Use Your Gifts!

Host Why do you have tape over your mouth?

Co-Host shrugs.

Host How will you teach if your mouth is covered up?

Co-Host shrugs.

Host Okay, let’s take that tape off.

Co-Host I was afraid I would say something silly, so I thought it was safer to keep my mouth taped shut.

Host Are you kidding me? You have a lot to offer during this service. We want you to talk, and I trust that you can do it.

Co-Host Are you sure? Because I have a whole roll of tape, if needed.

Host I’m sure. In fact, today we’re reminding ourselves that everyone can step up and serve God. Stand to your feet and tell someone nearby, “I’m glad you’re here.”

Co-Host Skip was not very nice to Sophia and Ethel. He made them feel like they had nothing to offer.

Host Have you ever known the answer to a question in school, but you were too nervous to speak up? What happened?

Co-Host Speaking up can be a little nerve-wracking. That’s why I had such a big roll of tape. You might worry how the kids will react if you say the wrong thing or if whether an adult will like what you have to say.

Host I think it’s something we all struggle with at one time or another, but let’s see what the Bible says by checking out our Big Point. Let’s choose an assistant to help us reveal it.

Co-Host After we count down from three you can read the Big Point.

Host Let’s all say it together, Use Your Gifts! To do that you have to be okay with stepping up and serving, even when you’re nervous. God used the guy in our Big Story today to speak to a king.

Co-Host Let’s play a little game that challenges you to speak up. You may have played those games where you have to wear a mouth opener and say a phrase. That’s what we’re going to do.

Host We’ve chosen two contestants to say these different phrases. Your adult volunteer will be the team captain. Shout your answers to your captain, and he/she will run up and say it into the microphone. Let’s see how many you can get right in 30 seconds. We’ll let each team have a turn.

Co-Host Those were some silly phrases, but they were also all gifts that we can use as part of God’s Big Plan.

Host Everyone has something to offer, but it only works if you’re willing to step up and use the gifts God has given you. He won’t make you serve, but He will help you serve to the best of your ability. Let’s see if Ethel and Sophia choose to step up.

Host Don't you think that Ethel and Sophia have a lot more to offer Herman than Skip?

Co-Host I agree, but they are too afraid to use their scientific gifts. It would be good for them to repeat our Big Point. Let’s do that now,

Co-Host Use Your Gifts!

Host Do you really believe that everyone has a gift to share? Let’s see what the Bible says by checking out the Big Verse.

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

Co-Host 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIrV) says, “The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.”

Host Every follower of Jesus receives the Holy Spirit. He’s the One who gives each of us gifts to share.

Co-Host We need all of these different gifts to complete God’s big plan. Let’s think of some different gifts that we can use.

Host Look at this empty jar. I need all of the fourth-grade boys who have a ping pong ball to bring them up and put them in the jar.

Co-Host It looks better, but we’re going to need more. Let’s have all of the boys who have a ping pong ball come forward.

Host It’s definitely fuller, but let’s get even more people to help. I need all of the girls to bring their ping pong balls and place them in the jar.

Co-Host Wow, we filled the jar up. It took everyone contributing something to do that.

Host God has a big plan, and God doesn’t intend for only one person to make the plan happen or even two or two hundred. We all have a place to serve and a job to complete, but we have to choose to use our gifts. Let’s take a moment to stand and worship God.

You may wonder if you really have a place in God’s big plan. A great place to hear God speak to you is through what you read in the Bible. When you read and mediate on God’s Word, you can hear God’s wisdom. Let’s practice meditating on our Big Verse. The way we meditate is to repeat that verse several times. It helps to get it into your mind. Then you can pray the verse. Let’s repeat it together, and then I’ll demonstrate how to pray the verse. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIrV), “The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.” (Repeat 2x) Let’s pray that verse. Jesus, I thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us live out your big plan and help others. Amen.

Co-Host I’m glad Ethel and Sophia were there to save the day.

Host Me too. They believed they had something to offer, and they followed the Big Point,

Host Use Your Gifts!

Co-Host Instead of being afraid to speak up, I want to be like Joseph and use my gifts in God’s big plan.

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

Host Talk with your family about someone who could use some encouragement, then go out and encourage that person.

Co-Host Let’s practice today. It’s time for an encouragement scavenger hunt. We’ll give you the description of a person, such as red hair or green shirt and glasses. See if you can find someone in the room that fits that description and say something encouraging like, “God loves you!” or “Don’t give up.”

Host Everyone can be involved in God’s big plan to help others. Let’s turn and connect with our small groups and talk about what we’ve learned.

• Why was it important for Joseph to speak up and use his gifts?

• Why was it hard for Ethel and Sophia to share their ideas? Has something similar ever happened to you?

• What are some gifts or talents that you could share with others?

• What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? Encourage someone who could use some encouragement.

• Our Big Point says Use Your _______!

  • Gifts
  • Money

• What kind of experiment did Herman create?

  • Weather
  • Gravity

• Skip encouraged Ethel and Sophia to speak up.

  • True
  • False

• Pharaoh didn’t understand his dreams about cows and grain.

  • True
  • False

• Who told Pharaoh about Joseph’s gift of interpreting dreams?

  • Chief Butler
  • Chief Baker

• 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIrV), “The Holy Spirit is given to _____ of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.”

  • Each
  • Some

• Who gave Joseph the answer to Pharaoh’s dreams?

  • Wise men
  • God

• Joseph was made second in command of all of Egypt.

  • True
  • False

• What advice would you give someone who thought they had nothing to offer God?

• What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? Encourage someone who could use some encouragement.