Don't Give Up!

Co-Host On your mark, get set, go!

(optional, Play game music)

Host These kids are competing in a game we call “Brain Freeze.” They have 60 seconds to eat as much of their ice cream sundae as they can.

Co-Host Let’s see if they can keep eating when their brains are on ice.

(Finish playing the game.)

Co-Host Congratulations to our winner!

Host Great job, and you know what impressed me? These kids kept playing, even when you know it had to hurt. Have you guys ever experienced a brain freeze? It does not feel good.

Co-Host That reminds me of the old saying, when the going gets tough, the tough quit going. That doesn’t sound right.

Host I think you got confused on that one, but don’t worry, because today’s lesson here in the Lab will clear things up.

Co-Host Stand to your feet and tell someone nearby which dessert you will not quit eating until it’s completely gone: ice cream or cake.

Co-Host Rusty’s show is not going as planned. I can’t believe he quit.

Host Have you ever wanted to quit something because someone else was making life miserable? Tell me about it.

Co-Host Everybody has thought about giving up at one time or another. Do you think we should just give in to those feelings whenever we feel down?

Host Before we answer that, let’s check out our Big Point to see what it says. I need a volunteer to help us reveal it.

Co-Host Help us count down from three and then read the Big Point.

Host Let’s all say it together, Don’t Give Up! Do you think that God really wants us to keep going, even when things are hard?

Co-Host He does! That’s because God has a big plan for our world, and we get to be part of that plan. But if we quit, we miss out on being part of something really cool.

Host I love that God uses us in His plan. Sometimes following that plan means we will face opposition. People, problems, and…

Co-Host Pets?

Host Probably not pets. But we’ll face challenges that will make us want to quit. That’s when we have to keep going. We have a game, and we’re going to challenge you guys to keep going. We’re playing tug of war, and it’s kids vs. adults.

Co-Host Let’s see if the kids can keep going, even when they face some tall competition.

Host What impressed me was that you kept fighting a team that was bigger than you. We may face some tough challenges when we live out God’s plan. Just like we helped you, we trust that God will help us keep going. Let’s see if Herman can help Rusty make that choice.

Host Do you think that Rusty will come back to his show?

Co-Host I hope so. It’s his dream. I wouldn’t want to him to give up before it’s on TV. Maybe he’ll keep thinking about our Big Point,

Co-Host Don’t Give Up!

Host That isn’t a concept we made up. We learn that truth from the Bible. Let’s reveal the Big Verse.

Co-Host Help us count down from three and then you’ll read the verse.

Co-Host Galatians 6:9 (NIrV) says, “Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up.”

Host That verse reminds me of something, but I’m going to need an assistant to help me.

Host When I say go, pull the rope out of the bucket, but you can’t reach in and try to pick up the whole bundle. You have to keep pulling the rope, foot by foot, out of the bucket. At any point, if you want to stop, you can, and we’ll choose another assistant to finish.

Co-Host Wow, there was candy at the end. It’s a good thing you kept pulling on the rope.

Host That’s what the verse teaches us. We keep going and following God’s big plan because we know that in the end God’s plan will help a lot of people. Even if it’s tough right now, we know it will be worth the effort.

Co-Host It’s like a farmer who works hard for months because he or she knows that eventually good food will grow.

Host Don’t quit. Otherwise you might just give up right before the good stuff happens. Let’s take a moment to stand and worship God.

I’m thankful that we don’t have to be super strong on our own. We have a God who strengthens us when we feel weak and want to give up. He helps us to keep going. God also provides other Christians to help us as we live God’s big plan. If you need some help to keep going, today, we want you to come and pray with one of our Adult volunteers. They’re going to sit along the front and pray with you.

Co-Host Rusty’s show sounds like a hit.

Host I’m glad he listened to Herman and followed the Big Point,

Host Don’t Give Up!

Co-Host He even got Myers and Marbles to try his food. Good things come when you keep going.

Host You can share what you’ve learned today when you do this week’s Big Do.

Host Go out with your family and do something active, like taking a walk, riding a bike, running, be creative. Set a target for how long or how far you want to go. During the activity, challenge each other to keep going.

Co-Host Let’s practice that today. Everyone, stand up. We’re going to walk in place, which may turn into a run in place. Let’s see if you can last longer than our Connectors.

Host Great job. Make sure you tell us next week what you did and who lasted the longest. Let’s turn and connect with our small groups and talk about what we’ve learned.

• If you had been taken from your family and forced to work for someone else, would you have been tempted to stay mad and give up? Why?

• How did God help Joseph when he didn’t give up? (God helped Joseph succeed everywhere he went.)

• What are some good things that come from not giving up?

• What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? Do something active with your family and challenge each other to keep going.

• Our Big Point says _____ Give Up! -Don’t -Do

• What kind of show was Rusty Hosting? -Talk show -Cooking show

• Rusty wanted to quit because things weren’t going his way. -True -False

• How does trusting God, even when things are hard, help us?

• When Joseph worked for Potiphar, did he work hard or barely work? -Worked hard -Barely worked

• Galatians 6:9 (NIrV), “Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather _____ if we don’t give up.” -Nothing -A Crop

• When was a time you felt like giving up?

• Joseph was in prison because someone lied about him. -True -False

• It’s okay to give up if people are being mean. -True -False

• What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? Do something active with your family and challenge each other to keep going.