Slides and Printables.zip

Slides and Printables

Program Videos.zip

Program Videos

7 Min Countdown

03 sec Countdown

2 Min Countdown

Herman and Rusty Part 1 

H&R Big Do Slide

30 sec Countdown

Big Story Video

60 sec Countdown

5 Min Countdown

Herman and Rusty Title

Herman and Rusty Part 3

H&R BIG REVIEW Bumper

Herman and Rusty Part 2

H&R 5 Min Countdown with Rules

Ethel, Sophia, and Slimey listen to Skip's infomercial and quit their jobs to form an accordion band. Who you listen to matters.

Large Group Full Program

Question of the Day: Who is the smartest person you know?


For Engage 2:
Set up an obstacle course using different items. You could set up inflatable obstacles, chairs, safety cones, etc. Before starting the game, bring the contestants to the starting line and turn them in circles a couple of times.



Optional music:
soft instrumental music for Big Story

Engage 3 Prep:

Write these facts on notecards to read. You may replace these with other facts you may find, if desired.

**Host**
 - The citizens of Picoaza listened to an ad for Pulvapies foot powder that said, “Vote for Pulvapies.” They did and elected foot power to become their mayor in 1967.

 - An inventor sold his invention, the safety pin, for $400. By the time he died, they were making 5 billion safety pins per year.

 - A spelling error in computer code caused NASA’s $165 million dollar Mars Polar Lander to malfunction and then crash during its landing on Mars. 



Countdown / Rules

**Host** and **Co-Host** enter. The **Host** is wearing an owl mask.



**Host**
Welcome to the Lab! I hope you are ready for a great day.

**Co-Host**
I am. Can you, uh, guess why I’m wearing this mask?

**Host**
You want to know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?

**Co-Host**
I do, but that’s not why. It’s because owls are known for being wise, and this month is all about making wise choices. You know why owls are so wise, right? It’s because they ask a lot of questions.

**Host**
Of who?

**Co-Host**
Owls.

**Host**
Who?

**Co-Host**
Owls.

**Host**
Who?

**Co-Host**
I told you already. Owls! Owls ask a lot of questions.

**Host**
Who?

**Co-Host**
I’m leaving!


**Host**
Asking questions is actually a wise choice, and it’s also important to listen to the answers. That’s what we’re going to discover today. Let’s stand up. Turn to someone and tell them which animal you think is the smartest. 


Welcome

Worship


**Host**
Do you think that Ethel and Sophia just made a bad decision?


**Co-Host**
I do. How can they trust Skip McDougal? He usually gives terrible advice. He is so unlike the wise old owl. (Points to himself/herself)

**Host**
Speaking of owls, have you ever seen an owl’s legs? 



Engage Slides - tfs-elem-l3-engage-1-owl-picture.jpg

**Co-Host**
That’s hideous. I guess someone skipped leg day. We wouldn’t go to owls for workout advice.

**Host**
No, you have to go the right kind of people if you want the right kind of help. Our Big Point will help us understand what kind of people we’re looking for. Let’s choose an assistant to reveal it.


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


You can help as we count down from three and then read the Big Point. 

**Co-Host**
Let’s all say it together, **Listen To Wise People!** That makes a lot of sense; unwise people’s advice could cause a lot of problems.

**Host**
Yep, but wise advice doesn’t do you any good unless you listen to it. Hearing wise advice and then doing your own thing can lead to just as many problems as never having heard it in the first place. Let’s play a listening game to test how well we hear.

**Co-Host**
It’s called a whisper challenge. We will choose two adult volunteers who will be the captain of each team. We’re going to whisper a phrase and your team will shout the phrase to your captain. You’ll have to really listen carefully to hear what we are saying.







The **Host** and **Co-Host** will whisper the following phrases. Have the captains stationed at the front of each group. Use as many groups as needed. The kids must shout the answer to the captain who will run on stage and give the answer. The first team to guess each phrase gets a point. Play the slide after teams have guessed.

