"Stand Out”
Big Idea
When you follow God, you stand out.
Schedule
1. Small Groups: Mind Map activity (5 min)
2. Big Group: Lesson (20 min)
3. Verse Activity: Candle activity (5 min)
3. Small Groups: Index card activity (10-15 min)
Materials Needed
1. Candle 2. Large piece of paper, pencil 3. Index cards 4. Paper, markers, scissors5. Various action figures 6. Playdough 7. Digital camera
Before Big Group
1. Set the candle on the table and light it. Turn off the lights. Explain the following, writing the big idea below on the chalk/wipe board:
The big idea for today is "When you follow God, you stand out." We'll find out more about what this means in big group time.
As you can see, we're doing today's small group by candlelight. What's the main reason people use candles? (Allow a child to respond.)
2. Explain the following:
Although candles can smell nice and look pretty cool, the main reason we use them is for light, to help us see. Let's see how many things we can come up with that make light."
Using the large piece of paper, make a mind map* (see below for explanation) of things that make light, adding the children's answers as they say them.
Bring this piece of paper with you to big group time.
After Big Group
1. Explain the following:
Our big idea for today is "When you follow God, you stand out." Just like a candle stands out in the darkness, our good acts stand out when everyone around us is doing evil.
2. Ask, "What's a situation at school where a kid would need help?" Allow the children to respond (Example: A kid gets hurt at recess). Instruct the children to take the action figures and pose them on the table to represent this situation. The children may use the paper, markers, and scissors to draw and cut out any props they might need. Use little wads of playdough on the action figures' feet to help them stick to the table and stand up. You can also use the playdough to attach any paper props to the action figures. Use the digital camera to take a picture of this scene, and show them the image you took on the camera's preview. Ask, "What's a sentence that could describe what's happening in this picture?" (Example: Billy fell off the swings at recess. ) Write this sentence on an index card.
Ask, "What's something a kid who didn't want to stand out and follow God might do in this situation?" Allow the children to respond (Example: Point and laugh at the kid who got hurt). Instruct the children to repose the action figures to represent this situation, making any props necessary. Take a picture of this scene and show them the image on the camera. Have them come up with another sentence to describe what the kid who didn't want to stand out and follow God did. Write this sentence on another index card.
Ask, "What's something a kid who wanted to let his/her light shine, stand out and follow God might do in this situation?" Allow the children to respond (Example: Help the kid up). Instruct the children to repose the action figures to represent this situation, making any props necessary. Take a picture of this scene and show them the image on the camera. Have them come up with another sentence to describe what the kid who wanted to stand out and follow God did. Write this sentence on another index card.
Go through the story you just created with the children, showing them the images on the camera one at a time, and reading the index card that goes with the picture.
Repeat this process with another situation if time allows.
3. Hand each child a journal page. Have them fill it out, writing down the big idea “When you follow God, you stand out” and how they can use it in their life (Examples: I'll help out other kids when they're hurt.) Place the page in their journal binder.
*A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas,
tasks, or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central
key word or idea. See diagram below for an example.