Suggested Schedule: (90 mins)
-
- Welcome (5 min)
- Game 1 (10 min)
- Review Big Verse (5 min)
- Set the Scene: Bible story and review questions (10-15 min)
- Object Lesson 1 talk (5 min)
- Game 2 (5 min)
- Object Lesson 2 talk (10 min)
- Game 3 (5 min)
- Object Lesson 3 talk (5 min)
- Search the Scripture (10 min)
- Sense How You Feel – activity (10 – 20 mins)
- Seek God – prayer (5 min)
Setting the Stage: This series will show the children some of the crazy things that happened in the Bible. But, even crazy stores serve a purpose. One purpose is to show us that nothing is impossible with God.
Supplies:
-
- Dog bone item
- Hidden Picture Printable (Pinterest)
- Would You Rather Questions
- Large Coin
- Mixed bag of coins
- Bible
- Picture of a Lie Detector
- Paper heart (or toy)
- Bible Verse Cards and Reference Cards Printable
- Bible Verse Treasure Box Printable on Card stock
- Bible Verses
- Glue sticks
- Crayons or Colored Pencils
- Play-Dough or Clay
- Lego Block or Construction Toys
- Cushions
- String Lights
- Tent (optional)
- Music
Games
Game 1: WHO HAS THE BONE? – 10 min
Description: Team Game
Supplies: A “bone” — can be something from the classroom like a whiteboard eraser,
Details: Pick one student to be the “dog.” The dog sits up front with their back to the other students, their eyes shut, and the “bone” one the floor behind them. Prompt one student to quietly sneak up and take the bone, return to their seat, and hide the bone behind them. Lead the class in saying, “Doggie doggie where’s your bone?” The dog can then turn and face the class. He/she has three tries to guess who took the bone. This can be played multiple times.
Game 2: TRUTH OR LIE – 5 min
Description: Team Game
Supplies: No supplies
Details: Split into two teams. On the first team each player must come up with one truth and one lie about themselves. The opposing team has to work out which is true. Then the teams switch and team two comes up with the truth and lie and team 1 must now guess the truth. The team with the most correct guesses is the winning team.
Variation: If you have too many children to all play choose three players per team to share two truths and a lie and the opposing team votes on which player is telling the truth. You can play as many rounds as you like.
Game 3: – WOULD YOU RATHER? — 5 min
Description: Team Game
Supplies: List of Questions
Details: Have students stand in the middle of the room. Ask a question from the sheet. Designate a side of the room for students to move to based on their answer. Example: Would you rather go to the beach or play in the snow? Beach goes to the left and snow players to the right.) Students stay in these locations until the next question, and only move as they need to.
Would You Rather Game
- Would you rather play in the snow in shorts or swim in a winter coat?
- Would you rather be super funny or super smart?
- Would you rather be ok at everything or really great at one thing?
- Would you rather be a superhero or a movie star?
- Would you rather create a new holiday or create a new sport?
- Would you rather have to drink like a dog or walk like a monkey?
- Would you rather be able to see things really far away like with a telescope or really close up like with a microscope?
- Would you rather be able to run fast or swim fast?
- Would you rather be able to jump like a kangaroo or breath under water like a fish?
- 10. Would you rather be able to shrink down like an ant or grow as tall as a building whenever you want?
Big Verse:
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
Set the Scene: 10 – 15 min
Description: Bible story and questions
Supplies: Bible opened to Acts 5:1-1
Details:
Say: Have you ever thought these words, “No one will know?” If you’ve thought this, then you were probably about to do something you shouldn’t. This reminds me of a Bible story.
Ananias and his wife Sapphira lived at a time when the idea of coming together as a church was new. Everyone was excited for this new community where they could learn about Jesus, and to help each other. The Bible says, “They had all things in common.” That means they shared everything. They held nothing back…well, almost.
Ananias and Sapphira wanted to be part of this great community of sharing too. Ananias sold a piece of property so they could give…only, instead of giving all they earned, they decided to hold some back for themselves. They probably thought…No-one will ever know.
Without saying a word, Ananias laid the money at the Apostle’s feet.
The Apostle Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?” Wasn’t the land yours to do with as you please? Wasn’t the money for the land yours to use as you wish? Why did you choose to lie? You haven’t lied to us. You lied to God.
Now, this next part sounds crazy, but it’s true.
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.
Three hours later, his wife, Sapphira, came to check on him. Peter said, tell me whether you sold the land for this certain amount of money. She said, Yes, for that amount.”
But, Peter said “Why did you agree together with your husband to test the Spirit of the Lord? The men who buried your husband are at the door, and will carry you out too. Immediately, she fell down and died and they buried her with her husband.
Crazy, right?! Crazy but true.
