Large Group Instructions
Series Note
Each Winter 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 Winter to the Max Junior lessons, consider having the elementary and junior groups use the same venue. Either group can go first and then switch in the middle of service. 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 Winter to the Max!
Weekly Venue
Choose one of the following venue options or create your own.
Snow Globe Craft
Purchase kits or gather materials to make your own snow globe with the kids. Remind the kids that even when life is all shaken up, we can still follow Jesus. Check out an option by clicking here.
Crazy for Cocoa
Have a hot cocoa bar available for kids. Provide lots of toppings like marshmallows, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, peppermint sticks, and whipped cream. For younger kids, consider have chocolate milk bar or cooling down the cocoa before serving.
Frozen Faces
Offer face painting that features wintery designs. This can be a DIY project or consider hiring a local face painter. While the kids are getting their faces painted, offer fun games and activities to play.
Host enters.
Host
Welcome to Winter To The Max! I am so excited that we get to enjoy this special day together. Turn to someone near you and say, “Welcome to Winter to the Max!” (Show the juggling ball) Do you know what this is? It’s a juggling ball. Juggling is when you toss two, or even three, things in the air and catch them all without dropping them. Let’s see if I can do it. (Tosses them in the air and drops them) I think I need someone to teach me.
Play Optional Circus Music.
The Co-host enters wearing a clown costume. A simple costume with silly wig and red nose works best. Avoid unusual makeup to avoid upsetting kids.
Co-host
I could show you how to do that. I’m a clown. I am (Co-host’s name), the clown.
Host
Hmm, I do need someone to show me what to do, but how I can I be sure that he/she is the right person to follow? Let’s look at him/her to see if he/she looks like a clown.
Co-host
Boys and girls, point to and say each funny thing you see me wearing.
Co-host points as the kids shout out the different items like big shoes, suspenders, wig, red nose, etc.
Host
He/She looks like a clown. Let’s see if he/she can do clown things.
Co-host
Do you want to see my flower? (Winks to the audience)
Host
Sure.
Host leans in and the Co-host squirts him/her with the flower. The Host laughs.
Host
He/She has funny jokes, like a clown.
Co-host
I’ll do a magic trick, but I need your help. When I finish the trick, I want everyone to shout, “Ta da!”
Co-host performs a magic trick. Pick any trick that you have access to. Simple tricks work best.
Host
He/She looks like a clown, has jokes like a clown, and can do tricks. I think our friend can teach me how to juggle.
Co-host
It’s not hard. Boys and girls, can you practice juggling with us? Toss the first ball in the air, and while it’s there toss the other one and reach up to catch it.
Host and Co-host juggle two juggling balls.
Host
Thank you! I’m glad I listened to you. That reminds me of the Big Point. Let’s listen to the Big Point.
Host
That reminds me of the Big Point. Let’s listen to the Big Point.
Host
I Will Follow Jesus!
Practice a few times.
Co-host
You followed me because I look like a clown, acted like a clown, and did clown things. We follow Jesus because He taught us about God, He acted like God, and He did the things that only God told Him to do. Jesus is the most important leader to follow.
Host
We follow Jesus because we know that He is really God. No one else is like Jesus. He’s the best leader to follow.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
If you were in a store around lots of people that you didn’t know, would it be a wise choice to stay close to your mommy or daddy and follow them?
Host
Let’s shake our heads, “Yes.” Would it be a wrong choice to run around the store by yourself far away from them? Let’s shake our heads, “Yes” again.
Co-Host
We should follow Jesus closely, too, because He is a good leader and He loves us. That’s why we need to follow the Big Point. Let’s practice it again with our motions.
Co-Host
I Will Follow Jesus!
Host
Let’s see what the Bible says about our Big Point by reading our Big Verse.
Host
Mark 8:34 (NIrV) says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must say no to themselves.” That means that Jesus is in charge, not us, because He is the leader.
Co-Host
We chose some friends to wear a costume. Let’s see if you can guess what each friend is dressed like.
Bring out the volunteers in costume. The costumes can be simple dress up clothes or even just a hat or some simple accessories. Point to each kid and have the kids answer who the child is dressed as. Show each slide as you talk about the corresponding costume. If you don’t have the costumes, then simply show the slides.
Host
Our first friend is dressed like a soldier. Do you know what a soldier does when he or she walks up to a leader? The soldier salutes to show that the leader is in charge. Let’s practice saluting.
Have the kids salute the classroom leaders.
Co-Host
Turn to someone and say, “Stop!” If a police officer asked you to stop or not go somewhere, should you follow his or her directions? Yes. Not listening to a police officer would not be a wise choice. It’s important to understand that we’re not the leaders.
Host
Let’s pretend to use a fire hose to put out a fire. Be sure to make the water sounds.
Pretend to squirt water on a fire.
Co-Host
If a firefighter told you not to go into a burning building because it’s dangerous, would you listen? Sure, the firefighter wants to keep you safe.
Host
These kinds of people are in charge because it’s their job to help us. Jesus is in charge because He is God. He is the One who can always take care of us, help us, and lead us to good things. It’s always wise to follow Jesus instead of just doing what you want to do. Let’s sing a song and then listen to a story about a soldier who believed that Jesus was in charge.
Let’s take a moment to pray and talk to Jesus. We’ll tell Jesus that we want Him to be our leader and that we believe in Him. Close your eyes and bow your heads. You can repeat this prayer after me. “Dear Jesus, help me to follow You as my leader and do what You want. Amen.”
Have the Host and Co-Host talk about your giving project for the month.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Let’s all practice our Big Point again,
Host
I Will Follow Jesus!
Co-Host
That soldier believed that Jesus was in charge. Because he knew that truth, the soldier believed that Jesus could do everything He said He could do. Jesus healed the soldier’s servant.
Host
You can tell your family about that Big Story when you do the Big Do this week.
Host
Learn how to do something new by asking a leader like your mommy or daddy to teach you.
Co-Host
It’s fun to learn something together. Let’s do that now. Some of you may already know how to do this, but we’ll all practice.
Host
Let’s learn to snap our fingers. Follow us and do what we do. Wave one hand at us. On that hand touch your middle finger and thumb. Push them together with lots of power.
As an alternative, you could teach the kids how to do American Sign Language for Bible, God, and Jesus.
Co-Host
When I say go, slide your thumb away fast to snap your fingers like this. (Demonstrate a couple of times). You try it. Go!
Have the kids try a few more times.
Host
That was fun. Following a leader is helpful, and there is no better leader to follow than Jesus. Let’s say our Big Point once more,
Host
I Will Follow Jesus!
Did our Big Point say I Will Follow Myself or I Will Follow Jesus!
Let’s pretend to salute like a soldier. Can you sit up tall and brave? Who asked Jesus to heal his servant? Soldier Did Jesus say yes to helping? Yes
Let’s walk in place and pretend like we’re walking Jesus to the soldier’s house. Did the solider tell Jesus that he didn’t have to walk all the way to his house? Yes Did the solider believe that Jesus was in charge? Yes Did Jesus only say a word and the servant was healed? Yes
If your teacher tells you not to talk in your class, should you listen? Yes If a policeman tells you to stop, you should stop? Yes If a firefighter tells you don’t go in there, it’s dangerous, should you listen? Yes Mark 8:34 (NIrV), “Whoever wants to be My disciple must say (No / Yes) to themselves.”
What is our Big Do? Learn to do something new by asking a leader like your mommy or daddy
