10.5 Small Group Lesson | Elementary

That’s BonkersGod’s Story in Our Life

Scripture marked “NIV” is taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica. Scripture marked “NIrV” is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version ™, Copyright ©1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. All scripture references are taken from NIrV unless otherwise stated.

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BIG IDEA: God’s story of love and redemption continues today in the lives of His children.

BIBLE BASIS: 1 John 3:1–3

KEY VERSE: “Some people did accept him and did believe in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (NIrV)

15–25 minutes

7–15 minutes

30–40 minutes

7–15 minutes

10.5 Small Group Lesson | Elementary

LEADER DEVOTIONALI’m sure we all have seasons of our lives when God feels far off and His work through us seems

stalled. Regardless of how we feel, though, God is always near. He is a living God and His work in us is not yet finished. He is not just the God of Abraham or the disciples, but He is our present “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6 says, “Because you are sons, God sends the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

Today, if you are a believer, His Spirit indwells you. Through His Spirit we have continual access to the Almighty King. That’s true at church, but also at the grocery store, or at work, or any other ordinary place we find ourselves. 1 John 3:1 says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” It is because we are His children and because of that love that He continues to change our hearts.

1 John 3:9 says, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” I am thankful that as God’s child, He will not leave me alone! He spurs me on to be more and more like Him. He calls me out of mediocrity and into His purpose. He is still living and redeeming our hearts today. Listen and receive His truth. He is your “Abba, Father,” and He loves you! 

Nicole JohnstonGO! Contributor

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10.5 Small Group Lesson | Elementary

SMALL GROUP SKILL BUILDING

Being Part of a Kid’s Pit Crew

Life can be rough sometimes. We all get our fair share of bumps and bruises along the way, but wouldn’t it be nice if life had a pit stop that you could pull into so you could get 4 new tires and a tank of gas? As rough as we think we have it, kids have it just as bad (and sometimes worse). And for a lot of them, their time with you at church is the closest thing they’ll get to a pit stop. Every week they do a lap around life’s track, enduring emotional and spiritual bumps and bruises, before they come screeching into your presence. This is your chance to bang out some dents and refuel those kids for another lap. One of the best ways to do that is with words of encouragement. Don’t know what to say? Start with this:

Call out the truth in them. How often do you notice or think something positive about someone, but fail to share it with them? If all you did was give voice to the wonderful things you notice or think about the kids in your group, you would light up their week. More than that, you’ll be helping them form a positive identity that will stick with them for life!

I’m glad to see you. If kids know that their presence brings joy to people, they’ll want to come back over and over again. A simple “I’m glad to see you” reinforces that they’re someone worth knowing.

I missed you last time. If one of the kids in your group was gone the last time you served, let them know you noticed. This will help your kids realize they’re an integral part of the community.

Great answer! I like how you think! Unfortunately, kids are far more prone to hearing someone tell them they’re “dumb” than they are to have someone call out their brilliance. When you bring positive attention to a kid’s answer and thought process, it encourages them participate all the more in the future. Positive reinforcement helps to produce great thinkers.

Develop an arsenal of encouragement. Have some “go to” words of encouragement that will brighten your kid’s day. Like these: God thinks you’re awesome! Way to go! You’re a really cool kid! Great idea! You’re the best! That was awesome! Nice try! You’re a lot of fun! You make me smile! I can’t wait to see you again!

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10.5 Small Group Lesson | Elementary

THAT’S BONKERS COMMUNITY BUILDERSay: Today we’ll be playing a game called “That’s Bonkers” that will help us learn the Big Bible Story from beginning to end. Before we get to that true story, though, we’re going to make up our own totally bonkers story.

Directions: Have your group sit in a circle. Begin by making up the first 3 words to a story. When finished, have the kid next to you make up the next 3 words. Continue around the circle (several times if necessary) until your story has reached a good stopping point. (The story might sound something like this: There once was…a chicken named…Earl. He had…five beaks and…)

Question: Other than the story we just made up, do you have a favorite story that you love hearing over and over?

