Fun Days (1) | arrowskidsclub

His Banner Over Me Is Love

by arrowsleader

Fun Days 1

“His Banner Over Me Is Love”

This event has a love theme.

The memory verse is Song of Solomon 2:4

The Bible truth is “Our guiding principle is love.”

1. Open in prayer

2. Introduction

Banner – means guiding principal.

Guide means to advise or counsel somebody, or influence the way somebody behaves or acts.

Principal means ethical standard or a way of operating or working.

God’s love must be our guiding principal. His love for us should influence the way we behave and act.

3. Praise and Worship Songs

1. ________________________________

2. ________________________________

4. Memory Verse

Song of Solomon 2:4 NKJV “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

5. Looking For Love

Song of Solomon 2:4-7 NKJV “He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love. Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick. His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.”

One of the greatest love stories is found in the Song of Solomon. In this book, we see a woman who is looking for her beloved. She wanted to find her true love so she asked everyone she could where he was. Sometimes people are a lot like her – they look everywhere for love. Some people turn to anything or anyone for what the world calls love. They try to fill the part of themselves that only God can fill.

6. True Love Is Found In Jesus

We must not look to the world for love. God created within each of us a “place” or “spot” that only He can fill with His love. The world, or the things of the world, can not fill the place that belongs to God. Trying to fill this spot with other things, or people, only bring heartache and sadness. The world doesn’t know where to find true love. True love is found only in Jesus. The Bible even tells us that God is love.

1 John 4:7-8 NKJV “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

7. Game – “His Banner Over Me Is Love” Relay Race

Song of Solomon 2:4 NKJV “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

Need 2 teams of 4 girls each (Draw 8 names for this game)

At a signal the first girl on each team must run to the front and put a shawl over her head. After the shawl is on she must say the memory verse. Then she will take off the shawl, then run back to their team and tag the next person in line, and so on The first team to finish is the winner.

8. Intimacy With Jesus

Many people know the name of Jesus, but they do not “know” Him in an intimate way. Things or people will not draw us closer to an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ”

Jesus never had spiritual intimacy with these people. These people were doing many wonderful things; they were casting out demons, prophesying, and performing wonders (miracles). But they were not intimate with Jesus.

9. Open The Door For Jesus To Come In

Jesus Christ desires so much to have an intimate relationship with each person. In many lives Jesus is standing at the door longing for them to get up out of their sleepiness and let Him come in an have an intimate relationship with them.

Song of Solomon 5:2 NKJV “I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, ‘Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is covered with dew. My locks with the drops of the night.”

How long was her beloved standing outside the door and wooing her to open the door and let him in? It sounds like he was out there in the dark for a long enough period of time for the dew to cover his head and his hair to be wet from the moisture in the night air.

How long has our lover, Jesus Christ, been standing outside our hearts knocking and saying, “Awake my beloved one, my dove, my perfect one. Open the door to me.” ?

10. Game – Pass The Heart Bible Verse Relay

Need: 2 heart shaped boxes (such as candy boxes).Write the memory verse on two small piece of paper and attach them to the boxes.

Song of Solomon 2:4 NKJV “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

Divide the group into two teams. Each team is to line up in a row. Hand a heart shaped box (such as a candy box) to the first person in each row. They are to pass the heart to the person behind them and so on. When the heart gets to the last person in each row they are to run to the front of the line, say the Bible verse and pass the heart to the person behind them and so on. When the original first person is back in the front of the line the game is over.

11. Plans And Agendas

Some people want a relationship with God, but they want it on their terms, by their plans and within their agendas.

Song of Solomon 5:4-5 NKJV “My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock.”

The woman finally hears her lover. She awakes out of her sleep, puts on a large amount of perfume, then goes to the door. Just like the woman, how many times have we stopped on our way to open the door to do something else? How many times have we put other things before a relationship with God? By the time the woman got around to opening the door her lover was gone.

Song of Solomon 5:6 NKJV “I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave no answer.”

If you haven’t opened the door of your heart to Jesus and an intimate relationship with Him, by the time you get around to it will it be too late?

12. God’s Way Or No Way

God is holy and does not tolerate sin (impurities). When God created man (man and woman), they were pure. When sin entered the world man’s purity and innocence was lost. God had intended for us to be pure always, but because of sin we no longer were.

We are all born into sin – we have all sinned and been made impure. But, if we accept Jesus and His gift of salvation, He makes us pure again. Through salvation, we can have an intimate relationship with God again.

13. Game – “Wedding Invitation” Musical Chairs

God invites everyone to come to Him for salvation. God tells us that if we will turn to Him and accept Jesus as our Savior, then turn away from sin, our sins will be forgiven. Some people get too busy in their lives to accept God’s offer. Even after some people accept Jesus as Savior, they get too busy to know Him as He desires them to. They never have real intimacy with Him.. God wants to forgive our sins and He wants us to take time to know Him.

Line chairs up in a row. To start off with you will need the same number of chairs as there are children. During each round, a wedding invitation will set on one chair. Start music and have the children walk in a circle around the chairs. When the music stops the children are to find a chair to sit in, but they cannot sit in the chair with the wedding invitation. The person left standing when the music stops is out of the game. Remove one chair and restart game. The last person left at the end of all the rounds is the winner. They represent someone who accepted God’s invitation for salvation and intimacy.

14. Return To Your First Love

Jesus desires for us to draw close to Him and to have an intimate relationship with Him. When you repent and begin to draw closer to Jesus, He will draw closer to you. As Christians we are the Bride of Christ and our Bridegroom desires to look upon us.

Revelation 2:4-5 NKJV “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first work, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.”

Our Bridegroom is calling each one of us to return to Him. To return to our first love. He desires for our hearts to burn with love and anticipation for Him. As this world begins to draw to a close, can you hear, “Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?” God is a God of restoration. He desires to forgive and to restore us to a right relationship.

Does your heart yearn for your Bridegroom?

15. Worship Song

16. Challenge / Altar

We live in a world that is filled with sin, and it is possible to allow sin to come in and make us impure. God desires that we live in purity, and He will give us the power to do so. That power comes from the Holy Spirit. Until we get to heaven, we will be faced with the temptation to sin. But remember that God’s plan for your life is for you to be pure – free from blemish or stain. If you have failed at maintaining your purity, you can go to God, in true repentance and ask Him to forgive you. God will forgive you of our sin when you are honesty sorry that you have sinned, and ask Him for forgiveness.

Remember, there is a difference in being sorry you were caught in sin and being sorry that you sinned against a holy God.

17. Refreshments or a light meal

18. Crafts

19. Dismissal

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Aliens On Earth

by arrowsleader

This event has an alien theme.

The memory verse is John 15:19

The Bible truth is “Christians do not belong to this world.”

1. Open in prayer

2. Introduction

Christians are not of this world – they are aliens to this earth. Christians are not citizens of this world, their allegiance is owed to God, not the country in which they live, they belong to a different group (they are a peculiar people), and they are not in agreement with the world’s standards or morals.

3. Praise and Worship Songs

1. _________________________

2. _________________________

4. Memory Verse

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

John 15:19 NKJV

5. As a Christian we are not citizens of this world.

Philippians 3:20 NKJV

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ ”

Our time on earth is only temporary. One day every person, regardless of if they are saved or not will go to the place they are a citizen of. Some will go to heaven and some will go to hell. It all depends on where their true citizenship is.

Ephesians 2:19 NKJV

“ Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God ”

Christians are not of this world although they are in the world. A Christian’s true citizenship is in heaven as a member of God’s family. Since a Christian’s is not a citizen of the world, the world has no legal rights over them.

6. Game – Memory Match-Up

Need: Nine index cards with the following sentences or Bible verses written on them – One sentence or verse per card:

Our time on earth is only temporary.

Where we spend eternity depends on where our citizenship is.

A Christian’s true citizenship is in heaven as a member of God’s family.

Philippians 3:20 NKJV “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ ”

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19 NKJV

Place cards face down in three rows with three cards to a row. Divide the children into two teams.

A person from the first team will turn over a card and read it, then they will turn over a second card and read it. If the two cards match they will keep both cards. If they don’t match they will place the cards back facedown. Then a person from the second team will turn over a card and read it, then they will turn over a second card and read it. If the two cards match they will keep both cards. If they don’t match they will place the cards back facedown. Play continues in this manner until there is only one card left. The team with the most cards at the end of the game will be the winner.

7. As a Christian our allegiance is owed to God

When we accept the gift of salvation and make Jesus the Lord of our lives, we make a vow of allegiance to God. Although the vow is not always spoken aloud we still make it and it is still legally binding. At salvation we become a citizen of heaven we owe our loyalty to God, and we have obligations to Him and His government that He has placed over us. We are required to be faithful to Him and to His causes.

Allegiance – the loyalty owed by a citizen to his country; obligation of a subject to his ruler or government; faithfulness to a person, cause, etc.; loyalty; fidelity.

Loyal – true and faithful to love, promise, duty, or other obligations ; faithful to one’s king, government, or country.

Obligation – duty under the law; promise; binding legal agreement; bond; contract.

I Kings 8:61 NKJV

“Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.”

Loyal is being true and faithful to love, to a promise, to a duty, or other obligation. It is also being faithful to those in authority over you. Citizens of heaven cannot be loyal to both God and the world. The world and God have opposing values, morals, and standards.

