Slides and Printables.zip

Slides and Printables

Program Videos.zip

Program Videos

 Herman and Rusty Part 3

03 sec Countdown

Big Story Video

 Herman and Rusty Part 2

H&R Big Do Slide

30 sec Countdown

3 Min Countdown

Herman and Rusty Title

H&R BIG REVIEW Bumper

 Herman and Rusty Part 1 

H&R 5 Min Countdown with Rules

Herman's safety school goes off the rails when Rusty and the gang decide to do anything to earn Herman's approval.


Large Group Full Program

Optional suggested music for this lesson:
 - Game music for Welcome
 - Soft instrumental music for Big Story

Engage 2 Prep:  Blow up balloons, heart balloons if you have them, and place slips of paper with one of the phrases below written on them. You can have the kids simply pop the balloons or for extra fun attach the balloons to a board and have the kids shoot the balloons with a Nerf gun. To make the balloons pop easier, place a thumbtack on the board behind the balloon.

 - A kid shows up in the class with you and your friends, and he seems lonely.

 - You notice some kids never get ice cream or snacks at lunch.

 - Some kids are struggling with your grade’s tougher schoolwork.

 - A kid is afraid to talk to the teacher about a problem she is having.

 - A kid wants to run for student council but isn’t sure what to do.

 - You notice that some of the kids in your class aren’t wearing coats when it’s cold.



Countdown / Rules

**Host** and **Co-Host** are on stage along with two teams of two kids. 




Play the game and describe the rules as the time runs.


**Co-Host**
These two teams have thirty seconds to get ready for their first day of school. To win, they must put on every piece of clothing in the hamper.

**Host**
Great job to our winners. Welcome to the Lab and welcome to Back to School Bash! Could you imagine starting the new year off with that outfit?

**Co-Host**
That might ruin your first impression with your new teacher. We all want to have an amazing school year, right?

**Host**
I have great news for you; we can have an amazing school year even if things don’t go exactly to plan. 

**Co-Host**
Because of today’s Big Point, right?


**Host**
Exactly! Listen closely because you don’t want to miss this. As we continue, let’s stand up, turn to someone nearby, and tell that kid what part of school you are most excited about this year. 


Welcome

Worship

**Host**
It looks like Rusty, Ethel, and Slater are all worried about staying part of the lab.

**Co-Host**
If they start competing to get Herman to like one of them best, then the lab might get a bit crazier than it already is.

**Host**
Have you ever seen kids go overboard at school trying to impress someone? It could be impressing the teacher or one of most popular kids. I have. Maybe you’ve even done that. When people work to impress someone else, it’s because they are looking for something.

**Co-Host**
Sour Gummy Bears? That’s usually what I’m looking for. (Pulls a gummy bear out of his/her pocket or somewhere on stage) That’s where I left it. (Eats the candy)

**Host**
No, they are looking for love and acceptance. It’s like they can’t feel good about themselves unless other people approve. It reminds me of a game. Do you want to explain it? 


**Co-Host**
We have two teams of kids. One team member is wearing a clown costume with giant pants. The other members of the team are going to see how many balloons they can stuff into the clown suit in 30 seconds.



**Co-Host**
It’s a lot of work to stuff all of those balloons.

**Host**
That’s how it is at school when we try to fill ourselves up with others’ approval. Our Big Point, though, has some good news for us.


**Host** and **Co-Host** choose a kid to volunteer.



**Co-Host**
After we count down from three, read the Big Point. 


**Co-Host**
Let’s all say it together, **I’m Loved, So I Can Love!** (Pause) By whom?

**Host**
God. We don’t have to earn God’s love. We don’t have to be perfect for God to like us. Nothing we do will make Him love us more. He just gives it to us. The more we fill ourselves with God’s love and the more we accept what He’s already given to us, the better prepared we are to take on the year ahead of us and do what He wants us to do.

**Co-Host**
I’m glad we don’t have to spend all of our time trying to make God love us. I wonder how safety training is going. Do you think they may be taking things overboard?



Engage 1

**Host** and **Co-Host** enter. For this Engage blow up balloons, heart balloons if you have them, and place slips of paper with one of the phrases below written on them. You can have the kids simply pop the balloons or for extra fun attach the balloons to a board and have the kids shoot the balloons with a Nerf gun. To make the balloons pop easier, place a thumbtack on the board behind the balloon.


