Super Christian

Narrator: In a small town near you lives a boy who is born again and has abilities far greater than those found in the average Christian.  He can memorize and quote hundreds of Bible verses and sing every song in the book without missing a note.  Who is this superhero?  What is his name? 

(enter Super Christian)

People (off stage):  It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Super Christian!

Narrator: (SC mimes actions while Narrator speaks).  Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen.  Every Sunday morning a transformation takes place.  Super Christian appears at the church, carrying his 40 pound Bible in the palm of one hand.  His super-smile shines and shows off his pearly-whites.  He greets everyone with a firm handshake.  He never misses a beat when the songs are sung.  And after every closing prayer he adds a loud “amen.” 

            But alas, what is this sudden transformation taking place?  It appears that Super Christian is headed for the nearest phone booth.  He’s…he’s…becoming a normal citizen?  He’s headed off to school; let’s see what will happen there.

Person: Hey!  It’s Super Christian!

Narrator: Super Christian, it seems that you’re being called. 

Person: Perfect!  I could really use some prayer right now.  You see…my family’s having a hard time and…

Super Christian: I think you have me mistaken for someone else.

Person: But you’re Super Christian.  I saw you at church. 

Super Christian: Really, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Person: But…

Super Christian: I gotta go.  (Moves to other side of stage).

Person 2:  Hey!  Aren’t you the one who knows all the Bible verses? 

Super Christian:  What?

Person 2:  Yeah, I saw you quoting verses at church yesterday.  Great!  I could really use some encouragement right now.

Super Christian: Could you keep it down, please?  There are other people listening.  I really don’t have time to quote verses right now. 

Person 2: But I thought…

Super Christian: Sorry, gotta run.  (exits)

(Person 2 exits, shrugging shoulders).

Sunburn!

…let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV)

Props: red blush

 Brush the red brush on the person teaching the lesson before he/she walks on stage.  For an even funnier effect, brush around a pair of sunglasses, leaving a “raccoon” look. 

As you can see, I’ve spent a lot of time in the sun.  It started out as just a nice day at the beach over spring break.  Everyone was swimming and building sand castles and eating hot dogs.  We were having a blast.  I decided to lie out on my towel for a few minutes.  My mom told me to wear sunscreen, and I listened.  I put on sunscreen when we arrived early in the morning.  After lunch, I lay out on my towel.  The sun was so warm and cozy.  The breeze was blowing, the waves were washing ashore and the next thing I knew, I was waking up. 

A whole hour had passed!  I thought everything was A-okay.  I guess I thought the sunscreen would last forever.  Then I went inside.  I looked like a tomato.  And it hurts, too.  (Have a helper come by and pat you on the back).  Ouch!  That’s not the worst of it.  When my poor, crispy skin starts peeling, I’m going to look like a lizard.

Anyway, all of this reminds me of our lesson today.  The devil wants to get you comfortable in your Christian life so that you’ll fall asleep in your spirit.  He wants to make you think you can just relax and stop reading your Bible, praying and obeying Him, just like I thought I could fall asleep in the sun without putting on more sunscreen.  I thought the little bit I used would work forever! 

You have to stay in prayer and in the Word and you have to keep obeying God in order to stay protected from the traps of the enemy.  Otherwise, he’ll sneak in and you’ll get hurt!    

Wake up and escape the traps of the enemy!  You snooze, you lose…so WAKE UP!

Soldiers Skit

Put on all of God’s armor. Then you can stand firm against the devil’s evil plans. Ephesians 6:11 (NIrV)

Two helpers enter dressed ordinarily.  A “sergeant” enters and addresses them. 

Sergeant: Soldiers, attent-huh!

Helper 1: Are you talking to us?

Sergeant: Soldiers, stand at attention!

Helper 2: We’re not soldiers, we’re just kids.

Sergeant: You are soldiers.  And not only that, you are soldiers at war!

Helper 1: Soldiers?  War?  What’s going on here?

Sergeant: No one has informed you?  You are soldiers in God’s army.  Your enemy, the devil, is out to attack you.  You must be prepared for war at all times.

Helper 2: Man, I really think you have the wrong guys.  We’re just kids.  And besides, we don’t have an enemy.  I have never seen anyone trying to attack me.  

Sergeant: Your battle is not against people.  You are not fighting a human enemy; you are fighting the devil and his evil spirits.

Helper 1: We don’t know anything about fighting.

Sergeant: Very well, then.  I’ll have to train you.  The first step is to get your battle gear on. 

Helper 2: Alright!  We get to wear camouflage and combat boots!

