Each group should have:

Transcription

1 M Supplies needed for the day Each group should have: 20 minutes: (9:35) Early Arriver Activity: 1. Notebook paper (2 per kid) 2. AP1- PEACE (1 per kid) Welcome the kids as they arrive and talk with them about their weeks, school, and how life is going. hen talk with them about fairness. Ask questions such as: What are some things you have to do that don t seem fair? Why do you have to do them? What about them doesn t seem fair? Can you think of things other people have to do that don t seem fair? How about your parents or teachers? Use this time to build relationships with your group and get to know one another better.

2 BEFORE LARGE GROUP 10 minutes: (9:55) Supplies: notebook paper Open up the Bible and read the memory verse aloud. Focus on the first phrase of the verse, Do all you can to live in peace, and talk about ways that kids their age struggle with peace. Examples could include: broken friendships, getting mad at friends, being argumentative, always having to have the last word, keeping score of what others do to you, etc. Ask which one of those they struggle with the most and why. hen, hand them all a piece of paper and tell them to divide it into six sections. Instruct them to label each section with a person in their life parents, siblings, babysitter, friend, teammate, coach, instructor, etc. hen have them draw a picture or jot down notes of how they can go above and beyond to live in peace with that person, especially in the area they mentioned that was hardest for them! For example, if they like to argue, then they could draw a picture of their mom saying, Go clean your room, and they respond with, Okay, Mom! instead of arguing. What You Say: As always, you guys came up with some great stuff. But the key is putting it into action! his week, let s try to do at least two of the things that you wrote on your paper. But I bet that you can do all six! Come back next week and tell us all about it. It takes a lot of work to live in peace, but that s why the Bible says to do all you can. his might not be easy, but thankfully God will help us! Prove you care about others by letting go of what s fair. 5 minutes: (10:05) Supplies: AP1 Give each kid an Activity Page and markers and have them decorate the page. hen, whisper in each person s ear how many pieces to cut his or her puzzle into. Start with 2 pieces for the second person, then 4 for the next, then 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. Once everyone has their puzzle cut up, they need to pass their puzzle 2 people to the right and then race to see who can get their puzzle together the quickest. What You Say: So who won? Why did they win? Was this race fair? No! oday we will find out what the Bible says about how to respond when something isn t fair.

3 AFER LARGE GROUP: LEARNING HE SORY HE SORY minutes: APPLICAION minutes: H E S O R Y Read It (10:25) (10:40) Have the kids open their Bibles to Genesis 27. Remind them of the story a few weeks ago about Jacob and Esau. Esau was Jacob s older brother, but one day Esau was so hungry that Jacob decided to take advantage of that. He convinced Esau that he would give him food in exchange for his birthright (all of his parent s money.) Esau agreed, but later regretted what he had done. Have someone (or you) read Genesis 27: Do you think Esau s plan was right? How would you feel if your brother had taken advantage of you? How would you feel if you were Jacob? Would you leave or stay? Have someone (or you) read Genesis 31:3. Would you feel confident to go back home even though someone had said he was going to kill you? Would you be afraid? Have someone (or you) read Genesis 32:1-21. So Jacob began to go back by trying to send a peace offering but Esau was coming to meet him. If you were Jacob right now what would you be thinking? Why was he offering Esau so many gifts? Have someone (or you) read Genesis 33:1-11. Esau wasn t mad at all! Was that how you expected him to react? What can we learn from Esau in showing grace? Racing for Peace Lead your group in a series of silly races that aren t fair. Begin by having them race to take their shoes off, then put them back on. he first person to finish is the winner! Most likely the winner will be someone wearing slip- on shoes, which won t be fair to someone with tie shoes. Do three or four more races. Examples: 1. ell kids to race to touch the light switch and come back, but you hold onto someone s arm so they get a late start. 2. Race to get in order from shortest to tallest, but when they don t include you, tell them they lost. 3. Race to answer riddles with tricky answers: If you take three apples from a group of five, how many do you have? hree because you just took them. Or what weighs more: a pound of iron or a pound of feathers? Neither! hey re the same! 4. Race to get in order of age, but make it so two or three of the kids can t talk or gesture. As kids feel comfortable, have them share about a time when they experienced something that wasn t fair. Use this as a way to help kids process through how to respond when life isn t fair. hey can start by answering the following questions: 1. Can anyone give an example of when they or someone they might know has reacted in a negative way (no names) when something wasn t fair? 2. At the time, did you agree with their actions? 3. What was the outcome in this situation? 4. How could the outcome have been different if they would have reacted in a positive way? What You Say: So many things in life aren t fair! It s hard to respond peacefully when things aren t fair, huh? What are some things you can say or do to help you respond peacefully whether it s fair or not? How could you practice making peace? (Pause for responses.) It s really hard to let go of what you think is right and work towards peace instead, but when you do, you prove you care about others by letting go of what s fair. A P P L I C A I O N

4 QUIE IME AND PRAYER (11:00- UNIL) Prayer Request: Ask students what they need prayer for this week, and take note for next week! Prayer: Supplies: notebook paper Hand everyone a piece of paper and a pen. ell them to write a letter to God about something that isn t fair and why they have a hard time with it. hey can use this letter to tell Him why it makes them upset and what they feel. he letter can be a prayer for kids to ask God for help to let go of what s fair. What You Say: Now, fold up your letter and stick it in your Bible or a special place in your room when you get home. his will be your reminder that God is a constant source of help and peace and He will always help us show peace and respond in peace as well. elling God what you re struggling with is always okay. God always wants to hear from you! You can ask Him to help you prove you care about others by letting go of what s fair. OPIONAL DISCUSSION QUESIONS: 1. Why do we always want things to be fair? 2. When something isn t fair, how do you react? 3. How does God want us to react? Why is the way we react important? BUILD RELAIONSHIPS

5 Piece of Peace April 2015, Week 3, Small Group he rehink Group, Inc. All rights reserved.