loves me, the most of all.”

Discussion: Sin doesn’t belong

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:22

YOU WILL NEED: A stack of small sticker sheets.

Version 1: “Bee Sting” Sticker Tag—Team vs. Team

Divide your class into teams and choose someone to be IT. IT is not on any team. Give IT a sheet of stickers. He is the Bee and he is trying to “Sting” or tag everyone else. As he tags people, for them to be out, he has to stick a sticker on them. Once they are out they are supposed to sit down along a wall or in another area that you have designated for them. The last person left isn’t the only winner—their whole team wins.

POINT 1

ASK: Does it hurt to get stung by a bee?

ASK: What do you think the “sting of sin” would be? (Separation from God, hurt, hurting others, eternity without God taking the punishment for our own sins, etc.)

ASK: How many of you were out but your team still won?

SAY: You won because of what someone else did. In life, we can win and have REAL life and go to heaven because of what Jesus did. Jesus was God’s perfect Son, who died on the cross and then rose from the dead.

ASK: Why did He do this? (Because if he hadn’t, because of the wrong things you’ve done, you couldn’t have a relationship with a perfect God, you couldn’t be “saved” and there would be NO WAY that you could get yourself into heaven.)

ASK: What does it mean to be “saved”? (To have given your life to Jesus.)

ASK: What does Jesus save you from? (A life of emptiness, a lot of trouble and pain—if you walk with Him, and Hell which is the punishment that God made for the devil and the angels who rebelled against Him. But this also became our punishment when we did wrong things. [NOTE: Don’t overly emphasize hell. Touch on it and move on.]

ASK: What did God save you for? (A relationship with Him, to know Him, to live for Him, to follow and serve Him.)

Version 2: “Bee Sting”Sticker Tag— Everybody vs. Everybody

Play the game again. This time there are no teams and the only “winner” is the last person left.

POINT 2

ASK: When everyone was out for themselves, was it easier to win? (No. And living for yourselves isn’t how to win in life either. You win when you follow Jesus.)

Version 3: “Bee Sting” Sticker Tag— Never Out

Play the game again. This time, no matter how many times they are “stung,” they stay in the game. No one is ever out.

(NOTE:  IT will use a lot of stickers on this game, so be sure to have enough on hands.)

POINT 3

Ask the students: How many times did you get stung?

Call up a volunteer with a lot of stickers.

SAY: It would look weird if he went to school like this. Just like a lot of stickers don’t belong all over him, sin doesn’t belong in a Christian’s life.

ASK: What are some examples of sin?

SAY: In the game most of you were trying to get away from the “Bee.” Listen to what God wants us to “get away from.”

Read from your Bible:

2 Timothy 2:22

SAY: In the same way that you didn’t want IT to get you and you fled from IT, God wants you to flee from sin.

ASK: What do you think “evil desires of youth” means? (Sins that youth are more likely to give in to, like disobeying parents, rebelling against authority, etc.)

ASK: How many of you thought it was fun to get “stung” by the stickers?

SAY: Some people think doing wrong things is fun, but the Bible says that sin will always lead to destruction. In other words, sin will always hurt you and never give you what you truly want.

ASK: Everything you’ve ever wanted in life is found where? (In Jesus.)

Extra Variation: Blind Bee Sting Tag

IMPORTANT—Students CANNOT run during this game. The bee can see but everyone else is blind.

ASK: Was it harder?

SAY: Sin blinds you to all the good things God wants to do in your life. The only people who would ever want to stay in sin are those who are blind to the love of Jesus. And you can be the one to tell others about how they can give their lives to Christ.

Share your salvation testimony—afterward emphasize that someone told you about Jesus and now you’re telling them about Jesus. People who know Jesus should be excited to tell others.

Adventure Island—For Younger Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point:  Trust God

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Matthew 1:18-2:13, Luke 2:1-7

Challenge Verse: Psalm 56:3—“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.”

————————————————————————————————————-

ITEMS NEEDED

At least one balloon per child.

One balloon with today’s challenge verse written on a slip of paper and put inside.

Bible Lesson Signs for: Mary, Joseph, Inn Keeper, Angel

1 Memory Verse Poster

BEFORE CLASS

Preparation:

- Play the island or Hawaiian music as the kids enter.

- Depending on the age of your students, you may need to blow up the balloons before they arrive.

- You will need to blow up at least one balloon before the students arrive. However, before blowing it up, insert in it the Challenge Verse for today in one of them. As kids arrive you could even be hitting this balloon in the air.

- Set out Hawaiian flower-necklaces and a balloon to give the students as they enter.

- Set out the Bible Lesson signs in the area where you will be teaching.

- Have the items for the Flame Cakes and snack items in a convenient location.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet your students by name as they enter.

- Give each child a nametag.

- Give each child an attendance sticker for your attendance chart.

OPENING ACTIVITY

SAY: Aloha! Welcome to Adventure Island.

Give each student a Hawaiian necklace and a balloon as they enter the room and ask them to blow the balloon up. (Some students may need help tying them off.)

Challenge #1:

Tell them to begin hitting the balloon in the air as many times as they can without it hitting the floor.

Challenge #2:

Challenge your kids to hit their balloon in the air, spin around, and keep hitting it without it touching the floor. Tell them every time they hit the balloon to say, ] “Trust God.”

Challenge #3:

Ask your students to hit their balloons, see how many times they can clap their hands, and then continue hitting the balloon before it touches the ground. Tell them every time they hit the balloon to say, ] “Trust God.”

LESSON ACTIVITY*

SAY: On the count of three, find a spot anywhere in the room and sit down. 1-2-3. Go!

SAY: On the count of three, hold your balloon in your lap with both hands. 1-2-3. Go!

Praise different kids by name for their obedience—i.e., “Good job, Johnny!”

Praise the children who were the fastest, holding their balloon the stillest, biggest smile, etc. Then move on quickly.

SAY: Today we are going to take a census of the balloons. A “census” is a count.

Ask the students: So if we were to take a census of the number of people in this room. How many would we have? Raise your hand if you know.

SAY: But in Jesus’ time when they had a census, people had to return to their hometowns to be counted. That’s what our balloons are going to have to do. The “hometowns” are the corners of the rooms, but there’s one catch. The balloons have to be batted to the correct corner for its color, but you can’t stand up or move from your spot.

Point out which color goes into each “hometown.”

Ready-Go!

Once all the balloons are to the corners of the room, instruct the students to leave them there and come to the circle.

Ask the students: What was it like to move your balloons to a certain corner. (Hard; frustrating; silly; I had to have others help me.)

SAY: Today we are going learn about how Joseph and Mary had to travel to their hometown of Bethlehem and how Jesus was born there.

BIBLE LESSON*

Purpose: To help the students understand what the Bible teaches, presented in a creative and interactive manner.

Choose a boy and girl volunteer—Give the girl the Mary sign. Give the boy the Joseph sign.

SAY: Everybody say, “Hello, Mary and Joseph,” (Kids: Hello, Mary and Joseph!) And congratulations, you’re still not married!

SAY: God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus, and while Mary was expecting to give birth, they both had to travel to Bethlehem, their hometown, for the census.

Ask the students—How do you think Joseph felt? His wife is expecting to give birth at any time, and they have to travel several days, through the weather, probably by donkey or by walking over rough ground. There were also many robbers in that day who would attack people on the roads outside the cities.

Ask the students—Do you think Joseph might have been scared?

Choose a volunteer—Give him/her the Inn Keeper sign.

SAY: When they finally arrived at Bethlehem, all the inns were full.

Have the Inn Keeper volunteer say, “We don’t have any room for you.”

Ask the students—How do you think Joseph felt?

SAY: And then when the inn keeper let them stay in the stable, do you think he might have been concerned about a newborn baby being around all those animals? (These are rhetorical questions. Don’t take answers. You want to keep the story moving quickly.)

SAY: I need some volunteers to add sound effects to our story. Mary and Joseph (refer to your volunteers) are in the stable. Now in Jesus’ time a stable wasn’t like a barn, but it was the lower floor of the inn. Inns back then were usually cut out of stone, like a huge cave. The upper levels would have large holes cut into the sides for rooms. They didn’t even have doors. The stable was the bottom part where all the animals stayed. So I need some animal sound effects.

Choose volunteers— for the following sound effects (more than one person can have the same sound.) Give as many parts as you have volunteers, even if it is every student in the class.

Sound effects:

Donkey—There were probably many of these.

Horse—There would have been a few of these.

Dogs—Wild dogs would hang around the stables in hopes of getting left-over food. Sometimes these wild dogs would even attack people.

Goats—It is possible that some people would have a goat with them.

Sheep—Most sheep were kept in the pasture in large flocks although some might have been in the stable.

SAY: On the count of three I want you to make your noise and keep going until I say, “Jesus was born!” Ready…1-2-3…Go! (Encourage kids to be louder and to keep going.)

SAY: In the middle of all of this, JESUS WAS BORN!

(Kids should stop their noise; if not, say, “STOP!”)

SAY: Let’s try that again. 1-2-3…Make your noise. In the middle of all of this, JESUS WAS BORN!

SAY: Joseph trusted God and God took care of them, and you can trust God too.

CONTROL TOOL

Any time I say, “When you’re afraid, what should you do?” Everybody say, “Trust God!”

Practice a few times.

SAY: Later on something happened that probably really scared Joseph. (Ask your Joseph volunteer to lay down on the ground and pretend to be asleep.) After the shepherds came and worshipped Jesus, Mary and Joseph probably stayed in Bethlehem for a year or two. During this time the Magi or wise men came bringing gifts, but after they left, Joseph had a dream from God.

Choose a volunteer—Give him/her the Angel sign.

SAY: An angel appeared to Joseph and said, “Get up.” (Have the volunteer repeat after you.) “Go to Egypt because King Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Ask the students—How do you think Joseph felt when he heard that the king was going to try to kill Jesus? (Answer: Probably afraid.)

Ask the students—So what do you think Joseph did? (Answer: He obeyed God and trusted him. Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus went to Egypt until God told them it was safe.)

CONTROL TOOL

Leader:  When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

(Practice once more.)

BIBLE SKILLS

Purpose: Help students understand and learn to use their Bibles. This year we will be helping our children locate references in the Bible, learning the outline of the Bible and the Bible books, as well as helping them develop a sense of the Bible Time Line.

SAY: On the count of three, I want everyone to grab a balloon and spread out some where in the room. Ready…1-2-3…Go!

After your students have spread out in the room SAY: When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

SAY: Inside one of these balloon is our verse for the day. When I say go I want you to pop your balloon by stepping on it, sitting on it, or hugging it real tight but remember to be sure to look for the Challenge Verse. Go!

CONTROL TOOL

Leader:  When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

SAY: On the count of three, touch two walls, grab your Bible, and come back to the circle as fast as you can without pushing, shoving, or picking anybody’s nose. 1-2-3 Go!

CONTROL TOOL

Leader:  When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

Announce who found the verse. The paper only says where the verse is found.

SAY: Let’s see what the Bible says about trusting God. Our verse is Psalm 56:3.

- Ask the students—Who remembers how to find Psalms in the Bible? (Answer: Hold your Bible sideways and open it to the middle. Usually this is the book of Psalms.)

SAY: Hold your Bibles. (You may need to have extra Bibles ready for those who didn’t bring one. Encourage everyone to bring their Bibles next week.) When I say, “Ready,” hold your Bible between both hands, but you cannot open it. Then I will say a Bible reference and “Go.” If you open your Bible before I say “Go,” you will be out. Once you find what I ask for, raise your hand.

Ready…The book of Psalms—Go!

SAY: Now try to find chapter 56. (Explain that every book in the Bible is divided into chapters.)

SAY: Now try to find chapter 56, verse 3. (Explain that every chapter is divided into verses.)

- Explain that you say it, “Psalm 56-3,” meaning chapter 56, verse 3.

- Point out the memory verse poster and show them how Psalm 56:3 is written.

SAY: The dot-dot (:) tells you which is the chapter and which is the verse.

Ask the students—In Psalm 56:3, what’s the chapter number?

Ask the students—What’s the verse number?

CHALLENGE VERSE

Read Psalm 56:3 from your Bible

SAY: On islands, many times people use drums to communicate a message. That’s how we’re going to learn this verse. Do what I do and say what I say.

Using both hands pat your legs to make a drum beat on every syllable. Pause at the slashes below and allow the students to repeat after you.

Read Psalm 56:3 from your Bible

“When I am afraid, / I will trust in you. / In God, whose word I praise, / in God I trust; / I will not be afraid.” /

Psalm 56:3

SAY: Let’s try it faster. (Do it again—the same as above, only faster.)

SAY: Now let’s go a little faster. Try to keep up!

Pause at the slashes below:

Read Psalm 56:3 from your Bible

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. / In God, whose word I praise, / in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” /

Psalm 56:3

Repeat this after me: “When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee” (Kids repeat)

Psalm 56:3 (Kids repeat).

SAY: “Thee” is an old way of saying, “You,” but this is a great way to remember what this verse means. Try it again. (Say the entire verse and reference and then let the students repeat after you.)

Leader: “When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee—Psalm 56:3” (Kids repeat)

CONTROL TOOL

Leader:  When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

SAY: He loves you and He’ll never let you down.

LESSON ACTIVITY

Instruct your students to go to the table. Ask the following questions while getting their snack ready.

Ask the students—How many of you sleep or used to sleep with a night-light?

SAY: Sometimes at night, you might get scared and it helps to have a light. Who does the Bible say is the Light of the World? (Answer: Jesus…and also you if you know and live for Him [Matt. 5:14-16])

SAY: Today we are going to make some Tasty Torches. After all, Jesus is the light of the world and when we have Extreme Trust, others will see His light shining through us.

SAY: Today we are going to make some Flame Cakes. After all, we’re on an Island Adventure and on islands many times they use torches for light, so instead of cupcakes, these are “flame” cakes.

Pass out the cupcakes and cones, but tell the kids not to eat or lick them yet. Have the students push the cupcake down in the cone. Then pull out your whip cream and food coloring. Let a volunteer put the food coloring in and then you can stir it while you explain the following:

SAY: This food coloring is going to bring a great change to this whip cream, and when someone gives their life to Jesus, He brings a great change to them.

Pass the whip cream around and let the students dip their torches in it and begin eating. (You can also use a spoon if you have rather them spoon the whip cream on top. This would be less messy but less island-like too.)

Ask the students—What are some of the changes that comes to a person’s life when they receive Jesus as the Lord and Boss of their life? (Answer: They can know for sure that they’re going to heaven. They are adopted as a child of God. They now know Jesus.)

SAY: Knowing Jesus is the best part of life.

As the students eat, here are some other topics to discuss:

- Who can say where today’s Challenge Verse was found?

- Who remembers what it says?

- What does that mean?

- How did Joseph trust God? (Answer: He listened and obeyed God.)

- Who remembers where last week’s Challenge Verse was found?

- What does the 56:3 stand for? (Answer: chapter 56, verse 3)

- How would it be written? (56 dot-dot 3)

- Who remembers where the Gospel of John is found? (Answer: It is one of the four Gospels in the New Testament—Point students to the Bible Book Chart.)

- What does Gospel mean? (Answer: Good News)

- What are the other Gospels? (Answer: Matthew, Mark, and Luke)

SAY: The Gospels are all about Jesus’ life and they are also the first four books of the New Testament.

- The story we learned today about Jesus being born is found in two of the Gospels. Who can guess which two? (Answer: Matthew and Luke)

CLASS RULES

SAY: We are so glad you are a part of our class, and even though class is almost over, we need to go over the three rules that everyone needs to follow, not just here but in life every day. These are our Classroom Rules:

Everybody say “R”

Respect God—Obey God in all that you do.

Everybody say “R”

Respect Your Teachers—Do what your teachers ask you to.

Everybody say “R”

Respect Each Other—Treat others the way you want to be treated.

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

SAY: When I say, “You can trust God,” I want everybody to say, “Mahalo!” (Muh-hah-lo) and do your hand like this. (Show kids how to place their palms on their hearts, then raise their hands up. It’s as if they’re giving thanks from their heart to God.) “Mahalo” means “Thank You” in Hawaiian and since we’re on an island adventure, I want us to all say Mahalo because You can trust God. (Kids: Mahalo! with the hand motion.)

SAY: If you were going to say, “Thank You” to another person you would take your hand from you heart, using the same hand, and hold it out, palm up, towards that person you are thanking. Let’s all try that.

SAY: Now let’s get ready to pray and thank God that we can trust Him and that we don’t have to be afraid because God is bigger than anything we could ever face.

What are some things we can be praying for?

Is there anything that you are afraid of or concerned about that you want to talk to Jesus about?

List Prayer Requests

Before you pray, ask the students to bow their heads and close their eyes. Tell them to pray and thank Jesus for always being there and for them to remember to trust Him when they are afraid.

Thank God that we can trust Him and that no matter what we may go through, He will never let us down.

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

*Adapted from Group Publishing, Lava, Lava Island VBS,  “Jesus Brings Hope” Day 1.

Adventure Island—For Younger Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus Followed God’s Word

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Matthew 4:1-11

Challenge Verse: Psalm 119:11—“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

————————————————————————————————————-

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

One half-page of white copy paper

Masking tape

Enough band-aids for every student to have one

Two rulers or yardsticks

Two Lemons

1/2 bag of Skittles in a baggie

1 container of frosting

5 plastic knives

Enough plates for every student to have one

Enough sugar cookies for each student to have one

Enough napkins for each student to have one

One copy of the pages at the end of this lesson on green and red cards.

Memory Verse Sign

BEFORE CLASS

- Play Hawaiian or island music as kids enter.

- Tape a half page of white paper to the ceiling or somewhere high on the wall in one of the corners of the room.

- Use masking tape to make two or four 6 foot, straight, parallel lines on the floor.

- Have the Band-Aids in a convenient location.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet your students by name as they enter.

- Give each child an attendance sticker for your attendance chart.

- Put a Band-Aid on each student’s back.

OPENING ACTIVITY

As students enter tell them that something is hidden somewhere in the room (the white, half piece of paper taped to the ceiling or somewhere high on the wall in the corner of the room), but you can’t tell them what or where it is and you can’t even give them any hints. If someone points it out, tell them they’ll get a chance later to find out if they’re right.

SAY: Welcome to the Island Adventure! Today we’re lost on the island and looking for the right way and God’s Word is going to help us find it! But first we have a special activity.

BAND-AID TAG

Put a Band-Aid on each student’s back. When you say “Go” they will try to pull off everyone else’s Band-Aid without theirs being pulled. Once their Band-Aid is pulled, they can continue to play. The last person with a Band-Aid on their back is the winner. Rules: They cannot grab people or shirts. Set a two minute time limit and have fun with them. (If you have a small group, you may want to play this twice or to create variety, have them play it while hopping on one leg.)

When the game is over: (1) throw away all the Band-Aids and (2) sit down in a circle. (If students want to keep and wear their Band-Aids, that’s okay as long as they don’t become a distraction.)

CONTROL TOOL

SAY: Every time I say, “Is Jesus perfect,” I want you to say, “Absolutely!”

Leader: Is Jesus perfect?—Students: Absolutely!

SAY: A person gets a Band-Aid when they get hurt.

Ask the students: Can anyone guess what hurts people the most? (Answer: Sin.)

Ask the students: What is sin? (Answer: Anything we do that’s wrong)

Leader: Is Jesus perfect?—Students: Absolutely!

CHALLENGE: Agree or Disagree:

- Sin will always hurt you—If you agree, stand up. If you disagree, stay sitting down.  Correct Answer: Agree

- None of us are perfect— If you agree, go to the wall on my left. If you disagree, go to the wall on my right. Correct Answer: Agree

- You should always eat mayonnaise on bologna and cheese sandwiches— If you agree, go to the wall on my right. If you disagree, go to the wall on my left. Correct Answer: I don’t know.

- Jesus made a way to take your sins away— If you agree, go to the wall on my left. If you disagree, go to the wall on my right. Correct Answer: Agree

- You should always pick your nose at school—If you agree, sit down. If you disagree, raise your hands in the air. Correct Answer: Disagree

- The way to avoid the hurt of sin is to do what God wants you to do—— If you agree, go to the wall on my right. If you disagree, go to the wall on my left.  Correct Answer: Agree

- Everyone should like pickle juice—If you agree, go to the wall on my left. If you disagree, go to the wall on my right. Correct Answer: Who cares?

- The best choice you can make is to give your life to Jesus— If you agree, give someone a high-five. If you disagree, sit on your hands. Correct Answer: Agree

On the count of 3 come sit down in the circle: 1-2-3. Go!

BIBLE LESSON*

Ask the students the following. Tell them all to answer out loud as you ask.

If you wanted to toast some bread, what would you use? (Toaster)

If you wanted to walk your dog what would you use?(Leash)

If you wanted to keep your ice cream frozen, what would you use?(Freezer)

If you wanted to brush your teeth, what would you use?(Toothbrush)

If you wanted to dig a hole, what would you use?(Shovel)

SAY: It would be impossible to toast your bread in the bathtub, or to walk your dog with the car, or what would you think about someone who put the ice cream in the toaster to keep it cold. That’s crazy. You use the right tool for the right job. For instance, if you were on an island and you wanted to catch some fish, what tool would you use? (Answer: Fishing pole, net, spear, etc.)

SAY: Did you know that when Jesus was tempted to do bad things and He used the right tool to make right choices?

While we act out the Bible story, see if you can figure out what tool Jesus used.

Choose 6  volunteers to help you teach a story about Jesus.

Give three a green card

Give three a red card

Read from the Bible beginning at Matthew 4:1.

Red Card #1 contains the devil’s first temptation. When you get to this part, instead of reading it, call for Red Card #1 and help the student read it or have them repeat it after you. When you get to Jesus’ response, call for Green Card #1. Red Card #2 is the second temptation. Green Card #2 is Jesus’ response. Red Card #3 is the third temptation. Green Card #3 is Jesus’ response. From your Bible read only what is not in quotations.

SAY: Even though Jesus was tempted, He made right choices.

Leader: Is Jesus perfect?—Students: Absolutely!

Ask the students: Who figured out what tool Jesus used when He was tempted to do bad things? (He used God’s Word—the Bible that He had hidden in His heart.)

Repeat after me:

Jesus didn’t just know God’s Word.

He didn’t just repeat God’s Word.

Jesus Followed God’s Word.

Divide your class into two teams (i.e., split the group down the middle)

SAY: We’re going to have a competition to see which side can be the loudest. When I point to this side, yell out, “Jesus Followed!” When I point to the other side, yell out, “God’s Word.”

Note: Go back and forth between the two teams three times.

KEY: God’s Word will always point you in the right direction.

LESSON ACTIVITY*

LEMON LINES

Before the students arrived, you should have made 2 or 4 (depending on the size of your class) six foot lines on the floor. Divide your class into two or four teams and ask half of each team to line up at the end of each side of the tape line. For example, if you have four on each team, have two line up on each end of the tape line.

When you say “go,” direct the first person in line to use the ruler to push the lemon along the tape “road” to the end of the tape line. The first person will hand the ruler to the next student, who will push the fruit back to the other end of the tape. Continue until every student has had a turn. Tell the students to sit down after their turn. The first team with everyone seated should raise their hands to indicate that they are finished. (Depending on the size of your class, you may also want to let everyone have two or more turns.)

