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Large Group Full Program Instructions
Series Note: Each Summer to the Max lesson incorporates a special venue into the service. Adding a venue allows the summer schedule to change while still keeping the focus on Biblical truth. Venues can be done during the first 30 minutes of service or final 30 minutes of service. If you are also utilizing Summer to the Max Junior lessons, consider keeping one venue at the beginning and one at the end. That will keep costs down by allowing both groups to enjoy the same venue. Each lesson offers multiple venue options at different price points to accommodate your budget. Promoting the venues ahead of time will build excitement for Summer to the Max!
Weekly Venue: Choose one of the following venue options or create your own. These venues connect kids to the story of Moses parents' decision to do things God's way.
Float the Boat and/or Will it Float?
Split the kids into groups and distribute materials to see if they can create their own boat. Use can use paper, cardstock, or carboard along with tape or other adhesives. See which team’s boat floats the longest. For added fun you can play “Will it Float?” with different items and have the kids guess which will float.
Moses Craft
Purchase a Moses themed craft and have each child create one. You can also give them materials such as paper or flexible PVC board and have the kids weave their own tiny “ark” for Moses.
Escape from Egypt
Have a movie moment and show a movie featuring the Life of Moses. It could be a portion of the “Prince of Egypt” or another movie such as Superbook or VeggiTales. Serve fresh popcorn as a snack.
Another option is to do a Moses or Egyptian themed Escape Room. Printable escape rooms can be purchased on Etsy or from lockpaperscissors.co. Purchasing an Escape Room may require edits since some are not Biblically related. Add to the experience by decorating the room and using physical puzzles and obstacle courses.
Host
Welcome to Summer To The Max!
Co-Host
We’ve already hit the middle of the summer. I hope that you have begun to live differently for God so that you can live your life to the max.
Host
Sometimes, when you get to the middle, it’s hard to push forward. Thankfully we serve a God who not only challenges us to live differently; He also helps us do it. Let's stand and worship him.
Co-Host
Let’s find out another way we can live different in today’s Big Point. We’re going to countdown from three. All of the adults will say, “Three,” the boys will say, “Two,” and the girls can shout, “One!”
Host
Let’s all say it together, I Can Do The Right Thing! When we say the “right thing,” we mean doing things God’s way.
Co-Host
If you don’t know what God says, then you can’t follow His way, and if you just make up what you think is right, you might make a mess.
Bring out volunteer kids.
Host
Let’s test that theory. We have two teams of three kids who will try to build a replica of the tower we are going to show you. The only problem is that one team will be blindfolded. (Blindfold one team) Here’s the tower. Follow the exact directions and color scheme.
Play optional game music. The kids will attempt to copy the structure on the screen to the exact dimensions, however the blindfolded team will not be able to see the picture or have any help from the teacher. You can stop the game after a minute or two to compare towers.
Co-Host
Times up. You can take off your blindfolds. Let’s see how the towers compare.
Host
Yikes. It didn’t work out so well to make it up as you went. Obviously, the team that could see the directions and followed them did much better. We want to do the right thing, but first we have to know the right thing to do. That begins with listening to God and His Word.
Co-Host
If you make up what you think is right, then you might end up with a mess.
Co-Host
Let’s say our Big Point again, I Can Do The Right Thing!
Host
Let’s see what the Bible says about doing the right thing in the Big Verse. We’re going to countdown from three. All of the boys will say, “Three,” the adults will say, “Two,” and the girls can shout, “One!”
Host
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIrV), “Brothers and sisters, don’t ever get tired of doing what is good.” Doing what is good and right won’t always be the easy thing to do. In fact, it’s often the harder choice, but it’s worth it to become a different you – to be who God created you to be.
Co-Host
Let’s demonstrate what this means. We need two kids to assist us with this task. (Choose two kids) These flashlights aren’t ordinary flashlights. They’re perfect for emergencies because they don’t require batteries or need to be charged. To get them to work, all you have to do is crank them.
Host
We’re going to have you crank these flashlights for one whole minute. Crank as hard as you can, and let’s see what happens.
Ensure that the flashlights are dead before the Engage begins. Have the kids crank the flashlights but have one of them stop partway. Before the Engage, test the flashlight to see how fast the light fades with just 30 seconds of cranking and adjust how quickly to stop the kid whose light you want to fade.
