I Am Comforted

Venue Ideas

Choose one of the following venue options or create your own.

Pajama Sunday

Have the kids wear pajamas and provide a yummy breakfast treat.

Hot Chocolate Bar

Turn up the heat with an inside Hot Chocolate bar complete with marshmallows, sprinkles, and the works. Use the classic drink to comfort the kids.

Animal Show

Hire a local performer who works with animals such as dogs, birds, etc.

Host

Welcome to Summer To The Max!

Host

When you live like Jesus, you can’t help but choose a new kind of attitude.

Co-Host

Each week we’re learning what those attitudes look like. Last week we learned that when we need God’s help, we can be sure that He will help us.

Host

Let’s check out today’s Big Point so we can learn more about what Jesus said.

Co-Host

We need everyone to help us count down from three, and then we’ll read the Big Point.

Host

Let’s all say it together, I Am Comforted! One fun activity to do during the summer is spend the night with your cousins or spend a week at your grandparents’ house.

Co-Host

Even the bravest among us gets a little nervous away from home that long. That’s why we usually carry an item with us to help us remember the comfort of home.

Host

What are some items that you bring on a trip? (Allow for answers) Pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets are great ways to feel comfort no matter where you are.

Co-Host

Blankets are helpful at home, too. There’s nothing like building a nice blanket fort in the living room. We have two teams who are going to try to build the fastest fort in the world using the items provided.

Host

The first team to get the blanket held off the ground and everyone under the blanket wins.

Host

What if you don’t have your pillow or your blanket fort? Can you still feel comfort?

Co-Host

Absolutely. No matter where you are, you are never too far from God to feel His comfort.

Host

Unlike blankets, you can never lose God. He’s always with you, and knowing you’re not alone provides you with great comfort.

Co-Host

There’s never a moment when God forgets where we are or loses track of us. He’s always watching over us.

Host

If you knew a giant bodyguard was always nearby, you’d feel some relief. Well, you have someone better beside you. That’s a reason to stand and worship God.

Co-Host

Let’s say our Big Point again,

Co-Host

I Am Comforted!

Host

Let’s see what Jesus said in the Bible about being comforted by looking at the Big Verse.

Co-Host

Everyone, count down from three, and then we’ll read the verse.

Host

Matthew 5:4 (NIrV), “Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted.” Blessed, in this verse, means “happy” “loved by God,” and “receiving good things from God.” Isn’t that the opposite of feeling sad? How can you be sad and happy at the same time?

Co-Host

Usually, when we feel sad or worried, the goal is to get rid of the sadness or fear as soon as possible. Back in the ancient world, people would carry smooth stones with them to help them stay calm. Twirling it in their fingers was a way of finding comfort.

Host

In today’s world, though, we might use bubble wrap. Does anyone like popping the bubbles? It’s fun, right? Let’s choose some contestants to see who’s the fastest bubble popper.

Co-Host

Wasn’t that fun? Bubble wrap does help people feel better, but not for long. Once the bubbles are popped, it’s easy for the negative feelings to come back.

Host

Real comfort is comfort that lasts. That kind of comfort can only come from Jesus. It’s not temporary relief. Jesus came to fix our biggest problem, sin, so that we could be part of God’s family.

Co-Host

The good news that we will live forever with God helps us choose happiness, even when sad things happen. We know that God’s comfort lasts. It’s just like the help Jesus gave to a sick man in the Bible. Listen to his story.

Host

I have no idea what kind of things are going on in your family. There could be some sad things or situations that make you worried. The good news is that no matter what is going on, you are blessed because God wants to comfort you. We have some Connectors up front who want to pray with you. If you would like to pray with someone and ask God for His comfort, then come down as we sing this worship song and find someone to pray with.

Co-Host

I love that Jesus wasn’t afraid to touch the man with skin disease. That man hadn’t been hugged in a long time, but Jesus comforted and healed him. That story reminds us that Jesus can help us in any situation. Let’s say the Big Point,

Co-Host

I Am Comforted!

Host

That brings us to this week’s Big Do.

Host

Share some comfort with someone in your family. You could make them a simple comfort snack, share a blanket, or give a hug. Remind your family that we all have God’s comfort.

Co-Host

One fun thing about the summer is Shark Week, on TV. Those stories are so interesting! Did you know that the scales on a shark point towards the tail? If you rubbed a shark from the tail towards the head, it would feel as rough as sandpaper.

Host

If you rubbed the shark the opposite way, their skin would feel smooth. It’s a good reminder that when life feels rough, God’s comfort is there to soothe our hearts. Let’s connect in our Small Groups and discuss this summer of new attitude.

• How would you have felt if you were the man in our story and had to spend so much time away from friends and family? (Allow for answers) How do you think he felt when Jesus touched him and healed him?

• How can we be blessed or happy, even when we feel sad? Because God comforts us, because we know He loves us and is helping us, because we know He has good things ahead. How do we know that God will comfort us? We trust what God’s Word says, and it’s full of stories when God did comfort people. People we know at church have also been comforted through hard situations by the Lord. What makes God’s comfort different than what we feel when we have a warm blanket or even a hug? God’s comfort helps our hearts. He always knows exactly what we need. His comfort never ends.

• Our Big Point says, I Am ______!

  • Comforted

  • Sad

• What was wrong with the man in the Big Story who found Jesus?

  • Couldn’t hear
  • Skin disease

• The man broke the rules by coming up to Jesus.

  • True

  • False

• Having a skin disease mean the man couldn’t ______.

  • Visit his family

  • Leave his hometown

• Jesus came to fix the messes in our world.

  • True

  • False

• Matthew 5:4 (NIrV), “Blessed are those who are ____. They will be comforted.”

  • Sad

  • Mean

• What is one way that God comforts us?

• God’s comfort is only temporary.

  • True

  • False

• Why was Jesus angry when the man asked to be healed?

  • Jesus was mad at the guy

  • Jesus was mad at the sickness

• What is this week’s Big Do?

Make a family member a comfort snack, share a blanket, or give a hug. Remind your family that we all have God’s comfort.