**Host**
They really are getting carried away with trying to win Herman’s approval. Maybe you have felt like you had to impress God to get Him to like you. The good news is that you don’t have to impress Him. He loves you the most He will ever love you right now.

**Co-Host**
When we spend a lot of time thinking about ourselves, it doesn’t leave us much time to think about others. I’m glad we go into the new school year knowing, 

**Co-Host**
**I’m Loved, So I Can Love**

**Host**
Let’s check out our Big Verse and discover what we can do with that truth.



**Host** and **Co-Host** choose a kid to volunteer.



**Co-Host**
After we count down from three, read the verse. 



**Host**
Knowing this truth will help us live a more stress-free life, especially at school. It’s because we don’t have worry so much about ourselves. We know God loves us regardless of what we do. That helps us think more of how we can love others. Let’s check out some scenarios that might happen at school and then apply what we’ve learned to that situation.

**Co-Host**
Instead of just reading them, we’re going to use this nerf gun to pop each balloon. Then we’ll read what’s written inside the balloon.


 The following notes will be in the balloons.

- A kid shows up in the class with you and your friends, and he seems lonely.

 - You notice some kids never get ice cream or snacks at lunch.

 - Some kids are struggling with your grade’s tougher schoolwork.

 - A kid is afraid to talk to the teacher about a problem she is having.

 - A kid wants to run for student council but isn’t sure what to do.

 - You notice that some of the kids in your class aren’t wearing coats when it’s cold.



**Host**
Because God loved us first, we can go out and love others. It inspires us to give instead of trying to get more for ourselves. That’s because we’re full of God’s love.

**Co-Host**
If we show more love at school, then we could make this the best school year ever.

**Host**
Exactly, because having a great school year wouldn’t be based on what happens to you; it would be based on how much you can bless someone else with God’s love.

**Co-Host**
I feel like we have a game plan for an awesome year. Let’s stand and worship God. As you do, think about how much God loves you.


Engage 2

If you want Jesus to change your life like He did for that woman, all you have to do is say, “Yes” to Him. If you have already said, “Yes” to Jesus, I want you to give me a thumbs up. That’s awesome. You can put your hands down. If you’ve never said, “Yes” to Jesus before, and you want to say, “Yes” to Him right now and ask Him to forgive you, raise your hand. We’re going to pray altogether. Those of you who are already friends and followers of Jesus can join in, too. Repeat after me, and let’s pray... 


Dear God,
I know everyone needs a Savior, 
and I know I can’t save myself. 
Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God.
I believe You died on the cross for my sins 
and God raised You from the dead.

Right now, 
I say you are my Lord, 
my Savior, 
and the One who forgives me.
Thank you, Jesus, 
that You are my best friend, 
because I’ve said, “Yes” to You. Amen.


During small groups today, if you prayed that prayer for the very first time you will go to a special small group to learn more about the choice you made. We’re so glad you said, “Yes” to Jesus. 



Big Story

**Co-Host**
It’s a good thing that Herman helped everyone understand that he had a place for them at the lab.

**Host**
Once everyone realized that they had a place, it made it so much easier for them to help their friends. I’m glad they learned the Big Point, 



**Host**
**I’m Loved, So I Can Love!**


**Co-Host**
Just like we learned in our Big Story, God loves us. He already loves perfectly. Yep, even before you made wise choices, He loved you. When you realize that His love is there and you accept it, you feel filled.



**Host**
This lesson isn’t just so you can feel great about yourself. It has a point. When Jesus’ living water flows in us, it’s supposed to flow out of us, so we can share the love.


Pour the water into the jar until it pops out the ping pong balls.



**Co-Host**
That means you can show love this week at school. In fact, that’s this week’s Big Do.



**Co-Host**
Gather your family and talk about an action that each of you can do to share God’s love at school, or for adults at work.


**Host**
Then go out and do it! That’s right share God’s love at lunch, on the playground, wherever. 


**Co-Host**
That is a recipe for starting a winning school year. Let’s gather in our small groups and talk about what we have discovered.


Engage 3

Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following. 


 - Why did Rusty, Ethel, and Slater not need to compete for a spot in Herman’s lab?

 - Do you think that the woman in our Big Story was surprised to find that Jesus loved her? Why?

 - How can knowing Jesus loves you help you have a better year at school?

 - What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? **Gather your family and talk about an action you can do to share God’s love.**



Small Group

Choose two kids from the audience to come on stage and answer the question. 

