Slides and Printables.zip

Slides and Printables

Program Videos.zip

Program Videos

7 Min Countdown

03 sec Countdown

2 Min Countdown

Herman and Rusty Act 2

H&R Big Do Slide

6 Min Countdown

Herman and Rusty Act 3

60 sec Countdown

5 Min Countdown

Herman and Rusty Title

Herman and Rusty Act 1

H&R BIG REVIEW Bumper

Big Story Vide

H&R 5 Min Countdown with Rules

Rusty and Sophia attempt to live life by only using part of their bodies at any one time.

Large Group Full Program

Question of the Day: In which subject in school do you give the most effort?



Countdown / Rules

Before service, set out a tarp on the stage. Purchase some watermelon seeds, or other types that might be available, for a seed spitting contest.



The **Host** and **Co-Host** enter, wearing lab coats. 

**Host**

You have to open your mouth, so we can understand you.

**Co-Host**

I was trying to talk without using my tongue or lips. Are you sure it didn’t work? That’s the last time I listen to Herman’s monkey.

**Host**

Yeah, in order to talk, you need everything. Your lips, tongue, vocal cords, lungs, brain, etc. That’s what we’re going to discover today, but before we get started let’s play a game. We’ve chosen some contestants to try their hand at a seed spitting contest. We’ll let each contestant go and then measure to see who spit the farthest.

Optional, play game music. Allow the kids to spit, one at a time. Then measure each one and declare a winner.

**Co-Host**

Did you know that Jesus talked about spitting in the Bible? Who knew?

**Host**

Today we’ will find out who and what caused Jesus to say that. Let’s get ready to visit the lab. But first, tell someone nearby what food you would spit out if you had to taste it.

Welcome

Worship

**Co-Host**

Looks like Sophia got the same terrible advice from Mr. Marbles that I got.



**Host**

Do you think that it’s going to help Sophia to only give half effort?





**Co-Host**

Have you ever done an assignment at school, but you waited until the last minute and then had to rush through it? Let’s see if some of our adult volunteers have done that.





**Co-Host** interviews a couple of adult volunteers. Tell the volunteers about the question before service so that they are ready to answer.





**Host**

Full effort is the way to go, especially when it comes to following Jesus. Our Big Point reminds us exactly what to do. I need a volunteer to help us reveal it.





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





**Co-Host**

After we count down from three, you get to read the Big Point.





**Host**

Let’s all say it together, **Love God With Everything!**



**Co-Host**

You can’t halfway follow Jesus or just kind of like Jesus. As followers of Jesus, God wants us to truly love Him with all of our thoughts, words, actions, and every bit of energy that we have.



**Host**

Let’s demonstrate how going halfway can create some problems. We have two teams of three kids who get to play soccer this morning, but there’s the catch. Every time I blow the whistle, the kids must stop using a part of their body. The **Co-Host** will shout out which part they can’t use.



Optional, play game music. Play the game, choosing different parts they can’t use, such as feet, legs, arms and legs, eyes, left leg, right leg, etc.





**Host**

Those rules made the game so much harder than it would have been had they been able to use their whole bodies. And life is much harder if you try to be a half-hearted Christian.





**Co-Host**

You’ll never be able to do the awesome things God wants you to do if you only give half effort. Loving God with everything means giving your best to God.



**Host**

When you do that, God can use you in His big, awesome plan because you are willing to follow Him. Let’s hope Sophia and Rusty have given up on their idea.





Engage 1

**Host**

I think that Sophia and Rusty’s plan is going about as well as we expected it to go.



**Co-Host**

The more they give half effort, the more trouble they cause themselves. It’s what happens when we don’t follow our Big Point. Let’s say our Big Point, 

**Co-Host**

**Love God With Everything!**



**Host**

Herman shared a Big Verse that explains how to follow this Big Point. Let’s choose an assistant to help us reveal it.





**Co-Host**

After we count down from three, and then read the verse.





**Co-Host**

Mark 12:30 (NIrV) says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love Him with all your mind and with all your strength.”



**Host**

When you become Jesus’ follower, you follow Him no matter where you are or who you’re with. We don’t just follow Him at church or just with our minds. We follow Jesus with everything we’ve got.