Review Questions:
- Why did Ananias and Sapphira lie about how much they sold the land for? (They wanted to give so others would think good of them, but they didn’t want to give the whole amount)
- How did Peter know Ananias and Sapphira were pretending to give all the money? (The Holy Spirit told him)
- What did Peter mean when he said they didn’t lie to man, they lied to God? (The gift was a sacrifice to God. When they laid it at the Apostle’s feet, they were giving it to God)
- How can we honor God with our giving? (Have the right attitude and motives)
Spot the Simple Meaning:
1) Honor God with Your choices — 5 min
Description: Object Lesson 1
Supplies: Large Coin
Details:
Ask: What helps you make the right choice? Have you even flipped a coin? (flip the coin into the air, catch it, and hold it against your hand without lookin to see if it is heads or tailed) It might be ok to use “heads or tails” to figure out small decisions like, where to eat for lunch, or what game to play first. But, big decisions, like ones that take good character, need careful thought in order to give a godly answer.
In our story today, two people made a big character defining decision without giving it much thought. They didn’t think their choice was a big deal…but it was. Their choice to knowingly present their gift as something more than it was, dishonored God, and showed poor character on their part. They chose to lie to God. They didn’t even say anything out-loud. The Holy Spirit knew their thoughts, and knew they were only giving to be seen by others.
God knows our thoughts and our intentions. He knows when our choices are for the right reason.
2) tell the truth — Time 10 min
Description: Object Lesson 2
Supplies: Bible, picture of a lie detector
Details:
Ask: (Hold up the Bible) Who knows what this is? (Take some answers). Ok, what about this?(Hold up the picture of the lie detector).
Say: What if I told you they were they exact same thing…well, maybe not exact. They do look different. But both of these items are lie detectors.
Ask: Who can tell me what a lie detector is? (Take answers)
Say: The dictionary defines lie detector as “an instrument for determining whether a person is telling the truth by testing for physiological changes considered to be associated with lying.” Physiological is just a big word for physical. So this machine can tell if a person is lying, by reading their body’s reaction to questions.
Now, listen to how Hebrews 4:12 describes the Bible:
“For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
So the Bible is a lie detector for our hearts. It can discern, or recognize, when our thoughts and our motives are not in right alignment with what is godly. That’s why it is so important for us to learn what the Bible says, and to store verses in our hearts. So we can know the truth of God’s Word, and let it guide our thoughts and actions in a way that honors God.
3) Generous Giving — 5 min
Description: Object Lesson 3
Supplies: Some kind of heart (can even be paper)
Details:
Ask: Have you ever been asked to give something big? Like, could change your life forever kind of big? (feel free to take some answers)
Say: There was a little boy named Timmy. He was asked to give something very big to his sister — his blood. (hold up the heart) She was very sick and needed a blood donation. So the doctors asked Timmy if he would donate his blood to save his sister. Timmy thought for a second then said, “If it’ll save my sister, I’ll do it.” They put him in a bed beside his sister. While they hooked him up they kept telling him how brave he was. After a couple of minutes, Timmy asked, “How long will it take before I die?”
You see, Timmy thought he was giving ALL his blood to his sister, and he still said yes. That’s sacrificial giving. That’s the kind of giving Jesus gave us.
Search the Scripture:
Memory Verse Match — 10 min
Description: Team Activity/individual
Supplies: Print Truth/Lies Bible Verse and reference cards. Smaller cards for individual time, larger version for team games.
Details:
Say: Match the Reference to the verse. Use your Bible to look up the Bible Verse. Read the verse, then find the verse card that matches it. Place them together. Be sure and read the entire verse. Don’t speed through that part.
Sense how you feel — 10 – 20 min
Description: Craft
Supplies: Make a Bible verse treasure box sheet, verse card sheet, scissors, crayons or colored pencils, tape or glue sticks
Details: Give each student a treasure box, verse cards page, scissors, crayons/colored pencils, and tape or glue. Instruct the children to color the treasure box before they cut it out. As they make the box, encourage them to pick a verse to reflect on. What is God telling them in that verse?
Description: Moulding activity
Supplies: Play-dough or clay, shape cutters or various coins.
Details: Invite the children to use the various coins to make impressions in the clay. Have them think about the impression they make with their giving and to consider how important it is to honor God rather than impress others.
Description: Building activity
Supplies: Lego or construction toys.
Details: Build a church building.
Say: Think about Ananias and Sapphira’s church. The Bible says that they had all things in common — meaning, the people gave generously so that everyone’s need were met. As you build, ask God to show you ways you can help others.
Description: Sensory activity
Supplies: Create a prayer space using cushions, string lights, and tent if
you have one. Have some quiet music playing. Supply some paper and writing utensils.
Details: Encourage the children to spend some time listening to God. Have some
Scriptures around to help focus them. Allow time to draw or write anything that
they have heard.
SEEK GOD: 5 MIN
Description: Prayer/Encounter activity
Supplies: Soft worship music, prayer cards pdf or index cards, pens
Details: Encourage the children to write items of need and items of praise on their prayer cards. After a few minutes, ask them to stand for the closing prayer.
Prayer:
Thank you, God, for showing us what it means to give sacrificially. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for loving us. In Jesus name, Amen.
