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.
Give Me S’more!
Using Sterno S’More Maker Jr., create an area outside for kids to roast marshmallows and create their own s’mores. Be sure to have plenty of adult helpers to hold the sticks for the younger kids. Have outside games to play as the kids take turns. For younger kids, consider offering S’mores Remix snack mix.
Indoor Snow Activities
Purchase fake snow and create various snow stations around the room. Using kiddie pools, have areas where the kids can play in the fake snow. Purchase plush snowballs to create a snowball fight arena. Grab some winter and snow theme carnival-style games.
Snow Mountain
Hire a company to produce real snow and ice in an outdoor play area. Many are also able to create a slide using hay bales. Remind the kids to dress in clothes that can get wet.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Hi friends, I’m so glad to see you here today at Winter To The Max! I hope that you have had so much fun this month. We’ve done lots of fun activities, and the best part is that we’ve discovered how to be Jesus’ friends and followers.
Co-Host
Being a follower of Jesus is important. Do you think a follower of Jesus would do the opposite of what Jesus asked them to do? (Pause) No, a follower doesn’t disobey their leader.
Host
I think our Big Point will tell us what a follower of Jesus does. Let’s learn it together.
Host
I Will Obey Jesus!
Practice a few times
Co-Host
A follower of Jesus obeys Jesus. Obeying someone is as easy as doing what they say to do.
Host
We learn what Jesus says by listening to His words in the Bible. Let’s play a game! In this game, you must listen to and do what we say to do.
Co-Host
That will be fun! Boys and girls, stand up. There are only four things to obey. Let’s count to four. 1, 2, 3, 4. When we say, “Up,” stand up and stretch your hands up high. Let’s practice that. When we say, “Down,” squat down low to the ground. Let’s try that.
Host
When we say, “Run,” run in place as fast as you can. Try it with me. When we say, “Stop,” you must freeze. Let’s play.
.
Play several rounds of the game, changing up the order in which you call the commands. Also change the speed with which you call the commands. Have fun with it.
Co-Host
That game was so much fun, and you did a great job obeying the commands.
Host
If we want to be Jesus’ friends and followers, it’s important to obey His words. If Jesus tells us to love other people, should we be loving or mean? Loving!
Co-Host
If Jesus tells us to give and help people, should we give or keep everything for ourselves? Give!
Host
I think you are ready to go “to the max” today.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Let’s think of some people we should obey. Do you think we should obey our parents? Yes. What about our teachers? Yes. Do you think we should obey a police officer? Yes. There’s Someone else we want to obey. He’s the most important. Who is it? That’s right! Let’s practice the Big Point again with the motions,
Host
I Will Obey Jesus!
Co-Host
Let’s see what the Bible says about our Big Point by reading our Big Verse.
Co-Host
John 14:15 (NIrV) says, “If you love Me, obey My commands.” That means we should do everything Jesus asks us to do, even if we don’t feel like doing it.
Show the obedient heart illusion.
Host
This heart reminds me of love. Can you put your hand over your heart? Our heart isn’t just what beats inside of us with a bump, bump. Our heart is where we make choices.
Co-Host
Your heart can choose to obey God or not obey. Let’s see if this heart is obedient or disobedient. Heart, go half-way down the rope. (Heart drops all the way down) Let’s try that again. Heart, go half-way down the rope. (Heart drops all the way down) I’ll try something else. Heart, go all the way to the bottom. (Heart stops half-way) Is that heart obeying me? No.
Host
When you are a friend and follower of Jesus, He can help you choose to obey and do everything God asks you to do. Jesus can help you have an obedient heart. Let’s see what happens when we choose to obey.
Co-Host
Heart, stop half-way. (The heart stops half-way) Now go to the bottom. (Heart drops) My heart obeyed! Let’s clap! (Host & Co-Host clap their hands)
Host
If you love Jesus, then you obey what He says. Let’s obey Jesus by singing a song to worship Him.
I hope that you want to make a wise choice and obey Jesus. Let’s close our eyes, bow our heads, and talk to Him. We can ask Jesus for help making wise choices. He can help us obey even when we might not feel like it. Talk to Jesus right now and ask Him to help you obey. (Pause) Now I’ll pray for us.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Let’s all practice our Big Point again,
Host
I Will Obey Jesus!
Co-Host
If you obey Jesus, then you are like the person who built a house on the rock. Did that house keep standing tall when the wind blew? It sure did. If you don’t obey, then you are like the house on the sand. Did it fall when the rain came down? It did.
Host
You can tell your family about the Big Story when you do the Big Do this week.
Host
Use blankets, blocks, pillows, or boxes, and build a “house” at home. See how tall you can make it, then knock it down! Talk about how obeying Jesus helps us grow stronger.
Co-Host
We have a couple friends coming up to help us build a house now. Can you help us by telling us where to put the boxes? Let’s see how tall we can build the house and then have fun knocking it down.
Help the kids use the 1x1 boxes to build a tower. Ask the kids to suggest where you should place the next box and if you should build higher. When you finish, let the kid volunteers knock the tower down. Have the audience “help” them by “pushing” from their seats.
Host
That was fun. I bet you can build a big house with what you find at home. Be sure to tell your family what you learned today. Let’s say our Big Point once more,
Host
I Will Obey Jesus!
Did our Big Point say I Won’t Do What Jesus Says or I Will Obey Jesus!
Let’s pretend to build a sandcastle. Let’s use our shovels to dig up the sand. Now squish some in your hand. Dump it and pretend to shape it into a wall. Do you like to build in the sand? Was the house built on the sand like someone who obeyed Jesus or did not obey Jesus? Not obey What happened to the house on the sand? It fell
Let’s pretend to break a rock with a hammer. Do you think we have to tap the rock or swing hard? Let’s pretend to hit the rock hard. Did you break it? Was the house built on the rock like someone who obeys Jesus? Yes What happened to the house on the rock when the wind blew? It stood
Let’s put our hands over our hearts and make a heartbeat sound. Say, “Bump, bump.” Pretend to give someone a big hug to show you love them. (Pretend to hug) John 14:15 (NIrV), “If you (don’t like / love) Me, obey My commands.”
What is our Big Do? Use blankets, blocks, pillows, or boxes, and build a “house” at home. See how tall you can make it, then knock it down! Talk about how obeying Jesus helps us grow stronger.
