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 2

H&R Big Do Slide

6 Min Countdown

Herman and Rusty Part 3

Herman and Rusty Title

Big Story Video

Herman and Rusty Part 1

H&R BIG REVIEW Bumper

H&R 5 Min Countdown with Rules

When Alex's band director takes too long to name him section leader he considers a musical mutiny.


Large Group Full Program

Question of the Day: If your parents promise to take you to get ice cream, how long would you wait before you remind them of their promise?



Welcome Prep: Set up the game prior to service. Use a table if necessary. The point of the game is to demonstrate what happens when a foundation is shaky. That’s the opposite of what we find with God.



Countdown / Rules

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





**Host**

Welcome to the Lab! Let’s begin today with a game.



**Co-Host**

In this game, these kids will take turns removing a block from the tower, making it a bit shakier each time. If the tower falls on your turn, then your team loses.





Play optional game music. Play the game until the tower falls.







**Host**

That game was intense. Each time they removed blocks from the bottom, the tower got more and more wobbly. Every building needs a solid foundation, so it doesn’t fall.

**Co-Host**

Every promise is built on a foundation, too. That foundation is a person’s character. Who the person is determines if you can believe them.

**Host**

Today we will hear David’s story, from the Bible. He trusted Someone with all his heart, and then praised Him. Let’s what's going on with Herman and Rusty today but first, tell someone nearby what kind of building you would design or build if you were an architect.

Welcome

Worship

**Co-Host**

Alex seems worried about whether his band director will keep her promise.



**Host**

Have you ever had someone make a promise, but you worried that he or she wouldn’t keep it? Would someone like to share what you were promised?





**Co-Host**

Let’s check out our Big Point and find out what the Bible says about promises. 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, it is your job to read the Big Point. 







**Host**

Let’s all say it together, **I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!** One of the big reasons why we praise God is because of all of the promises that He has kept.



**Co-Host**

Not only for this, but we also praise God because we believe that He will keep the promises we’re still waiting to receive.



**Host**

Praising God for what He’s already done is a great way to build your faith because it reminds us why we trust God.



**Co-Host**

The challenge is that while we wait on a promise, we often get nervous. Let’s bring up a volunteer to help us.





**Host**

I’d like for you to stand on this one balance pod. It’s not very big, so you’ll have to work at standing. This is how we feel sometimes when we’re waiting on a promise. We feel a little shaky. Sometimes we’re only given one piece of God’s big plan. We have to wait for God to show us the next part.



**Co-Host**

While you’re waiting, there can be a temptation to quit. Maybe you wonder if God has forgotten. Praise and worship help remind us that God doesn’t forget. It’s a great way to keep steady when you feel nervous.





The **Co-Host** allows the child to use his or her arm to balance. The **Host** places a new pod down after the child steps onto the next pod. Use as few or as many as you like.





**Host**

Each time God shows you the next part of His great big plan, you can take a step of faith and follow it. All the while, keep praising God for what He’s done and what He’s going to do. 



**Co-Host**

That praise keeps you on track with God. Let’s see if Alex found out about his promotion at practice.



Engage 1

**Host**

Alex seemed ready to take his band by force. Would that have been a good idea?



**Co-Host**

I think it would create more problems. The same happens when we try to jump ahead of God. It’s better to remember our Big Point, 

**Co-Host**

**I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!**



**Host**

Herman shared a Big Verse that helps us understand our Big Point. Let’s choose an assistant 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 verse. 

**Co-Host**

Psalm 145:13 (NIrV) says, “The Lord will keep all His promises. He is faithful in everything He does.” King David wrote that, and he had a lot of experience with God’s promises.





**Host**

Faithfulness is what helps us trust what God says. Let’s say our friend here is a champion cartwheeler. He/She can do the absolute best cartwheel you’ve ever seen. Do you trust me?





**Co-Host**

Why not? You heard what he/she said. I’m the best. Watch me walk around the stage. Look at me stretch out my legs and arms. That proves it, right? Would you be willing to risk all the money in your piggy bank on my cartwheels?



**Host**

Is it enough that he/she said he/she can do a cartwheel and walked around? What more do you need to see? (Pause) Yes, you need to see a cartwheel! Why?





Have the **Co-Host** make a terrible attempt at a cartwheel. If the **Host** or **Co-Host** is not able to physically do a cartwheel, then feel free to sub a different volunteer for this segment instead of the **Co-Host**.





**Co-Host**

You were right. I’m not a world class cartwheel specialist. If I told you I was, and then backed it up with that move, then I wouldn’t be a faithful person. God is different.



**Host**

Everything that God promises is based on the fact that He has kept His promises in the past. He can and will do everything He says. You can read the stories of all the people He has helped. You can even talk to people here whom God has helped. Every time that God backs up His word, He proves He is faithful. That’s why we can trust His promises. It’s also why we keep praising Him. Let’s stand and do that now.





Engage 2

Play optional soft instrumental music.







Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. Other people may have let you down. They might have promised one thing and done another. I want you to know that God won’t do that. He will always keep His promises. Maybe you’re going through a tough time. You may have some big challenges facing you. God can help you. We have some Connectors here who would love to pray with you about whatever is going on. We trust that what God says in His Word for us will come true. So come down and find a person to pray with.

Big Story

**Co-Host**

I’m glad that Alex waited. He got the promotion his band director promised to give him.



**Host**

He was like David. David was promised the crown of Israel. He could have taken it for himself that night while Saul was sleeping, but he didn’t. He trusted God’s plan and kept praising God. Let’s say our Big Point, 

**Host**

**I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!**



**Co-Host**

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





**Host**

Play “King of the Couch” with your family. See if you can knock everyone else off the couch and be the king. Then, tell your family how David waited for God to make him king.



**Co-Host**

Let’s play a version of that game right now. We’re going to see who is king of the stage. We have two bopper balls. Each kid will wear one and try to push their opponent out of the circle. Let’s play!



Play the game for as many rounds as time allows. Create a circle with a mat or piece of carpet. You can also use rope, tape, or cones to create a boundary. Have each kid wear an inflatable sumo ball. If you don’t have these, then you could use inflatable boppers or inflatable boxing gloves to push each other.









**Host**

After you play the game at home, be sure to explain how David waited for God’s promise to become the king. Tell your parents about David finding Saul sleeping and the wise choice that David made. Let’s turn and connect with our Small Groups and talk about loving God.

Engage 3

Gather the kids into Small Groups and discuss the following. 



  - Why was Alex worried at Herman’s Lab today? **He thought his band director had forgotten her promise to him** Have you ever felt like Alex because you were worried someone forgot a promise to you? Why? How do we know God won’t forget a promise? **God has been faithful to keep His promises in the past, which gives us confidence now. God doesn’t lie.**

 - What would you have done if you were David spying King Saul sleeping? Why was it a good choice for David not to hurt the king? **David allowed God to get everything ready for him to become king. Had he jumped too soon, he might have caused bigger problems. Killing Saul would have made David look like an evil murderer and not someone who honored God.**

 - What is one thing about God you can remember while you wait for His promises?

 - What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? **Play King of the Couch and talk about how David waited for God to make him king**







Small Group 

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

 - Our Big Point says I Praise God Because He ______ His Promises!

    - **Keeps**

    - Forgets



 - Who was king while David was young?

    - **Saul**

    - Samuel



 - Saul was kind to David.

    - True

    - **False**



 - What is something God has done for you?



 - How does praising God help you wait for God’s promise?



 - Psalm 145:13 (NIrV), “The Lord will keep all His promises. He is _______ in everything He does.”

    - **Faithful**

    - Forgetful



 - Why was it wiser for David to wait for God’s promise than to kill King Saul in the tent?



 - What eventually happened to David?

    - **He became king**

    - Saul captured him



 - We can praise God before and after God’s promise is complete.

    - **True**

    - False



 - What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? **Play King of the Couch. Try to knock everyone else off and become king**

Big Review

Large Group Abbreviated

**Host**

Welcome to the Lab! Hey have you ever played a game where you try to pull out a block from a wooden tower without knocking it down?

**Co-Host**

Oh I love that game! It's really hard because each time you pull out a block the tower gets a bit shakier. Then if the tower falls on your turn, you lose.

**Host**

You are right! Every building needs a solid foundation, so it doesn’t fall.

**Co-Host**

Every promise is built on a foundation, too. That foundation is a person’s character. Who the person is determines if you can believe them.

**Host**

Today we will hear David’s story, from the Bible. He trusted Someone with all his heart, and then praised Him. Let’s what's going on with Herman and Rusty today but first, tell someone nearby what kind of building you would design or build if you were an architect.

**Host**

Let’s all say it together, **I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!** One of the big reasons why we praise God is because of all of the promises that He has kept.

**Co-Host**

Not only for this, but we also praise God because we believe that He will keep the promises we’re still waiting to receive.

**Host**

Praising God for what He’s already done is a great way to build your faith because it reminds us why we trust God.

**Co-Host**

That's right!

**Host**

Play “King of the Couch” with your family. See if you can knock everyone else off the couch and be the king. Then, tell your family how David waited for God to make him king.

**Co-Host**

That sounds like a fun family Big Do!

Midweek / Classroom

Engage 2 Prep: Prior to this Engage, fill the bags with the snacks. Some ideas include marshmallows, cheese balls, animal crackers, candy, etc. 



It’s time for Lab Wars! Tonight our contestants have partnered up to compete in a game of skill and balance. One kid will hold a plate, while the other stacks as many blocks on top of it as possible. Whichever team has the highest tower after 30 seconds wins! Small Group Leaders, send up one person to represent your team. 



Play optional game music. Play the game.







Congratulations to the winning team! That game was intense! It was difficult to remain steady and keep the tower intact. Tonight is all about promises. Promises are similar to these towers. The firmer the foundation, the more stable they stand. Promises aren’t built on shaky paper plates; they’re built on a person’s character. Who the person is determines if you can believe them. Let’s see if our friends at the Lab have ever been promised something.