Sergeant: Again, you are not fighting people.  So your clothes have nothing to do with your battle gear against the enemy.  You don’t need new clothes; you need the armor of God. 

Helper 1: What’s that?

Sergeant: It’s what you use to protect your mind, heart and spirit in the battle.  It’s the belt of truth, the armor of Godliness, the shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit. 

Helper 2: Where do we find this armor?  And how do we put it on?

Sergeant: I can tell we have lots to do, boys.  Come with me.

(The three exit). 

Teacher follow-up: Each one of us is in a battle.  If you’re living for the Lord, you’re in His army.  The devil is your enemy, but God has given you weapons to beat the devil.  God also tells us about special armor, or battle gear, that you can put on to protect yourself against the devil’s attacks.  Today and for the next few weeks we’re going to be talking about the armor of God.  Today’s power point says: Keep God’s battle gear on!  Wear what He gives you and protect yourself from the enemy.

Simon Peter Says

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  1 Peter 5:8, 9

Begin this lesson portion by interrupting the teacher and insisting on a game of “Simon Peter Says.”  Lead the kids in a game of “Simon Peter Says,” following the normal rules of “Simon Says.”  Throughout the game, have another worker move in and out of the audience, trying to distract the kids.  When the game is over, declare the winner and give him/her a prize.  Then continue on with the lesson. 

The winner of “Simon Peter Says” won because she was paying very close attention to everything I said and did.  If she wasn’t paying attention, she wouldn’t have won.  Everyone else became distracted by other things and other people.  

            We called this game “Simon Peter Says” because Simon Peter, a disciple of Jesus, wrote some very important words in the Bible about being attentive.  In 1 Peter 5:8, 9, Peter wrote, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”  The devil is walking around, looking for people who aren’t paying attention.  He wants to talk them into doing things that are wrong and thinking things that aren’t true.  If he can talk you into believing things that aren’t true, because you aren’t paying attention, then he can get you away from God.  Pay close attention and don’t let the devil distract you from doing right and believing the truth.  Don’t let him catch you off-guard.  Attentiveness is watching closely and listening carefully to God and others. 

Running In the Right Direction (Skit)

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

 Props: starting line, finish line banner (one side of the banner says “evil desires;” the other side says righteousness, faith, love and peace), numbers for all the runners to wear  

            A number of runners are preparing for a race.  They are given instructions and pointed toward the finish line (righteousness, faith, love and peace).  They take their marks, the gun is sounded, and the race begins.  Half the runners run toward the finish line, the other half run the opposite direction (toward “evil desires”).  Even though the second half reaches the banner first, they are disqualified.  Everyone who reaches the correct finish line is rewarded.  

Teacher Follow-Up:  The Bible says, “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace…” (2 Timothy 2:22).  To flee means to run away from.  The Bible says run away from evil desires.  Run away from the bad things you want to do.  Go in the opposite direction.  Don’t even hang around those things.  The Bible also says to pursue (run toward) righteousness, faith, love and peace.  Move in God’s direction.  Go toward what is right. Chase what is good. 

            Half of these runners were simply running in the wrong direction.  They were surprised when they reached the end to find out they were disqualified from the prize.  That’s what happens when people run in the wrong direction.  If you’re not going toward God in life, you have nothing to look forward to.  But if you follow after God, you will be rewarded.  The other runners ran away from what was wrong and ran in the right direction.  Running toward God will get you to the right place every time.  Today’s power point says run in the right direction!

The Clock is Ticking

Make the best use of your time. Ephesians 5:16 (NLV)

 Props: clock, calendar, game buzzer, hourglass, stopwatch, etc.

 Take a look at some of the things I have with me today.  There’s a clock, a calendar, game buzzer, hourglass, and stopwatch.  All of these items have one thing in common: they all measure time.  Today’s lesson is all about time.  Time can be measured in many ways: minutes, hours, days and years.  Each of us has a certain amount of time to live on this earth.  And once our life is over, we can never go back and live it again.  Time is a gift. Time is short.  The important thing to remember is to use your time for God. 

The Bible has a lot to say about our time, talent and money and how we should use those things for God. 

Well, my time is up.  Remember, “Make the best use of your time.” Ephesians 5:16 (NLV)

The Measure of a Life

Show me, O LORD, my life’s end
       and the number of my days;
       let me know how fleeting is my life.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
       the span of my years is as nothing before you.
       Each man’s life is but a breath.
       Selah                   Psalm 39:4, 5

 Props: a tape measure

             God has given each one of you life.  How long will your life be?  (Allow for response).  You don’t know?  Of course you don’t!  (Begin opening tape measure).  Unless you have seen this tape measure before, you don’t know how long it is.  The same is true of your life.  Only God knows how long your life will be.  Some people live for just a short time.  Others live for many years.  

