I Love What Jesus Loves

Host

Welcome to the Lab!

Co-Host

I’m glad you’re here because in this series we’re learning how to become more like Jesus. Honestly, is there anyone better to copy than Jesus?

Host

I don’t think so. To get things started, let’s see how many of you are alike or different. We’re going to list some controversial statements and then ask some of you to argue for or against what is on the screen.

Co-Host

There were a lot of kids who agreed and a lot who disagreed with those statements.

Host

We may not always agree with everyone, but there is one person we should always agree with when it comes to what we say and do. I’m sure you have a clue who we’re talking about, but we’ll reveal it soon in our Big Point. First, let’s check in with our friends at the lab. Before we do, tell someone nearby if you agree that vanilla ice cream always beats chocolate ice cream.

Co-Host

That dodgeball team the lab faced sounds like they were really mean.

Host

I don’t think I agree with Sophia’s idea to get mean and nasty in return.

Co-Host

That doesn’t sound like the kind of choice that helps us become more like Jesus.

Host

Let’s check out our Big Point because it tells us how to become more like Jesus. I need a volunteer to help us reveal it.

Co-Host

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

Host

Let’s all say it together, I Love What Jesus Loves!

Co-Host

When you’re working to become more like Jesus, it helps to enjoy the kinds of attitudes and actions that Jesus enjoys.

Host

You might be wondering, “How do I know what Jesus loves?” That’s a great question. The best place to discover what God loves is the Bible. It’s God’s Word, so it teaches us how God views our world.

Co-Host

Let’s bring up some volunteers to help us. These balloons have a scripture and an attitude or action written on them. Together we’ll read the scripture. If the attitude or action is something Jesus loves, we’ll keep it. But if it doesn’t match the Bible, then he/she will pop it.

Host

The more we spend time reading the Bible, the better we’ll understand how to become more like Jesus.

Co-Host

And we’ll train ourselves to love the kinds of things that God loves. Maybe Herman can share that with the team before the dodgeball match.

Host

For a moment it looked like Sophia, Slater, and Ethel were determined to copy the Cobras dodgeball team.

Co-Host

It sounds like Herman pointed them in a better direction. I’m excited to see if he can coach them to a win. Let’s say our Big Point,

Co-Host

I Love What Jesus Loves!

Host

Herman shared a helpful Big Verse. Let’s choose an assistant to reveal it.

Co-Host

After we count down from three, we would like for you to read the verse.

Co-Host

Proverbs 8:13 (NIrV) says, “To have respect for the Lord is to hate evil.” That verse might surprise you because usually we’re taught to never say the word “hate.”

Host

It’s still wise not to use that word about a person. We should never hate people. But God doesn’t want to have anything to do with evil. That’s why He says to hate it. In this verse, it’s helpful to think of the word “hate” as reject.

Co-Host

We should reject anything that’s evil and focus on what is good. I think this game will help to illustrate what this means. We’re bringing up two contestants. Each will take a turn trying to catch ping pong balls.

Host

But there’s a catch. (Co-Host) and I will both throw ping pong balls, but we only want you to let the yellow ping pong balls in the bucket. You have to keep the white ping pong balls out of the bucket/basket. The winner is the one with the least amount of white ping pong balls in your bucket. If there’s a tie, whoever has the most yellow ping pong balls in their bucket wins. You’ll have 30 seconds to catch as many as you can.

Co-Host

You can’t just hope that you avoid evil things. It’s something you have to work toward. We can all put some effort into being more like Jesus by focusing on keeping the bad out.

Host

If what you’re doing, saying, or thinking doesn’t match the way Jesus wants us to speak or think or act, then get rid of it and choose to be more like Jesus. Let’s take a moment to stand and worship God.

Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. I want to take just a moment for you to pray at your seat. Right there where you are, I want you to ask God to show you if there’s anything that you love that He doesn’t love or anything you’re resisting that He loves. Ask God to help you think like He thinks and to get rid of anything that doesn’t belong. Take just a moment to pray, and then I’ll pray for everyone. (Pause to allow kids to pray) “Dear God, thank You that You show us what You love and what You hate. Help us to think like You think and to avoid the things that You don’t like. Help us to become more like You so we can shine a light for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Co-Host

I’m so excited that the team won the dodgeball match! I’m even more proud that they acted in a way that matched Jesus.

Host

Me, too. The Jewish leaders in our story weren’t doing things the way God intended. Jesus came to set them straight on what God really loved. The people who believed in Jesus were blessed. Let’s all follow our Big Point,

Host

I Love What Jesus Loves!

Co-Host

That’s a story you can share with your family when you do this week’s Big Do.

Host

Make a list of some things that Jesus loves and do one of those things this week.

Co-Host

Let’s play a game of charades. We’ll split the room (boys vs. girls, grades, etc.) and each participant will try to get their team to guess what they act out. Each of these things match something that Jesus would want us to do.

Host

Those would be some great things to copy this week. Let’s turn and connect with our Small Groups and talk about loving God.

• Have you ever been tempted to get back at someone by copying how they treated you, like the crew at Herman’s lab? What happened? Why do you think that we should work to become more like Jesus, even when others aren’t? We can be an example for them. It’s important to obey God even if other people don’t do it. It honors God and blesses us. We create problems for ourselves when we act opposite of Jesus.

• How do you think people reacted when Jesus cleared the Temple? Why did Jesus do that? He wanted everyone to have a chance to worship God. He wanted the leaders to know that God wasn’t pleased with their priorities. He wanted to send a message that things were changing.

• Name one thing about Jesus that you could copy this week.

• What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? Make a list of things Jesus loves and do one of them.

• Our Big Point says I _____ What Jesus Loves!

  • Love

  • Hate

• What game did the crew at the Lab play?

  • Soccer

  • Dodgeball

• Where did Jesus visit in the Big Story?

  • Palace

  • Temple

• The courtyard of the Temple was filled with what things?

  • Animals to be sold

  • Souvenir shops

• Jesus approved of what the merchants were doing at the temple.

  • True

  • False

• Proverbs 8:13 (NIrV), “To have respect for the Lord is to _____ evil.”

  • Love

  • Hate

• Name one thing that Jesus loves that we can do.

• How did Jesus respond to the evil things the Jewish leaders were doing?

  • He ignored it

  • He cleared the Temple

• The Jewish leaders were happy when Jesus healed people at the Temple.

  • True

  • False

• What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? Make a list of things Jesus loves and do one of them