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Ruth is a good example of loyalty. Ruth was determined to remain loyal to Naomi no matter what. God blessed Ruth for her loyalty. Ruth found favor in the sight of man because of her love and sense of duty toward Naomi. Later, God provided a new husband (Boaz) for Ruth.

Another example of loyalty was Elisha. He would not abandon Elijah. Elisha made a promise that he would not leave Elijah’s side. Elisha was determined to keep his promise no matter what might happen. Elisha received a double potion of the anointing that was upon Elijah as a direct result of his loyalty to Elijah. Elisha was at Elijah’s side when God took Elijah to heaven.

If we remain faithful and loyal to God, we too will be rewarded.

8. Game – Alien Relay Race

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

John 15:19 NKJV

Need: headbands decorated to look like alien antennas – one for each child playing.

Place the antennas in two piles a short distance from the teams. Line the children up in two teams. At the signal the first person on each team will run to the front, put on an antenna and say the memory verse. Then they will run back to their team and the next person will repeat the process. The team that finishes first is the winner.

9. As a Christian we belong to a different group (we are a peculiar people).

Christians are God’s own special people. The Bible calls them peculiar which means out of the ordinary; unusual; belonging to one person or thing and not to another; special; distinctive.

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

10. Game – Rocket Relay

Need: 2 toy rockets or spaceships

Divide the class into two equal teams. Line the children up in two rows. Give the first person on each team a toy rocket. At the signal the first person on each team will say the memory verse then pass the rocket to the person behind them.. When the rocket reaches the end, the last person will run to the front of the line and repeat the process. The game continues until one team has everyone back into their starting order.

11. As a Christian we are not in agreement with the world’s standards or morals.

There is a difference between a Christian’s standards and morals than that of the world. A Christian must have good character and conduct, and be virtuous. Not only will a Christian understand the difference between right and wrong, they will strive to do right even if it costs them something.

People with good moral conduct have a good influence on others. They behave as Christ in matters of right and wrong.

Moral – good in character or conduct; virtuous; capable of understanding right and wrong.

2 Corinthians 1:12 NKJV

“Now, this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have not done so according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace”

12. Game – Jigsaw Memory Verse Relay

Need: Two sheets of poster board (using two different colors)and a marker.

Draw two large spaceships and write the memory verse on both. Cut the spaceships in an equal number of large pieces. Keep the two sets separate.

Divide the class in two teams and line them up in two rows. Place the puzzle pieces for the puzzles in a pile a short distance in front of the lines. At a signal the first person on each team must go to the puzzle pieces and put their puzzle together. Once the puzzle is together they must read it out loud, then run back to their team. The next person will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner.

13. Worship Song

14. Challenge and Altar Call

Our time on earth is only temporary. One day each one of us will go to the place that we are a citizen of.

The only way to become a citizen of heaven is through Jesus.

* We must admit that we have sinned.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Romans 3:23

* We must believe in Jesus.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved”

Acts 16:31

*We must confess our sins to God, then forsake (leave) our sins.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.”

1 John 1:9

Some people will go to heaven and some will go to hell /lake of fire. It all depends on where their true citizenship is.

Where is your citizenship?

Are you faithful (loyal) to God?

Can people tell that you are different?

Do you have good moral conduct?

Are you a good influence on others?

Do you behave as Christ in matters of right and wrong?

15. Refreshments or a light meal

16. Crafts

17. Dismissal

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Wonderful Gifts

by arrowsleader

Fun Days 1

“Wonderful Gifts”

This event has a Christmas / gift theme.

The memory verse is James 1:17

The Bible truth is “The gift of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are perfect gifts from God.”

1. Open in prayer

2. Introduction

3. Praise and Worship

4. Memory Verse

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 NKJV

5. The Sights And The Sounds Of Christmas

We would not be able to celebrate Christmas time if it wasn’t for Jesus. We should let the sights and the sounds of the Christmas season remind us of God’s great plan, love and provision for mankind. Jesus gave us two very wonderful gifts: the gift of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

6. Game- “Balance The Gift”

Wrap up 2 empty shoeboxes or other small boxes for this game. The boxes should be equal in size and shape. Write the memory verse on each box.

Make a sign that says, “God Gives Good Gifts”. Place the sign a short distance from the two teams. Divide the group into two teams and have them line up in two lines. Give each team one wrapped box. The first child on each team is to balance the gift box on their head, hurry to the chair with the sign “God gives good gifts” . At the sign they are to take the box off their head, say the memory verse then run back to their team. The next person on the team will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner.

7. Jesus Spices Up My Life

Gingerbread can remind us that the gift of salvation spices up our life. Through the blood of Jesus our “stinky” lives become a sweet smell to God.

The sacrifices in the Old Testament, when properly done, were a “sweet aroma” to God. Aaron and his sons needed to offer sacrifices for themselves and for the people.

Exodus 29:15-18 NKJV “You shall also take one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the ram; and you shall kill the ram, and you shall take its blood and sprinkle it all around on the alter. Then you shall cut the ram in pieces, wash the entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and with its head. And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.”

Leviticus 1:9 NKJV “but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.”

In the Bible when we read that something is a “stench” it means that God hates it or rejects it. When we read that something is a “sweet smell” it means that God is pleased or accepts it.

No sacrifices (burnt offerings) were needed after the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus left His place in heaven and came to this earth so that He could pay our penalty for our sin. Through Jesus’ sacrifice we a can be a sweet aroma (smell) to God. The “stench” of our sin is done away with when the blood of Jesus is applied to our life.

Jesus truly “spices up our live” and makes us acceptable to God, our Father. He paid for our salvation (made us acceptable to God) with His own life and blood.

Isaiah 53:10 NKJV “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him,

He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”

Sin stinks to God. When we have sin in our life we stink to God, and we are unacceptable. God hates sin. He does not hate the sinner, but He hates the sin!

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become a “sweet” smell to God. We are accept by God only through the blood of Jesus.

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

If we have accepted salvation when God looks down upon us, he does not see the sin that we committed, all He sees is the blood of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Jesus turns our “stink” into a sweet aroma that God accepts. Jesus spices up our life!

8. Praise and Worship Songs

1. ___________________________________________

2. __________________________________________

9. Game – Gingerbread Man Jig-saw Relay Race

Need: 1 yellow and one light blue poster board

Draw two large gingerbread men on two poster boards (1 yellow and one light blue). Write the memory verse on each one then cut them into pieces.

Mix the two sets up together and place on the floor a short distance from the two teams. Divide the group into two teams. Line the two teams up in two rows. Name one team the yellow team and the other team the blue team. At the signal the first person on each team must run to the front a get 1 piece of their team’s puzzle, then take it back to their team. The next person in line will run get another piece. The first team that has all their puzzle pieces and correctly arranges it is the winner.

9. Jesus Puts A Jingle In My Step

Jingle bells can remind us that the gift of the Holy Spirit puts a jingle in our steps. He will put a song on our lips and a melody in our heart.

Ephesians 5:18-20 NKJV “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, after His crucifixion and resurrection, He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to help and comfort us.

John 14:15-17 NKJV “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you will know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Acts 1:4-9 NKJV “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’”

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

God desire for us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The only way to do that is to allow the Holy Spirit to worship God through us. When we are filled with the Spirit, He will help us in our worship to God. He will put a song on our lips and a melody in our heart.

Psalm 33:3 NKJV “Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.”

Psalm 40:3 NKJV “He has put a new song in my mouth – Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.”

Psalm 96:1-3 NKJV “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name: Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.”

Psalm 144:9 NKJV “I will sing a new song to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You”

Psalm 149:1 NKJV

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song,

And His praise in the assembly of saints.”

The first thing that the people in the upper room did after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit was to praise and worship God.

Acts 2:11 NKJV “Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

They did so in a language that they had never learned. They praised and worshiped God in spirit and in truth through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. They were able to worship God in spirit and in truth because Jesus had sent the Holy Spirit to them, just like He had promised.

There is power in praise and worship, and even more power in praise and worship led and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 16:25-26 NKJV “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”

We should bless the Lord at all times. In order for us to do this we must have the Promise of the Father that Jesus said that He would sent to us. It is very hard to bless the Lord when things are bad or when everything seems to go wrong unless you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, the gift that Jesus said that He would send.

Psalm 34:1-3 NKJV “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.”

10. Game – Jingle, Jingle, Jingle

Need: Eight strings or bracelets with jingle bells on them.

A sign (poster board) with this sentence written on it – “Jesus puts a song on my lips and a melody in my heart.” Place this sign a short distance from the two teams.

Divide the children into two groups and line them up in two rows.

Give the first person on each team 4 sets of bell. At the signal they are to put the bells on their wrists and ankles, then run, while making the bells jingle, to the sign and say, “Jesus puts a song on my lips and a melody in my heart.” They will then run back to their team and give the bells to the next person and they will repeat the process. The team that finishes first is the winner.

11. Worship Song

12. Challenge and Altar

Have you taken time to remember, and thank God, for Jesus’ sacrifice which makes us a “sweet” smell to God, and for sending us His Holy Spirit to help and comfort us?

Is your life a “sweet smell” to God?

Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you with His presence?

13. Refreshments or light meal

14. Crafts

15. Dismissal

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Roundup

by arrowsleader

This event has a western theme.

The memory verse is Luke 14:23

The Bible truth is “God wants His house filled.”

1. Open in prayer

2. Introduction – What Is A Roundup?

A roundup is a gathering of people, or livestock on a farm or ranch. During western days, ranch owners would need to roundup their livestock. These roundups were needed for various reasons.

