Work Hard!

Co-Host These kids have 60 seconds to grab as many marbles out of their bucket as possible. The challenge: they can only use their toes, and the water is icy cold.

Host Great job to our winners! That was not easy.

Co-Host I heard they were going to sleep in that ice bucket, but then they got cold feet. Get it? Get it? Their feet were cold.

Host The important thing is that they pushed through and kept racing. Today we’re going to discover what wise people do when they have a big job in front of them. Stand to your feet. Turn to someone and tell him or her what kind of job you’d love to have when you grow up.

Host Am I the only one who thinks that Rusty might not get his work done?

Co-Host I’m with you guys. He’s watching TV instead of working.

Host He’s doing the opposite of what our Big Point says. That’s not a wise choice. Let’s choose an assistant to reveal the Big Point.

Co-Host You can help us we count down from three and then read the Big Point.

Co-Host Let’s all say it together, Work Hard! I think we all know that we’re supposed to work hard, but some days it’s difficult to make yourself do it.

Host Maybe you’ve had a project in school that you waited until the last minute to work on. That’s not a peaceful experience. King Solomon wrote this in Proverbs 6:6 (NIrV),

Host “You people who don’t want to work, think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise.”

Co-Host That reminds me of a story I heard when I was a kid, “The Ant and the Grasshopper.” One works hard and the other goofs off.

Host I thought it might be fun to retell that story here, but do it as a mad lib. I need a volunteer to be the ant, and you (Co-Host) will be the grasshopper. I will call out the types of words I need and then read the story. As I do, the ant and grasshopper will act it out.

Ant and Grasshopper Mad Lib: One summer day a grasshopper sat upon a (Plant) playing his (Instrument). He noticed a small ant carrying (Food) on his (Body part). The grasshopper hopped down and asked the ant if he would like to play (Game). The ant explained that he had a lot of work to do to get ready for winter. The grasshopper laughed and (Type of dance) away while the ant worked. This happened day after day. The grasshopper sang (Song) and the ant worked. Summer turned to Fall and Fall into Winter. That’s when the grasshopper noticed he couldn’t see the ground. It was covered in (Something white). The wind was so cold that shivers ran up and down the grasshopper’s (Body part). He was cold and hungry and could not find a single (Food). The ant, on the other hand, was warm and toasty as he drank hot (Drink) by his fire watching (TV Show). The grasshopper stared through the ant’s window and wished he had worked a lot harder during the summer.

Co-Host I guess the same is true whether its school, sports, or anywhere. It pays to work hard.

Host Even better, it also honors God when we give our best work. Let’s see if Rusty will get up off of that couch.

Host I’m worried that Rusty has still not moved off of the couch.

Co-Host I saw him drink a two liter of Pepsi. I’m really concerned. I think it would be better if he listened to the Big Point. Let say it together,

Co-Host Work Hard!

Host Proverbs talks about the value of hard work. Let’s see what the Bible says in our Big Verse. We need an assistant to help us reveal it.

Co-Host Help us count down from three, and then you can read the verse.

Co-Host Proverbs 13:4 (NIrV) says, “The desires of people who work hard are completely satisfied.”

Host There’s something wise people understand; it’s called cause and effect. The choices you make do have an effect on your life. Let’s take a look at some scenarios and see if you can tell us what kind of effect that choice will have on a kid’s life.

Host

• Wait until the night before your book report is due to begin reading the book

• Never go to baseball practice but show up for gameday

• Start working on a science fair project weeks before its due

• Doodle pictures on your paper during the first twenty minutes of a test

• Turn in all of your homework assignments on time

• Practicing your soccer dribble at home after practice

Co-Host Hard work brings good blessings, but laziness causes problems.

Host In the short term it might seem easier to goof off, that just creates problems and a way worse ending. The Bible says that we should work as if it’s for God and not for people.

Co-Host Our homework honors God. Wow, that changes the way I think about math problems.

Host It pleases God when we give our best. That’s something King Solomon did when he was in charge of a big project. Let’s give our best now to God as we stand to worship.

(Play Soft Instrumental Song) Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. We’re going to take a moment and think about some of the things you want. You might think about a friendship you’d like to see repaired, or a grade you want to see improve, or a room you’d like to see sparkling clean. You can have those things if you work hard. What I love about serving God is that we don’t work alone. He helps us, and I know He will help you. Take a moment to pray and ask God to help you work hard this week. Pick one area you know you could improve in and ask for God’s help. Let’s pray. (Pause) I believe that when you work hard and honor God you will see some great blessings. Let’s stand and worship God.

Co-Host Rusty really missed out because he wouldn’t get off of the couch.

Host He had the brains to do the job, he just didn’t do it. God gave King Solomon all he needed to complete the temple, but it was up to Solomon and his workers to do the job. Thankfully, they did. It’s a great example of our Big Point,

Host Work Hard!

Co-Host You have the chance to make a different choice than Rusty when you do this week’s Big Do.

Host Clean your room, but do it the best you’ve ever done. Even clean under your bed and tackle that closet you are afraid to open. You can get your mom, dad, or aunt involved. Maybe they could tackle that garage everyone’s afraid to enter.

Co-Host Let’s try it out right now with a game. We’ve chosen two teams of kids to do a room cleaning relay.

Host Each kid will do a different cleaning task. When you’re finished, tag the next kid, and he or she will tackle the next chore. Keep going and work hard. The first team to finish all their tasks wins.

Co-Host Wow! If you guys clean like that this week, we’re going to have some parents who are really impressed with their wise kids.

Host Remember, you’re not just doing it for your parents; you’re also cleaning to honor God. Let’s turn and connect with our small groups and talk about what we’ve learned.

• How did Rusty’s laziness affect the lab? How did affect him?

• Which part of Solomon’s temple would you have liked to work on? How do you think the workers felt when they saw the finished temple? How did their work honor God?

• What is one area you can work harder in this week?

• What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? Clean your room

• Our Big Point says Work _____!

  • Hard
  • Less

• What did Rusty do instead of working?

  • Read
  • Watch TV

• What building did God ask Solomon to build?

  • Temple
  • Gym

• What material covered the temple?

  • Aluminum
  • Gold

• Which insect did Solomon reference in Proverbs?

  • Grasshopper
  • Ant

• Proverbs 13:4 (NIrV), “The desires of people who work hard are completely ______.”

  • Ignored
  • Satisfied

• Why is it important to work hard?

• God didn’t give Solomon enough materials to build the building.

  • True
  • False

• Who do we honor with our hard work?

  • God
  • Just ourselves

• What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? Clean your room