God's Love Is Free!
Skip has agreed to help around the lab, but his help doesn't come cheap. Instead of giving it away, Skip is charging for his help. Is that how God's love works? Short answer: No way!
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Large Group Full Program
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Large Group Full Program Instructions
Countdown / Rules
Optional songs for Welcome and Engage segments: “For the Love of Money” by the O’ Jays, "Price is Right Theme", "Space Jam",
WelcomeMaterials: Lab Coat (2)
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host Welcome to the Lab! I hope you are ready for a fantastic day.
Co-Host And that you brought your piggy banks because it’s time to pay up.
(Play: “For the Love of Money”)
Host Why do they need their piggy banks?
Co-Host There’s no such thing as a free ride. You gotta pay your fair share. Who’s going to pay for the seven lattes I drank this morning from Starbucks?
Host You are, and you’re wrong. First, no one has to pay. Church is free. Second, there is something God gives that doesn’t cost us a thing. Let’s see what Herman and Rusty are doing, but first, find someone and tell them the best thing you ever got for free.
Engage 1Materials: Lab Coat (2), Sport Coat, Handheld Microphone, Prizes
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host I don’t think that Skip got the message about today’s lesson.
Host I agree. (To the kids) Did it seem like he was planning to charge Herman for helping? Do you think that’s right?
Co-Host People used to tell me that if something is valuable, it costs a lot.
Host There is some truth to that, but that doesn’t mean we pay the cost. Let’s use a game to explain. Have you ever seen a game on TV called “The Price is Right?”
Co-Host Ooh, ooh, I have. Wait, I could be the Host for the game
Co-Host puts on a sport coat.
(Play: Price is Right Theme)
Host On that game show they play pricing games where people have to guess the right price for different items. I have some prizes up here, and I’m going to choose some contestants to play some pricing games.
Play different pricing games: Guess between two prices, Is the price higher or lower, etc. Allow kids to keep the prizes.
Co-Host Have you guys read the verse in the Bible about sharing your prize with the teachers on stage?
Host That’s not in the Bible. You guys get to keep those prizes for free, but originally they weren’t free. We paid for them. That’s true of our Big Point. We need a lab assistant to help us reveal it.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host We need you to help us as we count down from three and then read the Big Point
Co-Host Let’s all say it together, God’s Love Is Free! God’s love is really valuable. Are you sure it’s free?
Host Some people think they have to earn God’s love, but in reality He gives it away. Jesus paid a big price to show His love for us, and we don’t have to pay Him back.
Co-Host That’s like the greatest free gift in history.
Host It is, and it’s an example we can follow by giving our love to others for free, too. I’m doubting that Skip will make that choice, though.
Engage 2Materials: Lab Coat (2), Fan Signs, John 3:16 Sign, Inflatable Basketball Goal
Host and Co-Host enter
Host Can you believe that Skip is trying to charge Herman and his friend thousands of dollars?
Co-Host Do you think that the things Skip did for them are worth that much money?
Host What God did for us is worth a lot more than what Skip did, and it’s free! That’s why our Big Point says,
Host God’s Love Is Free!
Co-Host I wish I would have known what Skip was charging before I asked him to toss me my basketball.
Host You, too?
Co-Host I got a bill for $500.
Host Your basketball reminds me of our Big Verse.
Co-Host It does?
Host I’ll explain, but first we should create the stadium environment. I’m going to choose some kids to come up and takes some shots. We’ll put up a stadium graphic, and you can all pretend to be crazy fans. I’ll even pass out some posters for some of you to hold.
(Play: Space Jam) Let some kids take a few shots and encourage the crowd to cheer like a stadium audience. If you don’t have an inflatable basketball goal, you could also use a toy basketball game or an arcade game.
Co-Host That was fun. I recognize some of those signs. I’ve seen them on TV. D-Fence. John 3:16. Wait, is that our Big Verse?
Host Let’s choose an assistant and find out.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Host Help us as we count down from three, and then you can read the verse.
(Allow the child to read the Big Verse.)
Co-Host I’ve always wondered why we see that on posters.
Host It is one of the best known Bible verses, and it’s a verse that gives everyone hope. It reminds us that Jesus is a priceless free gift to us.
Co-Host It says that all we have to do to receive Jesus is believe in Him. He gives us His love for free. That’s way different than Skip.
Host You don’t have to pay for Jesus’ love. You don’t have to earn it, either. In fact, God can’t not love you! It’s completely free. I think now would be a great time to stand and worship Jesus.
Big Story
Some of you may feel like Saul. You might think that you have to earn God’s love, but that’s not true. He loves you already. There’s not a thing you can do to make God love you more or less. Jesus came to make a way for us to experience all of the amazing love that God has for us. I want you to close your eyes and talk to Jesus. Take a moment to thank Him for loving you like crazy. (Pause) Don’t ever forget how much Jesus loves you. I’ll pray.
Engage 3Materials: Lab Coat (2)
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host After the way Skip behaved, I’m surprised that Herman and the gang agreed to help him.
Host And they did it without charging him. I guess they understood our Big Point,
Host God’s Love Is Free! That’s something you can practice when you do the Big Do.
Co-Host Do something special for someone else without expecting anything in return. God does that for us. His love is free but is it worth a lot.
Host That’s a good point. What are some ways that God shows us love?
(Allow the kids to respond.)
Co-Host That just goes to show you how kind our God really is. It inspires me to love God and others without wanting something in return.
Host Me, too. Let’s get out there this week and live out the Big Point,
Host God’s Love Is Free! We’re going to take a moment to gather with our small groups and discuss today’s lesson.
Small Group
Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following.
- Do you think that Skip chose to show love today? Why not? Have you ever met someone who wanted something in return for being nice?
- How does God show His love to you? How do you show your love for God?
- What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the “Big Do?” Do something special for someone else without expecting anything in return.
Big Review
Choose two kids from the audience to come on stage and answer the question.
- Our Big Point says God’s Love Is _____! a. Free
b. Expensive 2. What did Skip do after helping in the lab? a. Charged everyone money b. Cleaned up the lab 3. True/False: At first, Saul liked the Christians. a. True b. False 4. What happened to Saul after he saw the light? a. He was blind b. He arrested more Christians 5. How did Herman and his friends show Skip true love? 6. Complete the Big Verse: John 3:16 (NIrV), “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only _____. Anyone who believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.” a. Angel b. Son 7. How did Saul change after God healed him? a. He became angrier b. He shared the good news about Jesus 8. True/False: God doesn’t make us pay for His gift of love. a. True b. False 9. How can you show God’s love to others this week? 10. What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? Do something special for someone else without expecting anything in return.