After the activity, have the students sit down in a circle.

Ask the students— Was it hard or easy to push the lemon in a straight line? Why? (Hard, it wanted to go its own way; easy, we figured out a way to do it.)

SAY: It was a challenge to make the lemon do the right thing.

Ask the students— How does God encourage us to do the right thing? (He gave us the Bible, teachers and parents who tell us what to do.)

SAY: Sometimes we can be kind of like lemons—we want to do things our way, not God’s way.

Repeat this after me: If you go the wrong way, you’ll end up in the wrong place.

Repeat it again, but louder.

CHALLENGE VERSE

SAY: So, if sinning is the wrong way, how can we do what’s right? How can we be like Jesus? Just think about it: What did Jesus do when He was tempted to do something wrong? (He quoted the Bible.)

SAY: He quoted the Bible and that’s what our challenge verse today is about. It’s about something you hide, but first I’m going to give you a hint about what I hid in the room earlier.

Give a few hints, each time become a little more specific until someone figures out what it is.

SAY :I hid that piece of paper, but that paper isn’t going to help anyone, but God has given you something that He wants you to hide in your heart so that you’ll have a tool that can protect you from doing wrong.

Read Psalm 119:11 from your Bible

Ask the students—What does it mean to hide God’s Word in your heart? (To know what it means; to learn it; to memorize it.)

Ask the students—What keeps you from hiding God’s Word in your heart? (I don’t know how; I forget to do it; I’m not good at memorizing.)

SAY: Hiding God’s Word in your heart doesn’t mean you have to memorize the entire Bible. But it does mean that you know God and you know how to obey Him. When Jesus was tempted to go His own way, He followed God’s Word. We can always learn more about God, so we know how to follow and obey too.

ILLUSTRATION

SAY: On the count of three, I want everyone run, touch three things that are three different colors in this room and come and sit back down. Ready…Go!

Choose a few volunteers to name one of the things they touched.

SAY: You made a choice what to touch because it looked good to you. Sometimes doing something wrong may look good to you, but sin will always hurt you or someone else. The best choice you can make is to follow Jesus and do what He would do.

CONTROL TOOL

Leader: Is Jesus perfect?—Students: Absolutely!

LESSON ACTIVITY

Follow the Leader

Choose a volunteer to be the leader and in your room play Follow the Leader. Change leaders every 30 seconds. You’ll want to keep this moving fast. Depending on the size of your class, you will either need to tell them that everyone will get to be the leader or that only a few will get to do it.

Discussion

SAY: Just like the game, when you follow someone you do what they do and you say what they say. When you follow Jesus, you do what He did and say things that agree with what He said.

CRAFT SNACK*

Students will make edible compasses to remind them to follow God’s Word.

Each student will need: 1 sugar cookie, about 2 tablespoons of frosting, 3 Skittles, about 2 pretzel sticks, plastic knives, 1 small plate, 1 napkin per student.

REVIEW

Ask the students the following:

Today we’re learning that the devil tempted Jesus to do wrong things. How many times was He tempted? (Answer: Three)

Who can find our story on the Bible Time Line? (From the Book of Matthew which is the first book in the New Testament.)

And what tool did Jesus use to do what’s right? (Answer: Jesus Followed God’s Word)

SAY: A compass is something you use to help you go the right way and we’re going to make some cookie-compasses to remind us that we always go the right way when we follow God’s Word.

Draw or show a picture of a compass and let kids be creative: They don’t have to just put an “N” for North. They can put an arrow, etc. Also, use the following discussion questions as the students are making their compasses.

Discussion Questions

Ask these while the students are making and eating their compasses.

Why do you think the devil wanted to tempt Jesus?

How can you begin to remember God’s Word today?

When does God’s Word give you direction?

BIBLE SKILLS

When your students are finished eating, have them sit in a circle.

Ask the students—Who remembers where our verse was found last week? (Answer: Psalm 56:3)

Ask the students—Who remembers what it said? (Answer: When I am afraid I will trust in you. Or, if you want to make it rhyme–When I am afraid I will trust in Thee–Psalm 56:3.)

SAY: Everybody get your Bibles and get ready for a Bible Drill. I’m going to tell you a book of the Bible and I want you to try to find it. When I say, “Ready,” hold the Bible between both hands, but you cannot open it. Then I will say a book of the Bible and a chapter and “Go.” If you open your Bible before I say, “Go,” you will be out. Once you find the book I ask for, raise your hand.

Ready…The book of Psalms / Chapter 119–Go!

Psalm 119

Be sure to help students who are new. We don’t want anyone to feel left out or awkward.

SAY: Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Now look at verse 11.

Read Psalm 119:11 from your Bible.

Ask the students—Does anybody’s Bible say it differently? (If students indicate that their Bible states it different, have them read what their Bible says and then explain that the Bible wasn’t written in our language. This is the reason that we have different translations. They contain the exact same message, but they may use different words to express it.)

Have the students close their Bibles.

Ask the students—Where was our Bible verse found today? (Answer: Psalm 119:11)

SAY: Everybody get your Bibles ready. We’re going to find it again. And remember to wait until I say, “Go.”

Ready…Psalm 119:11–Go!

Repeat this again–a third time.

Then SAY: Everybody get your Bibles ready. We’re going to find a different verse.

Ready…Psalm 56:3–Go!

If you have time, do the following challenges:

Ready…Psalm 23–Go!

Ready…John 10:11–Go!

Ready…John 8:12–Go!

If you have time, review the other Bible skills they’ve been learning (i.e., What are the Gospels? Where are they found? Where is Genesis and Exodus, etc.)

NOTE: Be sure to congratulate all your students on how they are doing and help any guests that may be in your class. We don’t want them to feel out-of-place. Better to skip this section for a week than to make a guest feel uncomfortable.

Control Tool

Leader: God’s Word will always to what? Students: Point you in the right direction.

(If they’re not loud, do it again.)

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Control Tool

Leader: God’s Word will always to what? Students: Point you in the right direction.

SAY: When I say, “Jesus Followed God’s Word,” I want everybody to say, “Mahalo!” (Muh-hah-lo).

Leader–Jesus Followed God’s Word / Students–Mahalo!

Ask the students—Who remembers what Mahalo means? (Thank you.)

Ask the students—In what language? (Hawaiian)

Ask the students—Who remembers the hand motion if a person was saying “Thank you” to God? (Both hands on heart and then raised in the air.)

Ask the students—Who remembers the hand motion is a person was thanking another person? (Take one hand and put it over your heart, then hold the same hand out, palm up to the person you are thanking.)

SAY: Today we are going to thank Jesus for being perfect and making a way for us to go to heaven.  We’re going to thank Him for always following God’s Word and doing what is right.

We’re also going to thank Him for giving us the Bible and helping us do what is right also.

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

*Adapted from Group Publishing, Lava, Lava Island VBS, “Jesus Brings Hope” Day 1.

PLEASE PRINT THESE CARDS ON GREEN PAPER

Jesus Responds #1

Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus Responds #2

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord you God to the test.’”

Jesus Responds #3

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

PLEASE PRINT THESE CARDS ON RED PAPER

The Devil Tempted Jesus #1

“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

The Devil Tempted Jesus #2

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

The Devil Tempted Jesus #3

“All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.”

Adventure Island—For Younger Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus Gives us Courage

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Matthew 10:1-31

Challenge Verse: Philippians 4:13—“I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

1 banana—real or fake

Memory Verse Sign

NOTE: You will need a watch with a second hand to time students on the Opening Activity.

BEFORE CLASS

- Play the island or Hawaiian music as the kids enter.

- Learn today’s memory verse using the sign language taught in this lesson.

- Have the banana in a convenient location.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet your students by name as they enter.

- Give each child a nametag.

- Give each child an attendance sticker for your attendance chart.

OPENING ACTIVITY

As students enter SAY: “Aloha! Welcome to Adventure Island.”

Pass the Banana

Have your class sit in a circle on the floor.

Ask your students: What are some foods you would eat on an island? (Let several answer.)

Explain that you are going to play a game with a banana to see how fast they can pass it around the circle using only their feet. Time how fast they can do this. When the banana has gone around the circle one time, stop the game and tell the kids their time. Play this activity several times and be sure to tell them that you are going to play this game again at the end of class and see if they can beat their time. (You can even time them passing the banana around two or three times.)

Discussion

Ask the students: What was difficult about passing the banana? (It kept slipping; it was weird to use my feet that way; we dropped it a lot.)

SAY: Passing a banana with your feet is silly, but Jesus has big important things for you to do.

Ask the students: What difficult things might Jesus want you to do at school? (Tell people about Jesus; be nice to someone who’s new; show Jesus’ love by helping someone who’s hurt; pray before eating lunch; treat someone kindly who has treated you mean.)

SAY: After each of the following sentences, I will say 1-2-3. Then I want you to say hard or easy. There’s no right or wrong answers to these. What might be easy to you may be hard for someone else. God has made each one of you different, and even though these are things God wants all of us to do, it might be easier for some to do them than others.

To tell friends at school or on a ball team about Jesus: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To tell a teacher or coach about Jesus: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To tell an aunt, uncle, cousin, or grandparent about Jesus: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To be nice to someone who’s new at school: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To show Jesus’ love by helping someone who’s hurt: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To pray before eating lunch—even when you’re sitting with your friends and no one else is doing it: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To treat someone kindly who has treated you mean: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To stick up for someone who is being treated wrongly: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To give back a five dollar bill that you saw someone drop: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To give back a ten dollar bill that was mistakenly given to you as change in a store: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

NOTE: Some of the above statements may bring comments from your students. If so, feel free to take a few minutes to discuss the situations and tie in extra learning. For example, when you say, “To give back a five dollar bill that you saw someone drop: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy,” say that a student says, “I wouldn’t give it back. Finders-keepers!” Take this as an opportunity to ask: Has anybody ever lost anything important to you? How did you feel? What if someone found it but wouldn’t give it back? What do you think Jesus would do? What does the Bible say—To treat others the way you want to be treated, etc.

SAY: Whether you think the things above are hard or easy, it will always take courage to do them. Courage doesn’t mean that you’re not afraid, but that something is more important to you than being afraid. You might be afraid to tell someone about Jesus, but for them to know Jesus and go to heaven is more important to you than being afraid. And Jesus will always give you the courage you need to do anything He asks you to do.

Control Tool

SAY: When I say, “Jesus Give Us Courage,” I want everybody to say, “Mahalo!” (Muh-hah-lo), which means “Thank You” in Hawaiian.

Leader—“Jesus Give Us Courage” / Students—“Mahalo!”

CHALLENGE VERSE

Use the following sign language diagrams to learn and teach today’s verse:*

Read Philippians 4:13 from your Bible

“I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

The Sign Language is below:

SIGN LANGUAGE MEMORY VERSE

Philippians 4:13

“I”

“CAN”

“DO”“EVERYTHING“THROUGH”

“CHRIST (JESUS)”“WHO”

“GIVES”

“ME”

“STRENGTH”

LESSON ACTIVITY

The Hungry Monkey

Have your students spread out in the classroom. Tell them that when you call a number, you want them to get into groups of that number. So if you call out a three, you want them to get into groups of three. Call out 4, 3, 2. The only reason you’re doing this is to get them in pairs in a manner where no one feels left out. If there is an extra student, then a teacher may need to play.

Choose one pair to be your volunteers. Have everyone else spread out across the room and tell them to link arms. Tell the partners to stand in one place. They can’t move. Designate one of your volunteers to be the Monkey and the other to be the Banana. Explain that the Monkey is hungry and will chase the Banana by hopping on one leg. The Banana can use both legs and will run away, but may link arms with one of the partners who is standing still. If the Banana does this, the other partner (the one who is now not linked with the Banana) becomes the Banana and must run from the Monkey. If the Monkey tags the Banana, they will switch roles. (To add variation, tell them that the Monkey can run, and not just hop, for 10 seconds any time you say, “The Monkey can run!”)

Discussion

Ask the students: What did you like about being a Monkey or a Banana? What didn’t you like? (I liked being the Monkey because I’m a fast runner; I didn’t like being the Monkey because I had to hop on one leg; I didn’t like being the Banana because I was afraid I’d get tagged.)

Ask the students: How did you feel when you were standing with a partner? (Safe; I could rest; Glad; Bored.)

Ask the students: Tell me about a friend who makes you feel safe and happy? (Answers will vary.)

SAY: Today we’re going to learn about how Jesus sent His disciples to tell people about God. That might have been a little scary, but Jesus sent each person with a friend. God gives us friends and it is important as you grow older that you choose friends who will encourage you to follow Jesus.

REPEAT after me: Right friends (Kids: Right friends) keep you (Kids: keep you) on the right track (Kids: on the right track).

Ask the students: How can you encourage your friends to follow Jesus? (Invite them to church; Tell them about Jesus; Talk about Jesus with them; Tell them what God is doing in your life or what you learned at church; Do what is right and tell them why you do what is right, etc.)

Control Tool

Leader—“Jesus Give Us Courage” / Students—“Mahalo!”

BIBLE LESSON

SAY: Jesus sent some of his disciples on a mission. Everybody get your Bibles and get ready for a Bible Drill. (Guests may not know how to do this so an extra explanation may be needed. If so, give it to the whole class, so they don’t feel singled out or embarrassed. By now your regular students should be getting familiar with this routine.)

Ready—Find Matthew 10—Go!

Be sure to help them (or have them help each other) if some are having a hard time finding it. Let them know that it’s okay if they can’t find it quickly. The more they do it, the easier it’ll become.

Ask the students: Where is Matthew found in the Bible? (It’s the first book of the New Testament)

Ask the students: What are the other Gospels? (Refer them to the Bible Book Chart)

SAY: There are other sections in the New Testament also. (Briefly explain the sections of the New Testament as seen on the Bible Book Chart and show them where Philippians is found. Tell them that it is a letter Paul wrote to the Philippian people.)

Ask the students: Who remembers what Philippians 4:13 says?

(Review the sign language with them.)

KEY: Jesus will always give you the strength and courage you need to do anything He calls you to do.

Control Tool

Leader—“Jesus Give Us Courage” / Students—“Mahalo!”

SAY:  In Matthew 10 Jesus prepared His disciples to send them on a mission to tell others about the kingdom of God and to do good deeds.

Choose 1 volunteer—to come stand next to you.

Ask the students: What is different about your volunteer and the twelve disciples? (There are many differences but one thing is the same: Everyone who has given their life to Jesus has been sent by Him to tell others about the kingdom of God and to do good deeds.)

Ask the students: What are some ways you can do tell others about Jesus and do good deeds?

Ask the students: What does God call people to do? (Live for Him. Talk about Him. Lead others to faith in Christ. Help those in need. He also calls some into full-time ministry, etc.)

Ask the students: What do you think God wants you to do this week? (Same answers as above. Living for Jesus is not something you do just when you grow up. Living for Jesus begins now.)

Ask the students: What do you think God will give you to help in this mission? (The strength and courage to do anything He calls you to do.)

SAY: Jesus is our example and He will always give you everything you need to do anything He calls you to do.

Control Tool

Leader—“Jesus Give Us Courage” / Students—“Mahalo!”

LESSON ACTIVITY

Pass the Banana, part 2

Play the “Pass the Banana” game again and see if your class can beat their previous time.

SAY: If you have given your life to Jesus, you have the Gospel.

Ask the students: Who remembers what “Gospel” means? (Good News)

SAY: You have Good News that Jesus can save your friends and that they can know for sure that they are going to heaven too. But to bring your friends to Jesus, you have to pass it on.

Ask the students: What if someone in the game had stopped passing the banana? (Everyone would have lost)

SAY: In the same way, when you don’t tell others about Jesus, it affects more than just you. Telling others about Jesus, or witnessing as some call it, is a privilege that you get. It’s fun and exciting that God can use you to change someone’s life.

SAY: After each of the following statements say, “Get to” or “Got to.” Again, there’s no right or wrong answer. It’s how you feel about what I’m saying. For example, if I said, “Clean your room.” Is that something you get to do or something you’ve got to do”?

Take out the trash

Eat at McDonalds

Wash the dishes

Do your homework

Eat Ice Cream

Go to school

Play in a ballgame

Go to church

Read your Bible

Have a friend spend the night

Tell others about Jesus

SAY: Hopefully, going to church, reading your Bible, and telling others about Jesus is something you realize that you get to do. These things are fun and exciting for someone who loves Jesus and is walking with Him. Jesus didn’t force his disciples to go out two by two. He just gave them the chance to do it, and in the same way, Jesus gives us chances to tell others about Him nearly every day.

Control Tool

Leader—“Jesus Give Us Courage” / Students—“Mahalo!”

BIBLE SKILLS

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

Ask the students—Who remembers where our verse was found last week? (Answer: Psalm 119:11)

Ask the students—Who remembers what it said? (Answer: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”)

SAY: Everybody get your Bibles and get ready for a Bible Drill. I’m going to tell you a book of the Bible and I want you to try to find it. When I say, “Ready,” hold the Bible between both hands, but you cannot open it. Then I will say a book of the Bible and a chapter and “Go.” If you open your Bible before I say, “Go,” you will be out. Once you find the book I ask for, raise your hand.

Ready…Psalm 119:11

Have the students close their Bibles.

Ask the students—Where was our Bible verse found today? (Answer: Philippians 4:13)

Ask the students—Is it in the Old or New Testament?

Ask the students—What part of the New Testament?

Ask the students—Does anybody remember who wrote it? (Paul—If you have time, point him out on the Bible Time Line.)

SAY: Everybody get your Bibles ready. And remember to wait until I say, “Go.”

Ready…Philippians 4:13–Go!

NOTE: Be sure to congratulate all your students on how they are doing and help any guests that may be in your class. We don’t want them to feel out-of-place. I had rather you skip this section than make a guest feel uncomfortable.

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Control Tool

Leader—“Jesus Give Us Courage” / Students—“Mahalo!”

SAY: And He’ll always give you the strength you need to do anything He calls you to do. Let’s thank Jesus for being so good to us.

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

Lesson adapted in part from Group Publishing, Lava, Lava Island VBS, “Jesus Brings Hope” Day 1.

*Sign Language taken from:  Sternberg, Martin. “American Sign Language Concise Dictionary.”  New York: Harper Perennial, 1994.

Adventure Island—For Younger Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus Calms our Fears

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Mark 4:35-41

Challenge Verse: Proverbs 3:5—“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

“Mahalo—Cross” Color Sheets (enough for each student). This can be found at the end of the lesson.

1 “Mahalo—We Thank Jesus” sign. This can be found at the end of the lesson.

Slips of paper in a bag that say Lord, All, Heart, Lean in it. This can be found at the end of the lesson.

Memory Verse Sign

BEFORE CLASS

- Play the island or Hawaiian music as the kids enter.

- Set out a “Mahalo-Cross” sheets and crayons at a table for each student.

- Post up the “Mahalo–We Thank Jesus” Sign.

- Have the bag with the words from the Act-It-Out memory verse activity nearby your teaching area.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet your students by name as they enter.

- Give each child a nametag.

- Give each child an attendance sticker for your attendance chart.

Copyright three-thirty ministries, 2008 ● www.threethirtyministries.org

OPENING ACTIVITY

As students enter SAY: “Howdy! Welcome to Adventure Island. Today we’re going to go horseback riding.”

Give each student a “Mahalo-Cross” page.  (See the end of the lesson for this page.)

Tell your students to write outside the cross things for which they are thankful. Then they can color the cross. They can color it anyway they want—one color, many colors, stripes, polka-dots, etc.

This activity shouldn’t take long. After every student has arrived, give them a few more minutes to finish and then tell them to bring their pictures to the circle.

Ask the students: Who remembers what “Mahalo” means in Hawaiian? (Thank You.)

Ask the students: Who can show me the hand motion when you say thank you to a person? (Put one hand over your heart and then hold out your hand with the palm up.)

Ask the students: Who can show me the hand motion when you say thank you to God? (Show kids how to place both their hands on their heart, then raise them up, as if they are giving thanks from their heart to God.)

Let each student one-at-a-time tell you one thing they are thankful for as they bring you their picture. Using masking tape post their pictures around the “Mahalo—We Thank Jesus” Sign.

SAY: We can be thankful because Jesus loves us so much and we can trust Jesus to take care of us even when things don’t happen the way we want them to.

BIBLE LESSON

SAY: Today’s story is about Jesus.

Tell your students that you are going to need every one of them to help you with the Bible story today. Then divide your class into two parts. (You can divide them either by using two sides or by using boys and girls.) Lead them in making the following sound effects:

Side 1–Make a sound like wind. Have them start out gentle and get louder and louder.

Side 2–Make a sound like waves. Again, start out gentle and get louder.

Everyone–Show them how to put their hands on their knees. Begin tapping your fingers

louder and then patting your knees louder and louder to make a sound like rain.

Everyone–When you say, “Thunder,” they say, “Boom!”

Everyone–When you say, “Lightning,” they say, “Bright Light!”

Everyone–When you say, “Boat,” they say, “Row, row, row your boat!”

Everyone–When you say, “Jesus,” they say, “Have no fear, Jesus is near!”

Everyone–When you say, “Stop,” they stop all the sounds.

Now you’re ready to tell the story, but first practice with them a few times. For example, say, “Thunder / Boat / Jesus / Wind / Stop.” etc. Make stopping almost like a game to see how quickly they can “Stop the Storm.” Practice again: Wind / Waves /  Boat / Jesus / Stop!

TELL THE STORY: One day Jesus and His disciples were in a boat and Jesus had fallen asleep when a storm came. It probably began with a gentle wind and some gentle waves, but they grew louder and louder. Then there was probably some gentle rain, but it got heavier. (At this point you should have the wind, waves, and rain all happening at the same time.) Then there was probably some thunder (Boom!) and lightning (Bright Light!) And some more thunder (Boom!) and the boat (Row, row, row your boat!) was going back and forth and the disciples were scared. STOP!

Ask the students: Have you ever been scared during a storm? (Take a couple of answers.)

Ask the students: What did you do?

SAY: Watch what the disciples did…

BACK TO THE STORY: The wind was blowing. The waves were crashing. The rain was pouring. Louder and louder. There was thunder (Boom!) and lightning (Bright Light!) and more thunder (Boom!) and even more thunder (Boom!) and the boat (Row, row, row your boat!) was going back and forth and the disciples were scared. But Jesus (Have no fear, Jesus is near!) was asleep in the back of the boat. So they woke up Jesus (Have no fear, Jesus is near!) and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown!” STOP! (If they don’t stop quickly, tell them they can do better than that. Tell them you want to see how quickly they can stop. Then start the noise again and loudly say, “Stop.” If someone is disrupting and not stopping, the teacher that is not leading the group needs to pull him aside and give him a warning. If him still continues to disrupt, send him to Kolby.)

SAY: The disciples asked Jesus if He cared they were going to die. That’s how scared they were.

Ask the students: Do you think Jesus cared about how scared they were? (Yes, and He cares about any time you’re scared too. God doesn’t want you to live in fear.)

Ask the students: After the disciples woke Jesus up and He looked around at the storm, do you think He was afraid? Why or why not? (No, He wasn’t afraid. Why? Because even in the storm, He was in control. And if you’ve given your life to Jesus and are living for Him, you don’t have to be afraid either because Jesus is always in control.)

