Slides and Printables.zip

Slides and Printables

Program Videos.zip

Program Videos

3 Second Timer

Big Story Video

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. 



**Inflatables**

End the summer with a bang incorporating some giant inflatables like slide and obstacle course.

**Christmas in July**

Plan a fun Christmas-themed party complete with Christmas treats and a Christmas movie or craft.

**Sundae Funday**

Have a sundae bar complete with different flavors of ice cream, syrup, whipped cream, and of course the cherry.



The Engage 1 activity is a “Try not to Laugh” challenge. This can be played several ways. One option is to have kids or leaders square off and tell corny jokes. This version uses a game called “Don’t Make Me Laugh.” In this game, everyone performs a silly version of charades. The object is to see how long it takes for most of the kids to start laughing.



Countdown

**Host**

Welcome to Summer To The Max! I can’t believe that today is the final day. It’s gone by so fast, and I’m thankful that we’ve all been able to learn what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus.



Welcome

Worship

**Co-Host**

In just a short time, you’ll start back to school. You can take everything you’ve learned here with you and use it to help take your school year to the max. Speaking of school, what is a snake’s favorite subject in school? Hissssstory.





**Host**

Where’s the best place to grow flowers in school? Kindergarden.



**Co-Host**

What do elves learn in school? The elf-a-bet.



**Host**

Why did the egg get thrown out of school? He kept telling yokes. Maybe our terrible jokes didn’t make you laugh, but we’re going to play a game that I think may get some of you to smile.



**Co-Host**

We’re going to bring a few kids and adult volunteers on stage to play, but everyone in the audience will stand and play, too. We’ll give you something silly to act out. We want you to go all out and see if you can make the kids around you laugh.





Optional, play game music. Give the kids different Charades scenarios and have everyone in the room act them out. Play several rounds of the game.





**Host**

That was a lot of fun and extremely silly. Sometimes, though, things happen in life that make you feel like you never want to laugh again. Let’s check out today’s Big Point and see what Jesus says about joy.



**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 Happy No Matter What!** It may feel hard to believe, but it can be true.

**Co-Host**

Joy doesn’t come from the things that happen to us. Instead, we find happiness in knowing Jesus and following Him.

**Host**

Jesus fills us with joy that doesn’t go away, even when situations don’t go your way.

**Co-Host**

That’s why we can smile in all situations. We’re not happy about bad things or things that are wrong. Instead our smile comes from what Jesus has done for us.

**Host**

That’s why we can sing and celebrate God at any time. 

Engage 1

This object lesson uses the Massal tube magic trick with accompanying silks. It can be purchased online at [www.laflinmagicstore.com](www.laflinmagicstore.com){:target="null" undefined} or other online magic stores. Be sure to follow the included instructions when you receive the trick.



**Co-Host**

Let’s say our Big Point again, 

**Co-Host**

**I Am Happy No Matter What!**



**Host**

Is that really true? Can we be happy no matter what? Let’s see what Jesus said in the Big Verse. 



**Co-Host**

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





**Host**

Matthew 5:11-12 (NIrV), “Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of Me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of Me. Be joyful and glad. Your reward in Heaven is great.” 



**Co-Host**

Jesus said be joyful and glad when people lie about you, hurt you, or even make fun of you. That’s usually not the response we have when those things happen.



**Host**

Often we cry, get angry, or seek revenge. Jesus calls His followers to act differently. It’s like this picture. (Show the Sad Clown silk) We’ll call him Happy the Clown, except he doesn’t look very happy.



**Co-Host**

That’s how we look when things aren’t going our way, especially when people who are supposed to love us let us down by mistreating us. It’s really easy to get caught up in those feelings and want to run away and hide.





Place the Sad Clown silk into the Massal tube. Show the “empty tube.”





**Host**

Hiding isn’t what Jesus asked His followers to do. Jesus said we are blessed. He expects us to keep going. You know what helps us to do that? It’s the promises that Jesus has given us in the Bible.



**Co-Host**

God has promised a reward for us when we don’t give up following Jesus. Part of that reward is living forever with Jesus in a peaceful, happy place.



**Host**

Stay focused on God’s promises and blessings. That will help you choose joy in any situation. (Pull out the Happy Clown silk and show the empty tube) Let’s check out how Jesus’ followers responded when things didn’t go the way they expected.



Engage 2

**Host**

The weekend that Jesus was crucified was not a happy time for the disciples. But when they saw Jesus, they knew that they could have joy no matter what. That’s because Jesus’ resurrection proved that God would keep all His promises. That helped them keep going, even when people made fun of them and hurt them. 



You can keep going, too. The good news is that we don’t have to do this by ourselves. There are many Christians around you who would love to help you when you’re feeling down. Our Connectors are at the front, and they want to pray with you about any challenges you might be facing. This would be a great time to ask God to help you choose joy. 