Branding – a brand is a mark on an animal. The mark was burned into the hide of an animal to identify it as the property of a particular ranch, farm, or owner. Brands were need on an animal for identification purposes. If an animal broke through a fence or roamed off it’s owner would be able to prove their ownership. A brand would also be needed in case an animal was stolen.

Inspection – An inspection is an examination. The ranch hands would check the animals overall health and skin condition. If they found cuts or abrasions on the animals they would apply medication. Sometimes sick animals would need to be removed from the rest of the herd in order to treat them with medication or to keep the sickness from spreading to the rest of the herd.

For The Animal’s Benefit – Prior to the cold winter months some animals would be rounded up and moved to a different area where their needs (food, protection and shelter) could be better met. Also, during times of drought, ranchers would move their animals to better pastures.

Financial purposes – Some roundups are for the purpose of gathering up some of the rancher’s animals for market.

3. Praise and Worship Songs

1. ___________________________________

2. ___________________________________

4. Memory Verse

Luke 14:23 NKJV

“Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled”

5. Gather Up People For The Kingdom

Luke 14:23 NKJV

“Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled”

We are to gather up other people for the family of God. We are to compel people to make Jesus their Lord and Savior. God has instructed each of us to influence others in such a way that they desire to be part of His kingdom. We can affect others by our actions, therefore it is important to live in such a way that brings glory and honor to God.

Matthew 5:14-15 NKJV

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Not only do we affect others with our actions, but we also affect them with our words. Words are powerful and we will each give an account of the words that we say.

Matthew 12:35-37 NKJV

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

What we say can either draw people to God or turn them away from Him. We can let our light shine for Jesus and draw others to Him by using kind, pleasant, and gentle words. We can also encourage and compliment others. However, when we use unwholesome or offensive language it can turn people away from God.

Ephesians 4:29 NKJV

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Dirty jokes, cursing, ethnic or racial slurs, sarcasm, gossip, criticism, complaining, ridicule (mocking / making fun of), and lying all have a negative effect on you and those around you.

6. Game – Don’t Be Branded By Your Words

Branded means bearing someone’s name. Who’s name are you bearing by your actions and words? Do your words say that you belong to God or to Satan?

Need: 20 index cards.

Write the following ten sentences on the cards – making two sets. Keep the sets separate.

I won’t be branded by Satan – I will not tell dirty jokes.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not listen to dirty jokes.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not curse.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not use ethnic or racial slurs.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not use sarcasm.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not gossip.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not use criticism.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not complain.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not ridicule others.

l won’t be branded by Satan – I will not lie.

Line the children up in two teams of ten children each. Place the two sets of card a short distance from the teams. At a signal the first person from each team must run to the cards and read what the card says, then must run back to their tem, with their card, and the next person in line will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner.

7. Jesus Will Gather His Bride

The dictionary describes gather as an accumulation of something. One day Jesus will appear in the sky to gather His bride. He will appear in the sky and a trumpet will sound. Those who are true Christians, both dead and alive, will go to be with Him in heaven.

I Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Jesus is in heaven right now preparing a home for His bride.

John 14:1-3 NKJV

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

We refer to this roundup return as the rapture. Only those that belong to Him will be taken. We should be ready for this roundup at all times because we do not know when it will occur.

Matthew 24:44 NKJV

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

8. Game – Stick Horse Memory Verse Relay

Need: 2 stick horses – these can be made or purchased.

Luke 14:23 NKJV

“Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled”

Line the children up in two teams. Give each team a stick horse. At the signal the first person on each team will ride their stick horse to the front and say the memory verse. Then they will ride back to their team and the next person will repeat the process. The team that finishes first is the winner

9. The Unsaved Will Be Gathered Up

After the rapture, the millennial Reign of Jesus, and the defeat of Satan, God will judge sinners. This judgment is known as the Great White Throne Judgment of God. The names of those who have not accepted Jesus as the Savior will not be found in the Book of Life so God will have to punish them and send them away from His presence forever. They will be thrown into the lake of fire with the devil forever and ever.

Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

The lake of fire is a very dark place which has a fire that never goes out. It is a place of great torment with crying and groaning. When we accept Jesus as our Savior our name is written in the Book of Life. This is the only way to go to heaven instead of hell. To accept Jesus we must pray admitting we have sinned, believe Jesus died and rose again for our sins, and confess our sins and ask Jesus to forgive us.

10. Game – Memory Review Game

Need: 9 index cards and two dice

Write the following true or false statements on the cards – one statement per card.

1. God has instructed each of us to influence others in such a way that they desire to be part of His kingdom.

2. We affect people only with our actions.

3. God will not hold us accountable for the things that we say.

4. When Jesus appears in the sky those who are true Christians, both dead and alive, will go to be with Him in heaven.

5. God loves everyone so He won’t judge sinners.

6. Some people know exactly when Jesus will return.

7. Telling and listening to dirty jokes does not have an effect on me.

8. If you have accepted Jesus as their Savior your name will be found in the Book of Life.

9. The Lake of Fire won’t be so bad.

Place cards face down in three rows with three cards to a row. Divide the children into two teams. A person from first team will roll the dice. The leader will turn the card over and read it aloud. The team of the person who rolled the dice identify the statement as true or false. If correct response is given, the team will keep the card. If incorrect response is given, the leader will replace the card facedown. Player from second team repeats process. Play continues in this manner until all cards are gone. The team with most cards wins the game.

Answers:

1. God has instructed each of us to influence others in such a way that they desire to be part of His kingdom. TRUE

2. We affect people only with our actions. FALSE – WITH BOTH OUR ACTIONS AND OUR WORDS.

3. God will not hold us accountable for the things that we say. FALSE – HE WILL HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.

4. When Jesus appears in the sky those who are true Christians, both dead and alive, will go to be with Him in heaven. TRUE

5. God loves everyone so He won’t judge sinners. FALSE – GOD DOES LOVE EVERYONE, HOWEVER HE WILL JUDGE SIN.

6. Some people know exactly when Jesus will return. FALSE – NO ONE KNOWS WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN, NOT EVEN JESUS HIMSELF.

7. Telling and listening to dirty jokes does not have an effect on me. FALSE – IT EFFECTS YOU AND THOSE AROUND YOU.

8. If you have accepted Jesus as their Savior your name will be found in the Book of Life. TRUE

9. The Lake of Fire won’t be so bad. FALSE – It is a very dark place which has a fire that never goes out. There will also be a great torment, pain, and anguish.

13. Worship Song

14. Challenge and Altar

The things that we do and the words we say tell what’s really in our hearts and minds. Are your actions helping to “roundup” people for God’s kingdom or turning them away?

Are we ready for Jesus to roundup His believers?

15. Refreshments or a light meal

16. Craft

17. Dismissal

Fun Days (1)

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Autumn Reflections

by arrowsleader

Fun Days 1

“Autumn Reflections”

This event has an autumn theme.

The memory verse is Colossians 2:17

The Bible truth is: “All Biblical feasts point to Jesus.”

1. Open in prayer

2. Introduction – What is a shadow?

One definition of shadow is a hint of something or a slight suggestion of something.

Hint means to suggest something indirectly or to convey an idea or information in a roundabout way.

3. Praise and Worship

1. _____________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________

4. Memory Verse

Colossians 2:17 NKJV “…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

5. Biblical Feasts

The feasts in the Old Testament represented the Law, were shadows (pictures) of things to come, were visual aids / teaching opportunities, and were to point the people to Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:17 NKJV “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

Romans 15:4 NKJV “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”

Colossians 2:17 NKJV “…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

We do not have to keep the laws of the feasts, but by doing so we will gain a greater appreciation for God and for all that He has done for us. All Biblical feasts point to Jesus.

6. Game – Jig-Saw Puzzle Relay Race

Cut out two large pumpkins from poster board. Write the memory verse on each one, then cut it up into large pieces (6 to 10 pieces). Be sure to keep each cut up pumpkin separate.

Divide the children into two teams. Line up the two teams in lines. Place the puzzle pieces for the puzzles in a pile a short distance in front of the lines. At a signal the first person on each team must go to the puzzle pieces and put their puzzle together. Once the puzzle is together they must read it out loud, take it back apart, then run back to their team. The next person on their team will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner.

7. Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” or “first of the year.” It is the Jewish New Year. It is also called the Feast of the Trumpet. The Feast of Trumpets points to the rapture, when Jesus will appear in the heavens as a bridegroom coming for His bride, the church. The rapture is associated in scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

1 Corinthians 15:52 NKJV “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

The blowing of the trumpet is a sign of the return of Christ and a memorial of God’s grace to Abraham when He substituted a ram to be sacrificed instead of Isaac. Isaac is a type of foreshadowing of Christ. Just as Abraham offered his son on the altar, God offered His Son on Calvary’s altar. The births of Isaac and Jesus Christ were both miracles. Both were obedient to the point of sacrifice.

The Feast of Trumpets requires a preparing of the spirit. Each person is to take time to look back in self-examination over the events and emotions of the previous year. To be part of the rapture of the church also requires a preparing of the spirit. You must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to be part of the Bride of Christ.

Special prayers are recited during the Feast of Trumpets. The prayers emphasize God’s mercy, benevolence and forgiveness. The prayers encourage us to reflect on our deeds.

The Feast of Trumpets is a time of offering forgiveness and seeking reconciliation with others.