Ask the students: Since Jesus is in control, does this mean bad things won’t ever happen to you? (No, bad things sometimes happen to good people, but if you’re walking with Jesus, you can always trust that He can take any bad thing that comes your way and turn it to your good.)

FINISH THE STORY: The wind was blowing. The waves were crashing. The rain was pouring. Louder and louder. The boat (Row, row, row your boat!) was going back and forth and was starting to fill with water. There was thunder (Boom!) and lightning (Bright Light!) and more thunder (Boom!) and lightning (Bright Light!). So they woke up Jesus (Have no fear, Jesus is near!) and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown!” Then Jesus (Have no fear, Jesus is near!) said, (Say this loudly over all the storm noise) “Quiet. Be still.” In other words, STOP! (The students should become quiet.) And just as quickly as that, the storm stopped. The waves stopped. The wind and the rain—everything stopped.

SAY: The disciples should have known that everything would be okay because Jesus was right there with them.

REPEAT AFTER ME: Have no fear, Jesus is near!

Tell those who did the wind to say, “Have no fear.”

Tell those who did the waves to say, “Jesus is near.”

Go back and forth several times to see which side can be the loudest.

Control Tool

SAY: When I say, “Jesus Calms our Fears,” I want everybody to say, “Mahalo!” (Muh-hah-lo), which means “Thank You” in Hawaiian.

Leader—“ Jesus Calms our Fears” / Students—“Mahalo!”

CHALLENGE VERSE

Using the same teams you used for wind and waves, have them try to guess key words for today’s memory verse by taking turns acting out the following:

LORD

ALL

HEART

LEAN

Once all these have been solved (and some may need help, such as “It rhymes with…” etc.), help your students find Proverbs 3:5 in their Bibles.

Read Proverbs 3:5 from your Bible.

Ask the students: What do you think it means to trust the Lord and not lean on your own understanding? (It means that you trust God even if you don’t understand why something has happened and may not know what to do. You don’t have to understand the situation to trust God with it.)

Situations

Read the following situations but ask your students not to answer out loud—just to listen:

How can you trust God when your parents get in a bad argument?

How can you trust God when someone calls you mean names?

How can you trust God when someone you care for is in a bad accident?

How can you trust God when someone you know hurts your feelings?

How can you trust God when you don’t understand why He didn’t stop something bad from happening to you?

SAY: Here’s the answer—You can always trust God because He’s always right there with you, just like Jesus was right in the boat with the disciples. And you can ask Him for help, just like the disciples asked Jesus for help. And you can trust God, because even in the middle of the most frightening and worst situations, Jesus can put peace in your heart, just like when he said “Quiet—Be still” to the storm.

Control Tool

Leader—“Jesus Calms our Fears” / Students—“Mahalo!”

BIBLE SKILLS

Ask the students: Is Proverbs in the Old Testament or the New Testament.

Ask the students: Who can find the book of Proverbs on the Bible Book Chart? (Show them what section of the Old Testament it is in and that it follows Psalms.)

Ask the students: So if you were going to find the book of Proverbs in the Bible would you look in the front or the back of the Bible? (The middle—just behind Psalms)

Tell them to get their Bibles.

SAY: Get ready for a Bible Drill. Remember you can’t open your Bibles until I say go.

Ready…Proverbs 3:5…Go!

Ask the students: Who can remember what last week’s verse was and where it was found on the Bible Book Chart?

SAY: Get ready for another Bible Drill.

Ready…Philippians 4:13…Go!

SAY: Get ready for another Bible Drill.

Ready…John 8:12…Go!

SAY: Get ready for another Bible Drill.

Ready…Psalm 56:3…Go!

During these Bible drills, help students to get familiar with the layout of God’s Word and let those who are quick to find verses help others (if they want help). We want to make sure, that no one gets frustrated or feels embarrassed. We want this to be a fun, competition-type time, but with no emphasis on winning, just on doing the best they can.

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Control Tool

Leader—“Jesus Calms our Fears” / Students—“Mahalo!”

SAY: And He’ll always take care of us. Let’s thank Jesus for being able to give us peace even in the middle of tough times.

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

Adventure Island—For Younger Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Luke 18:35-43

Challenge Verse: John 14:6—Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

A candy bag with enough candy for the class.

1 blindfold

Cut out and hide the words to John 14:6

Signs for: Jesus, Blind Beggar, Crowd, Crowd (2 signs for Crowd)— hole punch these and use yarn to make a sign that will hang around a student’s neck.

Memory Verse Sign

BEFORE CLASS

- Play the island or Hawaiian music as the kids enter.

- Set up for the “Guiding Light” Activity by setting out your candy bag and a blindfold.

- Use scotch tape to hide the words to the Challenge Verse.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet your students by name as they enter.

- Give each child an attendance sticker for your attendance chart.

- Fill out a guest card for any students who are not on your roll.

OPENING ACTIVITY

SAY: Welcome to Adventure Island. On an island you don’t have electricity, so What would you do if you were going to lead a lot of people from one side of the island to the other at night? What would you use to see? (A torch; big flashlight; etc.)

Ask the students: What if you one had one light? Where would you put it: in the back of the people, in the middle, or at the front? (You’d put it in front so the people could see.)

SAY: Jesus is the light who guides you and today we’re going to learn that Jesus is also the way.

Guiding Light

Choose one volunteer—to be blindfolded. The volunteer is going to try to find a piece of candy you hide in the room after he is blindfolded. The other students will guide him toward the candy in a Marco-Polo style as follows: Anytime the blindfolded student calls out “guiding,” the closest person to the candy will say “light.” If the blindfolded student comes close to an obstacle such as a chair, everyone can call “look-out.” Give a couple of students the opportunity to play.

Discussion

Ask the students: How did you feel being blindfolded? (Confused; scared; different; lonely.)

SAY: You needed someone to guide you–someone to show you the way. The Bible says that Jesus is the Way.

Ask the students: What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the way?” (He’s the only way to go to heaven. He’s the only way to have a meaningful life.)

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Way!

BIBLE LESSON

SAY: Imagine what it would be like to be totally blind. That’s what our lesson is about today–someone who was totally blind

NOTE: This section purposely doesn’t tell the students where the Bible Story is found. This is revealed in the Bible Skills section.

Choose 4 volunteers who are willing to help you act out the Bible Story.

Give them the following signs: Jesus, Blind Beggar, Crowd, Crowd.

Have the Blind Beggar sit off to your side with the two Crowd volunteers between you and he and have Jesus to your other side.

(NOTE: As you read the verses, lead the volunteers in what to say. Keep this fast-paced and with high energy.)

SAY: The following story is from the Bible and I will be helping our volunteers with some special speaking parts.

BIBLE: As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

BLIND MAN: “Beg, Beg, Beg”

BIBLE: When he heard the crowd going by…

CROWD: “Excuse me. Pardon me. Excuse me. Pardon me.”

BIBLE: He asked them what was happening.

BLIND MAN: “Hey, what’s up?”

BIBLE: They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

CROWD: “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

BIBLE: He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

BLIND MAN: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

BIBLE: Those who had led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet…

CROWD: “Hey, blind man, hush up! Put a sock in it.”

BIBLE: But he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

BLIND MAN: (Shouting) “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Do it again—louder)

BIBLE: Jesus stopped and ordered them man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

JESUS: “What do you want me to do for you?”

BIBLE: “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

BLIND MAN: “Lord, I want to see,”

BIBLE: Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

JESUS: “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

BIBLE: Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Give our volunteers a hand. Great job!

SAY: Even though the blind man was different—even though he was blind and was a beggar— Jesus still cared for him.

Ask the students: Do you know someone who gets treated badly because they’re different?

Ask the students: Do you know someone who gets picked on or teased?

Ask the students: How can you show Jesus’ care for them?

SAY: Jesus loved the blind man and did something great for Him.

Ask the students: What is something great God has done in your life? (He saved you, takes care of you, etc.)

SAY: Anything is possible for God—to make blind eyes see; to make crippled people walk; to heal any sickness. But Jesus doesn’t just care about the big things—He cares about everything in your life, no matter how small it might seem.

LESSON ACTIVITY

Make a Choice

Choose one volunteer. Divide your class into two teams and have them sit on both sides of the volunteer.

This is very similar to the game you previously played except you are going to make it harder. The blindfolded volunteer is still trying to find the candy except this time, when you say “Go” both sides will try to guide him. The catch is—one of the sides won’t be telling the truth. The other will. Tell your class that after you blindfold the volunteer you’ll point to the side that is suppose to try to lead him the wrong way. He’ll have to choose which side he is going to follow. Give a couple of students the opportunity to play.

Discussion

Ask the students: How did you know which side was telling the truth?

Ask the students: How do you know Jesus will always tell you the truth? (Because He is perfect; Because the Bible tells you so, etc.)

SAY: Jesus doesn’t just tell the truth; He is the Truth. He is perfect and will never lie or point you in the wrong way.

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Truth!

CHALLENGE VERSE

Before class began you should have hidden the words to John 14:6.

Explain that everyone in the class needs a partner. Each pair needs to decide who is going to be the Guide and who is going to be the Blind Man. The Guide keeps his eyes open and looks for the words although he is not allowed to use his hands. The Blind Man can use his hands, but he has to keep his eyes closed.  The two will have to work together to locate and retrieve the words to the challenge verse.

Let the class search for about a minute or two and then, as a class, let them try to assemble the verse.

Ask the students: Did any of you have a Guide who ran off and left you? (Aren’t you glad that God will never leave you and that He will always guide you in the right way.)

Read John 14:6 from your Bible.

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Way!

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Truth!

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Life!

Ask your kids to take a deep breath.

SAY: Anything can breathe, but that’s not what real life is about.

Ask a student to give you a high five.

SAY: Did you feel that? Even frogs can feel things, but that’s not real life. Life isn’t just breathing, feeling and existing. Real life—God’s kind of life—is only found in Jesus.

Have the students repeat after you (pause at the slashes):

Jesus is the Way! / The Truth! / And The Life!

No one comes to the Father / except through Him.

John 14:6

BIBLE SKILLS

Ask the students: Is the book of John in the Old Testament or the New Testament?

Ask the students: Who can find the book of John on the Bible Book Chart?

Ask the students: Who can guess what book our Bible story today came from? (Luke 18:35-43. Help your students to think this through: What part of the Bible tells about Jesus’ life? Answer: The Gospels—So it would have to be in one of the Gospels. Today’s Bible Story comes from the Gospel of Luke. The Challenge Verse comes from the Gospel of John.)

Tell them to get their Bibles.

SAY: Get ready for a Bible Drill. Remember you can’t open your Bibles until I say go.

Ready…John 14:6…Go!

SAY: Jesus is the only way to go to heaven and if you’ve given your life to Christ, then you’ve become a guide for those who don’t know Christ, to lead others to Him.

Ready…2 Corinthians 4:4…Go!

SAY: The Bible says that those who don’t know Jesus are blind to the things of God. That’s the reason they need someone to show them the way to Christ so He can bring His light and love into their lives.

Ready…Matthew 5:16…Go!

SAY: You can be a light to lead others to Christ. When you trust God and live for Jesus people will see that there is something different about you.

Ask the students: Who can remember what last week’s verse was? (Proverbs 3:5)

SAY: Get ready for another Bible Drill.

Ready…Proverbs 3:5-6…Go!

Ask the students: What book comes just before Proverbs? (Psalms)

Ask the students: Is Proverbs in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (Have a student point it out on the Bible Book Chart.)

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Have the students repeat after you (pause at the slashes):

Jesus is the Way! / The Truth! / And The Life!

No one comes to the Father / except through Him.

John 14:6

Ask the students: Before Jesus healed the blind man, what did he ask him? (He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” It sounds like a silly question—asking a blind man what he wants, but Jesus wanted him to ask Him to restore His sight. In the same way, Jesus wants us to give our cares and requests to Him too.)

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

Adventure Island—For Younger Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: ] Jesus Can Save Us

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Jesus Died and Rose Again

Challenge Verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

Blank papers and crayons for each child.

1 bean bag

2 hula hoops

1 bag of cotton balls

4 Big Cups—the biggest you can find

6 small cups—the smallest you can find and poke a hole in the bottom of each of them.

Signs for: Jesus, Forgive, Criminals, Remember, Promise, Empty, Love.—You can hole punch these and use yarn to make a sign that will hang around a student’s neck.

Masking Tape

Bible Verse Poster

BEFORE CLASS

- Play the island or Hawaiian music as the kids enter.

- Set out blank pages and crayons.

- Put the two hula hoops you will find in your classroom on opposite sides of the class. Then pour half of the bag of cotton balls (or have it ready to pour) into each hula hoop. (Note: When you are finished with the hula hoops, keep them in your classroom. You’ll need them for next week’s lesson.)

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests.

- Be sure to smile.

OPENING ACTIVITY

As students enter SAY: “Welcome to Adventure Island.”

Give each student a  blank piece of paper and some crayons. Ask them to draw a picture of what it must have been like when Jesus died or rose again.

This activity shouldn’t take long. After all the students have arrived, give them a few more minutes to finish, tell them to put their names on their papers, and then hang the pictures up in a convenient location.

SAY: Today we’re going to talk about how much God loves you and why Jesus had to die on the cross to make a way to take our sins away.

Control Tool

Leader SAYS: Jesus Can Save Us—Kids RESPOND: Mahalo!

(which means “Thank You” in Haiwiian.)

Plug It Up*

You will need: (1) four large cups and (2) four small cups that have a small hole in the bottom. Have your class sit in a circle on the carpet, not the tile areas. Fill two of the large cups with water and put the two empty large cups at the other end of the circle (or line).

SAY: Here at Adventure Island water is very important. We can’t drink salt water, so we need have to have fresh water to live.

Explain that the object of the game is to take all the water from the two full cups, pour it into the small cups (with holes in them), pass them around the circle, pour whatever water is left into the big cups and then pass the small cups back. The small cups will leak water so tell the students that they can use their fingers to plug up the holes. The game is over after three minutes or when both the big cups are full. If you have a large class, use two circles (or lines) or switch the start and finish points halfway through the game so that all the kids gets to pass a cup that still has water in it.

(NOTE: You may need to refill your water cups during this game and be careful because if any water gets on tile, it will become slick.)

Discussion

Ask the students–Was there any way for you to fill up the cups in this game? Why or why not? (Yes, we got a lot of water into the cups by plugging up the holes; No, the holes made it too hard.)

Ask the students–How did you feel when you realized you couldn’t fill up the cups quickly this way? (Frustrated; wet; we gave up and just had fun.)

SAY: You were trying to do something that was impossible. In life, it’s impossible for us to be perfect or without sin (which is anything that’s wrong).

Ask the students–If none of us can be perfect, how can we live in heaven with a perfect, holy God? (By dying on the cross Jesus made a way to take our sins away if we give our lives to Him.)

Ask the students–Why does Jesus want us to be free from sin? (Because He loves us; so we can be with Him forever.)

SAY: God wants us to do our best to obey His Word, but it’s impossible for us to be perfect. That’s why God sent Jesus to die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. God loves us and Jesus Can Save Us (Mahalo!). Because Jesus died and rose again, we can make the choice to give our lives to Him and can know for sure that we will live with God forever in heaven.

BIBLE LESSON*

SAY: Today’s story is about Jesus’ death and resurrection. (Resurrection means being raised from the dead.)

Ask the students: Who can find Jesus’ death and resurrection on the Bible time line? (Choose a volunteer)

Ask the students: What are some of the other stories about Jesus pictured on the Time Line? (Let a few students answer.)

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Jesus sign.)

SAY: Although Jesus, God’s perfect Son, had never done anything wrong, He was arrested and treated like a criminal. He was sentenced to die on a cross–which was a painful punishment given to the worst of criminals.

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Forgive sign.)

SAY: Jesus was led to a place outside the city called “The Skull.” He was nailed to a cross and people laughed at Him and insulted Him. But Jesus didn’t show anger or hate, instead He prayed, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Criminals sign.)

Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One of them yelled at Jesus: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!” The other man told the first criminal to be quiet. He said, “We are punished justly because we’re getting back what we deserve for things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Remember sign.)

The same man looked at Jesus and asked Him, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

Ask the students: Do you think it was too late for that criminal to ask Jesus to forgive him? Why or why not?

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Promise sign.)

Jesus made this promise to the criminal: “Today you will be with Me in heaven.”

After Jesus died, two of his friends took Jesus’ body and placed it in a stone tomb. All these things happened on a Friday. Saturday passed. Sunday came, and some women came to the tomb, bringing spices to put on Jesus’ body.

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Empty sign.)

The tomb was empty! Two angels in white clothes said, “Jesus is not here!” The women hurried back to tell Jesus’ disciples that He was alive!

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Love sign.)

Jesus loved the criminal even though he had done bad things. He loves you too–so much that He died to take the punishment for every wrong things you and I would ever do. Jesus loves you so much He wants you to be with Him forever in heaven. If you ever have any questions about why Jesus died or how you can know for sure that you’re going to heaven, just ask one of us. We would love to talk to you about it.

Control Tool

Leader: Jesus Can Save Us / Kids: (Mahalo!).

LESSON ACTIVITY

SAY: Even though we have all done wrong things, Jesus loves us and has great plans for our lives. He died to make a way for us to know Him and to go to heaven.

Stick It To ‘Em*

Pour half a bag of cotton balls into each of the hula hoops you set out before class began.

Choose one volunteer–and wrap the masking tape around him so that the sticky side is facing out.

Tell your kids that a volcano has blown and has covered each of the hula hoop islands with ash. It’s their job to clean them up by taking one cotton ball at a time and sticking it to your “Masking-tape” volunteer. (If you have a large class, choose two “Masking-tape” volunteers).  Ready…Go!

If the game goes quickly, feel free to play it again with a new “Masking-tape” volunteer. For variation, tell them they can only hop on one leg.

Discussion

SAY: Your “Masking-tape” volunteer didn’t run and didn’t pick up any of the cotton balls. How did he or she help you clean up? (He took all the cotton balls; the cotton balls stuck to him; he cheered us on.)

Ask the students–How is that like the way Jesus cleans the sin from our lives? (He took all the sins on Him; Jesus wants to forgive us and wash away all the wrong things we’ve ever done.)

SAY: When Jesus died on the cross, our sin (the wrong things we’ve done) was placed on Him and He was punished for them in our place. That’s how Jesus Can Save Us (Mahalo!). Jesus is stronger than our sin–He’s even stronger than death. Jesus died for our sins and came back to life. Only in Him can a person get forgiveness and find eternal life in heaven.

CHALLENGE VERSE

Ask the students–Why did Jesus want to save us? (Because He loves us; so we can be with Him forever.)

Ask the students–Does anyone know John 3:16? (If they know it, let them say it)

Then tell the students to get ready for a Bible Drill.

Ready…John 3:16…Go!

Read John 3:16 from your Bible.

Teacher Testimony

Briefly tell the students about how you realized your need for Jesus, how you gave your life to Him, and what difference He made in your life. They don’t need to hear your life’s story, so keep your testimony short and to the point–probably no more than 60 to 90 seconds. At the end, we always teach people to say, “Because of this I know for sure I’m going to heaven. How about you?”

SAY: If you have never given your life to Jesus, there will be a time when you start thinking about Him and heaven. You’ll realize that you’ve done wrong things and need a Savior and it’s like something inside that says, “I need to give my life to Jesus.” When that time comes, talk to one of us and we’ll show you what the Bible says about how you can give your life to Jesus.

Control Tool

Isn’t it great that Jesus Can Save Us (Mahalo!)

BIBLE SKILLS

Bible Skills

Divide your class into two teams and take points to see which side can correctly answer more of the following Bible Skill questions.

-  Is Hebrews in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (It’s in the  New Testament.) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.

-  What is the first book of the Bible? (Genesis) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the Old Testament it is in.

-  What is the first book in the New Testament? (Matthew) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.

-  Name the four Gospels. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

-  What does the word “Gospel” mean? (Good news)

-  Is Philippians in the Old or New Testament? (New) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.

-  Where can you find the life of Jesus in the Bible? (In the Gospels)

-  Does each of the Gospels tell the life of Jesus over again or do the four books just tell it once? (They each tell it over again.)

-  So, how many times do you think the Bible tells the story about Jesus dying for us and rising again? (Four times—once in each Gospel).

-  What is the easiest way to find the Book of Psalms in your Bible? (Turn to the middle)

-  What is the easiest way to find the Book of Proverbs in your Bible? (Turn to Psalms. It’s the next book.)

-  Who can remember what last week’s verse was and where it can be found on the Bible Book Chart? (John 14:6)

-  What is the second book of the Old Testament? (Exodus) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the Old Testament it is in.

Challenge your student to memorize all the books of the Bible.

(For 1st grade and younger–challenge them to memorize all the books of the New Testament.)

Bible Drills (for 2^nd Grade Only)

Tell your students to get ready for a Bible Drill. The first team to have someone find the right verse will get a point.

Ready…Psalm 119:11…Go!

Ready…Proverbs 3:5-6…Go!

Ready…Psalm 56:3…Go!

Ready…Matthew 5:16…Go!

During these Bible drills, help student to get familiar with the layout of God’s Word and let those who are quick to find verses help others. We want to make sure, however, that no one gets frustrated or feels embarrassed. We want this to be a fun, competition-type time, but with no emphasis on winning, just on doing the best they can. Even so, still give points to each team that finds the verse the fastest.

Bible Drills (for K-1^st Grade Only)

Tell your students to get ready for a Bible Drill. Together you are going to find two verses:

Ready…Find the Book of Psalms…Go!

(Show them the word “Psalm” since many of your kids may not be able to read well. They can, however, match words. Tell them to turn to middle of their Bibles. Then show them how to find Psalm 23 and read the first four verses to them. Explain that the numbers are chapters. Psalm 23 represents chapter 23 in the Book of Psalms.)

Ready…Find the Book of Matthew

(Again, show them the word “Matthew” since many of your kids may not be able to read well. They can, however, match words. tell them to turn to middle of their Bibles. Then to turn to the middle of the section to their right—remember some of them may not know right from left, so it’s best to show and not just tell. This should put them in the Gospels. Then show them how to find Matthew. Then chapter 5. Then verse 16. Read this to them. Explain that the numbers are chapter and the small numbers are verses.)

Ready…Matthew 5:16…Go!

During these Bible drills, help students to get familiar with the layout of God’s Word and let those who are quick to find verses help others. We want to make sure, however, that no one gets frustrated or feels embarrassed.

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Control Tool

Leader: Jesus Can Save Us—Kids: Mahalo!

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

*NOTES

Plug It Up–from Group Publishing’s Lava, Lava Island VBS Curriculum 2004, Day 4.

Bible Story–adapted from Lifeway’s VBS Curriculum 2004, Rickshaw Rally.

Stick It to ‘Em–from Group Publishing’s Lava, Lava Island VBS Curriculum 2004, Day 4.

Adventure Island—For Younger Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus is Alive!

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Luke 24:1-8

Challenge Verse: John 14:2-3– “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Young child option: John 14:2– “I am going to prepare a place for you.”

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

Masking Tape

1 bed sheet per class

At least four pool noodles or yardsticks

Slips of paper (About 1/8 size of regular paper)–enough for one per student

1 helium balloon for each student

Bible Verse Poster

BEFORE CLASS

- Play the island or Hawaiian music as the kids enter.