Clue Ideas:
 - Birds of a feather flock together
 - All that glitters is not gold
 - A thing begun is half done
 - A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
 - Actions speak louder than words
 - A stitch in time saves nine


Engage Slides - tfs-elem-l3-engage-1-slide-a.jpg

Engage Slides - tfs-elem-l3-engage-1-slide-b.jpg

Engage Slides - tfs-elem-l3-engage-1-slide-c.jpg

Engage Slides - tfs-elem-l3-engage-1-slide-d.jpg

Engage Slides - tfs-elem-l3-engage-1-slide-e.jpg

Engage Slides - tfs-elem-l3-engage-1-slide-f.jpg

**Co-Host**
A stitch in time saves nine? What does that even mean?

**Host**
If you fix a problem early, it will save you bigger problems later.

**Co-Host**
That’s a good saying, but, like you said, it only helps if you listen.

**Host**
I think we should head back into the lab and see if Ethel and Sophia will listen to better advisors.



Engage 1

**Host**
Would you pay to hear the three of them play the accordion? I don’t think anyone is going to hire their band.


**Co-Host**
Do you think listening to Skip McDougal is working out well for them? They should have followed our Big Point and found better advice. Say it with me, 


**Co-Host**
**Listen To Wise People!** Let’s see what the Bible says in our Big Verse. We need an assistant to help us.



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


**Co-Host**
Help us count down from three, and then read the verse.


**Host**
Proverbs 12:15 (NIrV) says, “Those who are wise listen to advice.” 

**Co-Host**
But Solomon didn’t mean just any advice. He meant advice from wise people.

**Host**
Yep, taking advice from a foolish person is like being led by a blind person. Jesus said in Luke 6:39 (NIrV), 

Engage Slides - tfs-elem-l3-engage-2-scripture-slide.jpg

**Host**
“Can a blind person lead another blind person? Won’t they both fall into a pit?”

**Co-Host**
That’s what we’re going to test in this game. We’ve set up an obstacle course on stage and chosen two teams of contestants. Here’s the challenge: both team members are blindfolded.

**Host**
They have to navigate the obstacles without touching them, or else they’ll have to start over. Let’s see if they can reach the end before the timer runs out. 



Set up an obstacle course using different items. You could set up inflatable obstacles, chairs, safety cones, etc. Before starting the game, bring the contestants to the starting line and turn them in circles a couple of times.

Start timer



**Co-Host**
That did not work out very well. A blind guide is useless.


**Host**
Why don’t you try it again, and this time we’ll take the blindfold off the guide. 



Start Timer. Have the kids walk through the course another time.


**Co-Host**
That seemed much easier.
**Host**
Our life is so much better when we listen to the wise people God puts in our lives. In our Big Story today, we’re going to meet a king who wasn’t sure who to go to for advice. First let’s stand and spend a moment worshipping God. 




Engage 2

One of the blessings of coming to church is that we have many wise people around us. That’s good news. Don’t try to figure things out alone. Ask God for wisdom, specifically for ears to hear as He connects you with wise people here at church. Later in the service, we’ll give you a chance to talk to your small group leader and pray about areas where you need wisdom. Let’s take a moment now to pray at your seat and ask God to help you find the right people to give you advice. (Pause) Now I’ll pray for all of us.
 


Big Story


**Co-Host**
I’m glad that Herman hired all three of them back to the lab. I think they’ll think twice before they listen to Skip McDougal.

**Host**
I just wish that Rehoboam had listened to wise advisors instead of his friends. It may be fun to play a game of football with your friends, but that doesn’t make them the best people to listen to. Follow our Big Point and


**Host**
**Listen To Wise People!**



**Co-Host**
That’s something to talk about in this week’s Big Do.



**Host**
Gather your family and talk about people you know who are wise. Discuss what makes them good advisors.

**Co-Host**
I already know who I’ll choose, and it’s the smartest person I know.

**Host**
Smart and wise are two different things. Wisdom is doing things God’s way. Smart people might know a lot about math or science and still make unwise choices. Check out some of these famously bad decisions.


