Racing Toward Jesus

Run a race or race different items (cars, lemons, potatoes, marbles, etc.) with a finish line. Cheer for the winners!

Paul, in the book of Philippians says that he was pressing toward the mark. Just as a runner presses toward the finish line, Paul tells Christ’s followers to press on to be like Jesus. Paul was a great preacher, missionary, and writer of the Bible, but he admitted that he was not perfect. He kept pushing forward to the goal of knowing Christ.

We will never be perfect or truly like Jesus until we get to heaven (1 John 3:2), but every Christian should make it his or her goal to know Jesus through the Bible and be like Him.

Do You Look Like Jesus?

Items needed: pieces of paper and pencils or crayons or markers

Draw self or family portraits. Determine whose portrait looks the most like the person being drawn.

Ask:
Do you look like Jesus?

Read Romans 8:29. (It says that God’s plan is for you to be like Jesus.)

You can’t look like the physical body Jesus had when He lived on earth. You can’t die on a cross or come alive again; you can’t heal people or do miracles. So how can you be like Jesus? (You can be kind and love people, you can help people, you can obey your Father, you can be nice to kids like He did, etc.)

Holy Spirit Balloon Illustration

Do a simple science experiment to show how Christ living inside can help you to be stronger.

Items needed:
Two balloons, not inflated (two paper/plastic cups will also work)
Candle or matches
Water
•    Inflate one of the balloons and tie it off.
•    Put about ¼ cup of water in the other balloon, inflate and tie it off.
•    Light the candle (or light a match) and hold it under the balloon WITHOUT the water. (Very closely – it’s okay if the flame even touches the balloon).
•    Hold the balloon WITH water over the candle or match.
Why does one balloon pop and one doesn’t?  Why does the balloon with no water break in the flame? The flame heats whatever is placed in it so it heats both balloons. The rubber of the balloon without water becomes so hot it was too weak to resist the pressure of the air inside the balloon and popped.
Why doesn’t the balloon with water in it pop when heated by the flame?  The water absorbs most of the heat from the flame, so the rubber of the balloon does not become very hot. Since the rubber doesn’t become hot, it doesn’t weaken, and the balloon does not break.
Ask:
How did filling the balloon with something (water) make it stronger?
How can you be stronger if you are filled with the Holy Spirit?
After Jesus died and came alive again, He told His disciples  He would send someone to help them, to comfort them, and to guide them. That someone is the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that when a person becomes a Christian, God’s Holy Spirit comes to live inside.  
You were born with a desire to sin, but the Holy Spirit can help you fight against sin. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible and He can use that to help you know the right way to live. Every time you say no to your own selfish way and yes to the Holy Spirit, you become stronger. He will help you to be more loving, peaceful, joyful, gentle, humble, and self-controlled. (See Galatians 5:22-23) Ask for His help every day. God can change you from the inside out.

That's Impossible!!!

D6 Curriculum kids are studying 1 and 2 Peter in small group and Sunday school. Peter says that believers are assured of many good things because of God’s promises. You can count on God’s promises to always be true!
 
Do the following math trick with your kids. You will always get the right answer.
What You Need:

• A willing participant
• Willing participant needs to have an undetermined amount of change in their pocket.
• Paper
• Pencil
  

What To Do:

• Ask the person to take his/her age and multiply it by 2.
• Add 5.
• Multiply this sum by 50.
• Subtract 365.
• Add the amount of loose pocket change, but do NOT count change totaling $1 or over (i.e., must be less than $1)
• Add 115 -- final outcome:
  

Notice that the first two digits will be the person's age, and the last two digits are the amount of the person's pocket change.
Taken from www.learn-with-math-games.com
 
If you have young children, teach them a few basic math truths. While you’re cooking dinner, put one spoon on the table and then another one. Ask them to tell you the number of spoons. Assure them if you add 1 plus 1 you will always get 2. In the same way, God’s Word- His promises – are always true!

Copy, Cut, and Hide

Copy and cut apart the following promises (or write ones you like on pieces of paper) from the Bible. Hide one each day and let the kids find it. When the promise is found, read it aloud and thank God for His promise. Celebrate with a small treat, if you like.
 
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b
 
“Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things.” Jeremiah 33:3a
 
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the Sons of God, even to those who believe on His name.” John 1:12
 
“In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:2-3  
 
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19