- Set out hula hoops for the opening activity and mark the floor with masking tape “Xs”.

- Find out from your leader where to get the helium balloons.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests.

- Be sure to smile.

OPENING ACTIVITY

As students enter SAY: “Welcome to an Adventure Island Luau. Today we’re going to celebrate Jesus because Jesus is alive!”

Control Tool

SAY: Anytime I say, “Jesus is Alive!” I want you to say, “Mahalo!”

Leader: Jesus is Alive! Students: (Mahalo!)

The Rolling Stone Game*

Younger Version

Use masking tape to mark a line behind which your class’ teams will line up. Across the room, use masking tape to mark an “X” on the floor for each team in a line around which the students will race. Explain that when you say go, the first person in line will roll the hula hoop around the “X” and back to their team, give the hula hoop to the next person and then go to the end of the line. The first team to finish needs to sit down in a straight line and raise their hands to show that they are finished. Keep going until everyone has gone.

When you’re finished, play the game one more time.

Older Version

Instead of making one “X” for them to race around, make several “Xs” in a line from the starting point out around which they have to weave the hula hoop as they roll it.

SAY: Those who had followed Jesus were shocked when they came to the tomb on the third day after Jesus died. The stone that had sealed the grave had been miraculously rolled away and his body was gone.

Ask the students: What do you think some of them thought had happened?

SAY: Today we’re going to find out what happened to Jesus after He died.

Ask the students: Where in the Bible can you read about Jesus’ life? (The Gospels–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Ask the students: Who can tell me some other stories about Jesus’ life? (Take a few answers—the lessons they’ve had recently involved Jesus calming the storm, walking on water, healing a blind man, overcoming temptation, and the story of His birth.)

BIBLE LESSON #1—Jesus Rose from the Dead

Assign the following parts to help in today’s Bible Lesson:

Anytime you say “women,” all the girls will stand up, say, “That’s us!” and then sit back down.

Anytime you say “men,” all the guys will stand up, say, “That’s us!”and then sit back down.

Anytime  you say “tomb,” everyone will stand up, say, “The grave!”and then sit back down.

Anytime  you say “Jesus,” everyone will stand up, say, “He’s alive!”and then sit back down.

Read the story below but be sure to tell the students that even though you are reading it out of the lesson book, it is from the Bible in Luke 24:1-8.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women (That’s us!) took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb (The grave!). They found the stone rolled away from the tomb (The grave!), but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (He’s Alive!). While they were wondering about these this, suddenly two men (That’s us!) in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women (That’s us!) bowed down with their faces to the ground but the men (That’s us!) said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.

Control Tool

Leader: Jesus is Alive! Students: (Mahalo!)

CHALLENGE VERSE

Preparing a Place*

Explain that a hurricane blew through the island and blew all the jungle huts apart. As a result your class needs to take the pool noodles (or yard sticks) and a sheet and build a new jungle hut. The hut doesn’t have to be able to stand on its own. Student can hold the noodles upright with the sheet draped overhead (some students may be needed to hold the corners of the sheets) and see how many of your class you can fit inside.

Discussion

Ask the students: How would you describe the hut we just made? (Fake; funny, flimsy)

Read John 14:2 from your Bible

Point to the Memory Verse sign and have your students repeat the verse after you.

Ask the students: How would you describe the home Jesus is preparing in heaven for those who have given their lives to Him? (Perfect, special, awesome)

Ask the students: Why is Jesus preparing a home in heaven for those who have given their lives to Him?

Ask the students: Why should we tell others that Jesus will prepare a place for them in heaven too?

Ask the students: Could everybody fit in the hut we built?

Ask the students: Will heaven ever get so full that there won’t be room for others? (No. There’s always room in God’s heart for anyone who is willing to give their life to Him.)

SAY: It’s fun to imagine what heaven is like and the great things Jesus is preparing for us there. In fact, it makes you feel like celebrating. Jesus is Alive! (Mahalo!) We know that Jesus loves us and died and rose again so He could make a place for us in heaven with Him forever.

BIBLE LESSON #2—Jesus Ascended to Heaven

Ask the students: Does anyone know what happened to Jesus after the resurrection? (He appeared to His disciples and to more than five hundred other believers at one time.).

SAY: In a moment we’re going to find out what happened several weeks after He rose from the dead.

Get ready for a Bible Drill.

Ask the students: Who can find the book of Acts on the Bible Book Chart? (Point out that it is right after the Gospels.)

SAY: The book of Acts stands for the Acts of the Disciples (or what the disciples did) after Jesus went to heaven. Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about Jesus going up to heaven.

Ready…Find Acts 1:8–Go!

Read Acts 1:8-11 from your Bible

Ask the students: What did Jesus say the disciples would do? (Be witnesses to all the world. In other words, to tell others about Jesus.)

Ask the students: How can you be a witness?

Ask the students: Where can you be a witness?

Ask the students: How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus ascended (went up) to heaven?

Ask the students: Is Jesus in heaven right now or is Jesus here now? (Since Jesus is God he can be everywhere at the same time.)

Control Tool

Leader: Jesus is Alive! Students: (Mahalo!)

LESSON ACTIVITY—Balloon Launch

Find out in advance from your children’s leader where the helium balloons will be.

SAY: Today we are going celebrate Jesus’ resurrection (which means that He rose from the dead) and ascention (which means He went up), by going outside and releasing some helium balloons. But before we do, we are going to write a message about Jesus on one of these slips of paper, and then we’re going to tape each of them to the string of a balloon. This way, if someone who doesn’t know Jesus finds it, they’ll see a message about the Good New of Jesus.

Have the students write a message on a small slip of paper.

Young Child Option–You may want to give your students the option of writing their own message or of copying from the chalkboard the phrase, “Jesus is the only way to heaven.”

Special Prayer

After the students are finished writing their notes, attach them to the balloons and pray with them that God will guide these messages into the hands of people who don’t know Him and that He’ll use them to touch people’s lives.

Lead your class outside to release their balloons.

Control Tool

Leader: Jesus is Alive! Students: (Mahalo!)

BIBLE SKILLS

Get your Bibles ready for some Bible Drills

Ready…John 20:1

Ready…Matthew 28:1-4…Go!

(After they find it, you’ll need to read it.)

Ready…Luke 24:1-4

(After they find it, you’ll need to read it.)

Ready…Mark 16:1-3…Go!

(After they find it, you’ll need to read it.)

Ask the students: What did you notice about all these verses?

SAY: They are all telling the same story. The story of Jesus is retold in all four of the Gospels. Each one tells about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and although all four tell the same story, they all tell it from a slightly different angle since they were written to four different groups of people. For example, Mark was writing to people who lived in Rome, far away from Israel (where Jesus had lived), but Matthew was writing to the Jews, Jesus’ own people.

Ask the students: Did you know that only two of the Gospels tell about Jesus’ birth? Which two do you think they are? (Matthew and Luke)

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Control Tool

Leader: Jesus is Alive! Students: (Mahalo!)

IDEA: Ask a student to write down today’s prayer requests.

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

NOTES*

Opening Activity: “The Rolling Stone Game”take from Jesus is Alive! Word Action Publishing Company, 1984, p.47.

Challenge Verse Activity: Adapted from Group Publishing’s Lava, Lava Island VBS curriculum, 2004, Day 5.

Extreme Life—For Older Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Trust God

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Matthew 1:18-2:13, Luke 2:1-7

Challenge Verse: Psalm 56:3—“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.”

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

At least one balloon per child.

One balloon with today’s challenge verse written on a slip of paper and put inside.

Bible Lesson Signs for: Mary, Joseph, Inn Keeper, Angel

Memory Verse Poster

BEFORE CLASS

- You will need to blow up at least one balloon before the students arrive. However, before blowing it up, insert in it the Challenge Verse for today. As kids arrive you could even be hitting this balloon in the air.

- Set out the Bible Lesson signs in the area where you will be teaching.

- Have the items for the Tasty Torches and snack items in a convenient locations.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

The first 10 minutes of 3^rd-6^th grade classes should be used as an opportunity to build and deepen relationships with students. Relationships are the key to reaching this age group. Ask them specific questions about what is going on in their lives, joke with them, laugh with them, and play with them. Every class should have an activity going as soon as the students arrive. Each classroom should have games such as Jenga, Connect Four, etc. to use during this time. Also feel free to play group-jump rope, four-square, and other fun entry-activities.

OPENING ACTIVITY

Give each student a balloon as they enter the room and ask them to blow the balloon up. (Some students may need some help tying them off.)

Challenge #1:

Tell them to begin hitting the balloon in the air as many times as they can without it hitting the floor.

Challenge #2:

Challenge your kids to hit their balloon in the air, spin around, and keep hitting it without it touching the floor. Tell them every time they hit the balloon to say, “Trust God.”

Challenge #3:

Ask your students to hit their balloons, see how many times they can clap their hands, and then continue hitting the balloon before it touches the ground. Tell them every time they hit the balloon to say, “Trust God.”

LESSON ACTIVITY*

SAY: On the count of three, find a spot anywhere in the room and sit down. 1-2-3. Go!

SAY: On the count of three, hold your balloon in your lap with both hands. 1-2-3. Go!

Praise different kids by name for their obedience—i.e., “Good job, Johnny!”

Praise the children who were the fastest, holding their balloon the stillest, biggest smile, etc. Then move on quickly.

SAY: Today we are going to take a census of the balloons. A “census” is a count.

Ask the students: So if we were to take a census of the number of people in this room. How many would we have? Raise your hand if you know.

SAY: But in Jesus’ time when they had a census, people had to return to their hometowns to be counted. That’s what our balloons are going to have to do. The “hometowns” are the corners of the rooms, but there’s one catch. The balloons have to be batted to the correct corner for its color, but you can’t stand up or move from your spot.

Point out which color goes into each “hometown.”

Ready-Go!

Once all the balloons are to the corners of the room, instruct the students to leave them there and come to the circle.

Ask the students: What was it like to move your balloons to a certain corner. (Hard; frustrating; silly; I had to have others help me.)

SAY: Today we are going learn about how Joseph and Mary had to travel to their hometown of Bethlehem and how Jesus was born there.

BIBLE LESSON*

Choose a boy and girl volunteer—Give the girl the Mary sign. Give the boy the Joseph sign.

SAY: Everybody say, “Hello, Mary and Joseph,” (Kids: Hello, Mary and Joseph!) And congratulations, you’re still not married!

SAY: God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus, and while Mary was expecting to give birth, they both had to travel to Bethlehem, their hometown, for the census.

Ask the students—How do you think Joseph felt? His wife is expecting to give birth at any time, and they have to travel several days, through the weather, probably by donkey or by walking over rough ground. There were also many robbers in that day who would attack people on the roads outside the cities.

Ask the students—Do you think Joseph might have been scared?

Choose a volunteer—Give him/her the Inn Keeper sign.

SAY: When they finally arrived at Bethlehem, all the inns were full.

Have the Inn Keeper volunteer say, “We don’t have any room for you.”

Ask the students—How do you think Joseph felt?

SAY: And then when the inn keeper let them stay in the stable, do you think he might have been concerned about a newborn baby being around all those animals? (These are rhetorical questions. Don’t take answers. You want to keep the story moving quickly.)

SAY: I need some volunteers to add sound effects to our story. Mary and Joseph (refer to your volunteers) are in the stable. Now in Jesus’ time a stable wasn’t like a barn, but it was the lower floor of the inn. Inns back then were usually cut out of stone, like a huge cave. The upper levels would have large holes cut into the sides for rooms. They didn’t even have doors. The stable was the bottom part where all the animals stayed. So I need some animal sound effects.

Choose volunteers— for the following sound effects (more than one person can have the same sound.) Give as many parts as you have volunteers, even if it is every student in the class.

Sound effects:

Donkey—There were probably many of these.

Horse—There would have been a few of these.

Dogs—Wild dogs would hang around the stables in hopes of getting left-over food. Sometimes these wild dogs would even attack people.

Goats—It is possible that some people would have a goat with them.

Sheep—Most sheep were kept in the pasture in large flocks although some might have been in the stable.

SAY: On the count of three I want you to make your noise and keep going until I say, “Jesus was born!” Ready…1-2-3…Go! (Encourage kids to be louder and to keep going.)

SAY: In the middle of all of this, JESUS WAS BORN!

(Kids should stop their noise; if not, say, “STOP!”)

SAY: Let’s try that again. 1-2-3…Make your noise. In the middle of all of this, JESUS WAS BORN!

SAY: Joseph trusted God and God took care of them, and you can trust God too.

CONTROL TOOL

Any time I say, “When you’re afraid, what should you do?” Everybody say, “Trust God!”

Practice a few times.

SAY: Later on something happened that probably really scared Joseph. (Ask your Joseph volunteer to lay down on the ground and pretend to be asleep.) After the shepherds came and worshipped Jesus, Mary and Joseph probably stayed in Bethlehem for a year or two. During this time the Magi or wise men came bringing gifts, but after they left, Joseph had a dream from God.

Choose a volunteer—Give him/her the Angel sign.

SAY: An angel appeared to Joseph and said, “Get up.” (Have the volunteer repeat after you.) “Go to Egypt because King Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Ask the students—How do you think Joseph felt when he heard that the king was going to try to kill Jesus? (Answer: Probably afraid.)

Ask the students—So what do you think Joseph did? (Answer: He obeyed God and trusted him. Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus went to Egypt until God told them it was safe.)

CONTROL TOOL

Leader:  When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

(Practice once more.)

KEY: Extreme Trust means that you trust God and obey Him even when you’re scared or don’t understand what’s going on or why. Extreme Trust clings to God and is unshakeable even in the worst of situations.

BIBLE SKILLS

SAY: On the count of three, I want everyone to grab a balloon and spread out some where in the room. Ready…1-2-3…Go!

After your students have spread out in the room SAY: When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

SAY: Inside one of these balloon is our verse for the day. When I say go I want you to pop your balloon by stepping on it, sitting on it, or hugging it real tight but remember to be sure to look for the Challenge Verse. Go!

CONTROL TOOL

Leader:  When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

SAY: On the count of three, touch two walls, grab your Bible, and come back to the circle as fast as you can without pushing, shoving, or picking anybody’s nose. 1-2-3 Go!

CONTROL TOOL

Leader:  When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

Announce who found the verse. The paper only says where the verse is found.

SAY: Let’s see what the Bible says about trusting God. Our verse is Psalm 56:3.

- Ask the students—Who remembers how to find Psalms in the Bible? (Answer: Hold your Bible sideways and open it to the middle. Usually this is the book of Psalms.)

SAY: Hold your Bibles. (You may need to have extra Bibles ready for those who didn’t bring one. Encourage everyone to bring their Bibles next week.) When I say, “Ready,” hold your Bible between both hands, but you cannot open it. Then I will say a Bible reference and “Go.” If you open your Bible before I say “Go,” you will be out. Once you find what I ask for, raise your hand.

Ready…The book of Psalms—Go!

SAY: Now try to find chapter 56. (Explain that every book in the Bible is divided into chapters.)

SAY: Now try to find chapter 56, verse 3. (Explain that every chapter is divided into verses.)

- Explain that you say it, “Psalm 56-3,” meaning chapter 56, verse 3.

- Point out the memory verse poster and show them how Psalm 56:3 is written.

SAY: The dot-dot (:) tells you which is the chapter and which is the verse.

Ask the students—In Psalm 56:3, what’s the chapter number?

Ask the students—What’s the verse number?

CHALLENGE VERSE

Read Psalm 56:3 from your Bible

SAY: On islands, many times people use drums to communicate a message. That’s how we’re going to learn this verse. Do what I do and say what I say.

Using both hands pat your legs to make a drum beat on every syllable. Pause at the slashes below and allow the students to repeat after you.

Read Psalm 56:3 from your Bible

“When I am afraid, / I will trust in you. / In God, whose word I praise, / in God I trust; / I will not be afraid.” /

Psalm 56:3

SAY: Let’s try it faster. (Do it again—the same as above, only faster.)

SAY: Now let’s go a little faster. Try to keep up!

Pause at the slashes below:

Read Psalm 56:3 from your Bible

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. / In God, whose word I praise, / in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” /

Psalm 56:3

Repeat this after me: “When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee” (Kids repeat)

Psalm 56:3 (Kids repeat).

SAY: “Thee” is an old way of saying, “You,” but this is a great way to remember what this verse means. Try it again. (Say the entire verse and reference and then let the students repeat after you.)

Leader: “When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee—Psalm 56:3” (Kids repeat)

CONTROL TOOL

Leader:  When you’re afraid, what should you do? (Kids: Trust God!)

SAY: He loves you and He’ll never let you down.

LESSON ACTIVITY

Instruct your students to go to the table. Ask the following questions while getting their snack ready.

Ask the students—How many of you sleep or used to sleep with a night-light?

SAY: Sometimes at night, you might get scared and it helps to have a light. Who does the Bible say is the Light of the World? (Answer: Jesus…and also you if you know and live for Him [Matt. 5:14-16])

SAY: Today we are going to make some Flame Cakes—not cupcakes, but “flame” cakes.

Pass out the cupcakes and cones, but tell the kids not to eat or lick them yet. Have the students push the cupcake down in the cone. Then pull out your whip cream and food coloring. Let a volunteer put the food coloring in and then you can stir it while you explain the following:

SAY: This food coloring is going to bring a great change to this whip cream, and when someone gives their life to Jesus, He brings a great change to them.

Pass the whip cream around and let the students dip their torches in it and begin eating. (You can also use a spoon if you had rather them spoon the whip cream on top. This would be less messy.)

Ask the students—What are some of the changes that comes to a person’s life when they receive Jesus as the Lord and Boss of their life? (Answer: They can know for sure that they’re going to heaven. They are adopted as a child of God. They now know Jesus.)

SAY: Knowing Jesus is the best part of life.

As the students eat, here are some other topics to discuss:

- Who can say where today’s Challenge Verse was found?

- Who remembers what it says?

- What does that mean?

- How did Joseph trust God? (Answer: He listened and obeyed God.)

- Who remembers where last week’s Challenge Verse was found?

- What does the 56:3 stand for? (Answer: chapter 56, verse 3)

- How would it be written? (56 dot-dot 3)

- Who remembers where the Gospel of John is found? (Answer: It is one of the four Gospels in the New Testament—Point students to the Bible Book Chart.)

- What does Gospel mean? (Answer: Good News)

- What are the other Gospels? (Answer: Matthew, Mark, and Luke)

SAY: The Gospels are all about Jesus’ life and they are also the first four books of the New Testament.

- The story we learned today about Jesus being born is found in two of the Gospels. Who can guess which two? (Answer: Matthew and Luke)

CLASS RULES

SAY: We are so glad you are a part of our class, and even though class is almost over, we need to go over the three rules that everyone needs to follow, not just here but in life every day. These are our Classroom Rules:

Everybody say “Respect”

Respect God—Obey God in all that you do.

Everybody say “Respect”

Respect Your Teachers—Do what your teachers ask you to.

Everybody say “Respect”

Respect Each Other—Treat others the way you want to be treated.

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

SAY: Now let’s get ready to pray and thank God that we can trust Him and that we don’t have to be afraid because God is bigger than anything we could ever face.

What are some things we can be praying for?

Is there anything that you are afraid of or concerned about that you want to talk to Jesus about?

List Prayer Requests

Before you pray, ask the students to bow their heads and close their eyes. Tell them to pray and thank Jesus for always being there and for them to remember to trust Him when they are afraid.

Thank God that we can trust Him and that no matter what we may go through, He will never let us down.

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

*Adapted from Group Publishing, Lava, Lava Island VBS,  “Jesus Brings Hope” Day 1.

Extreme Life—For Older Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus Followed God’s Word

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Matthew 4:1-11

Challenge Verse: Psalm 119:11—“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

One half-page of white copy paper

Masking tape

Enough band-aids for every student to have one

Two rulers or yardsticks

Two lemons

2 pool noodles

1/2 bag of Skittles in a baggie

1 container of frosting

5 plastic knives

Enough plates for every student to have one

Enough sugar cookies for each student to have one

Enough napkins for each student to have one

One copy of the pages at the end of this lesson on green and red cards.

Memory Verse Sign

BEFORE CLASS

- Place nametags near the door so that you can give them to the students as they arrive.

- Tape a half page of white paper to the ceiling or somewhere high on the wall in one of the corners of the room.

- Use masking tape to make two or four 6 foot, straight, parallel lines on the floor.

- Have the Band-Aids in a convenient location.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

The first 10 minutes of 3^rd-6^th grade classes should be used as an opportunity to build and deepen relationships with students. Relationships are the key to reaching this age group. Ask them specific questions about what is going on in their lives, joke with them, laugh with them, and play with them. Every class should have an activity going as soon as the students arrive. Each classroom should have games such as Jenga, Connect Four, etc. to use during this time. Also feel free to play group-jump rope, four-square, and other fun entry-activities.

OPENING ACTIVITY

As students enter, tell them that something is hidden somewhere in the room (the white, half piece of paper taped to the ceiling or somewhere high on the wall in the corner of the room), but you can’t tell them what or where it is and you can’t even give them any hints. If someone points it out, tell them they’ll get a chance later to find out if they’re right.

BAND-AID TAG

Put a Band-Aid on each student’s back. When you say “Go” they will try to pull off everyone else’s Band-Aid without theirs being pulled. Once their Band-Aid is pulled, they can continue to play. The last person with a Band-Aid on their back is the winner. Rules: They cannot grab people or shirts. Set a two minute time limit and have fun with them. (If you have a small group, you may want to play this twice or to create variety, have them play it while hopping on one leg.)

When the game is over: (1) throw away all the Band-Aids and (2) sit down in a circle. (If students want to keep and wear their Band-Aids, that’s okay as long as they don’t become a distraction.)

CONTROL TOOL

SAY: Every time I say, “Is Jesus perfect,” I want you to say, “Absolutely!”

Leader: Is Jesus perfect?—Students: Absolutely!

SAY: A person gets a Band-Aid when they get hurt.

Ask the students: Can anyone guess what hurts people the most? (Answer: Sin.)

Ask the students: What is sin? (Answer: Anything we do that’s wrong)

Leader: Is Jesus perfect?—Students: Absolutely!

CHALLENGE: Agree or Disagree:

- Sin will always hurt you—If you agree, stand up. If you disagree, stay sitting down.  Correct Answer: Agree

- None of us are perfect— If you agree, go to the wall on my left. If you disagree, go to the wall on my right. Correct Answer: Agree

- You should always eat mayonnaise on bologna and cheese sandwiches— If you agree, go to the wall on my right. If you disagree, go to the wall on my left. Correct Answer: I don’t know.

- Jesus made a way to take your sins away— If you agree, go to the wall on my left. If you disagree, go to the wall on my right. Correct Answer: Agree

- You should always pick your nose at school—If you agree, sit down. If you disagree, raise your hands in the air. Correct Answer: Disagree

- The way to avoid the hurt of sin is to do what God wants you to do—— If you agree, go to the wall on my right. If you disagree, go to the wall on my left.  Correct Answer: Agree

- Everyone should like pickle juice—If you agree, go to the wall on my left. If you disagree, go to the wall on my right. Correct Answer: Who cares?

- The best choice you can make is to give your life to Jesus— If you agree, give someone a high-five. If you disagree, sit on your hands. Correct Answer: Agree

On the count of 3 come sit down in the circle: 1-2-3. Go!

