Care For Others
Rusty refuses to take part in a 5k run for charity but after a crippling cramp, he learns that a little kindness can go a long way.
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Large Group Full Program
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This content is provided free of charge by The Ark Church.
Large Group Full Program Instructions
Countdown / Rules
Question of the Day: What’s the best part and worst part about going to the doctor’s office?
Engage 1 Prep: This Engage uses a stretchy band that can be purchased online from companies like Amazon or S&S Worldwide. It’s similar to exercise stretch bands in material. Four kids can fit inside the band with the band around their waist. When they run, the band will stretch, but not break, allowing kids to pull the other three away from their goal (the ball) so that they can reach their ball. Place the balls on cones at four corners of the stage outside of the reach of the kids. Have the kids stand in the center of the stage with the stretchy band around them.
WelcomeMaterials: Lab Coat, Doctor’s Scrubs, Fake Needle, Sucker
Host enters.
Host
Welcome to the Lab! We’ve learned a lot about staying in step with the Holy Spirit and growing good fruit in our lives, but there’s still more to discover.
Optional, Play siren sound effect. Co-Host enters.
Co-Host
Where’s the emergency?!
Host
What?
Co-Host
Am I too late? He/She looks like a goner. I’m going to need three cc’s of something I can’t pronounce.
Co-Host pulls out a fake needle.
Host
Get that needle away from me!
Co-Host chases the Host around the stage with the needle.
Co-Host
Stop being a baby.
Co-Host pokes the Host with the needle. The Host realizes it’s fake.
Co-Host
Here’s a sucker. Wow, I really am a great example of today’s Big Point. Don’t you think? Are you still crying from your shot?
Host
I’m not crying. The needle wasn’t even real. I appreciate your help, but I think we have a great plan to help everyone understand today’s Big Point. Before we reveal it, let’s see how everyone is feeling at the lab today. As we do, tell someone where you prefer to sleep when you’re sick: in your bed or on the couch.
Engage 1Materials: Lab Coat, Doctor’s Scrubs, Grabber tool, Stretchy Band Cooperative Game
Host and Co-Host enter. This Engage uses a stretchy band that can be purchased online from companies like Amazon or S&S Worldwide. It’s similar to exercise stretch bands in material. Four kids can fit inside the band with the band around their waist. When they run, the band will stretch, but not break, allowing kids to pull the other three away from their goal (the ball) so that they can reach their ball. Place the balls on cones at four corners of the stage outside of the reach of the kids. Have the kids stand in the center of the stage with the stretchy band around them.
Co-Host
I really like these scrubs. I totally think I could be a doctor. You know, really serve people, for duty and humanity!
Host sneezes. The Co-Host uses a grabber tool to wipe the Host’s nose.
Host
You really understand the personal touch of a doctor.
Co-Host
I’m just an ordinary hero.
Host
Maybe we should take a closer look at the Fruit of the Spirit to see how we should really act. Let’s choose a Lab Assistant to come up and help us reveal the Big Point.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host
Get ready to read the Big Point after we count down from three,
Co-Host
Let’s all say it together, Care For Others! Isn’t that what I did when I wiped your nose?
Host
Not exactly. Kindness is an attitude that grows in us when we walk in step with the Holy Spirit. To be kind, you have to be okay with getting up close and personal with people.
Co-Host
Germs. Yuck.
Host
You can’t truly be kind if you’re only looking out for your own interests. That brings me to an idea for a game.
Choose four kids of similar size.
Co-Host
This should be fun. We’ve chosen four contestants to play this game. They will all get inside this stretchy band.
Host
The goal is for each of them to grab the ball from one of these trays. Let’s see who gets it first. Ready, set, go!
Optional, Play game music. Play the game. If time allows, play a couple of rounds.
Co-Host
Wow, they were competitive. It was hard to grab the ball when everyone was moving in opposite directions.
Host
Watch what happens when they work together to grab all four.
Have the kids go from tray to tray grabbing each ball.
Co-Host
That was a lot easier. I get it. Caring for others means that sometimes you give up what you want so that you can help another person with what he or she needs.
Host
That’s how you live the Big Point. Let’s see if Rusty is willing to do a go the extra mile and run for charity.
Engage 2Materials: Lab Coat, Doctor’s Scrubs, Tongue Depressor, Balloons (4), Shaving Cream, Butterknife (2), Plastic Tarp, Garbage Bags or Ponchos
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
I think Rusty might be getting a taste of what it’s like to not have help when you need it.