ADDITIONAL TIME ACTIVITY—THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWNIf you have additional time before Large Group begins, play “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down.” Simply ask the kids in your group to share one good thing that happened this week (thumbs up) and one not-so-good thing (thumbs down). This is a great way for your group to share celebrations and struggles with one another.

STORY QUESTIONSDirections: During the Large Group program, kids will be asked to turn briefly to their small group and answer the following questions:

For Younger Kids:1. What was your favorite part of the Big Bible Story?2. What do you think it means to be a child of God?

For Older Kids:1. What do you think the Big Bible Story teaches us about God? 2. What do you think it means to be a child of God?

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10.5 Small Group Lesson | Elementary

WHO AM I (FOR OLDER KIDS) (Application Activity)Set up: Print the 12 “Bible Character” cards (see Resource Folder) on 8½ x 11 cardstock and cut apart. Put a small glue dot on the back of each card so that kids can stick them to their forehead.

Directions: Place the 12 “Bible Character” cards face down in the middle of the group. Tell the kids to choose one card and without looking at it, stick it to their forehead so that the character is facing out. When everyone is ready, instruct the kids to freely mingle and ask each other yes or no questions about themselves in an attempt to figure out who they are. The kids can only answer “yes” or “no” to the questions. After a few minutes of asking and answering each other’s questions, have the kids sit down and one at a time ask them who they think they are. After they make their guess, allow them to remove their card and look at it. When everyone knows who they are, tell the kids to work as a group to lay their cards on the floor in the correct order (Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samson, David, Gabriel, Baby Jesus, the Cross, and Paul.) Afterwards, ask your group to tell the Big Bible Story in their own words using the cards. When finished, ask the following question:

Question: What do you think it means to be a part of God’s story?

WHO AM I (FOR YOUNGER KIDS) (Application Activity)Set up: Print the 12 “Bible Character” cards (see Resource Folder) on 8½ x 11 cardstock and cut apart.

Directions: Place the 12 “Bible Character” cards face down in the middle of the group. Choose a kid to go first. Have them randomly select a card, look at it in private, and then act the character out without using words for the other kids to guess. Be ready to assist them if needed. Allow the kids to take turns acting until each of the cards has been guessed. When all of the cards have been guessed, tell the kids to work as a group to lay the cards on the floor in the correct order (Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samson, David, Gabriel, Baby Jesus, the Cross, and Paul.) Afterwards, ask your group to tell the Big Bible Story in their own words using the cards. When finished, ask the following question:

Question: What do you think it means to be a child of God? How does that make you feel?

FIST PUPPETS (Bible Memorization Activity)Directions: Place the “Fist Puppet/Bible Verse” sign in the middle of the group with the Fist Puppet side showing. Instruct the kids to make a Fist Puppet like the one in the picture. Using a washable marker, have the kids draw a face on the thumb-side of their fist. Tell them to have fun and be creative. When finished, flip the sign over so that it reveals the Bible verse. Today’s Bible verse says:

“Some people did accept him and did believe in his name. He gave them the rightto become children of God.” John 1:12 (NIrV)

Read the verse together several times so the kids can begin to memorize it. When ready, flip the sign over once again so the verse is no longer visible. Choose a kid to go first. Have them recite the verse while moving their Fist Puppet’s mouth (their thumb) up and down like a ventriloquist. For added fun,

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10.5 Small Group Lesson | Elementary

encourage them to say the verse in a funny voice without moving their lips. When finished, allow them to pick who goes next. Continue until every kid has had a turn.

Question: What does it mean to accept him and believe in his name? Have you done those things?

DRAWING CLOSE TO GOD (Group Prayer Activity)Directions: Place a poster board or piece of butcher block paper in the middle of the group along with a box of markers. In the middle of the poster board or paper, write the word “GIFT” in large letters. Tell the kids to think about a gift that they can give to Jesus. It could be a gift of time, talent, money, words of encouragement, etc. When ready, have them draw a picture of it on the poster board or paper. When the kids are finished, allow them to talk about their gift and how they can use it for God. When everyone has finished sharing, lead the kids in a closing prayer. Encourage the kids to tell Jesus what they would like to give and to ask Him to use it in BIG ways.

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