How Does This Thing Work?

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me… Psalm 25:4, 5

Props: TV, small decorative runner and small bunch of greenery (or similar décor)

Set up the TV in the corner with the decorative runner and greenery on top. 

Begin with a skit in which two friends are together for a sleepover.  They wonder aloud what to do next and friend 1 suggests they watch TV.  Friend 2 says he has no TV, after which friend 1 points out the TV in the corner.  Friend 2 replies that while he technically has a TV set, he has never set it up; it only functions as a greenery stand.  He explains further that he didn’t understand how to connect all the cables, etc. so he never proceeded with the set-up.  Friend 1 exclaims that this is a terrible waste and chastises his friend for never asking and seeking help to understand!   He tells him that he has missed out on so much because he never asked for help.

 

Follow up: God’s Word is an amazing gift to us.  But sometimes you might find it hard to understand.  Ask for help!  Ask someone who does know about God’s Word to explain things to you so you won’t miss out.  Look at what happened to this guy: he never got to watch TV because he didn’t ask about how it works.  He missed out on so much! 

Missing out on TV is nothing compared to missing out on what the Bible has to give you!  The Bible is life-or-death because it shows us how we can live life to the fullest and live with God in heaven forever.  The Bible is full of promises, instructions, blessings, directions, guidance and wisdom.  You shouldn’t miss out on those things just because you don’t understand!  Ask for help understanding the Bible and ask God to help you understand His Word.

Don’t Drift Away

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1

 Props: two small chairs, ocean waves (cut from cardboard), paddles, life vests, small cooler

             Two helpers enter wearing life vests and carrying a small cooler with food.  They are preparing to take their rowboat out for a day on the lake.  They enter and sit on the chairs (rowboat). 

            They discuss the importance of keeping their eye on the marker:  it is their only way of finding land again, they will be lost if they don’t keep a careful watch on it, etc.  They engage in small talk while still intently eyeing the marker.  After a minute or two they break for lunch.  They become preoccupied with preparing and enjoying their meal.  Soon they discover that they have lost the marker.  After a few moments of panic, the coast guard comes to the rescue.  The three exit in his imaginary boat.

 Teacher follow-up:  The Bible says that one reason it is so important to pay attention to God’s teachings is because it’s easy to drift away.  People will try to tell you all kinds of things and tell you what they think is right.  They will give you their own ideas, and many times those ideas are different than God’s ideas.  If you’re not paying careful attention, you’ll drift away from the truth.  You will lose sight of what the Bible says and start believing lies. 

Paying attention is not always easy.  You have to constantly listen to God and read the Bible often in order to stay with what is true.  You have to pay close attention and listen to what we, your church teachers, are telling you.  Attentiveness is watching closely and listening carefully to God and others.  Make up your mind to pay close attention to the truth today.

Deeper!

Here is what it means to love God. It means that we obey his commands.  1 John 5:3 (NIrV)

Props: picture of ocean and a kiddie pool or bucket of water

             I’m sure most of you have been to the beach, so let me ask you a question.  Why do people like to go to the beach?  (Allow for response).  I’m sure there are a number of reasons, but the number one reason is the ocean.  There’s something so amazing and wonderful about the ocean.  Did you know that there are places so deep in the ocean that no one has ever been able to reach them?  That’s amazing.

            Who has been swimming in the ocean?  It’s a really cool feeling.  [Have a helper interrupt you and claim he’s been swimming in the ocean.  When you ask him to describe it, he talks about how he arrived at the beach, ran excitedly across the sand, anxiously approached the water, and put his big toe in.  (At which point he puts his big toe in the kiddie pool or bucket of water).  When you ask him what happened then, he looks confused and says, “That’s it.  That was my experience swimming in the ocean.”]

            Boys and girls, did he really go swimming in the ocean?  No!  There is more to the ocean than getting your big toe wet!  You can go in to your waist, to your neck, even over your head (provided it’s safe!).  And like I said a moment ago, there are depths of the ocean that haven’t even been explored. 

            Some people think that “getting saved” is the end.  They think if they say a prayer then they are done.  But there is so much more!  There is more of God to experience.  There is more of Him that you can know.  Saying a prayer and beginning your relationship with God is like sticking your toe in the ocean; it’s just the start.  You can go deeper with Jesus.  You can go deeper by talking to God in prayer, by reading His Word, the Bible, by going to church where you will learn about Him and by getting baptized, letting everyone know you are His follower. 

            In all these things just remember, go deeper with Jesus!

Clown-In-Training (skit)

Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise… Proverbs 22:17

            A circus clown enters, ready to create balloon animals.  She begins by reading the instructions, then puts them aside after a twist or two and tries to finish on her own.  She does not successfully complete the animal, but gets frustrated and starts over.  This time she reads the instructions until she is almost finished, then tries once again to finish without them.  She again becomes frustrated, tosses the balloon aside, picks up another one and begins again.  This time she follows the instructions through until the end and successfully completes the balloon animal.  She gives it to a child in the audience, bows and exits.   

Teacher follow-up:  Attentiveness to instructions is important because it will keep you from having to do things over and over.  If you don’t pay attention to instructions, you will make unnecessary mistakes and you’ll have to start all over.  It’s the same with God’s instructions.  In His Word, the Bible, He gives us all the instructions we need for this life.  If you follow the instructions, you will succeed.  But if you don’t, you’ll make mistakes and things will go wrong when they shouldn’t.  Keep paying close attention to God and His instructions for your life.

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