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Slides and Printables

Slides.zip

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Summer to the Max 5 Minutes Countdown

Large Group Full Program

**Series Note**



Each Summer 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 Summer to the Max Junior lessons, consider keeping one venue at the beginning and one at the end. 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 Summer to the Max!



**Venue Ideas**



Choose one of the following venue options or create your own. 



**Pajama Sunday**

Have the kids wear pajamas and provide a yummy breakfast treat.

**Hot Chocolate Bar**

Turn up the heat with an inside Hot Chocolate bar complete with marshmallows, sprinkles, and the works. Use the classic drink to comfort the kids.

**Animal Show**

Hire a local performer who works with animals such as dogs, birds, etc.







Countdown 

Welcome

Worship

**Host**

When you live like Jesus, you can’t help but choose a new kind of attitude.



**Co-Host**

Each week we’re learning what those attitudes look like. Last week we learned that when we need God’s help, we can be sure that He will help us.



**Host**

Let’s check out today’s Big Point so we can learn more about what Jesus said.



**Co-Host**

We need everyone to help us count down from three, and then we’ll read the Big Point. 



**Host**

Let’s all say it together, **I Am Comforted!** One fun activity to do during the summer is spend the night with your cousins or spend a week at your grandparents’ house.



**Co-Host**

Even the bravest among us gets a little nervous away from home that long. That’s why we usually carry an item with us to help us remember the comfort of home.



**Host**

What are some items that you bring on a trip? (Allow for answers) Pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets are great ways to feel comfort no matter where you are.



**Co-Host**

Blankets are helpful at home, too. There’s nothing like building a nice blanket fort in the living room. We have two teams who are going to try to build the fastest fort in the world using the items provided.



**Host**

The first team to get the blanket held off the ground and everyone under the blanket wins. 



Optional, play game music. Choose two teams of 3 or 4 kids and one adult. Give each team a large blanket and metal chairs. The number of chairs depends on the size of the blanket. You could also substitute a playground parachute for the blanket. 





**Host**

What if you don’t have your pillow or your blanket fort? Can you still feel comfort?



**Co-Host**

Absolutely. No matter where you are, you are never too far from God to feel His comfort. 



**Host**

Unlike blankets, you can never lose God. He’s always with you, and knowing you’re not alone provides you with great comfort. 



**Co-Host**

There’s never a moment when God forgets where we are or loses track of us. He’s always watching over us.



**Host**

If you knew a giant bodyguard was always nearby, you’d feel some relief. Well, you have someone better beside you. That’s a reason to stand and worship God.







Engage 1

**Co-Host**

Let’s say our Big Point again, 

**Co-Host**

**I Am Comforted!**



**Host**

Let’s see what Jesus said in the Bible about being comforted by looking at the Big Verse. 





**Co-Host**

Everyone, count down from three, and then we’ll read the verse. 





**Host**

Matthew 5:4 (NIrV), “Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted.” Blessed, in this verse, means “happy” “loved by God,” and “receiving good things from God.” Isn’t that the opposite of feeling sad? How can you be sad and happy at the same time?



**Co-Host**

Usually, when we feel sad or worried, the goal is to get rid of the sadness or fear as soon as possible. Back in the ancient world, people would carry smooth stones with them to help them stay calm. Twirling it in their fingers was a way of finding comfort.



**Host**

In today’s world, though, we might use bubble wrap. Does anyone like popping the bubbles? It’s fun, right? Let’s choose some contestants to see who’s the fastest bubble popper.





Optional, play game music. Choose several kids to participate. Give each one a sheet of bubble wrap. See who can pop the most lines of bubbles in the time limit. 





**Co-Host**

Wasn’t that fun? Bubble wrap does help people feel better, but not for long. Once the bubbles are popped, it’s easy for the negative feelings to come back.



**Host**

Real comfort is comfort that lasts. That kind of comfort can only come from Jesus. It’s not temporary relief. Jesus came to fix our biggest problem, sin, so that we could be part of God’s family.



**Co-Host**

The good news that we will live forever with God helps us choose happiness, even when sad things happen. We know that God’s comfort lasts. It’s just like the help Jesus gave to a sick man in the Bible. Listen to his story.





Engage 2

**Host**

I have no idea what kind of things are going on in your family. There could be some sad things or situations that make you worried. The good news is that no matter what is going on, you are blessed because God wants to comfort you. We have some Connectors up front who want to pray with you. If you would like to pray with someone and ask God for His comfort, then come down as we sing this worship song and find someone to pray with.





