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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 help teach the concept of honor. You honor the kids with a fun treat or use your talents to honor God.
Snow Cones
Rent a snow cone machine or hire an outside vendor such as Kona Ice.
Bible Art Day
Create your own art show allowing the kids to paint or draw pictures that honor God. Display them so parents can view the art show after church. Provide simple snacks.
Ice Cream Sundae Sunday
Provide ice cream with all the toppings. Kids get to create their own ice cream sundaes.
Host
Welcome to Summer To The Max!
Co-Host
Why is it to the max? Because we’re learning to live differently for God.
Host
And living differently will result in a different you, helping you to become a person who honors and pleases God.
Co-Host
Let’s check out 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 will shout, “One!”
Host
Let’s all say it together, I Can Honor God! When we honor God, we show God the proper respect and bring Him our best. That’s because He deserves it.
Co-Host
Honoring God brings blessings to us, too. Let’s play a game as we get started. If you were going to honor someone, then you would want to go all out with your best.
Host
In this game, we have two teams who will compete to build the largest tower of ice cream. We have an adult volunteer who will scoop the ice cream and two teammates who will stack. You have 60 seconds to scoop and stack. Go!
Play optional game music. Each team will have a scoop and gallon of ice cream. Consider giving one vanilla and the other chocolate or strawberry. Have a couple of scoops already scooped before the game, sitting on the tablecloth, so the kids can immediately begin grabbing the scoops and stacking them onto the cone. Have the players wear plastic gloves for easy cleanup.
Co-Host
Great job to our winners!
Host
You brought your best in that game. Bringing your best honors God!
Co-Host
Let’s say our Big Point again,
Co-Host
I Can Honor God!
Host
That’s living differently. Not everyone makes the choice to honor God, which is unfortunate, because they miss out on the good things that come when you bring your best to God.
Co-Host
Let’s see what the Bible says about this by checking out the Big Verse.
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
Deuteronomy 10:12 (NIrV), “What is the Lord your God asking you to do? Honor Him.” If you don’t honor and respect God, then it’s really hard to obey Him.
Co-Host
Let’s talk about some ways we might approach God, and you tell us if that action honors God or dishonors God by giving us a thumbs up or thumbs down.
Thanking God before a meal
Distracting a friend during a Bible story
Never reading your Bible
Praying
Going to church
Pretending you aren’t a Christian around your friends
Giving way less than you are able to give
Obeying God’s word
Host
It’s not that doing or not doing any one of those things will make you into a Christian; our actions and words are the things that reveal what’s going on inside our hearts.
Co-Host
True honor comes from how you think and feel about God in your heart. Let’s stand and take a moment to worship God.
Abel brought a gift that honored God. That’s using your faith because Abel trusted that God would take care of him, even if he offered his best. Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. Take a moment to talk to God. Ask God to show you one way that you could honor Him this summer. Maybe it’s giving or spending more time with God. It could be choosing to obey more. Ask Him. (Pause) Don’t be afraid to be different. Other people might not honor God, but you can be like Abel and set the example.
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 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your wealth. Give Him the first share of all your crops.” Giving is a great way to honor God, especially when you give to God before you give to yourself. It's important to give your best to God, just like Abel did.
Host
Keep giving, and let’s see if we can reach our goal.
Co-Host
As you take this summer to the max, be sure to follow our Big Point,
Co-Host
I Can Honor God!
Host
You can begin with this week’s Big Do.
Host
Make a snack for someone special this week instead of making one for yourself. Give your best effort to making this a snack that will bless that person.
Co-Host
Suppose you planned to give your mom or dad an ice cream sundae as a snack. You could offer them one with these toppings.
Present the first sundae and add the dirt, worms, and mayo. Describe each ingredient as you add it.
Host
Would your mom or dad feel blessed by that dessert? No way. That’s gross. But what if you gave them this sundae.
Present the second bowl and add the syrup, whipped cream, and cherry.
Co-Host
This looks like a dessert that would honor someone. That’s because you gave your best effort.
Host
We want to do the same for God. Just like Abel brought his best, we can bring our best. God loves us, and He loves to bless us as we honor and follow Him. So, get ready to live differently, as you honor God!
Small Group is optional as time allows. Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following.
What does it look like to honor someone?
Tell me about a time someone honored you. How did it make you feel?
What were the names of the brothers in our Bible story?
Which brother's gift honored God?
What is one way that you can choose to honor God?
What is our Big Do this week? Make a snack for someone special this week instead of making one for yourself.
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 six?
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. Play optional game music.
Our Big Point says I Can ______ God!
Honor
Ignore
The brothers in the Big Story were named Cain and _____.
Adam
Abel
Who was Cain and Abel’s dad?
Noah
Adam
What did Cain bring to God?
Crops
Sheep
God preferred Abel’s offering over Cain’s.
True
False
Deuteronomy 10:12 (NIrV), “What is the Lord your God asking you to do? _____ Him.”
Give to
Honor
How did Cain react to God’s choice?
He rejoiced
He was angry
You can only honor God by giving lots of money.
True
False
What are some ways that we can honor God?
What is this week’s Big Do? Make a snack for someone special this week instead of making one for yourself.