The Light of the World
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.”
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