 - Our Big Point says I’m ______, So I Can Love!
	 - **Loved**
	 - Disappointing

 - Why did Rusty, Ethel and Slater compete?

 - What did Jesus ask for from the woman in our story?
	 - Food
	 - **Water**

 - The woman was surprised by Jesus’ request.
	 - **True**
	 - False

 - What did Jesus offer to give the woman?
	 - Money
	 - **Living Water**

 - Complete the Big Verse: 1 John 4:19 (NIrV), “We love because He loved us _____.”
	 - **First**
	 - Last

 - Jesus loved the woman in spite of her bad choices.
	 - **True**
	 - False

 - The people in the town asked Jesus to stay for two more days.
	 - **True**
	 - False

 - How does knowing God loves you help you have a better year at school?

 - What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? **Gather your family and talk about an action you can do to share God’s love.**

Big Review

Midweek / Classroom

Lab Wars Prep: Before service, cut a hole in the middle of the parachute so the balls can fall through the center. 


Optional suggested music for lesson:
 - Game music for Lab Wars
 - Soft instrumental music for Big Story

Welcome to the Lab and to our Back to School Bash! Somebody tell me the one thing you are loving so far about the new school year. (Interview a couple of kids) Starting a new school year is exciting, scary, awesome, and can make your stomach queasy all at once. If you are worried about your new teacher, hold up number one. If you are more concerned about all the new schoolwork, hold up two fingers. If you get nervous about making friends, hold up three fingers. There are lots of potential worries this year, but we can stay okay in the midst of it all because we know we don’t start this new school year alone. Whose help do we have? God’s! Yes, you have God on your side to help you have an amazing year. Let’s stand up and worship Him now and thank Him for His perfect help.



Let’s take a moment to split into our small groups. 

Back to School Bash is all about getting you ready for the new school year. If you spent the entire summer filling your body with junk food and your mind with mind numbing internet videos, do you think you’d be prepared for a great year? Probably not. What you fill yourself with matters! That’s what this game is about. We’ve given each of your small group leaders a bucket, a parachute, and some balls. We’re going to put thirty seconds on the clock. Your team must work together to land (Choose a color) balls through the center and into the bucket. Try to keep as many (Choose a color) out of your bucket as possible. Small group leaders, get ready to lead your team to victory. Which team is going to win? Let’s see who has some spirit. I’m going to call out your team’s name, and I want to hear you if you think you can dominate the game. (Call out the teams) Get into position. Let’s play! 


Play the game. (Before service, cut a hole in the middle of the parachute so the balls can fall through the center. )



Small group leaders, count what’s in the bucket but deduct a point for every wrong color. (Count and reveal the winner) Great job to our winners! (Award points) That brings up a question: what should we fill ourselves with to ensure a successful school year? Let’s check in with Herman and Rusty to get a hint.



Lab Wars

It looks like Rusty, Ethel, and Slater are as worried about staying part of the lab. Do you think that the competition will bring out the best in them? Probably not. Have you ever seen kids go overboard at school trying to impress someone, like the teacher or one of most popular kids? I have. Maybe you’ve even done that. When kids do that, it’s often because they are usually looking for love and acceptance from teachers and kids alike. Let’s play a game in your small group. It’s easy. Go around the circle and have each person give themselves a nickname that describes who you are. The adjective must begin with the first letter of your name, like Tall Thomas or Funny Fran.


Allow the small groups to play the game. If time permits, have the kids discuss why that adjective is a positive.



What was the craziest name that someone in your group came up with? (Allow for answers) Some kids try to hide things about themselves to make friends, and others exaggerate things about themselves to get people to like them. They work hard and spend a lot of time worrying what others think. Our Big Point, though, has some good news for us. I will choose a group to help me reveal the Big Point.


Your group will count down from three and then read the Big Point. 

Let’s all say it together, **I’m Loved, So I Can Love** We don’t have to earn God’s love. We don’t have to be perfect for God to like us. Nothing we do will make Him love us more. He gives His love to us as a gift. The more we fill ourselves with God’s love, the more we accept the love He’s already given to us, the more we’re ready to take on the year ahead of us and do what He wants us to do. Turn to your small group leader and discuss this statement, Knowing God loves me makes me feel...

Let’s check out how safety training is going. 