Host
You may not feel like showing kindness, but you’ll appreciate it when someone else shows kindness to you. That’s why it’s good for all of us to follow the Big Point,
Host
Care For Others!
Host
We need a Lab Assistant to help us reveal the Big Verse. God’s Word guides us to wise thinking and wise actions.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host
Wait, let’s see if he/she is healthy enough to help us countdown to the verse. Say, “Ahhh.” (Co-Host uses a clean tongue depressor to check) Wow, you had a big breakfast. Shout it out as we count down from three, and then we’ll read the verse.
Host
Ephesians 4:32 (NIrV), “Be kind and tender to one another.” To be tender, you have to be careful.
Co-Host
Have you ever had someone come over to play, and they start throwing your toys around or crashing them into walls? That’s the opposite of tender.
Host
Let’s bring out some contestants for a game about tenderness. We have two teams consisting of one adult volunteer and one kid each.
Co-Host
We have balloons that need a good shave. You’re going to use a butter knife to shave both balloons as quickly as possible.
Host
Be tender, or else you might find yourself covered in shaving cream. Go!
Play the game. You can have the kids hold the balloon or you can inflate them with helium and tie them to weights. Have the contestants wear ponchos or garbage bags to protect their clothes.
Co-Host
Great job. Being kind means not hurting others. Kindness is all about helping the people around you.
Host
All the while making sure that what you do for them actually helps those people. Thankfully, God helps us find the right ways to show kindness. Let’s stand and worship God together.
Big Story
Optional, play soft instrumental music.
One of the great parts of being a Christian is having so many friends who care for you. The Holy Spirit helps us to show kindness. Let’s show some kindness to our friends today. I want you to pray for the person on each side of you. Let’s make sure that everyone has someone praying for them. Take a moment and pray for that person. Ask God to help them, care for them, and provide for all the things they need. (Pause) I want to take a moment to pray for all of you, too. (Pray)
Engage 3Materials: Lab Coat, Doctor’s Scrubs, Inflatable Food
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Can you believe that Ananias willingly went to visit Saul? Do you think that was hard since he knew that Saul was responsible for hurting so many Christians?
Co-Host
Ananias was a guy who walked in step with the Holy Spirit. He had faith to go wherever God sent him. I’m glad he followed the Big Point,
Co-Host
Care For Others!
Host
Let’s check out this week’s Big Do, so we can learn how to use the Big Point this week.
Co-Host
The Big Do is to make a treat and share it with someone you know. You could bake some bread, make a cake, or even some delicious brownies. That simple gesture can let someone know that you care.
**Host**
I have a fun way to practice our Big Do on stage right now. We’re going to play a giant round of hot potato with these inflatable foods.
Choose several kids to come on stage and play or use the entire room and let everyone play.
Co-Host
When we say go, start tossing the desserts to each other. Keep going because you don’t want to be left holding it when the music stops.
Host
On your mark, get set, go!
Play game music. Play the game.
Host
Great job to our winners. Don’t forget our Big Point,
Host
Care For Others! Let’s gather in our Small Groups and discuss what we’ve learned.
Small Group
Gather the kids into Small Groups and discuss the following.
What is something your parents or grandparents do for you when you’re sick?
Share a time when someone showed kindness to you.
How did Ananias show kindness to Saul? Ananias prayed for Saul to be healed. Do you think it was a hard choice? What would you have done?
What are some ways God has shown kindness to you? He has forgiven me, He sent Jesus to die for me, He loves me, He helps me…
Big Review
Choose two kids from the audience to come on stage and answer the question.
Our Big Point says, Care For _____!
Myself
Others
What did Rusty refuse to participate in at the Lab?
Race for charity
Pie eating contest
Saul was known for doing what to Christians?
Persecuting them
Helping them
Ephesians 4:32 (NIrV), “Be kind and ______ to one another.”
Tough
Tender
What happened to Saul on his way to Damascus?
Got lost
Became blind
Who did God send to pray for Saul?
Ananias
Phillip
What is one way you could show kindness to someone?
What happened when Ananias prayed for Saul?
Nothing
He was healed
Saul went on to tell lots of people about Jesus, and he even wrote many books in the Bible.
True
False
What is this week’s Big Do?
Bake something