Suggested Schedule: (90 mins)
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- 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:
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- Memory Verse Decoder Printable
- Dog bone item
- Large clear container with water
- Food coloring
- 2 small glasses
- Sign that says “our good intentions,”
- Sign, “Jesus’ Gift”
- Combination Lock
- Prescription Glasses
- Sun Glasses
- Fake Glasses or Empty Frames
- Verse Reference Cards and Verses
- Water Colors
- Cups of Water or dampened sponges on a plate
- Paper
- Crayons or Colored Pencils
- Play-Dough or Clay
- Lego Block or Construction Toys
- Cushions
- Bath mat
- String Lights
- Tent (optional)
Games
Game 1: SIMON SAYS – 10 min
Description: Team Game
Supplies: List of commands for Simon
Details: Have the children stand up. Explain the rules of the games.
Say: I will call out actions for you to follow, but, only follow them if I say, “Simon says.” For example, Simon says hop on one foot. If I don’t say, Simon says, and you follow the action, you have to sit down. (don’t forget you have to tell them to stop or Simon says, stop).
Simon says:
Hop on one foot (Simon says stop), touch your nose, quack like a duck, spin around, march in place, raise your right arm/left arm, pat your stomach, cover your ears, touch your toes
Game 2: CRAZY EIGHTS – 5 min
Description: One on One Game
Supplies: Deck of cards
Details: Each player is given 5 cards. All the other cards go facedown in a pile, with the top card turned up next to it. This is the discarded pile. The player to the left of the dealer discards a card that matches either the number or suit of the top card in the discard pile. For example, if the card is a two of clubs, she could play any club or any two. If she does not have a matching card, she continues picking up cards from the deck until she gets one card that is playable. Eights are wild cards and can be put down on any suit. For example, an eight card could be played to match a heart card. The next player must match their card to the number or the suit that the eight was meant to cover. Playing continues with players matching the card at the top of the discard pile. The first player to use up all their cards wins. If the deck runs out before the game is over, the discarded pile can be used.
Game 3: MAGIC CARPET RIDE
Description: Race or relay race
Supplies: bath mat per team
Details: Children race by sitting on a bath mat (upside down if one side is sticky or difficult to move) and using their legs to drag the mat on their bottom to the end of the room and back. Can be played in teams as a relay race by having the player tag the next player in the line once they have raced. The winner is the one or team to complete the race first.
Big Verse: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
Set the Scene: 10 – 15 min
Description: Bible story and questions
Supplies:
Details:
Ask: Have you ever seen a magic trick? They are pretty amazing, and take a lot of practice for someone to learn.
In our Bible story today, there was a man named Simon who was really REALLY good at magic. Everyone was so amazed at his performances that they thought his magic was from God. But then, a man named Philip told them the true Gospel of Jesus. They believed and were baptized and started following Philip. Even Simon the magician believed and followed Philip.
Soon after, Peter came to lay hands on the new believers so that God’s gift of the Holy Spirit would be given to them. After seeing many signs and miracles that Philip was able to do through the power of Jesus, Simon wanted that power too. Only, he wanted to buy it. Peter was like, seriously? You seriously think you can buy the gift of God? Your heart is not inline with God. Repent! Pray to the Lord that, if possible, He will forgive you.
And Simon say, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What was Simon? (a magician/sorcerer)
Why did people believe his power was from God? (They mistook his ability to deceive as a true power of God.)
What did Philip tell the people that changed their lives? (The Gospel)
Why did Peter tell Simon he need to repent? (Simon wanted to buy the ability to give God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to people)
Spot the Simple Meaning:
1) Magic water
Description: Object Lesson 1
Supplies: Large clear container with water, one drop of any color food coloring, small glass of plain water with a sign that says “our good intentions,” small glass half filled with bleach and half water with the sign, “Jesus’ gift” (be sure and try this ahead of time and adjust the amount of bleach and water as needed).
Details:
Say: Today, before your very eyes, I will make this clear water turn blue (or whatever color you choose. Let the kids see that you are adding food coloring. Be sure and only put a drop, otherwise the bleach may not work. Kids will probably start shouting that they see the container).
Of course I have food coloring. How else could I change the color of water? Oh, you thought I was going to perform magic. I see. Well, what if I told you I could turn the water clear again?
Watching the color spread through the container reminds me of creation. Before sin entered the world, everything was free and clear from sin. But, just as that one small drop changed the whole container of water, Adam and Eve’s one disobedient decision effected everything and everyone in all creation.
On our own (add the clear water from the container marked “Our good intentions”) we can’t remove the effects of sin in our lives. It takes something more powerful — and that is Jesus. His perfect blood sacrifice for us on the cross, paid our debt of sin. When we believe in Him(carefully add the bleach water marked “Jesus gift”) His gift of eternal life removes the mark of sin on us, and washed us clean.
2) Right Alignment — 10 min
Description: Object Lesson 2
Supplies: A combination lock (be sure and practice)
Details:
Say: When I was in middle school, I had a lock just like this (hold up the lock). I remember thinking how cool it was to get to switch classes and keep stuff in my locker. The only problem is (pretend to try and open the lock) that if you don’t get the combination just right, the tumblers won’t be in right alignment to let the lock open (pull and show that it won’t open). Sometimes, it would take me several tries and I’d be late for class.
That’s the way it is for us. We can try and try to please God, but if our heart isn’t right, it won’t work. (start putting in the right combination) Jesus is the only way we can be right before God. When we believe in the Gospel of Jesus, our heart gets put in alignment with Him (pull the lock open).
3) Clear Vision — Time
Description: Object Lesson 3
Supplies: One pair of prescription glasses, one sunglasses, and frames without lenses or a non-prescription pair.
Details:
Say: People wear glasses for all sorts of reasons. Some to have clear vision (hold up the prescription lenses), some to block the sun (hold up sunglasses), some just to look trendy(hold up frames/non-prescription). But glasses were invented to help correct someone’s vision. Without them, they may not be able to see long distances or read from a book.
Glasses help correct a fault in someone’s eye. The Gospel does this for our hearts. As we heard in our story today, people can get the wrong view of what is of God and what isn’t. Without the clear teaching of the Gospel, people will have a faulty view of God and what comes from Him.
Search the scripture: 10 mins
Memory Verse Match — 10 min
Description: Team Activity/individual
Supplies: Print 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 Reference. 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:
Description: Craft
Supplies: Watercolors, cup of water or dampened sponge on a plate, paper
Details: Children can paint a scene that reminds them God loves them.
Description: Moulding activity
Supplies: Play-dough or clay.
Details: Children can work the dough into anything they want. Tell them to think about what it must have been like for God to create everything from nothing. If they could create something new, what would it be?
Description: Building activity
Supplies: Lego or construction toys.
Details: Children can build what they think the Garden of Eden looked like.
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 MINS
Description: Prayer/Encounter activity
Supplies: Soft worship music, prayer cards 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 that we can know that You are the one true God. Thank you for us to be in right alignment with you through Jesus. Help us to always look to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.
