God Will Always Love Me!

Host

Welcome to the Lab! We are continuing to use the Bible to answer some tough questions.

Co-Host

I have one for you. What did I do to make God so mad at me?

Host

What do you mean?

Co-Host

This cold. Obviously, I ticked God off big time.

Host

You think because something bad happened, God is mad at you?

Co-Host

Isn’t He?

Co-Host

What do I keep saying wrong? Is it something I’m thinking?

Host

That’s the tough question we’re delving into today, but before we do that, we are going to peek in our friends at the Lab. First, stand up, and then find five people to wave at.

Host

Herman is really having a bad day.

Co-Host

Do you think that Rusty and Slater are right? Is God mad at Herman for doing something wrong? Did I offend God? Is that what caused my ice cream to melt? Behold, the empty cone.

Host

We need to test your assumptions. To do that, let’s discuss cause and effect.

Co-Host

We’ll show an effect, and the kids can decide what caused it.

Host

Exactly. Let’s show the effect, and you guys decide.

Host

The cause wasn’t God. Look at your ice cream cone. Did you try to eat ice cream under a heater again?

Co-Host

Ice cream makes me shiver!

Host

That’s why your ice cream melted. To answer our tough question, let’s check out our Big Point.

Co-Host

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

Co-Host

Let’s all say it together, God Will Always Love Me!

Host

The point is that God isn’t sending all these negative things to punish you. Some of them happen because of our mistakes, other people’s choices, or just because we live in a world full of sin. Don’t blame God. Instead, remember how much He loves you. Nothing can change that. Let’s see what Alex and Rusty decide to do.

Host

I hope the Friendly Inquisition doesn’t show up here.

Co-Host

I really thought Herman would confess when he faced the wrath of that soft pillow. I had to cover my eyes for a bit.

Host

Herman had nothing to confess. He knows that the Big Point is true,

Host

God Will Always Love Me! Let’s choose an assistant to help us reveal our Big Verse. It helps explain the Big Point.

Co-Host

Good idea. I need you to help as we count down from three and then read the verse.

Host

Romans 8:39 (NIrV), “Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love.”

Co-Host

That helps, but are we sure it can’t change? What if God gets really, really mad at us? That would be scary.

Host

There are people who worry about that. It’s like this rope. They worry that when they do something wrong, say something wrong, or even accidentally do the wrong thing, it will permanently cut them out of God’s heart. Let’s have an assistant help us. (Choose an assistant to come on stage.) Cut the rope right here.

Co-Host

That’s me sometimes.

Host

So, some people think that they have to make up for it and do enough to earn back God’s love. (Following the directions, tie a knot) The Bible says that nothing separates us from God’s love. You don’t have to earn God’s love because it never left in the first place.

Co-Host

It helps to know that God won’t stop loving us.

Host

I agree. When problems strike, remember that God hasn’t changed the way He feels about you one bit. Let’s stand and take a moment to worship our loving God.

Some of you guys might be going through a hard time right now, like Job did. Here’s some good news. Unlike Job’s friends, people here at church won’t accuse you. Instead, we have adult volunteers who want to pray for you. In just a moment we will stand and worship God. When we do, come to the front and find one of our volunteers if you’d like to pray with a Leader who loves you.

Co-Host

I’m glad that I don’t have friends like Job. At least mine remind me of the Big Point,

Co-Host

God Will Always Loves Me!

Host

That’s true. God loved us even before we ever said, “Sorry.” It’s a great thing to talk about when you do this week’s Big Do.

Co-Host

Listen to a song about God’s love with your family. Then, talk about how much God loves us and how He will never stop loving us.

Host

I have an idea. Let’s do a group Mad Lib! We’re going to create the worst day ever story.

Co-Host

I’ll choose an assistant to help me act out the story.

Host

The morning started out great. I woke up and had _______ (Food) for breakfast. But when I took my first bite, it tasted like ______ (Something you find in your nose). I felt like _______ (Something you do when you’re sick), so I dashed out the front door and landed on my neighbor’s ______ (Animal). The pet bit me right on ______ (Part of your body). I ran down the street, dragging the ______ (Animal) behind me. As I was fighting with the pet, I crashed into the local ______ (Fast food restaurant). My head was covered by ______ (Favorite food), and I still had a _____ (Animal) biting me on my ________ (Part of your body). I tried to get up, but the other customers saw that I had _______ (Condiment) on my sleeve and dipped their fries on my _______ (Piece of clothing). I know it’s only 10 am, but I’m ready for bed. At least I know that no matter how bad it gets, God still loves me.

Co-Host

That was a really bad day, but we know God is not the one behind it.

Host

And we know that God can still work to transform our bad situation. We know that because we know God loves us. Let’s gather with our Small Groups and discuss today’s lesson.

Why did Rusty and Slater think that Herman had so many problems? They thought he had sinned. What was wrong with the way they thought? God loves us, and just because bad things happen doesn’t mean God is punishing you. Bad things can happen to good people.

Have you ever wondered if God is mad at you? Why?

How does it help you to know that nothing can separate us from God’s love? It reminds us of God’s goodness. Even when we make a mistake, or something bad happens, we know God still loves us. He can help us change our choices and help us follow Him.

What is this week’s Big Do? Listen to a song about God’s love. Then, talk about how much God loves us and that He will never stop loving us.

• Our Big Point says God Will Always_____ Me!

  • Love

  • Be mad at

• In addition to losing so many things, Job also…

  • Died

  • Got sick

• What was wrong with the guy Jesus healed in our Big Story?

  • Couldn’t walk

  • Couldn’t see

• If you do something bad enough, it will stop God from loving you.

  • True

  • False

• What would you tell someone who thought God was mad at them?

• Romans 8:39 (NIrV), “Nothing at all can ever _________ God’s love.”

  • Separate us from

  • Connect us to

• God loved us _____ we said we were sorry.

  • Before

  • After

• Job’s friends did not give great advice.

  • True

  • False

• Jesus said that the man in the Big Story was blind because of his bad choices.

  • True

  • False

• What is this week’s Big Do?

Listen to a song about God’s love. Then talk about how much God loves us and that He will never stop loving us.