Lab Wars

Alex seems worried about whether his band director will keep her promise. Have you ever had someone make a promise, but you worried that he or she wouldn’t keep it? Let’s check out our Big Point and find out what the Bible says about promises. I need a Small Group to help me reveal what it is.

Let’s all say it together, **I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!** One big reason why we praise God is because the Bible is full of promises God has kept. Now, when God gives us a promise, sometimes we don’t see the whole picture. Often, we’re only given one piece of God’s big plan. Then we wait for God to show us our next step. Let’s do an activity in our Small Groups and talk more about God’s promises.





Small Group Leader,

Give each child one piece of the puzzle. Ask several children the question below before completing the puzzle.





Look at your puzzle piece. What do you think the puzzle will look like? (Allow several to answer) Let’s find out what this puzzle makes!





Complete the puzzle by having one kid at a time place their puzzle piece in the center and then fit the pieces together as they are able.









We don’t always see the whole picture. God may only share one small part of His plan at a time. Our job is to wait for God to show us the next part. Each time God shows you another part of His plan, you can take a step of faith and follow it. All the while, keep praising God for what He’s done and what He’s going to do. Let’s say our Big Point together,

**I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!** Let’s see if Alex found out about his promotion at practice.



Alex seemed ready to take his band by force. Would that have been a good idea? I think it would create more problems. The same happens when we try to jump ahead of God. It’s better to remember our Big Point, 

**I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!** Herman shared a Big Verse that helps us understand our Big Point. I’d like a Small Group to help me reveal what it is. 

Choose a Small Group to help you count down from three. 

Psalm 145:13 (NIrV) says, “The Lord will keep all His promises. He is faithful in everything He does.” King David wrote that, and he had a lot of experience with God’s promises. Faithfulness is what helps us trust what God says. Let’s do a fun activity in our Small Groups to illustrate this concept a little more. 





Small Group Leader,

Each group has a bag filled with different types of snacks. 





I have a bag of things you can eat. They may be yummy; or they may be disgusting. While wearing a blindfold, I’ll feed someone the snack, but don’t worry, I’ll tell you if it’s bad. After you eat it, try to guess what it is!







Small Group Leader,

Choose a child who wants to do the taste test and blindfold him/her. With a gloved hand, pull a snack out of the bag. With a gloved hand, feed it to the child with the blindfold on. Have them guess what the snack is. Repeat this process with several of the different snacks.  



Note: For added fun, motion to the other kids to react and say, “Ewww,” as you pull items out of the bag.  

		





Was it easy or hard to eat what your Small Group Leader gave you? Hopefully it was easy for most of you because you trust your Small Group Leader! When God promises us something, we can trust Him because He has kept His promises in the past. He can and will do everything He says. You can read the stories of all the people He has helped. You can also talk to people here whom God has helped. Every time that God backs up His word, He proves He is faithful. That’s why we can trust His promises, and it’s a great reason why we can follow our Big Point, 





**I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!**



Play optional soft instrumental music. Leader enters.

Other people may have let you down. They might have promised one thing and done another. I want you to know that God won’t do that. He always keeps His promises. Maybe you’re going through a tough time. You may have some big challenges facing you. Remind yourself that God’s promises are true and they are good! Let’s turn to our Small Groups now and thank God for His promises. 



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 truly listening, responding with love, and showing them what it looks like to be a friend and follower of Jesus.





Small Group Leader, Place the cards in the center of the group with the word on the front and the verse on the back. 





Raise your hand if you are going through something hard. Maybe you’re having trouble with your schoolwork. Perhaps you are facing challenges with your friends or at home with your family. Who wants to share?

 Allow the kids to share. 



When there is about 1 minute left start the next activity with this line...





Those are all really hard things. No matter what you face, God can and wants to help you. His promises are good. Take a card from the center of the group that describes what you need right now. Hold it and thank God that He promises that for you. 



Promises:

Comfort – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Love – Romans 8:39

Peace – John 14:27

Strength – Isaiah 41:10 

Forgiveness – 1 John 1:9

Provision – Philippians 4:19

Wisdom – James 1:5

Protection – 2 Thessalonians 3:3





God has promised us so many good things. He promises us wisdom, that He will never leave us, and that He will always love us. He promises us strength, comfort, peace and so much more. On the back of the card you picked is a verse. Take that card home and put it somewhere you’ll see it. When you walk by the card, read it, and then thank God for His promise. That is how you live out our Big Point, 



**I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!** Let’s see if Alex can trust his Band Director to keep her promise.  



I’m glad that Alex waited. He got the promotion his Band Director promised to give him. He was like David. God promised David the crown of Israel. David could have taken it for himself that night while Saul was sleeping, but he didn’t. He trusted God’s plan and kept praising God. Let’s say our Big Point, 



**I Praise God Because He Keeps His Promises!** That’s a story you can share with your family when you do this week’s Big Do. 

Play “King of the Couch” with your family. See if you can knock everyone else off the couch and be the king. Then tell your family how David waited for God to make him king. Let’s turn to our Small Groups and finish up tonight’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.

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Large Group Full Program Instructions

Large Group Full Program Instructions