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Large Group Full Program Instructions
Optional Songs for Welcome and Engage Segments: “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole, “Amore” by Dean Martin, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John,
This lesson presents God’s gift of salvation. Every church presents the Gospel with slight variations and nuances. Read through the steps before teaching. Present the Gospel in a way that is consistent with the scripture and God’s leading.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host Welcome to the Lab! Today we are discovering the truth about a very important subject, love.
Co-Host I’m one step ahead of you. I can sum it up in just one song. Hit it! I’ll tap dance to enhance the learning.
(Play “L-O-V-E”)
Co-Host I had no idea that love meant all of those things. College, you’ve failed me again!
Host That’s a fun song, but that is not the answer to the question, “What is love?”
Co-Host That’s the question we’re trying to figure out.
Host We’re going to answer that question today by looking at the one place we are sure to get the truth…the Bible. Let’s check up on Herman and Rusty, but first stand up and tell someone your favorite kind of candy to eat on Valentine’s Day.
Prior to the Engage, set up two circle tablecloths on the stage that will represent the “pizza.” Inside each circle set out buckets which are the targets for the “pizza toppings,” aka bean bags.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host Mr. Marbles gave me the same advice he gave Rusty, turn to the music.
Host Music is a lot of fun. What’s your (To the kids) favorite song of all time?
Co-Host I’m particularly fond of the classics: Baby Shark, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme Song, Spongebob sings “Ripped Pants.” That song got me through a tough moment.
Host As I was saying, music can be fun, but it’s not where we discover the truth about love.
Co-Host Wrong again. Listen to this song.
(Play: Amore)
Co-Host Like a big pizza pie. Love is about pizza, which is why we’re playing this next game. I’m choosing two teams who will try to toss these “toppings” onto the pizza, which you guys, the audience, will hold above your heads. 60 seconds to win it. Go!
Start the timer and play the game. If you only have one game setup, then have the team take turns and declare a winner.
Co-Host Pizza, who knew that was the key to love? (Play: Can You Feel the Love Tonight?) Can you feel the love tonight?
Host Pizza is not the key to love. We need a good dose of truth, which we’ll discover in our Big Point. Let’s get a lab assistant to help us reveal it.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host Help us as we count down from three and then read the Big Point.
Co-Host Let’s all say it together, “God Is Love!”
Host Love isn’t a feeling at all; it’s a choice. God was the first to show love, and He’s the only One who shows it perfectly. So, if we want to understand love, then we begin by…
Co-Host Showing love the way God shows love?
Host Exactly. Thankfully we have the Bible to show us what God’s love looks like. Maybe we can catch Rusty and enlighten him.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host Does anyone think that Rusty is confused about true love?
Co-Host I’ve never seen anyone that confused about love…since the last time I was out here.
Host He needs to focus on our Big Point,
Host God Is Love! Let’s choose an assistant to help us reveal the Big Verse.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host The Big Verse is where we get the Big Point. We’d like you to help us as we count down from three and then read the verse.
(Allow the child to read the Big Verse.)
Co-Host It says it right there. God is love. Most of the songs we hear about love talk about feelings.
Host That’s what a lot of people think love is, a feeling. Let’s test your (to the kids) acting abilities. I’m going to put up an emoji and I want you to act out that emotion.
Play following emoji slides, consider playing fun upbeat music with the activity.
Co-Host What’s wrong with love being a feeling?
Host Our feelings can change as quickly as they just did in that game. We can be happy one moment and frustrated the next. If love is based on how we feel, then it’s easy for love to change.
Co-Host Love is a choice? We can choose to love someone even if we don’t feel like it?
Host It may sound crazy, but it’s true! We learn that from God. God loves us even when we mess up. It’s not based on how He feels or based on what we do. He just loves us all the time. We can offer that same kind of love to others. I think now is a great time to stand and worship Jesus for loving us with that kind of love.
This lesson presents God’s gift of salvation. Every church presents the Gospel with slight variations and nuances. Read through the steps before teaching. Present the Gospel in a way that is consistent with the scripture and God’s leading.
Jesus offers that love to all of us. All we have to do is say, “Yes.” If you have never said, “Yes, I want Jesus to forgive me, be my best friend, and I will follow Him for the rest of my life,” then today is your day! I’d like everyone to close your eyes and bow your head, so no one is distracted.
If you have already said, “Yes” to Jesus, I want you to give me a thumbs up. That’s awesome. You can put your hands down. If you’ve never said, “Yes” to Jesus before, and you want to say, “Yes” to Him right now and ask Him to forgive you, raise your hand. We’re going to pray altogether. Those of you who are already friends and followers of Jesus can join in, too. Repeat after me, and let’s pray...
Dear God, I know everyone needs a Savior, and I know I can’t save myself. Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and God raised You from the dead.
Right now, I say you are my Lord, my Savior, and the One who forgives me. Thank you, Jesus, that You are my best friend, because I’ve said, “Yes” to You. Amen
If you prayed that prayer for the very first time today, I want you to raise your hand again. A volunteer would like to visit with you about your decision today. We’re so glad you said, “Yes” to Jesus. Let’s stand up and worship Him now.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host I’m glad that Rusty learned the truth about real love.
Host Yep, our Big Point is a much better guide than his songs. Let’s say it again,
Host God Is Love!
Co-Host We need to look at God to learn about love. We can use what we’ve learned from God to do this week’s Big Do.
Host Yep, we want you to make a Valentine for someone in your family. To help us remember more about God’s love, we should look at what God said and did and let those things teach us how to love.
Co-Host Let’s look at some words and actions, and you guys can decide if you think that they match something God has said or done.
Host If you think it matches God, then give a thumbs up. If it doesn’t, then give a thumbs down.
Co-Host It sounds like the more we read our Bible, the better we will understand love.
Co-Host It is God’s Word, and as our Big Point says,
Co-Host God Is Love! Let’s gather with our small groups and discuss today’s lesson.
Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following.
- What was Rusty’s big mistake when he tried to understand love? Trying to get truth from songs What should he have done differently? Looked in the Bible
- Do you think it was hard for Hosea to love Gomer? Why? Maybe because she left How would you have felt in his situation?
- What are some ways God shows us His love? Sending Jesus, forgiving us, providing for us, always being with us, healing us
- What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? Make a valentine for someone in your family
Choose two kids from the audience to come on stage and answer the question.
- Our Big Point says God Is _____! a. Love
b. Hate 2. What did Rusty use to learn about love? a. Internet b. Songs 3. What did God tell Hosea to do in the Big Story? a. Build a temple b. Get married 4. What happened to Hosea and Gomer after they married? a. They lived happily ever after b. Gomer left the family 5. What should Rusty have used to learn about love? 6. Complete the Big Verse: 1 John 4:8 (NIrV), “Anyone who does not love does not know ____, because _____ is love.” a. A Feeling b. God 7. Who is someone you say, “I love you” to? 8. True/False: I can choose to love others like God loves me. a. True b. False 9. What are some ways that God shows love to us? 10. What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? Make a valentine for someone in your family