Big Story

**Co-Host**

I’m glad the first followers of Jesus didn’t give up. Because they chose joy and continued trusting in Jesus, even in difficult situations, we get to sit here today. Without them spreading the good news, we might not ever have heard about Jesus or our Big Point, 

**Co-Host**

**I Am Happy No Matter What!**



**Host**

That brings us to this week’s Big Do. 

**Host**

Have a "Make Me Laugh" contest with your family. See who can make the most people laugh by telling jokes. Then talk about how we can choose joy because of Jesus.



**Co-Host**

This is a great lesson to remember during the upcoming school year. (Show the backpack) I wish I could say that every day will go the way you hope, but it won’t. Some days will be just plain annoying. The good news is that whether it goes your way or not, you can still choose joy because of Jesus.



**Host**

Let’s connect in our Small Groups and discuss how we can choose joy.





Engage 3

Gather the kids into Small Groups and discuss the following. 





 - Why is it so hard to choose joy when something unfair happens? (Allow for answers) What helped the disciples stay happy when bad things happened? **They believed in the reward that God would give them, life that lasts forever, because they had seen Jesus alive. They knew that they could trust God.**

 - Suppose a friend says bad things about you or a teacher accuses you of something you didn’t do. How could you stay happy, even when that happens? 



Small Group 

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

 - Our Big Point says, I Am _____ No Matter What!

    - **Happy**

    - Angry



 - How did the disciples feel on the day after Jesus died?

    - **Sad**

    - Excited



 - Who appeared to the disciples on Easter Sunday evening?

    - Angel

    - **Jesus**



 - Jesus’ body was a _____ body.

    - Ghostly

    - **Real**



 - What did Jesus’ followers do when the leaders hurt them?

    - Gave up

    - **Chose joy**



 - Matthew 5:11-12 (NIrV), “Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of Me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of Me. Be joyful and glad. Your ______ in Heaven is great.”

    - **Reward**

    - Punishment



 - How were the disciples able to choose joy, even when they were in jail?



 - Jesus’ followers will one day have a body just like Jesus had after He came back to life.

    - **True**

    - False



 - What can you do this upcoming school year if things don’t go your way?



 -  What is this week’s Big Do?

**See who can make the most people laugh by telling jokes. Then talk about how we can choose joy because of Jesus.**

Big Review

Large Group Abbreviated

**Co-Host**

In just a short time, you’ll start back to school. You can take everything you’ve learned here with you and use it to help take your school year to the max. Speaking of school, what is a snake’s favorite subject in school? Hissssstory.

**Host**

Where’s the best place to grow flowers in school? Kindergarden.

**Co-Host**

What do elves learn in school? The elf-a-bet.

**Host**

Why did the egg get thrown out of school? He kept telling yokes. Maybe our terrible jokes didn’t make you laugh, but maybe a few of you at least had a smile.



**Host**

Sometimes, though, things happen in life that make you feel like you never want to laugh again. Let’s check out today’s Big Point and see what Jesus says about joy.

**Co-Host**

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

**Host**

Matthew 5:11-12 (NIrV), “Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of Me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of Me. Be joyful and glad. Your reward in Heaven is great.”

**Co-Host**

Jesus said be joyful and glad when people lie about you, hurt you, or even make fun of you. That’s usually not the response we have when those things happen.

**Host**

Often we cry, get angry, or seek revenge. Jesus calls His followers to act differently.

**Co-Host**

Especially when people who are supposed to love us let us down by mistreating us. It’s really easy to get caught up in those feelings and want to run away and hide.

**Host**

Hiding isn’t what Jesus asked His followers to do. Jesus said we are blessed. He expects us to keep going. You know what helps us to do that? It’s the promises that Jesus has given us in the Bible.

**Co-Host**

God has promised a reward for us when we don’t give up following Jesus. Part of that reward is living forever with Jesus in a peaceful, happy place.

**Host**

Stay focused on God’s promises and blessings. That will help you choose joy in any situation. Let’s check out how Jesus’ followers responded when things didn’t go the way they expected.

**Host**

Have a "Make Me Laugh" contest with your family. See who can make the most people laugh by telling jokes. Then talk about how we can choose joy because of Jesus.

**Co-Host**

This is a great lesson to remember during the upcoming school year. I wish I could say that every day will go the way you hope, but it won’t. Some days will be just plain annoying. The good news is that whether it goes your way or not, you can still choose joy because of Jesus.

**Host**

Let’s connect in our Small Groups and discuss how we can choose joy.

Summer To The Max Lesson 8

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Large Group Full Program Instructions

Large Group Full Program Instructions