Co-Host
Let’s turn on the lights.
Turn on both flashlights. The one that was cranked part way fades.
Host
That’s the value of continuing to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. The one light is still going, but the other light has already faded. Your light shines brightly when you keep doing what God wants you to do.
Co-Host
That’s what we can do all summer long. Let’s stand and take a moment to worship God.
Moses’ parents made the tough choice to ignore the king’s rule and do what was right. They didn’t make up what they thought was right; they followed God’s way. Their decision to do the right thing changed the world. You can choose to do the right things, too. Let’s take a moment to pray the Big Verse. One way to practice the verse is to make it into a prayer. Repeat after me, “Jesus, thank You for giving me strength to never get tired of doing what is good.” Let’s repeat that a couple more times. (Repeat) Becoming a different you isn’t easy, but it’s worth it, so keep going.
Host
We have the opportunity to help a lot of kids this summer.
Share info about the giving project you have chosen to support. Consider donating all summer offerings to a local ministry or global missionary.
Co-Host
The Bible says in Proverbs 3:27 “Don’t hold back when you can help.” Doing the right thing means helping when you have the ability to do it.
Host
Not every person can give the same amount. That’s totally cool. This isn’t a competition to beat each other in giving. We’re all working together, doing what we can to help. That’s exactly what Moses's parents did in the Bible.
Co-Host
Our Big Point will make a big difference. Remember,
Co-Host
I Can Do The Right Thing! Doing the right thing could be as simple as refusing to cheat on a test or going against the crowd by not picking on another kid. You might be the only one picking up trash in your house while everyone else is playing, but don’t quit.
Host
The older you get, the more those choices matter. Moses’ parents had to decide between life and death for Moses, but they did the right thing. That’s something you can talk about when you do this week’s Big Do.
Host
Choose a helpful task to do for someone else and don’t stop until the job is done.
Co-Host
We have a task for you to complete. (Have volunteers spread the balls out among the kids) We’ve just dumped a bunch of balls/wads of paper in your section. Your task it to try to clear out your section by tossing them into another section. Keep going until the time stops.
Play optional game music. Play the game. Choose the section that has the least amount of balls left as the winner.
Host
Great job to our winners. Don’t forget that living differently means making the choice to do the right thing even if that choice is different from everyone else.
Small Group is optional as time allows. Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following.
In our true story from the Bible today whose parents chose to do the right thing? What did they do?
Why did they have to hide baby Moses?
What are some of the things Moses went on to do as an adult?
Can you tell me about a time you chose to do the right thing?
What is today's Big Do? Choose a helpful task to do for someone else and don’t stop until the job is done.
Summer Big Challenge Games:
Hula Challenge: Keep a two hula hoops spinning on each arm for 20 seconds
Limbo Challenge: You have two chances to make it under the limbo pole without falling
Tap It: Play the memory game on Tap It. Can you make it to round 6?
Brain Freeze: Eat a Pop Ice in under 30 seconds
Hover Ball: Three shots to score a goal with a hover ball
Beach Ball Basketball: Toss two beachballs into a human goal (two people holding hands to make a hoop)
Super Combo: Grab a friend and act out which of the pictures on the screen will not get “X-ed” out
Ultimate Tag: Try to pull both flags from your opponent
Split the room into two teams and alternate choosing one child from each team to come onstage and answer a question. If the child gets the question right, then he or she can compete in a Summer Big Challenge.
Our Big Point says I Can Do The _______ Thing!
Right
Wrong
Who did Pharaoh want to kill?
Baby boys
Baby girls
What did Moses’ parents do after he was born?
Hid him
Killed him
Where did Moses’ mom place him after three months?
Basket boat
Treehouse
The Pharoah enslaved the Israelites in Egypt.
True
False
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIrV), “Brothers and sisters, don’t ever get _____ of doing what is good.”
Tired
Bored
Who watched over Moses in the river?
Uncle
Sister
Who found Moses in the river and adopted him?
Pharoah’s daughter
Egyptian soldier
Doing the right thing is always the easy choice.
True
False
What is this week’s Big Do? Choose a helpful task to do for someone else and don’t stop until the job is done.