Big Story

**Co-Host**

I love that Jesus wasn’t afraid to touch the man with skin disease. That man hadn’t been hugged in a long time, but Jesus comforted and healed him. That story reminds us that Jesus can help us in any situation. Let’s say the Big Point, 

**Co-Host**

**I Am Comforted!**

**Host**

That brings us to this week’s Big Do. 

**Host**

Share some comfort with someone in your family. You could make them a simple comfort snack, share a blanket, or give a hug. Remind your family that we all have God’s comfort.





**Co-Host**

One fun thing about the summer is Shark Week, on TV. Those stories are so interesting! Did you know that the scales on a shark point towards the tail? If you rubbed a shark from the tail towards the head, it would feel as rough as sandpaper.



**Host**

If you rubbed the shark the opposite way, their skin would feel smooth. It’s a good reminder that when life feels rough, God’s comfort is there to soothe our hearts. Let’s connect in our Small Groups and discuss this summer of new attitude.







Engage 3

Gather the kids into Small Groups and discuss the following. 





 - How would you have felt if you were the man in our story and had to spend so much time away from friends and family? (Allow for answers) How do you think he felt when Jesus touched him and healed him? 

 - How can we be blessed or happy, even when we feel sad? **Because God comforts us, because we know He loves us and is helping us, because we know He has good things ahead**.  How do we know that God will comfort us? **We trust what God’s Word says, and it’s full of stories when God did comfort people. People we know at church have also been comforted through hard situations by the Lord**.  What makes God’s comfort different than what we feel when we have a warm blanket or even a hug? **God’s comfort helps our hearts. He always knows exactly what we need. His comfort never ends.**





Small Group 

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

- Our Big Point says, I Am ______!

    - **Comforted**

    - Sad
- What was wrong with the man in the Big Story who found Jesus?
    - Couldn’t hear
    - **Skin disease**

- The man broke the rules by coming up to Jesus.

    - **True**

    - False

- Having a skin disease mean the man couldn’t ______.

    - **Visit his family**

    - Leave his hometown

- Jesus came to fix the messes in our world.

    - **True**

    - False

- Matthew 5:4 (NIrV), “Blessed are those who are ____. They will be comforted.”

    - **Sad**

    - Mean

- What is one way that God comforts us?

- God’s comfort is only temporary.

    - True

    - **False**

- Why was Jesus angry when the man asked to be healed?

    - Jesus was mad at the guy

    - **Jesus was mad at the sickness**

- What is this week’s Big Do?

**Make a family member a comfort snack, share a blanket, or give a hug. Remind your family that we all have God’s comfort.**

Big Review

Large Group Abbreviated

**Host**

Let’s all say it together, **I Am Comforted!** One fun activity to do during the summer is spend the night with your cousins or spend a week at your grandparents’ house.

**Co-Host**

Even the bravest among us gets a little nervous away from home that long. That’s why we usually carry an item with us to help us remember the comfort of home.

**Host**

What are some items that you bring on a trip? (Allow for answers) Pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets are great ways to feel comfort no matter where you are.

**Co-Host**

Blankets are helpful at home, too. There’s nothing like building a nice blanket fort in the living room. 

**Host**

Matthew 5:4 (NIrV), “Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted.” Blessed, in this verse, means “happy” “loved by God,” and “receiving good things from God.” Isn’t that the opposite of feeling sad? How can you be sad and happy at the same time?

**Co-Host**

Usually, when we feel sad or worried, the goal is to get rid of the sadness or fear as soon as possible. Back in the ancient world, people would carry smooth stones with them to help them stay calm. Twirling it in their fingers was a way of finding comfort.

**Host**

In today’s world, though, we might use bubble wrap to pop. Or we might do something we enjoy like watching a show or playing a game.

**Co-Host**

Being distracted by doing something fun helps people feel better, but not for long. Once the fun ends, it’s easy for the negative feelings to come back.

**Host**

Real comfort is comfort that lasts. That kind of comfort can only come from Jesus. It’s not temporary relief. Jesus came to fix our biggest problem, sin, so that we could be part of God’s family.

**Co-Host**

The good news that we will live forever with God helps us choose happiness, even when sad things happen. We know that God’s comfort lasts. It’s just like the help Jesus gave to a sick man in the Bible. Listen to his story.

**Co-Host**

When life feels rough, God’s comfort is there to soothe our hearts.

**Host**

 Let’s connect in our Small Groups and discuss this summer of new attitude.

I Am Comforted

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Large Group Full Program Instructions

I Am Comforted Instructions