During the Feast of Trumpets special services are held where the Scriptures are read and songs of redemption are sung.

The shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets). A popular observance during Rosh Hashanah is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol for a sweet new year. The following blessing is recited before the apples are eaten : “Blessed are You, O lord our God. King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the tree.”

A custom still widely observed is the ceremony of Tashlikh. During the ceremony you throw bread crumbs or rocks into a river, lake, or large body of water. This symbolically represents your sins being cast away from you.

Micah 7:19 NKJV “He will again have compassion on us, and subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

Rosh Hashanah is about:

*repentance

*redemption – restoration of a severed relationship with God / renewing your heart toward God.

*the coming of the Messiah – looking forward to the Second Coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

*judgment – judge yourself, so that God doesn’t have to.

*creation – one day God will create the world anew.

8. Game – A Way Of Escape

Need: A piece of red yard (about 10 inches in length) for every child playing.

During Yom Kippur, the priest would go to an area where there were two goats. One goat would have the sins of the people place on it and the other would be sacrificed. The priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrificed goat on the mercy seat. The other goat would have a red string tied around it’s horn and released outside of town. This goat became known as the “scapegoat”

A scapegoat is somebody who is made to take the blame for others. Line the children up in two teams. Set the cut up pieces of yarn a short distance in front of the two teams (in two piles). At the signal two children from each team will run to the red yarn. There they will tie a piece of yarn around their team-mates arm. Then they will say. “Jesus made a way of escape for me.” Once they have said the sentence they will run back to their team, and the next two will repeat what was done. The team that finishes first is the winner.

9. Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) is a holy day established by God for the people of Israel. It is considered the most serious and holiest day of the year. Yom Kippur was to provide an atonement for sin, including sins committed in ignorance by the people of Israel.

Yom Kippur means to cover, or cancel. Atonement is the reconciliation of God with sinners. Yom Kippur is both a solemn and joyful celebration. Solemn because we serve a holy God that cannot allow sin into His presence, and joyful because there is great joy in having your sins forgiven.

The idea for Yom Kippur was for people to:

* put themselves in proper perspective

* recognize their spiritual bankruptcy

* acknowledge their total dependence on God

* think about, acknowledge, and confess their sin

People are to approach Yom Kippur with humility – They are to see themselves as God does.Today most of the Yom Kippur activity takes place in the synagogue. The people gather together for five services wearing white clothing. Many times these clothes are their burial garments. The men were a prayer shawl.

Each service has its own special feature. But all of them have a time of confession of sins.

Many times the people stand for the entire service. Some Jewish people spend the entire night in the synagogue reciting the entire book of Psalms. During the afternoon service the people read the entire book of Jonah. Jonah is a book about judgment, repentance and forgiveness. The book teaches that you cannot runaway from God and that God always accepts sincere repentance.

During one of the services the duties of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement in biblical days was recounted. The High Priest would remove his beautiful priestly robe, take a bath, and put on a plain white robe for his duties on Yom Kippur. Jesus also laid aside His royal garments and put on a plain white garment (burial robe / shroud) to come to this earth to perform the work of our High Priest. Just like the High Priest in biblical times, Jesus began His ministry with a bath (water baptism) also.

In biblical times, the High Priest was only allowed to go in the most holy place one time a year – on the Day of Atonement. The High Priest, on the Day of Atonement had to wear eight different garments and make forty-three trips between the court and sanctuary. Later the priest would go to an area where there were two goats. One goat would have the sins of the people place on it and the other would be sacrificed. The priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrificed goat on the mercy seat.

Some Jewish people feel that prayer, repentance and good deeds are enough to gain atonement. As a Christian, we know that according to the Word of God, neither prayer or good deeds will atone for your sin. Only Jesus, the Son of God can take away your sins! The majority of the Jewish people do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God, the only one who can take away their sins. Jesus provided atonement for each one of us. Through the sacrifice that He made, we can be reconciled with God. It is only through the blood of Jesus, not through the blood of animals. Since most Jewish people observe Yom Kippur it is a wonderful time to pray for them. We should pray for the light to come and the reality of Jesus, to enter their hearts.

Romans 10:1 NKJV “Brethren, My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”

Yom Kippur is a shadow of the sacrifice that Jesus made. It is only through the blood of Jesus that we can be forgiven.

Hebrews 10:4 NKJV “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”

The good news of Yom Kippur is that God provided us with atonement. When He looks down upon a believer’s heart, He does not see the broken Law. Instead, He sees the precious blood of Jesus, the only blood that makes us clean. Yom Kippur foreshadows the second coming of Jesus

10. Game – Autumn Leaves

During Sukkot the men carry a citron and a lulav to the synagogue to wave as they rejoice before the Lord. The lulav has three branches tied together: a palm, a willow, and a myrtle. The citron is a citrus fruit that smells like a lemon. The lulav and the citron are symbolic of how are lives are to be spiritually.

* Palm – We should not be like the palm. It is not fragrant (spiritual blessings). These people live by the letter of the law but they have no love or compassion, for themselves or others.

* Myrtle – We should not be like the myrtle. It is only fragrant, but does not bear fruit. These people are sweet people, but their lives do not produce any real or lasting fruit.

* Willow – We should not be like the willow. It does not produce fruit or fragrance. These people are blown around by every wind of doctrine and never really know where they are spiritually.

* Citron – We should be like the citron. It produces fruit and fragrance. These are God’s steadfast believers who live a balanced life in wisdom before God and man.

God wants us to bear good fruit in our lives!

Galatians 5:22 NKJV “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Need: Poster board with a bear tree drawn on it, construction paper, 2 rolls of tape (1 for each team)

Cut 18 leaves out of construction paper. They should be different shapes and colors (red, yellow, brown, green and orange). With these 18 leaves you will make 2 sets of leaves that have the 9 fruit of the Spirit ( love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) written on them. Keep sets separated.

Divide the children into two teams (no more than 9 on each team) and line them up in two rows. Give each team a set of leaves with the fruit of the Spirit on them. At the signal the first person on each team will run to the bare tree and tape their leaf to the tree. They will then run back to their team and the next person in line will do the same. The game continues until all leaves are on the tree. The team to finish first is the winner.

11. The Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles is a week long autumn harvest festival. The festival is also known as: The Feast of Ingathering, The Feast of Booths, Sukkoth, Succoth, or Sukkot (pronounced “Sue-coat”). In biblical times this feast was the most important holiday of the year. The word Sukkoth means booths, and refers to the temporary dwelling that the Jewish people were commanded to live in during this holiday, just as the Jewish people did in the wilderness after they left Egypt.

This holiday commemorates the desert wanderings of the Jewish people on their way to the promised land. The people were caused to wander about through disobedience, but God was still with them. During this time God still protected them and provided for them. The people were commanded to build temporary dwellings (tabernacles or booths) each year to live in during Sukkot. This was to remind the people of God’s presence and His faithfulness as a provider and protector.

Today the Jewish people still build a sukkot for this festival. Almost any building material will do for the sides as long as they are not of a permanent nature. The top is loosely covered with branches so that you can still see the stars through parts of it. Meals are eaten in the sukkot, accompanied by singing and rejoicing. Some families sleep in their sukkot. It is a place to discuss and meditate on God’s goodness.

Sukkot is a season of joy and rejoicing. The men carry a citron and a lulav to the synagogue to wave as they rejoice before the Lord. The lulav has three branches tied together: a palm, a willow, and a myrtle. The citron is a citrus fruit that smells like a lemon. The lulav and the citron are symbolic of how are lives are to be spiritually.

* Palm – We should not be like the palm. It is not fragrant (spiritual blessings). These people live by the letter of the law but they have no love or compassion, for themselves or others.

* Myrtle – We should not be like the myrtle. It is only fragrant, but does not bear fruit. These people are sweet people, but their lives do not produce any real or lasting fruit.

* Willow – We should not be like the willow. It does not produce fruit or fragrance. These people are blown around by every wind of doctrine and never really know where they are spiritually.

* Citron – We should be like the citron. It produces fruit and fragrance. These are God’s steadfast believers who live a balanced life in wisdom before God and man.

The people took great care in picking out the citron and the items for the lulav. They were careful with what they offered to God. We too should be careful with the quality of the “fruit” that we are offering to God.

We are strangers in this land ! This world is not our permanent home – it is only temporary. Any time we, as God’s people, become comfortable where we are at it spells problems.

1 Peter 2:11 NKJV “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul”

As people in a land temporary, we must not hold on to things too tightly. Things can control and manipulate us. Things can become our gods (idols) when we begin to hold on to them too tightly. When things become your god, you turn away from the only true and living God. God gave the Feast of Tabernacle as a reminder to people of who He is. When the Israelites were wandering in the desert they all lived in tents. It did not matter how rich or poor. All men are equal before God. During Sukkot each one sits in his flimsy sukkah and considers God, not his own status or wealth.

The Feast of Tabernacles gives each person an opportunity to reflect on God’s great love and majesty. The tabernacle was a flimsy tent where the people would sit and reflect on God’s majesty. As a Christian we are a flimsy tabernacle that should reflect God’s majesty! We must be able to move when God moves. We should not get so involved with the things of the world that it prevents us from moving when God tells us to. The tabernacle (sukkah) is a flimsy structure and can be taken down and put up in a very short period of time. The sukkah was sensitive to the wind, just as we are to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The sukkah is open to heaven – it can not be closed off. We too are to be open to God. We should never close God out of our lives.