BIBLE LESSON*

Ask the students the following. Tell them all to answer out loud as you ask.

If you wanted to toast some bread, what would you use? (Toaster)

If you wanted to walk your dog what would you use?(Leash)

If you wanted to keep your ice cream frozen, what would you use?(Freezer)

If you wanted to brush your teeth, what would you use?(Toothbrush)

If you wanted to dig a hole, what would you use?(Shovel)

SAY: It would be impossible to toast your bread in the bathtub, or to walk your dog with the car, or what would you think about someone who put the ice cream in the toaster to keep it cold. That’s crazy. You use the right tool for the right job. For example, if you were stranded on an island and you wanted to catch some fish, what tool would you use? (Answer: Fishing pole, net, spear, etc.)

SAY: Did you know that when Jesus was tempted to do bad things and He used the right tool to make right choices? While we act out the Bible story, see if you can figure out what tool Jesus used.

Choose 6 volunteers to help you teach a story about Jesus.

Give three a green card

Give three a red card

Read from the Bible beginning at Matthew 4:1.

Red Card #1 contains the devil’s first temptation. When you get to this part, instead of reading it, call for Red Card #1 and help the student read it or have them repeat it after you. When you get to Jesus’ response, call for Green Card #1. Red Card #2 is the second temptation. Green Card #2 is Jesus’ response. Red Card #3 is the third temptation. Green Card #3 is Jesus’ response. From your Bible read only what is not in quotations.

SAY: Even though Jesus was tempted, He made right choices.

Leader: Is Jesus perfect?—Students: Absolutely!

Ask the students: Who figured out what tool Jesus used when He was tempted to do bad things? (He used God’s Word—the Bible that He had hidden in His heart.)

Repeat after me:

Jesus didn’t just know God’s Word.

He didn’t just repeat God’s Word.

Jesus Followed God’s Word.

Divide your class into two teams (i.e., split the group down the middle)

SAY: We’re going to have a competition to see which side can be the loudest. When I point to this side, yell out, “Jesus Followed!” When I point to the other side, yell out, “God’s Word.”

Note: Go back and forth between the two teams three times.

KEY: God’s Word will always point you in the right direction.

LESSON ACTIVITY*

LEMON LINES

Before the students arrived, you should have made 2 or 4 (depending on the size of your class) six foot lines on the floor. Divide your class into two or four teams and ask half of each team to line up at the end of each side of the tape line. For example, if you have four on each team, have two line up on each end of the tape line.

When you say “go,” direct the first person in line to use the ruler to push the lemon along the tape “road” to the end of the tape line. The first person will hand the ruler to the next student, who will push the fruit back to the other end of the tape. Continue until every student has had a turn. Tell the students to sit down after their turn. The first team with everyone seated should raise their hands to indicate that they are finished. (Depending on the size of your class, you may also want to let everyone have two or more turns.)

After the activity, have the students sit down in a circle.

Ask the students— Was it hard or easy to push the lemon in a straight line? Why? (Hard, it wanted to go its own way; easy, we figured out a way to do it.)

SAY: It was a challenge to make the lemon do the right thing.

Ask the students— How does God encourage us to do the right thing? (He gave us the Bible, teachers and parents who tell us what to do.)

SAY: Sometimes we can be kind of like lemons—we want to do things our way, not God’s way.

Repeat this after me: If you go the wrong way, you’ll end up in the wrong place.

Repeat it again, but louder.

CHALLENGE VERSE

SAY: So, if sinning is the wrong way, how can we do what’s right? How can we be like Jesus? Just think about it: What did Jesus do when He was tempted to do something wrong? (He quoted the Bible.)

SAY: He quoted the Bible and that’s what our challenge verse today is about. It’s about something you hide, but first I’m going to give you a hint about what I hid in the room earlier.

Give a few hints, each time become a little more specific until someone figures out what it is.

SAY: I hid that piece of paper, but that paper isn’t going to help anyone, but God has given you something that He wants you to hide in your heart so that you’ll have a tool that can protect you from doing wrong.

Read Psalm 119:11 from your Bible

Ask the students—What does it mean to hide God’s Word in your heart? (To know what it means; to learn it; to memorize it.)

Ask the students—What keeps you from hiding God’s Word in your heart? (I don’t know how; I forget to do it; I’m not good at memorizing.)

SAY: Hiding God’s Word in your heart doesn’t mean you have to memorize the entire Bible. But it does mean that you know God and you know how to obey Him. When Jesus was tempted to go His own way, He followed God’s Word. We can always learn more about God, so we know how to follow and obey too.

ILLUSTRATION

SAY: On the count of three, I want everyone run, touch three things that are three different colors in this room and come and sit back down. Ready…Go!

Choose a few volunteers to name one of the things they touched.

SAY: You made a choice what to touch because it looked good to you. Sometimes doing something wrong may look good to you, but sin will always hurt you or someone else. The best choice you can make is to follow Jesus and do what He would do.

LESSON ACTIVITY

Activity: Samarai

(In your classroom you will find two pool noodles. Have the students make a large circle and then choose two volunteers. Give each a pool noodle. When you say “Go” give them 20 seconds to “beat the living daylights” out of the other person. This is an “extreme” game and although it may sound and look like hits with a pool noodle might hurt, the impact is minimal. So don’t worry—Your students won’t be going away bruised.

Read these Rules to the Students: Head shots are illegal. Be careful not to get so close to each other that you actually hit them with your hand. Take off glasses and large earrings. You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. Stop when I say stop. (Also, if you have time at the end of class, feel free to take the “Champion” of your class and challenge another class.)

Discussion

SAY: There will be times in your life when you struggle against sins. There might be something that you know is wrong, but you want to do it. Just like the game, where you used the Samarai (pool noodle) to defend yourself, you need to be ready to have God’s Word defend you.

Ask the students—What if you had never picked up the samarai? Could it have defended you? (No.)

SAY: In the same way, if you haven’t hidden God’s Word in your heart, you won’t be fully ready to fight against sin. And notice, that when Jesus was tempted, He didn’t stop to read and look up verses, He already knew them. That’s how important it is to read and know and memorize the Bible.

CRAFT SNACK*

Students will make edible compasses to remind them to follow God’s Word.

Each student will need: 1 sugar cookie, about 2 tablespoons of frosting, 3 Skittles, about 2 pretzel sticks, plastic knives, 1 small plate, 1 napkin per student.

REVIEW

Ask the students the following:

Today we’re learning that the devil tempted Jesus to do wrong things. How many times was He tempted? (Answer: Three)

Who can find our story on the Bible Time Line? (From the Book of Matthew which is the first book in the New Testament.)

And what tool did Jesus use to do what’s right? (Answer: Jesus Followed God’s Word)

SAY: A compass is something you use to help you go the right way and we’re going to make some cookie-compasses to remind us that we always go the right way when we follow God’s Word.

Draw or show a picture of a compass and let kids be creative: They don’t have to just put an “N” for North. They can put an arrow, etc. Also, use the following discussion questions as the students are making their compasses.

Discussion Questions

Ask these while the students are making and eating their compasses.

Why do you think the devil wanted to tempt Jesus?

How can you begin to remember God’s Word today?

When does God’s Word give you direction?

BIBLE SKILLS

When your students are finished eating, have them sit in a circle.

Ask the students—Who remembers where our verse was found last week? (Answer: Psalm 56:3)

Ask the students—Who remembers what it said? (Answer: When I am afraid I will trust in you. Or, if you want to make it rhyme–When I am afraid I will trust in Thee–Psalm 56:3.)

SAY: Everybody get your Bibles and get ready for a Bible Drill. I’m going to tell you a book of the Bible and I want you to try to find it. When I say, “Ready,” hold the Bible between both hands, but you cannot open it. Then I will say a book of the Bible and a chapter and “Go.” If you open your Bible before I say, “Go,” you will be out. Once you find the book I ask for, raise your hand.

Ready…The book of Psalms / Chapter 119–Go!

Psalm 119

(Be sure to help students who are new. We don’t want anyone to feel left out or awkward.)

SAY: Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Now look at verse 11.

Read Psalm 119:11 from your Bible.

Ask the students—Does anybody’s Bible say it differently? (If students indicate that their Bible states it different, have them read what their Bible says and then explain that the Bible wasn’t written in our language. This is the reason that we have different translations. They contain the exact same message, but they may use different words to express it.)

Have the students close their Bibles.

Ask the students—Where was our Bible verse found today? (Answer: Psalm 119:11)

SAY: Everybody get your Bibles ready. We’re going to find it again. And remember to wait until I say, “Go.”

Ready…Psalm 119:11–Go!

Repeat this again–a third time.

Then SAY: Everybody get your Bibles ready. We’re going to find a different verse.

Ready…Psalm 56:3–Go!

If you have time, do the following challenges:

Ready…Psalm 23–Go!

Ready…John 10:11–Go!

Ready…John 8:12–Go!

If you have time, review the other Bible skills they’ve been learning (i.e., What are the Gospels? Where are they found? Where is Genesis and Exodus, etc.)

NOTE: Be sure to congratulate all your students on how they are doing and help any guests that may be in your class. We don’t want them to feel out-of-place. I had rather you skip this section than make a guest feel uncomfortable.

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Control Tool

Leader: God’s Word will always to what? Students: Point you in the right direction.

SAY: Today we are going to thank Jesus for being perfect and making a way for us to go to heaven.

We’re going to thank Him for always following God’s Word and doing what is right.

We’re also going to thank Him for giving us the Bible and helping us do what is right also.

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

NOTES

*Adapted from Group Publishing, Lava, Lava Island VBS, “Jesus Brings Hope” Day 1.
PLEASE PRINT THESE CARDS ON GREEN PAPER

Jesus Responds #1

Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus Responds #2

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord you God to the test.’”

Jesus Responds #3

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

PLEASE PRINT THESE CARDS ON RED PAPER

The Devil Tempted Jesus #1

“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

The Devil Tempted Jesus #2

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

The Devil Tempted Jesus #3

“All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.”

Extreme Life—For Older Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus has a mission for you

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Matthew 10:1-31

Challenge Verse: Philippians 4:13—“I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

1 banana—real or fake

Memory Verse Sign

NOTE: You will need a watch with a second hand to time students on the Opening Activity.

BEFORE CLASS

-  Learn today’s memory verse using the sign language taught in this lesson.

-  Have the banana in a convenient location.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

The first 10 minutes of 3^rd-6^th grade classes should be used as an opportunity to build and deepen relationships with students. Relationships are the key to reaching this age group. Ask them specific questions about what is going on in their lives, joke with them, laugh with them, and play with them. Every class should have an activity going as soon as the students arrive. Each classroom should have games such as Jenga, Connect Four, etc. to use during this time. Also feel free to play group-jump rope, four-square, and other fun entry-activities.

OPENING ACTIVITY

Pass the Banana

Have your class sit in a circle on the floor.

Explain that you are going to play a game with a banana to see how fast they can pass it around the circle using only their feet. Time how fast they can do this. When the banana has gone around the circle one time, stop the game and tell the kids their time. Play this activity several times and be sure to tell them that you are going to play this game again at the end of class and see if they can beat their time. (You can even time them passing the banana around two or three times.)

Discussion

Ask the students: What was difficult about passing the banana? (It kept slipping; it was weird to use my feet that way; we dropped it a lot.)

SAY: Passing a banana with your feet is silly, but Jesus has big important things for you to do.

Ask the students: What difficult things might Jesus want you to do at school? (Tell people about Jesus; be nice to someone who’s new; show Jesus’ love by helping someone who’s hurt; pray before eating lunch; treat someone kindly who has treated you mean.)

SAY: After each of the following sentences, I will say 1-2-3. Then I want you to say hard or easy. There’s no right or wrong answers to these. What might be easy to you may be hard for someone else. God has made each one of you different, and even though these are things God wants all of us to do, it might be easier for some to do them than others.

To tell friends at school or on a ball team about Jesus: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To tell a teacher or coach about Jesus: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To tell an aunt, uncle, cousin, or grandparent about Jesus: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To be nice to someone who’s new at school: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To show Jesus’ love by helping someone who’s hurt: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To pray before eating lunch–even when you’re sitting with your friends and no one else is doing it: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To treat someone kindly who has treated you mean: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To stick up for someone who is being treated wrongly: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To give back a five dollar bill that you saw someone drop: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

To give back a ten dollar bill that was mistakenly given to you as change in a store: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy

Some of the above statements may bring comments from your students. If so, feel free to take a few minutes to discuss the situations and tie in extra learning. For example, when you say, “To give back a five dollar bill that you saw someone drop: 1-2-3–Hard or Easy,” say that a student says, “I wouldn’t give it back. Finders-keepers!” Take this as an opportunity to ask: Has anybody ever lost anything important to you? How did you feel? What if someone found it but wouldn’t give it back? What do you think Jesus would do? What does the Bible say—To treat others the way you want to be treated, etc.

SAY: Whether you think the things above are hard or easy, it will always take courage to do them. Courage doesn’t mean that you’re not afraid, but that something is more important to you than being afraid. You might be afraid to tell someone about Jesus, but for them to know Jesus and go to heaven is more important to you than being afraid. And Jesus will always give you the courage you need to do anything He asks you to do.

Control Tool

SAY: When I say, “What’s your mission?” I want everybody to say, “Follow Jesus!”

Leader—“What’s your mission?” / Students—“Follow Jesus!”

Practice a few times.

SAY: God has an Extreme Mission for every one of you. He created you for a reason and has plan for your life. His mission for you is to follow Jesus— And part of following Jesus is the willingness to tell others about Him. This is the greatest adventure anyone can ever have. It’s not always easy, but Jesus will always give you the strength and courage you need to do anything He calls you to do.

CHALLENGE VERSE

Use the following sign language diagrams to learn and teach today’s verse:*

Read Philippians 4:13 from your Bible

“I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

The Sign Language is below:

SIGN LANGUAGE MEMORY VERSE

Philippians 4:13

“I”

“CAN”“DO”“EVERYTHING“THROUGH”

“CHRIST (JESUS)”“WHO”

“GIVES”

“ME”

“STRENGTH”

LESSON ACTIVITY

The Hungry Monkey

Have your students spread out in the classroom. Tell them that when you call a number, you want them to get into groups of that number. So if you call out a three, you want them to get into groups of three. Call out 4, 3, 2. The only reason you’re doing this is to get them in pairs in a manner where no one feels left out. If there is an extra student, then a teacher may need to play.

Choose one pair to be your volunteers. Have everyone else spread out across the room and tell them to link arms. Tell the partners to stand in one place. They can’t move. Designate one of your volunteers to be the Monkey and the other to be the Banana. Explain that the Monkey is hungry and will chase the Banana by hopping on one leg. The Banana can use both legs and will run away, but may link arms with one of the partners who is standing still. If the Banana does this, the other partner (the one who is now not linked with the Banana) becomes the Banana and must run from the Monkey. If the Monkey tags the Banana, they will switch roles. (To add variation, tell them that the Monkey can run (and not just hop) for 10 seconds any time you say, “The Monkey can run!”)

Discussion

Ask the students: What did you like about being a Monkey or a Banana? What didn’t you like? (I liked being the Monkey because I’m a fast runner; I didn’t like being the Monkey because I had to hop on one leg; I didn’t like being the Banana because I was afraid I’d get tagged.)

Ask the students: How did you feel when you were standing with a partner? (Safe; I could rest; Glad; Bored.)

Ask the students: Tell me about a friend who makes you feel safe and happy? (Answers will vary.)

SAY: Today we’re going to learn about how Jesus sent His disciples to tell people about God. That might have been a little scary, but Jesus sent each person with a friend. God gives us friends and it is important as you grow older that you choose friends who will encourage you to follow Jesus.

REPEAT after me: Right friends (Kids: Right friends) keep you (Kids: keep you) on the right track (Kids: on the right track).

Ask the students: How can you encourage your friends to follow Jesus? (Invite them to church; Tell them about Jesus; Talk about Jesus with them; Tell them what God is doing in your life or what you learned at church; Do what is right and tell them why you do what is right, etc.)

Control Tool

Leader—“What’s your mission?” / Students—“ Follow Jesus!”

BIBLE LESSON

SAY: Jesus sent some of his disciples on a mission. Everybody get your Bibles and get ready for a Bible Drill. (Guests may not know how to do this so an extra explanation may be needed. If so, give it to the whole class, so they don’t feel singled out or embarrassed. By now your regular students should be getting familiar with this routine.)

Ready—Find Matthew 10—Go!

Be sure to help them (or have them help each other) if some are having a hard time finding it. Let them know that it’s okay if they can’t find it quickly. The more they do it, the easier it’ll become.

Ask the students: Where is Matthew found in the Bible? (It’s the first book of the New Testament)

Ask the students: What are the other Gospels? (Refer them to the Bible Book Chart)

SAY: There are other sections in the New Testament also. (Briefly explain the sections of the New Testament as seen on the Bible Book Chart and show them where Philippians is found. Tell them that it is a letter Paul wrote to the Philippian people.)

Ask the students: Who remembers what Philippians 4:13 says?

(Review the sign language with them.)

KEY: Jesus will always give you the strength and courage you need to do anything He calls you to do.

Control Tool

Leader—“What’s your mission?” / Students—“Follow Jesus!”

SAY:  In Matthew 10 Jesus prepared His disciples to send them on a mission to tell others about the kingdom of God and to do good deeds.

Choose 1 volunteer—to come stand next to you.

Ask the students: What is different about your volunteer and the twelve disciples? (There are many differences but one thing is the same: Everyone who has given their life to Jesus has been sent by Him to tell others about the kingdom of God and to do good deeds.)

Ask the students: What are some ways you can do tell others about Jesus and do good deeds?

Ask the students: What does God call people to do? (Live for Him. Talk about Him. Lead others to faith in Christ. Help those in need. He also calls some into full-time ministry, etc.)

Ask the students: What do you think God wants you to do this week? (Same answers as above. Living for Jesus is not something you do just when you grow up. Living for Jesus begins now.)

Ask the students: What do you think God will give you to help in this mission? (The strength and courage to do anything He calls you to do.)

SAY: Jesus is our example and He will always give you everything you need to do anything He calls you to do.

Control Tool

Leader—“What’s your mission?” / Students—“Follow Jesus!”

LESSON ACTIVITY

Pass the Banana, part 2

Play the “Pass the Banana” game again and see if your class can beat their previous time.

SAY: If you have given your life to Jesus, you have the Gospel.

Ask the students: Who remembers what “Gospel” means? (Good News)

SAY: You have Good News that Jesus can save your friends and that they can know for sure that they are going to heaven too. But to bring your friends to Jesus, you have to pass it on.

Ask the students: What if someone in the game had stopped passing the banana? (Everyone would have lost)

SAY: In the same way, when you don’t tell others about Jesus, it affects more than just you. Telling others about Jesus, or witnessing as some call it, is a privilege that you get. It’s fun and exciting that God can use you to change someone’s life.

SAY: After each of the following statements say, “Get to” or “Got to.” Again, there’s no right or wrong answer. It’s how you feel about what I’m saying. For example, if I said, “Clean your room.” Is that something you get to do or something you’ve got to do”?

Take out the trash

Eat at McDonalds

Wash the dishes

Do your homework

Eat Ice Cream

Go to school

Play in a ballgame

Go to church

Read your Bible

Have a friend spend the night

Tell others about Jesus

SAY: Hopefully, going to church, reading your Bible, and telling others about Jesus is something you realize that you get to do. These things are fun and exciting for someone who loves Jesus and is walking with Him. Jesus didn’t force his disciples to go out two by two. He just gave them the chance to do it, and in the same way, Jesus gives us chances to tell others about Him nearly every day.

Control Tool

Leader—“What’s your mission?” / Students—“Follow Jesus!”

KEY Point: And Jesus will always give you the courage you need to do anything He asks you to do.

Ask the students: Who told you about Jesus and led you to Christ? (Have a couple of volunteers answer but don’t put anyone on the spot.)

TELL: the students about who had the strongest influence on you giving your life to Christ.

Then SAY: Part of God’s Extreme Mission for you is to tell others about Jesus. Someone took the time and had the courage to tell you about Christ. Aren’t you glad they did? But who have you passed it to? Remember, in the game, if one person stopped, nobody else in line behind them would get the banana. But when you passed it, then someone else passed it, then someone else passed it and on and on. You might lead someone to Christ who will lead someone to Christ who will lead a hundred more to Christ who will lead a thousand more to Christ—all because you let God use you. That’s part of the adventure of being on an Extreme Mission with God—He will do amazing things through you anytime, any place, if you’ll let Him.

BIBLE SKILLS

Ask the students—Who remembers where our verse was found last week? (Answer: Psalm 119:11)

Ask the students—Who remembers what it said? (Answer: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”)

SAY: Everybody get your Bibles and get ready for a Bible Drill. I’m going to tell you a book of the Bible and I want you to try to find it. When I say, “Ready,” hold the Bible between both hands, but you cannot open it. Then I will say a book of the Bible and a chapter and “Go.” If you open your Bible before I say, “Go,” you will be out. Once you find the book I ask for, raise your hand.

Ready…Psalm 119:11

Have the students close their Bibles.

Ask the students—Where was our Bible verse found today? (Answer: Philippians 4:13)

Ask the students—Is it in the Old or New Testament?

Ask the students—What part of the New Testament?

Ask the students—Does anybody remember who wrote it? (Paul—If you have time, point him out on the Bible Time Line.)

SAY: Everybody get your Bibles ready. And remember to wait until I say, “Go.”

Ready…Philippians 4:13–Go!

NOTE: Be sure to congratulate all your students on how they are doing and help any guests that may be in your class. We don’t want them to feel out-of-place..

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Control Tool

Leader—“What’s your mission?” / Students—“Follow Jesus!”

SAY: And He’ll always give you the strength you need to do anything He calls you to do. Let’s thank Jesus for being so good to us.

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

NOTES*

Lesson adapted in part from Group Publishing, Lava, Lava Island VBS, “Jesus Brings Hope” Day 1, 2004.

Sign Language taken from:  Sternberg, Martin. “American Sign Language Concise Dictionary.”  New York: HarperPerennial, 1994.

Extreme Life—For Older Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus Calms our Fears

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Mark 4:35-41

Challenge Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

————————————————————————————————————

ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

Slips of paper in a bag that say Lord, All, Heart, Lean, Understanding, Straight. These can be found at the end of the lesson.

Memory Verse Sign—Proverbs 3:5-6

BEFORE CLASS

- Have the bag with the words from the Act-It-Out memory verse activity nearby your teaching area.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

The first 10 minutes of 3^rd-6^th grade classes should be used as an opportunity to build and deepen relationships with students. Relationships are the key to reaching this age group. Ask them specific questions about what is going on in their lives, joke with them, laugh with them, and play with them. Every class should have an activity going as soon as the students arrive. Each classroom should have games such as Jenga, Connect Four, etc. to use during this time. Also feel free to play group-jump rope, four-square, and other fun entry-activities.

BIBLE LESSON

Control Tool

SAY: Today’s story is about Jesus and any time I say, “What should you have?”

I want everybody to say, “Extreme Faith!”

Leader—“What should you have?” / Students—“ Extreme Faith!”

SAY: Today we’re going to find out what it means to have Extreme Faith in Jesus.