            (Read Psalm 39:4, 5).  King David wrote these words.  He understood that life is short, even if your life lasts 100 years.  It goes by so quickly.  He also knew that it’s not how long you live, but how you live and what you do with your time that matters.  (Pull tape measure out half way).  King David used many of his years for God—serving Him, worshiping Him and leading His people.  But He also wasted some of His time chasing after His own desires.  At the end of his life, he knew that His time spent for God was what really counted.     

            (Pull out tape measure all the way).  How about you?  How do you use your time?  Life is short.  Use your time for God.  Then no matter how long—or short—your life is, it will count for eternity.

The Real Deal?

 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NIV)

 Props: fake money and real money

              Begin with a skit in which a helper tries to make a purchase using fake money.  During his interaction with the vendor, he insists that the money looks real, someone told him it was real, he worked hard to get it, etc.  The vendor insists that without real currency, he can’t buy anything. 

             (Display real and fake money as you speak).  Fake money isn’t going to buy you anything because it’s not worth anything.  No matter how hard you try, you can’t buy anything with it.  Only real money has value and can be used to buy things. 

            Some people think that just because they do things that look good, Jesus is going to give them a reward.  Remember, though, that not everything that looks good is truly good, just like not every paper that looks like money is real money.  A truly good work is done out of a heart of love for God and love for others.  Those are the good works that are true, genuine and please God.  Those works will be rewarded.  Some people only do good things to be seen on the outside, or to please other people.  Those works will not be rewarded, because they are not truly good. 

            You may be able to fool people with you works, but Jesus will always be able to tell which works are truly good.  Jesus is our Judge.  What will He find when He looks at your works?  Are they truly good?

Put Jesus at the Center

Jesus…said, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself.  He must pick up his cross and follow me.”  Matthew 16:24 (NIRV)

Props: drawing board, markers

            Two helpers enter and helper 1 challenges helper 2 to a game of tic-tac-toe.  Helper 2 agrees and draws an “X” on the board.  Helper 1 asks where the grid is, and helper 2 says it isn’t necessary.  Helper 1 asks where the “X” is—whether in the middle, the corner, etc.  Helper 2 replies that the grid is wherever he wants it to be.  Helper 1 insists that a grid is the center of the game and it cannot be played without it.  Helper 2 disagrees and the game is off.

            This was just plain silly!  Everyone knows you can’t play tic-tac-toe without drawing a grid first (or at least drawing an “imaginary” grid).  The grid is the center of the game. 

            This reminds me of people who try to go through life without Jesus.  Everything else in their life gets scattered.  If you want things in life to make sense, put Jesus first!   Let Jesus be at the center of your life, and your goals, visions, desires, talents and relationships will fall into place.  You won’t get any farther in life without Jesus than you would in a tic-tac-toe game without the grid.  So put your life in order…Put Jesus first!

Purpose of the Safety Patrol

Jesus…said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

Props: safety patrol belt and badge

Have a helper come forward and model the safety patrol belt and badge.  You may even want to have him/her model the actions you describe (flaunting authority vs. helping the other students). 

Many of you have seen the safety patrol in action at your school.  Does anyone know the reason for the safety patrol? (Allow for response).   The reason some kids are on safety patrol is to help protect the other students and keep them safe.  In order to do that, the kids on safety patrol are given some power.  They have the power to tell the other kids to get back in line or to slow down and stop running in the halls.  They also have the power to report any bad behavior to the teachers.  But there is a reason for their power.  They aren’t given power just to make them better than the other kids.  Their power is not given to them so that they can boss everyone else around, or so that they can tease the other kids and say, “Ha, ha, you have to listen to me!” 

            Some of you may be on the safety patrol.  Whether you are or aren’t, God has given or will give you a certain amount of power.  You may end up serving on the Junior Leadership team of KIDS Church.  Maybe you will be a leader on a sports team or in the student government of your middle school or high school.  God may have plans for you to grow up to be the president of a large company or the pastor of a church. 

He does have incredible plans for you, but there’s one thing you have to remember: when God gives you power, He wants you to use it to help people.  Power can help or hurt people.  Make up your mind that you are going to use your power to help others.  If you’re on the safety patrol, do your best and help make your school safer.  If you’re a leader on your sports team, people will look up to you.  Think of ways to bring your team together and make it the best team possible.  And one of the best ways to use your power is to be a leader and a positive example to your friends and family.     

Everyone has some power—some have lots, some just a little.  Use your power to help others.

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