**Co-Host**

Let’s think about using lemonade. It’s a fairly simple drink. Can you tell me the ingredients?



**Host**

It’s simple. Water, lemon juice, and sugar are all you need. Let’s have an assistant help us make some lemonade. (Choose a child to help) If I hand you just a cup of sugar, is that lemonade?



**Co-Host**

No, that wouldn’t be refreshing on a hot day. What about water, is that lemonade? No! What if I combine the water and sugar? Will that make good lemonade?





**Host**

Sugar water isn’t the same. Would you enjoy drinking just lemon juice? (Squeeze lemon juice into a cup) Try that. Gross, right?



**Co-Host**

Good lemonade is a combo of everything. Let’s put it all together and stir.





Combine the ingredients and stir.









**Co-Host**

How’s that? Much better, right?



**Host**

You might think that you can just follow Jesus part of the time, but that’s like drinking sour lemon juice. To be a follower of Jesus, He wants you to love Him with every part of your life and with your best effort. That makes a big difference. Let’s stand and take a moment to worship God.



Engage 2

Optional, play soft instrumental music. 





Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. One great way to pray is to use a Bible verse as a prayer. Let’s take our Big Verse and pray it to God. Repeat this prayer after me. “Dear Jesus, help me to love You with all my heart and with all my soul. Help me to love You with all my mind and with all my strength.” (Repeat 2x) That’s a great prayer to keep praying as you give your best to follow Jesus.

Big Story

**Co-Host**

I think Rusty learned the value of using his eyes while walking.



**Host**

Yep, and I hope that church in Laodicea learned how important it is to give your full self when you follow Jesus. Can you believe Jesus said that He would vomit that up? That’s how important our Big Point is, 

**Host**

**Love God With Everything!**



**Co-Host**

That’s a story you can share with your family when you do this week’s Big Do. 



**Host**

As a family, talk about how you can show God’s love in every part of your day.



**Co-Host**

Let’s do that now. We’re going to bring up some pictures of places you might go and let’s think of some ways you can love God in that place.





Show the slides and have the kids discuss ways to be a full-effort follower of Jesus in each one.









**Co-Host**

No matter where you go, you can love Jesus with all your heart.



**Host**

Great things happen when you give God your best effort. Let’s gather up in our small groups and talk about what we learned today.



Engage 3

Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following. 







 - Why do you think Jesus told the church in Laodicea that it was better to be cold or hot instead of lukewarm? **He wanted them to do the right things instead of just what was comfortable. God can use those who give their best to Him.**

 - What would it look like for you to love and follow Jesus with all of your heart at school?

 - Why does a follower of Jesus need to give their total effort? **It shows that we are fully committed to following Jesus. It gives God the opportunity to use us in His big plan.**

 - What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? **Talk about how you can share God’s love in every part of your day**



Small Group

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

 - Our Big Point says Love God With _____!

    - **Everything**

    - Something



 - What did Mr. Marbles convince Sophia to do?

    - **Give half effort**

    - Give her best effort



 - What was the name of the church Jesus spoke to in our Big Story?

    - **Laodicea**

    - Philippi



 - What did Jesus say He would do if the church stayed lukewarm?

    - Ignore them

    - **Spit them out**



 - It’s okay to be on God’s team and give half effort.

    - True

    - **False**



 - Mark 12:30 (NIrV), “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your _____. Love Him with all your mind and with all your strength.”

    - **Soul**

    - Money



 - What did Jesus tell the church He would do if they wanted to change?

    - **Be with them**

    - Never speak to them



 - How could you love God with everything while hanging out with your friends this week?



 - Loving God with everything means sometimes you will have to make a sacrifice.

    - **True**

    - False



  - What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? **Talk about how you can share God’s love in every part of your day**

Big Review

Large Group Abbreviated

**Host**

You have to open your mouth, so we can understand you.

**Co-Host**

I was trying to talk without using my tongue or lips. Are you sure it didn’t work? That’s the last time I listen to Herman’s monkey.

**Host**

Yeah, in order to talk, you need everything. Your lips, tongue, vocal cords, lungs, brain, etc. That’s what we’re going to discover today. And actually.... we are going to be talking about spitting. It takes a lot of mouth parts to do that too.

