Slides and Printables.zip

Slides and Printables

Title Slide.zip

Title Slide

5 Minute Countdown

H&R Big Do Slide

3-Second Countdown

Big Story Video

2 Minute Countdown

Large Group Full Program

**Series Note**



Each Winter 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 Winter to the Max Junior lessons, consider having the elementary and junior groups use the same venue. Either group can go first and then switch in the middle of service. 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 Winter to the Max!





**Weekly Venue**



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



**Give Me S’more!**

Using Sterno S’More Maker Jr., create an area outside for kids to roast marshmallows and create their own s’mores. Be sure to have plenty of adult helpers. Have outside games to play as the kids take turns.

**Indoor Snow Activities**

Purchase fake snow and create various snow stations around the room. Using kiddie pools, have areas where the kids can play in the fake snow. Purchase plush snowballs to create a snowball fight arena. Grab some winter and snow theme carnival-style games. 

**Snow Mountain**

Hire a company to produce real snow and ice in an outdoor play area. Many are also able to create a slide using hay bales. Remind the kids to dress in clothes that can get wet.



Countdown

**Host**

Welcome to Winter To The Max! I hope you’ve had as much fun as we have this month.

**Co-Host**

Hope? Did you see that mountain of snow back there? It was huge. How many of you fell off of your sled at least once?

Welcome

Worship

**Host**

We need to warm up after such a cold activity, so we’re going to start with a simple game. It’s called, “Up, Down, Stop, and Go.” Sounds easy, right?



**Co-Host**

Except it’s not quite so easy. Stand up and we’ll practice the commands. (Demonstrate with the kids) When we say, “Up,” squat down. When we say, “Down,” jump as high as you can. When we say, “Stop,” run in place. When we say, “Go,” freeze. 



**Host**

It’s simple. Just four little commands. Let’s do a practice round and then we’ll play for real.





Play a practice round and then a few more rounds of the game, sitting kids down who miss a command. 







**Host**

That was more challenging than it seemed at first, and what’s interesting is that we’re really good at that game in real life.



**Co-Host**

What do you mean by that?



**Host**

We usually hear what our parents or teachers tell us to do, but sometimes we choose to do the opposite. It’s not just our parents that we need to listen to. There’s Someone even more important who we need to obey. Let’s find that answer in our Big Point.

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





**Co-Host**

After we count down from three, and then read the Big Point. 







**Host**

Let’s all say it together, **I Will Obey Jesus!** It’s nice to know what Jesus says, but it doesn’t mean much if you don’t do what He says to do.



**Co-Host**

You can only be a follower of Jesus if you obey Jesus as the leader. If Jesus says to do one thing, and you purposely choose to do the opposite, you might be following yourself instead of Him. The good news is that obeying Jesus is something we can all do. 



Engage 1



**Co-Host**

Let’s say our Big Point again, 

**Co-Host**

**I Will Obey Jesus!**



**Host**

Why do you think it’s hard to obey people like your parents or teachers?





**Co-Host**

Why do you think people have a hard time obeying Jesus?





**Host**

Some of the things we read in the Bible can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that Jesus really meant the things that He said in the Bible. If He meant them, then we should take Jesus’ words seriously.



**Co-Host**

Let’s see what the Bible says about obeying Jesus by looking at the Big Verse. 





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







**Co-Host**

After we count down from three, read the verse. 



**Host**

John 14:15 (NIrV) says, “If you love Me, obey My commands.” Wow, Jesus was pretty clear about that one. If we love Jesus, then we show our love by doing what He says.



**Co-Host**

Even the really hard things, like love your enemies and don’t try to get even with someone who hurts you.





Bring out the obedient heart illusion.





**Host**

Imagine this is our heart. It can be obedient or disobedient. Remember, when I talk about our heart, I’m talking about that invisible part of us where we make choices, think thoughts, and love.



**Co-Host**

Let’s see how obedient it is. Heart, go half-way down the rope. (Heart drops all the way down) Let’s try that again. Heart, go half-way down the rope. (Heart drops all the way down) I’ll trick you. Heart, go all the way to the bottom. (Heart stops half-way) Not a very obedient heart. Does it sound like this heart follows me? No.



**Host**

But as followers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit’s help. He’s there to help us make the wise choice to obey even when we may not feel like it. You just have to ask God for help. Let’s see how our heart behaves now.





