Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – Team Peter, Team Paul
Materials: pads of large sticky notes, pencils
Divide the group into two teams. (If your group is large, divide into four or six teams. If your group is small, one or two people can be a team.) Assign each team the name Peter or Paul. Give each team a pad of sticky notes and a pencil. Group teams away from each other (so they will not disturb or distract other teams). Tell teams that on your signal, they should begin listing things they know about their assigned team (Peter or Paul). One person can be the writer and write each fact on a different sticky note. Say “Go!” and teams can begin. After a couple of minutes, say “Stop!” Ask Team Peter to give one fact and stick it to the wall. Ask Team Paul to give one fact and stick it to a different wall (or another area of the same wall). Alternate facts until you have read them all. Tell kids that Peter and Paul are both in today’s Bible story.
Live It Out
Game – Word Drop
Materials: index cards, markers
Print the words of Galatians 2:20 on cards, one
word per card. Make a set of word cards (with different colored markers) for
each team.
Group the kids into teams and assign each team a color (that corresponds to
word colors). Position teams around the sides of the play area. Mix the cards
and stand in the middle of the play area. Hold the cards over your head and
drop them on the floor. Tell teams that they will run to the middle and pick up
words of their assigned color. They cannot flip over any cards; they can only
pick up words that are visible. Teams will carry their words to their side of
the area and arrange the cards in the correct order. Pick up the facedown cards
and repeat the drop. Continue the game until a team assembles the complete
verse. Say the verse together. Gather and mix all the cards and play the game
again.
Craft – Verse Poster
Materials: large pieces of construction paper, markers, stickers, other art supplies, index cards, stapler or tape
Lead the kids to find the Weekly Verse in their Bibles. Read the verse together. Tell kids they can make a poster to remind them of this verse. Guide each child to write the verse on a large piece of construction paper. Then he can add stickers, draw designs, and use other supplies creatively on the poster. When the poster is complete, give the child a few index cards. He can write verses about the Gospel (such as John 3:16 or Romans 5:8). He can staple or tape these verse cards to the edges of the poster to add more information about the Gospel. As children work, talk about the Life Point.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Ball Bounce
Materials: beach ball
Tell preteens to spread throughout the meeting area but not to leave big gaps between people. Toss the beach ball in the air and tell preteens to keep the ball bouncing in the air above their heads. (Encourage them to use fingertips and bounce the ball lightly to maintain the momentum.) After a minute or so, call out, “Do not bounce the ball to anyone wearing blue.” Continue for a few bounces; then call out, “Bounce to everyone.” After a minute, call out, “Do not bounce the ball to those with blonde hair.” After a few bounces, call out to bounce it to everyone. Continue “excluding” various groups. Stop the ball and talk about how people felt when excluded. Comment that the study today includes a time when someone excluded others.
Live It Out
Game – Write the Verse Relay
Materials: masking tape, two large pieces of paper or large white boards, makers
Place paper or white boards at both ends of the play area. Make a tape line across the play area at the midpoint between the two papers or white boards. Group the kids into two teams. Say Galatians 2:20 together a few times. Line teams up on the tape line; one team should face each end. Give a marker to the first player on each team. On your signal, the first player from each team runs to his team’s paper and writes the first letter of the first word of the Bible verse. Then he runs back to the team and hands off the marker. The next player runs to the paper and writes the second letter of that word. Play continues until the teams have written all the words of the Bible verse on their paper. Team members can assist their players by helping them know which letter to write (if needed). When both teams have completed the verse, say it again together. Talk about the Bible story.
Craft – Verse Rap
Materials: none Use the Kids Activity Page to review the Bible study and the Life Point. Comment that God gives new life in Christ and that other rules are not important. Find Galatians 2:20 and read it to the preteens. Lead preteens to find Romans 1:16 in their Bibles and read it with you. Tell preteens that this verse helps us remember that Christians should be telling others about the Gospel and new life in Christ. Allow preteens to form groups of 2-4. Each group can create a rap, a song, or a poem with Galatians 2:20. Provide paper and pencils for them to write down their ideas. Go to each group and assist as you can in their work. When groups have completed their work (or when needed), call preteens back together. Ask groups to perform or read their creations. Thank God for the Gospel and for those who help others live like Christ.
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