**Co-Host**

Did you know that Jesus talked about spitting in the Bible? Who knew?

**Host**

Today we will find out who and what caused Jesus to talk about that. Let’s get ready to visit the lab. But first, tell someone nearby what food you would spit out if you had to taste it.

**Co-Host**

Looks like Sophia got the same terrible advice from Mr. Marbles that I got.

**Host**

Do you think that it’s going to help Sophia to only give half effort?

**Co-Host**

Have you ever done an assignment at school, but you waited until the last minute and then had to rush through it? 

**Host**

That's never a good idea. Full effort is the way to go, especially when it comes to following Jesus. Our Big Point reminds us exactly what to do. I need a volunteer to help us reveal it.

**Host**

Let’s all say it together, **Love God With Everything!**

**Co-Host**

You can’t halfway follow Jesus or just kind of like Jesus. As followers of Jesus, God wants us to truly love Him with all of our thoughts, words, actions, and every bit of energy that we have. That is how he made us to be.

**Host**

Life is much harder if you try to be a half-hearted Christian.

**Co-Host**

You’ll never be able to do the awesome things God wants you to do if you only give half effort. Loving God with everything means giving your best to God.

**Host**

When you do that, God can use you in His big, awesome plan because you are willing to follow Him. Let’s hope Sophia and Rusty have given up on their idea.

**Co-Host**

Mark 12:30 (NIrV) says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love Him with all your mind and with all your strength.”

**Host**

When you become Jesus’ follower, you follow Him no matter where you are or who you’re with. We don’t just follow Him at church or just with our minds. We follow Jesus with everything we’ve got.



**Co-Host**

You might think that you can just follow Jesus part of the time, but that’s like making lemonade without all the ingredients. Who wants to drink lemonade without the sugar or even without the lemon? Yuck!

**Host**

 To be a follower of Jesus, He wants you to love Him with every part of your life and with your best effort. That makes a big difference. Let’s stand and take a moment to worship God.

**Co-Host**

I think Rusty learned the value of using his eyes while walking.

**Host**

Yep, and I hope that church in Laodicea learned how important it is to give your full self when you follow Jesus. Can you believe Jesus said that He would vomit them up? That’s how important our Big Point is,

**Host**

As a family, talk about how you can show God’s love in every part of your day.

**Co-Host**

Great idea!

**Co-Host**

No matter where you go or what you do, you can love Jesus with all your heart.

**Host**

Great things happen when you give God your best effort. Let’s gather up in our small groups and talk about what we learned today.

Midweek / Classroom

It’s now time to break up into your Small Groups. Go ahead and turn to your Small Group Leaders now.

Split into groups. Optional, play game music.

Small Group Leader,

Use these two minutes to introduce yourself to your kids and go over the rules. 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.





Small Group Leader

Rule #1 – Sit in a circle and on your pockets,

Rule #2 – One person talks at a time. If you want to talk, raise your hand and I will toss you the ball!

Rule #3 – If you need to use the restroom, raise your hand, and I will let you know if you can go.





It’s time for Lab Wars! During Lab Wars we battle it out, team against team, until one group stands victorious. Tonight everyone gets to play. Each Small Group has a balloon. Your group will join hands in a circle. When I say go, your Small Group Leader will toss the balloon in the air, and your job is to keep the balloon in the air as a group while still holding hands. Small Group Leaders, count how many times your balloon hits the ground. The group that drops their balloon the least wins! 



Optional, play game music. Play the game. Acknowledge the group that won.





**Leader**



That was a fun game! It was so much harder to keep the balloon in the air when you couldn’t fully use your hands. If you had been able to compete with every part of you, it would have been a lot easier! Let’s check in with our friends in the Lab. I have a feeling they know a little bit about doing something half-way. 





Lab Wars

**Leader**

Mr. Marbles gave Sophia some terrible advice. Raise your hand if you’ve ever waited until the last minute to complete an assignment at school. I know I have. Full effort is the way to go, especially when it comes to following Jesus. Our Big Point reminds us of the right thing to do. I need a Small Group to help me reveal what it is. 



