Be Willing To Wait

Co-Host

Do you know why I’m wearing this hat?

Host

Why?

Co-Host

Because this is the hardest day to wait for, your birthday. It feels like it takes forever for your big day to get here.

Host

I agree. It’s the same with Christmas. But today we’ll learn how the Holy Spirit can actually help us when we have to wait.

Co-Host

I assume it has something to do with the Fruit of the Spirit. Speaking of fruit, and not jumping ahead too fast, let’s play a game. We have some contestants who will compete to see who can stack the tallest tower of apples in 60 seconds. Whoever has the most standing at the end of the timer wins.

Co-Host

It paid to slow down during that game. I guess waiting isn’t all bad.

Host

It can be a good thing. Today’s Big Point will help us learn more about patience. Let’s see how patient our friends in the lab are today, but first, tell someone if you’ve ever peeked at a present early.

Host

Does anyone else think that Rusty’s remote invention is a bad idea?

Co-Host

It would be a lot better for everyone if he’d walk in step with the Holy Spirit and grow some good fruit in his heart.

Host

Let’s choose a Lab Assistant to come up and help us reveal the Big Point, so we can learn what happens when the Holy Spirit works inside of us.

Co-Host

After we count down from three, you will read the Big Point.

Co-Host

Let’s all say it together, Be Willing To Wait! Is that a hard one for anyone in here? I think it’s really hard whenever you take a cake out of the oven, and you have to wait for it to cool before you can dump icing on it and eat it.

Host

What would happen if you didn’t wait for the cake to cool down?

Co-Host

The icing would melt off, and that would be tragic. You might burn your tongue trying to eat it.

Host

When you walk in step with the Holy Spirit, He grows the fruit of patience in your life. Patience is important because jumping ahead can cause problems.

Co-Host

Just like when I tried to eat my birthday cake while it was still baking.

Host

Let’s put up some different situations most kids face. I’m going to ask you guys to explain why not waiting in that situation could cause problems.

Co-Host

It may not be easy, but it’s definitely the wise thing to do.

Host

Let’s see if Rusty wises up and ditches that remote.

Co-Host

Does anyone else think Rusty might have just messed things up in the Lab in a huge way?

Host

How long did he fast forward his life? Yikes.

Co-Host

He should have listened to the Big Point,

Co-Host

Be Willing To Wait!

Host

Why don’t we bring up a Lab Assistant to help us reveal the Big Verse. God’s Word helps us understand how to live out the Big Point.

Co-Host

Shout it out as we count down from three, and then read the verse.

Host

Psalm 27:14 (NIrV), “Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don’t lose hope.” Patience requires faith. We can wait because we trust God to come through in the end.

Co-Host

That’s true. If you trust that God is faithful to keep His word, then you can be willing to wait for the perfect time for God to act.

Host

The more pressure we feel, the more we must rely on the Lord. It’s like this balloon. Let’s have an assistant come and help us. Take this needle and pop the balloon.

Co-Host

That’s like us when we give in and get impatient.

Host

Watch what happens when we follow the verse and stay strong in our faith. I want you to press the wooden board down on this balloon so that it pushes into the bed of nails.

Co-Host

When you wait for the Lord and trust Him to keep His Word, you don’t give in to the pressure to jump ahead. Sounds like trusting God is the key to being patient.

Host

The next time you feel like you can’t wait, be strong and trust God. Let’s stand and worship.

Is there something you really need, but it seems like it’s never going to happen? It’s tempting in those moments to give up and quit. You might feel like taking control and just grabbing what you need right now. I want to challenge you to walk in step with the Holy Spirit and wait. It’s not always the easiest choice, but it’s the choice that gives God the chance to help you in great ways. Take a moment to share with God something that you feel impatient, worried, or nervous about. Then ask Him to help you be willing to wait. Let’s do that now. (Pause) I want to take a moment to pray for you guys and ask God to help us all Be Willing To Wait! (Pray)

Host

Jesus’ followers waited patiently, and it paid off big time.

Co-Host

They received an awesome gift from God, the Holy Spirit. He continues to help us practice the Big Point,

Co-Host

Be Willing To Wait!

Host

Let’s check out this week’s Big Do, so we can learn how to apply the Big Point this week.

Co-Host

The Big Do is to plant some wildflowers as a family and wait for them to grow. Water them, give them sunlight, and be patient.

Host

James 5:7-8 (NIrV) says, “See how the farmer waits for the land to produce its rich crop…You too must be patient.” Be patient, because if you pick the flowers too early, they won’t look great.

Co-Host

That introduces today’s game. We have some green bags that represent a field. Inside each of them is dirt. Technically, it’s brown balloons. When we say, “Go,” you’ll have sixty seconds to dig through the “dirt” balloons and find the flower balloons. Whichever team finds the most flower balloons wins.

Host

On your mark, get set, go!

Host

Great job to our winners. Don’t forget our Big Point,

Host

Be Willing To Wait! Let’s gather in our Small Groups and discuss what we’ve learned.

• What did Rusty do to avoid waiting? Create a remote control Why was it a mistake? He wasn’t waiting patiently, he tried to fix it all on his own

• Why is it hard to wait for something you want?

• Why is it important to wait until the right time?

• What are some ways you can practice patience this week at school? At home?

• Our Big Point says, Be Willing To _____!

  • Go

  • Wait

• What did Rusty create to help him avoid waiting?

  • Remote Control

  • Time Machine

• Jesus asked who to wait in Jerusalem?

  • Disciples

  • Angels

• Psalm 27:14 (NIrV), “Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don’t lose _____.”

  • Hope

  • Your cool

• Which gift were the disciples waiting for in Jerusalem?

  • Gold

  • Holy Spirit

• The disciples waited patiently.

  • True

  • False

• Why is it important to wait patiently?

• What is NOT part of the Fruit of the Spirit?

  • Love

  • Patience

  • Anger

• How did being impatient hurt Rusty?

• What is this week’s Big Do?

Plant wildflowers and wait for them to grow