Tell your students that you are going to need every one of them to help you with the Bible story today. Then divide your class into two parts. (You can divide them either by using two sides or by using boys and girls.) Lead them in making the following sound effects:

Side 1–Make a sound like wind. Have them start out gentle and get louder and louder.

Side 2–Make a sound like waves. Again, start out gentle and get louder.

Everyone–Show them how to put their hands on their knees. Begin tapping your fingers

louder and then patting your knees louder and louder to make a sound like rain.

Everyone–When you say, “Thunder,” they say, “Boom!”

Everyone–When you say, “Lightning,” they say, “Bright Light!”

Everyone–When you say, “Boat,” they say, “Row, row, row your boat!”

Everyone–When you say, “Jesus,” they say, “Have no fear, Jesus is near!”

Everyone–When you say, “Stop,” they stop all the sounds.

Now you’re ready to tell the story, but first practice with them a few times. For example, say, “Thunder / Boat / Jesus / Wind / Stop.” etc. Make stopping almost like a game to see how quickly they can get quiet. Practice again: Wind / Waves /  Boat / Jesus / Stop!

TELL THE STORY: One day Jesus and His disciples were in a boat and Jesus had fallen asleep when a storm came. It probably began with a gentle wind and some gentle waves, but they grew louder and louder. Then there was probably some gentle rain, but it got heavier. (At this point you should have the wind, waves, and rain all happening at the same time.) Then there was probably some thunder (Boom!) and lightning (Bright Light!) And some more thunder (Boom!) and the boat (Row, row, row your boat!) was going back and forth and the disciples were scared. STOP!

Ask the students: Have you ever been scared during a storm? (Take a couple of answers.)

Ask the students: What did you do?

SAY: Watch what the disciples did…

BACK TO THE STORY: The wind was blowing. The waves were crashing. The rain was pouring. Louder and louder. There was thunder (Boom!) and lightning (Bright Light!) and more thunder (Boom!) and even more thunder (Boom!) and the boat (Row, row, row your boat!) was going back and forth and the disciples were scared. But Jesus (Have no fear, Jesus is near!) was asleep in the back of the boat. So they woke up Jesus (Have no fear, Jesus is near!) and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown!” STOP! (If they don’t stop quickly, tell them they can do better than that. Tell them you want to see how quickly they can stop. Then start the noise again and loudly say, “Stop.” If someone is disrupting and not stopping, the teacher that is not leading the group needs to pull him aside and give him a warning. If him still continues to disrupt, send him to Kolby.)

SAY: The disciples asked Jesus if He cared they were going to die. That’s how scared they were.

Ask the students: Do you think Jesus cared about how scared they were? (Yes, and He cares about any time you’re scared too. God doesn’t want you to live in fear.)

Ask the students: After the disciples woke Jesus up and He looked around at the storm, do you think He was afraid? Why or why not? (No, He wasn’t afraid. Why? Because even in the storm, He was in control. And if you’ve given your life to Jesus and are living for Him, you don’t have to be afraid either because Jesus is always in control.)

Ask the students: Since Jesus is in control, does this mean bad things won’t ever happen to you? (No, bad things sometimes happen to good people, but if you’re walking with Jesus, you can always trust that He can take any bad thing that comes your way and turn it to your good.)

FINISH THE STORY: The wind was blowing. The waves were crashing. The rain was pouring. Louder and louder. The boat (Row, row, row your boat!) was going back and forth and was starting to fill with water. There was thunder (Boom!) and lightning (Bright Light!) and more thunder (Boom!) and lightning (Bright Light!). So they woke up Jesus (Have no fear, Jesus is near!) and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown!” Then Jesus (Have no fear, Jesus is near!) said, (Say this loudly over all the storm noise) “Quiet. Be still.” In other words, STOP! (The students should become quiet.) And just as quickly as that, the storm stopped. The waves stopped. The wind and the rain—everything stopped.

SAY: The disciples should have known that everything would be okay because Jesus was right there with them.

REPEAT AFTER ME: Have no fear, Jesus is near!

Tell those who did the wind to say, “Have no fear.”

Tell those who did the waves to say, “Jesus is near.”

Go back and forth several times to see which side can be the loudest.

Control Tool

Leader—“What should you have?” / Students—“ Extreme Faith!”

SAY: This is Extreme Faith: When you trust God regardless—regardless of what it costs you or what happens to you, even when you don’t understand what’s going on or why it’s happening.

Read Mark 4:35-41 to your students and ask them if the disciples showed Extreme Faith.

CHALLENGE VERSE

Using the same teams you used for wind and waves, have them try to guess key words from today’s memory verse by taking turns acting out the following:

LORD

ALL

HEART

LEAN

UNDERSTANDING

STRAIGHT

Once all have been solved (and some may need help, such as “It rhymes with…” etc.), read Proverbs 3:5-6 from your Bible.

Read Proverbs 3:5 from your Bible.

Ask the students: What do you think it means to trust the Lord and not lean on your own understanding? (It means that you trust God even if you don’t understand why something has happened and may not know what to do. You don’t have to understand the situation to trust God with it.)

Situations

Read the following situations but ask your students not to answer out loud—just to listen:

How can you trust God when your parents get in a bad argument?

How can you trust God when someone calls you mean names?

How can you trust God when someone you care for is in a bad accident?

How can you trust God when someone you know dies?

How can you trust God when you don’t understand why He didn’t stop something bad from happening to you?

SAY: Here’s the answer—You can always trust God because He’s always right there with you, just like Jesus was right in the boat with the disciples. And you can ask Him for help, just like the disciples asked Jesus for help. And you can trust God, because even in the middle of the most frightening and worst situations, Jesus can put peace in your heart, just like when he said “Quiet—Be still” to the storm.

Control Tool

Leader—“What should you have?” / Students—“ Extreme Faith!”

BIBLE SKILLS

Ask the students: Is Proverbs in the Old Testament or the New Testament.

Ask the students: Who can find the book of Proverbs on the Bible Book Chart? (Show them what section of the Old Testament it is in and that it follows Psalms.)

Ask the students: So if you were going to find the book of Proverbs in the Bible would you look in the front or the back of the Bible? (The middle—just behind Psalms)

Tell them to get their Bibles.

SAY: Get ready for a Bible Drill. Remember you can’t open your Bibles until I say go.

Ready…Proverbs 3:5…Go!

Ask the students: Who can remember what last week’s verse was and where it was found on the Bible Book Chart?

SAY: Get ready for another Bible Drill.

Ready…Philippians 4:13…Go!

SAY: Get ready for another Bible Drill.

Ready…John 8:12…Go!

SAY: Get ready for another Bible Drill.

Ready…Psalm 56:3…Go!

During these Bible drills, help students to get familiar with the layout of God’s Word and let those who are quick to find verses help others (if they want help). We want to make sure, that no one gets frustrated or feels embarrassed. We want this to be a fun, competition-type time, but with no emphasis on winning, just on doing the best they can.

LESSON ACTIVITY

The Trust Fall*

To illustrate trust you are going to lead your students in an activity called “The Trust Fall.” During the Kick-off Opening, Kolby will walk all the students through the rules and safety precautions for this and demonstrate it for them.

The Trust Fall involves a student who falls off a table into the arms of his teachers and other students.

(1)   Choose a volunteer who is willing to fall off the table.

(2)   Choose 6 to 8 other students to be catchers. They will make two rows, facing each other with their arms outstretched. Their hands and arms should follow a pattern where you have the hand of the person on one side, then the hand of the person on the other side, and so forth. It’s good if at least one teacher participates.

(3)   Help the volunteer to stand on top of a table with his feet together, his heels at the edge, and his back to the catchers.

(4)   He will need to stiffen his body and fold his arms across his chest. Tell him not to bend his body. He needs to stay completely stiff.

(5)   Stress to the catchers the importance of not goofing around. This is serious. If they don’t do their job, someone could get hurt.

(6)   Remove (or don’t choose) any students that you don’t trust to follow your instructions.

(7)   Then when you tell him to (and only when YOU tell him to), he will fall backwards, keeping his body straight and stiff, into the arms of the catchers.

(NOTE: You are the teacher and you know your students. Never do an activity if you feel that your class could not handle the responsibility of that activity.)

Ask the students: Was it hard to fall backwards? Would it have been harder if you couldn’t see the catchers?

SAY: Some people have trouble trusting God because they can’t see Him, but you can trust Him because He promised to never leave you and never let go of you. So the next time you face a tough time or something bad is happening…If you feel like you have a storm raging in your life and you don’t know what to do, simply:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”

SAY: Just like Jesus took care of the disciples in the boat, He’ll take care of you. You can trust Him and when you do an amazing thing happens: He calms your fears and gives you peace. Let’s look up a promise from the Bible:

Get your Bibles ready:

Ready…Philippians 4:6-7…Go!

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Control Tool

Leader—“What should you have?” / Students—“ Extreme Faith!”

SAY: And He’ll always take care of us. Let’s thank Jesus for being able to give us peace even in the middle of tough times.

Take Prayer Requests on the next page…

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

*Original source unknown.

Extreme Life—For Older Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Luke 18:35-43

Challenge Verse: John 14:6–Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

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ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

A candy bag with enough candy for the class.

1 blindfold

Cut out and hide the words to John 14:6

Signs for: Jesus, Blind Beggar, Crowd, Crowd (2 signs for Crowd)— hole punch these and use yarn to make a sign that will hang around a student’s neck.

Memory Verse Sign

BEFORE CLASS

-  Set up for the “Guiding Light” Activity by setting out your candy bag and a blindfold.

- Use scotch tape to hide the words to the Challenge Verse.

-  Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

The first 10 minutes of 3^rd-6^th grade classes should be used as an opportunity to build and deepen relationships with students. Relationships are the key to reaching this age group. Ask them specific questions about what is going on in their lives, joke with them, laugh with them, and play with them. Every class should have an activity going as soon as the students arrive. Each classroom should have games such as Jenga, Connect Four, etc. to use during this time. Also feel free to play group-jump rope, four-square, and other fun entry-activities.

OPENING ACTIVITY

Guiding Light

Choose one volunteer–to be blindfolded. The volunteer is going to try to find a piece of candy you hide in the room after he is blindfolded. The other students will guide him toward the candy in a Marco-Polo style as follows: Anytime the blindfolded student calls out “guiding,” the closest person to the candy will say “light.” If the blindfolded student comes close to an obstacle such as a chair, everyone can call “look-out.” Give a couple of students the opportunity to play.

Discussion

Ask the students: How did you feel being blindfolded? (Confused; scared; different; lonely.)

SAY: You needed someone to guide you–someone to show you the way. The Bible says that Jesus is the Way.

Ask the students: What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the way?”

SAY: He’s the only way to go to heaven. He’s the only way to have a meaningful life.

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Way!

KEY: Jesus is the way because He loves you. Then when you share His Extreme Love you can become the one who shows others the way to give their lives to Him.

BIBLE LESSON

SAY: Imagine what it would be like to be totally blind. That’s what our lesson is about today–someone who was totally blind

NOTE: This section purposely doesn’t tell the students where the Bible Story is found. This is revealed in the Bible Skills section.

Choose 4 volunteers who are willing to help you act out the Bible Story.

Give them the following signs: Jesus, Blind Beggar, Crowd, Crowd.

Have the Blind Beggar sit off to your side with the two Crowd volunteers between you and he and have Jesus to your other side.

(NOTE: As you read the verses, lead the volunteers in what to say. Keep this fast-paced and with high energy.)

SAY: The following story is from the Bible and I will be helping our volunteers with some special speaking parts.

BIBLE: As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

BLIND MAN: “Beg, Beg, Beg”

BIBLE: When he heard the crowd going by…

CROWD: “Excuse me. Pardon me. Excuse me. Pardon me.”

BIBLE: He asked them what was happening.

BLIND MAN: “Hey, what’s up?”

BIBLE: They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

CROWD: “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

BIBLE: He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

BLIND MAN: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

BIBLE: Those who had led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet…

CROWD: “Hey, blind man, hush up! Put a sock in it.”

BIBLE: But he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

BLIND MAN: (Shouting) “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Do it again—louder)

BIBLE: Jesus stopped and ordered them man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

JESUS: “What do you want me to do for you?”

BIBLE: “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

BLIND MAN: “Lord, I want to see,”

BIBLE: Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

JESUS: “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

BIBLE: Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Give our volunteers a hand. Great job!

SAY: Even though the blind man was different—even though he was blind and was a beggar— Jesus still cared for him.

Ask the students: Do you know someone who gets treated badly because they’re different?

Ask the students: Do you know someone who gets picked on or teased?

Ask the students: How can you show Jesus’ care for them?

KEY: If you share Jesus’ Extreme Love you will care about others even when they are different from you.

SAY: Jesus loved the blind man and did something great for Him.

Ask the students: What is something great God has done in your life? (He saved you, takes care of you, etc.)

SAY: Anything is possible for God—to make blind eyes see; to make crippled people walk; to heal any sickness. But Jesus doesn’t just care about the big things—He cares about everything in your life, no matter how small it might seem.

LESSON ACTIVITY—part 2

Make a Choice

Choose one volunteer. Divide your class into two teams and have them sit on both sides of the volunteer.

This is very similar to the game you previously played except you are going to make it harder. The blindfolded volunteer is still trying to find the candy except this time, when you say “Go” both sides will try to guide him. The catch is—one of the sides won’t be telling the truth. The other will. Tell your class that after you blindfold the volunteer you’ll point to the side that is suppose to try to lead him the wrong way. He’ll have to choose which side he is going to follow. Give a couple of students the opportunity to play.

Discussion

Ask the students: How did you know which side was telling the truth?

Ask the students: How do you know Jesus will always tell you the truth? (Because He is perfect; Because the Bible tells you so, etc.)

SAY: Jesus doesn’t just tell the truth; He is the Truth. He is perfect and will never lie or point you in the wrong way.

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Truth!

KEY: Those who share Jesus’ Extreme Love will be like Him, which means they will speak the truth also.

CHALLENGE VERSE

Before class began you should have hidden the words to John 14:6.

Explain that everyone in the class needs a partner. Each pair needs to decide who is going to be the Guide and who is going to be the Blind Man. The Guide keeps his eyes open and looks for the words although he is not allowed to use his hands. The Blind Man can use his hands, but he has to keep his eyes closed.  The two will have to work together to locate and retrieve the words to the challenge verse.

Let the class search for about a minute or two and then, as a class, let them try to assemble the verse.

Ask the students: Did any of you have a Guide who ran off and left you? (Aren’t you glad that God will never leave you and that He will always guide you in the right way.)

Read John 14:6 from your Bible.

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Way!

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Truth!

Have the students repeat after you: Jesus is the Life!

Ask your kids to take a deep breath.

SAY: Anything can breathe, but that’s not what real life is about.

Ask a student to give you a high five.

SAY: Did you feel that? Even frogs can feel things, but that’s not real life. Life isn’t just breathing, feeling and existing. Real life—God’s kind of life—is only found in Jesus.

Have the students repeat after you (pause at the slashes):

Jesus is the Way! / The Truth! / And The Life!

No one comes to the Father / except through Him.

John 14:6

KEY: True life can only be understood by someone who has been saved by God’s Extreme Love, and once this has happened to you, you can share that same life by sharing His extreme love with others.

BIBLE SKILLS

Ask the students: Is the book of John in the Old Testament or the New Testament?

Ask the students: Who can find the book of John on the Bible Book Chart?

Ask the students: Who can guess what book our Bible story today came from? (Luke 18:35-43. Help your students to think this through: What part of the Bible tells about Jesus’ life? Answer: The Gospels—So it would have to be in one of the Gospels. Today’s Bible Story comes from the Gospel of Luke. The Challenge Verse comes from the Gospel of John.)

Tell them to get their Bibles.

SAY: Get ready for a Bible Drill. Remember you can’t open your Bibles until I say go.

Ready…John 14:6…Go!

SAY: Jesus is the only way to go to heaven and if you’ve given your life to Christ, then you’ve become a guide for those who don’t know Christ, to lead others to Him.

Ready…2 Corinthians 4:4…Go!

SAY: The Bible says that those who don’t know Jesus are blind to the things of God. That’s the reason they need someone to show them the way to Christ so He can bring His light and love into their lives.

Ready…Matthew 5:16…Go!

SAY: You can be a light to lead others to Christ. When you trust God and live for Jesus people will see that there is something different about you.

Ask the students: Who can remember what last week’s verse was? (Proverbs 3:5-6)

SAY: Get ready for another Bible Drill.

Ready…Proverbs 3:5-6…Go!

Ask the students: What book comes just before Proverbs? (Psalms)

Ask the students: Is Proverbs in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (Have a student point it out on the Bible Book Chart.)

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Have the students repeat after you (pause at the slashes):

Jesus is the Way! / The Truth! / And The Life!

No one comes to the Father / except through Him.

John 14:6

Ask the students: Before Jesus healed the blind man, what did he ask him? (He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” It sounds like a silly question—asking a blind man what he wants, but Jesus wanted him to ask Him to restore His sight. In the same way, Jesus wants us to give our cares and requests to Him too.)

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for the prayer requests:

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

Extreme Life—For Older Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus Can Save Us.

Bible Story: Jesus Died and Rose Again

(Note: The emphasis today is on Jesus dying although we want them to couple this in their minds with the fact that He’s still not dead. He rose again. Next week we will deal more with His resurrection and move into His ascension.)

Challenge Verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

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ITEMS NEEDED

1 bean bag

2 hula hoops

1 bag of cotton balls

4 Big Cups—biggest you can find

6 small cups—smallest you can find–Please poke a hole in the bottom of each of these for those in the 3^rd-5^th grade classes.

Signs for: Jesus, Forgive, Criminals, Remember, Promise, Empty, Love.—You can hole punch these and use yarn to make a sign that will hang around a student’s neck.

Masking Tape

Bible Verse Poster

BEFORE CLASS

- Put the two hula hoops you will find in your classroom on opposite sides of the class. Then pour half of the bag of cotton balls (or have it ready to pour) into each hula hoop. (Note: When you are finished with the hula hoops, keep them in your classroom. You’ll need them for next week’s lesson.)

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ENTER

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Be sure to smile.

OPENING ACTIVITY

Control Tool

(A “Control Tool” is a way to refocus kids and to transition between active and less active sessions. The Leader asks a question and all the kids say (or shout out, or whisper, or say in a hick-voice or an accent—however you have taught them to say it) the answer.

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

Plug It Up*

You will need: (1) four large cups and (2) four small cups that have a small hole in the bottom. Have your class sit in a circle on the carpet, not the tile areas if possible. Fill two of the large cups with water and put the two empty large cups at the other end of the circle (or line).

Explain that the object of the game is to take all the water from the two full cups, pour it into the small cups (with holes in them), pass them around the circle, pour whatever water is left into the big empty cups and then pass the small cups back. The small cups will leak water so tell the students that they can use their fingers to plug up the holes. The game is over after three minutes or when both the big cups are full. If you have a large class, use two circles (or lines) or switch the start and finish points halfway through the game so that all the kids gets to pass a cup that still has water in it.

(NOTE: You may need to refill your water cups during this game and be careful because if any water gets on the tile, it will become slick So have some paper towels ready for this and let your students help with the clean-up.)

Discussion

Ask the students–Was there any way for you to fill up the cups in this game? Why or why not? (Yes, we got a lot of water into the cups by plugging up the holes; No, the holes made it too hard.)

Ask the students–How did you feel when you realized you couldn’t fill up the cups quickly this way? (Frustrated; sad; we gave up and just had fun.)

SAY: You were trying to do something that was impossible. In life, it’s impossible for us to be perfect or without sin (which is anything that’s wrong).

Ask the students—Raise your hand if you’ve ever done anything wrong.

SAY: We’ve all done wrong things and we all need a Savior. In life, it’s impossible for us to be perfect or without sin.

Ask the students—What is sin? (Anything that’s wrong).

Ask the students—What are some examples of sin? (Take a few answers.)

Ask the students–If none of us can be perfect, how can we live in heaven with a perfect, holy God? (By dying on the cross Jesus made a way to take our sins away if we give our lives to Him.)

Ask the students–Why does Jesus want us to be free from sin? (Because He loves us; so we can be with Him forever.)

SAY: God wants us to do our best to obey His Word, but it’s impossible for us to be perfect. That’s why God sent Jesus to die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Because of Jesus’ Extreme Obedience to God—to live a perfect life, to die a death he didn’t deserve, and to overcome death, we can make the choice to give our lives to Him and can know for sure that we will live with God forever in heaven.

Ask the students—What do you think it means to have Extreme Obedience? (Let a few students answer.)

Ask the students—Do you think that Jesus had Extreme Obedience? Why or why not? (The Bible says that Jesus was obedient even to death on the cross. He followed God’s plan for Him even though it cost His life. That’s obedient!)

BIBLE LESSON*

SAY: Today’s story is about Jesus’ death and resurrection. (Resurrection means being raised from the dead.)

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Jesus sign.)

SAY: Although Jesus, God’s perfect Son, had never done anything wrong, He was arrested and treated like a criminal. He was sentenced to die on a cross–which was a painful punishment given to the worst of criminals.

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Forgive sign.)

SAY: Jesus was led to a place outside the city called “The Skull.” He was nailed to a cross and people laughed at Him and insulted Him. But Jesus didn’t show anger or hate, instead He prayed, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Criminals sign.)

Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One of them yelled at Jesus: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!” The other man told the first criminal to be quiet. He said, “We are punished justly because we’re getting back what we deserve for things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Remember sign.)

The same man looked at Jesus and asked Him, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

Ask the students: Do you think it was too late for that criminal to ask Jesus to forgive him? Why or why not?

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Promise sign.)

Jesus made this promise to the criminal: “Today you will be with Me in heaven.”

After Jesus died, two of his friends took Jesus’ body and placed it in a stone tomb. All these things happened on a Friday. Saturday passed. Sunday came, and some women came to the tomb, bringing spices to put on Jesus’ body.

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Empty sign.)

The tomb was empty! Two angels in white clothes said, “Jesus is not here!” The women hurried back to tell Jesus’ disciples that He was alive!

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Love sign.)

Jesus loved the criminal even though he had done bad things. He loves you too–so much that He died to take the punishment for every wrong things you and I would ever do. Jesus loves you so much He wants you to be with Him forever in heaven. If you ever have any questions about why Jesus died or how you can know for sure that you’re going to heaven, just ask one of us. We would love to talk to you about it.

(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Extreme Obedience sign.)

KEY: Because of Jesus’ Extreme Obedience, we can be saved both from a life and an eternity without God, and once you give your life to Him, you can share in His extreme obedience. When you obey God people will see something different about you and the life you live may lead them to give their lives to Christ.

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

BIBLE LESSON ACTIVITY

SAY: Even though we have all done wrong things, Jesus loves us and has great plans for our lives. He died to make a way for us to know Him and to go to heaven.

Stick It To ‘Em*

Pour half a bag of cotton balls into each of the hula hoops you set out before class began.

Divide your class into two teams of equal numbers.

Choose one volunteer from each team–and wrap the masking tape around him so that the sticky side is facing out.

Tell your teams which cotton ball mess belongs to their team and put their “Masking-tape” volunteer on the opposite side of the room.

Tell your students to clean up the cotton ball mess by taking one cotton ball at a time and sticking it to your team’s “masking-tape” volunteer. They can only pick up one at a time. Ready…Go!

