Story Idea: Treasure God's Word!

To introduce the lesson:

- Before the lesson, hide a series of gold coins (from the cupboard) or other treasures around the room

- Have the kids hunt around to collect the treasures (the person with the most wins!)

Explain the lesson:

- Ask the kids why people like and search for treasure and put so much effort into finding it (because it's good/special/valuable etc.)

- Tell the kids that the Bible tells us we should treat God's word and teachings like treasure! We should search for God's wisdom and teaching with as much effort and excitement as we look for treasure because it's so important!

- Ask if they know where we can find God's teaching and His words to us? (The Bible)

- Explain that the Bible says God's word is SO valuable for a few reasons:

* It shows us that we can trust God to save us from our sins - so that we can have a relationship with God

* It teaches us how God wants us to live as His people and helps us grow into the people He wants us to be

If needed, have the kids read Proverbs 2:1-6 & 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Quiz Questions:

1. What does the Bible say God's words and teaching are like?

Treasure!

2. Where do we find God's word and teachings?

In the Bible

3. How can we treat God's teaching like treasure?

Know how special it is and work had at finding and understanding it

4. The Bible is SO special because it tells us that we can trust God to save us from sin - how did God save us from Sin?

By sending Jesus to die

5. Because we are free from our sins, what can we have with God?

A relationship

6. What else can the Bible tell us?

How God wants us to live

7. What can we do if we are having trouble understanding the Bible?

Pray, ask somebody for help, get a Bible that's easy to read etc.

Game Idea: Pin the Bible on the Treasure chest!

- Before the lesson, print the treasure chest and stick it on the wall

- Print the Bibles and cut the sheet to separate them, stick a wad of blue tack to the back of each Bible

- Start the kids a little away from the wall and have them take turns being blindfolded and spun, then stepping up to the wall and aiming to stick their Bible in the opening of the treasure chest picture - the closest wins!

Remind the kids that God's words to us are just like treasure!

Game Idea: Blindfolded Bible Scramble

- Have kids sit in a large circle

- Blindfold two kids it a time

- Place a Bible somewhere in the play area and have the kids race on their hands and knees to find the Bible! (The first to find it wins!)

Play several rounds, then remind the kids that the Bible is AWESOME... It is God's word to us and SO special! We should work hard to understand it so that we know God better and we can serve Him better!

Activity Idea: Treasure Map Scavenger Hunt

- Download and print the treasure hunt letters and clue cards

- Cut out the letters, and hide them around your play area before the lesson (if possible, use a different play area to the coin hunt - eg. outside)

- Cut out the clue cards - one per team

- Draw a rough treasure map of your area showing a red 'X' near where each clue is hidden (either by hand and photocopy or by computer and print enough copies or each team)

- To make it really authentic, stain the paper with strong tea and burn the edges so it looks like a real treasure map!

- Split the group into small teams and give each group a letter recording card, a treasure map and pen

- Have them search for each letter and record the letter next to it's proper number

- The first team to tell you what the clues spell (THE BIBLE) wins!

If your map is not exactly accurate, it may be more fun! Encourage the teams to come to you for a hint, but make them answer a quiz question first!

Prayer Idea: Jelly Bean Prayers

- Before the lesson, prepare a bowl of three different coloured jellybeans

- Have the kids sit in a circle, then each choose a random jellybean and pray around the circle according to the colour of their bean:

Eg.     * Red = Thank God for something

          * Blue = Pray for somebody else

          * Green = Ask God to help you with something