(Write these facts on notecards to read. You may replace these with other facts you may find, if desired.)

**Host**
 - The citizens of Picoaza listened to an ad for Pulvapies foot powder that said, “Vote for Pulvapies.” They did and elected foot powder to become their mayor in 1967.

 - An inventor sold his invention, the safety pin, for $400. By the time he died, they were making 5 billion safety pins per year.

 - A spelling error in computer code caused NASA’s $165 million dollar Mars Polar Lander to malfunction and then crash during its landing on Mars. 




**Co-Host**
Yikes. That makes me feel better about some of my mistakes.

**Host**
It makes me glad that God gives us wise people to help us when we’re not sure what to do. Speaking of wise people, let’s turn to our small groups and talk about what we’ve learned.



Engage 3

Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following. 



 - Do you think it was wise for Ethel and Sophia to quit and start an accordion band? Why not?

 - What was Rehoboam’s big mistake? **Not listening to wise people.** How did it ruin his country? **He lost all but two tribes**

 - What is a decision that you need wisdom about? Let’s pray about those needs.

 - What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? **Talk about who you know who is wise**



Small Group

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

- Our Big Point says Listen To ______ People!
	 - **Wise**
	 - Lots of

 - What kind of band did Ethel and Sophia form?
	 - Rock
	 - **Accordion**

 - What did the Israelites ask Rehoboam to do?
	 - **Lighten the workload**
	 - Push them harder

 - Who advised Rehoboam to make things harder?
	 - **His friends**
	 - His dad’s wise advisors

 - Whose advice did Rehoboam listen to?
	 - **His friends**
	 - His dad’s wise advisors

 - Proverbs 12:15 (NIrV), “Those who are _____ listen to advice.”
	 - Foolish
	 -  **Wise**

 - Why does it matter who you listen to?

 - God can point us to wise people who can help us.
	 - **True**
	 - False

 - Name one wise person you know.

 What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? **Talk about who you know who is wise**

Big Review

Midweek / Classroom

Question of the Day: Who is the smartest person you know?



Lab Wars Prep:
Have a box set on a sheet of wrapping paper and some tape for each team. Have the tape already cut and sticking to the edge of the table.  



Optional music suggestions:
 - Game music for Lab Wars
 - Soft instrumental music for Big Story

Who here is willing to admit that they are not the smartest person in the world? It takes guts to admit that you don’t know everything! But when you do, you are being wise. I know I am not the smartest person in the world, but I know who is. It’s God! Let’s stand up and worship our God who has incredible wisdom. 



Have a box set on a sheet of wrapping paper and some tape for each team. Have the tape already cut and sticking to the edge of the table.  



You guys did a great job worshipping God! It’s time to break up into your small groups. Go ahead and turn to your small group leaders now.

Who is ready for Lab Wars? In case you’re new here, during Lab Wars your team gets the chance to participate in a game to win 5000 points. But first I have a question. Who has a birthday in September? Did you know that September is the most common birthday month? To celebrate all of these September birthdays, we are playing a festive birthday game. Your small group leaders will send up one representative from your team. That person is going to do their very best to wrap this birthday present in 30 seconds, while blindfolded. The team with the best looking present will win 5000 points for their team! Small Group Leaders, send up your representative! (Give them a moment to send up their player, and for the players to get their blindfold on.) 30 seconds on the clock. On your mark, get set, wrap! 


Play optional game music.
Play the game. 


Great job to our winner! (Award points) Wrapping these presents would have been so much easier if they were able to see what they were doing! Usually in life we can’t see everything, and it helps us to admit we don’t know it all. Thankfully God surrounds us with people who are smarter and wiser than us, and it’s so helpful when those people are willing to help. Let’s tune into the lab to see what the team is learning about wisdom.