The lifetime of the sukkah is short. When the sukkah is first put up it is fresh and green. As the days go by the leaves begin to dry. Soon they are falling off as the wind blows. Our life here is short, but our hope is not in this world. God has provided a better place for His people.

John 14:1-3 NKJV ““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Inside our homes it is easy to begin to feel permanent and self-sufficient and loose sight of our brief time on the earth. Since we live for only a short period of time we must use every opportunity to tell others about Jesus and the kingdom of heaven.

12. Game – Fill The Cup Relay

Need: 2 containers of water, 2 spoons, and 2 empty containers.

Divide the children into two teams and have them line up in two lines. Give each team a spoon and a container of water. The first person on each team is to fill their spoon with water and carefully carry it to their cup and pour the water in it. They will then run back to their team, and the next person will do the same. They will continue until their cup is full. The first team to fill their cup is the winner.

13. The Festival of Willows

The seventh day, Hoshanah (The Festival of Willows, The Great Hosanna) was technically the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).On this day the people would go to the synagogue and take a bundle of willows and some palm branches with them. The Hoshanot, The Psalms that begin with the word hoshana, were recited each of the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles. It is from the word hoshana that the word ‘hosanna’ comes from, which means ‘save us’.

In the center of the synagogue the elders would march around the ark that held their Torah scrolls. The people would march around the ark waving the palm branches seven times, crying, “Hoshana.” After the seventh time, the palm branches are laid down and the willows are beaten. This symbolized the casting away of sin.

14. Shemini Atzert

An eighth day, Shemini Atzert, was added to the Feast of the Tabernacles during the time of Ezra. This day became known as the “Great Day of the Feast”. On this day the High Priest would pour water from the pool of Siloam into a basin at the foot of the alter. The water was a symbol of God’s Spirit.

During the temple times the custom was to draw water from the Siloam spring as a ‘libation” to accompany the offerings. This was done with great rejoicing and expressions of thanksgiving.

It was on the eighth day that Jesus told the people if they were thirsty to come to Him and drink. Jesus declared Himself to be the source of the spring – that He was the source of living water.

John 7:37-38 NKJV “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Jesus told the people that were gathered, as the High Priest poured water from the pool of Siloam into the basin, that if they believed in Him rivers of living water would flow out of them. By this Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit. The water the High Priest would pour out was just a symbol of God’s Spirit but Jesus offered them the real thing, the Holy Spirit (rivers of living water).

In the natural realm when a person is thirsty they have a desire or need for drink. They have a strong desire to quench their thirst. The same is true in the spiritual realm. When we are spiritually thirsty we have a need for living water. Jesus invites every person that is thirsty to go to Him, the only one that can truly satisfy their thirst.

14. Rejoicing of the Torah

The day after Shemini Atzert is referred to as Simhat Torah. This festival takes place in the synagogue. On this day the scrolls are taken out of the ark and a lighted candle is placed inside. A procession of elders march around the reading desk carrying the scrolls. The scrolls are placed back in the ark, except the one of Deuteronomy. It is read aloud, with everyone being called up front to read a portion of it – even the children. It is a time that that the Jewish people rejoice in the gift of God’s Word and in His promise to write His law on their hearts and in their minds.

At one point during the service, all the children are called forward. Adults form a canopy over them by holding up their prayer shawls over their heads. Then the blessing is recited over them.

The adults then place candy on top of the prayer shawls over the children’s heads. As the people sing the adults holding up the “canopy” allow the candy to fall down on top of the children. The symbolizes that God’s Word is sweet and the blessings of God are sweet.

On this day Jesus went to the temple early in the morning. He sat down and began to teach the people that came to Him there. As Jesus was teaching a group of scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Him whom they said was caught in adultery. These men knew what the Law of Moses stated concerning adultery, but they were hoping to trap Jesus into saying something that was contrary to the Law.

John 7:53-8:1-11 NKJV “And everyone went to his own house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’ ”

True repentance is turning from your sin and going the opposite way, to make a conscience decision to turn away from sin. True repentance is to ‘Go and sin no more.’ When we have repented of our sins it is referred to as being “saved” or “Born Again.”

15. Worship Song

16. Challenge / Altar

17. Refreshments or light meal

18. Craft

19. Dismissal

Fun Days (1)

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Wild About God

by arrowsleader

This event has a jungle theme.

The memory verse is Matthew 22:37

The Bible truth is “Our love for God will show in our actions.”

1. Open in prayer

2. Introduction

When we are WILD about God our lives will show it. Our words will be wholesome, we will be people of integrity, and we will be loyal and devoted to God.

3. Praise and Worship – sing two songs about our love to God.

1._____________________________

2._____________________________

4. Memory Verse

“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Matthew 22:37 NKJV

5. W – Wholesome – (Abigail )

The word wholesome suggests a person of morals. Moral means good in character or conduct; virtuous; capable of understanding right and wrong. When we are wild about God it will show in our conduct. Our conduct should be holy. Our lives and everything about us should be totally dedicated to God. We are to separate ourselves from the sin of this world.

1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV

“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’ ”

Abigail is an example of a wholesome person. Her character and conduct were above reproach.

1 Samuel 25:3 NKJV

“The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.”

Nabal was a very rich man. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. His home and business were in a wilderness area. He was a target for thieves and bandits because of the location and because of his great wealth.

At the time of sheep shearing, David sent word to Nabal asking for a reward for the services that he had been given. David and his men had protected the flocks of Nabal as well as his possessions. Nabal would have plenty of money on hand from the sale of the wool to pay David and his men. David had left the amount of the reward due up to Nabal to decide since no certain price had been set.

When David’s men went to Nabal to ask for what they were due, Nabal acted like he didn’t know David and spoke of him in a mocking tone. Nabal even suggested that David was a runaway servant.

The behavior (conduct) of Nabal and his response to David’s men was very foolish and defiantly the wrong thing to do. One of Nabel’s workers went to Abigail and told her everything that had happened. Both, what David and his men had done for them and the way that her husband had treated David’s men. The servants were very angry at Nabal because his actions put their life in danger.

Abigail knew that her husband was wrong and that she would have to take matters into her own hands. She immediately knew that she need to try to make things right with David. She gathered up a lot of goods to give to David in hopes that he would accept it as compensation for what he and his men had done for Nabal. Abigail sent the provisions to David right away by some of their servants. After the servants had left with the things to give to David, Abigail followed after them.

When Abigail saw David she got off her donkey and fell on her face before him. Humbly Abigail began to plead for mercy and forgiveness for Nabal. Abigail understood that the right thing to do was to show David respect and honor. Her words to David showed him that she was a wholesome woman, full of truthfulness, and virtue and morals.

David called Abigail’s speech blessed because through it God had kept him from avenging himself with bloodshed. After receiving the provisions from Abigail, David told her to go in peace to her home because he had heeded her words and had respect for her.

When Abigail returned home Nabal was very drunk so she did not say anything to him about what she had done. The next morning, after Nabal had sobered up, Abigail told him about giving the provisions to David. When Abigail told him about all that had happened Nabal heart became as stone, and after ten days Nabal died. His death was the result of God’s judgment upon him.

6. Game – What’s In Abigail’s Basket (memory game)

Need: A basket, a small cloth to cover up the basket, 10 small items to put in the basket, paper, and pencils.

Everyone plays. Pass around the basket with the items in it for everyone to look at. Cover up basket. Give each person a piece of paper and a pencil. Instruct everyone to write down what was in the basket (as many things as they can remember). The person with the most correct items written on their paper is the winner.

7. I. Integrity

Integrity is being honest and just in all that you think, feel, and do. It also means sincerity; uprightness; wholeness; completeness; soundness. When we are wild about God it will show in our integrity. Our integrity will be consistent in godly character no matter where they are, or who is around or not around. We will be honest and just in all that we think, feel, and do.

Proverbs 28:6 NKJV

“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways though he be rich.”

Daniel is a example of a person with integrity. No matter where he was or who he was around, he was always the same. He always showed godly character and remained faithful to God. As a teenager Daniel was taken to the ungodly kingdom of Babylon to become a slave. The king of Babylon wanted young men without physical defect, that were handsome, intelligent, educated, and quick to understand as his servants. Daniel met these qualifications so he was chosen to become one of the king’s servants.

Daniel 1:3,4 NKJV

“Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good -looking, gifted and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and who they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.”

Although Daniel was surrounded by ungodly people he made a decision to follow God and to remain faithful to God. God blessed Daniel for doing what was right by giving him knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to interpret dreams and visions. After a while Daniel was appointed as one of the governors in Babylon by king Nebuchadnezzar. The very night that Daniel was made a governor king Nebuchadnezzar was killed and Darius took his place as king. Daniel found favor in the new king’s sight because of his integrity, his attitude, and his ability to do his job well.

This made the other governors very angry and jealous. Together they sought a way to get rid of Daniel. All the other governors showered the king with lots of praise and adoration and worship. Then they talked the king into making a royal decree that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except the king, shall be cast into the den of lions. The proposed decree pleased the king so he signed it.

Daniel obeyed all the laws of the land, however the other governors knew that if the law of the land went against the law of the God that Daniel served he would obey his God. They also knew that Daniel prayed to his God on a regular basis, which would go against the new decree that the king had signed. When Daniel heard about the decree that the other governors had talked the king into signing he went to his house. There he went to his upper room where he prayed and gave God thanks three times a day. Daniel opened his window toward Jerusalem, like always, and knelt down on his knees and prayed to God.