**Co-Host**

Heart, stop half-way. (The heart stops half-way) Now go to the bottom. (Heart drops) Much better follower.



**Host**

If you say you love Jesus, but you don’t obey Jesus, then you’re not loving Jesus with all of your heart. We’re never going to be perfect, but we can do our very best to obey every single time because we love Jesus. A great way to practice is by obeying our parents and teachers. I’m glad that God helps us become better followers each day. Listen to this story.





Engage 2

**Host**

I want to be like that wise person who built his house on the rock. I hope you do, too. Let’s take a moment to ask Jesus to help us become more obedient followers. He doesn’t ask you to do things and then leave you to figure it out on your own. Jesus loves to help us. Take a moment at your seat to talk to Jesus about being obedient. (Pause) Now I’ll pray for us all.







Big Story

**Co-Host**

As you begin this new year, the best way to take your winter (and year) to the max is to follow our Big Point, 

**Co-Host**

**I Will Obey Jesus!**











**Host**

Don’t build your house on sand. Instead build a solid life by obeying Jesus. That brings us to this week’s Big Do. 

**Host**

Use a deck of playing cards and attempt to build a house out of them. See how tall you can make it; then see if you can blow it down with just one breath. Talk about how obeying Jesus helps you to grow stronger.



**Co-Host**

Let’s try it now. We have two teams who will attempt to build a house of cards. Let’s see who can build the tallest house in two minutes. Then we’ll see how easily they fall.





Choose two teams of two adult volunteers and two kids each. Have them each attempt to build a house of cards on their table. If the houses stand, have the kids attempt to knock them down with a breath.









**Host**

A new year for a new you begins with following the Big Point. Let’s say it again, 



Engage 3

Small Group is optional as time allows. Gather the kids into small groups and discuss the following.

- What does it look like to obey someone?

- Tell me about a time someone did something you asked them to do. How did it make you feel?

- What story did Jesus tell?

- What truth is this story teaching us?

- What is one way that you can choose to obey God?

- What is our Big Do this week? **Use a deck of playing cards and attempt to build a house out of them. See how tall you can make it; then see if you can blow it down with just one breath. Talk about how obeying Jesus helps you to grow stronger.**

Small Group

Play optional game music. Choose two kids from the audience to come on stage and answer the question. 

 - Our Big Point says I Will ______ Jesus!

    - **Obey**

    - Disobey



 - Listening is all you need to do to be obedient.

    - True

    - **False**



 - The builders in Jesus’ story built their houses on rock and ______.

    - Grass

    - **Sand**



 - What happened to the house on the rock when the wind blew?

    - **Stood**

    - Fell down



 - The house built on the sand is like someone who ______ Jesus.

    - Obeys

    - **Disobeys**



 - John 14:15 (NIrV), “If you _____ Me, obey My commands.”

    - Like

    - **Love**



 - Obeying Jesus will make you ______.

    - **Strong**

    - Weak



 - Obedience is something you only need to do when you feel like it.

    - True

    - **False**



 - Why is it important to obey Jesus?



  - What is this week’s Big Do? 

 **Build a house out of playing cards, then try to knock it down in one breath**

Big Review

Large Group Abbreviated

**Host**

Today we have another important thing to learn about. We usually hear what our parents or teachers tell us to do, but sometimes we choose to do the opposite. It’s not just our parents that we need to listen to. There’s Someone even more important who we need to obey. Let’s find that answer in our Big Point.

**Host**

Right. But as followers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit’s help. He’s there to help us make the wise choice to obey even when we may not feel like it. 

**Co-Host**

You just have to ask God for help. 

**Host**

If you say you love Jesus, but you don’t obey Jesus, then you’re not loving Jesus with all of your heart. We’re never going to be perfect, but we can do our very best to obey every single time because we love Jesus. A great way to practice is by obeying our parents and teachers. I’m glad that God helps us become better followers each day. Listen to this story.

**Host**

Use a deck of playing cards and attempt to build a house out of them. See how tall you can make it; then see if you can blow it down with just one breath. Talk about how obeying Jesus helps you to grow stronger.

**Co-Host**

That's sounds tough but I'm up for the challenge.

I Will Obey Jesus

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Large Group Full Program Instructions

I Will Obey Jesus Instructions