Slides and Printables.zip

Slides and Printables

Program Videos.zip

Program Videos

7 Min Countdown

03 sec Countdown

2 Min Countdown

H&R Big Do Slide

30 sec Countdown

6 Min Countdown

H & R 30 sec

 Herman and Rusty Part 1

Herman and Rusty Title

 Big Story Video

H & R Big Review Bumper

 Herman and Rusty Part 2

H&R 5 Min Countdown with Rules

 Herman and Rusty Part 3

Aunt May is in town for Christmas and Slater is not happy about it. He has to leave his room because that is where she will be sleeping. Slater wanted to use ant spray to get rid of his aunt and have his room to himself.

Large Group Full Program

Question of the Day: Do you travel at Christmas to visit relatives? How far do you travel? Who do you see?


Optional music selections for this lesson:
 - Game music for Welcome, Big Review
 - Soft instrumental music for Big Story

Countdown / Rules

**Host** and **Co-Host** are on stage with kids who are ready to play the game. Prior to service choose two teams of two kids. One kid will hold a tongue depressor, hot-glued to a mug, in his/her mouth while his/her teammate tries to toss marshmallows into the mug.



**Co-Host**
On your mark, get set, go! 



**Host**
These two teams are trying to fill up their Christmas mug with marshmallows. The first team to fill it to the top wins.



**Co-Host**
Great job to our winners. That mug reminds me of the holidays. It seems like everywhere is packed tight with people.


**Host**
Not just people. The holidays are busy with school plays, parties, and family activities.

**Co-Host**
That’s why I like today’s Big Point. It helps us make a great choice even when the world seems a little busy.

**Host**
Before we discover today’s Big Point, let’s stand and worship. As you do, tell someone nearby which is your favorite Christmas drink: hot chocolate or egg nog.



Welcome

Worship

**Co-Host**
Do you think that Skip’s advice to Slater is helpful?

**Host**
I agree. It sounds like he’s encouraging him to be mean to his aunt.

**Co-Host**
Have you ever had family stay over for Christmas? What was the hardest part about having guests?



**Host** and **Co-Host** interview kids in the audience.



**Host**
What was the best part? (Allow answers) Let’s check out our Big Point to see what God has to say about giving.



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



**Co-Host**
You can help us count down from three and then read the Big Point. 


**Co-Host**
Let’s all say it together, **Make Room To Give!** Even when it’s not convenient, we can still find opportunities to give.

**Host**
God wants to help us make that choice. I think we should play musical chairs, but with a twist. We have two teams of kids who get to play. Each has their own circle of chairs, but there are only half as many chairs as people.

**Co-Host**
When the music stops, everyone in the group has to find a chair to sit on. No one’s feet can touch the floor. You’ll probably have to pile multiple people onto each chair.

**Host**
Each round we will remove a chair. Let’s see who can be the first to get everyone onto a chair.



Play optional game music. Play a few rounds of the game, removing a chair each round. Award a winner for each round and name the winning team based on who wins the greatest number of rounds.



**Co-Host**
They were good at making room for others.

**Host**
Let’s see if Slater can make that same choice for his Aunt May.




Engage 1

**Host**
I can’t believe that Slater wanted to use ant spray to get rid of his aunt.

**Co-Host**
He’s doing the opposite of what we learned in our Big Point, 

**Co-Host**
**Make Room To Give!**

**Host**
I’m glad Herman shared a verse with him from the Bible. Let’s check out the Big Verse to learn how to make room.



**Co-Host**
Help us as we count down from three, and then you can read the verse!





**Co-Host**
Hebrews 13:16 (NIrV) says, “Don’t forget to share with others.”

**Host**
I’m sure there are some things that are easy for you guys to share.

**Co-Host**
There are some things you wish you never had to share. Let’s check out some potential items we might share.

**Host**
If you think it would be easy to share this item, stand up, but if it would be hard to share stay seated. Be honest about how you would really feel when asked to share.





**Co-Host**
I think it’s hardest to share when you have to share something you only have a small amount of.

**Host**
Like sharing the last cookie or giving part of your last dollar to help someone else.


**Co-Host**
The Bible says that God is pleased when we share. I think it’s because sharing with others shows that we trust God to take care of us.

**Host**
Giving will challenge you to give something up that you like, just like Slater is being challenged to give up his room at Christmas. Even the first Christmas is all about someone who shared what they had with Mary and Joseph. Let’s take a moment to stand and worship God.


Engage 2

God made room for us. It’s true. It says in the Bible that in Heaven there are rooms being prepared for us. God always makes room to give to us. Today is a great day to follow God’s example and make room for someone else. I’d like for you guys to close your eyes. Let’s ask God to show us someone that we could make room for this Christmas. Let’s do that now. (Pause) Now ask God to help you make room to give. While you do that, I’m going to pray that we will all make room to give this Christmas.


Big Story

**Co-Host**
Do you guys think that Slater made the right decision by letting his aunt stay for the holidays? (Pause) I do, too.

