I Can Grow

Host

Welcome to Summer To The Max at the Movies! This summer, we’re checking out some of our all-time favorite movies to see what we can learn about following Jesus.

Co-host

Do you ever wish that you could become a better follower of Jesus? Is that even possible? Or are we just going to always be who we are right now?

Host

Let’s check out the Big Point and see what it says. We need everyone to help us count down from three, and then we’ll read the Big Point.

Co-host

Let’s all say it together, I Can Grow! It’s true! With God’s help and your best effort, you can become a better follower of Jesus.

Host

That’s what we’re going to discover during Summer to the Max. We’re learning some things we can add to our lives that will help us live the life God wants us to have.

Co-host

This week is Star Wars week. I love the Star Wars movies. If you remember, Luke Skywalker didn’t start out knowing how to be a perfect Jedi Knight.

Host

No, he had to train and learn new skills to grow. Let’s train our lightsaber skills in this next game. We have two teams who will compete to see who can get the most balloons into their base.

Co-host

You can’t use your hands. Instead, you must bounce the balloon between your two lightsabers to move it across the stage. If it hits the ground, you must start over.

Host

Let’s see who can get the most balloons into their base in 60 seconds.

Host

That was a fun game, but you needed some serious skills to win. I’m glad God helps us grow the skills we need to live for Him.

Host

At first, Luke wanted to skip through his training, but he learned that taking the time to prepare made a big difference. That’s how he was ultimately able to defeat the evil emperor.

Co-host

God has a plan for you all to do some incredible things. You weren’t born ready to do everything God wants you to do, and that’s okay. God wants to help you develop all the right things you need to follow Him.

Host

That’s why it’s so important to remember our Big Point. Let’s say it again together,

Host

I Can Grow!

Co-host

Let’s see what the Bible says about the important things we can add to our lives. We need everyone to count down from three, and then we’ll read the verse.

Host

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIrV), “So you should try very hard to add goodness to your faith. To goodness, add knowledge. To knowledge, add the ability to control yourselves. To the ability to control yourselves, add the strength to keep going. To the strength to keep going, add godliness. To godliness, add kindness for one another. And to kindness for one another, add love. All these things should describe you more and more. They will make you useful and fruitful as you know our Lord Jesus Christ better.”

Co-host

I know that might seem like a really long list, but don’t worry. You’re not doing this all by yourself.

Host

Exactly. We have help adding these important qualities to our life. But that doesn’t mean God will force you to add them. It’s your choice.

Co-host

If you choose to add these things to your life, you will become a useful and fruitful Christian.

Host

Fruitful means you will successfully complete the things that God wants you to do. Let’s play a little game. It’s an obstacle course. We have obstacles set up around the room. As you move through each obstacle, you will add a different piece of a Jedi costume.

Co-host

The goal is to make it through every obstacle, adding all the necessary items, and end up on stage as a complete Jedi Knight. Let’s see which of our contestants finish first.

Host

Great job to our winner. On the journey of growing as Christians, we may face some obstacles that threaten to derail our progress. Our job is to keep going, no matter what gets in the way.

Co-host

This summer, we’ll follow the life of a guy named Peter. He’s the one who wrote our Big Verse in the Bible. Let’s see what happened to him when his own poor choice got in the way of following Jesus.

It’s so cool that Jesus forgave Peter and gave him a big job leading Jesus’ followers. Peter couldn’t have led them if he had remained the same. He had to grow. Jesus wants us to grow, too. Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. Take a moment to talk to Jesus right at your seat. Ask Him to help you add good things to your life this summer, and let Jesus know you are ready to grow. (Pause) I’ll pray for all of us. (Pray)

Co-host

Even when you don’t feel like it, keep choosing to grow. That’s the choice Peter made when he said “Yes” to Jesus’ assignment.

 Host

That brings us to this week’s Big Do.

Host

Choose two activities from the summer calendar you’ll get that you are most looking forward to this summer and talk about them with your parents.

Co-host

As you discuss those activities, take a moment to talk about ways that you can grow this summer as a family.

Host

Let’s connect in our Small Groups and discuss today’s lesson.

• What do you want to do when you grow up? What kinds of things will you have to learn to do that?
• Why is it important to grow as a Christian? You want to learn more about Jesus. You want to learn how to make wiser choices and serve God better. You want to learn things to help you do God’s big plan.
• How can a person grow as a follower of Jesus? By spending time with Jesus in prayer, reading God’s Word, being part of the church each week, listening to and obeying Jesus
• What does it mean to be useful and fruitful? It means that we do what God wants us to do to the best of our ability. We accomplish the things that God wants us to do.