Give Without Getting Back

Host

Welcome to the Lab! I love that we get to come to church each week and learn about how God wants to help us live a great life.

Co-Host

That’s how loving and awesome God is to us. We might serve God, but He constantly helps us become our best. He is so good to us.

Host

I guess that’s why goodness is a part of the Fruit of the Spirit. It grows in you because that’s a part of who God is. He is good.

Co-Host

The fruit growing in us comes from walking in step with the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to have that kind of attitude in your life?

Host

That’s what we’re going to discover today as we dig into the Bible. Let’s give you a little clue with a game. We have some kids who will play hot potato with a large beach ball, and they’ll be spread out all across the stage. When the music plays, you must toss the beach ball to each other. Whoever’s holding the ball or whoever threw it last if it’s in midair is out.

Co-Host

That was a crazy game. Usually you’re trying to grab everything for yourself, but that game was all about giving it away.

Host

That’s your first clue to the Big Point. Before we reveal it, let’s see what's going on at the lab. But first, tell someone what you would give your parents if you suddenly won a million dollars.

Co-Host

It looks really hot in Herman’s Lab. I think Sophia and Ethel have a great idea with the lemonade stand, but it sounds like they want to take advantage of the heat and overcharge for it.

Host

I think if they heard the Big Point, they might be more willing to offer the lemonade for a fair price and help their friends.

Co-Host

Let’s choose a Lab Assistant to help us reveal the Big Point so we can understand goodness better.

Co-Host

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

Host

Let’s all say it together, Give Without Getting Back! Sometimes we give away our time, our effort, or even our stuff with the hope that we’ll get something even better back in return.

Co-Host

Giving like that is more focused on yourself than others. Do you think the point of giving is to think about what you want or what other people need? (Pause) You’re right. Giving is about other people, not yourself.

Host

If your reason for giving is all about you, then you’re not showing the Fruit of the Spirit.

Co-Host

Let’s look at some scenarios, and we’ll poll the audience to see if you think that situation shows goodness or doesn’t show it. If you think that it does, raise both hands. If you believe it doesn’t, keep your hands in your lap.

Host

Goodness doesn’t mean that you never get anything in return. If we’re all choosing goodness, then we’re all helping each other out. That’s a good thing. Goodness means that we’re thinking more about others than ourselves.

Co-Host

It makes sense that fruit grows inside of you when you follow Jesus. He is always good. Jesus gave to us when we didn’t deserve it.

Host

We can display that same attitude. Let’s see if Ethel and Sophia will decide to show goodness to their friends.

Co-Host

I can’t believe they were selling lemonade for $200 per glass. Does it sound like they were trying to take advantage of their friends?

Host

It was fine for them to sell glasses of lemonade, but I don’t think they should have gone that extreme with the price. They definitely need to follow the Big Point,

Host

Give Without Getting Back!

Co-Host

We need a Lab Assistant to help us reveal the Big Verse. The Bible can help us better understand the value of our gifts.

Co-Host

After we count down from three, you get to read the verse.

Host

2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIrV), “Your gifts meet the needs of the Lord’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God.” Giving and showing goodness are great ways to help people learn about God.

Co-Host

Let’s explore more about what this verse means. We have a couple of friends who are wearing t-shirts. They seem plain, but they each have a message on them.

Co-Host

You can’t really see the message because they’re painted with a special kind of paint that reveals itself in the sun. We’re going to shine this UV light on the shirt. Imagine this kid represents someone who is only out for themselves, but still tells everyone that he/she is a Christian. Let’s see what message he/she sends.

Host

That’s not the message you want to send. Let’s say this kid is someone who gives without getting back. Let’s see the message they send.

Co-Host

If you tell all your friends that you are a Christian, but you constantly put yourself first, doing unkind things, do you think they’ll have a positive idea about Jesus? Probably not.

Host

When we show God’s goodness to other people, we give without getting back, and then we help others understand the truth about God. Let’s stand and worship God now.

The Holy Spirit is our guide. He’s the One who helps us make the right choices, shows us ways to help others, and produces the fruit of goodness in our hearts. Without the Holy Spirit at work in your life, it’s really hard to put other people ahead of yourself. Until you say, “Yes” to following Jesus, you don’t have access to the power the Holy Spirit gives. Believing in Jesus and making Him the leader of your life is the first step in walking in step with the Holy Spirit.

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 heads, 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, and tell Him you want to live differently, raise your hand. We’re going to pray all together. 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 and leader of my life, because I’ve said, “Yes” to You. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer for the very first time today, that is such good news and we want to talk about it with you. When we break into Small Groups, you can join a special Small Group just for kids who said, “Yes” for the first time. Look for that special sign as we break later.

Host

I’m glad that Sophia and Ethel had a change of heart about their lemonade stand.

Co-Host

They are definitely walking in step with the Holy Spirit now. It’s like Paul and Silas. They could have thought only of themselves, but instead they helped the jailer and his family meet Jesus.

Host

Paul’s story is a great example of living out the Big Point,

Host

Give Without Getting Back! 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 make a homemade gift for someone else. It could be a picture, a card, or even a song. Give it to someone without asking for anything in return.

Host

Let’s play a game in which two teams compete to give something away. We have two teams of four kids. On each side of the stage is a hula hoop. One team member must stand inside the hoop for the entire game. Their job is to tag anyone from the other team who comes near. Each team tries to place as many balls as possible inside the hula hoop. If you get tagged, you must go back to the starting point and try again.

Co-Host

You have sixty seconds to get as many in each hoop as you can.

Host

On your mark, get set, go!

Host

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

Host

Give Without Getting Back! Let’s gather in our Small Groups and discuss what we’ve learned.

• What’s a nice thing someone did for you? Did that person want you to do something for him/her in return?

• How has God shown goodness to us?

• Do you think it was hard for Paul and Silas to show kindness to the jailer? What difference did Paul and Silas’ goodness make?

• What are some ways that you could show goodness this week?

• Our Big Point says, Give Without _____!

  • Giving Too Much

  • Getting Back

• Why did Paul make some people mad in Philippi?

  • He helped a girl in need

  • He stole some money

• What happened to Paul and Silas in Philippi?

  • Thrown in jail

  • Celebrated by the city

• 2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIrV), “Your gifts meet the needs of the Lord’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to _____ God.”

  • Ignore

  • Thank

• Paul and Silas showed goodness to which person?

  • Their friend

  • The jailer

• Name one way that God has been good to us.

• Why is it important to show goodness to others?

• What good decision did the jailer and his family make?

  • To hurt Paul

  • To say “Yes” to Jesus

• Paul and Silas escaped from the jailer’s house and never went back to the jail.

  • True

  • False

• What is this week’s Big Do?

Make a homemade gift for someone