Story Idea: Good News Drama

With a helper, act out a drama to show the kids that we should share the good news about Jesus so that other people can know Him and be excited about Him too!

For example, use the following play with Bob and Fred

Actor 1 (excited, wearing a colourful hat or outfit to symbolise their mood) runs into the room with a newspaper, jumping around and making a fuss about how excited he is

Actor 1: 'Ohh WOW! You will NEVER believe what I've just read in the paper, this is SOOO exciting!! AHH, I cannot believe it!! This is the BEST news ever!!'

Actor 2 (looking confused): 'What, what is it?'

Actor 1 (Ignoring actor 2): 'I am so glad I found this paper... I mean,,, If I hadn't been to the shops to buy those apples... I never would have found the paper and I never would have known!!'

Actor 2: 'Known what?'

Actor 1: 'I just can't believe this is happening! Aren't you excited too?! Will you come with me?! Woohoo!! I can't wait!!'

Actor 2 (even more confused): 'Come where? Where are you going?!'

Actor 1 (still ignoring actor 2):'Oh, there is SOOO much to do!! And so little time if we want to be ready... this is going to be the BEST DAY EVER!! I must go and get ready!'

Actor 2: 'GET READY FOR WHA...'

Actor 1 (cutting off actor 2 hastily): 'Meet me here in half an hour' (runs off)

Actor 2 (now alone): 'But... But I don't even know what I'm getting ready for...'

Ask the kids:

What was so silly about the play? (There was exciting news but one person wouldn't tell the other what it was)

Why do we tell people when something exciting is happening? (So they can enjoy it too)

Remind the kids:

- W!hen we hear about something exciting, we get excited and tell others about it so that they can enjoy the exciting thing too!

- If we don't tell them ... then they may never know which would be really sad!

- Jesus is exciting and good news for everybody because knowing Him as our Saviour and friend is awesome!

- The Bible reminds us that we should share the exciting news about Jesus with others, because if we don't... how will they know about Him?

- The Bible also says that even the feet of people who tell others the good news about Jesus are beautiful!

Quiz Questions:

1. What awesome thing did Jesus do to pay for our sins?

Died on the cross

2. Why is it so exciting that our sins are payed for?

Because we can have a relationship with God and go to Heaven

3. Does God want us to keep the exciting news about Jesus to ourselves or does he want to tell others?

Tell others

4. What body part does the Bible say is beautiful on people who tell others about Jesus?

Feet

5. What might happen if we don't tell others about Jesus?

They won't know Him

6. Jesus is exciting, how can we help our friends know about Him?

Talk to them about Him, tell them Bible stories, bring them to church, pray with them and for them

Game Idea: Newspaper Pass the Parcel

- Wrap a 'pass the parcel' using several layers of newspaper

- Include a lolly or small prize from the prize box in each layer and a slightly bigger prize (something to do with Jesus) in the middle

- Have the kids pass around the parcel and play music

- When the music stops, the child holding the parcel unwraps a single layer and keeps the prize in their layer

- Play through all of the rounds, trying to stop the music so that each child wins a prize, until a child wins the centre prize

Remind the kids that what Jesus did for us is exciting and great news because it means we can be His friends! Knowing Jesus is better than winning a good prize and we should share the good news with others!

Craft Idea: Jesus Megaphone

- Before the lesson, download and print the Jesus Megaphone template on coloured or white paper and cut out the shape - one for each child

- Gather some pipe cleaners and cut them in half, staplers, glue and cut out shapes, stickers or sequins for decoration

- Have the kids colour in their megaphone shape and words and glue decorative bits around the words

- Help them to curl and staple the shape into a megaphone

- Help them to pierce each end of a half pipe cleaner through the base of the megaphone to make a handle, folding a small (approx 1cm) tab horizontally inside the megaphone to secure it

Prayer Idea: Thank-you Jesus For...

- Have the kids sit in a circle

- Go around the circle and have each child pray starting with 'Thank-you Jesus for...'

- Leaders can pray first to give the kids an example of what to do