The men that had plotted against Daniel were watching from outside. They knew that Daniel would continue to pray to God and they wanted to catch him in the act so that they could tell the king. Directly upon seeing Daniel pray they reported it and the king. The king was greatly troubled because he did not want to have Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. He like Daniel, but because it was a royal decree, and could not be changed, he had to order Daniel thrown into the den of lines.

Daniel was brought to the lion’s den and before being thrown into it the king told Daniel that the God that he served would deliver him from the lions. After they threw Daniel in the den a large rock was placed over the top to seal it. From the den the king went to his palace and spent the night alone, fasting and not sleeping. Early the next morning the king hurried to the den. Upon arriving at the den the king called out to Daniel. Daniel answered the king and told him that God had shut the mouths of the lions. The king was very happy and he ordered Daniel to be brought up out of the pit. Then the king commanded that the men who had accused Daniel to be brought and thrown into the lion’s den and thrown in, along with their wives and their children.

Daniel’s life was a powerful witness to everyone around him. His integrity lead to the king recognizing that the God that Daniel served was the one true living God.

Daniel 6:26-27 NKJV

“I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

8. Game – W.I.L.D. Relay

Need 4 teams of 4 people each, 16 clothes pins, 4 sets of cards with the following words written on them:

4 cards will say “God wants me to be as wholesome as Abigail.”

4 cards will say “God wants me to have the integrity of Daniel.”

4 cards will say “God wants me to be as loyal as Ruth.”

4 cards will say “God wants me to be as devoted as Anna.”

When we are WILD about God our lives will show it. Our words will be wholesome, we will be people of integrity, and we will be loyal and devoted to God.

Give each team a set of cards (“God wants me to be as wholesome as Abigail.”, “God wants me to have the integrity of Daniel.”, “God wants me to be as loyal as Ruth.”, and “God wants me to be as devoted as Anna.”)

At the signal a person from each team with the “wholesome” card will walk like an elephant (bend over and hold hands together like the trunk on an elephant) to the front and say what‘s on their card, then run back to their team. The clothes pin will be used to pin the card to the end of the shirt as they walk to the front.)Then the person with the “integrity” card will do the same, then the person with the “loyal” card and then the person with the “devoted” card. The first team to finish is the winner.

9. L- Loyal – (Ruth)

Loyal is being true and faithful to love, to a promise, to a duty, or other obligation. It is also being faithful to those in authority over you. When we are wild about God it will show in our loyalty. We are to be true and faithful to God. In our Christian walk, faithfulness is staying true to God in our thoughts, words, and actions.

When there was a famine in the land, Elimelech took his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, to live in another country, where they would have food to eat. After a period of time Elimelech died and his two sons married Moabite women. The women’s names were Orpah and Ruth. After about ten years the two sons died. This left all three of the women widows.

One day, Naomi heard that the famine in Bethlehem was over. She decided to return to her homeland where she could be around relatives and friends. Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws, Orpah and Ruth, pack up and left for Bethlehem. While traveling Naomi stopped and told her daughter-in-laws to go back to their parent’s homes so that they might be able to find another husband and be happy again.

Naomi kissed both of them good-by but they told her that they would return with her to Bethlehem. Naomi told them that it made her very sad to leave them, but that there was no reason for them to go with her. She wanted them to be happy with their own families.

Orpah and Ruth began to cry. Orpah kissed Naomi good-by and she left. Ruth continued to cry and to cling to Naomi. She did not want to leave.

Ruth 1:16-17 NKJV

“But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.’ ”

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined in her heart to stay with her she stopped asking her to leave.

Ruth 2:10-12 NKJV

“So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?’ And Boaz answered and said to her, ‘It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.’’

If we demonstrate our love for God by remaining loyal to Him we too will be rewarded. A crown is promised to all who are faithful. Just as Ruth firmly declared her choice to follow Naomi, we must firmly declare our choice to follow God.

James 1:12 NKJV

“Blessed is the man who endures temptations; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

10. Game -“Kangaroo Hop” Relay Race

Need : A sign with the Bible verse on it.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ”

Matthew 22:37

Line the two teams up in two rows. At the signal the first girl on each team is to hop to the front and say the Bible verse, then hop back to her team. The next girl on her team will do the same thing. The team that finishes first is the winner.

11. D – Devotion – (Anna)

Devotion means deep, steady affection; loyalty; faithfulness; the act of being devoted or devout. Devote means set apart for some person or purpose; give up. It emphasizes giving up seriously to a single purpose, shutting out everything else. When we are wild about God it will show in our devotion to Him. Devotion to God involves all aspects of our life, wherever we are and whatever we’re doing- in public or in private. God desires for us to be single-minded. If we are double-minded we will be unstable, even in our devotion to God.

James 1:8 NKJV

“He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Anything can take our attention away from God, both good and bad things. Good activities, including church programs, schedules, and campaigns, as well as bad circumstances, such as worry, fear, sickness and tragedy, can distract us from God. Anything that we allow to crowd out our time with God separates us from intimacy with Him.

How we spend our time gives us a good idea of what things are the most important to us.

Matthew 6:19-21

“Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

These verses tell us not to store up treasure on earth, but to store up treasure in heaven. It tells us that where our treasures are there our hearts will be also. We must not let ourselves become distracted by things or people in our love and devotion to God. Anna is an example of a person that was devoted to God and to ministering to Him. She was an elderly prophetess, maybe around 106 years old. She lived in Jerusalem. Anna was married for seven years when her husband died. The Bible tells us that Anna stayed in the temple day and night worshipping God. She spent all her time praying and fasting. She spent her time ministering to God.

Luke 2:36-37 NKJV

“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

Anna was in the temple when Joseph and Mary brought baby Jesus to present to the Lord. When she saw Jesus, she immediately gave thanks to God. She physically saw what God had already shown her in the spirit.

The dictionary tells us that devotion means having a strong attachment or attraction to a person or cause. To be devoted is to be dedicated, to be completely applied to some activity, purpose, or person. To have devotion to someone or something means you won’t allow anything to distract you from doing what needs to be done.

Anna was devoted to worshiping God. She had a strong affection for God, and completely dedicated her whole life to ministering to Him through prayer and worship. She didn’t let anything distract her from her purpose. Her purpose was worshiping God and she knew it. Fulfilling her purpose brought great joy and blessings to her. God showed Anna His secret, who the Redeemer was, because of her intimate relationship with Him.

Luke 2:38 NKJV

“And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

First and most importantly we should be devoted to God. Nothing should ever distract us. We should be devoted to knowing Him, obeying Him. and to living a life that is pleasing to Him. We should not be lukewarm concerning our devotion to God and to the things of God.

Like Anna, during our times of intimacy with God, He will whisper secrets, mysteries and revelations into our ear. When we draw close to God, we begin to experience peace and joy that we can’t find anywhere else. When we fill ourselves up with God’s purpose, to worship Him, our souls will find a special delight.

12. Worship Song

13. Challenge / Altar

When we really love God it will show. Our words will be wholesome, we will be people of integrity, and we will be loyal and devoted to God.

14. Refreshments or a light meal

15. Crafts

16. Dismissal

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Butterflies and Flowers

by arrowsleader

This event has a flower and butterfly theme.

The memory verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Bible Truth is “We must be born again.”

1. Welcome

2. Open in prayer

3. Memory Verse

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

4. Introduction – New Creation

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become a new creation. We are restored by Jesus to what God had originally created us to be. Everything about our lives change, because we are transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Just like a caterpillar changes into a butterfly, we too are changed when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. God transforms a person from being a sinner who does not know God and who does wrong into a person who loves God and wants to do right.

Instead of doing and living the way we what to, we live to be like Jesus. Our desire is to please Him. Instead of looking at people, things and the world through our eyes we see everything through the eyes of Jesus. Everything about us becomes new!

5. Praise and Worship Song

1.________________________________

2. _______________________________

6. We Must Be Born Again – The Story of Nicodumas

John 3:3 NKJV

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ ”

Late one night one of the religious leaders named Nicodemus went to speak to Jesus. Nicodemus recognized Jesus as a teacher sent from God. As Jesus was explaining the Scriptures with him, He said something Nicodemus did not understand. Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they have been born again. Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was talking about. How could a person be born again?”, he wondered. People today still ask that same question.

Nicodemus had never heard about “being born again.” Jesus explained to Nicodemus that you must be spiritually born again. He had a hard time fully understanding that it isn’t enough just to know God. Jesus told him that he had to begin a new life by being “born again.”

Jesus continued to explain to Nicodemus who He was and what was going to happen to Him and why. Nicodemus listened very carefully to Jesus as He spoke. After the things that Jesus spoke about came true (after Jesus’ crucifixion) Nicodemus helped prepare the body of Jesus for burial.

John 19:38-42 NKJV

“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”

Nicodemus had believed the things that Jesus told him and he was born again! Like Nicodemus we must believe in Jesus in order to be born again.

7. Game “New Creation”

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Divide the children into two teams. Line the two teams up on opposite sides of the room. Number each child. Place a flower on the floor between the two teams. When you call out a number the two children that have that number must both run to the flower and try to get it. The goal is to get the flower and then get back to your spot in line before you can be “tagged”.

A child is out when they get the flower but then get tagged by the other child with the same number before they get back to their spot in line. A child is also out when they do not get the flower and they do not tag the child with the flower.