**Love God With Everything!** Jesus doesn’t want us to halfway follow or just kind of like Him. As followers of Jesus, God wants us to go all out and love Him with our whole selves. Let’s turn to our Small Groups and do an activity that illustrates this very thing. 

Small Group Leader,

Give each child an activity sheet. Have them complete the side numbered, “1” first. They will find that they cannot complete it because it is only half a puzzle. After the group realizes this, give them the second side and have them complete it.   

 



**Leader**

It was impossible to finish the first puzzle because the puzzle wasn’t a complete picture. In the same way, life is much harder if you’re a half-hearted Christian. You won’t be able to do the awesome things God wants you to if you only give half effort. Let’s hope Sophia and Rusty have given up on their idea.





**Leader**

I think that Sophia and Rusty’s plan is going about as well as we expected. The more they give half effort, the more trouble they cause themselves. It’s what happens when we don’t follow our Big Point. Let’s say it together,  

**Love God With Everything!**





Herman shared a verse that explains how to follow this Big Point. Let’s choose a Small Group to help us reveal it. 

Mark 12:30 (NIrV) says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love Him with all your mind and with all your strength.” When you become Jesus’ follower, you follow Him no matter where you are at that moment. We don’t just follow Him at church or only in our minds. We follow Jesus with everything we’ve got. Let’s turn to our Small Groups to talk more about this. 

Small Group Leader,

Each Small Group has the ingredients to make lemonade. Follow the prompts below. 





 - What are the ingredients in lemonade?

 - Is this lemonade? (Hold up the sugar)

 - What about this; is this lemonade? (Hold up the water)

 - What if I combine the sugar and the water, would that be good lemonade?

 - What about just lemon juice, would that make a good cup of lemonade? Allow a kid to try the lemon juice. Pretty gross, right?

 - But what if I combine all the ingredients? (Combine the ingredients and give it a shake in the jar) Now is it lemonade?





**Leader**

You might think that you can follow Jesus some of the time, but that’s like drinking sour lemon juice. As a follower of Jesus, He wants you to love Him with every part of your life and with your best effort. That makes a big difference. There’s a story in the Bible about a church that chose not to follow God with everything. But before we get to that, we have a treat for you! 





Have the Small Group Leaders pass out the lemonade. 

You can drink your lemonade quietly while we watch this video.



Maybe you are thinking to yourself, “I am not sure I am following God with everything.” You can choose to make a change today! Let’s turn to our Small Groups and talk more about this. 





Small Group Leader,

The goal in this segment is to create a place where kids can openly share and to bring accountability as they become more like Jesus. Do this by listening, responding with love, and showing them what it looks like to be a friend and follower of Jesus.





 - Do you ever find it hard to follow God at school? At Home? Around your friends? 

 - Why is it important to follow God with everything? **Because He deserves our whole hearts; it allows Him to use us in His Big Plan; it brings so many blessings; etc.**



 - Let’s take a moment to meditate on our Big Verse. Bow your heads, close your eyes, and repeat after me; “Dear Jesus, help me to love You with all my heart and with all my soul. Help me to love You with all my mind and with all my strength.” (Repeat this a few times as a group. Then pray over your group.) 

 



**Leader**



You may think loving God with everything is a little scary. Maybe you’re wondering what your friends will think. You may think it’s not that big a deal to only follow God at church or at home, but half-hearted is never what’s best. I believe you can do the wise, hard thing and love God with everything. Let’s see if Sophia and Rusty can make that choice. 





I think Rusty learned the value of using his eyes while walking. I hope that church in Laodicea learned how important it is to give your full effort when you follow Jesus. Our Big Point is so important, 





**Love God With Everything!** You can practice this by doing this week’s Big Do! 

As a family, talk about how you can show God you love Him in every part of your day. Let’s turn to our Small Groups to finish up today’s service. 

 

Small Group Leader,

Use this time to hand out any positive reinforcement tools (i.e. Candy, stickers, prize coupons, etc.) Tell your group how much you enjoyed spending time with them this week. Finally, end your time together with a prayer and maybe a group cheer.

Love God, Love Others Week 2

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Large Group Full Program Instructions

Large Group Full Program Instructions