If the game goes quickly, feel free to play it again with new “masking-tape” volunteers. For variation, tell them they can only hop on one leg.

Discussion

SAY: Your “masking-tape” volunteer didn’t run and didn’t pick up any of the cotton balls. How did he or she help you clean up? (He took all the cotton balls; the cotton balls stuck to him; he cheered us on.)

Ask the students–How is that like the way Jesus cleans the sin from our lives? (He took all the sins on Him; Jesus wants to forgive us and wash away all the wrong things we’ve ever done.)

SAY: When Jesus died on the cross, our sin (the wrong things we’ve done) was placed on Him and He was punished for them in our place. That’s how Jesus can save us. Jesus is stronger than our sin—He’s even stronger than death. Jesus died for our sins and came back to life. Only in Him can a person get forgiveness and find eternal life in heaven.

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

CHALLENGE VERSE

Ask the students–Why did Jesus want to save us? (Because He loves us; so we can be with Him forever.)

Ask the students–Does anyone know John 3:16? (If they know it, let them say it)

Then tell the students to get ready for a Bible Drill.

Ready…John 3:16…Go!

Read John 3:16 from your Bible.

Teacher Testimony

Briefly tell the students about how you realized your need for Jesus, how you gave your life to Him, and what difference He made in your life. They don’t need to hear your life’s story, so keep your testimony short and to the point–probably no more than 60 to 90 seconds. At the end, we always teach people to say, “Because of this I know for sure I’m going to heaven. How about you?”

SAY: If you have never given your life to Jesus, there will be a time when you start thinking about Him and heaven. You’ll realize that you’ve done wrong things and need a Savior and it’s like something inside that says, “I need to give my life to Jesus.” When that time comes, talk to one of us and we’ll show you what the Bible says about how you can give your life to Jesus.

Control Tool

Isn’t it great that Jesus Can Save Us!

BIBLE SKILLS

(NOTE: The following section is designed to help you get an idea of where your class is in the area of Bible Skills. As their teacher, there may be certain areas of weakness that you can address over the next few weeks.)

Bible Skills

Divide your class into two teams and take points to see which side can correctly answer more of the following Bible Skill questions.

-  Is Hebrews in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (It’s in the  New Testament.) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.

-  What is the first book of the Bible? (Genesis) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the Old Testament it is in.

-  What is the first book in the New Testament? (Matthew) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.

-  Name the four Gospels. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

-  What does the word “Gospel” mean? (Good news)

-  Is Philippians in the Old or New Testament? (New) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.

-  Where can you find the life of Jesus in the Bible? (In the Gospels)

-  Does each of the Gospels tell the life of Jesus over again or do the four books just tell it once? (They each tell it over again.)

-  So, how many times do you think the Bible tells the story about Jesus dying for us and rising again? (Four times—once in each Gospel).

-  What is the easiest way to find the Book of Psalms in your Bible? (Turn to the middle)

-  What is the easiest way to find the Book of Proverbs in your Bible? (Turn to Psalms. It’s the next book.)

-  Who can remember what last week’s verse was and where it can be found on the Bible Book Chart? (John 14:6)

-  What is the second book of the Old Testament? (Exodus) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the Old Testament it is in.

Challenge your student to memorize all the books of the Bible.

Bible Drills

Tell your students to get ready for a Bible Drill. The first team to have someone find the right verse will get a point.

Ready…Psalm 119:11…Go!

Ready…Proverbs 3:5-6…Go!

Ready…Philippians 4:13…Go!

Ready…Psalm 56:3…Go!

Ready…Matthew 5:16…Go!

During these Bible drills, help student to get familiar with the layout of God’s Word and let those who are quick to find verses help others. We want to make sure, however, that no one gets frustrated or feels embarassed. We want this to be a fun, competition-type time, but with no emphasis on winning, just on doing the best they can. Even so, still give points to each team that finds the verse the fastest.

PRAYER TIME & WRAP UP

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

(NOTE: You might want to start keeping a class list of prayer requests that you can look back on to see how God answered prayer.)

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

*NOTES

Plug It Up–from Group Publishing’s Lava, Lava Island VBS Curriculum 2004, Day 4

Bible Story–adapted from Lifeway’s VBS Curriculum 2004, Rickshaw Rally

Stick It to ‘Em–from Group Publishing’s Lava, Lava Island VBS Curriculum 2004, Day 4

Extreme Life—For Older Students

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus Gives Us a Reason to Celebrate

Bible Story: Jesus Rose Again and Ascended to Heaven

Challenge Verse: John 14:2-3— “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Younger option:John 14:2-3– “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

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ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

Masking Tape

1 bed sheet per class

4 pool noodles or yardsticks

Slips of paper (About 1/8 size of regular paper)–enough for one per student

1 helium balloon per student

Bible Verse Poster

BEFORE CLASS

- Set out the hula hoops for the opening activity and mark the floor with masking tape “X”s.

- Find out from your leader where to get the helium balloons.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ENTER

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Be sure to smile.

OPENING ACTIVITY

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

The Rolling Stone Game*

Younger Version

Use masking tape to mark a line behind which your class’ teams will line up. Across the room, use masking tape to mark an “X” on the floor for each team in a line around which the students will race. Explain that when you say go, the first person in line will roll the hula hoop around the “X” and back to their team, give the hula hoop to the next person and then go to the end of the line. The first team to finish needs to sit down in a straight line and raise their hands to show that they are finished. Keep going until everyone has gone.

When you’re finished, play the game one more time.

Older Version

Instead of making one “X” for them to race around, make several “Xs” in a line from the starting point out around which they have to weave the hula hoop as they roll it.

Ask the students: Was it hard or easy to roll the hula hoop?

SAY: Those who had followed Jesus were shocked when they came to the tomb on the third day after Jesus died. The stone that had sealed the grave had been miraculously rolled away and his body was gone. This stone wasn’t light-weight like a hula hoop, but a heavy stone—so heavy, it would be like trying to push away a pick-up truck.

Ask the students: What do you think some of them thought had happened?

SAY: Today we’re going to find out what happened to Jesus after He died.

Ask the students: Where in the Bible can you read about Jesus’ life? (The Gospels–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Ask the students: Who can tell me some other stories about Jesus’ life? (Take a few answers—the lessons they’ve had recently involved Jesus calming the storm, walking on water, healing a blind man, overcoming temptation, and the story of His birth.)

BIBLE LESSON, part 1

Assign the following parts to help in today’s Bible Lesson:

(NOTE: If you have only boys or girls in your class, have one side say, “That’s us!” and the other side say, “That’s not me!”)

Anytime you say “women,” all the girls will stand up, say, “That’s us!” and then sit back down.

Anytime you say “men,” all the guys will stand up, say, “That’s us!”and then sit back down.

Anytime  you say “tomb,” everyone will stand up, say, “The grave!”and then sit back down.

Anytime  you say “Jesus,” everyone will stand up, say, “He’s alive!”and then sit back down.

Read the story below but be sure to tell the students that even though you are reading it out of the lesson book, it is from the Bible in Luke 24:1-8.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women (That’s us!) took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb (The grave!). They found the stone rolled away from the tomb (The grave!), but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (He’s Alive!). While they were wondering about these this, suddenly two men (That’s us!) in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women (That’s us!) bowed down with their faces to the ground but the men (That’s us!) said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

CHALLENGE VERSE

Preparing a Place*

Explain that today your class is going to build a home in your room using only the pool noodles or yardsticks and a sheet. The hut doesn’t have to be able to stand on its own. Student can hold the noodles or yardsticks upright with the sheet draped overhead (some students may be needed to hold the corners of the sheets) and see how many of your class you can fit inside.

Discussion

Ask the students: How would you describe the home we just made? (Fake; funny, flimsy)

Read John 14:2 from your Bible

Point to the Memory Verse sign and have your students repeat the verse after you.

Ask the students: How would you describe the home Jesus is preparing in heaven for those who have given their lives to Him? (Perfect, special, awesome)

Ask the students: Why is Jesus preparing a home in heaven for those who have given their lives to Him?

Ask the students: Why should we tell others that Jesus will prepare a place for them in heaven too?

Ask the students: Could everybody fit in the hut we built?

Ask the students: Will heaven ever get so full that there won’t be room for others? (No. There’s always room in God’s heart for anyone who is willing to give their life to Him.)

SAY: It’s fun to imagine what heaven is like and the great things Jesus is preparing for us there. The Extreme Life Jesus offers gives us a reason to celebrate. We know that Jesus loves us and died and rose again so He could make a place for us in heaven with Him forever.

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

BIBLE LESSON, part 2

Ask the students: Does anyone know what happened to Jesus after the resurrection? (He appeared to His disciples and to more than five hundred other believers at one time.).

SAY: In a moment we’re going to find out what happened several weeks after He rose from the dead.

Get ready for a Bible Drill.

Ask the students: Who can find the book of Acts on the Bible Book Chart? (Point out that it is right after the Gospels.)

SAY: The book of Acts stands for the Acts of the Disciples (or what the disciples did) after Jesus went to heaven. Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about Jesus going up to heaven.

Ready…Find Acts 1:8–Go!

Read Acts 1:8-11 from your Bible

Ask the students: What did Jesus say the disciples would do? (Be witnesses to all the world. In other words, to tell others about Jesus.)

Ask the students: How can you be a witness?

Ask the students: Where can you be a witness?

Ask the students: How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus ascended (went up) to heaven?

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

SPECIAL ACTIVITY—Balloon Launch

Find out in advance from your children’s leader where the helium balloons will be.

SAY: Today we are going celebrate Jesus’ resurrection (which means that He rose from the dead) and ascention (which means He went up), by going outside and releasing some helium balloons. But before we do, we are going to write a message about Jesus on one of these slips of paper, and then we’re going to tape each of them to the string of a balloon. This way, if someone who doesn’t know Jesus finds it, they’ll see a message about the Good New of Jesus.

Have the students write a message on a small slip of paper.

Special Prayer

After the students are finished writing their notes, attach them to the balloons, and pray with them that God will guide these messages into the hands of people who don’t know Him and that He’ll use them to touch people’s lives.

Lead your class outside to release their balloons.

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

BIBLE SKILLS

Get your Bibles ready for some Bible Drills

Ready…John 20:1

Ready…Matthew 28:1-4…Go!

(After they find it, you’ll need to read it.)

Ready…Luke 24:1-4

(After they find it, you’ll need to read it.)

Ready…Mark 16:1-3…Go!

(After they find it, you’ll need to read it.)

Ask the students: What did you notice about all these verses?

SAY: They are all telling the same story. The story of Jesus is retold in all four of the Gospels. Each one tells about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and although all four tell the same story, they all tell it from a slightly different angle since they were written to four different groups of people. For example, Mark was writing to people who lived in Rome, far away from Israel (where Jesus had lived), but Matthew was writing to the Jews, Jesus’ own people.

Ask the students: Did you know that only two of the Gospels tell about Jesus’ birth? Which two do you think they are? (Matthew and Luke)

Control Tool

Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!

PRAYER TIME & WRAP UP

IDEA: Ask a student to write down today’s prayer requests.

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

NOTES*

Opening Activity: “The Rolling Stone Game”take from Jesus is Alive! Word Action Publishing Company, 1984, p.47.

Challenge Verse Activity: Adapted from Group Publishing’s Lava, Lava Island VBS curriculum, 2004, Day 5.

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: Jesus makes a difference in people’s lives.

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Mark 14:66-72

Challenge Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

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ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

“Jesus is Alive” Hearts—One heart per student. – These can just be hearts cut out of paper. They don’t have to be large. The hearts don’t have to say, “Jesus is Alive.”

“Jesus is Alive” Cross Sign—one per class—See the end of this lesson for this poster.

1 roll of toilet paper per class

1 six foot length of clothesline (or at least long enough to tie around a child)

Signs for: Peter, Servant Girl, Those Standing Near—You can hole punch these and use yarn to make a sign that will hang around a student’s neck.

Masking tape

Younger only—Have a coloring page ready or have blank pieces of paper ready for kids to draw a way that Jesus can make a difference in people’s lives.

Enough 2-foot lengths 5lb. wire for each child to have one..

A “New Life” Pattern for each student. An example is attached at the end of this lesson.

Enough 9X10 sheets of aluminum foil for each student.

Bible Verse Poster

BEFORE CLASS

- Set out the “Jesus is Alive” Hearts with a piece of tape on the back for each student.

- Tape up the sign with the cross on it for the opening activity.

- Set out the craft items for easy access.

- Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

OPENING ACTIVITY #1

As students enter, one at a time, give them a “Jesus is Alive” heart with a piece of tape on the back. Blindfold them about five feet away from the sign with the cross that you posted up before class began. Spin them around a few times and then see if they can put the heart on the cross. (This is like “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” except using hearts and a cross.)

SAY: Jesus died on the cross for our sins and three days later He rose from the dead. He’s alive today and He’ll make a difference in the lives of everyone who is willing to give their lives to Him.

Ask the students: Who remembers what we talked about last week?

OPENING ACTIVITY #2

Human Wraps

Choose one volunteer–Using the toilet paper, wrap your volunteer up from the neck down. (Feel free to let your kids help you with this.)

SAY: On the count of three, I want you to break free. 1-2-3.

Ask the students: Was that hard or easy? (Easy)

Choose a different volunteer–Use a rope or a clothesline and tie it around him. Then ask him to break through the rope in the same way that your first volunteer broke through the toilet paper. He can’t do it.

Discussion

SAY: Sin is NOT like the toilet paper because no one can set themselves free from the hold sin has on them. Instead, sin is like the rope that ties you up, where you can’t get free on your own.

Ask the students: Is there any other way besides Jesus to have your sins forgiven? (No. He’s the only way.)

Ask the students: Is there anything a person can do that’s so bad that Jesus can’t forgive them? (No, Jesus died for all sins. So He can forgive anything, not matter how terrible it might be.)

SAY: Today we’re going to learn about someone who did something terrible, but Jesus gave him a second chance.

BIBLE LESSON

Ask the students: Who knows who Peter is? (One of the twelve disciples; he wrote 1 & 2 Peter in the Bible; etc.)

Rhetorical Question: Did you know that Peter made some big mistakes on the day that Jesus died? Today we’re going to learn about them.

Choose 3 volunteers.—Give them the following signs: Peter, Servant Girl, Those Standing Near.

SAY: After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed from a distance to see what was going to happen. Just a few hours earlier he had told Jesus that he would die for Him and Jesus had replied that before the rooster crowed the second time that night, Peter would deny him three times. Let’s see what happened.

Read the story below but be sure to tell the students that even though you are reading it out of the lesson book, it is from the Bible in Mark 14:66-72.

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

Have the Servant Girl repeat after you: “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.

But he denied it.

Have Peter repeat Peter’s words after you: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.

When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, Have the Servant Girl repeat after you: “This fellow is one of them,”

Again he denied it.

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter,

Have Those Standing Near repeat after you: “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them,

Have Peter repeat Peter’s words after you: “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

SAY: Peter denied Jesus. He cursed and lied, but when Jesus rose again, He appeared to Peter before even appearing to the other disciples (1 Corinthians 15:5). Jesus forgave him and before long, listen to what Peter was doing.

Get ready for a Bible Drill.

Ready…Acts 2:14…Go!

SAY: Only one week after Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter stood in front of a huge crowd and told them about Christ. Three thousand people became Christians because of the message he gave that day! What a change! He ran from a servant girl one day but a few weeks later he stood in front of thousands to boldly preach about Jesus.

KEY: When people let Jesus forgive them and come into their lives, He always makes a big difference.

CHALLENGE VERSE

Call up a volunteer—to hold your Challenge Verse sign. Have students repeat it after you:

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 from your Bible.

A True Story

There was a little boy who had given his life to Christ but he knew that his uncle never had. His uncle was the meanest man in town and the boy didn’t know what to say to him. Every day, this boy would go in the barn during his chores, get down on his knees and pray that God would save his uncle. One day the uncle noticed that the boy’s overalls had holes in the knees, so he asked, “Boy, what’ve you been doing to wear out the knees of your pants?” The boy replied, “I’ve been praying for you uncle, that God will save you and change your life.” Just a few minutes later because of the witness of that boy, that uncle, the “meanest man in town” was on his knees giving his life to Christ. God saved him and made him a “new creation.”

Ask the students: What do you think the Bible means by “a new creation?” (That God gives the person a new life regardless of what he’s done in the past.)

Ask the students: What are the “old” things that are gone? (The sins and bad things a person did before he accepted Jesus into his life.)

Ask the students: Is there any sin so great that if a person asks for forgiveness that God can’t forgive him/her? (No.)

Ask the students: Is anyone so bad that God can’t save them? (No.)

Activity: God Can

SAY: If you think God can save the meanest man in town, go and stand against the wall on my left. If you don’t think God can save him, stand against the wall to my right.

SAY: If you think God can save a liar, go and stand against the wall on my right. If you don’t think God can save him, stand against the wall to my left.

SAY: If you think God can save a bully who hurts people for the fun of it, go and stand against the wall on my left. If you don’t think God can save him and change his life, stand against the wall to my left.

SAY: If you think God can save and change someone who gets drunk and does drugs, go and stand against the wall on my right. If you don’t think God can save him, stand against the wall to my left.

KEY: God will save anyone who wants to give Him their life—no matter what they’ve done in the past.

(3^rd-5^th Grade only)

Student’s Testimony

(On each of the following questions, choose a one or two volunteers to answer. Then have everyone share their answers with the person next to them. This is something we want everyone to participate in. Be aware, though, that some of your students may not have a testimony. Be sensitive to this because you don’t want to embarrass them. Just let them know that it is okay and that there will be time in their life where they’ll realize that they need to give their life to Jesus. Also, don’t use this as an opportunity to single out a student to “witness” to in front of the class. If you perceive a need in one of your kids, pull them aside and talk to them in private.)

Ask the students: What was your life like before you gave your life to Jesus?

Ask the students: How did you realize that you needed Jesus?

Ask the students: What did you do when you gave your life to Jesus?

Ask the students: What difference did Jesus make? (I know for sure that I’m going to heaven, etc.)

CRAFT ACTIVITY*

Use the craft on the following pages to make a “Man” who demonstrates the “filthy rags” of sin but is given a new life.

Copy the “New Life” pattern at the end of this lesson for each of your students and have them bend light-weight wire to the shape of the man in the pattern. Tape the ends of the wire together to hold it in place.  (If you teach younger students, you might want to do this part for them, or you might make one “man” as a class instead of letting each child make one.) Tell the students to wrap the figure and “stuff” him using the left-over toilet paper from the previous activity.

SAY: The toilet paper represents our sins, our “filthy rags”.

Take time while your students do this part to have them name some sins. Talk about why God doesn’t want us to do bad things and how bad things make a mess of our lives.

Next, give each student a piece of 9×10 sized (or close to this size) sheet of aluminum foil. Many times these can be purchases as pre-cut sheets. The students will then use these to wrap the man and make a moveable figure.

SAY: The foil represents the new life that only Jesus can give. Nobody else can forgive our sins.

Take time while your students do this part to have them name some characteristics of this new life—i.e., peace, love, joy, a relationship with God, the assurance of going to heaven, etc..

Once everyone is finished, SAY: Now all you can see is the new man…the new life that Jesus gives. You can’t see the toilet paper anymore. Of course, we all know that it’s still there. It’s not gone—It’s just hidden. But when Jesus takes our sins away and gives us a new life, our sins are COMPLETELY gone.

Everybody SAY: “COMPLETELY.”

SAY: Jesus doesn’t just cover up the bad stuff we’ve done. He removes it and gives us a brand new life, and this happens only when a person gives their life to Christ. That is the greatest decision that you’ll ever make and that’s what Peter was preaching about. That day about 3,000 people accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior of their life. You can too…and if you ever have any questions about how or when to give your life to Jesus, you can always come and talk with me.

BIBLE SKILLS

Get ready for some Bible Drills

Explain that today they are going to be looking for New Testament books of the Bible. You may want to do these drills in front of your Bible Book Chart.

Ready…The book of Acts…Go!

Ready…The book of Titus…Go!

Ready…The book of Romans…Go!

(If you have more time, feel free to look up other books as well.)

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

List Prayer Requests

Be sure to pray specifically for each request.

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

*Craft Activity—Kid’s Quest Literature, Fall 2004, Lesson 6.

LESSON OVERVIEW

Key Point: You can tell others about Jesus.

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Acts 3:1-8

Challenge Verse Acts 1:8:—“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Younger option: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8

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ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

Goldfish crackers—aprox. 30 in each class.

8 small cups

4 pairs of chopsticks (You can usually get or buy these from a restaurant.)

Signs for: Beautiful, Peter, John, Crippled Man.—You can hole punch these and use yarn to make a sign that will hang around a student’s neck.

Fortune Cookies that have today’s memory verse inside. These can be ordered from Gold Star Graphics at (405) 677-1529 or star5@gogoldstar.com. The minimum order is 250. Or, a recipe for fortune cookies can be found online.

Bible Verse Poster (Kindergarten and 1^st grade have a shorter version)

BEFORE CLASS

- Before class put an equal number of Gold fish crackers in to cups. You will need one cup of cracker for each team you desire to have—if your class is small have two teams. Larger classes can make three or four teams. Make sure you have at least as many Gold fish in the cups as you have students on the teams. Put these cups on the floor or a table. Using your masking tape, put a line on the floor on the opposite side of the room behind which the teams will stand. Set an equal number of empty cups on the floor half-way between the teams and the cup with the Gold fish.

-  Put up the Bible Verse Poster for today.

-  Set out any items you need for today’s lesson

-  Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Today is also Japanese Mission Day. You will see the “Japanese” influence on today’s lesson. If you want, feel free to dress Japanese-like, although you don’t have too. And also feel free to be creative. For example, you might want the kids to sit cross-legged on the floor instead of in chairs or to sit on mats. Have fun with this and enjoy the kids in your class but don’t let this theme disrupt the Bible lesson.

OPENING ACTIVITY

SAY: Konnichiwa (koh-nee-chee-wah)—“Hello”

SAY: Today is Japanese Mission Day.

Explain that this means hello in Japanese. Tell your children that anytime you say, “Konnichiwa,” they should say it back to you.

(Practice a few times. If they are real quiet as they say it, encourage them to be louder.)

SAY: Everybody say, “Ichi.” Say, “ni.” Say, “san.” That’s how you count to three in Japanese. So on the count of three, in Japanese, I want you to touch three walls and come to the group circle. Ready…ichi…ni…san…Go!

SAY: Konnichiwa (koh-nee-chee-wah)—Kids say: Konnichiwa!

Goldfish Races

Quickly divide your class into teams (for however many cups you set up before class) and have them stand behind the line.

SAY: Racing is popular in Japan and welcome to our big race of the day! In a minute I am going to give the first person in each line a pair of chopsticks. When I say, Ready…ichi…ni…san…Go! the first person will run to the cup at the far end of the room and use the chopsticks to pick up one Gold fish cracker. He will then bring the cracker to the cup in the middle, put it in, and give the chopsticks to the next person in line. If he drops the cracker, he will have to use the chopsticks to pick it up. Once everyone on your team has gone, sit down in a straight line and raise your hands.

Ready…ichi…ni…san…Go!