8. The New Birth

In the beginning God made everything and it was good. God would come down from heaven and walk with Adam and Eve in the evening. Man enjoyed a very intimate (close) relationship with God.

Everything was perfect until sin entered into the picture. Because of the sin man could no longer enjoy the intimate relationship with God. God is a holy God and sin cannot come into His presence. Sin had separated man from God and it brought spiritual death into the world.

Everyone had sinned and that means that we have been separated from God and are spiritually dead. We must experience new life in Jesus if we want a relationship with God – we must be born again.

God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to pay our penalty for our sins. As Jesus hung on the cross, God laid on Jesus the sins of the whole world upon Him – all our sins were put on the sinless Son of God. Jesus suffered much on the cross then He died. Jesus took our punishment for our sins upon Him and the blood that He shed made a way for us to be forgiven.

Each one of us must be born again (to have our sins forgiven). We must experience the new birth that we receive when we admit that we have sinned and ask Jesus to forgive us. When we experience this new birth we become part of the family of God – we are born into His family.

John 1:12 NKJV

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

The first thing that we must do is admit that we have sinned against a holy God. Then we must be willing to turn from our sin and believe that only Jesus can forgive us of our sins. When we admit that we have sinned, believe that Jesus can forgive us of our sins and confess our sins to Him, God will forgive us and we will experience a new birth. We are not the same – we are changed by the power of God.

9. Game- “Old Things Are Passed Away” Memory Verse Relay

Need: 2 butterflies cut out of poster board or card stock. Write the memory verse on each butterfly.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Divide the children into 2 teams. Line the teams up in 2 lines. One at a time the children are to run to the front and pick up a butterfly and say the memory verse, then run back to their line. Then the next person will do the same and so on. The team that finishes first is the winner.

10. We Are Transformed

God’s Word shows us how we really are and how we should be. We must allow the Word of God to transform us into the image of Christ. When we look at ourselves through the mirror of God’s Word and submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit, we are gloriously transformed more and more into Christ’s image.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Christians must not allow the world to set their standards or morals. They are to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. All Christians are called to lives of holiness. It is a commandment from God – not a suggestion. Holy living shows our true identity.

After a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior they are no longer of this world – they belong to God.

Each person will stand before God and give an account for the way that they lived. For the things that they did, didn’t do, said, thought, etc.

11. Game- Jig-Saw Puzzle Relay Race

Need: 2 small baskets, 2 poster boards (of different colors) and a marker.

Write the memory verse on each poster board, then cut the poster boards into ten pieces each. Keep each one separate. Divide the group into two teams. Line up the two teams in lines. Place the puzzles in two small baskets a short distance from the teams. At a signal the first person on each team must go to the puzzle pieces and put their puzzle together. Once the puzzle is together they must read it out loud, then put the puzzle back in the basket and run back to their team. The next person will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner.

12. Our Words And Actions Tell What’s In Our Heart

Just as fruit is produced on the branches of a healthy tree or vine, so spiritual fruit comes from the life of a believer in close daily fellowship with Jesus. If we desire to have good fruit in our lives we must remain in Christ.

Matthew 12:33-37 NKJV

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you , being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasures brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment, and by your words you will be condemned.’ ”

Ephesians 5:3-5 NKJV

“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

The goodness of our fruit depends on how spiritually healthy and strong we are. The Holy Spirit who lives inside of the believer desires to produce good fruit in us and through us, however we must submit to Him in order for this to take place.

13. Game – “God’s Garden”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Need : Two packages of seeds. Write the memory verse on two small pieces of paper and attach them to the packages of seeds. A poster board sign with the words “GOD’S GARDEN’ written on it.

Divide the group into 2 teams. Line the two teams up in two rows. Give a package of seeds to the first person on each team. At the signal the first person on each team is to crawl to the “GOD’S GARDEN” sign. Stand up and say the memory verse, then run back to their team. The next person on the team will do the same thing.

14. Growing

After our new birth God expects us to grow. He does not want us to stay a “baby Christian” forever.

*We should read the Bible

*We should pray

*We should tell others about our new birth and Jesus

*We should attend church

Flowers need sunshine (light), water and good soil (food / nourishment) in order to grow. We too need things in order to grow. Our sunshine or light is Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Our water is the rain of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Our food or nourishment is the Word of God. We need to keep growing in our relationship with Jesus.

15. Worship Song

16. Life Application / Altar

17. Refreshments or light meal

18. Crafts

19. Dismissal

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Cloudy With A Chance Of Lift Off

by arrowsleader

The memory verse is 1 Thessalonians 4:17

The Bible truth is “Jesus is returning for the believers.”

1. Welcome

2. Open in prayer

3. Praise & Worship– sing two songs with a rapture theme

(1) ____________________________________________

(2) ____________________________________________

4. Memory Verse

1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

5. Introduction

As things around us become cloudy and dark the day of our rapture gets closer. During this time we must hold fast the confession of our hope, consider one another, and assemble with other believers.

Hebrews 10:23-25

NKJV “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

6. Game – “Be Watchful” Relay Race

Need 2 teams of equal number and 2 toy watches.

Jesus can come at any time. No one knows when He will return so it is important for us to be watchful and make sure we are not “sleeping on the job” when He returns. We’re going to play a game naming places we might be when Jesus returns.

Line the teams up in 2 lines. At your signal, the first person in each row puts on a toy watch, then they must say “Jesus can come at any time. He might come when I am ___________________________________”. Then they are to take off the watch and hand it to the next person on their team and they must put on the toy watch, then they must say “Jesus can come at any time. He might come when I am ___________________________________”. The game continues until everyone on team has had a turn. The team that finishes first is the winner.

7. Hold Fast To The Confession Of Our Hope

As the end of this age approaches we must hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering.

Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 4:9 NKJV

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.”

Our confident expectation of our future is our “confession of hope.” We have a promise from God that we can enter into His rest. The choice is ours. If we do what is expected of us we have the assurance that God will receive us into His presence and His rest.

Confident means firmly believing; certain; sure.

Expectation means to expect something to happen.

Expect means to think something will come or happen or to look forward to.

Waver means to move to and fro; flutter; vary in intensity; flicker; be undecided; hesitate; become unsteady; begin to give way.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 NKJV

“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him,

We shall also live with Him,

If we endure,

We shall also reign with Him,

If we deny Him,

He also will deny us,

If we are faithless.

He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

Hebrews 3: 5-6 NKJV

“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”

As a Christian we should remain certain of and be looking forward to the day that we enter into God’s rest. We must not waver in our belief or give up. The Bible tells us that we can be confident that we will enter into God’s rest.

1 John 2:28 NKJV

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

8. Game – “Are You Ready?” Musical Chairs

One day Jesus will return and take us to heaven. Only those who have prepared themselves and are watching will go with Jesus when He returns. God invites everyone to come to Him for salvation. The Bible tells us that the only way to God is through Jesus. If we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Savior, our sins will be forgiven. Some people get too busy in their lives to accept God’s offer. Even after some people accept Jesus as Savior, they get too busy to know Him as He desires for them to. God wants to forgive our sins and He wants us to take time to know Him.

We’re going to play a game of musical chairs. When the music stops find a chair to sit in. The person who doesn’t have a chair will be out. A chair will be removed each round until only one person is left. The last person left will represent someone who is prepared when Jesus returns.

9. Consider One Another

As the end of this age approaches we must consider one another.

Hebrews 10:24 NKJV

“ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works”

Consider means to observe, to look at carefully; reflect; ponder; examine; to contemplate, or to have an intelligent insight into.

Love and good works need to be stirred up; they do not just occur.

10. Game – “Forsake Your Sins” Relay Race

Need: 2 teams of 8 children each, 16 slips of paper (1 sin on each paper, you may repeat some of the sins if needed) and 2 trash cans

To be ready for Jesus’ return you must accept Him as your Savior and get rid of any sin in your life. When you realize you have a sin in your life you must get rid of that sin by asking God to forgive you and determining not to do the sin again.

Line the two teams up in two lines. At a signal the first person from each team must run to the table and pick up a piece of paper with a sin on it, read what the paper says, then crumple it up then toss it into the trash can. Then they must run back to their tem and the next person in line will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner.

11. Assemble With Other Believers

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV

“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Believers have an impact on each other. Exhorting means coming alongside and inspiring another with the truth. Assembling with other believers can take place anywhere – homes, churches, in a group, on outings …..

12. Worship Song

13. Challenge / Altar

Are you on your way to heaven? You can’t buy a ticket to get there. Neither money nor good works will get you to heaven. There’s only one way to go. Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. You must confess your need to Him and accept Jesus as your personal Savior to receive the gift of salvation. If you do that, you can look forward to the day when Jesus will take you to heaven to live with Him forever.

14. Balloon Lift Off

Write a prayer of repentance or rededication to God on a small slip of paper, then insert it in a balloon. Also insert a glow stick in balloon, blow up balloon with helium, then tie closed.

Pray with everyone as a group or individually. After prayer, everyone will go outside and release their balloons (as a group)

15. Refreshments or a light meal

16. Crafts

17. Dismissal

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The Sweetest News

by arrowsleader

This event has a resurrection theme.

The memory verse is Matthew 28:6

The Bible truth is “Jesus rose from the dead.”