**Host**
She would have been all alone, but thanks to Slater she has a place to stay. He lived out the Big Point, 

**Host**
**Make Room To Give!**

**Co-Host**
I always thought that the people in Bethlehem were mean to Mary and Joseph, but I never considered that a family there used what space they had to make room for them.

**Host**
Jesus wasn’t born in a luxurious palace, but at least it was safe and secure. We can make room to give in this week’s Big Do. 

**Host**
Dig through your closet and find some winter clothes that you can donate to a shelter. It’s a great way to share with others as you “make room” in your closet by giving them away.

**Co-Host**
Let’s practice our Big Do with a game. We have two teams of kids and a pile of clothes. When we start the timer, you will have 30 seconds to put on all of the clothes in your pile.

**Host**
On your mark, get set, go!



**Host**
Great job to our winners. If you work like that at home, you will be sure to make some room to do the Big Do. Let’s turn, connect with our small groups, and talk about what we’ve learned.



Engage 3

Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following. 



 - Have you ever had a guest stay at your home for a long time? What was the best/worst part of the experience?
 - How did Slater make room for his aunt? How did that help her?
 - Why do you think that God wants us to share even when it’s not easy to do?
 - What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? **Dig through your closet and find some winter clothes that you can donate to a shelter.**



Small Group

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

 - Our Big Point says Make Room To _______!
    - **Give**
    - Receive

 - Who came to Slater’s house to visit?
    - Grandma
    - **Aunt**

 - Where did Mary and Joseph travel in the Big Story?
    - Jerusalem
    - **Bethlehem**

 - When Mary and Joseph arrived, there were no guest rooms available.
    - **True**
    - False

 - How did a family make room for Jesus’ family?
    - Let them sleep outside
    - **Let them stay with the animals**

 - Complete the Big Verse: Hebrews 13:16 (NIrV), “Don’t forget to _____ with others.”
    **Share**

 - What is one way you could make room to share with someone this Christmas?

 - God is pleased when we share.
     - **True**
     - False

 - What advice would give to someone who was afraid to share because it felt difficult?

  - What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? **Dig through your closet and find some winter clothes that you can donate to a shelter.**

Big Review

Midweek / Classroom

Lab Wars Prep:
Before this segment begins, blow up a large number of balloons ( white balloons look like snowballs) and store them in large garbage bags (About 12 balloons per team). Select two kids (of the same gender) from each group. Have one of them dressed in a white painter suit and ready to go when this segment begins. 

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

Engage 2 Prep: You can buy 5x5x5 cardboard boxes on Amazon. Prior to the service, create a conversation die for each group by cutting out the different squares from the Activity Sheet provided and taping/gluing them to each side of the die. Make sure you save the boxes. These can be used again in the future.


Hey everyone, welcome to the Lab! How many of you have guests coming to your house to visit this Christmas? It can be fun having family or friends stay at your house that you don’t usually see, but sometimes it can make your house feel a little crowded. No matter how we feel about our house guests this holiday, we can choose a giving attitude! Why? Because we can remind ourselves of how much God gave to us! Let’s stand up and worship Him.




Before this segment begins, blow up a large number of balloons and store them in large garbage bags (About 12 balloons per team). Select two kids (of the same gender) from each group. Have one of them dressed in a white painter suit and ready to go when this segment begins. 

You guys did a great job worshipping God! It’s time to break up into your small groups. Go ahead and turn to your small group leaders now.

Introduce yourself to your group. Take these two minutes to go over the rules you have for your group. This will set the expectation and show the kids clear boundaries, setting your group up for success. The ball can be used as a tool to signify whose turn it is to respond. 



It’s time for Lab Wars! This is a time when our small groups battle it out for the chance to win 5,000 points. In tonight’s war, each team of two will compete to see how many balloons they can stuff in their partner’s suit. The team that stuffs the most balloons in their “snow suit” in 30 seconds wins! Ready, set, go! 


Idea: Use white balloons so they look like snowballs!




Congratulations to the winning team! You guys stuffed a lot of balloons into your suits. I don’t think there would have been room to fit one more. That reminds me of our lesson. Tonight we will discover that God wants us to make room. Let’s check in with the lab, so you can see what I mean. 
 



Lab Wars

Do you think that Skip’s advice to Slater is helpful? I agree. It sounds like he’s encouraging him to be mean to his aunt. If you have ever had family stay at Christmas, then you know that there can be really fun parts and some not-so fun parts. It can be fun to play games together and get to see your cousins, but maybe a little hard to share your toys or sleep on the floor. Let’s take a look at our Big Point so we can know what to do. I need a small group to help me count down from three. 

**Make Room To Give!** Now, we know we should make room for relatives this Christmas, but who else should we make room for? Let’s turn to our small groups and do an activity to give us some ideas. 




Give each child a copy of the activity and a set of markers for the group. Have them complete the activity by finding all the hidden words among the wordsearch. If they have extra time, they can color the pictures, too!




