Large Group 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 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!
Venue Ideas
Choose one of the following venue options or create your own. These venues teach kids about how Samuel was a hero for telling the truth and remind us that blessings come from good leadership.
Hero Sunday
Have the kids dress as their favorite heroes and play some hero themed games. Consider having a fun snack like a superhero themed ice cream or candy.
Firefighters and Police
Connect with your local firefighters and police to bring a firetruck and police car to visit the kids. Allow the kids to tour the vehicles and experience it up close.
Superhero Craft
Create your own superhero mask or cape. You can purchase options online or buy materials from local craft stores.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Welcome to Summer To The Max! I can’t believe that the summer is almost over. Who can raise their hand and tell me one of the most fun things you did this summer? (Allow a few kids to answer) That sounds like so much fun! Let's have some fun worshipping Jesus right now!
Co-Host
Just because the summer is ending, doesn’t mean that you have to stop living to the max for God. We can do that every day. Let’s listen to today’s Big Point.
Co-Host
I Can Speak The Truth!
Host
Let’s make up some motions to do as we sing the song. When we say “I” use your thumbs to point to yourself. When we say “Speak” point to your mouth. When we sing “The Truth” point forward. Let’s sing it a few times so we can practice the motions.
Host
** I Can Speak The Truth!**
Repeat a few times so the kids can practice the motions.
Co-Host
We’re going to say some things, and you get to decide if it’s true or untrue. If it’s true, give me two thumbs up and say, “True!” If it’s not true, make an X with your arms and say, “Not true!”
Make several true and false statements. Use things you might find around the room, clothes you are wearing, hair color, etc. Make them obvious, so the kids can easily discern them.
Host
Speaking the truth means more than just saying things that are true.
Co-Host
Speaking the truth means saying true things even when other people don’t want to hear what God says.
Host
We don’t share the truth because we want to be mean. We share God’s truth because it will help them.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Let’s pretend that our friend, ________ (Co-Host), is not paying attention and he/she is about to walk off of the stage. Would it be kind to just let him/her fall down? (Pause) No! Would it be kind and helpful to say, “Be careful?” Yes, it would. Let’s try that now. Everybody, say, “Be careful!”
The Co-Host pretends to nearly fall off the stage, but stops before he/she falls.
Co-Host
You told me something that was true, and it helped me. Thank you. Let’s practice the Big Point again with our motions,
Co-Host
I Can Speak The Truth!
Host
Let’s see what the Bible says about our Big Point by reading our Big Verse.
Host
Ephesians 4:15 (NIrV) says, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love.” Speaking the truth is important, and how we tell the truth is important, too.
**Co-Host**
We want to tell others the truth in a kind and loving way. Love changes the way we speak to others. Let’s try something fun. I have a toy that will make your voice sound totally different. Would you like to try it?
Go around the room and allow kids to stand and try the voice changer or the app by saying, “I can speak the truth.” Adjust the voice changer to create different vocal sounds. Give the kids something to say like the Big Point or another phrase.
Host
That was so funny. The words you said didn’t change, but the toy changed the way you sounded.
Co-Host
All of you said the same words, but when you spoke it through the toy, it sounded different.
Host
When we speak the truth, we say the true things that we learn from God. He teaches us the right way to tell them, speaking the truth with kindness.
Co-Host
Kindness helps people be better listeners. That’s important because everyone needs to hear God and obey Him. Let’s worship God!
Host
Samuel told the truth, even when it was hard to do. I’m sure some people didn’t want to hear what he said, but they needed to hear the truth. Samuel’s words reminded them to follow God and obey Him. Let’s pray and ask Jesus to help us speak true things to others. (Pray)
Co-Host
In Proverbs 22:9, Jesus said,
Co-Host
“Those who give freely will be blessed. That’s because they share their food with those who are poor.”
Host
God loves us so much that when we give to help others, He gives good things back to us. Those good things can come in lots of different ways. When you give, you can be sure that God sees your kindness. (Remind the kids of the giving project)
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Let’s all practice our Big Point again,
Host
I Can Speak The Truth!
Co-Host
Samuel helped the Israelites defeat the evil Philistines. He told them the truth about God that they needed to hear to help them stop making wrong choices.
Host
You can tell your family about Samuel and speaking the truth when you do the Big Do this week.
Host
Create an obstacle course in your house. Take turns guiding someone who is blindfolded through the obstacles.
Co-Host
Let’s try that now. We’re going to set up some obstacles on stage. I will choose one kid and one adult to help us.
Choose two volunteers.
Host
The adult is going to be blindfolded. Your job (the kid) is to hold his/her hand and guide through the obstacles. See if you can walk him/her through it without him/her bumping into any of the obstacles.
Have the kid walk the adult or teen through the obstacle course. You can run this several times with different kids and volunteers.
Host
You were a great guide. That’s what we do when we speak the truth. We help people avoid big problems. Let’s say our Big Point once more,
Host
I Can Speak The Truth!
Did our Big Point say, I Can Keep Quiet or I Can Speak The Truth?
Let’s sing one of our worship songs. (Sing a familiar worship song) Who do we sing that song to? God In our Big Story were the Israelites worshipping the one true God or statues of fake gods? Fake gods
What is something true about me? What color hair do I have? How many feet do I have? What if I said that I have six arms? Is that true or untrue? Who told the Israelites that worshipping fake gods was wrong? Samuel
Let’s practice saying words with different emotions. We’ll say the words, “You made a bad choice.” Let’s say that with lots of anger in our voice. Let’s say that with a happy voice. Let’s say that while laughing. Let’s say that with a serious voice. Ephesians 4:15 (NIrV), “Instead, we will speak the truth in _____.”
Love
Anger
Who always speaks truth kindly? God Where can we read true things about God? Bible Who speaks kind directions to you to follow? Mommy & Daddy
What is our Big Do? Create an obstacle course in your house. Take turns guiding someone who is blindfolded through the obstacles.