They really are getting carried away trying win Herman’s acceptance. Maybe you have felt like you had to impress God to get Him to like you. The good news is that He loves you the most He will ever love you right now. I’m glad we can go into this new school year knowing...

 **I’m Loved, So I Can Love!** Let’s check out our Big Verse and discover what we can do with that truth. I will choose a small group to help me.

Leader chooses a group to read the Big Verse.


If we are certain that God loves us, then we can be free not to worry so much about ourselves. That gives us an opportunity to think more of others. It’s like our verse says, we can love because God first loved us. The more you feel secure, the more you can help others. That brings us to another activity all about feeling secure. Your small group leader has a roll of toilet paper. He or she will pass it around to each of you, and you can unroll enough paper to feel “secure” if (Cough) nature calls.


Pass around the toilet paper. After passing it around to everyone, explain that for each piece of toilet paper they must think of ways to show love at school this year. If they have trouble, encourage the other kids to help.


Does any group want to share one way to show love at school that your group talked about? (Allow for answers) Let’s check out the story of a woman who met Jesus. This encounter changed her whole life.



 It was so cool how that lady’s life was changed because she met Jesus. Knowing He loved her made all the difference. She didn’t have to fill her life with all of that other junk anymore. Instead, she was free to follow God and love others. Let’s take a moment to pray for one another. If you have something about the new school year that you’d like prayer for, you can share that now. Then we’ll pray for everyone’s needs.



Take prayer requests and pray over the kids’ needs. 


Just like the lady in the Big Story, don’t keep the good news about Jesus all to yourself. Share with the kids in your life how much God loves us all. Let them know that they are already loved. It’s a message that could truly change their lives. Let’s see if they got the message in the lab.



It’s a good thing Herman helped everyone understand that he had a place for them at the lab. They learned the Big Point. Let’s see which group can say the Big Point with the most energy. 

 **I’m Loved, So I Can Love!** Great job to (Choose a group) Put that Big Point into action with this week’s Big Do. 

Gather your family and talk about what each of you can do to share God’s love at school, or for adults at work. Then actually do it. That’s right; share God’s love at lunch, on the playground, wherever. That is a recipe for a starting a winning school year. 


Closing

Large Group Abbreviated

Optional suggested music for this lesson:
 - Soft instrumental music for Big Story

Slides of the "Yes" prayer are available in the lesson downloads.



**Host**
Welcome to the Lab and welcome to Back to School Bash! 

**Co-Host**
We all want to have an amazing school year, right? We all have hopes and dreams and plans for the new school year.

**Host**
I have great news for you; we can have an amazing school year even if things don’t go exactly to plan. 

**Co-Host**
Because of today’s Big Point, right?


**Host**
Exactly! Listen closely because you don’t want to miss this. As we continue, let’s stand up, turn to someone nearby, and tell that kid what part of school you are most excited about this year. 


**Host**
It looks like Rusty, Ethel, and Slater are all worried about staying part of the lab.

**Co-Host**
If they start competing to get Herman to like one of them best, then the lab might get a bit crazier than it already is.

**Host**
Have you ever seen kids go overboard at school trying to impress someone? It could be impressing the teacher or one of most popular kids. I have. Maybe you’ve even done that. When people work to impress someone else, it’s because they are looking for something.

**Co-Host**
Sour Gummy Bears? That’s usually what I’m looking for. (Pulls a gummy bear out of his/her pocket or somewhere on stage) That’s where I left it. (Eats the candy)

**Host**
No, they are looking for love and acceptance. It’s like they can’t feel good about themselves unless other people approve. 


**Co-Host**
It’s a lot of work to try to fill ourselves up with others’ approval.

**Host**
Yep. Our Big Point, though, has some good news for us.


**Host**
Knowing this truth will help us live a more stress-free life, especially at school. It’s because we don’t have to worry so much about ourselves. We know God loves us regardless of what we do. That helps us think more of how we can love others. 

**Co-Host**
We can also love others regardless of what they do.




**Host**
Because God loved us first, we can go out and love others. It inspires us to give instead of trying to get more for ourselves. That’s because we’re full of God’s love.

**Co-Host**
If we show more love at school, then we could make this the best school year ever.

**Host**
Exactly, because having a great school year wouldn’t be based on what happens to you; it would be based on how much you can bless someone else with God’s love.

**Co-Host**
I feel like we have a game plan for an awesome year.
 

Back To School Bash

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Large Group Full Program Instructions

Large Group Full Program Instructions