Lab Wars

Do you think that Ethel and Sophia just made a bad decision? Yeah, me, too! I can’t believe they are trusting Skip McDougal! He usually gives terrible advice. It matters who you listen to. Let’s check out our Big Point, 

**Listen to Wise People!** Wise people are people who do things God’s way because God’s way is always the best way. 

In just a moment we’ll turn to our small groups and play a fun listening game. You may not think those two words go together, but this one can be really funny. It’s a classic game, called Telephone. Your small group leader will start by whispering a phrase into the ear of the person next to them. That person will whisper it to the person next to them. The goal of the game is for the last person in the circle to say the correct phrase. Turn to your small group and do that now. 


I am going to start by whispering a phrase into the ear of the person to my left. You will whisper what you hear to the person on your left, and so on. But here’s the thing, you can only say it one time! Ok, let’s begin!



Play telephone together as a group. Below are some phrases. Play as many times as the time allows. 

 - Noisy Ned needs nuggets.
 - Junie B Jones likes Jamba Juice.
 - I love toasted cheese and tuna sandwiches.
 - Roger wrote a silly story about goats.
 - Thomas handed Hannah a handful of tater tots.
 - Herman keeps pistachios in his pockets.
 - Raymond hit his thumb hard with the hammer.




Raise your hand if your group finished with the correct phrase every time. It’s pretty hard, isn’t it? Listening can be tough sometimes. When it comes to listening to wise advice, it’s important to not only hear it, but also to follow it. Let’s see if Sophia and Ethel will realize they need to follow the advice of the right people. 



Ethel and Sophia are ignoring Herman’s advice and going “all in” on their new accordion band. If you had to pick between listening to Herman or Skip, wouldn’t you choose Herman? That’s exactly what our Big Point is talking about, 

**Listen To Wise People!** So, how do you know if someone is wise and the right person to listen to? Each of your small groups has items to help describe what makes a person wise. You get to use those items to dress up someone from your group. Let’s do this now! 



Choose a kid from your group to be the “wise” person. Let the others take turns choosing an item. For each item they pick, read the verse, and use the item to dress your volunteer, creating a wise person.

 - Glasses: Psalm 101:3 - “I won’t look at anything evil and call it good.”

 - Ears: Proverbs 12:15 - “Those who are wise listen to advice.”

 - Microphone: Philippians 2:14-15 - “Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be pure and without blame.”

 - Gloves: Colossians 3:23 - “Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

 - Shoes: Proverbs 13:20 - “He who walks with wise men will be wise.”

 - Thinking Cap: Philippians 4:8 - “Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect/ If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.”

 - Shirt/Jacket: Colossians 3:14 - “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us together in perfect unity.”



Wise people do things God’s way. Those are the people we want to listen to, and when we do, that makes us wise! That’s exactly what our Big Verse talks about. I’m going to pick a small group to help reveal the Big Verse. 



Choose a small group and have them count down from three.


Proverbs 12:15 (NIrV) says, “Those who are wise listen to advice.” If we want to become wise, then we need to listen to the advice of the wise people in our lives. In our Big Story we’re going to meet a king who wasn’t sure who to listen to. Let’s look at his story.



King Rehoboam had a choice. He could either listen to his elders, the men who helped his dad rule as king, or he could listen to his friends. Unfortunately, he made the wrong decision, and the outcome wasn’t good. God wants the very best for us. When we listen to wise people, our life is better. One wise person in your life is your small group leader. They want you to have your best year ever. Let’s turn to our small groups and talk about what it looks like to...


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



 - Take a moment and think about the people in your life. Who is someone you know that is wise? Who is someone you know who is not wise?

 - Have you ever made the mistake of following the advice of someone who wasn’t wise? Tell me about it. What happened?

We are going to take a moment to pray. I want you to think about the people in your life who you listen to. If you have been listening to foolish people, ask God to forgive you. Then ask Him to help you to recognize and listen to the wise people in your life. Do that now. 