Discussion

What I didn’t tell you about this game is what these cups mean. The cup you took the Gold fish out of means “love.” The empty cup stands for how empty people feel when they don’t know Jesus. People who don’t know Jesus are just as empty as this cup was. (Hold up the second cup.) They will always be looking for something more in life. What they want and need is God’s love (Hold up “love” cup.) In the same way that you took the cracker to the empty cup, you can take God’s love to other people. You can invite friends to church. You can tell others that Jesus loves them. You can even tell your parents about how much God loves them and how God will always take care of them.

BIBLE LESSON

SAY: Konnichiwa (koh-nee-chee-wah) —See if the students remember to say it back to you. If not, try it again.

Choose 4 volunteers–One girl and three boys. Give the girl the Beautiful sign. Give the others the signs that say Peter, John, and Crippled Man.

Read Acts 3:1-8 from your Bible and help the students to act it out. Have them repeat anything after you that their character may say. The girl represents the Gate Beautiful. When the story mentions her, simply have her stand beside the beggar and give her the sign that says, “Beautiful.”

SAY: Just because this crippled man was different from them, didn’t mean that they didn’t talk to him. They could have walked on by but they didn’t—they stopped to tell him about Jesus, even though he was different.

Ask the students: How are some other people different from you? (Some are short, tall, different skin color, different eye color, different hair color, lots of freckles, no freckles, different races and nationalities, etc.)

SAY: God loves everyone the same and He wants for everyone to know Him.

SAD STORY

Ask the students: Who knows who our country fought against during World War II? We fought against several countries but one of these was Japan. After the war, however, their country was in ruins and suffering and for the first time there was an open door for Christian missionaries to go and help them and share the Good News of Jesus. It would have been hard because there were still a lot of bad feelings between Americans and Japanese, but some went and many were saved but those who went sent word back to America that they needed more help—more missionaries to share Jesus with the people, but not many volunteered. Today if you look at Japan today, there are not a lot of strong Christians there, but what might have happened if many people had volunteered to go and tell the Japanese people about the Lord? It might have completely changed the history of their nation…but many weren’t willing to go, some because they too had hard feelings about the war and they didn’t want to go and share with the “enemy.”

SAY: Someone being different from us should never stop us from sharing Jesus with them.

CHALLENGE VERSE

Give each student a “fortune” cookie and let him eat it and find today’s challenge verse inside. Read the verse together as a group.

Ask the students: Does anyone know where this verse is found? (Hint: This is something Jesus said just before He ascended to heaven after His resurrection. It’s Acts 1:8.)

Get ready for a Bible Drill

Ready…Acts 1:8…Go!

Ask the students: How is this like what Peter and John did?

SAY: They hadn’t planned to share God’s love—they were just on the way and when the opportunity came up, it was natural for them to be witnesses.

Ask the students: Did you know that not long after this story the leaders commanded Peter and John to stop teaching and preaching in Jesus’ name? What do you think they did? (They said, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” [Acts 4:20]. In other words, they couldn’t stop being “witnesses.” Then they went to other Christians and prayed for boldness to continue being good witnesses.)

(3^rd-5^th grade only) Ask the students: What does this verse mean when it says, “When the Holy Spirit comes on you?” (Let a few students answer.)

(3^rd-5^th grade only) Ask the students: Who is the Holy Spirit? (The Holy Spirit is God, just like Jesus and the Father are God. He is the third part of the Trinity. He guides the Christian. He is like a voice in your heart to tell you when you are doing something wrong, to show you what is right, to comfort you and give you strength, etc.)

(3^rd-5^th grade only)  Ask the students: When does a person get the Holy Spirit? (The moment you give your life to Jesus and once you are saved, He will never leave you although you can grieve Him [make Him sad] by how you live your life.)

BIBLE SKILLS

SAY: Konnichiwa (koh-nee-chee-wah) —See if the students remember to say it back to you. If not, try it again.

Ask the students: Why is the book of Acts called “Acts”? (Because it’s all about the “acts” of the disciples and others like Paul who later followed Jesus.)

Ask the students: What is the name of the book that comes after Acts? (Romans—this was a letter written to the Romans, people who lived in Rome.)

Get ready for some Bible Drills

Explain that today they are going to be looking for New Testament books of the Bible. You may want to do these drills in front of your Bible Book Chart.

Ready…The book of James…Go!

Ready…The book of Philippians…Go!

Ready…The book of Romans…Go!

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Pray specifically today for the people of Japan and for others that your students know who don’t know Christ.

List Prayer Requests

“Sayounara” (sigh-yo-nah-rah)—“Good-Bye”

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

LESSON OVERVIEW*

Key Point: Let Jesus’ love flow.

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Acts 8:26-39

Challenge Verse: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

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ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

Ice Cream Sundaes—for each student—they will help fix these. Be sure to find out from your leaders where to get the ice cream sundae items.

Crepe paper—2 rolls for each class

Bible Verse Poster (Kindergarten and 1^st grade has a shorter version)

BEFORE CLASS

-  Put up the Bible Verse Poster for today.

-  Set out any items you need for today’s lesson

-  Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

NOTE: Today is Volcano Day as you will see from the lesson.

OPENING ACTIVITY

SAY: Welcome to Volcano Day. Just like lava flows from a volcano, today we’re going to talk about how Jesus’ love can flow from you to others.

Control Tool

Anytime you say, “Let Jesus’ love flow,” students should shout back, “Wherever you go.” Feel free to have a boys vs. girls or a side vs. side competition to see who can say it the loudest. And remember that students are going to mimic you–If you say it in an excited, energetic way, that’s how they’ll respond. If you say it halfway or timidly, they’ll respond in a like manner.

Activity*

Instruct your class to stand in a circle. Make sure the crepe paper streamers are easily accessible. Explain that when you say go, you are going call out a name and say, “[Name], here’s Jesus’ love.” Hold the end of the crepe paper and throw the streamers to the person whose name you called. Then that student will call someone else’s name and toss it to them. Be sure to tell them to hang onto the roll before throwing it. Tell the others to keep their eyes open and be ready to catch the roll.  Keep going until every one is holding onto the crepe paper. If you desire, keep going until everyone has thrown it two or three times or until you run out of paper. Encourage the kids to move quickly as they “pass Jesus’ love” to the others.

SAY: On the count of three, we’re going to see how quickly you can throw all the paper in the trash can and have a seat in the circle. Ready…1-2-3…Go!

Control Tool

Leader: Let Jesus’ love flow / Students: Wherever you go!

Discussion

Ask the students: What happened as “Jesus’ love” flowed? (It made a web; it was funny; we got all tangled up.)

Ask the students: How is this like or unlike what happens when we share Jesus’ love in real life? (Both are fun; it brings people together; etc.)

Ask the students: What might happen in your school if kids and teachers let Jesus’ love flow? (Kids wouldn’t get teased; everyone would have a friend; we’d be a lot happier; people would help each other.)

SAY: When we played the game, it really changed the game area. Streamers were everywhere! Imagine how people who love Jesus can change their schools—even their world—if they let Jesus’ love flow every day!

Illustration*

SAY: When you share Jesus with others, His love flows from one person to another—sort of like a wave. In fact, we’re going to see how fast we can make a wave flow around our circle. I’ll start it and it will move around the circle to the left. Let’s see how fast we can do it. Ready…Go! (Throw your hands up, then look to the person to your right. As it moves around, encourage your kids by saying, “Keep going. Faster. Faster.” If a student doesn’t do it, look to the person to their right and say, “Keep going, [Name],” so that it just moves past them but doesn’t draw attention to them.)

Do it again, but this time, as the wave goes around, have the students shout out the name of their schools. (Home-schoolers can just say, “Home.”)

SAY: If you have given your life to Jesus, you can share God’s love with others wherever you go.

Control Tool

Leader: Let Jesus’ love flow / Students: Wherever you go!

BIBLE LESSON

SAY: In the past we’ve learned about how Jesus and his disciples showed God’s love, but it wasn’t always easy. Not everyone believed that Jesus rose from the dead. They thought that Jesus’ followers were lying. One man, named Saul, whom we will learn more about next week, arrested Christians and even had some of them killed for following Jesus. As a result many of Jesus’ followers left Jerusalem to find safer places to live. The book of Acts tells us about a follower of Jesus named Phillip. Listen to what happened to him.

Tell your students to get their Bibles ready for a Bible Drill.

Ready…Acts 8:26…Go!

Read from your Bible Acts 8:26-39.

Ask your students to follow along with you and remind them that their Bibles may not use the exact same words (because there are different translations) but that they have the exact same message. Also tell your students to listen very carefully because afterwards you are going to ask them some questions about what they heard.

Divide your class into two teams and take turns asking each team the following “Listening Questions.”

Listening Questions

Who told Phillip to go south on the road? (An angel)

From where was the man in the chariot? (Ethiopia)

What was the name of the Queen of the Ethiopians? (Candace)

What did the Ethiopian do for the Queen? (He was in charge of all the treasury of the Queen)

From where in the Bible was he trying to read? (The book of Isaiah)

What did the Ethiopian do after do after Phillip left? (He went on his way rejoicing)

(NOTE: If any of your students ask what a eunuch is, simply explain that it was a man who was unable to have children that served a royal family. Don’t make a big deal out of this and don’t bring it up unless they ask.)

Ask the students: When would this have happened—before or after Jesus’ life? (After—the Gospels come first in the New Testament. The book of Acts follows them.)

LESSON ACTIVITY

Tell your students to find a partner. (Remember to help students so that none ever feel left-out.) Instruct them to choose who will represent Phillip, the one who knows Jesus—and who will be the Ethiopian, the stranger from a far away country who doesn’t know Jesus.

SAY: Ethiopians, since you’re from a distant land, go sit in that far corner over there. (Point to one of the corners of the room.)

SAY: Since Jerusalem wasn’t safe, Phillip had gone to Samaria to teach people there about Jesus. (Send all the Phillips to an area of the room that you will designate as Samaria.) While Phillip was in Samaria, an angel came and said, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Phillip obeyed. (Lead the Phillips toward the Ethiopians.)

SAY: When Phillip got there, he saw the Ethiopian riding in a chariot. Now, the Ethiopian was a very important man and Phillip saw that he was reading something from God’s Word. (Tell the Phillips to go stand next to their Ethiopian partners.)

SAY: The Ethiopian didn’t understand what he was reading in the Bible.

Have the Ethiopians REPEAT after you: “It doesn’t make sense to me.” “I don’t know what this means.”

SAY: The Ethiopians didn’t understand what was written in God’s Word, but Phillip understood.

Have the Phillips REPEAT the following after you:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, / and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, / so he did not open his mouth. / In his humiliation / he was deprived of justice. / Who can speak of his descendants? / For his life / was taken from the earth.”

Ask the students: Who is this talking about?

SAY: Phillip knew the verse was about Jesus. It was telling how Jesus would be killed even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. Remember, Jesus was perfect, but He died to make a way to take away our sins. So Phillip sat in the chariot and told the Ethiopian all about Jesus. If you’re a Phillip, sit next to your partner and tell them something you know about Jesus.

SAY: The Ethiopian was so excited about what Philip said that he committed himself to Christ and wanted to get baptized as soon as he could. So when the chariot passed some water, Philip baptized him. The Ethiopian wanted to show that he was a follower of Jesus.

SAY: On the count of three, I want everyone to return to the circle. Ready…1-2-3…Go!

Control Tool

Leader: Let Jesus’ love flow / Students: Wherever you go!

Discussion

Ask the students: Can being baptized get a person to heaven? (If you want, ask your students to raise their hands for yes, and then for no. You might be surprised by some of their answers.)

Ask the students: Can you name anyone we have recently had in a Bible lesson, who believed in Jesus, who wasn’t baptized, and who went to heaven? (The thief on the cross next to Jesus.)

Ask the students: Was the criminal on the cross who believed in Jesus (whom we learned about several weeks ago) baptized? (No.)

Ask the students: Who remembers what Jesus promised him? (Today you’ll be with me in paradise [heaven].)

SAY: Baptism doesn’t get a person into heaven. Instead it’s the first big step of following Jesus once a person has given his life to Him. Baptism comes after salvation as a symbol that God has already saved you.

CHALLENGE VERSE

Get ready for some Bible Drills

Ready…Matthew 5:14…Go!

Ask the students: Do you think a volcano with lava on it could be seen from far way. (It can be seen from very far away.)

SAY: When you live for Jesus, His life and love will shine through you. Even from a distance people will notice that there is something different about you. By how you talk and by how you live, Jesus’ love will flow through you to others.

Control Tool

Leader: Let Jesus’ love flow / Students: Wherever you go!

Ask the students: How did Philip share Jesus’ love with the Ethiopian? (He told him about Jesus; He taught him about God’s Word; He helped him to understand the Bible.)

Ask the students: How is that like the way you can share Jesus’ love at school? (I can tell people about God’s Word; I can be a friend; I can tell what I know about Jesus.)

Ask the students: Do you think it was hard for Philip to help the Ethiopian? Why or why not? (Yes, because he didn’t know him; Yes, because the Ethiopian could’ve been mean to him; No, because Philip trusted God.)

Ask the students: When is it hard for you to let Jesus’ love flow at school? (When my friends think it’s weird; When I’m around kids I don’t know; etc.)

Control Tool

Leader: Let Jesus’ love flow / Students: Wherever you go!

LESSON SNACK

Ice Cream Sundae Volcanoes

Be sure to find out from your leadership where to get everything you need for your class to make ice cream sundaes.

While your students create and eat, ask the following questions:

SAY: Your sundae is sort of like a volcano except with chocolate flowing down the side.

Ask the students: What should you let flow out of your life? (Jesus’ love)

Ask the students: How is a volcano kind of like our verse for the day? (The both have a light on a hill.)

Ask the students: Who remembers what our verse today meant?

Ask the students: Where would today’s Bible story be found on the Bible Book Chart?

Ask the students: Why is the book of Acts called “Acts”? (Because it’s all about the “acts” of the disciples and others like Paul who later followed Jesus.)

Ask the students: What is the name of the book that comes after Acts? (Romans)

BIBLE SKILLS

Get ready for some Bible Drills

Explain that today they are going to be looking for New Testament books of the Bible. You may want to do these drills in front of your Bible Book Chart.

Ready…The book of Acts…Go!

Ready…The book of Romans…Go!

Ready…1 Corinthians 13:4…Go!

Read this verse aloud after it’s found.

KEY: This is God’s kind of love and when you love people the way He does, they will know there is something different about you. That’s what it means to be a light—You couldn’t miss a city on a hill or a volcano erupting, and people will take notice of someone who is living for Jesus by sharing His love and life.

Control Tool

Leader: Let Jesus’ love flow / Students: Wherever you go!

PRAYER TIME & WRAP-UP

Pray and ask God to help your kids let others know that they are followers of Jesus.

Take Prayer Requests:

EXTRA TIME

Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.

*Adapted from Group Publishing’s 2004 VBS curriculum, “Lava, Lava Island, Follow-Up Planner.”

LESSON OVERVIEW*

Key Point: God has a call for you.

Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson.

Bible Story: Acts 9:1-19

Challenge Verse: Acts 4:12—“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

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ITEMS NEEDED

Each class needs the following:

Enough name labels for each student to have one—However, these labels don’t all say the same thing. They say three different names: Stephen, Saul, Ananias

Signs (one for each class) that say: Saul, Stephen, Godly Man, Loved Jesus, Didn’t Believe, Wanted to Stop Them, Killed the Christians

4 small bags for each class that contain the letters A, C, T, S, 4:, 1, 2—This is for the 3^rd-5^th classes only.

4 copies of the “Which books did Paul write?” page

A small bag of candy for each class—with enough candy for the entire class.

Bible Verse Poster (Kindergarten and 1^st grade have a shorter version)

BEFORE CLASS

-  Put up the Bible Verse Poster for today.

-  Set out any items you need for today’s lesson

-  Pray for each student by name.

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE

- Greet each student by name as they enter.

- Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.

- Get to know any guests and help them fill out a guest form.

- Be sure to smile—Your smile and attitude sets the atmosphere as students enter.

OPENING ACTIVITY

When students enter, give each a label that says either  Stephen, Saul, or Ananias. Then tell them you are going to play a quick game that is a lot like Simon Says. If you say, “Stephen says,” only those with the Stepthen tags should do it. If you say, “Saul says,” only those with the Saul tags should do it. If you say, “Ananias says,” only those with the Ananias tags should do it. Have your students stand up and get ready.

Saul says: Raise your hands

Stephen says: Stand on one leg

Ananias says: Jump up and down where you are

Saul says: Touch your head

Ananias says: Stop jumping and touch your ears

Stephen says: Jump up and down where you are

Saul says: Touch your toes

Stephen says: Stop Jumping and touch your nose

Saul says: Put your hands in the air.

Ananias says: Touch your knees

Saul says: Put your hands down.

Stephen says: Repeat after me, “God’s got a call”

Ananias says: Repeat after me, “For us all.”

Saul says: Repeat after me, “God’s got a call for us all.”

Stephen says: Clap your hands six times

Ananias says: Clap your hands three times behind your head

Saul says: Give someone a high-five

Stephen says: Sit down in a chair

Ananias says: Sit down in a chair.

Saul says: Sit down in a chair.

SAY: Today we’re going to learn about three men for whom God had special plans and how they all said YES to Jesus.

Control Tool

Anytime you say, “God’s got a call,” students should shout back, “For us all.” Feel free to have a boys vs. girls or a side vs. side competition to see who can say it the loudest. And remember that students are going to mimic how you say it—so be excited that “God’s got a call for us all!”

Control Tool

Leader: God’s got a call / Students: For us all!

BIBLE LESSON—part 1

Bible Story #1–Stephen

Choose 2 volunteers to help you tell a story. Give one the sign that says Saul and the other the sign that says Stephen.

SAY: Stephen was a godly man (put Godly Man sign around his neck) who loved Jesus (put Loved Jesus sign on him) and told others about Him. But since the religious leaders had killed Jesus, they didn’t want people preaching about Him. So in anger they drove Stephen out of the city and began to throw big stones at him.

SAY: Finally Stephen fell to his knees. (Have volunteer act it out and say the following…) and said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Then he died.

SAY: The people who killed Stephen laid their garments at Saul’s feet, which meant he was in charge. Saul had killed Stephen for preaching the truth about Jesus and in a minute we’re going to see what happens to him. Give our volunteers a hand. (Take the signs back.)

Ask the students: Why do you think Stephen was willing to die for Jesus? (Answer: Because he had found something so awesome in Jesus that he wasn’t willing to let go of it, even if it cost him his life.)

LESSON ACTIVITY

Toe Tag

Choose 1 volunteer to help you demonstrate toe tag.

SAY: In a minute we are going to play toe tag. This is how you play. Take hold of each other’s hands. Then you will try to use either foot to tag the top of their foot. The bottom doesn’t count and neither does the ankle. You must tag the top of their foot. The first person to tag their partner 3 times wins. After you have played with one person, find someone else to play against. Everyone find a partner and begin playing. (Teachers can play too, especially if your class has an odd number. Also, help students settle any controversies they may have about who tagged who. Keep this game moving fast and cut the time off after about 4 minutes of play.)

SAY: Everybody freeze. On the count of three, as fast as you can, come sit down in a circle. 1-2-3! (Compliment the first one there as well as the most considerate person, etc.…whatever sticks out to you.)

Ask the students: The aim of the game was to tag the other person’s foot. What was Stephen’s aim in life? (Answer: To live for Jesus and tell others about Him.)

Ask the students: Don’t answer this out loud—But what’s your aim in life?

What are you living for?

SAY: If it’s soccer…then you’ve missed the boat.

If it’s to be popular or well-liked…then you’ve bought a lie.

If it’s to be the best or make money or have a lot of stuff…then you’ll find your life will be empty.

Ask the students: What did you bring into the world when you were born? (Answer: Nothing.)

Ask the students: What will you take with you when you die? (Answer: Nothing except your relationship with Jesus. Jesus is what really matters in life.)

SAY: Not only is Jesus what really matters in life, but He also has a special “call” or plan for everyone. He made you for a reason and His plan for you begins when you give your life to Him.

CHALLENGE VERSE

Spell-It-Out

Quickly split your class into four groups.

(3^rd-5^th Grade Only) SAY: I am going to give each group four letters and three numbers that represent something important today. You will have one minute to put them in the right order.

(Hand out the four bags that contain the letters A, C, T, S, 4:, 1, 2.)

SAY: While I read Acts 4:12, count how many times I say the word “no.”

Ask the students: How many times did I say “no”? (Answer: 2)

SAY: There is only one way to be saved and go to heaven that that’s by saying YES to Jesus and giving your life to Him. Now let’s see what happened to Saul.

BIBLE LESSON—part 2

Bible Story #2–Saul

Choose 1 volunteer to be Saul. Give him/her the Saul sign.

SAY: Saul didn’t believe that Jesus was God’s Son (give him the Didn’t Believe sign). He thought they were wrong and were spreading lies. He wanted to stop them (give him the Wanted to Stop Them sign), and he even killed Christians like Stephen (give him the Killed Christians sign).

SAY: But one day Saul was on the way to Damascus to arrest some Christians when a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground.

(Have the volunteer act this out.)

Then he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” (Have the volunteer repeat this.)

And the voice said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but rise, enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.”

When he got up, he was blind. For three days he didn’t eat or drink until a Christian named Ananias came to him and told him about Jesus. Then Saul gave his life to Christ and immediately his sight came back.

Illustration: 180 Degree Turn Around

Using the Saul volunteer.

SAY: Saul was like this: Even though he thought he was going the right way, (move volunteer one direction), he wasn’t. Then he met Jesus and realized he’d been wrong and gave His life to Christ. Then he turned around (act this out) and went the right way (move the volunteer the opposite way).

SAY: Saul had done some bad things, but no matter what you’ve done, the Lord is just waiting for you to say YES to Jesus. There’s nothing you can do to make God stop loving you, and the best choice you can make today is to always say YES to Jesus.

Ask the students: So how do you know if it’s the right time to give your life to Christ?

Answer—Two Hand Illustration:

Two important things must happen before a person can accept Jesus.

Have students hold out one hand, palm up…

l On one hand, you know you have done wrong things…

Have students hold out the other hand, palm up…

l And you know you need a Savior…You need Jesus to forgive you.

SAY: Then it’s like there something inside that’s saying, “You need to give your life to Jesus.” That’s when you can know that you’re ready.

SAY: When that time comes, talk to someone—never wait to say YES to Jesus.

BIBLE LESSON—part 3*

Bible Story #3–Ananias

SAY: Now let’s finish our story.

Tell students that any time you say, “Saul” you want them to say, “Arrest the Christians!”

Anytime you say, “Ananias,” they say, “Go, Ananias!”

Practice a few times.

Tell the following story but pause on the bold words:

Saul was a religious leader in Jerusalem. He knew all the rules the Jews had to follow. He obeyed every part of the Law. He had everything going for him—except he hated Jesus and all His followers, the Christians. Saul threatened them. Saul arrested them. And Saul had many of them killed.

You see, Saul didn’t just dislike Christians. He wanted to get rid of them. So one day he went the high priest and asked permission to hunt down Christians in Damascus, which was a big city in that day. Saul took some companions with him, but as they neared Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. The light was brighter than the sun, and it made Saul fall to the ground. Then he heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul , why do you persecute me?”

He asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

The voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, but rise, enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.”

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything.

In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”