We can make room for anyone this Christmas! There are others we can make room for who were not even listed on this sheet. I hope Slater realizes he needs to follow our Big Point and decides to welcome his aunt for the holiday. Let’s say our Big Point altogether, 


You can buy 5x5x5 cardboard boxes on Amazon. Prior to the service, create a conversation die for each group by cutting out the different squares from the Activity Sheet provided and taping/gluing them to each side of the die. Make sure you save the boxes. These can be used again in the future.


I can’t believe that Slater wanted to use ant spray to get rid of his aunt. He’s doing the opposite of what we learned in our Big Point, 

**Make Room To Give!** I hope the verse Herman shared with him helped. Let’s look at our Big Verse for today. But first I need a small group to help me count down from three. 

Hebrews 13:16 (NIrV) says, “Don’t forget to share with others.” It can be hard to make room for others, but when we do, we are obeying God! Let’s turn to our small groups to think of some ways we can make room this Christmas. 




Have the kids take turns rolling the conversation die. Whenever a word is revealed, have the kids come up with one way they can make room or share with that person this Christmas. Make sure they don’t repeat someone else’s answer!




Those were some great ideas of how to share with others. If you can’t think of a way to make room this Christmas, pray and ask God to show you. When you do, you will be following our Big Point, 

**Make Room To Give!** Let’s take a look at a true story from the Bible about a man who made room for none other than Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.
 



God made room for us, and it says in the Bible that in Heaven He’s preparing rooms for us. God always makes room to give to us. Let’s turn to our small groups and talk about how we can show God’s love this Christmas. 





The goal in this segment is to create a place where kids can openly share and to bring accountability to becoming more like Jesus. Do this by truly listening, responding with love, and showing them what it looks like to be a friend and follower of Jesus. The ball can be used as a tool to signify whose turn it is to respond. 



 - What is one way God has made room for you? **He has invited us to be in His family, we get to be a part of His big plan, He provides so much for us, etc.** 
 - How does it make you feel when you remember all the ways God has given to you? **Happy, thankful, like I have all that I need, etc.**
 - Because God made room for us, we should make room this Christmas. Who is one person you can share with this Christmas and how?

Let’s bow our heads and pray our Big Verse. When we do this, it helps change our hearts and attitudes, making it easier to make room. Repeat after me, “Don’t forget to share with others.” (Repeat this a few times as a group. Then close with prayer.)




When we remember how God has made room for us, it makes it easier to make room for others. So, if you find yourself being stingy or having a bad attitude about sharing your room, think to yourself about all the ways that God has given to you. Then you will want to follow our Big Point, 


I am so glad Slater let his aunt stay with him this Christmas. She would have been all alone, but thanks to Slater she has a place to stay. He lived out the Big Point, 

We can give to others by doing this week’s Big Do and making room in our closet! Dig through your closet, find some clothes that you don’t wear or that don’t fit, and take them to a shelter near you. It’s a great way to share with others. Now turn to your small groups to finish up. 







Use this time to hand out any positive reinforcement tools. Tell your group how much you enjoyed spending time with them this week. Finally, end your time together with a prayer and maybe even a group cheer.



Closing

Large Group Abbreviated

Optional music selections for this lesson:
 - Game music for Big Review
 - Soft instrumental music for Big Story

**Co-Host**
Great job to our winners. This Christmas mug reminds me of the holidays. My favorite cup of cocoa is one packed with marshmallows. It seems like every place I go is packed tight with people.


**Host**
Not just people. The holidays are busy with school plays, parties, and family activities.

**Co-Host**
That’s why I like today’s Big Point. It helps us make a great choice even when the world seems a little busy.

**Host**
Before we discover today’s Big Point, let’s stand and worship. As you do, tell someone nearby which is your favorite Christmas drink: hot chocolate or egg nog.



**Co-Host**
Let’s all say it together, **Make Room To Give!** Even when it’s not convenient, we can still find opportunities to give.

**Host**
God wants to help us make that choice. 

**Co-Host**
But sometimes we really have to work at making room for others.

**Host**
Let’s see if Slater can make room for his Aunt May.




**Co-Host**
Hebrews 13:16 (NIrV) says, “Don’t forget to share with others.”

**Host**
I’m sure there are some things that are easy for you guys to share.

**Co-Host**
There are some things you wish you never had to share. 

**Host**
Let's talk about that.

**Co-Host**
I think it’s hardest to share when you have to share something you only have a small amount of.

**Host**
Like sharing the last cookie or giving part of your last dollar to help someone else.


**Co-Host**
The Bible says that God is pleased when we share. I think it’s because sharing with others shows that we trust God to take care of us.

**Host**
Giving will challenge you to give something up that you like, just like Slater is being challenged to give up his room at Christmas. Even the first Christmas is all about someone who shared what they had with Mary and Joseph. Let’s take a moment to stand and worship God.


**Host**
Dig through your closet and find some winter clothes that you can donate to a shelter. It’s a great way to share with others as you “make room” in your closet by giving them away.



**Co-Host**
That's a great idea!

**Host**
This week remember to make some room to do the Big Do. Let’s turn, connect with our small groups, and talk about what we’ve learned.



Better to Give Week 2

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Large Group Full Program Instructions

Large Group Full Program Instructions