When we listen to wise people, we will be blessed! This week pay attention to who you are listening to. If you find yourself listening to the wrong people, make a correction! That’s how you can follow our Big Point, 

**Listen to Wise People!** Let’s see if Ethel and Sophia realize that Skip is not someone they should be listening to. 


I’m glad that Herman hired all three of them back to the lab. I think they’ll think twice before they listen to Skip McDougal. I just wish that Rehoboam had listened to wise advisors instead of his friends. Don’t be like him, instead follow our Big Point, 

**Listen To Wise People!** A great place to start is by doing The Big Do! 


Gather your family and talk about people you know who are wise. Discuss why they are wise, and why they are good advisors. Now, turn to your small group leaders to finish up.

 - Pass out the Big Do for this week.
 - Pass out the Big Candy.
 - Have a post-game huddle with your group. Pray for them, do a little cheer, whatever you decide is a good way to end your group. 



Closing

Large Group Abbreviated



**Host**
Do you think that Ethel and Sophia just made a bad decision?

**Co-Host**
I do. How can they trust Skip McDougal? He usually gives terrible advice. He is so unlike the wise old owl. (Points to himself/herself)





**Host**
No, you have to go the right kind of people if you want the right kind of help. Our Big Point will help us understand what kind of people we’re looking for. Let’s choose an assistant to reveal it.


You can help us count down from three and then read the Big Point. 

**Co-Host**
Let’s all say it together, **Listen To Wise People!** That makes a lot of sense; unwise people’s advice could cause a lot of problems.

**Host**
Yep, but wise advice doesn’t do you any good unless you listen to it. Hearing wise advice and then doing your own thing can lead to just as many problems as never having heard it in the first place. 








**Host**
I think we should head back into the lab and see if Ethel and Sophia will listen to better advisors.



**Co-Host**
Hit the button after we count down from three, and then read the verse.


**Host**
Proverbs 12:15 (NIrV) says, “Those who are wise listen to advice.” 

**Co-Host**
But Solomon didn’t mean just any advice. He meant advice from wise people.

**Host**
Yep, taking advice from a foolish person is like being led by a blind person. Jesus said in Luke 6:39 (NIrV), 
“Can a blind person lead another blind person? Won’t they both fall into a pit?”


**Co-Host**
A blind guide is useless.






**Host**
Our life is so much better when we listen to the wise people God puts in our lives. In our Big Story today, we’re going to meet a king who wasn’t sure who to go to for advice.  




**Host**
Gather your family and talk about people you know who are wise. Discuss what makes them good advisors.

**Co-Host**
I already know who I’ll choose, and it’s the smartest person I know.

**Host**
Smart and wise are two different things. Wisdom is doing things God’s way. Smart people might know a lot about math or science and still make unwise choices. 


**Co-Host**
We need wisdom to use our knowledge wisely!

**Host**
It makes me glad that God gives us wise people to help us when we’re not sure what to do. Speaking of wise people, let’s turn to our small groups and talk about what we’ve learned.



- Our Big Point says Listen To ______ People!
	 - **Wise**
	 - Lots of

 - What kind of band did Ethel and Sophia form?
	 - Rock
	 - **Accordion**

 - What did the Israelites ask Rehoboam to do?
	 - **Lighten the workload**
	 - Push them harder

 - Who advised Rehoboam to make things harder?
	 - **His friends**
	 - His dad’s wise advisors

 - Whose advice did Rehoboam listen to?
	 - **His friends**
	 - His dad’s wise advisors

 - Proverbs 12:15 (NIrV), “Those who are _____ listen to advice.”
	 - Foolish
	 -  **Wise**

 - Why does it matter who you listen to?

 - God can point us to wise people who can help us.
	 - **True**
	 - False

 - Name one wise person you know.

 What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? **Gather your family and talk about people you know who are wise.**

Listen To Wise People!

Venue

Sections

Downloads

About

Large Group Full Program Instructions

Listen To Wise People! Instructions