1. Open in prayer

2. Introduction

God knew that sin had to be punished and that someone who had never sinned would needed to take the punishment. Jesus Christ was the only person that never sinned, therefore He was the only person that would be acceptable as a sacrifice. Jesus made a way to God by dying on the cross for our sins.

The sweetest, or best, news that we will ever hear is that Jesus did not stay dead. He rose from the dead and whoever believes in Him will live with Him forever!

3. Activity – “How Many?“

Pass a jar of jelly beans around. Give each child a slip of paper. Have them write down their name and how many jelly beans they think there are in the jar. The child that comes closest to the amount, without going over, is the winner. There prize is the jar of jelly beans.

4. Praise And Worship

1. ________________________

2._________________________

5. Memory Verse

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” Matthew 28:6 NKJV

6. The Triumphal Entry / Passover / Garden of Gethsemane

On the Sunday, prior to Jesus’ crucifixion on Friday, He rode into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Today we know this event as Palm Sunday. The priest had just passed by the people with the Passover lamb that was going to be sacrificed on Passover. The people when they saw Jesus, began to wave the palm branches that they had and shout “Hosanna!” “Hosanna” means save us now! The crowds spread their coats on the ground for the donkey with Jesus to walk over. This made the religious leaders very angry. Jesus taught in the temple for several days after entering town.

On the Thursday, after arriving on Sunday, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. Today, many refer to this as the Last Supper. Passover is a feast remembering the exodus from Egypt. Passover also points to Jesus Christ as our Passover lamb. During the meal Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him. Shortly after saying that, Judas left the room and went to the religious leaders.

Later, during the Passover meal Jesus washed the disciples feet. After the meal, Jesus gave us the Lord’s Supper (communion). Communion is a very intimate time between a person and Jesus. It is a time to remember what Jesus has provided for us, a time to look toward His future return, and a time to committee to preparing to be His bride.

Late that night, after Jesus and His remaining 11 disciples finished the Passover meal and the institution of communion, they sang a hymn then went to the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Garden Jesus spent the night in prayer. Jesus knew that He was about to be crucified. He was praying for God to give Him the strength to fulfill what He had came to do. Jesus was also praying for us and for God’s will to be done.

7. Game – “Hosanna!” Relay

Need: A small palm branch (paper or real) for each child.

Divide the group into two teams. Line the two teams up in two rows. Give each child a palm branch. At the signal the first person on each team will run to the front while waving the palm branch. At the front they will say, “Hosanna!” They will then run back to their team. The next person on the team will do the same thing. The team that finishes first is the winner.

8. Jesus’ Arrest & Trial / Jesus’ Crucifixion, Death & Burial

In the pre-dawn hours of Friday morning, while Jesus was in the Garden, Judas lead a group of soldiers to Jesus and the disciples. Judas knew that he would find Jesus there. Judas went up to Jesus and kissed Him – Judas had told the religious leaders that the one he kissed would be Jesus.

John 5:18 NKJV “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”

The soldiers arrested Jesus and He was charged with blasphemy. First Jesus was taken to Annas, then He was led to the high priest Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin. They wanted Jesus killed, but according to their “religious laws” they could not do it personally, so they sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate. Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin arranged for false witnesses to testify against Jesus, hoping that Pontius Pilate would have Jesus crucified. Pontius Pilate questioned Jesus then had Jesus sent to Herod. Herod and his men mocked Jesus then sent Him back to Pontius Pilate. Once again, Pontius Pilate questioned Jesus again and found no fault in Him. He wanted to have Jesus whipped then released. The religious leaders and the crowd began to cry out, “Crucify Him!”. In the end, Pontius Pilate sentencing Jesus to death.

The Roman soldiers publicly whipped Jesus and then hung Him on a cross at 3:00 pm, at the same time that the Passover lamb was being sacrificed. Jesus was crucified at a place called Golgotha, also known as the “Skull.” Crucifixion was a humiliating and agonizing form of death. Jesus chose to suffer the whipping, the bruising, and the pain of the cross because He knew it was the only way a sacrifice could be made for the sins of the world. As Jesus hung on the cross He could have called angels to rescue Him, but He chose not to. He was obedient to the Father even to the point of death. He was taken down from the cross prior to 6:00 pm and buried in a garden tomb that was secured with an official Roman seal and guard.

9. Game – Mixed Up Verse

Divide the memory verse up into 6 parts. Write each part on a card, and make 2 sets (or more if a large group). Each set should be a different color.

“He is not here; / for He is risen, / as He said. / Come, see the place / where the Lord lay” /Matthew 28:6 NKJV

Tape a card to each child’s back. At the signal they are to find their team (each team’s cards are a different color) and arrange themselves so that the verse can be correctly read (in order). The first team to do so correctly is the winner.

10. The Empty Tomb / Jesus’ Resurrection / Jesus Returns To Heaven

On the first day of the week (early Sunday morning) some of Jesus’ friends, Mary Magdalene and another Mary, went to finish anointing Jesus’ body. In the garden they met an angel who told them that Jesus was not there. The angel told them to, “Come and see the place where He lay, then go quickly and tell the disciples.” Jesus has risen from the dead and He was no longer in the tomb.

Matthew 28:5-7 NKJV

“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’ ”

After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, He stayed on earth for 40 days, appearing to many different people, then He ascended into heaven. During this time Jesus told His followers that He would send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit, after He left. Prior to His ascension, Jesus also told His

Matthew 28:19,20 NIV

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Jesus gave the disciples the command to go into all the world and make disciples. We call this commandment “The Great Commission.”

Acts 1:4-11 NKJV “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

After Jesus gave the command, He told them that they would receive power to be His witnesses. As soon as He spoke that He began to float up into heaven. Those standing there watch Jesus go out of sight. Then two angels appeared to them and told them that Jesus would return to earth the same way He left.

11. Game- Do You Remember? Tic-Tac-Toe

Need: poster board , 16 index cards, Tape

Draw a large tic-tac-toe board on the poster board. On 8 index cards write a “O” and on 8 index cards write an “X”.

Divide the class into two teams. Place the tic-tac-toe board a short distance from the teams. Give one team the “O” cards and the other team the “X” cards. Ask the teams questions, one at a time. If they answer the question correctly the may place one of their cards on the board. The first team that gets three of their cards in a row is the winner. If the answer is not correct you can ask it again after all questions have been asked at least once.

Questions

1. The people when they saw Jesus, began to wave the palm branches that they had and shout “Hosanna!”

2. Jesus never sinned.

3. The soldiers arrested Jesus and He was charged with stealing.

4. Thomas lead a group of soldiers to Jesus and the disciples.

5. Early Sunday morning Mary Magdalene and John went to finish anointing Jesus’ body.

6. After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, He stayed on earth for 40 days.

7. Jesus gave the disciples the command to go into all the world and make disciples. We call this commandment “Working For God.”

8. Jesus told His followers that He would send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit.

9.Two angels appeared to Jesus’ followers and told them that Jesus would return to earth the same way He left.

Answers:

1 True

2.True

3. False – He was charged with blasphemy.

4. False – Judas lead the group.

5. False – It was Mary Magdalene and another Mary.

6. True

7. False- We call this commandment “The Great Commission.”

8. True

9. True

12. The Jelly Bean Plan of Redemption

Yellow – In the beginning God made the world beautiful and perfect. God and man shared a special friendship (fellowship / intimacy).

Black – Sin entered into the world that God had created. Sin separated man from God.

Red – Jesus made a way for man to have a relationship with God again. The blood that He shed on the cross washes away our sin.

White – When we ask for forgiveness we are made clean – our sins are forgiven and forgotten.

Blue – After we are saved we should want to follow Jesus’ example in water baptism.

Orange – Right before Jesus went back to heaven He promised to send us a special HELPER – THE Holy Spirit.

Green – As a Christian we must continue to grow in Christ.

Purple – One day King Jesus will return to take the true Christians home to heaven.

Pink – In the end everything in the world will be beautiful and perfect again. There will be no more sin!

13. Game– Redemption Relay

Using construction paper, cut out large jelly beans. Two of each of the following colors: black, red, white, blue, orange, green, purple, and four yellow.

On two yellow write- God made the world beautiful and perfect.

On two yellow write- The world will be beautiful and perfect again

On two black write – Sin separated man from God.

On two red write – Jesus’ blood washes away our sin.

On two white write – When we ask for forgiveness we are made clean.

On two blue write – Water baptism.

On two orange write – The Holy Spirit.

On two green write – We must grow in Christ.

On two purple write – One day Jesus will return.

Divided the cards into two equal and identical sets.

Divide the children into two teams of nine children each. Give each team a set of cards. At the signal, the first person on each team will run to the front and say what is on their jellybean then run back to their team. The next person in line will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner

14. Wordless Book

Yellow: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Everything that He created was wonderful.

Genesis 1:31 NKJV

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

Black: Everything was beautiful and wonderful, until sin entered into it. The Bible tells us that all have sinned. All means everyone of us.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Red: God loved us so much that He gave His only Son for us – Jesus shed His blood to wash away our sins.

I Corinthians 15:3 NKJV

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures”

White: When we accept God’s gift of salvation, through Jesus, our sins are washed away.

Isaiah 1:18 NKJV

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

Green: When you receive Jesus as your Savior you become a child of God. You are like a newborn baby in God’s family, and He wants you to learn more about Him and grow in your relationship with Him.

John 1:12 NKJV

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe”

15. Worship Song

16. Challenge / Altar Call

17. Refreshments or a light meal

18. Crafts

18. Dismissal

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